"Curse of Aviva"
In the late 16th Century there was a lone Island standing in front of the pacific seas named "Viva" – from name itself spoke its eternal and abundance of life which was rich with seafoods, vegetables, all various types of fruits, green fields of rice and corns, clean waters, and fresh air surrounded by tall trees and colorful flowers truly gifts from mother nature. Hence, people were living in serenity, modesty and satisfaction away from modernization, unhealthy vices and lifestyles, and most of all greediness and discontentment of humanity. But they have unity, purity, love and care to one another, have used to succor even in every little favor like asking for neighbors' leftovers, firesticks, bartering goods and more, instead.
The tradition and culture of the Islanders were unique and exquisite brought them to prosperity. However, from generations to generations the elderlies never failed to teach the youth to give their praises, offerings and asked permission to their only guardian of the Island a Fairy God-Mother named "Aviva" before they take their actions and do errands. According to the folks, Aviva protected the nature which its virginity of green forest never been destroyed and so forth she had restricted the humankind not to take advantage of it that's the reason rules were specified and whomever dare to disobey would taste her wrath not limited to unimaginable punishment but also death. That's how people described Aviva – a fairy guardian, she might be symbolized as a life giver but never disturbed her tranquility for it would shake the life of immortal. As what old story goes that Aviva lived in the secluded northern part of the island, lays on the foot of the mountain nearby with waterfalls and no one had ever set his foot on the area for it was full of deceits.
Decades after decades the island had been changed a lot due to a number of intruders, few buildings arose and private establishments rooted the ground, people lived now in luxuries, infidelity among couples were not an issue anymore, and filthiest among activities were bombing the reefs, trees have been cut illegally and human wastes were improperly disposed. Half of the island was ruined by human-doings. Then, many strangers settled themselves and influenced the local into newest lifestyles or a so-called modernized world which never in umptieth times could have been imagined that would be adapted easily – this was against the will of the guardian whom young generations of islanders has overly forgotten. Although the scene of the supposedly perfect paradise was unforgivable by Fairy Godmother, Aviva, due to her love for the few people whose faith for her still resided in them she contained herself from punishing the others and passionately protecting the place away from harmful storms that would knocked the island.
As the story unfold, many have witnessed the loyalty of few families to Aviva's norms in the island, one of them were the Velez, they hardly mingled with the locals who were socially influenced by the strangers as if swearing themselves to never adapt what these changes may offer. Consequently, they moved near the mountain where they believed Aviva had resided, absolutely like the old home seek living the peaceful environment they used to before. Most of the people mocked them as being uneducated and uncivilized mortals but there's no pain in their heart for they only believed what is best for them including not to engaged for mortal and evil pleasures.
One afternoon, Menah was late off from river doing the laundry. Suddenly appeared the old-weak lady in front of her asking for alms and without hesitation she gave her the lunchbox with leftover in it and some penny she had for the old lady to find shelter in her journey. After a while, the lady thanked for Menah's kindness and charity, then she looked at Mena's protruding belly displayed a weak smile with adore and promising paired eyes. Menah was on alert, quickly covered her belly with a shawl, deathly pale flashed through her face evidence of her frightened state, she regretted why she did not go home early. Apparently, the old lady understood Menah's reaction toward her, they simply stranger to each other so she bid her goodbye. Menah hurriedly picked up her things then went home. As she was welcomed by Hansel, she automatically expressed her worries and told him her experience this afternoon about the old-weak lady whose asking for help, she even had "What if's notion" worsening her psychological health and said to not forgave herself if something happened to her unborn child. Practically, to eased the wife's traumatic moment, Hansel coaxed Menah and even told her a joked that the old lady was just a disguised Aviva – the fairy godmother. Automatically, Menah felt relieved even though she truly knew that it was just her husband's approach to forget her worries and fears, she was very grateful to have a loving husband like Hansel.
