Kuminalpos an Silaod

An arawiga sa Bikol na “garing nabalik sa luwag” ay iyong nangyari sa kadakul na mga kasolterohan na igwang maimbod na pagmamawot sa pambihirang kagayunan ni Beatriz Triumfante kan madangog sa rimungrimung kan mga taga-Ilawod na napaoho na daa kan biodong mayaman na si Don Lope Caliz an nasabi nang si Beatriz.

An baretang iyan ay pinatutohan naman tulos ni Beatriz sa saro niyang kaamigang daraga kan haputon siya kaini.

“Kadakul na mga paglibak asin mga impotacion an nagkakadarangog ko kontra saimo, Beatriz,” sabi kan amiga niyang si Luz. “Ngata man na an gurang nang si Don Lope an napili–pili mo,” an garing pagbasol pa ni Luz ki Beatriz. 

“Gari ka naman na inocente sa lakaw kan kinaban,” an nag-uulok na simbag ni Luz. “Isi mo na bagang buta an pagkamoot kan tawo.”

“Iyo na ngani buta an pagkamoot,” an ako ni Luz sa sinabi ni Beatriz. “Alagad dai mo lamang naisihan na an critica saimo kan mga kasolterohan ay kaya ka lamang daa uminoho ki Don Lope ay huli ta mayaman ini.”

Nagparaulok na naman si Beatriz sa sinabi ni Luz.

“Bayaan mo sana ta an mga nagcricriticang iyan sakuya ay magkakasororpresa na lamang pag-abot kan oras,” sabi ni Beatriz.

“Ano an gusto mong sabihon? Anong sorpresa, ha, Beatriz?” an pano nin pagngangalas na hapot ni Luz.

“Sarong hararom na secreto an sorpresang sinasabi ko na habu ko pang ibuyagyag ngunyan,” an sabi ni Beatriz.

“An maraot, kadakul kan nagsasahot na pinagpaparakaruyan mo daa nin katakut-takot na kuwarta si Don Lope. Ako bilang sarong fiel mong amiga ay ikinukulog kan sakuyang boot an maraot na mga criticang iyan saimo.”

“Hari na pagparangalas, Luz, ta talagang siring kaiyan an dila kan mga tawo digdi sa ibabaw kan daga,” an pagsaway ni Beatriz ki Luz. “Kaya nagkakapaniring an mga iyan ay nakakaururi sakuya.”

“Pero… an labi-labi kong ikinababaldi ay an sinasabi nindang nagiging gold digger ka daa ngunyan,” an sabi ni Luz.

“Siisay an nagsabi kaiyan?”

“Haros an gabus na mga kasolterohan na nagparentres saimo sa enotan,  puera lamang si Polding.”

“An gusto mong sabihon, Luz dai nin maraot o criticang sinasabi sakuya si Polding?” an may pagkasablok na hapot ni Beatriz ki Luz.

“Iyo, si Polding ay mayong sinasabi ni hoy ni hay kontra saimo,” an tuga ni Luz.

“Kun siring, pabayaan ta na an mga diniwaldiwal kan mga tawong iyan na may mahahalnas na dito,” an sabi ni Beatriz sa formal na panaramon. “Dai minakulog an sakuyang boot kun arog kaiyan na mayong sinasabing maraot sakuya si Polding.”

“An tutoo, Beatriz, si Polding ay napakarahay na soltero asin siya lamang an kinaheherakan ko na bakung iyong nagkapalad sa saimong pagkamoot.”

“Sa gabus manangad na mga nag-erentres sakuya ay si Polding lamang an nagugustuhan ko an ugali…,” dai na natapos an sinabi ni Beatriz huli ta inagaw tulos ni Luz.

“Nagugustuhan mo palan an ugali ni Polding, ay ngata naman ta si Don Lope pa an saimong pinanugaan na pakakasalan?”

“Marhay na ngani si Polding alagad paano kaming mabubuhay kun arog kaiyan na para sarong sadit na manunurat lamang siya,” an paliwanag ni Beatriz. 

“Pero… nugayod an kayaman ay dai nakapagtatao nin kaugmahan sa mag-agom,” an sabi naman ni Luz na talagang may pagsurog ki Polding.

“Pueding tutoo man an sinabi mo, Luz, alagad baku akong tood sa masakit na buhay, kaya kun si Polding an magiging agom ko ay pihong matatanaan ko an mga kasakitan sa buhay na dai ko pa natatanaan poon kan sakuyang pagkakaaki-aki.”

“Nuarin an kasal nindong duwa ni Don Lope,” an pagiba nin hapot ni Luz ki Beatriz. 

Nag-ulok nguna si Beatriz.

“Mayo pa akong ikakabareta saimo sa bagay na iyan.”

