21. Sighting - Quest for the Dose Halimaw

"Everyone, please gather around," called the resort manager. He is in his mid-thirties. He kept a lean figure through daily hikes from the resort to the main road to buy some smokes at the roadside store. Smoking is not allowed within resort premises. This routine does not only keep him fit but also controls his urge to smoke. "We will be checking the cottages and doing the head count. How many do we have?"

"We have eight cottages occupied," answered his assistant, a chubby girl in her early twenties. She is doing field work for a master's degree she took at the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology located in Iligan City. "A total of twenty three individuals."

"Let's count off, if you please," the manager addressed crowd. "Shall we start with you sir," pointing at the pot bellied man in his late forties.

As the guests counted off, two other resort staff approached the group and reported to the manager.

"All cottages are cleared sir," reported an old staffer who lives about two kilometers from the resort.

"But we did find this cellphone at the sink of cottage 3," added the younger male staffer about the same age as the resort assistant. He too is a local. The older man is his father.

"Twenty three," shouted a little girl.

"Everyone is accounted for sir," reported the assistant.

"Thanks," replied the manager. Turning to the crowd, he announced "who left a cellphone in cottage 3?" Then reading off from the log book, "it's from the group of Mariella Santos."

"Oh my gosh," exclaimed one girl. "That's mine," she claimed approaching the manager.

"And you are?"

"Daniela Escucha," she answered.

"There you go miss," handing over the phone after verifying the name from the registry. "Alright everyone, shall we go?"

The group lined in two columns, the manager and the young man leading the way with the assistant and the older man trailing behind.

Genny's group walks about three groups ahead of the tail.

"Be ready to jump when I give the signal," whispered Jasmin to her friend. "We are almost there. I saw a ditch near the bend on our way to the resort. We can hide there without anybody noticing."

"Won't it be flooded or muddy at the least," asked Arianne.

"What do you expect? This is the mountains after all."

The four girls kept close to the group ahead of them and far from the one behind them. The distances they kept will allow them to jump down the ditch without the two groups noticing.

As they near the bend that turns toward the right, Jasmin warned her friends, "Get ready." She then slowly took off her back pack and held it with her right hand. Her friends did the same. Making sure the group ahead is not looking back and while putting the group behind at the blind spot, she gave the signal,"now!"

As quietly as they can, the girls jumped into the ditch clutching their bags and keeping low to avoid being seen. Their hearts pounding and breathing deep, they try to keep themselves pressed on the side of the ditch listening to the passing group. The first one passed, then the second, then the third. Then they heard the manager's assistant and the old staffer pass.

"Did you hear the sound after the tremor," the old man asked his companion.

"Yeah," confirmed the girl. "I thought I heard a growl."

"There is this legend of a sea monster trapped in the Lanao lake that I heard from my grandfather who heard if from his. I never believed it was true. But after what I have heard tonight..."

"How come it only resurfaced now?"

"I don't know, child. I don't know."

As their voices faded in the dark, the four girls slowly rose to peer on the top of the ditch. They can see the flashlights fading ahead. And then it was dark again.

"Let's go," urged Jasmin as she began to climb the ditch.

"My Trets are muddy," complained Genny shining her torch at her shoes.

"Are Tretorns still popular these days," asked Isablle with a little sarcasm.

"They are in the provinces," answered Arianne.

"Probinsyana," sighed Isabelle.

"Come on," called Jasmin as she began walking back to the direction of the resort.

The three girls followed, Genny still trying to shake off the mud in her shoes.

Slowly and painfully, the four girls scaled the side of the Maria Cristina Falls. It took them an hour to get to the top using vines, thorny shrubs, and rocks are hand holds and foot holds. They were sweating profusely and were panting when they reached to top. After a few minutes of rest, Jasmin urged them to move ahead. Hastily, the girls followed.

"Good thing about hiking with an experienced hiker is that you know you're in good hands," commented Genny. "Bad things is those hands will force you to the brink of exhaustion."

"Oh you know I'll take care of you," said Jasmin looking back at Genny with a sheepish smile.

"Yeah right," smirked Isabelle.

The girls continued up river walking near the bank. Jazz had her bolo out in her right hand while she lit her way with her flashlight on her left hand. Each had their flashlights on illuminating their paths.

