Hanapin

History
Hanapin started first as an experimental expedition. The founders were a group of fishers that split off from another village, saying that they were following a call to return to the coast. However, the people soon found themselves threatened by aswang. They had hoped that being closer to the sea and its salt, they would have some form of protection. Rather than return to the lake, the fishers found themselves honing their skills as hunters and warriors in order to protect their newfound home and their families.

One young woman, known as Watan, devised a plot. She had grown tired of the constant fear, feeling just on the edge of survival. Watan decided to find a way to harness the salt of the sea. She saw how the saltwater collected in natural tidal pools as the tides washed out, and how by day’s end, the sun would evaporate the water, leaving salt deposits. At first, she would simply harvest this salt, dividing it into small pouches for the hunters and warriors to take with them as protection. But she realized she could do more to protect her community.

With guidance from the resident babaylan, Watan began to build tidal pools of her own. She scraped into the sand, crafting short barriers from shell and stone that would collect seawater as the tides went out. Though it was a labor intensive process, others came together with Watan to create the beginnings of a salt farm. This salt was distributed amongst the hunters and warriors who were able to fight against the aswang with definite success.

Now, Hanapin is known both for its salt fields and skilled warriors.

Important Figures
Datu Panganiban. Datu Panganiban comes from a lineage of elves that begins with Watan. And while Watan, the creator of the salt farms, was not a hunter, Panganiban is. Panganiban almost seemed reluctant to take the role of datu from their mother because of their love of hunting, which provoked skepticism from the villagers. While Panganiban seems restless and occasionally impatient, they approach leadership with the same fervor they once approached hunting. Some interpret this intensity as a sincere desire to become a good leader, like the hunters who once travelled alongside Panganiban. Others perceive it as overcompensation for lack of experience.

As datu, Panganiban no longer has the time to hunt as freely as they once did. Additionally, they worry that spending so much time away on hunts would only serve to validate their community’s skepticism. So, Panganiban has found their own way to remain involved in hunting that won’t take them as far from the village: raising and training hunting dogs. Through this, Panganiban hopes to demonstrate that despite their youthful inexperience, they have the makings of a capable leader.

Babaylan Batu. Similar to Datu Panganiban, Batu comes from an established and respected lineage. Though just a few years older than Panganiban, Batu is a stark contrast, self-assured in both their role and abilities. Batu excels in his connection and understanding of spirits, but he often comes off as distant from the world around him.

No one can deny Batu’s dedication, as he is often seen at the beach shrine even before the sun rises. He shows joy in small ways, such as a smile at any who choose to join him in his morning observance. In the evenings, he can be found again at the beach shrine and lingers there for hours in quiet contemplation. To visitors, Batu’s silence is eerie. But residents of Hanapin are learning to read their babaylan, recognizing that while he may not speak, he communicates care through dedication.

Important Landmarks
Salt Farms. The salt farms are perhaps the most defining feature of Hanapin: a wide swath of the beach with a unique grid system to collect seawater for the sun to evaporate. While the first salt farm was simple and practical, barriers cobbled together from an assortment of shells and stone. Now, the sections are separated by barriers that are equal parts practical and pretty. In this way, the salt farms act as a visual timeline for the growth of Hanapin.

The Datu’s House. The Datu’s house is at the edge of the settlement, closest to the forests in order to guarantee that the Datu is always the first to greet incoming parties. The house itself is unadorned, as if to ensure the Datu remains connected to Hanapin’s humble roots.

The Beach Shrine. The people of Hanapin will never forget the blessings the sea gave them: salt for protection and fish for sustenance. Hanapin’s shrine is located at the edge of the salt farms on the beach, constructed of carved driftwood, adorned with iridescent shells.