Sarimanok: The Bird Between Two Worlds, Chapter 1: The Feast on the Lake

Ranao at dawn. Splash. Dawn mist over Lake Lanao. Fishing boats with outriggers glide out. Mountains behind, a carved royal house on the far shore.

Lake Lanao (Ranao), Mindanao. Early 1600s, the time of the Four Principalities of Lanao.Lawa ng Lanao (Ranao), Mindanao. Unang bahagi ng 1600s, panahon ng Apat na Prinsipalidad ng Lanao.

Maranao means "people of the lake". Lanao is the second-largest lake in the Philippines.Ang ibig sabihin ng Maranao ay "mga tao ng lawa". Ang Lanao ang ikalawang pinakamalaking lawa sa Pilipinas.

The elders say the lake used to have two shores. One you could see, and one you couldn't.Sabi ng matatanda, dati raw may dalawang pampang ang lawa. Isang nakikita, at isang hindi.

The lake wakes. Wide: a lakeside village waking. Women carry brass pots to the water, children chase chickens, smoke from cooking fires. Two fishermen pull up a net. It is almost empty. The older fisherman looks at the still, strange water. Wide: the great torogan on its stilts above the village, its carved beam-ends curling like ferns.

Bayabao, on the eastern shore.Bayabao, sa silangang pampang.

Nothing again? That's three mornings now.Wala na naman? Ikatlong umaga na 'to.

The lake's holding its breath.Parang nagpipigil ng hininga ang lawa.

Torogan: the house of a sultan or datu. The carved beam-ends, called panolong, show the family's rank.Torogan: bahay ng sultan o datu. Ang inukit na dulo ng mga biga, ang panolong, ang nagsasabi ng ranggo ng pamilya.

The secret carver. Tall: inside the torogan, behind a hanging malong, Sari kneels at a low table by oil-lamp light. Wood shavings everywhere. Close-up: her chisel cutting a spiral leaf pattern. Her face, focused, a little smile.

Potri Sari, the Sultan of Bayabao's only daughter.Si Potri Sari, nag-iisang anak na babae ng Sultan ng Bayabao.

Okir: the curling leaf, vine and serpent designs of Maranao art. Carving a torogan was men's work.Okir: ang paikot-ikot na disenyo ng dahon, baging at ahas sa sining Maranao. Panlalaking trabaho ang pag-ukit ng torogan.

Almost... got it.Konti na lang...

The dream. Dream sequence, softer lines: Sari stands on the water at night. A huge bird of fire circles above her, tail curling into spirals. The bird's eye, close, kind. Sari reaches up. Her hand passes through sparks.

She's had the same dream every night since she was little.Gabi-gabi, mula pa noong bata siya, iisa ang panaginip niya.

Sari...Sari...

Who are you?Sino ka?

Halima. Back in the room: the carving is done. A small bird hides inside the leaves. The curtain flies open. Halima stands there in a plain malong, out of breath. Sari pushes the carving under a mat, guilty. Halima, hands on hips, sees the wood shavings in Sari's hair.

There you are.Ayan ka na.

Potri! Were you up all night again?!Potri! Puyat ka na naman?!

I was... praying?Nagdadasal... ako?

With a chisel? Today, of all days!Gamit ang pait? Ngayon pa talaga!

Dressing for the feast. Halima wraps Sari in a rich silk malong with a woven border. Halima places a gold headpiece on Sari's head. Wide: Sari at the window, looking at boats with flags arriving across the water.

Malong: a tube of woven cloth worn as a skirt, a cloak, a blanket or a sling. A royal malong has the langkit border.Malong: tubong habing tela na isinusuot bilang palda, balabal, kumot o duyan. May langkit na gilid ang malong ng maharlika.

You're seventeen. The whole lake is coming to see you.Labimpito ka na. Buong lawa ang dadalo para makita ka.

The whole lake is coming to see who I'll marry.Dadalo sila para makita kung kanino ako ipapakasal.

The Sultan and the datus. Wide: the Sultan stands on the landing as a long boat with ceremonial flags arrives. Datu Mamintal steps onto the shore: young, handsome, proud, a kampilan sword at his side. The Sultan smiles, pleased. Close-up: an advisor whispers to the Sultan.

The Sultan of Bayabao rules one of the four principalities of Lanao, with the datus of the towns.Ang Sultan ng Bayabao ang namumuno sa isa sa apat na prinsipalidad ng Lanao, kasama ang mga datu ng mga bayan.

Sultan, Unayan brings gifts for your daughter.Sultan, may dalang regalo ang Unayan para sa inyong anak.

Welcome, Datu. Bayabao and Unayan ought to be friends.Maligayang pagdating, Datu. Dapat lang na magkaibigan ang Bayabao at Unayan.

