Sophia

“Sophia”
(DEA – Nov. 22, 2005)

Every time I arrived home from my office works, Sophia will always meet me at our door. This evening, I noticed our house was very quite and Sophia was surprisingly not around in her usual favorite place where she regularly waits for my arrival. But the fluorescent lights inside were open indicating that the last person in the house has just left. I knocked on the door, but deafening silence greeted me. I tried to peep at our jalousie glass windows where Sophia would usually greet me when our door was padlocked, but I found out that she was not there.

It was the very first time I remember that Sophia failed to meet me at our door ever since she resides in our house. It was routine for her to always welcome me everyday with her warm customary actions indicating her great delight of my arrival. She would often made noise when nobody was inside the house forewarning me that nobody inside that could open the door for me.

I immediately went to the other side of the house where another door was mounted. Unfortunately, the door was also safely locked. I tried to reach up with my hand but I could not get hold of the safety lock that was placed at a safe distance from the window grills. I was helpless and nothing much I can do except to wait for any other member of my family who has hold of the key.

I waited patiently outside, a couple of minutes, later a neighbor recognized me while I was waiting outside. She tried to reach for the safety lock after I informed her about the secret lock that we have installed. I was lucky for she was able to reach the location of our safety lock.

Strange sensation envelops my heart as I entered our house that was curiously silent that evening. I immediately look for Sophia inside our room where she usually sleeps when she gets tired, but I could not find her. I went at the back of our house, but still I could not find her. I checked on the rooms of our children, but still she was not there. This time unpleasant thoughts entered my mind, but I immediately abandon it and made myself believe that she had probably accompanied my wife who would often pay a quick visit to some of our close friend neighbors.

But then I remember that my wife and my children would often leave important message in a piece of paper pinned usually in the refrigerator. I immediately check, and true enough I saw a message written in a clear white paper that was conspicuously pinned in the side of the refrigerator. My heart broke down with great sadness and sorrow after I have read the message. The paper displayed the following sad message, “Nanay, please take good care of the dead body of Sophia. Give her a decent burial.”

My body began to perspire despite the cold weather outside. I immediately lost strength; the weight of the world seems to have fallen on my shaking body. I tried to think that I was just only dreaming, but as I open my eyes again the message remains very clear. My heart appeared to have collapsed. I grasped for more air to free my heart from the strong emotions that probably blocked my heart arteries. Tears began to roll down on my face despite my strong persistence to battle for the sad sensation. I could not imagine that she would die at an early age and with an excellent health.

Extreme sadness immediately envelops my heart. The same sensation I have experienced during the time of death of my brother Aple, my beloved Tatay and Nanay, and with my brother in law Manoy Cesar and Junior. I wanted to shout out loud, but my heart was drowned with great sorrow and anguish. I could not accept and imagine that she was now buried feet below the earth. I know that Sophia does not want to die. I know that she feared death. I saw her very frightened face after she was hit by a wayward passenger jeepney, a clear sign that she is afraid to die. Her terrified face every time I got mad of her when she committed some disobedient acts. Her innocent eyes, as if asking for mercy as she sat down silently in one corner. Then, she would often run and seek firmly at my back when my children began to run after her every time she commits naughty acts, as if trying to solicit my help and protection from the definite hard lashes of my children. These are all clear indications that she is afraid and do not want to die at her young age.

With great sadness and loneliness I went to the living room. To the place where I used to sit after I have extended my hand to her forehead as an indication of granting my blessings to her every time I arrived home from my office. The same place where I used to sit and where Sophia would playfully remove my shoes and socks, the same place in our house where she loved to sit in my lap while I get rid of some foreign animals in her hair. The same place where I used to witness her caring and loving eyes. The same place where she would often look at me with great affections indicating her recognition and delight of my tender hands. It will not happen again, but the agony of the bitter memories left in my heart will definitely stay forever, possibly until my last breath of air on earth.

I sobbed to release the sadness that has shrouded my heart and mind. I tried to recall what probably had happened to her. I have witnessed her the past few days that she seems not feeling well. I saw her vomiting a couple of times inside our house. We were contemplating that she was pregnant. Her sickness we observed was a clear symptom of pregnancy. She had successfully deceived my wife and my daughter despite their watchful eyes and found a way to make an intimate relationship. But I was thinking it was not a probable ground that would have caused an instant death to Sophia. I was contemplating certain thoughtless people may have caused her instant death.

