Opening my eyes to a
still-dark surrounding had me recalling the creaking of the floor I heard the
night before. Jolted to consciousness, I half-expected seeing a figure standing from the foot
of my bed. I saw nothing but the low illumination of electric light seeping
into the small window. Pacifying my mind, I assured myself that a bunch of rats
were behind what I initially though was hurried footsteps outside my room. It
would be fine hearing noises the previous three nights. But on that fourth
night in question, I was the only remaining guest staying at the budget hut of
Punta Isla Lake Resort—where a dorm bed only cost me 180 pesos per night. Not
bad hey, even if it comes with fright every evening.
As I stepped out of my
room eager to start my day and have a cup of coffee, the wooden floor squeaked as
loudly as the sound I heard during the night. I was like, “that must be some huge rats walking at the hallway last night”. Dismissing
the scary thought, I hurried downstairs to take a quick shower.
All dressed up for the
day, I have forgotten about the spooky episode as I proceeded down to the lake
where the boatman I talked to the day before told me in Tagalog “I’ll wait you here at around 6:00am so you can witness the blooming of
the Lotus flowers”
Holding a cup of coffee I
sat at one of the bench and stared at the pale gray sky slowly give way to
streaks of red and yellow. With daylight trickling to the lake, I see the water
starting to appear like mirror reflecting the sky and the tip of the trees of the
surrounding forest.
I heard a whistle and
turning around I see the boatman dragging a small boat. “This is an Owong” he told me. I later learned that it is made from Bacan or Lawaan
tree (Shorea)—a genus of 196 species
of rainforest trees that grows all over Lake Sebu and is known for its sturdy
wood.
The Owong are traditional tiny dugout canoes used mainly by the T'boli
people in Lake Sebu for fishing and transportation. It can fit a maximum of
three people and is moved by paddling.
The boatman and I occupied
both ends of the Owong thus giving me enough space to stretch my feet. The
water of the lake was so still, I could see every ripples as we paddle our way.
The quiet moment instantly put me into a Zen state of mind where I got lost in
the captivating charm of Lake Sebu.
“Look, the lotus flowers” the boatman pointed to me. As we approach
the part where a multitude of lotus flowers drifts as they bloom, I recalled
the “Lotus-Eaters’’ in Greek
Mythology.
According to epic poem by
Homer's ‘Odyssey’, there was a land of
the Lotus-eaters where anyone who ate the lotus flower will be rid of life’s
purpose, worry and desire—basically giving zero f*cks to the world—and this was
what Odysseus’ men experienced when they tasted the flower in the land of the
Lotus-eaters. They were left in a muddled state that Odysseus had to drag them
all back to their ships.
Although all parts of the
lotus plant like its roots, leaves, seeds and stems are edible, I could not eat
it like the Lotus-eaters do, as I would still love to go places and have a care
at what's going on in the world. Despite its little
notoriety in Greek Mythology, the lotus flowers that blooms in Lake Sebu during
sunrise, dishes a contrasting effect. As I watch the floating lotus leaves and
flowers circling below me, I regale at my life’s purpose to continue exploring and
learning more about the world we live in.
“Can I touch it” I asked the boatman. “Sure, you can even pick one” he said. I resisted picking one.
Because even if I had some girl to give it to, it is best to leave the flowers
where they should be—in the magical embrace of the waters of Lake Sebu—floating
until they wither away only to bloom again next sunrise.
