She is compassionate, she gives parts of her with out question.
October 2018
Sunken Garden
U.P. Diliman
Hapon na ng matapos ang huling klase ko. Denise and I were supposed to meet at the Sunken Garden and have dinner together pero bago ang lahat meeting with our Org Mates sa Vinzons Hill muna. We have a meeting para sa isasagawang Mobilization sa November 30, 2018. I arrived first at the Sunken Garden. Naupo muna ako sa damuhan sa ilalim ng puno. I strummed my guitar as I waited for Denise. I played Lights down low by MAX.
Heaven only knows where you've been
But I don't really need to know
I know where you're gonna go
On my heart, where you're resting your head
And you just look so beautiful
It's like you were an angel.
Can I stop the flow of time?
Can I swim in your divine?
'Cause I don't think I'd ever leave this place.
Oh, turn the lights turn the lights down low
Yeah, now I'm feeling you breathing slow
'Cause, baby, we're just reckless kids
Trying to find an island in the flood
Oh, turn the lights, turn the lights down low, oh
Under heavy skies in the rain
You're dancing in your bare feet
Just like we're in a movie
Grab my hand and we're chasing the train
I catch you looking back at me
Running through a cloud of steam.
Can I stop the flow of time?
Can I swim in your divine?
'Cause I don't think I'd ever leave this place
Oh, turn the lights turn the lights down low
Yeah, now I'm feeling you breathing slow, oh
'Cause, baby, we're just reckless kids
Trying to find an island in the flood
Oh, turn the lights, turn the lights down low.
And I will give you everything baby
But can you feel this energy? Take it
You can have the best of me baby
And I will give you anything
Can you feel this energy? Take it
You can have the best of me baby.
Oh, turn the lights turn the lights down low
Yeah, now I'm feeling you breathing slow
Oh, turn the lights turn the lights down low
Yeah, now I'm feeling you breathing slow
'Cause, baby, we're just reckless kids
Trying to find an island in the flood
Oh, turn the lights, turn the lights down low, oh.
I sang the last few stanzas, nakapikit ako at dinadama ko ang bawat titik ng kanta. When I heard Denise's voice coming from the path I took.
"Wow! Ang galing!" She smiled at me as she clapped her hands.
"Uy, Denise. Kanina ka pa ba?" I asked her.
"As soon as you started to strum your guitar. Sorry, medyo namesmerize lang ako sa boses mo." She smiled again.
"So, Tara na sa meeting?" I asked her.
"Yeah and thank you for waiting for me." She smiled at me.
We walked to our meeting place, nasa loob lang din ito ng school namin. Sa Vinzons Hill kami nakatakdang magmeeting together with our Org mates. We walked to Vinzons Hill, isang bloke na din ang nilalakad namin ni Denise. When she spoke to me and said.
"Maling, was that one of your favorite songs?" She asked me.
"Huh? Ano?"
"Lights down low by MAX, that was what you played kanina diba?" She asked me.
"Yeah it is. Ang ganda kasi nung lyrics and melody." I smiled at her.
"So one more thing in common sa ating dalawa. I love that song, it's my favorite love song actually." She said smiling.
"Nice. One more common thing." I echoed her.
She smiled at me as we both silently made our way to Vinzons Hill. Nang makarating na kami doon, andun na ang mga outgoing officers ng grupo naming Kabataan Laban sa Diktaturya o KLD, Denise had one more year of law school while I was in my last year of Masteral in Filipino Folk Music.
Gayon pa man, hindi kami natatakot na labanan ang sino mang nagbabanta na nakawin ang kalayaang aming tinatamasa sa kasalukuyan. Hindi na namin hahayaang magkaroon ng Martial Law II.
Nagsimula na ang pagpupulong. Inassign ako ng aming leader upang pamahalaan ang Music and Production na gagawin namin sa darating na mobilization. Habang si Denise ay naatasang magbigay ng talumpati niya para sa mga desaparecidos. Ang darating na mobilization ay may temang nagfofocus para sa 1,838 na kaso ng mga sapilitang nawala nung unang Martial Law. Kabilang na ang kapatid ng kanyang Ama si Edwardo Jopson.
After ng meeting namin, nagdinner muna kami ni Denise. Gaya ng nakagawian namin, sa Maginhawa kami nagdinner. Sa isang restaurant dito na ang pangalan ay Molcajete Mexican Cantina. We ordered our usual Nachos and Burrito Rice Plate and Cucumber Lemonade. We sat at one of the seats sa gitna ng Food Park. Wala masyadong tao today, dahil sa Tuesday pa lang. We enjoyed discovering new places to eat at or have coffee. This was one of the recent restaurants we have tried.
"I love Mexican food." I smiled at her.
"You'll love this new Restaurant I discovered then." Denise smiled at me.
"Wow, talaga ba? When are you bringing me there?"
"We can go tomorrow, I mean kung hindi ka naman busy and all." She said.
"Hindi naman, wala naman akong klase bukas eh. Tsaka sisimulan ko na yung production numbers para sa mobilization." I answered her.