After about two hours, they reached the mouth of Lanao Lake, the only opening where the body of water empties its contents. The other opening, about twenty or so, pour in water from the mountains. The huge volume of water exiting through the Agus River provides the Philippines' National Power Corporation with the pressure it needs to operate its hydroelectric plant.

"My leg hurts," complained Arianne sitting down a boulder.

"Don't worry, we're here," assured Jasmin.

"So this is Lanao Lake," commented Isabelle standing near the bank, one foot on a rock with her hands on her waist.

"Wow, I can't see anthing," smirked Genny plopping on the soft grass.

The moon is out but there is an overcast. The girls rested on the northern bank of the lake near the mouth of Agus River. A few minutes later, the clouds moved allowing the full moon to shine on the lake.

The girls were awed by the sight. The waters were glistening as the slow wind blew on the waters. They almost forgot what they were looking for in the first place.

"What's that over there," asked Isabelle pointing at a shadow Southeast of their position.

Arianne quickly took out here binoculars. But they were small, the kind that is bought at a Quiapo tiangge for fifty pesos. "Some kind of boat I guess."

As Isabelle and Genny tried to pry the binoculars from Arianne, Jasmin opened her pack and took out the telescopic lens for her digital camera. She screwed it on to her camera and peered at the veiwfinder.

"Take a picture so we could have a better look," said Genny turning to Jasmin leaving Isabelle and Arianne wrestling over the binoculars.

"Even better, I am filming it," Jasmin said proudly.

Jasmin saw what looks like a small fishing boat. As she adjusted the powerful lens, she moved toward the rear of the boat. Near the stern she could barely discern the markings. Moving the camera toward the front of the boat, she caught a glimpse of a logo on its side. They were four circles, two on top of the other two, their sides in tangent. The top left circle has its upper half colored black while the lower left quarter is blue and the lower right quarter white. The one on the upper right is painted the same but with the circle turned 90 degrees clockwise. The circle on the lower right is turned another 90 degrees clockwise and another turn for the circle in the lower left. This allows the white portions of the circles to form a white square whoses sides pass the center of the circles. In the middle of the square is a four sided star formed by the four circles, the upper half has some kind of red triangular marking on it with a red spot on the lower half.

"What do you see," asked Isabelle who has left Arianne alone with her low magnification binoculars.

"It is some sort of an official boat by some private agency," she replied.

"What is that moving in there," Arianne said excitedly.

"It's a boat," answered Isabelle upset that Arianne did not lend her the binoculars.

"No, the one near the boat."

Jasmin zoomed out of the boat in time to see the surface of the water move slightly. The wind was blowing westerly but the small wave is moving diagonally toward the boat.

Arianne screamed as Jasmin's view of the boat was blocked by a wall of water.

The three girls looked at Arianne. She was all excited and screaming nervously, her trembling hands pointing at something toward the direction of the boat.

As they slowly followed her hand, they saw something monstrous rise from the water. It was like a scene from a fantasy movie about a legendary pirate whose ship was attacked by a sea monster controlled by yet another fearsome creature.

The monster lifted the boat from the lake. Its tentacles closing in on the hapless boat and its ill-fated crew. As quickly as it rose. The monster disappeared beneath the waves. It's movement made the lake swell, ripples pushing water to the banks awashing the girls.

The they heard another growl, a growl from the depths of the lake.

The girls panicked. Arianne quickly turned running away from the lake shore, leaving her bag and dropping her binoculars. Genny picked up her bag and that of Arianne and ran after her. Isabelle shouldered her bag and tried to pull Jasmin away. Coming to her senses, Jasmin got her things and ran after Isabelle.

As the girls made their way from the opening of the lake to the river, a pair of eyes watched them as they scampered back the way they came.

20. Murmurs - Quest for the Dose Halimaw

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, all the fountains of the great deep came bursting through, and the windows of heaven were open. - Genesis 7:11.

It was a rainy day in October. Genny is excited. It is her first time in the province. And she is in a road trip with her college classmates to visit the Maria Cristina Falls for the summer. The falls is about an hours drive from Cagayan de Oro's Lumbia Airport.



