CHAPTER ONE: A WORLD NAMED EARTH

CHAPTER ONE:

A WORLD NAMED EARTH

....10 years ago....

“Good morning, Class! How’s your weekend?” my world history teacher, Analice Harper, greeted us as she entered the classroom dressed up in a sparkling butterfly tinted just below-the-knee elegant dress in sky blue matched with a gray colored coat paired with pointed heels while the brunette wavy long hair was kept in a ponytail and carrying some papers.

One of my classmates, Drinch Malcoy, who sat beside me greeted her back.

“Good morning Ms. Harper. Are those test papers?!”

“Whoa!” cheering and shouting from my classmates filled the classroom.

Test papers were actually our best friends! I meant the other way around.

“How I wish these are test papers, Mr. Malcoy,” she answered as she put down the papers on her desk. “But, no. These are actually the consents you will be giving out to your parents and will serve as your passport in coming to an adventure.”

She was talking while grinding her teeth and smirking at us, as if none of us would come. She wished!

“So, this means that the trip will go forth?” asked with a bit of exaggeration from the other side of my table where my best friend, Angie Lance, was seated and you could only sense her growing excitement.

“Yes, but like what I have said, this consent will serve as your passport. We have already informed your parents about this trip as a partial requirement of yours during the first meeting,” Ms. Harper answered.

She started to explain about the trip, but no one was actually listening to her except me.

“They have already agreed about it but some of them might change their minds depending on the place or country we’ll be going to.”

No one was actually listening to her because they were all busy discussing what to do to have fun.

“So where’s the country?” I asked.

Everyone stopped their individual business talks and waited for Ms. Harper’s answer.

“Thank you Altheina. At least someone is eavesdropping,” she said while working on the consent to be distributed. “Well, we’ll be going to the other side of the Earth, the Philippines.”

“Of all countries?” asked by another classmate of mine.

“Yes, of all countries. The Philippines has a great history that none of you or us or even the historians know because it is indeed a very small country to be recognized and is considered to be a country with an average socio-economic status and even described by Dan Brown as “the gates of hell” because of its dense population. But remember, we are not concerned about their economy and population but their history, the deepest history no one ever dares to determine and write,” she explained.

All ears were into Ms. Harper.

She continued, “So, the school decided that we will go to the Philippines and if with luck, discover its sacred history.”

“If I’m not mistaken, the Philippines was the reason why Magellan discovered the Earth is not flat but rather a spherical world,” I commented as I scanned the map in front of me, not that I intended to bring a world map but it was on my table, so, why not make use of it.

“You’re right Eina. If it’s not because of the discovery of Magellan’s voyage to the Philippines, then we are still living in the thought that the world is flat. And because you will be going there in a month, we’ll be discussing the known history of the Philippines. Turn your books to page 293. The Philippines has 7,107 islands and is divided into 3….”

And that was where it all began. The whole day, we discussed some of the Philippines history including from the first people who lived in the country including the Malays, Negritos and Tabo man to the development of their economy through Marcos regime and his enlightenment to power. At those times, I do not know why but, something or someone was telling me to go there no matter what.

**********

“HI, Dad!” I exclaimed when I entered his office in Carleins Fashion Mist and kissed his cheeks.

I immediately went to my father’s office, one reason was to see the samples of the newest line in Carleins of my own designs of course and second, to tell my Dad about the consent and trip. I, myself, could not understand why I was too excited to be there. Well I thought maybe because it would be my first time landing in an Asian country or to try new Filipino foods.

But I was wrong. There was another reason…

“Hi Baby Doll! Ate already?” he asked while busy scanning the business papers concerning our expansion to the US.

“Uhm not yet! I actually forgot about it!”

Well, I really did forget to eat something during lunch. I was too preoccupied to worry about eating.

“Can we have it on a date?”

“Sure baby, but let me finish this first,” he said. “Why don’t you go first to your office, I think they are finalizing the samples there then we’ll be off.”

“Okay. Those samples must be great, because if not, then I need to exterminate them.”

I was one of the senior designers of the company aside from my father, and at a young age, I became the youngest most celebrated fashion designer in the entire Earth. That’s life, Earthlings. You should be talented and passionate to earn such a title.

“Don’t be too harsh honey. They are starting to dislike you,” my father warned me with those grinding teeth.

