Along the coasts of Manila, there is a small island unknown to the city dwellers which was called “The Island of the Lost.” Why? Because all lost things and garbage swept to the sea accumulated in this area. It was once a small island but the rubbish of the Manila people became extensions of the original island. So, if you did get a chance to see it, it might look like a floating junk yard.
The island is also inhabited by people who themselves are lost. Some were also swept by the currents to it, while some are actually descendants of those people.
Such was the case of a young man named Rigor. His parents were survivors of a shipping line mishap who were swept by the current to a mass of trash which turned out to be an island that was inhabited by other people.
The people welcomed the couple and were attracted to the simplicity of life in it. In the island, there are no poor people for there are no rich people.
In the center of the island you can find a coconut tree which is the only sign that there is actually life underneath the garbage. The tree is the only source of food and water by the population of the island. They have learned to utilize the coconut meat into several dishes like roasted coconut, coconut-flavored coconut, coconut stew and fried coconut meat.
Not only was it a source of food, but some people actually made the tree a religious icon. They worshipped it.
How the coconut can feed all of them is a mystery to all.
Rigor always wanted to leave the island.
“Why would you want to do that?” asked his father while they were eating sweet and sour coconut for dinner. “This place is paradise.”
“But I want to know more. I want to see more,” Rigor said. “Plus, I am sick of eating coconut,” as he pushed his plate away from him.
“Now our son is too good for the God-tree,” said Rigor’s mother. She was obviously a member of the coconut cult as what Rigor called it.
“No, it is because he does not love us anymore,” exclaimed his father with tears in his eyes.
“We are not good enough for him,” his mother added tearfully.
“Mother, father, it is not like that,” Rigor said. “I just want to experience what I have read from this,” showing his parents a Manila travel guide pamphlet. “It was given to me by Gil.”
“Oh, that good for nothing rascal,” the father said. “He is corrupting your mind,” he said.
“I lost my appetite,” he stood up and went inside his room.
“Rigor, I swear that if you do not come back here, I will not give you a serving of our dessert,” shouted the mother.
“Coconut meat covered in molasses does not count as dessert to me,” he shouted back. He lies done in his bed and he devised his plan to run away from and come to Manila.
He made sure that his parents were all ready sleeping when he went out of his room. He left a letter in their dining table explaining why he ran away and promising to them that he will return. He opened their main door as quietly as he can and off he flew into the night.
Rigor then went to his friend Gil’s house. He was infamous in the island for crossing the sea and visiting the main land from time to time.
“So this is what we need to do,” he instructed Rigor. “We will go to the northern tip of this island and that is where you will begin your journey.”
“Will I swim all the way to Manila?” Rigor asked.
“Of course not, smart guy,” Gil replied. “You will be riding this, where is it? There it is!” he showed Rigor a big red bucket.
He became excited for it was the first time that he found out that buckets are used to cross the ocean.
“Once you reached Manila, look for Philip and he will be your guide,” added Gil. Rigor nodded enthusiastically.
“Plus, Rigor, can I ask you a favor?” said Gil.
“Anything for you friend,” Rigor replied.
“Once you are in Manila, can you get me some chicken?” cried Gil.
“What are those?” Rigor asked.
“Oh, Philip will tell you,” his friend answered. “And once you have them, put them here. This is called a box. You can actually get some in the main land but they will try to sell it to you.” He added. “They sell everything in Manila but here it is free.”
Gil accompanied Rigor to the northern tip of the island. Gil helped him climbed inside the bucket. It was a little small for him so he crammed his legs inside. He then held on to the box. Once everything was ready, Gil gave the bucket a slight nudge and off it went following the current to Manila.
After a few hours he found himself in the shores of Manila. He noticed how dirty its beach was. “The island and Manila smells the same,” he told himself. He stood up and for the first time, he noticed how painful his legs are for sitting inside the bucket. He walked along the beach with the bucket on one hand and the box on the other
“Boo!” cried a man behind him and Rigor hit him with the bucket. “Wait, wait, I mean no harm,” he said. Rigor relaxed upon hearing the man and asked him “Who are you?”
“I am Philip and I believe you are from the island, aren't you?” said the stranger.
“Yes, I am Rigor,” he answered. “And how did you find out?”
“That bucket is Gil's,” Philip answered.
“Yes, and he told me that you will be my guide,” Rigor said back.
“Well, I think I can,” Philip said. “But let us go to my house first for breakfast.”
“You are from the island right?” Rigor asked him.
“Yes,” his guide answered. “But I am now living here for about a year now.”
“Is it really better here?” he asked Philip.
“It depends on what the word ‘better’ means to you,” answered the guide as they reached his house. It was a small shack located just a few meters from the road. There was small window which overlooks the sea where Rigor has just come from. He put down the bucket and gave the box to Philip. Philip went to a portion of his house which looks like a kitchen to Rigor.
He opened a pot then took out what looks like a brown piece of rock. He put several of those rocks inside the box that Gil gave him and he put five of those rocks in a plate. Philip put the plate down in a small plastic table and asked Rigor to sit down near the table in a plastic chair. Philip then sat opposite Rigor.
“This is a fried chicken. Taste it,” Philip said. Rigor reluctantly picked-up a chicken from the platter and slowly bit into it. “This is really good,” he exclaimed. “What are chickens anyway?” he asked.
Philip smiled and pointed to a creature behind Rigor. He did not notice it when he entered and he was totally shocked from what he saw.
“But, but, that creature is still alive,” Rigor stuttered.
“Silly, you have to kill it and cook it before you eat it,” Philip answered.
“You mean you have to kill something so you can eat?” the guest asked. Philip just nodded. “That’s terrible.”
“That is how they eat here in Manila,” Philip explained. “Someone needs to die to quench someone’s desire,” he added. “Remember how everyone eats coconut in the island?” Rigor was asked and he replied with a nod. “They do the same thing to chickens here. Fried chicken, roasted chicken, baked chicken, chicken soup, chicken ala king and many others,” he added as Rigor grimaced.
“And I thought people from the island are silly,” Rigor stated. “At least people here in Manila do not worship trees right?” he asked Philip.
“Well they worship a thief here and his name is the Mayor,” Philip said.
“The people pay tribute to him but he always wants more,” Philip said. “He steals from them but with just a wink, he can make his crimes disappear,” he added.
“It is better to worship a tree rather that pray to a stealing god named Mayor,” Philip expressed and Rigor nodded again.
“So you see Rigor, Manila is not entirely different from the island. I think it is even better there,” Philip said.
“Then why are you living here?” the young man asked.
“So I can warn those who want to move here,” his guide said. “I want to tell them how it is so much better to live in simplicity rather than to follow the corrupt ways of the modern world.”
Rigor understood very well and he told Philip to accompany him back to the shore so he can go back to his home island which Philip dutifully did.
Once Rigor was again aboard his bucket with the box of food, Philip gave the bucket a small kick that sends the bucket spinning away from the shore.
“Philip, thank you!” Rigor said. “You’re welcome,” his host replied.
Rigor looked at the horizon towards the Island of the Lost, excited to see the tall coconut tree on its center and he did not even look back at Manila.
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