*Note this story is in Tagalog
Ang hinaharap ay maraming angking landas para sa mga naghahanap. Ngunit may mga nilalang na may kakayahang makita ang takbo’t daloy ng walang-hanggan. Sa kanilang mga titig ay sumasayaw ang kawalang-katapusan, ang laksa-laksang posibilidad ng mga maaaring maganap, magaganap, at nararapat na maganap.
Hindi tuloy mapigilang pagbulayan kung ang hinaharap ba ay isang kulungan. Oo, ang tumpak na pagkaalam sa hinaharap ay nagpapahiwatig ng tiyak nitong pag-iral. Kung magkagayon, lahat ng kaluluwa ay nakagapos sa walang kabuluhang sayaw ng buhay. Anumang dapat maganap ay magaganap. Kapalaran ang tunay na panginoon ng sansinukob.
Mayroon ding nagsasabing ang hinaharap ay isang nagsasanga-sangang ilog. Bawat kilos ay lumilikha ng mga bagong maaaring mangyari, na siya ring dumarami nang walang hangganan. Sa pagpili ay nalilikha ang hindi mabilang na mga hinaharap, isang liko-likong sapa ng mga hinaharap na maaaring umiral at iiral lamang kung wasto ang mapipiling hakbang, walang-hanggang mga posibilidad patungo sa walang nakaaalam.
Ang pinakanakakikilabot na hinaharap ang iyong hindi umiiral. Ang nakaraan, kasalukuyan, at hinahanap ay waring totoo para sa atin, ngunit ito’y batay lamang mula sa kung saan tayo nakatanaw. Ang reyalidad ay naisaayos ayon sa kawalang-hangganan, kung saan ang mga kumpol ng oras, espasyo, at space-time ay itinatapon sa 4-dimensiyonal na saligutgot.
Anumang hawak ng kapalaran, silang nakakikita ay walang magagawa kundi gawin ang tungkuling naiatas sa kanila. Maaari silang maging gabay sa walang katapusang ligaya, o di kaya’y maging papet sa malupit na laro ng sansinukob. Gayunman, sila’y magsisipaglasing at tutugtugin ang kanilang musika.
Natatanaw nila ang kabilang ibayo sa likod ng tabing ng kawalang-hangganan. Hangal lamang ang hindi makikinig sa mga sipol mula sa mga puno.
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English Version
The future holds many paths to those that seek them, yet there are beings that can see into the ebb and flow of eternity. In their gaze dances the infinite, the scores upon scores of possibilities of what can, what will, and what must.
One cannot help but wonder if the future is our prison. True, accurate knowledge of the future implies that there is an assured existence of a future. If this is the case then all souls are bound to the meaningless dance of life. What will happen, will happen. Fate is the true master of the universe.
Then there are those that say the future is a branching river. Each action opens up a host of new possibilities that multiply into infinity. It is through these choices that uncountable futures are made, a winding stream of futures that may be, and will only come into existence if the right choices are made, infinite possibilities stretching into the unknown.
The most frightening future of all is one that doesn’t exist. The past, present and future may be real to us, but that is only dependent on our point of view. Reality is ordered through an infinite, one where clumps of time, space and space-time are thrown into four-dimensional chaos.
Whatever the future holds, those that see have no choice but to play their part. They may be the guide to a blissful eternity, or mere puppets in a cruel universe’s game. But either way they will drink their wine and play their music.
They see past the veil of eternity. Only the foolish would not listen to the whistles in the trees.
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*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Levi Masuli
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Levi Masuli
Inspired by the Palasekan description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.
Palasekan Illustration by Fam Telmo
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