“Who cares?!” I blunted loud enough so all employees could hear it. “They should be of worth to work here.”

“Okay. I don’t want to argue with you anymore. I’ll just call you once I’m finished.”

My father was actually clever those days, but he must be. We were expanding so everyone should do great.

I went to my office and I was overwhelmed by what I saw.

They were really working hard so to lessen the tension, I greeted them this way, “How’s everything here Kittens’?”

Everyone looked at me with such big curious faces but then when they saw me smile, they just laughed out loud.

“What’s the great news Ms. Altheina?” asked by one of my junior designers, Lara Humington, to me.

“If a person calls her people kittens then there should be good news?” I asked back, increasing the grinds of all my employees.

“So, if a person smiles then there must be good news?” I asked again.

“Not actually the kittens nor even the smile, but the hair Ms. Altheina,” said another one of my junior designers, Claire Danton, and everyone started teasing me.

“So, if a person changed the tint of her hair means there's great news?” I asked back.

“Well, as the saying goes by, a person, rather a woman only changes her hair color if she is brokenhearted or showcasing love life is present at the moment,” Claire answered with that devilish smile of hers.

Everyone just stared at me with devilish smiles, and for Pete’s sake, why did they notice my hair?!

I am a natural blonde, born as a blonde and one of the features I got from my mother including the stunning, as what the others describe, light-greenish eyes like the eyes that can possess a lot of man with just a blink of an eye.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you folks but I am neither of the two. Get back to work. Fashion show for the new lines is set for the next two weeks,” I commanded before leaving and went to my office to have some peace of mind.

They were right when they said I have a lot of suitors, but I was too preoccupied to pay attention to those reckless things during those times. My passion was on fashion designing and if, and only if, I would find the man whom I would love, then I would be the one to propose. We live in a different era now, where men are being persuaded and women to do the entire proposal thing. There’s already an upside down market in equality so, things have now changed.

But at this present time 2023, I already have the one I love.

The secretary of my father came to my office and told me my father would be waiting for me at the lobby, so I retouched a bit to get rid of those oils and set off to the lobby.

“Where do you want to eat burgers?” he asked and as usual making fun of me, he knew I have never eaten a single burger in my entire life.

“What about pasta? We can go to the Spaghetti house,” I said instead as I linked my right hand on his left arm. “I heard they have a new dish.”

“Honey, you should be eating rice and meat or vegetables. Pastas will not be good for your health,” he lectured with such a superior tone.

Well, I knew my Dad. So, when he said I should avoid this and that, I should really obey it. But not at that very moment, it would be my last taste of my favorite pasta before going on a very fascinating adventure.

“Just one last time Dad. I promise starting tomorrow I’ll be eating meals regularly with rice and meat or veggies,” said I.

He raised his pointing finger waving it right and left. “Promises are made to be broken honey.”

“Not this time!” I exclaimed with such determination. “And I guess you already know why.”

“Fine. To the Spaghetti house then.”

**********

“TWO weeks?! Why so long?” my father asked in a slightly high speech tone.

“We’ll be traveling south to north. They said we’ll be going to the 3 divisions of the Philippines. But don’t worry Dad, we’ll be staying in hotels,” I answered.

I needed to assure my father 2 weeks would not be that long and we would be safe during the whole trip.

He was still wearing that frowned forehead when he talked again. “But still, you will be going to a place you don’t even know. And as far as I remember, your great grandmother went there which when she came back; she became insane talking about nonsense things.”

It was my turn to frown. “So, you believed great grandma’s stories; there are entities surrounding the country?”

“There’s no harm in believing them,” he answered and went back to reading the consent.

“No Dad, there is a harm.”

It was really my turn to volume up.

“If you continue on believing them, then those entities will hunt you and they will eventually appear in front of you and continue to bother you for the rest of your life until you become out of mind already like what happened to great grandma. And like what happened to me.”

I was such a fool to utter those words to my father before, really a bastard fool.

My father looked at me worried. “You don’t have to freak out and be hysteric, okay. I am just saying you are the very person who knows what happened to your great grandma.”