But what really bothered me most was my guilty conscience for not giving her my attention despite her persistent show off of her poor health condition. She gave us the idea about her true health condition with her frequent vomiting, but I kept on playing deaf and blind about her predicament. Two days before this sad event, while I was encoding a story in our computer unit, she silently and poignantly sat besides me. I was not perturbed because she was always well behaved when she recognized that I am serious with my works. It was already customary for the two of us during weekends, to be left in the house. My wife and my son regularly stayed in the church until evening while my daughter is often out with her friends during weekends.

The last Sunday that we stayed together in the house, Sophia gently wriggles in my side and went on to sleep with me as I took a short nap in my favorite wooden sofa. She placed her face closely to my body where I sensed her peculiar cold lips and nose. After a couple of minutes and after I have regained full strength, I went back to my work again. But, I noticed Sophia was still sleeping. It was very unusual for her, for she will always get up early. I look up intensely at her as she remained in deep sleep and there I saw again her naïve and immaculate look that magnetized and charmed almost everybody that have come to know and associate with her.

That evening her coughing aggravated. Still nobody in the family made serious look at her, probably because Sophia still tried to remain as composed as she was. She ate the same amount of foods she usually consumed that evening that made us certain about her good health.

Early at dawn I heard her incessant coughing getting worse. I comprehend that she tried to show off by standing at the foot end portion of my bed despite the extreme darkness that covered the whole room. She usually settled down calmly, but I wonder this time she kept on standing. I placed my feet at her back, though I remain still resting in my bed. I frequently placed my feet before on his belly while she keeps on lying down in the floor. An act that I believe she appreciates. Only now did this damn heart realize that probably she was asking for my valuable assistance that very moment.

Early morning as I was about to leave for my office I noticed Sophia lying silently in the floor. I recognized that she was not in good health, but still I did not made an effort to give my attention to her. That was probably one of my judgment failures in my life that will haunt me, and will forever leave a lasting sorrow in my memory. It was the very first time ever since she have joined in our home that she was not able to send me off as I leave for my office. I never comprehend then that it would be our ultimate meeting. A very painful chapter of our friendship, for I was not able to kiss and say goodbye to her on her very last day on earth, the way I did to her everyday since she arrived in my life.

Our friendship started when my son brought her home from the convent after our friend Priest entrusted her to us. My son asked the Priest favor when he was looking for a person that can provide care to Sophia after he learned of his eminent reassignment to another community church. Trusting that we could provide Sophia the kind of loving care and protection that he was looking for, the Priest decided to hand over Sophia to us.

We got an immediate delight after my son Popo arrived carrying Sophia. Sophia looks confused the very first time she arrived but she quickly got oriented with her new environment. She looks at the new faces that surround her, and the picture of a kind and loving personality showed evidently in her face. Everybody in the family hugs her as a gesture of acceptance and delight to her arrival in the family. My wife, who was not accustomed to interact with any other pet animal before, got an instant interest on Sophia.

Sophia brought an aura that made her an instant celebrity in our home and in the neighborhood. She learned easily of the various tricks that we have taught her to our great amusement. But foremost of all, it was her loving and affectionate character that charmed almost everybody, although she showed great ferocity to people unknown and stranger to her and in our place.

My daughter love to call her “Sophie,” and sometimes she called her “Esjapex” when she got angry with her when Sophia makes some naughty acts. My son always shouts with her name “Sophia,” when she had done mischievous actions, my wife love to call her “Pia”. I often call her “Piyang-yangyang” when I wanted to engage her in our routine recreation, or “Sophia Lorraine”, or “Sophia Fuente del”, or “Sophia dela Fuents” when I call her when she is outside of our house. These few pet names given to Sophia became famous and instant household name that often heard at almost any time of the day.

The few little things that she had quickly learned from us made her an instant favorite fixture in the family. Kissing and allowing her head to make a bow as I place my right hand in her forehead became her regular function every time I arrived home from my office. Her assistance every time I took off my shoes and my socks fascinated me, her numerous acrobatic acts that she often displayed to us when we play, her waking me up in the morning when she recognized that I have gone extra time out of my usual wake up time schedule. Her well behave attitude as she silently sat beside me in our dining chair while waiting for her turn to eat, her jealous acts every time we associated with some other foreign creatures, her sudden wriggling in between me and my wife while we were sleeping soundly in the middle of the night.

