SOPHIA SPAGHETTI

“So this is Barrio Mapagkumbaba. Hmmm, I wonder where the party is”, Sophia Spaghetti’ s noodle strands stretched as she tried to peek in at the place. Bright green, red, blue and yellow triangle-shaped objects danced over the big crowds. There were people everywhere. Children came running one after another. Different sounds filled the air – bells ringing, men laughing and women chatting endlessly. But the loudest of them all were the trumpets and drums of silver-uniformed men marching. Leading the parade were ladies in golden dresses gracefully twirling batons and wowing everybody watching.

Sophia Spaghetti knew then that she was to be a big hit in this merry happening. So she twirled in her thick tomato sauce, showing off her cheesy bits. “My, I always look best in this velvety red gown. Everyone will say bellissima when they see me – because I am truly beautiful… mmmwah”.

Next thing Sophia Spaghetti knew, she was placed on a very long table covered with a huge banana leaf. She quickly swirled her slightly misplaced meatballs and looked at her companions. What she saw surprised her. “Who… what are you!” Sophia Spaghetti screeched.

The others stared at Sophia Spaghetti for a moment. Sapin-Sapin who glowed with her violet, yellow and red colors squealed with delight, “Welcome to our fiesta!” It was the thin noodles with lots of vegetables, which spoke next. “Hi, ” she curled up shyly, “I’m Pasing Pancit Bihon and I am very pleased to meet you, miss --? ”

“Who is she to ask my name as if she does not recognize me!” Sophia Spaghetti could only mumble. Aloud she said, “I am So-phee-ya Spaghetti from the great Pasta family! So, is this the party? In this small and dusty place?”

Pasing Pancit Bihon shamefully hid under her cabbage bits and meat chunks. Her brother Cardo Pancit Canton, who was short, stout, and yellowish, answered instead, “This is a fiesta! We give thanks to our patron saint who is very good to us. And during fiestas, we have banderitas, those colorful triangles that you see hanging around.” Cardo Pancit Canton was proud of his town.

Sophia Spaghetti was annoyed because she does not know anything about a fiesta. “We have none of these foolish things in the big city. What we have are plenty of colorful and blinking lights – everywhere, every night.”

“Wow, you came from the big city!” cried the white round-shaped Putos as they bumped into one another. “We’ve always wanted to go there,” they went on excitedly.

As she curved to look at them, her noodles gave out a loud swishing. “Huh, what on earth are you! You are totally black, like mud!” Beside the Putos was the deep bowl of Dinuguan, which turned even darker. Dino Dinuguan grew sad over the rude remark about his color so he kept silent.

Then Sophia Spaghetti smelled something bad. “What’s that dreadful odor? Oh, I can’t bear to be on this table anymore!” The pot of orange Kare-Kare bubbled up in anger, “That is my good friend Bong Bagoong. Never judge him by his smell because once you taste him, you will surely like him. We make a good team.”

“Mare Kare-Kare, control yourself. Miss Sophia Spaghetti here is our guest. We should make her feel at home.” Bong Bagoong was not at all offended by how Sophia Spaghetti treated him. “Let us all introduce ourselves so that she will know us better.”

But before anyone could start, Sophia Spaghetti sneered. “I bet Bong Bagoong and Dino Dinuguan will be the champion leftovers here because they are the ugliest! Shee-hee-hee!”

The others remained quiet but Sophia Spaghetti did not seem to notice. She continued talking and scoffing at the same time. “Why do you have such funny names? But then again, they suit you well because you are all so funny looking. I bet the visitors won’ t eat you at all. Their stomachs will ache from laughing hard simply by looking at you.” Sophia Spaghetti shook with laughter until her meatballs and cheese scattered.

The roasted pig lying on the middle, the King of every fiesta table, has been observing Sophia Spaghetti. In all his shining glory, he declared, “A-hoink…A-hoink. I am the honorable Judge Listo Lechon. As everybody know, ” and he looked at the others meaningfully, “it is my duty to restore the peace and order on this table. Sophia Spaghetti…”

Sophia Spaghetti hastily interrupted and spoke in her most dramatic voice. “I, the fairest of all noodles – the whitest and firmest of them all – is expected to listen to an old dark-skinned hog like you! My, why don’t you just nibble on that apple in your mouth.”

The rest got angry. To disrespect the wise and honorable Judge Listo was the last straw. They all prepared to attack Sophia Spaghetti with their vegetable and meat weapons. A food fight was about to take place when, like the true leader that he was, Judge Listo Lechon shook his head slowly and said, “Now, now, please calm yourselves. Do not ever forget that we are here for the same reason. Our duty is to feed the hungry and make everyone happy.”

Sophia Spaghetti, who grew scared at the sight of Pasing Pancit Bihon ready to hurl carrot sticks at her, now sighed with relief. She jeered at the others once again, “Don’t be so jealous. I’m sure that after they finish eating me, they will turn to you.” “Sometimes, it’s just so hard to be the best,” she whispered to herself.

Finally, somebody shouted -- “It’s eating time.”

Sophia Spaghetti felt the heat of excitement. “Now, these dishes will certainly die of envy,” she snickered.

All the people flocked to the long table. Each one wanted to taste the dishes served. All the dishes, on the other hand, desired to be tasted.

Elders and children gathered near Pasing Pancit Bihon. Everyone liked her crisp vegetables and delicious chorizos. Pasing Pancit Bihon was glad that she pleased the guests.

Everyone praised Cardo Pancit Canton because he was tasteful with all the large chunks of vegetables, pork, and chicken. Cardo Pancit Canton exchanged smiles with his sister.

The combination of Dinuguan and Puto was naturally a fiesta favorite. So was the popular pair of Kare-Kare and Bagoong. And, of course, Sapin-sapin was the number one dessert.

Each dish had fun except Sophia Spaghetti. Nobody had tasted her sweet red sauce or noticed her cheesy dress. She felt like crying. She never felt so embarrassed in her entire spaghetti life. She asked herself, “Why don’t they want to eat me?”

Pasing Pancit Bihon glanced at Sophia Spaghetti and saw that she was sinking in her thick sauce. She coiled into a smile to cheer her up, “Don’t worry. They’re going to like you, too. It’s not everyday that people here see something like you.”

Sophia Spaghetti then felt sad as she realized how vain and proud she was. She remembered how she mocked Dino Dinuguan and Bong Bagoong. She was deeply ashamed at the way she looked down on the other dishes as if she was the only one beautiful. She spoke softly, “I am very sorry. Please forgive me for being mean. The honorable Judge Listo Lechon was right. We were made beautiful to give happiness to everybody.”

All the dishes gave Sophia Spaghetti a warm smile. Bong Bagoong then remarked, “Hey, arrange your meatballs and grated cheese now. Your guests are here.”

Quick little footsteps rushed to the table. Sophia Spaghetti recognized that one of them was the cute girl who grated cheese for her. The girl asked her two playmates, “Hey, why don’t you both have spaghetti? It tastes good.” One of the playmates answered, “We’re not used to that kind of food. Is it like pancit?” The other made a face, “Yuck, is that blood all over?” The girl urged her playmates, “C’mon, just try it.”

The playmates grabbed forks and scooped up Sophia Spaghetti. They fell silent for awhile and then exclaimed, “You’re right, it’s delicious – it’s sour-sweet!”

The three children called on their other playmates and relatives to taste the spaghetti. Everybody loved her.

Sophia Spaghetti was so happy. She did not even notice that only a few noodle strands were left. She twisted in a wide grin at the honorable Judge Listo Lechon and he could only wink in approval.