She had been cooped up in their condominium in Makati. Her life has consisted of daily trips to an exclusive girls' school where she studied until high school. Her family takes weekend trips to malls and fancy restaurants and to other countries during holidays.

"So, what is in store for us at the falls," she asks her classmate, Arianne.

"Well, I don't know exactly," Arianne replied somewhat unprepared. "Hehehe, I have never actually been there," she added sheepishly.

"WHAT!?" the girls asked in unison.

"You live in Iligan and yet you have never been to the falls," exclaimed the shocked Jasmin.

Could not keep her feet inside their house, Jasmin is the most adventurous of the four girls. Adventurous in outdoor sense of the world, she has trekked Mount Makiling, went spelunking in the Callao Caves, and even walked among those who oppposed the leadership of the former president of the republic.

"My parents are too strict," explained Arianne. "This is my first shot at freedom."

Before going to one of the prestigious universities in Manila, Arianne lived the life of a province girl. Although their mailing address tell that they are in a city, their house is in the outskirt, nearer the next town than the center of the city.

"This could be fun," smiled Isabelle. Isabelle is the other adventurous one. Adventure in the urban sense. She has trekked the length of Eastwood City, entered counless bars and pubs, and partied among the leftist youth after the fall of the previous administration.

"What could be more fun than worrying where we will go next," said Jasmin excitedly.

"Or who we will meet," added Isabelle.

"But where will be stay," Genny asked.

"We can probably find a place to stay there," Arianne tried to assure them.

"Here we are girls," interrupted the driver stopping the van on the side of the concrete road.

They all looked through the rain washed window.

"Oh crap," they said in unison.

Outside is an almost inundated trail toward the forest and up the mountain.

Beside the trail is a small store made of nipa roof and flattened bamboo as walls. It has roof extending upfront forming a shed with benches on each side made of bamboo. The store's bamboo foundations were buried deep in the soil filled by boulders for support. Its beams are tied together by lashings made of peeled off bamboo skin. Also securing the joints are bamboo pegs used in the same way as nails.

Seeing that the van will not be able to traverse the narrow trail, the girls decided to get off.

"So, what time will I come back for you tomorrow," asked the driver .

"How about around five in the afternoon," Isabelle said stopping at the open door before running off to the store shed.

"Won't that be too late already," Genny said throwing the question at the running and rain drenched Isabell. Turning to Arianne she added, "Won't it?"

"Don't worry girl, this will be fun," Jasmin added then pushed Genny unto the rain. "Come back any time and any day you want," she said to the driver with a wide grin on her face before running off to the store.

"Manong, just come pick us up at three," Arianne told the driver.

"Hokay, three it is," the driver said with a sigh.

Arianne closed the door and ran off to be with her friends.

As the girls shook off their rain drenched clothes, the rented van started and turned back toward the direction of Iligan City.

"Well, the adventure begins," exclaimed Jasmin.

"I hope they have good drinks there," said Isabelle a little smugly. Turning to the store tender, "You have any drinks with more than 30% alcohol content, manang?"

"Oh, we have some rhum, gin, and tuba," answered the the old lady, somewhat startled by the suddenness of the question.

"Uy, uy, my friends in high school said the tuba here are great," said Arianne jumping and clapping like a little girl.

"Tuba it is," grinned Isabelle. "Isang tuba, manang."

It was already lunch time when the girls reached the falls.

Cottages were erected around the base of the falls by the tourism office of the local government. At the end of the trail from the national road is a cottage that serves as a reception center. The girls entered the cottage and registered their names at the visitor guest book. They chose a cottage by the river near the falls.

"Well, this is a surprise," said Arianne. "I never heard about any tourism development in these parts."

photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Cristina_Falls

The scenery took the girls' breaths away. Drenched by both the rain and the shower from the fall, they stared at the falls in awe.

"This is so beautiful," said Arianne. "I lived minutes away from this and I have never imagined it to be this beautiful."

"Sure beats the neon lights of Manila," shared Isabelle.

"This is the life," sighed Jasmin.

"Two big shower stalls," added Genny.

"Except that its pressure can crush you," Isabelle said tapping Genny's shoulder and urging her toward their cottage.

