2 Chapter I: Calista

Flashback: May 1994

It was a gloomy afternoon. The sun was easily devoured by the raging dark clouds racing at the mid-day sky. The wind was chaotic, it came from all directions, tossing every plant it saw and violently leveling the rice fields into a total mess. The Andres' rice fields were no exception. Young Calista saw how terrible the gust of wind uprooted the proud mango tree that stood in front of their iron-cast gate fell like nothing.

Her father said a storm was coming. The radio broadcast said it was Signal number 1 but it looked like it was a 4, according to her mother. Now both her parents are arguing about the entire storm. Calista and her family are currently in the province visiting her grandparents and relatives when a sudden storm hit a day after they had arrived. Her parents are having second thoughts if they should stay there for another week after the storm passes as they were worried that it could hit Manila as well and that could affect their house and food business.

His father argued that they should not leave as it will be dangerous to travel. Her mother on the other hand, wanted to leave at once as the storm passes, as it will be a good time for them to check if there were any damages and losses that they can fix. It was creating a different ruckus in the ancestral home, their voices were getting louder, as loud as the thunder clapping in the sky. Calista couldn't stand for both, so she went into the living room instead.

The room was old. Her father told her about it. It was passed on from generation to generation. Lolo Ambo and Lola Pape's house was a remnant of the old Spanish times. The windows in the kitchen still have that sliding paper "things" attached to them. The creaky wooden floor boards are close to rotten, although a portion of it was already renovated. The windows in the living room, though was renovated already with iron grills but the chairs and sofas were still old-fashioned. Lola Pape, once bragged about the long bench sofa, was carved from an old oak tree from Spain. Her father later told her that it was a mango tree from one of their haciendas long ago, but her lola kept on insisting otherwise.

The living room was poorly lit due to the gloomy skies, it almost looked like dusk arrived far too early. Still in the background as the thunder continues to roar it rattled Calista that sent her running to the kitchen where her lola was tinkering something.

"Oh! Calista, apo!" her lola dropped the thing she was holding and welcomed her with open arms to calm the scared little girl.

She sobbed in her lola's arms, " La, I'm scared. Mama and Papa are arguing and the thunder is so loud.", she said.

"My beautiful Calista, don't worry about them, Lola will talk to them later." Her lola gave her a warm smile. " I know how to raise your spirits! Would you like some sikwati [Hot cocoa]?"

She nodded.

Her Lola's sikwati was the best she ever had. No one can ever replicate it. Not even her mother. It was warm and sweet, like her Lola's hugs and kisses. Her Lola would often put a bit of cinnamon and warm carabao milk over the luscious cocoa. It was her Lola's favorite and now, hers. That concoction gave her a sense of peace.

The rain poured hard and loud, Calista cuddled near her Lola, who was now back to tinkering a sort of old bottle. Calista's eyes were restless; she watched carefully as her Lola put some things into the bottle. She cannot identify what she saw, but she can recall, a thorny piece of bark, chipped wood and some stinky oils into the bottle. She also saw a round metal ball that her lola dunked inside the bottle. Her prying eyes also made her mind run wild with questions.

She took another sip at her sikwati and asked, " Lola, what are those things you put inside the bottle? What's that for?"

Her Lola gently smiled and gestured to her to come closer. She lifted her up for her chair and leaned over the table near her Lola, "It's for our protection." her Lola replied.

"Protection from what?" she asked. Her lola tried to whisper again in her ear when her father came to the kitchen.

"Calista! There you are. I was calling you earlier and you never responded."

" I'm sorry, Papa. I never heard you. The rain was too loud, and I was enjoying Lola's company."

Her father messed her hair and hugged her, then smiled at her Lola.

" Uy, Bong! Calista told me something, we'll talk about that later."

Her father was baffled," What did you say to Lo-"

Suddenly a loud knock echoed the house. It was the door next to the kitchen.

"Who’s there? Calista turned the knob to open it when her Lola suddenly grabbed her and tugged her away from the door.

She was confused and shocked at the time. She looked up to see her Lola's face pale and her eyes wide open, fixing the gaze at the door.

Present: April 2018

It hurts! My head hurts! Calista told herself as she woke up. Everything was spinning and she felt nauseous. She felt her gut flipping backwards as she struggled to stand up. She ran towards the sink and there she belched all her liquid emotions out. The sun's rays also irritated her more as it tends to stab her eyes with its bright glare.