My father was right. If there was a person who saw her become a lunatic, it was me. But in my entire life until her death, I have never believed any of her stories. There was just one story that kept coming back in my memory which goes like this; my great grandmother has seen a magical world behind the woods. She saw it but never had the chance to enter it. A very unlikely and simple story to remember, but it kept on coming back to my conscious mind through my dreams even though I wanted to suppress it in my unconscious memory. However, I have never believed it not only because I doubted its existence but also because I do not want to become a lunatic, again.

My great grandmother started to act like a harebrained after going on a second trip to the Philippines; the first one was when I was born, with her friends. My great grandmother claimed there were unexplained phenomena that surround the country which only those who have the courage enough to uncover it. And that certain phenomenon she was talking about was no other than the world of gorgeous and mystical entities that were forgotten by human kinds.

Some of my friends who came from the Philippines stated it’s no surprise these stories of the other world exist. It is up to your imagination and belief if you want to make them a reality. So, if you believe them, you will see them. But if you don’t, then no harm will come to you.

“Dad what happened to great grandma was already explained by experts. So, you don’t have to worry,” I said to my father.

Those words were the exact words I told to my father, that everything can be explained by experts, but not until I, myself have been dragged to a place where I always doubted to exist.

I diverted the conversation because I could not afford to lose that only chance which even I could not rationalize why I really wanted to go.

I explained, “Dad, come on. It’ll be for double purposes. I can study the eastern culture, especially their fashion styles so that sooner or later, we can expand our market there and invade their perspectives in fashions. And one more thing, we’ve already in the midst of studying the known history of the Philippines and other things about the country, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

He seems to be thinking about my last statement and finally gave up.

He stated, “Fine. But promise me you’ll not be hunting crazy creatures and come back in sound mind and sound body.”

“Dad, don’t be silly. It will only take 2 weeks. I am gone once, for a month,” I said.

“With your mother. Now, she’s not here to come with you,” I heard a small blues in his tone. “You know you’re the only one I have.”

And to lighten up the mood, I said, “I know and I will never leave you. I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, honey!” he said with a brighter smile on his lips but it actually didn’t reach his eyes full of emotions.

“I know, Dad. Here, have some,” I really made a wide smile and had a funny conversation.

**********

“PACKED already?” my father asked as he checked the baggage I would be bringing for the trip. “Complete? Nothing to add? All remembered?”

He was non-stop. Well that’s my father, more excited than I was.

“Yup! All packed!” I answered.

I put my journal inside my shoulder bag and then there, everything was set.

“Let’s go then. You’ll be late, traffic is everywhere!” my father commented as he fixed the bags at the back seats.

“I’ll call you every hour to check on you!” he exclaimed as he drove at a moderate speed while trying to avoid those careless motorists.

“Dad, don’t be crazy. Every hour?!” I exclaimed while texting my friends if they were already at the airport.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I am no baby anymore!”

“You are still honey, my little baby. So, whether you like it or not, I’ll call you every hour,” he stopped the car as the traffic light turned red. “Wait. I’ll make it every 30 minutes!”

“Wahaha!” I laughed with such sarcasm.

“There’s nothing funny in that Eina,” he warned.

“I didn’t laugh nor say anything,” I said with my hands up high.

“Good.”

Then the traffic light turns green. After 20 minutes, we arrived at the airport and I saw my friends immediately. Ms. Harper hands out for a handshake.

“Good morning Mr. Carleins. I am very happy you gave Altheina’s passport to come.”

And my teacher was really smiling very widely as if telling my father I was an important person to join the trip, and that of course, was an advantage of mine.

“Well, let’s just say she has good wits in convincing oldies!” my father stated as he looked down at me with grinding teeth.

“Just her nature maybe. We’ll be leaving in 10 minutes. Please call your classmates who are not yet here,” Ms. Harper stated and true enough after 10 minutes we needed to go already.

I kissed my Dad on the cheeks to say goodbye and he said, “Remember what I told you.”

I just smiled and went through the line. I waved my hands before heading to the entrance.

**********

“PLEASE wear your seat belts. We’ll be landing in about 10 minutes,” the stewardess announced.

After a maximum of 23 hours of travel, 13 hours in the air utmost and having a few hours to lay over, alas we’ll be in the Philippines. I experienced a bit of jet lag like what my great grandmother said.

But there was a bit of an odd thing, well, actually an odd dream, I have. Someone, a man whose face appeared to be blurry was persistently calling my name. I just thought it was an effect of staying in the air for hours, but I could still hear the voice.

