Title: Bathala

Introduction:

In a small village called Matlock lived Limbo and his grandmother named Mercy, Limbo was 25
years old while his grandmother was 55 years old, she was terribly sicked, Aling Mercy diagnosed heart
tumor that made her weak day by day, and the Doctor said it was benign. Limbo was a kind and loving
grandchild on Aling Mercy, he was raised by her grandmother since his parents got into different
accident when he was 7 years old. Limbo’s father got accident in construction site while his mother hit
by a car crossing on the street. After 12 years Limbo decided to work instead going to college to help his
grandmother to provide maintenance and make her rest. Limbo took the responsibility to take care of
Aling Mercy. He was fully determined on his work, he always thought his grandmother and saved money
for her to provide maintenance and check-ups. Sometime s Limbo was lucky and sometimes don’t. It
was a lovely day, but Limbo got sick so his boss decided that he would file a work-leave to rest but also,
he doesn’t have enough money to save for the next maintenance of his grandmother, but his boss
insisted to take his rest. After a day, his grandmother attacked sickness of her heart tumor, she can
barely breathe because of suffocation, she feels pain or tightness in the middle of the chest. Limbo
called ambulance and went it fast, after the ambulance went in the hospital the Doctor said to him that
Aling Mercy must take her surgery as soon as possible. He doesn’t know where to get money to save his
grandmother, but he just said “Bahala na si Bathala” it reminds him a story of myth about Bathala that
his mother told when he was a child.

*The Story of Bathala*

In the beginning of time there were three powerful gods who lived in the universe. Bathala was
the caretaker of the earth, Ulilang Kaluluwa (lit. Orphaned Spirit), a huge serpent who lived in the
clouds, and Galang Kaluluwa (lit. Wandering spirit), the winged god who loves to travel. These three
gods did not know each other.

Bathala often dreamt of creating mortals, but the empty earth stops him from doing so. Ulilang
Kaluluwa who was equally lonely as Bathala, liked to visit places and the earth was his favorite. One day
the two gods met. Ulilang Kaluluwa, seeing another god rivalling him, was not pleased. He challenged
Bathala to a fight to decide who would be the ruler of the universe. After three days and three nights,
Ulilang Kaluluwa was slain by Bathala. Instead of giving him a proper burial, Bathala burned the snake's
remains. A few years later the third god, Galang Kaluluwa, wandered into Bathala's home. He welcomed
the winged god with much kindness and even invited him to live in his kingdom. They became true
friends and were very happy for many years.

Galang Kaluluwa became very ill. Before he died, he instructed Bathala to bury him on the spot
where Ulilang Kaluluwa’s body was burned. Bathala did exactly as he was told. Out of the grave of the
two dead gods grew a tall tree with a big round nut, which is the coconut tree. Bathala took the nut and
husked it. He noticed that the inner skin was hard. The nut itself reminded him of Galang Kaluluwa’s
head. It had two eyes, a flat nose, and a round mouth. Its leaves looked so much like the wings of his
dear winged friend. But the trunk was hard and ugly, like the body of his enemy, the snake Ulilang
Kaluluwa.
 Bathala realized that he was ready to create the creatures he wanted with him on earth. He
created the vegetation, animals, and the first man and woman. Bathala built a house for them out of the
trunk and leaves of the coconut trees. For food, they drank the coconut juice and ate its delicious white
meat. Its leaves, they discovered, were great for making mats, hats, and brooms. Its fiber could be used
for rope and many other things.

Ending:

Aling Mercy wake up on her consciousness and she’s looking around the room to see if Limbo is
there, but she didn’t find. Limbo frantically searched money if he can borrow on his relatives but he
didn’t get any because likewise they are lack financially. He was at melancholy moment when his boss
called and told to him that he needs to come by to the office because he needs to confirm and find the
data of their distributed products. Apparently, he also thought if he can borrow to his boss just his
grandmother heals from illness. A couple of minutes he was in their factory and go to the office when he
opened the door many people was inside of the office and he was surprised because his boss said “I
insisted to had your work-leave because you deserved to rest but you deserved more than that, you
help a lot of people in here even it’s not all your job to did those so they came up to a conclusion to
return the favor. We heard about your grandmother; we knew how important your grandmother is to
you that’s why we saved money to help. Go on save your grandmother.” Limbo was teary eyed of joyful
and hugged his boss. Finally, after 3 days Aling Mercy now is in good condition and for recovery, she can
discharge by tomorrow. Limbo realizes what he said last time before he searched help, he remembered
and told to himself “He is always the great provider, thanks to him my grandmother was saved”.