Those numerous antics that she has displayed to us during our brief companionship will be sadly missed by all the people who have came to know her. Her pictures that are often displayed now in our computer screen monitor and in my display cabinets will be preserved, as a living symbol to our enduring love to Sophia. It will serve as our loving tribute to Sophia, for being a valuable member of the family, some time ago.

It was only very unfortunate that Sophia was taken away from us at her young age. My judgment failure that may possibly have prevented her early death will forever settle down in my memories. I am certain that I have to endure a lifetime agony for the guilty conscience of not being able to act upon appropriately of my personal duties to protect Sophia from harm and sickness at all times.

There are no appropriate words for me now, enough to express my sincere appreciation, except to say thank you “Sophia” for the happy memories… and my consolation to you, my beloved pet DOG, “Sophia”. “Asti Livi Sophia”.
End.
(Her picture is attached below.)

When Full Moon Comes - Part II

When Full Moon Comes – Part II
(The Inevitable Day)
DEA – Dec. 5, 2006

I slowly went inside our guest room, waiting when the moon comes at its fullest tonight at 12:00 o’clock midnight; getting ready and prepared to battle personally, this wicked curse. I close gently the door and I sit down at once in the chair that I have placed earlier, in front of the makeshift altar. Getting the indispensable courage and confidence from the Almighty God’s power, I hold on firmly to the Holy Rosary that has saved me in the numerous dangers that I have encountered previously. Then I placed in my neck the Cross with the statue of the Black Nazarene, while I hold on firmly in my right hand, the Holy Bible.

I bear in mind the words spoken by “Nong Esyong” while he treated me of a sickness that infected me when I was yet young. “Dodong, there is no evil power that can conquer the supremacy of the Almighty God.” Nong Esyong narrated. “The Bible, the Holy Rosary, the Crucifix, the Holy Water, and the incense will impel the devil’s reign out of your way,” he further related. This evening, I have assembled them together and I am going to make use all of these charms to fight and drive away the wicked curse that I believed has gradually infected my spirit.

Silence in our place this evening was astonishing; it seems that the circumstance has signified its prediction that something horrifying will take place tonight. Inside the room, I could hear only the continuous ticking of the clock that I intentionally hanged firmly in the wall, for me to keep an eye of the precise time. It was though sometimes complemented by the faint sounds coming from my children and from my wife’s intermittent snoring who have fallen asleep early in the adjacent rooms. I was privileged tonight, for my family has strangely go to bed early this evening, unmindful of the greatest battle in my life that may happened this evening. It was a good thing though, for I could keep my predicament a secret to everybody including direct members of my family; probably, until such time when I still can manage to hold and outlive the devil’s wishes.

I lighted the candle that I placed in the altar earlier and started to pour small amount of incense inside the glass holder, which I also has lighted. The smoke coming from the burning incense gradually emanates and filled the air inside the room that instantly draws strong aroma. The smell of the incense started to strengthen my spirit and encouraged my great will to fight and not to fall down under the rule of this wicked curse that may have certainly has befallen some powerless individuals.

The faint howling of dogs from a far earlier was growing bold and incessant now, as the hour of the clock has drawn nearer to the inevitable moment. It intensified my growing apprehensions that I have felt inside my body. The peculiar affections and sensations I felt, has intensified further until my attention was drawn by the strong clock chime indicating that the inevitable moment that I have waited for has come.

I tried to hold on firmly now to the charms that I contemplate will get rid of this terrible quandary that greatly bothered my mind lately. But the temperature of my body has risen and heated up progressively, until the burning sensation was unbearable. The anticipated transition has started that I personally felt a foreign spirit trying hard now to take hold of my senses. The body transition is tearing every flesh of my body that brought excruciating pains. Now, I tried to hold on firmly to the Crucifix, to the Holy Rosary, to the bottle with Holy water inside, and to the Holy Bible despite the intense heat and pain that it gives in my hands and in my body as I continue to keep hold of it.

I have trust and confidence of His Powers and I am determined to end up this wicked curse this evening using His Divine powers. With His Divine will, I am willing to bequeath my life tonight, rather than acceding and putting my body and my spirit under the control of this demon, for my entire life.

