Sophia was caught in a pause, and couldn’t believe that the shawl originally belonged to her. Then she remembered what she read in her diaries before. The bonfire was on the same night she saw the strange creature in the lake house.
Did I drop the shawl when I saw him? Sophia wondered to herself as her mysterious smile bewildered Bea. How did Abanir get it? Sophia asked herself again. Then she realized that since then, Abanir had always been at the lake house since they had their first unexpected encounter.
“Oh, Abanir! You always amaze me. I think I love you…” Sophia whispered to herself, and her love for him grew stronger thereafter. On and on, she would think of him.
The family already left Forest Green but Sophia lingered by her car window while staring beyond the mountains. She knew a bigger world waited for her in the city, but there would always be that special place, that place where her heart would always belong tothe Forest of Evergreen.
Appendix A
About The Great Archipelago of Philipdomia
(Excerpt from Book 1)
The Great Arhipelago of Philipdomia is a mythical democratic country in the North Pacific Ocean, between Guam and Hawaii. The archipelago is made up of four major islands known as Eser, Mindo, Palulu, and Sador. Several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts also compose the country, which all contribute to its world famous beauty and richness. Its capital city is Orlando while its most populous city is Isset, both situated at Sador, the largest major island followed by Eser, Mindo, and Palulu.
The Great Archipelago of Philipdomia’s tropical splendor includes colorful plant life, beautiful beaches and waterfalls, and extinct volcanoes. The cool Pacific winds keep the archipelago pleasantly mild all year around, making the country a perfect tourist destination and the ultimate surfing spot.
For more than three centuries, Philipdomia had been controlled by Spain when King Charles I sent explorers to sail the Pacific from Mexico to establish a permanent foothold in the East Indies, which was near the Line of Demarcation between Spain and Portugal under the Treaty of Zaragoza in 1529.
Resembling the Philippines, Ruy López de Villalobos gave Philipdomia its name, after calling the four islands Novas Islas Filipinas (while Las Islas Filipinas was used for the Philippines) in honor of the Infante of Asturias at the time, Philip II of Spain. The country ultimately turned Philipdomia after adjoining Domia, the name of the native chief who killed the earliest set of Spanish invaders.
It has been said, although no historical record as to its veracity exists, that the country is originally discovered in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer under the sovereignty of Spain in search of a westward route to Moluccas or the “Spice Islands,” before he reached the Philippines and was killed in the Battle of Mactan.
The islands, primarily Sador, were important stopovers for the Spanish Manila Galleons that crossed the Pacific until the Mexican War of Independence ended Spanish access to Mexican ports. No records in the archives, however, confirm this. Akin to Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledad in Umatac, Guam, the Spaniards built a number of garrisons such as Fort Aquilina to guard these Pacific fleets. These forts are still standing today and considered to be Philipdomia’s one of the main tourist attractions.
The archipelago was an exile-site for the revolutionists under the Spanish Crown in the Philippines, including Cuban revolutionists during Little War from 1879 to 1880. Filipino deportation here was extended until 1901 following the Philippine-American War. But unknown to the world, it was also here where some Puerto Ricans who protested against the American territorial acquisition of Puerto Rico were deported.
The year 1898 marks as the end of the lengthy and vicious Spanish rule in Philipdomia, when it was surrendered to the United States of America during the Spanish-American War and later formally ceded as part of the Treaty of Paris. But during World War II, it was captured by the Japanese, just the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing, the archipelago was subject to fierce fighting with the help of the American troops.
Identical to the Philippines, the country was offered by the United States of America to be one of its states but Sebastian Ignacio, then the country’s leader, declined.
Today, the Great Archipelago of Philipdomia is one of the first-world and English-speaking countries in the Pacific Ocean that is not under the US territory, having oil industry and glorious tourism as its major sources of income.
Appendix B
About The Vangkekans
(Excerpt from Book 1)
Five hundred kilometers north of Orlando City is the Province of Orstia. In Orstia, a remote town known as Forest Green is renowned for its remarkably rich Spanish heritage.
However, by the mountainous northeast of Forest Green, there is a mystic wilderness they called the forbidden Forest of Evergreen. The people, at one point in the distant past, believed that creatures of utmost peculiarity existed there. They have heard of the stories from their forefathers, stories of terrifying deeds and darkness. But as the lengthy years went by, such stories became mere folktales and went unheeded as time embraced modernity, and such anecdotes are, by now, deemed of no account.