“Pero, mayo pa naman nin aldaw na iminumukna saimo si Don Lope dapit saindong kasal?”

“Mayo pa, Luz.”

“May nakapagbareta sakuya na nag-iisip daa si Don Lope nin pag-uurugma tanganing ipahayag na sa saiyang mga katood an kasal nindong duwa,” pagbabareta ni Luz ki Beatriz.

“Dakulang karibukan pag nangyari an arog kaiyan na dai mi naman pinagkakasaroan na ipahayag na an aldaw kan samuyang kasal.”

“An marhay, Beatriz, sabihon mo ki Don Lope an bagay na iyan pagdalaw niya saimo,” an pagtataong hatol ni Luz ki Beatriz.

“Dai na kaipuhan!” simbag ni Beatriz. “Idagos niya an saiyang naiisip ta naaraman ko na naman an apat kong gibuhon.”

Huli ta naninirumsiron na kaidto ay natapos na an huronhuron kan duwa ta nagpaaram na si Luz.

An napag-ulayan nara Beatriz asin Luz ay ikinabareta naman ki Don Lope an napapadapit sa iniisip kaining pag-urugma tanganing ibareta sa saiyang mga katood an aldaw kan kasal nindang duwa.

“Nabaretaan kong sinabi daa ni Beatriz na pag ibinareta mo na an saindong kasal na dai niya naaraman ay magkakaribok daa kamong duwa,” an sabi sa Don kan saro niyang kamidbid na babae.

Kan masabutan ni Don Lope an siring ay dai na ipinagpadagos an saiyang naiisip, kundi sinabi ki Beatriz na ini na an tatao kun nuarin dapat gibuhon an saindang kasal.

Dai naman nagpirit an Don kan sabihon saiya ni Beatriz na iisipon pa niya kun nuarin dapat sindang umatubang sa altar. Nagpadagos naman an mga mahamis na tratamiento ni Beatriz ki Don Lope kun dinadalaw siya kaini sa saindang harong.

Nakaagi an may tulong bulan an kasal nara Don Lope asin Beatriz ay mayo man lamang nababaretaan, nudi an masulwak na hinuringhuding ay an gabus na mga sadiri daa ni Don Lope ay ibinalyo na sa ngaran ni Beatriz, puera lamang na magkatutoo an arog kaini urog na kun iisipon na si Don Lope ay buang-boa sa lambo pang kagayunan ni Beatriz.

Sa ibong kan mga burubaretang iyan dapit sa mga kayamanan kan Don na napalis na gabus sa palad ni Beatriz, kaniguan naman an pagngangalas kan mga tawong nakakamidbid ki Polding kan igwa nin makapagbaretang ngunyan daa ay may dakulang tindahan ini na binukasan sa Manila.

“Pueding tuminama sa sweepstakes si Polding kaya nakalabadbad sa dati niyang mga pagtios sa enotan,” an nasabi kan sarong kamidbid ni Polding sa kahuron.

“Ki Polding ay nagkatutoo an sarabihon na an mayong palad daa sa pagkamoot ay nagiging masuerte naman sa kuwarta,” an simbag naman kan saro pa sa duwang kamidbid ni Polding na naghuhuron.

An hiyakhiyak kan tulak kan mga tawo na tibaad lokuhon lamang kaining si Beatriz si Don Lope ngunyan na an gabus na mga kayamanan kaini nakaag na sa ngaran kan daraga ay dae nagkatutoo huli ta an kasal nindang duwa ay ibinareta na. Sa harong pa ni Beatriz ginibu an pagbabareta sa tahaw kan nag-uurogmang mga katood kan mag-ibong na parte.

Alagad kan makaagi an sarong semana poon kan mabaretaan kan mga kahimanwa nara Don Lope asin Beatriz na ikakasal na an duwang ini, bigla na lamang na kuminanap sa banwa na nawawara daa si Beatriz. 

Garing naboa si Don Lope sa nangyaring biglang pagkawara ni Beatriz. Dai makakaon asin dai mangaturog an pobreng si Don Lope. Huli sa labi-labing pagkamoot ni Don Lope sa nawawarang daraga, bigla ining napapangungoy nin hibi sa atubangan kan saiyang mga katood na magkasarabi kan mga ini an nawawarang si Beatriz.

“Tibaad kinidnap na kan mga tawong bulod si Beatriz,” an may pagkahurasang nasabi kan sarong karnal na amigo ni Don Lope kan an duwa ay nag-uulay.

“Tabangi man baya ako, Koronel Carlos, na makua kun hain ngunyan si Beatriz,” an pakikinaherak kan kulang palad na Don sa saiyang katood.

“Tinatabangan baga, Don Lope,” an simbag naman kan katood ni Don Lope na naging koronel kan PC. “Poon pa lamang kan mabaretaan ko na biglang nawara digdi satuyang banwaan si Beatriz ay nahinguha ko nang makahagad nin tabang sa mga may kapangyarihan.”

