| The Nightmare of Tora-Tora | | | | live. This was the weapon that made us fearless. The |
| | | | priceless weapon that gave no room for the fear to |
| I | | | | conquer our mind. So under the trees we sat in |
| 1975, in Pasil, Sulu, Philippines - The sky was clear, | | | | silence...Helpless but determined. Then in another big |
| cloudless and crystal-like. The blazing heat of the sun | | | | paksul again we safely hid ourselves and waited till |
| glittered on the riverbank. But a brief rain shower | | | | the morning came. |
| forced Pindatun and I to stay under the Wanni tree. | | | | IV |
| Then in a while, an awesome rainbow became visible. | | | | Everything was still fresh in my mind. The scene was |
| “Abdel…Abdel!" A familiar voice echoed from a | | | | as clear as babuh Insih’s enchanting voice that |
| distance. It was not unusual to hear babuh Insih | | | | echoed around as she sang the Lugu’. The food |
| calling me that way. Her voice disturbed the flocks | | | | was so inviting that I couldn’t resist until I felt |
| that were taking time on top of the Buwahan trees. | | | | something strange in my tummy, a call of nature. So |
| It was louder than before. | | | | together with Pindatun, I quickly looked for a big tree |
| “Abs, you are called. We will just continue hunting | | | | at the backyard where I could dispose my waste. |
| for birds later in the afternoon," Pindatun suggested. | | | | And finally, we made it with no interruption. I could |
| “But I guess it’s not yet time to eat,” I | | | | still hear the lugu’ of babuh Insih, the sound of |
| exclaimed. “Maybe she’s taking you to | | | | Kulintangan and the laughter of every luruk. “Are |
| town,” Pindatun explained. “Town?” | | | | you done?” Pindatun asked. “Yes!” I |
| She didn’t mention anything like that to me,” | | | | replied. “But there’s no water here,” I |
| I emphasized. “Mother told me last night that the | | | | complained. “Is that a problem? Look, there’s |
| barangay captain’s son is going to marry today. I | | | | a lot of coffee leaves around,” Pindatun laughed. |
| know that she will go together with your babuh | | | | But the feast turned bloody when a Tora-Tora |
| Insih,” Pindatun confirmed. | | | | swiftly passed over and dropped a bomb. At an |
| So I hurriedly ran to where my babuh Insih's voice | | | | instant, a frightening sound burst into the ground. By |
| came from. “I’m here!” I shouted. | | | | and by, the dust filled the air. “Lailaha Illallah!” |
| “You should have not gone too far from the | | | | A man shouted in the house. Pindatun and I were |
| house, Abdel,” babuh Insih explained. “Come | | | | very lucky. We kept on hiding under a big Durian tree. |
| with me. We will go to Utoh Askali’s house. His | | | | We knew that many were injured...many died. That |
| eldest son is going to get marry today. And…I am | | | | was the last day I heard the enchanting voice of my |
| invited to sing the lugu’.” She continued. | | | | babuh Insih. The voice which I sometimes hated to |
| II | | | | hear whenever she told me not to hang around with |
| Almost all of the visitors were having fun in that | | | | friends. But at that moment, I missed her. I wished I |
| Pag-imun-imun. Everyone was there. It was so happy | | | | could turn back time but it's over. |
| to see familiar faces around. Pindatun was also there. | | | | V |
| He was carrying his father’s Armalite. So I | | | | “Where are you going, ama?” My young boy |
| joined him sitting in front of a long table where native | | | | asked. “To the market place. Where is your |
| pastries were served such as; Bang-Bang Hantak, | | | | ina?” I inquired. “She’s in the |
| Sasagun, Bawlu, Panganan, Durul, Jah, Pitis, Daral, | | | | neighborhood. Aren’t you coming with us, |
| Pasung, Jualan and many others. We ate some and I | | | | ama?” My son continued. “Why, where do |
| noticed that each of us was given three glasses of | | | | you plan to go with your inah, Salih?” I |
| beverage. The first glass was filled with coffee, the | | | | investigated. “To the next street. The counselor |
| second was filled with tea and the third was filled | | | | is going to celebrate his son’s pagkawin |
| with water. | | | | today.” Salih explained. |
| Later, the parkalah was full of luruk coming from the | | | | Vocabulary Guide |
| neighborhood. Many of them were armed men. Each | | | | Agong – is different from a typical royalty gong. |
| of them carried a gun. But it was no longer new to | | | | It is a basin-like metal musical instrument usually hit at |
| my sight. Women glittered in colorful outfits with | | | | the back to produce sound.ama - means |
| very exaggerating pieces of jewelry which I was | | | | fatherbabu’ – means auntbang-bang – |
| so sure were made of gold.“Look Abs, those | | | | means biscuit or pastry |
| ladies are going to dance the Pangalay. Let’s go | | | | Batawi – is a blouse usually accentuated with |
| closer and take a look,” Pindatun invited. | | | | artistic golden or silver buttons called |
| Three ladies in colorful Sawwal and Batawi danced | | | | ‘Tambuku’ by the natives . |
| gracefully. They were accompanied by a traditional | | | | Bawlu – is one of the Tausug pastries similar to a |
| music played by four men who were sitting side by | | | | cup cake. |
| side. A beautiful sound of kulintangan, tabungguh, | | | | Buwahan - means lanzones |
| gandang and agong blended together. Few minutes | | | | Daral – is one of the Tausug pastries made of |