An alliance would keep the eastern shore safe, Highness.Kung magkaka-alyansa, ligtas ang silangang pampang, Kamahalan.

The music. Wide: in the courtyard, musicians set up a row of eight small gongs on a carved frame, big hanging gongs and a drum. A young woman tests the gongs with two sticks. Children dance around the gong frame.

Kulintang: a row of small brass gongs played with two sticks, with the large agung gongs and the dabakan drum.Kulintang: hanay ng maliliit na gong na tanso na pinapalo ng dalawang patpat, kasama ang malalaking agung at ang tambol na dabakan.

TING TANG TING

Bapa Marohom. Sari slips away to a shed behind the torogan. An old carver works on a new panolong beam. He does not look up. Sari hands him her carving, surprised. He studies it, serious.

Bapa Marohom, the torogan's old carver.Si Bapa Marohom, ang matandang manlililok ng torogan.

The bird in the leaves. Let me see it.Yung ibon sa mga dahon. Patingin nga.

How did you know?Paano n'yo nalaman?

Who taught you this curl? It wasn't me.Sino'ng nagturo sa 'yo ng kurbang 'to? Hindi ako.

The old story. Bapa Marohom traces a spiral on her carving. Faded inset, like an old woodcut: a bird flying between a bright village and a shadow village. Sari, wide-eyed. Outside, the gongs start. Bapa Marohom looks at the sky.

My grandfather carved this shape. He called it the messenger's road.Ganitong hugis ang inuukit ng lolo ko. Daan ng mensahero, tawag niya rito.

Before Islam came, the old ones told of a bird that carried words between seen and unseen.Bago pa dumating ang Islam, may kuwento ang matatanda tungkol sa ibong nagdadala ng salita sa pagitan ng nakikita at hindi nakikita.

What was it called?Ano'ng pangalan niya?

Go on, your father's waiting. We'll talk another day.Sige na, hinihintay ka ng ama mo. Saka na tayo mag-usap.

The feast begins. Splash. The courtyard in full colour: guests in malong, tall flags, food on brass trays, the kulintang playing. Sari walks in under a royal umbrella held by attendants.

Potri Sari's feast.Ang piging ni Potri Sari.

DONG DONG TING TANG

A father's pride. The Sultan rises on his raised seat and opens his arms. Sari bows, and the Sultan touches her head gently. Datu Mamintal steps forward with a brass box of gifts.

People of Bayabao! Today my daughter comes of age.Mga taga-Bayabao! Ngayong araw, dalaga na ang aking anak.

Your mother would be so proud of you.Ipagmamalaki ka sana ng iyong ina.

And Unayan asks for the honour of her hand.At hinihingi po ng Unayan ang kamay ng prinsesa.

The courtyard goes quiet.Tumahimik ang buong bakuran.

The singkil. The Sultan raises a hand: no answer yet. Two men clap long bamboo poles together in rhythm. Sari steps between the poles, a fan in each hand. Her feet, fast and sure, between the closing poles. Datu Mamintal watches, smiling, sure of himself. Bapa Marohom at the edge of the crowd, looking up, not at the dance.

But first, the princess will dance.Pero bago 'yan, sasayaw muna ang prinsesa.

CLAK CLAK CLAK

Singkil: the royal dance of the Maranao. The princess steps between clapping bamboo poles without tripping.Singkil: ang maharlikang sayaw ng Maranao. Humahakbang ang prinsesa sa pagitan ng pumapalakpak na kawayan nang hindi natatapilok.

The wind's changed.Nag-iba ang hangin.

The feather. Wide: the flags all swing the same way at once. The lamps flicker. Sari stops mid-step. The poles stop. A single feather, teal and orange and gold, falls into her open hand.

FWOOOSH

...This colour. I've seen it before....Ang kulay na 'to. Nakita ko na 'to dati.

The bird of fire. Splash. The sarimanok dives out of the clouds over the courtyard: teal body covered in okir spirals, tail of orange and gold flame-scrolls, a fish in its talons. Guests scatter, flags whip.

KRRRAAAAAW

A spirit!Espiritu!

The stranger. The bird lands in the centre of the courtyard. Light swirls around it. Its shape changes: wings become sleeves. A young man kneels where the bird stood. His robe is covered in okir; feathers of teal and gold remain in his hair. The Sultan draws his kris. Datu Mamintal draws his kampilan. Close-up: the young man holds out his hand to Sari. The feather glows in her other hand.

Potri Sari. I've watched over you since the night you were born.Potri Sari. Binabantayan na kita mula pa noong gabing ipinanganak ka.

Who dares barge into my house like this?!Sino'ng may lakas ng loob na pumasok sa bahay ko nang ganito?!

My name is Itotoro. Your dream is calling you.Itotoro ang pangalan ko. Tinatawag ka ng panaginip mo.

End of Chapter 1.Katapusan ng Kabanata 1.