Itay Andot Learns to Smile

Merlie Alunan

IN THE VILLAGE OF KALUNDIIS, which meant ‘dimples,’ folks loved to smile. A smile makes things go easier. Smiling made them strong.

One day Haguros Bagyo came and blew so hard. The rain made the rivers leap from their banks and the wind caused the sea to rise. Many houses were buried under the mud. Haguros Bagyo took away Itay Andot’s two sons, Tugas and Apitong, and his dear wife, Baying Sunting Paraghilot, the healer.

After some years the fields were green again in Kalundiis. People forgot thetime when Haguros Bagyo carried off so many folks in their village and destroyedtheir crops. Kalundiis did not want to dwell in sad memories.

The only way to defeat Haguros Bagyo, they said, is to show him he cannot make us cry for long.

But Itay Andot missed Baying Sunting everyday and every night. He missed his sons, Tugas and Apitong. He was angry at Haguros Bagyo. His anger and his sadness refused to go away. Itay Andot forgot how to smile.

INAY SULA PUT THE NIGO of hot bibingka on her head every morning and went around Kalundiis, calling out, “Uuuy, bibingka, mapaso-paso pa! Uyyy, bibingka, nice and hot, come and buy!”

This morning, Inay Sula saw a little boy under the aratiles tree crying so pitifully. “Uy, where is your Inay? Why are you alone? Here’s a bibingka,” she said, handing one to him. “Come with me. Perhaps we will meet your mother on the way.”

When she passed by the house of Itay Andot, she said, “I will leave you with Itay Andot. He’s a kind man. Here’s one bibingka for you and another one for Old Man Andot. When I meet your mother, I will tell her where to find you.”

“Itay Andot, wake up! You have a guest!” Then she turned to go.

“Hooyy! Bibingka, mapaso-paso pa! Palit kamo bibingka, mapaso-paso pa! Come and buy, bibingka nice and hot!”

“Waaah! Waaah!” The crying at his doorstep startled Itay Andot. Old Dog Ayam was sniffing him up the child. He tried to talk but his voice would not come out. At last he got his voice back. “Ssssh, stop crying. Ayam Dog won’t bite you.”

Ay, he thinks to himself when he saw the child, He looks like Tugas and Apitong when they were babies. The old man’s heart gave a little leap.

“D’ink, d’ink,” the child said. But the bucket was full of holes. After many tries he got some water from the well for the child to drink.

“Uhrmm! Uhrmm!” Itay Andot rumbled, but he could only make funny faces.

“Ha ha ha! Funny face. Funny face, ha ha ha!”

Itay Andot seemed to hear the voices of Tugas and Apitong. He and the child went around the yard chasing birds and butterflies and frogs.

Itay Andot put the child on the back of Iday Gatasan, the milk carabao. They left her to feed in the pasture and carried the child home on his back.

When they returned home, Itay Andot opened the windows of his little house. Light and air filled every corner. The child fell asleep on his mat. He looked just like Tugas and Apitong. Itay Andot watched the child and smiled.

INAY SULA’S BIBINGKA were all sold out and now she was on her way home. She passed by the aratiles tree where a group had gathered around a woman looking for her child.

“He’s safe. He’s with Itay Andot!” she told the mother.

With Inay Sula leading the way, the mother and the entire village marched to Itay Andot’s sagging porch, and into the sun-filled house. Itay Andot was sitting beside the sleeping child, waving away the flies.

“Salamat, salamat. I thank you for your kindness, old father. Salamat, salamat,” said the mother as she hugged her child.

To everyone’s surprise, after much winking and blinking, Itay Andot smiled at everyone.

ITAY ANDOT IS MORE OFTEN in the village these days with the children, He is always with his two faithful animals, Iday. Gatasan and Old Dog Ayam.

Nobody saw the mother and child in Kalundiis ever again. But Inay Sula and Itay Andot think of them often.

Itay Andot knows Haguros Bagyo cannot take away his happy memories of Inay Sunting and their sons, Tugas and Apitong. Each time he thought of them, he smiled.