"Great. Let's meet up tomorrow." She smiled at me.
"Okay." I smiled at her.
"Sa kanto ng Mahabagin Street. Mga 4pm. Para sakto for early dinner at opening nila." She smiled.
Once we finished dinner, may left overs pa kami pareho, pinabalot ito ni Denise. We barely touched our nachos and still had 1/4 of our burrito plates. Siguro dala na din ng pagod sa maghapon kaya hindi na namin natapos ang mga pagkain na inorder namin. We walked towards a little store at the end of the street, dito kami naupo para magyosi.
"Hassle no? Kailangan nasa bakuran pa tayo ng tindahan para makapag-yosi." I said to Denise.
"In fairness naman, Maling. Medyo maaliwalas naman talaga yung mga kalye simula ng pinatupad nya yung anti-smoking sa public place. Kaso, tama ka hassle nga. Kasi diba? Paano kung ayaw nung may ari ng tindahan na magpasmoke sa bakuran nila? Nadinig ko from a friend of mine, sa BGC daw may bayad yung smoking area nila malapit sa office nila."
"Aw Shit, hassle yun." I responded to her as I took a drag out of my lit cigarette.
"Yeah and worst is pag call center ka, you tend to go on a binge yosi break on lunch and ang lunch nila minsan 12 am - 2am, sarado na yung smoking area nila ng ganung time." She says as she takes a drag out of her cigarette.
Then a little boy who looks barely 5 years old came in front of our smoking nook.
"Ate, pahingi po ng piso. Pangkain lang po." He said
"Ilang taon ka na baby?" Denise asked him.
The young boy showed 7 using his hands. Denise softly smiled at him.
"Maling, yung tinake-out natin." She said to me.
I handed her the bag of our left overs.
"Oh eto oh, para sa iyo yan. May pamilya ka ba?" Denise asked him.
"Wala po, kami na lang ni Ate. Kaso may sakit po si Ate ngayon eh."
"Ilang taon na ang ate mo? Saan ka nakatira?"
"Sa kalye lang po kami ng ate ko, iniwan ko siya doon sa kabilang kanto, natutulog sya sa isang bakanteng lote." The boy answered.
Denise looked at me, nararamdaman ko ang gusto nyang mangyari. I promised to support her every whim, magkaron lang ng pagkakataon na maging close kami. Now, it's time that I kept my promise.
"Boy, anong pangalan mo?" I asked him.
"Jerick po ate." He answered me.
"Anong sakit ng ate mo?" Tanong ko pa ulit.
"Lagnat po." Naiiyak nyang sabi sa akin.
"Ako si Ate Maling mo, ito naman si Ate Denise mo. Sa kabilang kanto lang din ako nakatira, doon muna kayo sa bahay namin, para naman hindi na lumala ang sakit ng ate mo." I said to him.
"S-salamat po ate. Pero nakakahiya po." Umiiyak nyang tugon sa akin.
"Jerick, mabait si Ate Maling mo, sama ka na sa kanya." Denise urged him.
"Tara, puntahan muna natin ang ate mo." I said to him as I held his hand.
Denise held his other hand as we walked to the vacant lot sa kabilang kanto. If I am not mistaken, katabi lang ng bahay namin ang bakanteng lote na sinasabi ng batang ito. I was right. Jerick lead us to his Ate na ngayon ay natutulog sa ilalim ng puno, nakakumot ito na madumi at manipis na. Biglang yumakap sa akin si Denise. Maya-maya ay humihikbi na ito sa kalunos-lunos na sitwasyon ng magkapatid.
I put my arms around her, I patted her back as she cried. You have to understand, that this was the era of a reprobate dictator, his policy was to kill people like Jerick and his family. To kill people who dared speak up their mind. Pre-martial law, when the inflation is at 6.4% percent that year. The same year I had gone out to dinner after classes, Your mother and I could afford these things and we even have spare money to buy cigarettes.
"Jerick, anong pangalan ng Ate mo?" I asked him.
"Jenny po." Jerick informed me.
He looked at his ailing sister as Denise pulled away from the embrace, she wiped her tears away and got down to her knees, beside Jenny. She assesses Jenny, dumampi ang palad nito sa noo ni Jenny. While I knelt beside Denise.
"Nakainom na ba ng gamot ang Ate mo?" Denise asked Jerick.
"Kahapon pa po Ate Denise. Kaso isang beses lang."
Denise looked at me as if asking me to make a move.
"Jerick, katabi ng bakanteng lote ang bahay ko, dadalin ko muna kayo sa bahay ko. Denise, kapitan mo si Jerick. Ako na ang bubuhat sa ate nya, ito ang susi ng gate." I said as I placed the key to her palm.
Binuhat ko na si Jenny, nauna na akong naglakad papunta sa bahay namin, which was in the right side of the vacant lot. Denise followed suit, she opened the gate and held it open so I could pass through.
"Nanay, Tatay?!" I called out to them.