There in the vastness and thickness of the dark forest was the world of the Vangkekans.
The Vangkekans were outlandish creatures, fractioned into five tribes: the Kravena, the Fegratu, the Sulabun, the Asuldan, and the Kumanggi.
The Kravenas were distinguished by their gigantic and bright feathered wings; the Fegratus, their lustrous and reddish wings; the Sulabuns, their frail yet fear-provoking dusky ones; the Asuldans, their serene olive greens; and the Kumanggis, their velvety browns.
The Kravena Tribe was the realm of Datu Ilak. The Kravenas lived in the foothills of Yandal near the Pacific Ocean, and to their west is the deep River of Samo that passes through the other tribes and ends as estuary. North of the tribe lies the magnificent Falls of Harem.
Up north was the Sulabun Tribe, led by Datu Karok. They had smaller wings than the Kravenas and they preferred to dwell in flat lands rather than highlands.
Across the Samo River was the Fegratu Tribe, headed by Datu Saak. They were smaller ones but fast and vigilant. They lingered by the banks of the river, and fishing became their primary source of food.
Not too distant from the Fegratus was the Asuldan Tribe, ruled by Datu Intal. The Asuldans were friendly Vangkekans and were fond of hunting wild animals. Their wings had the same size as the Sulabuns but appeared to be much weaker. They were lovers of woodlands and they preferred to live in the highlands.
Right next to the Asuldan was the Kumanggi Tribe, guided by Datu Uliman. The Kumanggis had the smallest size of wings but they were the tallest Vangkekans. They were lovers of trees and woodlands, and the hillsides became their habitation.
The Vangkekans were once immortals. However, it was discovered that they could be killed by the strike of an arrow dipped in the hot spring secreted by the Mountains of Yandal. But only those who were brave enough could go through it. At the other side of Yandal Mountains lies the magical Falls of Ovaweh in which water served as the antidote for the deadly arrows.
The Vangkekans’ immortality vanished when Ovaweh Falls ran out of water.
To represent ideas and sounds, the Vangkekans used picture symbols. Primarily, they used stone monuments but sometimes, banana leaves were used as writing sheets and permanent plant pigments as ink. The inscriptions were written or carved by highly trained ones called suratos, but as time passed by, every Vangkekan learned to write and read them.
The male Vangkekans wore wide and thick breechclothes, or wang-gis. These were made from flayed tree bark, brown in color with red ocher, but some were woven of cotton thread by the female Vangkekans. Likewise, the male Vangkekans were topless to reveal their masculine bodies.
On the other hand, the female Vangkekans wore bark-fiber skirts called kul-pas, which were worn
after putting on a tight girdle. Their skirts were also brownish but with red stripes down each side and through the middle. Their skirts were extended from below the navel to near the knees which opened on the sides, and were frequently so scant and narrow that one leg was exposed when walking. Also, a series of woven bands of about five inches wide—passing through beneath their wings at the back—were wrapped around their bodies to cover their breasts.
To make a distinction from an ordinary Vangkekan, the five tribe datus wore a basket-work hat known as sukdalang. It was worn on the back of the head that was held in place by a cord attached at both sides and passing across the forehead. More prominently, the spearheads had tattoos on their upper left arms based on the heavenly body that first fascinated them: the bright sun for Datu Ilak, the twinkling star for Datu Saak, the half-moon for Datu Karok, the C-shaped moon for Datu Intal, and the full moon for Datu Uliman.
When it came to hair, male Vangkekans only possessed a hair cut just above their ears. It was indecent for them to have a long one. But for the females, long hair was necessary.
The five Vangkekan tribes co-existed peacefully until the Battle of Yandal was fought when the Kravena tribe went to war. It was all started by the ambitious Banaak.
Banaak was the sagigilid of the Kravena Tribe and now, the ruler of Sulabun Tribe, after he succeeded Datu Karok (who passed away mysteriously). Banaak married Datu Karok’s only descendant, Sesa Ebasa, and had a son with her. They named him, Kalib.
Appendix C
Definition of Terms
(Excerpt from Book 1)
Bandoryon. It is a group of musicians in Kravena.
Bunjao. He is a well-trained warrior.
Dama-dama. It is a flowering shrub that has a strong scent especially at night.
