Pagdiwata

                                    "Pagdiwata”

        Across the land, where birds are singing along with the whispering wind, and golden grains of rice are within the reach of the eye. A girl dancing in the middle of a rice field named Anna. She happily gazes through every piece of grain. As she recalls the hardship she went through to plant those rice. Every sweat, tear, and blood she devoured during those times. After months of waiting, the plants start to grow and those golden grains are starting to appear. The smile on her face is as bright as the sun. She knows she will be able to make that "thing” again. 

        A wine made of rice was her favorite. She calls this “Tabàd” which means “alak mula sa bigas”. Every night she prepares her rice to go through a process of fermentation to reach that strong and sweet-savory flavor she wants. “Every grain is important”, she said as she scoop grains of rice from the container. 

       One night after she extracts the rice. A scent of burning powder tingled her nostrils. She walked outside of her house and saw a man beside the field, holding matches. Anna recalled some memories with Albert, where Anna chooses to make Rice wine than live with Albert under the same roof. When Albert heard her answer, his bright face turned to a dark disappointed face. "Those grains of rice took you away from me, I guess I'll take them first before they take you, Anna,” Albert said. Anna ignored him, she thought that this was just a joke and it was him, he will not be able to do that. Back to the present moment. Anna tried to stop her, "No, Albert!”, screaming at the top of her lungs but it was far too late. Her lovely rice field turned to ash. Teardrops begin to fall and her eyes met with the man once she loved.

       Anna's soul was scattered and she started to ask God for help. "Grant me powers, oh lord, and I'll make this man regret”. God heard her and saw her misery. She gained power, a special one. Now she can undo all the things that Albert did and make all her wishes come true. 

       Albert was terrified. He runs so fast, The fastest run of his life. He saw how every plant rises from the dead. Every ash turned into a green stem with golden grains of rice. After the disaster, little did she know that her life will be the money paid for that power. She told her family that she only has 2 days to live with them. She also said that she gained power from God. She told her family that she can be able to make their wishes come true.

       The day passed after wishes and wishes. For her family, she was now can be identified as a God. But for her, she's still a human that will miss the sweet-savory flavor of rice wine. The time runs out, and she was done. She told her family of the only way to reach and communicate with her, was by conducting a ritual. Her family always prepares rice wine to offer to her. Because they know that rice wine is her favorite and the best way to reach God was by conducting a ritual with offerings. Every full moon the family wears a costume made out of rice besides that they always prepare rice wine to offer. And they begin the ritual at 3 pm to midnight. Their tribe started to call the ritual "Pagdiwata” or rice wine ritual to reach out to the goddess of rice Anna.