Strong whirling wind inside the room that packed with an unusually extreme heat rather than cold wind battered me relentlessly, trying to knock me down to submission as it consistently puff fire in my body. With the intense heat generated in my hands as I continue to hold on to my armaments, the battle between the evil and the good that was only demonstrated in my body, has raged on.

The struggle was long and hard that both protagonists wanted to assert supremacy through my body and flesh that was trampled and crushed already almost to submission. I felt the strong raging force from the devil that was trying to draw my spirit out of my body. The force was so forceful and violent that it battered my flesh to several line of attack for a long period, until I was able to explicate and hurled the potent weapon that I have in my hand to my enemy.

Strong explosion coming from the whirling force ensued after it smashed together with the Blessed articles that I have arranged as my weaponry in this inevitable confrontation. Flames disintegrated and smoke shrouded the air inside our guest room instantaneously. I was thrown out hard to the ground; puzzled, and bodily battered. I wanted to get up; however, extreme fatigue and exhaustion put me down and out of my senses.

I regained consciousness early in the morning fully relieved of the predicament that has disturbed my mind for the fast few days. I felt the severe pain from the bruise that I got all over my body; but, it was immediately replaced with extreme fulfillment taking into consideration the triumph and victory that I have achieved against the dreaded curse that has started to invade my spirit.

I immediately went out of our guest room and proceeded immediately to our room. My wife has just awakened, but she still has remained lying in our bed. “Where were you last night?” She whispered to me wondering. “I tried to reach you in my side, but I could not locate you?” she continued. “I surprisingly miss your warm body and tender caress, I wanted you badly last night, to satisfy my cravings and longings from your tender loving affections.” she lovingly informed me.

I look at her, and there from the faint shadow coming from the bright and golden ray of lights of the majestic moon that was shining at its fullest, laid the freshness of the beauty of her body and face in flesh that has not withered even with my unvarying fondness, and the long 27 years of our marriage. Without hesitation, I immediately plunged down on top of her and started to do the things we loved to do during our prime. But in a sudden…..”Oppps…no…no…no…not now my love, our children are already awake.” “Keep it reserved when I come up again on my next craving.” “I’m sorry, you are very unfortunate.” my wife warned me and then she immediately pushed me hard as she went up out of our bed.

I tried to remain in our bed without dismay of the lost opportunity that seldom occurred in our married life. But…I consider there are always some other time for me to enjoy full satisfaction with her in the coming days. I can still wait for it to happen again, even if it would take sometime for me to wait. What I wanted to savor at the moment was the freedom I got from the dreaded curse that may have enslaved my spirit forever. The triumph that I have achieved was incomparable; that not even the lost opportunity to enjoy with what every married couple would love to do can spoil my silent personal celebration. There was indeed, no other rewarding event in my life that I could compare. It has stripped off the thorn that punctured my heart, including the extreme apprehension that bothered my mind severely the past few days. Now, I survived to tell the tale that indeed “there is no evil power that can conquer the supremacy of the Almighty Father in the universe”.

The End.



Photograph of the place where this story has happened, including some important characters are hereby included.

When Full Moon Comes

When Full Moon Comes
(DEA – Dec. 5, 2006)

“Please make it fast, we should be in the meeting place that our hosts have set before the sun sets down,” I instructed my wife Ching who was very deliberate with her acts making herself presentable for tonight’s celebrated party celebration that we were expecting hosted by our new found friend. “This is the specific place that our friend has described,” I told the tricycle driver that we have settled earlier to transport us, as he began to maneuver appropriately for us to be able to alight properly.

Fresh and cold air greeted us, as I and my wife positioned ourselves in the corner of the National road going to BusoBuso and the rural road that will go on to the mountainous region of Sitio Cabading, where the rest house of our host was located. “It is fine, we arrived timely while the sun has yet to rest in the Western hemisphere.” “We can have a better familiarity of the place before the night falls and while the other prospected guests they have invited would have yet to get there,” I told my wife whom I consider has concurred of my point of views. “What a pleasant sight this place was,” my wife heaves a sigh of approval to the pleasant panoramic view of the surroundings.