Datu. He is a tribe’s leader.
Dulsabang. It is a box where Kravenas could put their belongings. It is made up of woven rattan.
Hakara. She is a servant to the tribe’s leader and his family.
Hakaro. He is a servant to the tribe’s leader and his family.
Hala-hala. It is a magical shrub in Kravena used in treating wounds.
Hayan. It is a candle stick of different aromatic herbs believed to send a relaxing effect in the nostrils.
Ila. It is how Vangkekans call their mother.
Ilo. It is how Vangkekans call their father.
Kansilo. He is a wise Kravena responsible in guiding the datu’s decisions.
Kubot. It is a dwelling of the Kravenas; made up of bamboo walls and large dried grasses as rooftop.
Kul-pas. It is the female Vangkekans’ bark-fiber skirt.
Lapey. It is a Vangkekan kind of liquor, prepared from coconut.
Mang-aani. He/she is a tribe peasant responsible for planting sinapoy, the Vangkekans’ staple food.
Ogbo Tree. It is a tree in Kravena that is believed to have a pain-relieving property.
Palasyon. It is the dwelling of a datu and his family. It is much larger than any kubot and it is located at the center of the tribe.
Pasindol. Kravena Tribe’s annual contest to spot the most excellent in archery.
Pluta. It is a musical instrument that sounds and looks like a flute.
Pugad. It is a hiding place of the Kravenas. It is located underground, covered with wild grasses. It has a secret way leading towards the Samo River.
Raha. He is a datu’s first son and successor.
Reyna. She is a datu’s wife.
Sagigilid. He is a brave and skilled Vangkekan assigned by the tribe’s leader to head their forces.
Sayang. It pertains to a sister.
Sayong. It pertains to a brother.
Sepe. He is a datu’s son.
Sesa. She is a datu’s daughter.
Sinapoy. It is a form of grain that is the staple food of Vangkekans. It is boiled along with various aromatic leaves to enhance its savor.
Sukdalang. It is the datu’s basket-work hat placed on the back of the head.
Surato. He/she is a trained Vangkekan in writing or carving inscriptions.
Taga-siklaw. He is assigned to investigate the tribe’s anomalies.
Taga-sumalas. It is a group of dancers performing for every Vangkekan festivity.
Tambuling. It is a musical instrument resembling a drum.
Ula-ula. It is a magical shrub (like hala-hala shrub) in Kravena used in treating wounds.
Wang-gis. It is the male Vangkekans’ wide and thick breechclothes.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My foremost and unending gratitude goes to the Almighty Father for giving me a life so full of mishaps and adventures, and these earned me the wisdom and enthusiasm to keep on writing. Lord, you are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. All humankind rejoice in Your name, and we can hardly wait for Your return. All glory, honor, and power are Yours, Lord, forever!
My lovely parents—for being always there. I love you.
My amazing brothers—Paul John and Dominic for always understanding me despite my weirdness and limitations.
Erika Grace “Four” Yunson—for inspiring me, always. After Book One, I got so much in touch with you, and I realized you are the artist Sophia in real life. You resemble so much of her—the same amazing artist—but she was taller and you are braver and more mature, I guess (laughs). I feel blessed that I met you. For the past few months, you’ve taught me so many things in life. You always call me “your mommy in the making” but hey, I am already a mother to you. You showed me the true value of trust and friendship. You rekindled my love for dogs, and I should also thank Hachi for that. Thank you and I will always cherish the moment you called me “mommy.”
Glaiza Ignacio—for being the best friend that everybody is wishing to have. There are too many things I want to thank you for, especially your tolerance of my weirdness, but this page won’t be enough. So let me just say “thank you.” It’s simple as it may seem but I mean it from the depths of my hypothalamus, and you already know what I mean, partner. (Laughs)
My editor, Maria Evelyn Diaz Vergara, Ph.D.—for being an editor, a life coach, and a friend. I give you my deepest gratitude for the unconditional friendship.
Artist Renee Grace Vergara Juliano for her review and artistic inputs.
Lastly, I thank all the students and people working at OLFU-COP and NU-COP.
To our HEAVENLY FATHER and JESUS CHRIST
OUR SAVIOR be the glory, honor, and power
FOREVER AND EVER.
The Forest of Evergreen: Found in the Wilderness Page 18
