Alitaptap’s Motives 

Why would Alitaptap disobey her parents and put all the lives of the people of Pinak at
risk? When Bulan-hari pleaded to Alitaptap to get married, her heart stood in silence as if she
would not love in a million years. Even when she knew the consequence of her stubbornness,
she still refused to obey her father. Some people think it is because she had a heart of stone or
that her heart was not human. I think her motive is to be free, free from the people who were
forcing her to get married, to be a wife, to love someone she doesn't even know. I think
nothing’s wrong with being unable to love something or someone. We can't force someone to
love somebody just because we want to. We have to understand that they have their own
reasons. Love cannot be forced.

So, how could the life of Alitaptap be saved? If Bathala was able to save the people of
Pinak before, he can do it again. But the people forgot Bathala when their lives were in danger.
They did not pray to Bathala so he did not save them. Alitaptap’s life could have been saved if
only the people of Pinak had not forgotten to pray.