After lunch, the girls had fun bathing near the pond of the falls. By late afternoon, they are exhausted and had retired in their cottage illuminated by three kerosene lamps. They have also lit some anti-mosquito coils to drive away the pesky insects.

"This is the life," Jasmin repeating what she said earlier laying back at the bamboo papag.

"Man, no discos, no boys, no nothing," complained Isabelle slumping on a bamboo chair.

"All you think about is city night life," said Jasmin in response. "Try the great outdoors."

"Well, this suits you mountain girl, but when we get back to the city, I will be out 'til closing time."

"It's drinking time," suddenly interrupted Arianne. "I have so longed to be out, drink and get wild."

"Good for you, Ne," answered Jasmin. "You and Isa can pain the city red tomorrow night."

"Good idea! It will be my last hurrah before I get back to the 'security' of my home."

"Let's party people," shouted Genny in a party dress with flower prints carrying four glasses and a bag of chips.

photo from http://www.pcij.org

The girls where through half of the liter of tuba when they felt the table shake. Realizing what is happening, they jumped and ran outside the cottage.

Frantic screams can be heard from other cottages as people ran out side.

As sudden as the quake began, it stopped.

Everyone can hear a distant rumble like the grumbling of an empty stomach begging for food.

"Oh my god, what is happening," said the worried Arianne clutching Jasmin.

"It's just a quake," Jazz assured her.

"What about the after shock," asked the trembling Gen.

"Like Jazz said, this is the life," said Isa sarcastically.

"Listen," said Jazz.

"What," asked Gen.

"The rumbling noise stopped."

"So," interjected Isa.

"It may mean it's over."

A few minutes later they began walking back to their cottage. Other people in other cottages are doing the same. Some are making calls to their families while a few headed for the reception area to get some news.

"Hey, do you guys smell something," asked Jazz stopping her friends.

"No," answered Arianne.

"Same here," added Gen.

"I smell myself," chided Isa.

"No, it smells like sulfur."

"Like in a laboratory sulfur," asked Arianne beginning to worry again.

"No, like in a volcanic sulfur."

The three girls gasped and together looked toward the river. It appears that Jazz is not the only one who caught the scent. Other people are also gathering near the river. A dog owned by the caretakers is barking at the direction of the falls.

"Oh this is bad," they heard someone say. "I have read that the Lanao Lake where the water is coming from is made from a collapsed volcano."

They heard worried gasps and whispers all around. One group retreated to their cottage making plans to leave that same night. The others began calling the drivers of the vehicles they rented that brought them to the same place where the four girls were dropped off.

"Ah, folks," called the tourism supervisor. "I have just heard from PHIVOLCS that the tremor was detected to have its epicenter near the middle of Lanao Lake and is advising us to vacate the grounds."

He immediately added, " we are not in any immediate danger yet so please gather your things and we will leave together in an orderly fashion within the hour or as soon as everyone is ready."

On their way back to their cottage, Arianne confided with her friends. "You know, I think I did not just hear the rumbling sound. I think I also heard a faint screech or roar."

"I think heard that too," confirmed Gen.

"I think you are imagining things," said Isa.

"Have you heard the story how Lanao Lake was made," asked Arianne. "Our elders and some of our teachers used to tell the story to us. It is like a folklore similar to Bernardo Carpio in Luzon."

"You don't expect me to believe that," said Isa smirking.

"I don't," replied Arianne flatly. "But I think it will be interesting to know what made that screeching or roaring sound."

"Must be some wild animals," said Jazz.

"Or a monster," added Gen excitedly.

Are you guys thinking what I am thinking," slyly asked Jazz.

"Oh no, no, no," cautioned Arianne.

"Oh yes! This may be a monster waking up after thousands of years of sleep."

"You are crazy girl," dismissed Isa. "You have been watching way too many monster movies. How do you suppose it got there?"

"Maybe during the great flood in Noah's time," shrugged Gen.

"Or maybe while the angels moved Mantapoli, an ancient sea monster was drawn into the lake when water filled the hole they left on the ground. It somehow managed to live there for millions of years now."

The girls all stared at her, bewildered at what their friend is saying.

"There is only one way to find out," challenged Jazz.