Because we were occupied with ourselves witnessing the beauty of the nature that is very pleasant to behold, we became oblivious of the time that has passed including the arrival of our hosts. “Oh! It is good that you arrived early.” “Thank you for coming,” Ciano declared after he had alighted from his late model car. “Thanks that you’ve found no difficulty in getting here.” “Welcome to our place!” Dorie pronounced with warm hospitality. “Okay, let’s get in. We will proceed to our house, which is a few kilometers from here before the sun came down in the western hemisphere, and while the sky is still bright and clear.”

I was contemplating something as we traveled along if there were other guests that they have invited aside from us; however, my extreme respect to the couple has kept me from asking the suspicions that hanged up inside my anxious mind. Instead, I tried to appease myself by extending appreciations to their extra ordinary domain. “Oh! What wonderful place you have.” “The serenity is satisfying, a perfect place for people that loved to enjoy calm and peaceful living.” “Ahh! We bought this a couple of year’s back, from a couple whom we happened to meet in a special occasion and became a close family friend later,” declared Ciano. “The parcel we procured includes this old two storey Spanish brick house,” he further pronounced after we arrived in the vicinity of their mansion.

“Okay! Here we are in our place, exclaimed Dorie.” “Let’s get in, and feel like at home.” After Ciano had properly parked the car, we cautiously alighted. Mixed feelings greeted me as I began to examine the environment. First, I could not contain to keep appreciating the splendid sights that surrounds this beautiful place. Their dwelling was located in the flat terrain at the peak of the mountain. In the balcony at the side of their private house, I catch sight of the lush vegetation that stood proudly in the steep cliff where I could clearly see the red crimson sky developed by the fading heat rays of the sun in the West as it blends well with the golden ray of lights coming from the grandiose full moon that is gradually rising above the peak of the tall, big and mighty Buso-Buso mountains in the far eastern horizon, opposite the place where we stood in great amazement. The scenery is a pleasure to see, that occurred only in my wild and vivid imaginations. Today, it was a reality to behold that pleases us with intense satisfaction.

…But extreme apprehensions surrounded my soul by the deafening silence that shrouded the whole area, where the quietness were often broken by the faint howling of dogs from afar, that caused my body hair to trickle in fright. The howling though pale and weak, but it echoed and reverberated into the deepest chamber of my body. “Did you not notice something different?” I secretly told my wife. She remained silent, but she holds my hands tightly that enable me to sense her very cold hands, as we proceeded to their house.

Despite the budding darkness now in the surrounding I tried to examine the house structure and its configuration and get familiarized with its neighboring structures. With the benefits of the golden ray of lights from the big full moon that slipped through the shadows of the huge and tall trees that cover the perimeter of their residence, I catch sight of the edifice old red bricks in its wall and in its roof, typifying the old medieval house in the olden era where the Kings and the Lords dominates the world. The building design and its antiquity further enhanced my growing anxieties.

“Welcome to our old house, we hope you may have a pleasant evening tonight.” “Feel as if at home,” Dorie warmly invited us after we stepped inside their old concrete terrace. “Thank you very much for having us, as one of your guest in this eventful day of your lives,” I quickly answered to the couple despite the frightening situation that we had. I immediately noticed the big, black cat that was sitting firmly in their porch’s wooden cabinet with his striking golden eyes that seemed to have been furiously looking at us. A faint uncharacteristic sound I heard from the animal after we entered their spacious living room that further increased the mounting nervousness that completely covered my whole body. The restlessness that was slowly creeping inside my mind further intensified as we began to take position in their old wooden Spanish sala set. The lights coming from old kerosene lamps that were fixed in opposite corners of their living room, gives away only dim lights inside the room that darkness was extremely experienced.

Remarkable silence enveloped the room that were broken up only by the continuous faint howling of dogs from a distant far, after the couple went inside their kitchen. “I was expecting a lively party this evening that was full of guests.” “Are you aware that we were the only couple invited?” my wife whispered to me. “Let us just wait; probably, a couple of minutes after, other guests will start arriving.” I tried to appease my wife whom I recognized her growing nervousness has started to sink in as she continues to hold tightly in my hands.

“We have prepared a special red wine that is perfect for our celebration this evening.” Ciano happily informed us while he was still holding a glass tray with four dark glasses that was half filled with wine. Dorie handed to us immediately the glass of wine. I tried to quickly investigate its contents; however, the remarkable darkness in the room has made its contents indistinguishable. The couple then sat down opposite the seat that I and my wife have occupied.

