Chapter 16- Lost and Found in Salaman’s Virgin Forests

One day I lost my way in Salaman’s forrest. I was in the forest with my classmates. There was a red butterfly and tried to catch it. I followed the butterfly flying among trees. Perhaps I was following the butterfly a bit long and looking at some orchids in the forest. When I tried to turn back, I realize, I could not find my way back. I could only see trunks of big trees surrounding me. Only then, I know I lost my way

I was frightened. I did not know my way in the forest. I do not know where to go. Around me, I only saw a wide, wild, lovely, tall and big area of growing trees. The branches going up thru the dimly lit skies. I did not know what directions to go. Around me, I saw only tall and big trees.

That afternoon was our biology class. A week ago, our class decided to take a tour of the forest. Our Class President said: “ We will take a tour of the forest. This is one way to learn a bit more of lives existing in the forest, the fauna and the flora. We will learn the animals that live there. We will also learn the plants in the forest. We will see the orchids, beautiful orchids that grow around. This is our new adventure, learning other lives in the forest.”

The following Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. our Biology Class toured the forest, about 3 kilometers away from our school. We went to make our forest tours. We were led by our Class President and Class Secretary. Our other officers were also around.

Mr.Tanangonan, our teacher, was with us. He told us: “We now go on our forest tour. You will see the beauty of the forest. This vast and virgin forest we will visit today. There were more than a thousand hectares of forest land here. We will visit just a very little portion of it today.”

“You will see some animals, birds and wildflowers. We will see some of the living things in the forest that we did not see on the farms. You will see animals and plants and different kinds of living things. Be careful not to hurt and disturbed the living things, animals and plants.”

Before going, we assembled under the shade of the tree. Our Class Secretary called the Roll. We were 42 first year students in our class. All who joined the forest tours and all names called to assure their presence..

The forest was only about 3 kilometers away from Salaman Institute. We passed some corn farms along the way. As we entered the forest, our teacher told us: “Remember you are on a study tour. You must be observant. In this tour, you will learn many things. Do not talk loud. You will scare lives around. “

“Try to remember all you saw, what you heard. We will see the birds, small animals, snakes, butterflies, monkeys. You will not harm them. You must be kind always to live things. Like us, they also feel hurt. Speak softly or you may disturb them.”

We entered the forest. Inside, the surroundings were clean. Rotten leaves were deep. But there were new leaves around that had newly fallen. The timbers were all very big and tall. There here were smaller timbers. Some timbers were big, around 3 meters around the trunk. And the timbers were about 50 meters high. They were all straight and tall. There are some small timbers. But no grasses. Grasses and small trees weathered when there are no sunlight reaching them.

I enjoyed watching and making observations. There were some butterflies. I saw some lizards. There were some birds. I continued walking. Some monkeys were howling from afar. I did not see any snake. I saw a red butterfly flying, quite a big red butterfly. I just continued walking, following the red butterfly. I was trying to observe lots of things around.

I think I have walked a bit far. Even farther. Yes, I walked quite far. I forgot the time. I forgot I was in a tourist class in the forest. The sunlight was getting dim. The leaves of the trees were thick. Soft light penetrated the big leaves.

I discovered it was getting darker. The lights that pierced the leaves of trees were still seen but getting faint. The wind was getting colder. I turned back. I turned around. But I did not know where we assembled when we entered the forest. I could not remember where I was. All around, I only saw big tree trunks. Wherever I looked, I saw trees, the same trees around. I could not see the sun. It was covered by mists and densed forest.

I realized I did not know the way back to where we assembled when we entered the forest. I tried to walk back again. Then I stopped. I realized I might be walking farther and farther away. For I did not knew anymore the directions to take. I began to feel frightened.

I shouted. "I am here! I am here! I lost my way! Please come here.”

Since, I did not know where east and west nor the north and south, I decided to just sit and calm myself. I shouted to my classmates again. I sat down at the big protruding roots.

I prayed. "Lord, please help me. I lost my way. I do not know what directions I will take. It’s hard getting lost in the forest Lord. Please help me.”

The lights that pierced the leaves of trees were still seen but getting fainter. The wind was getting colder. I shouted again hoping my classmates would hear me. But no answer came back.