“Masyadong makamurumundo naman ining nangyari sakuya,” an sabi ni Don Lope. “Pagkatapos na ikatao sana ki Beatriz an gabus kong mga sadiri sagkud kan kuwarta ko sa bangco ay iyo pa naman an pagkawara niya.”

“An marhay ay hilingon ta sa aparador ni Beatriz an mga documento,” mukna kan koronel sa Don.

Hiniling mananggad kan duwa an aparador ni Beatriz alagad mayong nakua ni sarong documento.

An katood ni Beatriz na si Luz ay igwang mahalagang kaipuhan kaya napa-Manila. Naisipan ni Luz kan umabot sa Manila na hanapon an dakulang tindahan ni Polding tanganing duman na bakalon an saiyang kaipuhan. Alagad kan nasa laog na si Luz sa dakulang tindahan ni Polding ay haros napurarat an saiyang mga mata huli ta itoon si Beatriz.

“Aw, anion ka palan, Beatriz!” an nasabi ni Luz kan makarani na sa tinutukawan ni Beatriz nakaidto ay kataning si Polding. “Kaniguan an hinibihibi ni Don Lope poon lamang kan bigla kang mawara satuya.”

Nag-ulok nin makusog si Beatriz asin Polding. 

“Dai ta na pagparaintindihon si Don Lope,” an nagningising sabi ni Beatriz ki Luz.

“Ngata naman…?” an nagngangalas na simbag ni Luz.

“Basta pagpuli mo satuya, Luz, ibareta mo na lamang satuyang mga kahimanwa na dai na ako mapuli,” an sabi ni Beatriz na dangan pinisil pa an kamot kan kataning na si Polding.

“Paano an kasal nindo ni Don Lope?”

“Aw, kasal na baga kami ni Polding, Luz!”

“Kuminalpos an silaod ni Don Lope,”  an nasabi na lamang sa sadiring boot ni Luz.

Mantang nagluluwas sa tindahan si Luz ay napagwani-wani kan saiyang isip na an kinapital ni Polding ay pihong an kuwarta ni Don Lope na pinagparahagad kan saiyang amiga tanganing itao naman ki Polding na dating pobrihunon, alagad ngunyan ay may dakula nang tindahan.

Published in Bikolana, 1955.

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Slipped the Snare

The Bikol adage “garing nagbalik sa luwag” was what happened to many young bachelors who were staunchly in love with the unique beauty of Beatriz Triumfante when it was heard, like the ringing of the church bells, from the townsfolk of Ilawod that the suit of the wealthy widower who was Don Lope Celiz was accepted by the said Beatriz. 

That news was promptly confirmed by Beatriz when she was asked about it by one of her maiden friends.

“I heard a lot of jeering and censuring against you, Beatriz,” said her friend Luz. “Why it had to be that decrepit Don Lope that you had to choose,” Luz seemed to chide Beatriz. 

“As if you are innocent about how the world works,” Beatriz laughingly answered. “You already know how love is blind for people.” 

“Of course love is blind,” Luz agreed. “But you didn’t even notice the ‘critica’ of the young men saying that the only reason you said yes to Don Lope is because he is rich.” 

Beatriz laughed again at what Luz said. 

“Let it be, and those criticizing me will be surprised when the time comes,” Beatriz said.

“What do you mean? What surprise, ha, Beatriz?” in bewilderment Luz asked. 

“A deep secret is my surprise that I do not want to divulge for now,” said Beatriz. 

“What is worse, there are many who say you wiled an awful lot of money from Don Lope. I, as your loyal friend, feel offended by these criticisms against you.” 

“Do not be surprised anymore, Luz, because that is how tongues of people are on the surface of this world,” Beatriz chastised Luz. “They are like that because they are envious of me.” 

“But… what infuriates me is that they are saying that you have become a ‘gold digger’ now,” said Luz. 

“Who said that?” 

“Almost every young man who courted you before, except for Polding.” 

“You mean to say, Luz, not anything bad or critical is being said about me by Polding?” the excited Beatriz asked Luz. 

“Yes, nothing is being said by Polding ni hoy ni hay against you,” admitted Luz. 

“Well then, let us ignore the buzzfrom these people with slippery tongues,” said Beatriz in a formal tone. “I do not feel offended since nothing ill is being said about me by Polding.” 

“The truth, Beatriz, is that Polding is a very good man and he is the only one I pity for not being fortunate in your love.” 

“Of all my suitors, Polding is the only one whose character I like…” Beatriz was unable to finish what she was saying, for Luz took over.

“If it’s Polding’s character that you like, why did you pledge to marry Don Lope?” 

“Better for me if it was Polding, but how would we survive when he is just a lowly writer?” explained Beatriz. 