Maya-maya lang ay bumukas na ang pinto, alas syete na ng gabi, bakas ang gulat sa mukha ni Nanay. I spoke up to explain.
"Nay, may lagnat ang batang ito, nakaka-awa naman, dyan lang sila sa bakanteng lote nakatigil ng kapatid nya."
My mom sprung to action, dali-dali itong kumuha ng planggana sa kusina, habang si Tatay naman ang bumuhat sa dala kong bata. Inihiga ni Tatay sa sofa si Jenny. Pagbalik ni nanay may dala na itong maliit na planggana at face towel. Habang si Tatay naman ay kumuha ng malinis na kumot mula sa kwarto nila.
Inasikaso namin si Jenny, pagtapos ay naghanda na ng pagkain si nanay para kay Jerick. Naiwan si Tatay sa tabi ko, habang si Denise naman ay nakaupo sa kabilang paanan ng sofa.
"Tatay, si Denise Jopson nga pala, kasama ko sa kilusan." I introduced Denise.
"Ramon Cruz, Tatay ni Humaling." Pagpapakilala ni Tatay kay Denise.
"Ikinagagalak ko po kayong makilala, Sir Ramon." Denise said.
"Tatay Boy na lang ang itawag mo sa akin."
"Okay po, Tatay Boy." Magalang na tugon ni Denise.
"Ikaw ba ang pamangkin ni Ka Ed?" Tanong ni Tatay kay Denise.
"Opo, anak po ako ng nakakatandang kapatid nya si Judge Ernesto Jopson."
"Mabuting tao ang Uncle Edwardo mo, sayang nga lang at hanggang ngayon wala pa ding balita sa kanya." Tatay said.
"Tatay Boy, what was my uncle like?" Denise asked Tatay.
"Disinueve anyos sya noong sumapi sya sa kilusan, labag sa kalooban ng kanyang mga magulang. Magaling siyang sumulat, he was studying Journalism during that time. Ang huli niyang naisulat at nailathala ay tungkol sa karumaldumal na pagpatay sa isa pa naming kasamahan, si Crisanto 'Totoy' Villar. Matapang nyang isinulat iyon, nakarating ito sa mga pinuno ng kalaban. Alam na ng aming kilusan ang banta sa aming mga buhay. Kaya pinagiingat kami noon, ang grupo ni Colonel Mendoza ang dumampot daw sa Uncle mo." Tatay said.
"Yun din ang sabi ni Papa sa akin." Denise agreed.
"She's also a writer for our school paper, Tay. She recently facilitated a seminar sa school namin how to discern Fake News from Real News." pagbibida ko pa kay Tatay.
"Mainam. Nagmana ka sa Uncle Edgar mo, he would be proud of you if he only knew." Tatay said to Denise.
"Naku, hindi naman po Tatay Boy." Denise said shyly.
"Sige, maiwan ko muna kayo ni Maling." Tatay said as he stood up and went to the kitchen.
"Maling, salamat ha?" Denise said to me.
"Wala yun. Naisip ko, baka mapano pa ang mga batang ito" I said to her.
From that day on, your Uncle Jerick and Auntie Jenny became part of our Family. She and I loved them both as well as your Grandma and Grandpa. She is compassionate, she gives parts of herself to any one she finds worthy. I was lucky I was one.
A/N:
This chapter is dedicated to rastroheart. Thank you for encouraging me to write this Martial Law Fiction. Thank you for your undying support, sana matagpuan mo na si Right One na magmamahal sayo ng buo. Hindi man ako yun, I promise to be your friend. Forever and always hanggang may pagkain pa tayo. Hahahahahahaha!
Sa inyong mga readers, I encourage you to head on to this websites: https://martiallawmuseum.ph/ or http://www.bantayog.org to know more about the Proclamation No. 1081 or more commonly known as Martial Law. I would be mentioning some figures and some numbers that you can easily research through Google or through these websites. These websites catalogs the heroes of Martial Law, those who were enforced to disappear, the tortured and the ones that were killed.
The author has read through some of the biographies indicated in both of the websites. Pero ang pinaka-tumatak kay Author ay ang istorya ng buhay ni Boyet Mijares and Primitivo Mijares. You may read all about them here: https://remember1081.wordpress.com/tag/boyet-mijares/
Nais kong magpasalamat sa suporta ninyo sa kwentong ito. Kathang isip lamang ang lahat ng nakasulat sa story na ito. I would like to reiterate the importance of not Forgetting these atrocities done by the Marcoses. Wag nating kalimutan at ipagsawalang bahala ang libo-libong lumaban para sa ating kalayaan. Hindi na tayo dapat bumalik sa era na yun.
A thought I would like you to ponder with:
"Anong gagawin mo kung nangyari ito sayo o sa pamilya o sa kaanak mo? Kung sila ang pinatay ng mga pulis, ipagtatanggol mo pa din ba sila? Eh kung ikaw kaya ang nasa posisyon ng mga kawawang biktima ng drug war?"
As always, spread light and love folks!
-Sky