A Love Story

Panel 1- Worker: " Governor, we already painted all the trees on both sides of the road.."
                   Gov: " Very good!"
Panel 2- Governor: " The DENR office wanted a total number of trees that will be
                                affected by my project.."
Panel 3- Governor: " I cannot do my road widening project while those trees line up
                                both sides of the road.."
NOTE
DENR is Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( officially ) but people regard DENR as Destroyer of Environment and Natural Resources for giving permits to cutting of old trees, mining, small and large scale without environmental clearance etc

A Love Story

Panel 1- Teban: " Berto, do you know why they put numbers on us?"
              Berto: " I don't know, Teban.."
Panel 2- Tonio: " Maybe they're counting so they will know how many are us.."
              Gorio: " But why, Tonio?
Panel 3- Marta: " Maybe they're just making inventory of us trees in the Municipality.."
              Sabel: " Yes, Marta.."

A Love Story

Panel 1- One day men came to to town bearing gallons of paint
Panel 2- One by one they painted numbers on the trees near the road
Panel 3- And they included Berto and Berta

A Love Story

Panel 1- Having made a city, the town of Santa Maria became prosperous..
Panel 2- It became a center of commerce and business interests came to invest
Panel 3- This big change will soon affect Berto and Berta in the coming days

A Love Story

Panel 1- The former place of Berto and Berta became noisy because of people and motor vehicles..
Panel 2- And then Nipa huts on both sides of the road mushroomed
Panel 3- And years later, the quiet place of Berto and Berta became the city of Santa Maria

A Love Story

Panel 1- Many years have passed and the old road was finally asphalted
Panel 2- After that comes the numerous motor vehicles that pass through the road
Panel 3- And the number of people that came from different places increased

A Love Story

Panel 1- Berto: " Berta, do you know what Benigno carved on your trunk?"
              Berta: " No, Berto.."
Panel 2- Berto: " The letters B-B and it's enclosed in a heart!"
              Berta: " Really?"
Panel 3- Berto: " Berta, it's as if Benigno made it for us and her love one.."
              Berta: " Yes, Berto.."

A Love Story

Panel 1- Father: " Benigno.. we had to go.."
           Benigno: " Just a little more time, father.."
Panel 2- Father: " What are you carving on the tree trunk?"
           Benigno: " Me and my sweetheart's name.."
Panel 3- Benigno: " I hope Benigna will see this to make her happy.."

A Love Story

Panel 1- General: " Inang Mameng, I want to thank you all for feeding us.."
              Mameng: " You're welcome, General.."
Panel 2- General: " We are leaving now because the Spaniards might catch us.
                             Farewell to all of you.."
Panel 3- Barrio folks: " Long live the Katipunan! Long live our mother country!"

A Love Story

Panel 1- General: " Inang Mameng, your place is so beautiful.. so quiet and the air is so fresh.."
             Mameng: " Thank you, General.."
Panel 2- General: " It's not ordinary to find this kind of place where the trees on both sides
                              reach out their branches to each other.."
Panel 3- General: " The way I see it, the trees' foliage form a cave and they're so beautiful
                              to look upon.."
            Mameng: " It's true, General.."

A Love Story

Panel 1- One day a group of men came to their place
Panel 2- The people welcomed them and gave them food and drinks
Panel 3- The group happily ate beneath the shade of the trees..

A Love Story

Panel 1- Many years have passed and the day came when the branches of the trees at both sides
              of the road finally reached each other..
Panel 2- And for the first time, the branches of Berto and Berta have touched..
Panel 3- It was the ultimate happiness for Berto and Berta to have felt each other after so many years..