The Chest of Kahimyangan

The Chest of Kahimyangan has the Jewels of Kauswagan, Katuhayan and Kamurayaw. A komunidad or a lungsod that could get this chest would be able to achieve prosperity, order and peace.

Can Juan Bantugan help his beloved Lungsod han Bulawanongsirak get the Chest of Kahimyangan?

The Quest for Kahimyangan

After Juan Bantugan succeeded in regaining the Statue of Kalungsuran he faces the challenge of acquiring the Chest of Kahimyangan. Will the Great Makagarahum grant him the strength and the grace to succeed in this new Quest? Will the katawhan of Bulawanongsirak support him in this endeavor?

The Quest of Kalungsuran: Epilogue

As Apoy Lagas emphasized, the Statue of Kalungsuran is just a means - it was not the end. The statue was important in achieving the Chest of Kahimyangan - which contains the Jewels of Kauswagan, Kamurayaw and Katuhayan.

The success of Juan Bantugan and his friends - Lando, Gabriel, Ana and Rosa - in regaining the Statue of Kalungsuran has brought to the Lungsod of Bulawanongsirak a new beginning but it's just that - a new beginning. The still have to continue with their journey to seek for the Chest of Kahimyangan.

Will they be able to to succeed in this new endeavor?

The Quest for Kalungsuran: Chapter XVIII - The Beginning of a New Quest

Apoy Lagas congratulated Juan and his four friends for their success in regaining the Statue of Kalungsuran for the Lungsod of Bulawanongsirak. The five youngsters were very happy too not because the people somehow recognized their effrots but because they were able to do something for the sake of their komunidad.

"Juan bantugan," Apoy Lagas said, "your name will surely be remembered just like what it truly means - bantugan, famous!"

Juan smiled shyly but deep within his joy was overwhelming.

"I just hope that this victory won't make your head grow so big," the old sage asid smiling. "Because as I have said before, the Statue is not the end, it is just a means."

Juan looked up to the sage.

"The most important thing to achieve is the Chest of Kahimyangan."

Juan said, "Does it mean we have to make another journey? A different quest?"

Apoy Lagas nodded.

"Yes, Juan, yes," he said. Because in this life we are always journeying, we are always on a pilgrimage. We cannot stop because the moment we do, we'll die. Only the dead stops journeying. While alive, people make quests. We cannot stop, we cannot be content with what we have been provided for. It would be a great insult to the Great Makagarahum, who until this very moment does his great work, if we will stop journeying. It may not be a journey of a thousand miles, but still we have to make a move.

"Being the pinili you are especially tasked to continue journeying. Your next quest will be the Quest for the Chest of Kahimyangan and along the way you will surely find so many challenges but as you have already overcome many challenges while seeking for the Statue of Kalungsuran, you will surely be able to voercome other challenges along your new journey."

"Oh yes, Apoy," Juan proudly answered. "I can do everything because the Great Makagarahum is with me and also I have you as a guide and my friends as partners in every endeavor."

Apoy Lagas smiled.

"Great remark, son," he said. "You will surely emerge victorious in whatever endeavor you undertake ebcause you know how to acknowledge the fact that your success was made possible because of others and not only through your own efforts."

As they continued discussing the next quest, the sun slowly receded to give way to the night. As the twilight sky exuded a wonderful view, Juan thought about the exciting new adventure that his friends will surely dare not to miss!

The Quest for Kalungsuran: Chapter XVI - The Statue of Kalungsuran

Now that Juan Bantugan and his friends were able to overcome all the challenges, they were now free to regain the Statue of Kalungsuran.

The Statue of Kalungsuran was set atop a crystal pedestal. It looked very attractive to the eyes. Juan thought that it really was worth all the efforts. But then Apoy Lagas' words rang in his ear, "The Statue of Kalungsuran is not an end. It is just a means."

Juan moved closer to the statue. Then took it from the pedestal and put it into his backpack.

When he turned back, he saw some Magmarangnos behind the five of them.

"Congratulations," said the Chief Magmarangno. "You have earned your trophy. Now it is time to bring the Statue of Kalungsuran back to your komunidad so that your bungto could already enjoy more kapas and regain the status of a lungsod!"

Juan smiled and thanked the Magmarangnos.

The Chief Magmarangno said, "The Statue of Kalungsuran is a very coveted artifact. Many komunidads try to get it but somehow they fail because of so many factors. Now that you have successfully regained your own, it is up to you to maximize the benefits that it would bring to your bungto. Remember that the statue is not an end in itself. It is just a means, a way, an opportunity. You cannot just enjoy the kapas that it brings but you must exert effort to sustain the kapas and be able to generate your own so that your lungsod could achieve prosperity.

"And since the statue is just a means, it will help you to achieve something else. When you get back to your komunidad, you will be told about what will happen next."

Before they left the place the Chief Magmarangno reminded them, "Remember how you regained the statue. The same will show you your way!"

They nodded and left.

As headed to their komunidad, Lando said to Juan, "Now that we have passed all the challenges and we already have the Statue of Kalungsuran, would it be okay to discuss about how the people would be welcoming us?"

The other four looked at him with such look that seems to warn of trouble.

"Remember what the Magmarangnos told us," said Ana. "We can go home safely if we remain true to the values that we have learned while we are on our way here."

"Yes," seconded Rosa. "We should not expect for anything. We only did a task that is expected of us to accomplish. And most of all, the four of us don't even have the right to any recognition. It was Juan's task after all."

