Sa Dulo ng Dagat (Short Film Narrative)
"Sabi ng tatay, malalaman lang natin kung ano ang nasa dulo ng dagat kapag nakapagtapos tayo ng pag-aaral. Ngunit hindi lahat pinagpapalang makita ito. Magkakapatid na si Nida, Nilda at Mina ay sumasabay sa agos ng mga alon, ngunit mukhang hindi na nila kakayaning magpatuloy."
Three sisters reflecting about life at the shorline. Mina the youngest among the sisters, wondered and asked “Ano nga ba ang itsura ng dulo ng dagat?”. Then Nilda the middle sister answered “Ewan ko, pero sabi ng tatay makikita mo lang ang dulo ng dagat kapag nakapag tapos ka ng pag-aaral”. They stayed there for a little while listening to the soft waves of the sea, feeling the air and looking at the reflection of the sunset. The comfortable silence was interrupted by Nida, the eldest among the sisters asking them to go back home as it will soon get dark.
While the three were preparing for dinner, Mina asked: “Ate, maaari ho ba akong mag-aral sa Manyila?”. Nida who was shocked by her sisters sudden question immediately answered: “Ano? Pang kain nga wala tayo tapos gugustuhin mo pang mag-aral sa Maynila?”. Nilda nudged her younger sister and lightened the mood by saying: “Ito naman ate, di naman siguro masamang mangarap, nagsasabi lang ‘tong si Mina.” Mina felt ashamed and decided not to speak and started eating. “Ah basta kung mangangarap kayo, yung maaabot naman, alam niyo naman dito sa lugar natin hanggang high school lang natatapos, mag-asawa ka nalang o kaya magtrabaho dyan kala aling Nenang sa palengke” said Nilda. Dinner time finished and Mina still had the same thoughts. She went outside of their small home to look at the far view of the sea. Still hearing the waves she closed her eyes thinking of how she may be able to turn her dream into reality. “Alam mo, hindi naman imposible yung pinapangarap mo eh, basta wag ka lang sumuko” she suddenly opened her eyes as she heard the voice of Nida who also went out of their house. “Pero hindi ‘yon ganon kasimple, kailangan mo pang mag-ipon ng pamasahe papuntang Maynila, tapos magtrabaho ka dun, pag nakaipon kana, ayun doon ka na makakapag-aral!”. Nida continued. “Para sainyo din naman to ate eh, magpapayaman ako tapos bibilhan ko kayo ng bahay tapos di na tayo mamromroblema sa pagkain” Mina excitedly said.
Starting that night, Mina woke up really early to do various kinds of work to make ends meet. From picking up shells she could use to make accessories and souveneirs, to feeding chickens and horses at the farm until picking up plants ready for harvest and selling them for a fair amount. In a couple of weeks she managed to reach her desired amount to be able to travel to Manila and start her journey to see the end of the sea.
It was late at night, Mina went to her room to rest. She admireably looked at the old jar placed at the side of her bed and placed it on her lap, whispering to herself “Makakapag kolehiyo na’ko”.
Nida finished sweeping the floors and went to their room to clean, she saw her younger sister with a jar full of money on her lap. The first thought on her mind was that she stole it. “Ano yan?” she said in an angry tone. Mina’s head bolted at her and said in a panicked tone: “A...ate, pera ko to. Inipon ko to, makakapag-aral na ako”
Nida thought that what she was doing was pointless and would only harm her. “Tingin mo ba magagawa mo talaga yang lintik na pangarap na yan? Hindi mo ba alam na sobrang hirap? Ni ako nga di ko na natuloy mga pangarap ko dahil noong iwanan tayo ng nanay at tatay, ako na ang tumayo para sainyong dalawa.” Their heads immediately bolted to the door when they heard a loud bang followed by Nilda crying in agony. “A-aray!!! Ate ate yung chan ko yung chan ko.” Nilda cried.
“Ayan kita mo, sumasabay ka pa eh kayong dalawa kesa magtrabaho nalang kayo dito para makatulong pinapasakit niyo pa ulo ko.” Nida ranted in frustration while trying to help Nilda. Mina also went to Nilda to assist her but Nida pushed her away and angrily said: “Sige na pumunta ka na dun, dun sa Maynila mo!” Mina ran outside crying.
The next day Mina returned at dawn, packed the things she needed including the jar. At the front of what she used to call home, she sighed and continued walking to the small row boat that would take her to the nearest bus stop to Manila. But before she could step on the wooden floors of the boat a civillian’s loud voice calling her put her to a stop.
“Mina, mina! Yung ate mo, sinugod sa hospital!” said the civillian. She panicked and ran to the small hospital located near their town. She was out of breath, crying and worried for her sister. When she arrived she saw that the doctor was talking to Nilda, panic, shock and worry visible in her face. She approached them and heard only the last sentences of the doctor which was “Kailangan siyang operahan mayroon siyang Gastric cancer na matagal na sa katawan niya pero ngayong lumala lang nakita ang mga signs.” Nilda cried loudly and said “Saan tayo kukuha ng pera? Pang kain nga wala tayo”. Mina remembered her jar and said with hope “Hindi ate, may pera tayo, ito oh yung naipon ko.” The nurse called the both of them to inform them that Nida was awake and that they should come to her bed. Nida who was still sheepish looked around, Nilda softly asked: “Anong nararamdaman mo? May masakit ba?” “Wala naman ate sumakit lang chan ko, sabi ko naman sayo panos na yung niluto mong isda eh.” Nida jokingly said. “Ano bang sabi ng doktor?” she continued. Mina and Nilda looked at each other with sad eyes. “A-ate.. sabi ng doctor kailangan mo daw magpagamot, ah.. medyo malaki yung kakailangan pero nakapag ipon naman ako ng konti..” Mina tried to explain while showing her jar to her sister in bed. Nilda softly pushed the jar to her chest “Hindi na Mina, pang-aral mo nalang yan.” she said. “Ha? Ate hindi pwede, hindi, magpapagaling ka.” Mina relied. “Tuparin mo ang mga pangarap mo Mina, bata ka pa. Ako kaya ko na to masaya na ako sa buhay ko.” Nilda said trying to hide her fear and sadness. Nida joined them also crying and persuaded Mina to continue her journey to reach her dream. “Pano nalang yung pangarap ko kung wala ka na?” Mina cried to her sisters. “Alam niyo mahal na mahal ko kayong mga kapatid ko, kaya noong iniwan tayo ng nanay at tatay agad kong binitawan mga pangarap ko dahil mas matimbang ang pagmamahal ko sainyo at alam kong matutuwa ang magulang natin.” Nida added. The cries of the sisters filled the room, and for a long period of time they just stayed there silently hugging each other.
Hours after their talk Mina frantically sat in the waiting area, she was alone and thinking hard. Staring at the jar at her hands she sighed, making a decision. She stood up and left the jar at the staircase, it was empty.
It was already dawn, as she stepped at the wooden floors of the boat, she took one last look at the her home and smiled sadly as the boat began to move and their place becoming smaller and smaller in sight. She started her journey to see the end of the sea.