“But … never did wealth give happiness to a married couple,” Luz said, who was wholly rooting for Polding. 

“What you say may very well be true, Luz, but I am not used to a hard life, so if Polding became my husband, then I will definitely taste hardships in life that I have never even tasted since childhood.” 

“When are you and Don Lope to be wed?” suddenly asked Luz. 

Beatriz initially laughed. 

“I have nothing yet to say to you about that.” 

“But, Don Lope has not set a date for your wedding?”

“Not yet, Luz.” 

“Someone told me that Don Lope is considering a party to announce to his friends the wedding between you two,” Luz informed Beatriz. 

“There would be great trouble if that happens, when we have not even agreed to announce our wedding day.” 

“It would be good, Beatriz, to tell that to Don Lope when he visits you,” Luz advised. 

“There is no need!” replied Beatriz. “He can continue with what he is thinking because I already know what I have to do.” 

And because it was already getting dark, the conversation ended between the two and Luz bid goodbye. 

What Beatriz and Luz talked about was reported to Don Lope, specifically what was said about the celebration he was planning to announce the wedding day to his friends.

“I heard that Beatriz said that if you announce your wedding without her knowing then there would be discord between the two of you,” said to the Don by one of his female acquaintances. 

When this was heard by Don Lope he did not push through with what he had in mind, and told Beatriz that it was up to her to decide when their wedding should take place. 

The Don also did not push when Beatriz told him that she still needed to think about when they should face the altar. Continuous was the sweet disposition of Beatriz towards Don Lope every time he would come to visit her at her house. 

Three months passed, yet there was no news about the wedding date of Don Lope and Beatriz, but there was a widespread rumor that all of the property of Don Lope had been transferred to Beatriz’s name, heaven forbid, so besotted by the young beauty of Beatriz was Don Lope. 

Amid all these rumors about the wealth of the Don that had all been poured into the palms of Beatriz, people who knew Polding were extremely surprised when someone shared the news that he had opened a large store in Manila. 

“He could have hit the sweepstakes, that Polding, so he is now better off than his initial poverty,” said an acquaintance of Polding to the person he was talking to. 

“It came true for Polding, the saying that those who are unlucky in love become lucky in money,” replied one of the two acquaintances of Polding who were talking. 

What was pulling at the stomachs of people, that Beatriz might just dupe Don Lope now that all his wealth had been signed over to the maiden’s name, did not come true because the day of the wedding was finally announced. In the house of Beatriz was where the announcement was made in the midst of euphoric friends from both sides. 

But a week after the townspeople heard that Don Lope and Beatriz were to be wed, throughout the town the news spread that Beatriz was missing. 

Seemingly unhinged was Don Lope over the sudden disappearance of Beatriz. Could not eat and could not sleep the poor Don Lope. Such was Don Lope’s overflowing love for the missing maiden, that he would suddenly sob in front of his friends whenever they mentioned the missing Beatriz.

“Maybe the mountain people kidnapped Beatriz,” anxiously said Don Lope’s buddy while the two were talking. 

“Help me please, Coronel Carlos, to find where Beatriz is,” begged the forlorn Don of his friend. 

“I am helping you, Don Lope,” replied Don Lope’s friend, who was a colonel in the PC. “Ever since I heard that Beatriz suddenly disappeared from our town, I had thought of asking help from those in power.” 

“It is so sorrowful what happened to me,” said Don Lope. “After I gave Beatriz all my property and money in the bank, that was when she disappeared.” 

“Well, let us look in the armoire of Beatriz for the documents,” suggested the colonel to the Don.

The two did search the armoire of Beatriz but did not find a single document. 

Meanwhile, Luz, the good friend of Beatriz, had an important errand so she left for Manila. Luz thought when she arrived in Manila to look for the big store of Polding to buy what she needed there. And when Luz was already inside the big store of Polding, her eyes almost popped out of their sockets, for there was Beatriz.

“Aw, here you are, Beatriz!” said Luz as she neared where Beatriz was sitting beside Polding. “Don Lope has been weeping inconsolably since you suddenly vanished from us.” 

Beatriz and Polding laughed aloud. 

“Let us pay no mind to Don Lope,” amusedly said Beatriz to Luz. 

“Why not…?” was the baffled answer of Luz. 

“Basta when you go home, Luz, tell our townsfolk that I will not be coming back,” said Beatriz as she squeezed the hand of Polding next to her.

“What about your wedding to Don Lope?” 

“Aw, we are already wed, me and Polding, Luz!” 

“Slipped the snare of Don Lope,” Luz muttered to herself. 

While leaving the store Luz pieced together in her mind that what Polding used as capital was surely the money of Don Lope that her friend had gotten so as to give to Polding who was so poor, yet now owned a big store.