2 Chapter 2
As Datu Lapu-Lapu begins opening a portal to the highest god, Potenciano begins readying himself in meeting the highest god that Datu Lapu-Lapu talked about.
"Uhmmm.... Datu Lapu-Lapu, sino po ba ang pinakamataas na bathala at ano po ang kanyang pinamumunuan?"
(Uhmmm.... Datu Lapu-Lapu, who is the highest god and what does he rule over to?) asked Potenciano
"Ang pinakamataas na bathala ay siyang namumuno sa aming mga bathala kagaya ng isang heneral na namumuno sa kanyang nasasaklawan at sa atin ang pinakamataas na bathala ay siyang sumasaklaw sa teritoryo ng bansa natin. At ang kanyang pinamumunuan ay ang batas ng mundo at siyang sumasaklaw sa mga bathala na katulad ko. Ang humahalili sa puwesto ng pinakamataas na bathala ay nababago ayon sa paniniwala o nakakaalala na mga tao, pwede rin ito mabago ayon sa lakas nila at pati kung malapit na ang hangganan na kanilang buhay." (The highest god is god that rules over us gods like iyon, e of generals that they rule over to and to us our highest god is the one who rules over the territory of our country. And the highest god has authority over the laws of the world and rules over us gods. The position of the highest god mostly change due to the people's faith or memory of the person, it can also be due to strength of them, or even due coming of their end.) said Lapu-Lapu
"Ah ganun po pala 'yon, pero di niyo nasagutan kung sino po ngayon ang pinakamataas na bathala?" (Ah so that how it is, but you didn't answer my question of who is the highest god today?) said Potenciano
"Hmmm.... yun ba, alam ko nakikilala niyo siya bilang pambansang bayani natin." (Hmmm.... oh that, I know that everyone calls him the national hero of ours.) said Lapu-Lapu
"Haaaaaaa... ang ibig mong sabihin ay si Jose Rizal ang pinakamataas na bathala na namumuno sa ating bansa!!!" (Haaaaaaa... you mean to tell me that Jose Rizal is the highest god that rules over our country!!!) exclaimed Potenciano
"Siya nga, Enteng. Si Jose Rizal ay ang pinakamataas na bathala na kasalukuyang namumuno sa bansa natin." (His the one, Enteng. Jose Rizal is the highest god that's currently ruling over our country.) assured Lapu-Lapu
"Akala ko ang pinakamataas na bathala ay ang panginoon ng bibliya dahil sa dami ng nakakaalam sa ngalan niya at impluwensiya nito." (I thought the highest god would be the lord of the bible due to its name known and influence of it.) said Potenciano
" Oh.... tama ka naman sa hinala mo ngunit iba ang pinamumunuan ng tinutukoy mo dahil ang panginoon ng bibliya ang tanging diyos na nangangalaga sa buong mundo at siya lang ang may otoridad sa mga pinakamataas na bathala sa buong mundo." (Oh.... You're right with your conjecture but the one you're talking about has a different lording because the god of the bible is the only god that protects the whole world and the only one who has authority over all highest god in the whole world.) said Lapu-Lapu
"Teka, kung ganun pala eh di kung ganito ang sistema ng pagiging bathala masyadong madali pala kung ganoon kung sikat ka di madali ka makakapuwesto bilang isang bathala." (Wait, if that is true then this system of being turn into god is too easy if you just needed to be well known then you can just get a seat for a position of a god.) said Potenciano
"Hindi naman lahat ay gaya ng sistema natin dahil sa atin ang problema ay naging mahina ang paniniwala sa mga bathala noong dumating ang mga mananakop at ang pagdating nila ang nabago sa paniniwala ng bansa kaya maraming mga bathala ang napuwersa pumasok sa siglo ng buhay o di naman namatay dahil sa pagkakawala ng paniniwala o nakalimot na sa ngalan nila." (Not all follow this kind of system of ours because for ours the problem was the belief had become small due to the arrival of the conqueror and due to their arrival the belief of the country has been changed therefore most of the gods are forced to go the cycle of life or just died due to the lost of belief or their were just forgotten.) said Lapu-Lapu while he looked from afar.
"Tara na, Enteng at mapuntahan na natin ang pinakamataas na bathala upang makiusap kung pagbibigyan ka sa kahilingan mo." (Let's go, Enteng and we could go to the highest god in order to ask if you're wish could be granted.) said Lapu-Lapu as he enters the portal and beckoned to Potenciano to follow.
"Hintay lang!!" (Wait for me!!) exclaimed Potenciano as he stumbles to the portal.
As they cross the portal, they arrived at a temple like those of temple of Zeus where every stone are made of marble glistening under the rays of the sun. And as they approach, they were blocked a group of soldiers like those from a warrior tribe with their kalasag pointing at them.
"Naparito kami ng mapayapa!!!" (We have come in peace!!!) shouted Potenciano while raising his hand up due to one the soldier pointing a spear at his face.
