The ground she had trodden on sang to her in all its glory.
It had been like this ever since she could remember, as soon as she touched the earth with her bare skin she would know where and how it came to be.
Today her feet rested on the island of Panay.
It only took a moment for a torrent of senses to come grasping at her.
She could see the sky being covered by gigantic wings and the great hero that came up to the challenge.
She could feel the reverberation of the blows coming from both combatants.
She could hear echoes that reached great distances, of grit and determination on one side and a cacophony of feral gibbering on the other.
She could smell the stench of blood in the air.
She could taste his victory.
The sensations were more vivid this time, barely giving her room to rest. She gripped the soil in her hands and waited for another vision.
And the earth responded in kind.
The hero’s name was Dumalapdap, the monster, Ayutang.
Their fight took seven long months as their power and prowess seemed to be equal. But the hero was able to discover the weakness of the monster.
With his magic dagger called Daniwan, he struck with all his might, the armpit of Ayutang.
When it fell the earth opened and swallowed the bat-like creature whole.
The ground shifted.
The rocks in the area sank into the newly formed sea, but jutting out to the surface were two new islands, a symbol of the hero’s victory.
And thus, it was not only the island of Panay that reached its genesis but also of Negros.
She sighed and laid her weary head to rest.
Another story known, another day finished.
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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Inspired by the The Hinilawod. Clavel (1972)
Ayutang Illustration by Joel Bulagnir