By The Aklan River
Note: I wrote this a month before Typhoon Frank devastated Aklan. Weird.
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One of the most awkward, difficult stages in my life was when I was 12 years old.
Those were the tween years when my boobs, legs and ass grew. Twas when I changed schools and said goodbye to most of my grade school friends. The time of my life when I witnessed the ultimate, sudden death of playing sipa and chase. That I cannot ride my bike anymore, which by the way I won first prize on Marianing Store Raffle 1985. Then there was some beer-smelling asshole knocking on our door with dying daisies on his hand. And all of a sudden I cannot, absolutely can’t, eat four sticks of banana cue while walking down C. Laserna.
Why???
Furious, depressed and confused, I always got out of the house. Walked and walked northbound from our backyard to bank of The Aklan River.
I was always welcomed by the river, the sight was oh so lush and majestic. I witnessed those fresh waters cascading down from the mountains of Libacao and Antique. I closed my eyes and felt the habagat wind gently blowing my hair and kissing my neck.
In the afternoons of low tide, I either waded in those cool waters barefooted or borrowed a bamboo raft to cross the river. But the best part was looking west and watching the sun go down in blazing orange and red light. I was on an unbelievable enchanted spot.
Sometimes I brought my fishing pole along with an unfortunate earthworm. Sometimes I had bag, so after the walk to the river, I can swing by and bring home some wild guavas, raw mangoes or singkamas that was left-over from last harvest. But most of the time I just went empty-handed, sat down under a tree and tried to resurrect my falling self-esteem.
I eventually overcame those troublesome teen-age years. I stood chest up, stuck my butt out and exposed those forbidden legs. I enjoyed high school to the fullest and made wonderful friends. While I cannot play my childhood games anymore, I found more exciting, teen-appropriate past time activities. Ask my friends and everyone remembered that I frequently orchestrated the class-wide, ever popular but banned Spirit of the Glass, with Andres Bonifacio (always, for some odd reason) as the gracious returning ghost.
I cannot wait to go back home and pay tribute to the River Gods. When I needed to be consoled, Aklan River was there, silently giving me strength when I was at my lowest.