Juan replied immediately, "No. It is not my task alone. It was our task altogether. We all deserve any accolade. But I guess it would be great to just bring the statue back to the komunidad and let the people enjoy the kapas while we enjoy stories with Apoy Lagas!"

"Right," said Gabriel. "After all, we didn't do this in order to gain fame, power or fortune. we did this to help our bungto. At least we could share lots of stories with Apoy Lagas - which probably he could share to the next generations of young men and women of our place!"

"Oh well," Lando said somehow satisfied with what the others have said. "I guess we have to settle being characters of Apoy Lagas' fairy tales in the future. But wait, the Chief Magmarangno said that when we get back to the komunidad we'll be told of what will happen next."

Juan said, " Oh, probably it would be about taking a bath since we haven't touched water for a long period of time already!" Though in his mind he was already thinking about something else.

They all laughed and enjoyed the trip back home as if they only went on a picnic.

The Quest for Kalungsuran: Chapter XV - The Monster of Daghangpangita

A few miles ahead the five friends saw the shadow of a giant monster.

"It's the Monster of Daghangpangita," said Juan Bantugan.

The other four quivered in fear knowing fully well that such a huge shadow could only be cast by an equally huge being. And as they watched the orientation of light, it seemed much bigger than they could imagine.

Then the ground started to shake.

"It is moving," cried Lando, "towards us!"

And the full size of the Monster of Daghangpangita appeared before them. It was about a hundred meters tall. It laughed and the mere sound of its laughter created a thunderstorm.

"We're doomed!" cried Ana.

"This journey is over!" said Gabriel

"What shall we do?" Rosa asked Juan.

Juan seemd to have been stymied. But then he turned to the four and said, "It's my fight. Take cover and pray for me!"

The four looked for some where they thought they could somehow be safe.

But they prayed hard for Juan to overcome the monster.

Juan stood his ground and cried aloud, "By the power of the Great Makagarahum, I summon the Spirit of Pangita to help me in this fight!"

From the thunderstorm created by the laughter of the Monster of Daghangpangita lightning struck Juan and bright colored light engulfed him. But the Spirit of Pangita seemed to be very weak in the face of the monster.

"It's not working," Rosa said. "The Spirit is much weaker than the monster!"

"Let's pray harder," cried Ana.

Juan knew that he could not rely on the Spirit of Pangita. He had to use other emans to defeat the Monster of Daghangpangita.

The monster pounded on him and he barely missed the huge fist that created a fissure on the ground. Juan remembered the Spear of Gugma. He cried to Gabriel who was holding the spear.

"Gabriel, give me the spear!"

Gabriel threw the spear to him. Juan was able to grab it and escape safely before the foot of the monster stepped on the rock he was standing on.

Then as the monster tried to pound him again with its close fist, Juan rolled and upon standing took a prayerful shot to the right eye of the monster. The shot was made with all his remaining strength and it hit the mark.

The monster got hurt so badly that it trashed and tried to hit everything on its path. The five friends held on to whatever they could hold as the monster became very violent. Then when it pounded the ground mightily because of the pain that Juan has done to it, the ground opened and swallowed the monster. After the monster fell into the deep, the ground closed again.

His friends were overjoyed by Juan's victory. Juan on the other hand thanked them for pryaing for him. They gave thanks to the Great Makagarahum.

As they were leaving, the ground shook once more. They thought that the monster might have returned but only a small opening in the ground appeared - just enough to let the Spear of Gugma fly back into the hands of Juan.

The Quest for Kalungsuran: Chapter XIV - The Monster of Haluagkatunaan

The Arrows of Pagtoo disabled the Horde of Lungsods but the real challenge was waiting for Juan Bantugan already: the Monster of Haluagkatunaan.

It was a challenge that he must face alone. His four friends bid him good luck.

Juan replied, "This is not a matter of luck anymore. This is a real fight!"

As Juan was walking towards the monster, the Horde and his friends waited for what will happen. The Horde were hoping that the monster would defeat Juan while his friends prayed hard that Juan would overcome the monster.

The Monster of Haluagkatunaan was so dreadful. It was about thrice the size of a normal adult and since Juan was not that full grown man yet, it was somehow four times his size. The Horde thought that the sheer size of the monster would discourage the youngster already. But Juan showed no fear. He knew that somehow he had nothing to fear about the monster.

Apoy Lagas told him this, "The Monster of Katunaan will not be so hard to defeat. Just rely on your knoweldge about your komunidad and on your faith."

At last, Juan and the monster were now face to face. The monster tried to instill fear in Jan by gnashing his teeth which sounded very horrible and by showing the sharp nails on his fingers which could cut Juan into small bits with just one stroke!

Juan stood his ground and then cried to the monster, "In the name of the Great Makagarahum and the katawhan of Bulawanongsirak, I order you to stand back and let me pass through!"

The Monster of Haluagkatunaan laughed horribly.

"Show me that you deserve to pass through me!" the Monster replied. "I bet you already know the rules."

Juan concentrated well and cried, "By the power of the Great Makagarahum, I summon the Power of Katunaan to give me the strength I need to face this Monster!"

Juan became engulfed in a mist of various colors. Everybody waited for what happened to him. Then when the mist subsided the Horde and the Monster were astounded while the friends of Juan were overjoyed.

Juan grew bigger than the monster. It only showed that the Power of Katunaan which Bulawanongsirak possesses was much greater than that of the monster.

Instead of Juan surrendering the fight, it was the monster who turned back and bothered no more the five friends in facing the next challenge.