As they were stopped, from the middle the group spread out as a soldier walk a midst of them towards the two. His feature where that of the trained group but his looks stands more than the rests, you could his facial feature is one like those of a movie hunk but with a fierce look added with the fact that he has a long black hair reaching to his shoulder while it sways gently by some unknown source of wind. As he stand at the two he asked
"Sino kayo at naparito kayo sa tahanan ng pinakamataas na bathala" (Who are you and have come here to the home of the highest god) calmly asked by the guard captain
"Ako ay si Datu Lapu-Lapu, ang bathala ng pakikidigma at ang dahilan kung bakit kami'y naparito ay upang makakuha ng permiso upang tuparin ang hiling ng binatilyo na ito" (My name's Datu Lapu-Lapu, the god of war and the reason for why we came here is to gain permission to grant this kid here his wish) replied Lapu-Lapu as he pointed at Potenciano and beckons to come front.
"Ako ay si Potenciano Mactanggol, at ako'y naparito upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon na matupad po ang aking hinihiling" (My name is Potenciano Mactanggol, and I came he in order to have a chance to have my wish granted) he stiffly said due to the fierce stare of the guard captain but didn't break eye contact.
"Hmph.... Ang lakas ng loob mo tao na humingi ng ganito lalo na sa pinakamataas na bathala pa!" (Hmph.... You have guts human to ask such a thing even to the highest god no less!)
fiercely said by the guard captain, as he let's lose some of his killing intent towards Potenciano.
As Potenciano felt the intent, he felt like was being stared by a hungry predator looking over him like a prey. As this continued on for seconds, Datu Lapu-Lapu intervenes by releasing some of his own and states.
"Tapos ka na ba takutin ang binata? Kung oo, makakaalis na kami at mapuntahan ang bathala" (Are you done scaring the boy? If yes, can we go now to meet the god) Lapu-Lapu said while he calmly stares at the captain
"Tsssk.... Bakit mo pinoprotektahan ang binata na iyan, kaano-ano mo ba yan?" (Tsssk.... Why are you protecting that child, who is he to you?) questioned guard captain to Datu Lapu-Lapu
"Wala naman siyang kaugnayan sa akin, pero isa lang siya sa mga nakainteresan ko at nakikitaan ng potensyal tulad ng mga tao ng mga ibang bathala sa ibang dako ng mundo." (There's no connection between us, but he is one of those that prick my interest like those people of other gods in other parts of the world) said Lapu-Lapu
"Huh.... Eto, nga ang paglabas ko lang ng 1% ng aking lakas ay namutla na siya sa takot at ito ay wala pa sa kalingkingan ng mga bathala sa ibang bansa katulad ng China, South Korea, America at Japan." (Huh.... This, I just showed a bit of 1% of my power he became pale in fright and this doesn't come close to the heels of those other gods like China, South Korea, America and Japan) he fiercely said then became bitter after saying the last.
"Alam ko, pero sakin lamang kahit ganito siya may potensyal pa din siya dahil nararamdaman ko nasa dugo niya dumadaloy ang tapang nating mga ninuno nila. Isipin mo, ang iba sa mga binigyan ng kapangyarihan ng mga bathala ay wala talagang potensyal pero kalaunan lumakas sila at ang iba ay naabot nila ang lakas na tulad sa amin." (I know, but to myself even if he is like that he still has potential because I know that the blood in him has the courage of us, their ancestors. Think of it, the other people that the gods given didn't have potential but then later they grow stronger and some even reach the same power like us.) Lapu-Lapu said
"May tama ka sa iyong punto, pero sa akin lamang di siya karapat dapat dahil wala siyang tapang na katulad natin noon." (You have a point, but to what I see he doesn't look worthy because he doesn't have the courage like we had back.)
"Di' ano ang gusto mong mangyari?" (Then, what do you want?) asked Lapu-Lapu
"May paraan ako, bibigyan ko siya ng pagsubok at kung mapasa niya ito hahayaan ko kayo at baka samahan ko pa kayo papunta sa pinakamataas na bathala" (I have a way, I will give him a test and if he pass I will allow you guys and I might lead you guys to the highest god) proposed by the guard captain
And as Datu Lapu-Lapu was about to reject the guard captain's suggestion, Potenciano interjected.
"Oo, payag ako sa tinuturan mo. Papatunayan ko sa'yo na karapat dapat ako na matupad ang aking hiling." (Yes, I agree to your suggestion. I will show you I am worthy of being granted of my wish.) said Potenciano as he heard the guard captain said.
"Sigurado ka ba sa iyong sinasabi?" (Are you sure of what you're saying?)
"Baka ika'y mapahamak sa pagsubok na ibibigay niya" (What if you get hurt when you take his test) asked Lapu-Lapu
"Natatandaan mo po ba ang sinabi ko po sa inyo, ang pangako ko po." (Don't you know what I said before my promise.)
"Alam ko, Enteng" (I know, Enteng)
"Mag-ingat ka dahil kaluluwa ka lang dito pag ika'y namatay talagang patay ka na" (Be careful because you're just a soul here and if you die you will be truly die.)
"Opo. Punong bantay, handa na po ako sa pagsubok na iyong ibibigay" (Yes. Guard captain, I'm ready to accept you're test.) said Potenciano as he stares eye to eye with the guard captain.
"Ganyan nga, bata. Tayo mga Pilipino ay palaban, matapang." (Just like that, kid. We, Filipino our a combatant, brave.)