Seven days had passed by, Menah together with Hansel went back to river as the same old days and routine. Later that day, the old lady had come back to the river and not weak anymore. She did even bring with her laundries and hit a conversation to the couple until they found comfortable with her. She introduced herself as Anunsacion Flores or Anun for short, single for her entire life because of her unpleasant appearance, and her parents had been left this world a long time ago only she is living on foot of the mountain where her humble abode located. Months had passed, the old lady became couple's friend and even took visit regularly at their home. She was also befriended with the whole Velez Family except for one member who was hostile toward her, his name was Hugo.
The Family was composed of eight members: (1) Hermenigildo Velez – old man, father of Hansel, Hugo and Helga; (2) Helen Velez – a wife, mother of three and a grandmother; (3) Hugo – eldest son of the Velez siblings, idle and unmarried; (4) Helga – second child, widow at age of 30 for her late husband suffered prostate cancer the reason they did not blessed with children; (5) Hansel – youngest son, a husband to Menah, father of two ; (6) Menah – a wife, mother of two lovely daughters; (7) Harome – eldest daughter of Hansel and Menah; and (8) Hannah – the youngest. They were under the same roof, an extended family happily living in simplicity and peacefulness had found in the other side of the island just like the rest of the other families. They want to restore the traditions and cultures they have.
There it came, a rainy midnight that broke into the dawn, series of period-like contractions felt by a sleeping Menah cause her to be awaken, these were initially mild and acute. She couldn't bore the discomfort anymore so the family got alert of her due date, priceless expression of happiness and excitement were painted all over their faces, here it came the little one made her way, the new member of the Velez that would surely showered with kisses and love. Afterwards, there were urgent knocks on the door, they wondered who might it be? Thus, the curious Hugo opened it, shocked of the person's appearance. He thought to himself," Hmmpp… in fairness, the witch came indeed without notice!". Then, without Hugo's permission, Anun rushed over to Menah's bedside ignoring the piercing gaze of Hugo that for sure would leave a hole into her fragile body. Exactly as Menah would readily gave birth, pearl like beads on her forehead formed caused by deathlike pain during her state of labor. Only to be heard were Panting… Screaming… Menah wanted to end her agony in an instant, so she pushed harder. Alas! She gave birth successfully to a healthy and beautiful daughter. On the other hand, Anun skillfully handled in cutting the umbilical cord and nursed the little one. She felt relieved and happy for brave Menah. Anun secretly bestowed the baby a power of true beauty, kindness, health, wisdom and valor. She asked the couple for the baby's name, its "Hannah" the combination of their names.
As Hannah born to the world, the Velez Family were joyous, she gave more glee to the family and the main attraction in their home – her laughter, cries and giggles ringing through the entire house as if were the melodious songs to the ears. Five years later, On Hannah's fifth birthday they prepared for a little banquet, neighbors were invited too. They had enjoyed the celebration. Not long after, Anun bid her farewell to the entire family according to her that she would go to the far land to seek cure of her sickness never knew when she would come back or otherwise they would never met again. Hannah was in grief for she was fan of Anun, she was like her second grandma and even called her mamo and so Harome as well.
Twelve years later, Hannah was a grown up now. She turned into one of the finest young maidens in the island including her older sister, Harome, whom very protective to her. One day, Harome and Hannah went to the river for laundry. As they were busy washing the clothes with their bare hands a Goddess like beauty approached them and introduced herself as Aviva. The two ladies were stunned due to an overwhelming aura emanated from the stranger. Aviva got amused by how the two young maidens interacted to her with too much cautious, respect and shyness, so she decided to tell them the truth about her disguised as Mamo Anun to them when she turned herself into filthy old lady that their family wholeheartedly accepted her no matter how her looks horrible. Finally, they recognized her and reunited with greetings. She told them that she was always by their side all the time without their acknowledgment, she was invisible if she wanted to because of her power and can-do magical things. Then, information buried inside them hit their instinct, the two sisters stared one another and guessed exactly that Aviva was the protector of the island, guardian of nature and a fairy godmother to all. Yes! They found themselves completely blessed by the protection and guidance have had given by Aviva to their family. The fairy godmother told them her secret about falling asleep in three consecutive days every full moon before its full blast. And so, she was not on watched in the island during that period.