| later, a man walked around the ladies and put or | | | | grated coconut meat cooked with brown sugar and |
| clipped some paper bills on their shoulder as a form | | | | wrapped with a lumpia-like wrapper. |
| of appreciation for a good performance. He was | | | | Durul –is one of the Tausug pastries. It is soft |
| Datu Al-Mujiv, the groom. It was followed by his | | | | and black in appearance wrapped with dry Banana |
| father and brothers. Then, some of the luruk also did | | | | leaves varying in sizes. |
| the same. | | | | Hantak – is one of the Tausug biscuits rolled in |
| III | | | | white sugar. |
| “Abdel,” a voice called me. But this time, it | | | | Ina – means mother |
| was a man’s voice. “We have to leave this | | | | Jah – is one of the Tausug pastries made of rice |
| place as soon as possible. The military are heading | | | | flour with sugar. It is deep- fried in artistic way |
| to this place.” Pindatun reported. “But where | | | | shaped into a cigarette-like. In Luuk, it is shaped like a |
| are we going? It’s too dark out there. Why | | | | triangle. |
| don’t we just sleep in this paksul and wait till the | | | | Juwalan – is fried Banana split. |
| morning comes?” I explained. “There’s | | | | Kulintangan – is a musical instrument composed |
| no time to argue, Abdel. Everyone is moving | | | | of round metal plates arranged on strings |
| now,” Pindatun emphasized. “We have to | | | | according to size supported by a boat-like wooden |
| leave this place. Let’s go!” babuh Insih | | | | stand. |
| declared. I was so reluctant to come out of the | | | | Lugu’ – is a chant usually sung during |
| paksul. We only had lingered in it for a while and it | | | | Mauluddin Nabi to celebrate the birth of Prophet |
| was too tiresome moving from one place to another. | | | | Mohammad (S.A.W.). |
| It seemed like an endless caravan with no definite | | | | Luruk- means visitor |
| destination. My feet almost swelled with pain that | | | | Pag imun- imun – means gathering |
| night. And so was my stomach. I was still sitting | | | | Pagkawin – means wedding |
| with my back leaning against the wall of the | | | | Paksul - is a deep excavation usually found |
| un-concrete dark and smelly paksul. “Get out of | | | | underneath a house where natives hide to keep |
| it now! They are coming closer….Hurry!” | | | | themselves safe from gunshots or any bomb blast. |
| Pindatun urged. Suddenly a big blast broke the silence | | | | Pangalay – is a native dance in Sulu usually |
| that night jerking every corner of the place. It was | | | | assisted by musical background of Kulintangan, Agong |
| followed by another terrifying sound that cut | | | | and Tabunggu’ when performed. Now, musical |
| several Coconut trees. The tapahan were blazing in | | | | background is available in CDs. |
| fire. Houses were destroyed. In my mind, I could see | | | | Panganan- is one of the Tausug pastries made of |
| a giant demon amidst the blazing fire. A demon who | | | | roast corn flour mixed with common flour and sugar |
| devours anything or anyone he encounters in his | | | | rolled in different stylish shapes. It is usually black |
| way. The sight was so frightening. And I couldn’t | | | | in appearance. |
| remember how I managed to jump out of that deep | | | | Panyam- is one of the Tausug pastries made of |
| excavation when another bomb was dropped by | | | | rice flour with sugar and natural flavoring usually |
| that scarry aircraft. And before the third bomb | | | | comes from Durian. It is deep fried in different |
| exploded, I found myself running toward the | | | | sizes. The largest panyam is found in Luuk. |
| darkest jungle. There… I saw a number of people | | | | Parkala’ – means occasion |
| fleeing to the same direction….Shivering….trembling. | | | | Pasung – is one of the Tausug pastries made of |
| And though it wasn’t easy to recognize anyone, | | | | rice flour with sugar wrapped with Banana leaves in |
| I knew they were families who left their homes | | | | cone shape and steamed. The color varies. It is |
| and property. The horrible sound of the fatal | | | | brown if brown sugar is used. It is white if white |
| weapons continued. “Run…Run!” An old man | | | | sugar is used. |
| from the group shouted vigorously. In fear and | | | | Pitis – is one of the Tausug pastries made of |
| confusion, he ran away while shouting "Allahu Akbar! | | | | special black rice flour called ‘Putan’ with |
| Allahu Akbar!". At my age, I thought he got a good | | | | sugar and coconut milk wrapped with Banana leaves. |
| idea in doing that. But in no time, he fell down and | | | | Sasagun- is one of the Tausug biscuit made of |
| died....Helpless. So everyone sat down in | | | | common flour and corn flour with sugar which when |
| silence...Wishing that it was over. Wishing that angels | | | | eaten easily melts in the mouth. |
| would come to save us...but, there was none. Angels | | | | Sawwal- is a loose square pants of varied colors |
| were deaf and blind that night. In my mind, as I | | | | usually worn during Muslim holidays and wedding. |
| looked at the stars in the sky and listened to the cry | | | | Tabunggu’- is a musical instrument made of |
| of the hungry children, I supposed that God was fast | | | | wooden tube-like of which the upper and the lower |
| asleep for prayers were not answered either. Only | | | | parts are covered with animal hide usually of cow |
| the hope itself remained as the weapon in | | | | which when hit produce sound. |
| everyone's heart. The hope to survive. The hope to | | | | |