CHAPTER 2 - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW)

As soon as they arrived in Lubuagan, Guinnaban was baptized to Christianity by Fr. Belucci and named Benedict, after St. Benedict. To Guinnaban, the name symbolizes hope and courage - and he liked the sound of it!

The abrupt change of environment though had made him and his family uncomfortable. There were sad moments that they thought of going back to the simple life in the barrio as it was difficult to adjust to the ways of the progressively booming town. The good priest however, insisted that they stay on as he knew Benny had the intellect to pursue a much needed education.

The following school year, Fr. Belucci enrolled him at the Parish secondary school.
On the very first day, Benny was already taunted by his classmates. “Hey, what’s your name?”

“Benedict” he would reply.

“Benedict? that's a fancy name, huh? Far from your ugly, Kalinga name.” then the group roared with laughter.

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CHAPTER 3 - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW?)

“ Mr. Benedict Lomiwan is hereby voted as president of the class,” the instructor announced.

It was barely his third week in the University, but everyone in class already knew him. It would be impossible not to! He always got the highest scores in their quizzes - even in algebra - which everyone considered “very difficult”.




It was in Algebra and English that he excelled - a deadly combination. Some students were good in Algebra but not in English, and vice versa. Only Benny, did good in both and that made him an “Outstanding” student. He knew that by being in the Dean’s List of scholars, he would do justice to the sacrifices of his parents and Fr. Belucci. He had enrolled in A.B Political Science as he had plans of becoming a lawyer someday. College exposed him to the various cultural minorities in the country and people were less discriminating because of ethnic origin.

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CHAPTER 4 - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW?)

" I call this meeting to order", there was a hush inside the stuffy room, and everyone fell silent.

" The authorities have already threatened imprisonment should we refuse to give in to their demands." the presider was a stern, swarthy man in his early forties.
We have enlisted the support of our University students to create public awareness of what the government is trying to do." he motioned to Benny.

" Our plan is to campaign among our peers in the University to support our cause. Progress should be permitted but not at the expense of our families and homes. The Dam will be obliterating parts of Tindayan and Sakyan and the entire municipality of Mangala , Liba and Taloctoc... " as Benny was saying these, there was a lump forming in his throat.

" Apparently, we don't get the benefits of this enormous project," a female voice continued. " We need to join forces, forget about our thirst for vengeance and make a concerted effort to fight for what we hold dear - our ancestral homes."

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CHAPTER 5 - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW?)

The zephyr breeze caressed her upturned face and diffused into the thin moisture of sweat that seeped through her skin.. She gasped, seemingly in need of air. Her eyes were closed, like a maiden in repose. She had delicate, gossamer wings on - flimsy, undulating appendages - that were gently flying her higher and higher up the clouds. She moaned and her thighs quivered as each exquisite rivulet of sensation coursed through her body.
Photo by: Theogo
Benny, kissed her mount of Hedon once more as another moan of pleasure escaped from her .
The building desire that Benny felt had reached its crescendo. It was more than he could bear now. His mouth on hers, he gently lowered himself into Julia. When skin touched skin - two became one - and their bodies were lost in the miasma of pleasure and ecstasy.

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