“Whoa! I am too hyper for this, and this is a first!” Angie giggles with enthusiasm.

She raised her pointing finger in front of me.

“Who would not be hyper for this?” I asked with a sarcastic smile.

“You, my dear,” she answered as she touched my face.

“You don’t really feel my level of arousal dear. So, don’t touch my face with those looks, it’s humiliating me,” I claimed and removed her hands off my face.

“Please be relax, we’ll now be landing in Ninoy Aquino International Airport.”

I could not really fathom my intense feeling of anxiety mixed with excitement that time. That was not the first time I traveled far from home, but Dad was right, I was with my Mom.

“There is really something in this country that keeps on pulling me,” I thought at that moment and maybe, I was just too excited to be on a trip after a very long time.

“Welcome to NAIA, please unfasten your seat belts and have a fun trip in the Philippines!” the stewardess announced and we were all giggling with joy!

The bus that would bring us to Davao City was already there and a representative of the City came along and said his greetings. “Welcome to the Philippines Ms. Harper and to you, kids. The bus is waiting outside.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ricardo. We’re glad you’ve come.”

They exchanged handshakes then we went outside and set off to the road. It was another 10 hours ride on the road, so we had time to sleep and rest. But, I could not help but to watch the beautiful scenery outside those glass windows of the bus. I brought out my beloved Nikon D3500 DSLR camera and started to take pictures. “Maybe I can include this to my newest collection.”

I was in love with nature, with the forest, the air, the water, all of it. Even though I lived a prestigious life where everything I needed was there including wealth, I still loved to stay out of our house, go into the forest or mountains and breathe some fresh air. I have lived with nature more than wealth and that was one thing my father could not change. And not to forget, I have a fondness for photography and painting, so my subjects were most likely the innate gifts of this world.

**********

WE’VE arrived safely in the hotel that night and we rested. The next morning was just another morning full of excitement and adventure.

“Mornin’ everyone. I hope all of you had a good night sleep and not too much jet lags,” Ms. Harper stated who was as energetic as the others.

“Yes Ma’am!” the others exclaimed while the others were finishing their breakfast and the rest were chuckling with exhilaration.

“I’m going to explain to you right now the activities for 2 weeks.”

All ears were on Ms. Harper, and if you could only see our faces those times, I think you would be the same, excited as we were.

“We’ll be staying here in Davao City for 3 days; you’ll get the chance to tour around and then go to business. That business I am talking about is to get the history, different cultures and traditions of this place even if it’s in the most unnatural way. Remember what I’ve told you, this country is full of beliefs that many may say as just imaginations, so you need to respect whatever beliefs those are. Is that clear?”

“Yes Ma’am!”

“That thing will go on until our last stop. Here you need to determine the origin of Muslim. After 4 days, we’ll take the plane in going to Palawan, one of the most beautiful tourist spot in this country located in Visayas region,” Ms. Harper continued explaining the things will be doing in Palawan, one of which was to identify the roots of one of the candidates for the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Underground River.

“After staying for an average of 4 days in Palawan, we’ll go straight ahead to Ilocos Norte where we will be spending the rest of the days for this 2-week trip. We’ll be actually visiting a lot of places in Ilocos Norte for it is known as one of the provinces with the richest history, not only in terms of politics because of the late President Marcos, but because of the most prestigious, innate gift of nature that can be found,” Ms. Harper explained.

“Like what?” I asked as I’m a bit fascinated with the province.

“Like Kapurpurawan Rock Formations and the Hundred Islands.”

I immediately searched about the places and noticed a small mistake.

“Err, sorry to correct you, but Kapurpurawan is indeed found in Ilocos Norte but I guess, the Hundred Islands is located in Alaminos, Pangasinan,” I stated without any intention of offending her and I was glad to see she was not offended.

“Oh my God, thank you Eina for that. I misinterpreted the plans. While we were talking to the Tourism Management President, he suggested we have a look at the Hundred Islands because they are both located in region 1 or the Ilocos region,” she explained while writing the change of schedule in her notes.

“So, that means we will be staying in Ilocos Norte for 4 days and we’ll be heading to Alaminos, Pangasinan. We’ll have a campsite in one of the islands for two nights then we’ll be off returning to London. Sorry for that mistake.”