I began to think that demons were playing with me. They wanted me to get lost in the forest. There were stories back home in Carles, Iloilo where demons tried to waylay people to lose their way in big swamps. I began to think of this possibility. I heard from older people say that when they lost their way in big swamps and did not know their way, they take off their shirts and inverted it. With inverted shirt and pants, a man who lost his way, find his way again.

I inverted my shirt. I also got out of my pants and inverted it. Then I sat down, hoping my classmates will come and lead me back to school.

I sat down and prayed again. “Lord, I lost my way. Please help me so my classmates will know I lost my way. Let them know I lost my way. And they will come back and help me.” I tried to calm myself. I made use of some of these community beliefs. I combined it with prayer to God. It’s my simple faith. I realized a simple truth in life. ’If things happened in your life, and you find yourself helpless and do not know what to do, asked God in prayer to help." I sat down on the protruding roots with my heart in prayer.

Late, that afternoon, I learned, my classmates were already returning back to our school in Salaman Institute They have gone almost halfway back. They have left the forest nearly an hour ago. Then, our Secretary decided to have a Roll Call. She wanted to be sure all our classmates were around so we could go home together.

She told me later. Our classmates went around her. When my name was called, “Bernal,” No answer came. They found I was not with them. I was left behind. I was still in the forest.

Our teacher, Mr. Tanangonan and my classmates returned to the forest. When they entered the forest, they knew that in less than half an hour it will be dark. But my classmates, specially the girls were prepared. They have flashlights.

They divided themselves into 3 groups. The 1st group will go west. The 2nd group will move north. And the 3rd group will move south. They did not assign some to go east. That was the direction of our school. They were instructed by our teacher : “Each in the group must stay close to each other. About two meters away from the other. Each will have a wide reached of about one hundred fifty meters wide.

“Be ready with your flashlights. If Bernal is unconscious and lying on the ground, you can see him immediately. You’re only two meters away from both sides.” My classmates walked together looking for me in 3 directions. They shouted my name. “Bernal where are you!”. “Bernal where are you!” They repeated these calls. Then, I heard their shouts. I responded. “I am here!” “ I am here! I am here!” My voice echoed in the darkening forest.

My classmates came to the directions of my voice. Soon, they were all around me. It was one great joy and experience of my life. It was also a beautiful experience with my classmates. They said: “Rudy, you got lost in the forest. We looked for you. And here, you are.”

They asked me what happened. I told them. “I don’t know. I don’t know why I got lost. I really don’t know what happened. I saw a red butterfly. I followed it. I saw beautiful flowers on the trunk and branches of the tree. I tried to look at it. I did not know that I have gone far. For some time, I even forgot that we were together.”

“When I realized I did not know my way, anymore. I sat down and shout for you..” My classmates were very happy they found me I thanked all of them. We move on. We went back to school and home together.

I realized I had gone about 1 kilometer away from our entry point. I have gone to the western side of the forest, farther toward the sea in the west.

I was not able to finish by first- year high in Salaman Institute. In October, my father went home to Carles again. My mother got sick. She was gravely ill. She has given birth to my 5th sister, Myrna. She asked her younger sister, Aurea to take care of us, if she died.

Happily, with my father bringing her to a doctor and taking care of her, mother recovered. But she decided not to permit father to go back to Mindanao. He asked my father to stay in Carles and forget the plan for Mindanao, even with the 8 hectares homestead he had in Libak, Cotabato. To make sure that father would not go back to Mindanao, my mother secretly burned all of father’s homestead papers.

The following year, father enrolled me, first- year high again in Balasan high school, which was 8 kms. away from home. I finished first year high. But I was not able to continue my high school studies the next four years.

Some years later, a war broke out among Muslim rebels and the government with Christians. I learned that there were heavy fightings in different Libak villages, including in Kalamansig. Many people died in Libak, including some from Iloilo. Many Christians and Muslims were killed. Many more were wounded. Some were disabled.

It was hard battles among Filipino Christians, Muslims and the government.

On several occasions war in Mindanao recurred and fightings again reached Libak villages and other towns, including the war led by a well- known Muslim freedom fighter or brigand, Kamlon.

History told us that hundred of years before the Spaniards came to Mindanao, Muslims were already settled and living there. It was their land. It was their heritage. I think, there was no way for the war between the Muslims and the military to stop, as long as Muslims remained second class citizens in Mindanao.