Suling's Journey: A Tale of Faith, Healing, and Loss in San Fernando, Cebu
On a sweltering afternoon in San Fernando, Cebu, Leonel Quillo gazed skyward with a mix of awe and sorrow. His eyes traced the plumes of smoke billowing from a distant plant, rising like twisted cotton candy against the backdrop of the ancient San Isidro Labrador Church. The heat pressed down as he walked westward toward the coast, his steps slow and weary under the relentless sun.
A Landscape Transformed
To the south, the clear sky revealed the scarred slopes of Naga City, resembling a vast white canvas draped over the mountains. In the distance, two backhoes appeared as child's toys, yet up close, they were fierce beasts devouring trees large and small. Sweat drenched Quillo's skin—a testament to the extreme weather—and as he neared the shore, the beauty of the blue sea struck him. Its surface lay smooth, like a deity's flowing hair, but a heavy emptiness tightened in his chest.
He couldn't shake the stories from the humble village of Baryo Basa, named for its perpetually soaked ground. Once close to a flowing stream, the village now suffered from parched earth and receding waters due to the intense heat. Whispers spoke of a child god with a cotton-like voice appearing near the stream, angered by those bathing in the tranquil waters during summer. Market vendors like Nang Elena and Nang Esmeralda debated these tales amidst the fishy aroma of the marketplace, where electric fans whirred to ward off flies and LED lights glowed despite the morning heat.
The Sisters and Their Burden
Amid this setting, Suling returned home to find her older sister, Milagros, soiled and lost in her own world. Milagros, born normal, had developed a mental illness at age seven, attributed by village elders to a curse or an ancient epidemic foretold to drive people mad. Yet, with this affliction came a gift: Milagros became a healer, revered in Baryo Basa for her ability to cure the sick. Suling, her sole caretaker, cherished this role, especially after their parents died five years earlier in a mining landslide in Naga.
However, the sisters faced growing resentment from their community. Their pagan healing practices clashed with Christian beliefs, disrupting the church's unity and drawing condemnation from Father Emmanuel and other elders. In a poignant exchange, Suling defended their actions, explaining that healing provided their daily sustenance. Father Emmanuel warned that such powers, not from God, were dark magic leading to societal ruin, urging Suling to seek salvation elsewhere.
A Haunting Encounter and Tragic Loss
Conflicted, Suling's world unraveled further one day as she and Milagros headed to the stream to bathe. Sensing a presence following them, Suling helped her sister into the water. Suddenly, a child's voice called her name—"Suling! Suling!"—from among the reeds. A shy child smiled at her before hiding behind bamboo, vanishing when Suling gave chase. Returning to the stream, she found Milagros lifeless, drowned.
Devastated, Suling wept by the water, her cries echoing through the village. She confided in Father Emmanuel, who offered condolences but left her paralyzed with grief. Each day, she visited the stream, bathing and speaking to herself, haunted by memories of pain and loss. In a final act, she whispered to the waters: "There is no peace, only the ache of memory," before diving into the depths, disturbing the still surface forever.
