Republic Reborn: Against the Stars and Stripes

We laughed and clapped to the beat of the bamboo poles and the fast-paced string music of the rondalla.

Multiple pairs of the town’s young men and women performed the precarious dance called the Tinikling at the center of the plaza. For each pair, two long bamboo poles were held horizontally and tapped and slid against the ground in rhythm, while the dancers had to skillfully slide in and out of the poles—or else risk getting painfully caught at the ankles by the clapping bamboo.

The former Martin had seen the dance multiple times before. But still, I couldn’t help but hold my breath as the rondalla music picked up speed—and so did the rhythm. I saw a few feet get caught, but the dancers brushed it off with a smile.

The music grew even faster, and the agile young feet responded in kind, their shadows dancing alongside them against the glow of the bonfire, until the final strum was struck and the bamboo made its last sharp clap. At once, the audience cheered and applauded as the dancers struck a pose, their chests rising and falling with exhaustion.

"I appreciate this, Don Suarez. What an exhilarating performance," I leaned in and whispered to his ear, clapping along with the townsfolk.

"You flatter us, Gobernador... That performance was lackluster. So bad, I’m almost tempted to have them face your firing squad," the gobernadorcillo jested.

I didn’t like the joke—especially since I still had nightmares about the whole ordeal—but for politeness’ sake, I laughed.

During my last night in the town, the gobernadorcillo held a feast in my honor. All the townspeople were invited, including the soldiers, Eduardo, and his crew. Lechon, roasted chicken, rice cakes, fruits, and liquor were served in abundance.

To accommodate everyone, long tables were set up in the plaza. The head table, placed in front of the presidencia municipal, seated me, the gobernadorcillo, Pedro, and the juez de paz. Ours were the choice portions of the meats and generous servings of every dish—as well as a large bottle of two-decade-old rum.