I opened the package with my hands shaking, not knowing
why, not what
was inside the padded envelope. Tears streamed down my eyes. A literal
waterfall as soon as I saw these images etched in silver, nine in
total.
Alibata. And I saw each sibling, my mother, my father, my aunt, standing
right before me. My father's arm placed on my shoulder, as my feelings,
and
the unification of his wife and children evoked his presence. I named
each
sibling by their full name in order from my Kuya to my kapatid lalake.
My son,
Kawaiola Joseph, named after my father stayed at my feet, mesmerized
by my
tears.
The next package. A crimson box encosed. I open it. Deeply
breathing. I am the fifth child, born on the fifth day of the fifth
month in
araw years. I place the pendant, the fifth jewel over my head, tighten
the
straps around my neck and wear it directly upon my skin. Perhaps it
was the
longing, the evocation, the ancestral knowledge, the ancestral memories.
Perhaps it was the energy of the jeweler, the etchings of endearment
that my
parents called each other.
The pendant began to vibrate. I wore the
pendant
the rest of the evening just below my clavical. The heat produced
in that
spot alone was overwhelming. I placed the pendant between the palms
of my
hands. They began to warm up. I now had a sphere of energy that I
guided
over each chakra. My prayer: Bathala, please keep me connected with
the
healer within. Let this energy flow from me, to the creator and back
to each
sibling in the divine order in which we came unto this earthly world.
Joseph Edades, Lisa Marie, Danielle Basillia, Naomi Aurora, Sonya
Florencia,
Jennifer Francis, Marc Jason Xavier and to my mother Ida Maxine, who
raised
us with unconditional love. My vision: My father and mother in a healing
embrace. Smiles worn effortlessly from ear to ear. In walks my auntie,
Maria
Gloria Edades Zabala Powell. And I hear their voices in resonating
unison.
Moi, Ma, Kuya.
Maraming Salamat Ann. You have help to bind my family, in honor of
my
father's birthday. Your gifts are tremendously healing, vibrating
healing
energy throughout the universe in every work of art you create. Ang
asawa ko
& I, and my mom and now all my sisters and brothers wear your
rings and
amulets. But this is the first time I was ever so humbled.
Sonya Zabala