Isabelle
I am Isabelle Celestine Dy, I'm 16 years old and I grew up in Ilocos Norte with nuns guiding me through almost my whole existence. I'm quite tall for my age, skinny, long brown hair and my skintone is, not too white.
I am a choir member and a youth member as well in our church, since I was 12 years old.
My recognized parents are Sister Annabelle and Sister Theressa, both of them are very close to my heart. They're the one who took care of me since I was brought here in Bahay Kalinga.
It was Sunday morning when my best friends Alliah, Hannah & Josh approached me, they were already dressed, ready to attend the mass.
"Isabelle!" Josh called my attention in her joyful voice, Josh is gay.
"Huy babaita!" Hannah shouted at me as a sign of greeting, wow!
"Hi Marites!" Alliah greeted me also.
"Oh bakit?" I asked them what they needed, I stopped doing what I was doing earlier to face them.
"Anong bakit? Wala ka bang planong magsimba?" Alliah asked, raising her brows at me.
"Huy hindi pwede, maligo kana dun, susumbong kita sige!" Josh warned, I squint my eyes onto him.
"At sinong nagsabi na hindi ako magsisimba?" I said while I raised my left eyebrows.
"Eto si Alliah oh, siya nagsabi, wala akong alam diyan ha." Hannah said, laughing.
"Huy kapal ng mukha, si Josh yun!" Alliah uttered, pointing at Josh.
"Huy Marites, sa akin mo pa pinasa kasalanan mo noh?" Josh said, eyes to Alliah.
"Ewan ko sainyo, maliligo na ako!" I exclaimed as I left them.
"Huy Isabelle Celestine Dy, dalian mo ha, hintayin ka namin babaita ka!" Josh yelled before I could even go inside the house but didn't look back, those three people are sometimes annoying but they never failed to make me laugh.
They also live in Bahay Kalinga.
I made my way to the bathroom so I could start to take a bath, the mass usually starts at 9:00 am sharp, actually the three of them are so early, the time is still 7:00 am.
But I didn't waste my time, I already took a bath because of course I don't want them to wait too long.
When I finished taking a bath, I picked my clothes. I wore a simple white sweater and faded blue denim pants paired with my white shoes.
I didn't tied my hair yet since it was still wet.
(Credits to Pinterest for the outfit inspired.)
I get out of my room and as I made my way outside, Sister Theressa saw me.
"Isabelle!" She called me, I immediately looked at her.
"Po?" I replied, I walked towards her.
"Aba'y napaka-gandang bata naman, ikaw ba'y pupunta na ng simbahan? She asked, tucking few of my hair behind my ears.
"Salamat po, opo." I said shyly.
"Oh siya, kayo'y pumaroon na at may darating na espesyal na bisita" She reprimands, I wonder who but I didn't bother asking Sister Theressa who was that special visitor.
I'm now outside heading to Hannah, Josh & Alliah who's still teasing each other.
"Huy hindi kayo titigil." I said as I got near to them, they were surprised with my presence and their faces turned into awe.
"Ay bakla, ang ganda mo!" Alliah expressed, clapping her hands.
"Kalma beh, ako lang 'to" I said sarcastically with an inch of feeling proud.
"Ang ganda mo teh." Josh replied as he holds my hair, caressing it.
"Wow naman, nanlalavarn!" Hannah uttered, unbelievably.
"Agyamanak apo." I exclaim as I bowed my head slightly.
We are now heading inside the church, a lot of people are starting to arrive. There are still benches in front that are still unoccupied, I think that's for the special guests. Alliah and I are sitting in the choir section while Hannah and Josh are already in the main entrance of the church because they were assigned to assist the guests.
...
Irene
It's been awhile since I last visited Ilocos, I didn't go there for the past 10 years because I am still hurt.
We are on our way to Ilocos, the Paoay Church, where my Celestine got lost. In the past 10 years, I'm always writing a letter for my precious angel because it somehow comforted me and while we are heading to Ilocos I decided to write a letter for her.
My precious angel,
It's Sunday today, my princess, until now I'm still hoping for us to reconcile again. Mommy & Daddy won't get tired in finding you, anak. Today, we are heading to Ilocos, your favorite place as you said, we are going to attend the mass in Paoay, where you got lost.
Not a day would certainly pass that I do not think of you, my love. Where ever you are my little one, I wish you're okay and living totally fine. Why do you have to leave mama and hurt me like this? I miss you so much my Samantha Celestine, Mommy loves you dearly.
With all my love,
Mommy
My tears were flowing through my cheeks while I was writing the letter, I am badly longing for her so much.
How do you heal a broken heart?
We arrived at the church exactly 8:45 in the morning, we were welcomed by two teens, one boy and one girl.
"Naragsak nga Isasanbay, ma'am & sir, Paoay Church!" (Welcome ma'am & sir sa Paoay Church!) the boy said, I can feel that he's gay because of his tone.
"Komusta, Agyamanak!" (Kumusta, Salamat!) Manang Imee said in return.
"Nasayaat met, pagyamanak.Ti naganko ket Josh at ito po si Hannah." (I'm fine thanks, ako po si Josh at ito naman po si Hannah.) The boy introduced respectfully.
"Maragsakanak a makaam-ammo kenka, ma'am & sir" (I'm pleased to meet you, ma'am & sir!) The lady behind the guy introduced herself.
"Maragsakanak a makaam-ammo kenka din." (I'm pleased to meet you too.) Manang said to them, I'm just listening behind them.
"Hello, Sadino ti ang aming upuan?" (Hello, where is our chairs located?) Bonget asked and they immediately replied.
"Nasa harapan po, sumunod po kayo saamin, pupunta po tayo dun." Josh replied and smiled.
"Okay, tara." Bongbong said, I just smiled at them faintly, they assist us on our designated chairs.
A lot of people were looking at us, when we reached the area where we are going to sit, they bid goodbye to us.
"Ma'am, Sir, kung may kailangan po kayo tawagin niyo lang po kami, dun lamang kami uupo." The girl said pointing on where they will sit.
"Sige, maraming salamat." Manang said and smiled, I recalled the time when Celestine got lost here, my tears are already forming in my eyes. Greggy noticed my quietness so he held my hand.
"Hey, are you okay?" Greggy asked softly, worry was evident in his voice so I held his hands assuring that I'm okay.
"Y-yeah don't mind me." I said and smiled at him faintly.
Minutes had passed and the mass has already started, I looked in the choir area because they caught my attention when the started to sang. I saw a girl wearing white sweater and blue denim pants, I focused my eyes onto her with the whole mass, she was indeed beautiful and she has an angelic voice.
I felt something strange through my chest but I ignored it, siguro kung nandidito si Celestine, ka-edad niya lang ito.
When the mass was about to end the parish priest acknowledge our presence.
"We would like to acknowledge the presence of our special guests the Marcos's and Aranetas'. Our dear former first lady, Madam Imelda Marcos, Senator Imee Marcos, President Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Ma'am Irene Marcos-Araneta and Mr. Greggy Araneta, Governor Matthew Manotoc, Borgy Manotoc, Atty. Michael Manotoc, Congressman Sandro Marcos, Simon Marcos and Vincent Marcos, we are highly honored because you were able to visit our church again. Agyamanak!" The Priest expressed that made everyone clapped their hands after the priest acknowledged our presence, we were surrounded by a lot of escorts, Bonget's PSG and a lot of polices. I'm still looking at the girl I saw earlier, she really looks so familiar, I feel like I saw here already.
To be continue..
Sorry for the wrong grammars and misspelled words.