Leyendas Pasigueñas -- "Ang Amerikano Sa Hagdang Bato"



Sa dulo ng ilog Pasig, sa paglapit sa boca ng Laguna de Bay, di kalayuan sa Napindan, makikita noon ang isang pook na tinawag na "Hagdang Bato". Nakilala ito sa ganitong tawag sa dahilan na ang malalaking bato sa pampang ng ilog ay nagsisilbing hagdanan ng mga taong umaahon sa nasabing ilog at ito din ginagawang daungan ng mga casco, pituya at maliliit na bangkang gamit sa pangingisda o  panunuso. 


Sa paglapit sa hagdang bato mapapansin din ang isang lugar na punong puno ng kawayanan, mga punong kahoy at magagandang halaman. Kilala ito sa luntian nitong kulay, sa tahimik at maginhawang kapaligiran. Sa loob ng nasabing pook ay may isang payak na bahay kubo. Dito pumipisan ang sinasabing tagapangalaga ng mga puno at mga halaman ng hagdang bato-- Isang matandang babae na wala namang makapagsabi kung ano ang ngalan at saan nanggaling. Sinasabi rin tuwing umaga nakikita ang matanda sa hagdang bato naglilinis at tinatangal ang mga lumot  sa mga baitang na sa gayun paraan ay maka daong ng maginhawa ang mga tao at mga bangka ng maayos.


Isang araw, napuno ng mga bangkang de motor at mga lancha ang hagdang bato. Mga opisyales ng gobyerno at ilang dayuhan. Umalingawngaw din ang balitang may nakabili ng nasabing lupain. Isa daw mayamang Amerikano, katunayan marami ang nakapagsabi tumindig pa sa hagdanan ang nasabing Amerikano upang makita ang kalayuan ng kanyang nabiling lupain. Hindi lumipas ang matagal na panahon, nagdatingan ang malalaking makinarya upang hawiin ang pook, tinangal ang mga puno't halaman, giniba ang hagdang bato. Tatayuan pala ito ng pabrika. Ang matandang babae naman ay napalayas sa lugar. Subalit bago umalis nagbitaw ito ng salita; "Katulad ko na pinalayas dito,  ganito din ang kahahantungan mo. Magpapagala gala ka sa mundo" . Isa daw itong sumpa na binitawan sa Amerikano.


Naitayo ang pabrika, nakilala ang Amerikano at lalong tinangkilik sa lipunang Pilipino dahil sa kanyang kayamanan. Subalit sa isang iglap, sa isang eskandalo naglaho ang kanyang imperyong salapi. Napalayas ang Amerikano sa PIlipinas at gaya ng nabitawan sumpa ng matandang babae, nagpagalagala ang nasabing Amerikano sa iba't ibang parte ng mundo. Maging sa sarili niyang bansa, siya ay tinaboy din. Namatay itong walang masasabing tunay na tahanan.


Wala namang nakapagsabi kung saan na napunta ang matandang babae.


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