“Is that clear to everyone then?” asked by the co-teacher of Ms. Harper, Mr. Ryan Gray.

Everyone answered, “Yes Sir!” with jolly.

Mr. Gray continued the explanation, “You will be divided into 5 groups, each of which will have their leader to keep an eye on the rest. In this way, we can easily monitor you because the leader will often report to us your doings while on the trip, especially once we go to the island and have our camp.”

“Who will select the leaders, sir?” asked Angie.

“Us. And whoever among you will be assigned as the leader, you will have the responsibility of looking after the rest,” he paused for a while and grabbed the sheet of paper above the table. “We picked these leaders because we know that they are responsible enough to be the leaders and keep an eye on all. So, let us begin. First…”

And without any warning, I was one of the leaders! What a life?! How did they know I was a responsible person, for Pete’s sake! The other leaders aside from me include Airees Hullicon, Trinity Powlker, Reiken Trooper and Chastily Peerson.

“So I hope, chosen leaders, you’ll do your job and…” Ms. Harper was interrupted by Leekin Stretor with a question out of curiosity.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry to interrupt. I hope you don’t mind,” he stated in an apologetic smile with a raised right hand.

“Go on Mr. Stretor. What is it?” Ms. Harper asked him, flashed with curiosity as well.

“Well, it’s not that I’m disappointed with the places we will be going because I believe they are really great lands. But, I am just curious as to why we will not be going to the heart of the country?” Leekin asked that brought curiosity to all of us and intently waited for Ms. Harper’s answer.

“Well, if I’m not mistaken you’re talking about the City of the Philippines, Manila?” Ms. Harper asked.

She directed her gaze to Leekin which the latter tilted his head as a response.

She explained, “As what I have told you before, if you remember when I gave you the consents for this trip, about Dan Brown’s adaptation of Dante Alighieri’s Inferno; in the novel, he mentioned about the Philippines particularly Manila as one of the character’s destination when she was learning medicine. Dan Brown emphasizes the densely populated area of Manila and that he even described it as the gates of hell. Even though it was only slightly mentioned, most Filipinos were offended by Brown’s general description about their country. Most of them interpreted this notion of Brown as highly disgraceful and scandalous. But the Filipinos’ minds, some, if not all, were easily manipulated by Brown’s playful trick.”

Leekin couldn’t close his mouth. “What trick?”

“Dan Brown’s real intention of including these words about Manila was to enlighten not only the Filipinos mind but all the dead brains of humanity that our world is already drowned with people or overpopulation. Kidnapping, burglary, raping and killing are not only present in the Philippines but in all nations of this world. He just used the Philippines as a medium to declare to the world that we are being submerged by the greatest crisis one man can face and not merely because he wanted to ashamed the Philippines to the world due to its dense population,” Ms. Harper explained.

“What is the relation of that thing as to why we will not be visiting Manila? Is it not more appropriate for us to go there and see for ourselves what Brown was claiming and proved to him that somewhat, he is wrong?” Marciny Fiddeli asked Ms. Harper which in turn has a sense.

“We don’t have anything to prove to Brown’s perceptions about Manila because in reality, even if it’s hard to accept, the area is already overpopulated and his notions were real. But if there is one thing we can attest not only to Dan Brown, but to all Filipinos and people all over the world is that, there is still another face of the world where there is no crime, no killing, no stealing and no darkness. There is still the very wondrous gift of God He had given us to protect and love, the nature where humanity acquires their basic needs. And that is the point why we have chosen this country and these particular places in respect to Dan Brown’s reputation,” she gave us an intimidating yet understandable face as she gazed out at all of us.

Mr. Gray also said something that caught my ears. “Sometimes historians, novelists, poets and others who are sons and daughters of literature hide their real purposes of writing such pieces of literature behind the words they use. The real meaning of the story hides behind those simple yet playful words uttered or written. Read between the lines or let’s say, every word has a double meaning. And if you are not keen enough to scrutinize such things, you will never ever find and understand their real intentions.”

All of us seemed to gradually comprehend what our two teachers had explained, but I knew to myself all of us were incredibly astounded by the fact that we were in that very country to attest to the world that its beauty still exists despite all the evils.