On contrary, an evil and envious heart could have cost lives. Hugo have fled the secluded town because he couldn't stand the loneliness anymore of the place, he wanted to joined the sparkling part of the island where offered unlimited pleasures. But he had a venomous tongue that he maligned the secluded part of the island and made rumor about the people living there had become witches and sorcerers. Hereafter, the bad guys heard and believed the false report of Hugo, wanted to capture the said wizards with menace and dangerous plan. Without delayed, they prepared themselves, equipped with deadly weapons, to attacked the Northern part for they had long enough plan to evade the mysterious mountain.
However, Hugo had realized his own mistake and couldn't take back what he has done to his own family and folks. So, he run up to the village to warned the people that they were in danger but its too late. The armed gangs spread violence against civilians without second thought, ransacked their houses, oppressively killed and tortured the men without reasons, assaulted the women and locked up the children threatening them to show their powers and fought them back, but nothing transpired aside their violence because humor was invention. Still unsatisfied of their entertainments, they burnt the cottages and put into fire the abundant forest which the act you didn't want to saw. The moon had witnessed of it all helplessly for the guardian had hibernated beneath the water and deep sea. Grief he felt, Hugo searched his own family but saw only their corpses disoriented, he cried and screamed wishing to correct his fault but it was too late, he could no longer be with his loving family, sweet smiles of his beautiful nieces lingered into his memory and how understanding were his parents to him. He was carried away with his jealousy over his brother for he had owned a great family, hatred toward his parents for he thought that they didn't loved him, and pity of his own fate for not finding a good wife and no children of his own. All of these were just his prejudice, not opening his heart to embrace the reality, maybe if only he had listened to them he could have lived merrily. Misery was all he got now, alone to bore the burden, hopeless.
Aghast! Aviva's heart begun to crumble as she saw an unsightly scene in front of her. She felt lump inside her throat as she started to cry, mournful on how the innocent people's horrible faith led them in unexpected death without justice. Oh! How she blamed herself for what happened to these people whom had hoped her for their protection, whom had sought her for help, and whom pleaded her to saved them from violence. She looked up to the moon then closed her eyes, perceived the vision which moon had associated. She felt disrespected for not following her rules and by being ignored by these intruders. Unconsciously, fisted into white her both hands. Yes! She agreed… it was now the time to made the sinners, law breakers and murderers pay their debts to nature especially to the murdered innocent souls. She couldn't able to contained her anger. Furious Aviva flew to the other half side of the island, remarked her territory and showed them her wrath through the strong winds and big waves smashed their proudly built cottages and buildings. The armed gangs laughed humorlessly for they didn't believed guardians and magic, they concluded that she just used some pranks to made them scurried away, so they acted aggressively and fought back against Aviva for she was just a woman possessed with fragile look. They continued aiming their riffles and attacked with swords to the guardian but all were in vain, they couldn't even touch the single tip of her hair. The sturdy and beautiful houses were like hit by the wind fist that made roofs flying in the sky, some people were vacuumed through the air and threw them into the Pacific Ocean, others were all wet, hungry, terrified and crying for mercy but were slammed with falling debris, no mercy had shown for she had lose control, they were totally destroyed until none had strength to stand his bare foot and fought against her. As Aviva exerted her power for the last time she turned herself into a whirlwind to strayed the entire island and then she disappeared and not to be seen again.
The Isla Viva was totally devastated by the storm and no single house mounted and no soul survived. Now the island was called by the outsider as "Santa Cruz" because hundreds of bodies were buried and some were missing – It was the place for mass graveyard. The residents of nearest Island were taking initiative to give the Santa Cruz a Mass with the help of a Priest to pray the lost souls and gave them peace on their resting place where they belong.
Nowadays, there are new populace who find the Island as their home because of its abundance. Still the Santa Cruz felt Aviva's wrath because every now and then various storms hit the island especially when the wind is from Northwest Monsoon, strong wind would definitely stroke the residents. This was the cursed of a once protector and guardian of the Island – Aviva.