" I bet you can still taste the lechon you had last night." Mae giggled.

"Shut-up, Mae!" as she puked once more.

" You know, you shouldn't be drinking if you can't handle it. "

"I know. It's just..."

" There Mae, don't be too hard on her." said a familiar voice.

Calista looked and saw her best friend. "Dexxie!" as she struggled to keep herself together.

"Hi Calista!” he wrinkled his nose to look as if disgusted, “ I swear, I really want to hug you, but it would be disgusting, right now." , he said jokingly as he exchanged greetings with Mae.

Calista rolled her eyes and hoisted herself to sit at the chair in the dining room. Dex followed her and offered her a Styrofoam container filled with warm lugaw. She meticulously opened the lid and sniffed the puffing aroma of the hearty dish.

"Is this from..."

" Caldero ni Maxx! Your favorite." Dex enthusiastically answered, " Of course, Mae, I haven't forgotten about you!" He took out another paper bag and gave it to Mae.

"Balbacua?! But I'm on a diet!" she complained.

" Are you now?" Dex smirked.

They all broke into laughter. They finished the meal after a lot of talks in between. Mae even asked Dex to stay for lunch, he regretfully declined but instead told them to pick them up later in the afternoon so all three of them can go to the Despidida party.

Dex left before lunch, by then, Calista was in better shape than she once was earlier. She made a quick nap before Mae woke her up at around 4pm to get ready for the party later. She stumbled towards the bathroom but quickly composed herself after a drizzle of the cold shower. They prep themselves up for the night's party.

The party they're attending is a Despidida party for their classmate in College who will be leaving for the UK with her long time boyfriend. According to the invitation, it's a pajama party (the only onesies allowed). She and Mae had to scour for these onesies a week earlier, looking for it online. Calista had no idea what onesies are, Mae had to help her choose the size and design. While Mae chose a fluffy bunny onesie, she opted for a zebra onesie.

Time was flying fast and it was almost 7pm, the party started at 8pm, and they were going late. Unfortunately, Calista clumsily hid the onesie inside the apartment and has no idea where it was.

"Damn! I haven't fitted that yet!" she mumbled.

"Haaay... Calista Andres, you're being clumsy again. I told you to just place it in my room! But no! You have to hide it for your pleasure." as she sighed in disbelief.

"I found it! Calista hurriedly dress-up as she can hear Dex's voice speaking to Mae while she was in her room fumbling for the costume.

"She hasn't changed." he smiled.

"She never did! Oh, Dex, what can Calista do without me?" Mae said jokingly.

"I can manage myselffff..." They heard a loud bang at Calista's room. "Owww."

Mae and Dex laughed as Calista finally came out of the room, confused and hesitant.

"Is that really a zebra?" Dex asked Calsita as he got flustered, seeing her onesie.

"You know it's way too early for Halloween, right?" Mae jabbed at her.

"You know what, Whatever! We don't have time now, it's either I would look like this or I would just come in casual wear!"

Calista said as her frustration is welling up.

Mae urged Calista to just wear it since they're going late. Calista looked up to Dex, who faintly smiled and nodded.

They rode Dex's car and hurriedly went to the venue.

" So where was that place again?" Asked Mae

" Hmmm.. Endura Residences in IT Park!" Dex replied.

"Wow, sosyal!" Mae and Calista chorused and laughed along the way.

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WRITER'S NOTES

Greetings Reader!

Ah! We met again. So, I'm back to give you context on these following words.

"Lolo"- Grandfather

"Lola"-Grandmother

"sikwati"- a Filipino blend hot cocoa

"Lechon"- basically a whole roasted pig on a spit

"Despedida"- a farewell party, usually celebrated to give good luck to the one leaving or migrating.

"sosyal"- a colloquial term for posh or sophisticated.

Lugaw- rice porridge.

...and this one,

"a thorny piece of bark chipped wood, and some stinky oils into the bottle"- this is a description of the Sinamak, a concoction of barks, roots, and herbs from common Filipino plants doused or drowned in coconut oil. Mostly, these concoctions are used for medicinal purposes but some might also argue that these are used to ward off evil, depending on the mixture and rituals placed on the Sinamak.

There you go, the list of unfamiliar words to introduce you to the Filipino culture!