“I know what you feel, but don’t let these things bother you for the rest of the trip. Everyone, just enjoy our 2-week trip in this sacred country,” Ms. Harper enthusiastically said to cheer up the mood and I say she succeeded.

“Yes Ma’am!”

**********

AND they were right, we had so much fun those times, from visiting Davao City to the house of the Sultans, ah I missed Durian! In this part of the country, we have learned about the origin of their traditions and culture particularly about the Muslims which once dominate the whole country and all about Islam as their main religion which they believe as the Muslims origin.

It is said that the history of the Philippines Muslim is a part of the backbone of the historical development of the whole country. They have 500 years of political history, so far, the longest political experience compared to other groups in the whole Philippines. Their culture is a blend of Islam and Adat. Adat is the sum of both pre-Islamic culture and the philosophical interpretation of the Muslims on the teachings of Islam. It is itself the lasting contribution of the Philippine Muslims to the country’s national body politic.

Then we moved to Palawan, what a gift of nature! The Underground River is so fantastic from its stone carvings. The Puerto Princesa Underground River is located about 50 kilometers north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan Philippines. The Underground River was reputed to be the longest river in the whole world. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. It includes major formations of stalactites (conical deposits that form at the roof of the cave and hang downward), and stalagmites (form on the bottom of the cave and grow upward as water drips down from above) that are known as Speleothems or also referred as Dripstone.

I also loved the bluish to greenish color of the water. We have the chance to dive underwater and enjoy the coldness of the water. I really bought a lot of things to give to my father and discovered a whole new fashion. “This will be splendid.”

Then after 4 days of roaming around Palawan, we took the plane and went immediately to Ilocos Norte.

We were welcomed by the Province Governor then we instantaneously started to wander off, first to the South where the popular Cape Bojeador Lighthouse of the South, also known as the Burgos Lighthouse, was established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines. You could truly appreciate its old age by its structure. It was first lit on March 30, 1892 and was set high on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador where early galleons used to sail by. After over 100 years, it still functions as a welcoming beacon to the international ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.

Our next stop was the Kapurpurawan Rock Formations, a stone-carved, white in color with so many legacies that could be found near the sea in a very high mountain. There were a lot of folk stories about its origin, most especially about the sea creatures I believe to be extinct. If you actually have a picture or see it within your very own eyes, particularly the 4 sides of the rock formation, it forms a ship with a statue of a mermaid sitting on top of it. I never lost its majestic picture which was actually stuck in my room.

But more than its structure, there was something, a shining object that caught my eyes. It was there on the other side of Kapurpurawan that touches the waves of the sea. That object was not too far to grab or get from where I was standing. So, I held out my hand down and grabbed the shining object. When I got a hold on it, a voice suddenly uttered my name. I balanced off, slipped and almost fell on the sea because of shock. Luckily, my classmates were there to hold me.

“What do you think you’re doing, Eina?” Chard Stephen asked who belonged to my group whom I assigned as the vice leader. He held my waist with his right arm.

“Catching for some fish?” a sarcastic question thrown by Kraven Harris, also a part of my group, who held out his right arm to gripped my left arm.

“Some of my coins fell off,” I answered immediately before they suspected any unusual things but my reason itself was unusual. Who would want to fall off the sea cliff just to try catching some drop-off coins?

And that whole scene latched the attention of everyone as Mr. Gray came and asked, “What’s happening here, Altheina? Everything’s alright?”

“Yes,” I responded straight away but the two guys were really disturber of tactics.

“She almost fell off the cliff by….” Chard said, then Kraven continued. “By trying to catch the coins!”

Then everybody laughed but at least Mr. Gray was more concerned in falling off the sea than trying to clasp precious coins.

“Stop that everyone. Get ready, we’ll be heading to our next stop.”

Then Mr. Gray pointed out the Bangui Windmills.

“Watch yourself baby!” Kraven said with a sardonic grind.

I pocketed that thing in my front pocket when Kraven left. I stayed more on that side to take pictures.

I was the last one to get off from the Kapurpurawan Rock Formations then I felt it. I felt that thing I grabbed lying in my pocket. I wasn’t sure what that was but when I got a chance to have a glimpse of it, I saw a Diamond. A very well shaped, noble-cut diamond, real and shining, there was no doubt about it.

“What is a diamond gem doing in a place like that?”