“Thank you very much for your due recognitions to our invitations.” “I and Dorie would like to start our celebration this evening with a toast of our glass of wine as a gesture of our true and lasting friendship.” Ciano started to speak gently after the couples have positioned in their wooden sala sets. Ciano was very elegant with his white Barong Tagalog and white pair of pants, while Dorie looks very neat with her white gown terno. But, despite the dimly lighted room, I could picture sometimes of their very somber and solemn looks; and in contrasting gestures, every now and then I catch sight of their piercing eyes that seems to have hypnotized me. After I have recovered from a few seconds of hallucinations, I silently elbowed my wife to heed for their request. We immediately picked up our glasses of wine and in succession we greeted them “H…Happy 40th wedding anniversary to you Bro. Ciano and Sister Dorie.” In a slow and faded voice my wife continued, “We wish you had more healthy and happy years in your life.” Then we all raised our glass of wine and made a memorable toast of glasses as a sign of acceptance to their call for camaraderie that has just started a couple of months ago.

I tried to savor the flavor that made the red wine the popular drinks of the famous and illustrious people, but other strange taste and unpleasant smell I have sniffed instead, as I tried to make another sip of the wine. “Today marks the 40th day of our marriage.” “We were rewarded with two children who are presently living now in the Metropolis.” explain Ciano. “It was very unfortunate that they cannot be with us this evening due to their very important commitment today with their works.” he added. The couple talked about their early marriage, their ancestors, their traditions, and their triumphs and accomplishments and the event that brought them to this countryside place. Extreme silence followed after they have narrated the story of their brief but intimate friendship with the original owner of the house that lead for them to get hold of this desirable estate.

The steady ticking of their old clock that was hanged securely in their wooden wall seems to be getting louder. The long silence in the room was broken only by the piercing sounds of the kitchen utensils in their long dining table while their old household couple made preparations for our dinner. But…the hair rising faint howling of dogs from a far still continue to reverberate inside the quite and peaceful room, bringing suspensions of something terrifying will happen this evening, in the face of the big and bright full moon.

The prolonged silence inside the living room was broken by their old household aide’s invitation, “Sir Ciano and Madame Dorie, the dining table is ready.” the old lady in her bizarre hoarse voice informed her masters. “Ahh… Okay! Let us proceed now to the dining table.” Ciano broke our long silence. My wife was terrified, she secretly whispered to me as the couple proceeded ahead of us to the dining table, “Is there anybody else they have invited aside from us?” I secretly grip her hands strongly to refrain her from talking further.

We started our dinner with strange ceremonial rites that I have not experienced in my entire life. Ciano personally handed to me afterwards, a strange kind of food that I myself could not determine what kind of meat and menu it was. Dorie in the same manner personally handed to my wife various kinds of dishes placed in an old ceramic platter, “Sister, I cooked this food for this very special evening, taste it and try to savor my specialty.” “Ahh… Thanks sister, don’t bother me much, I will just serve myself.” “You know, I eat only very little foods, especially in the evening.” My wife tried to explicate herself.

I tried to savor the taste of almost all of the kinds of foodstuffs that they have served, to make well of my hungry intestine that has experienced severe pain awhile ago while we were still in their living room. And foremost, I wanted to illustrate my profound respect to their cordial invitations, and extend satisfactions to the great efforts that they exerted to make this evening memorable. That was to the delight of the couple whom I sometimes caught giving victorious gestures to each other.

I noticed that most of the foods that they have served to us this evening was unusually cold, and the meat was very strange that I could not exactly determined what kind of meat it was; however, it did not deter me to mow everything that was placed in my plate that even the steady prodding of my wife to refrain from taking in the foodstuffs that were served, were ignored. I did not even get bothered even after I ate something bizarre from out of the foods that the couple has served.

Several strange things bothered our attention during our sojourn. The big, black cat followed us inside their house and even in the dining table. The cat silently observed us in the dining room with his usual glaring golden eyes sternly looking at us. Their old couple household aide also looks weird and seems to have something odd in their face they are trying to hide from our sight. Ciano and Dorie in the same manner cannot look straight at our eyes. However, we tried to remain silent all along, though we became very observant of the odd things that happened.

Our dinner ended with another toast of glass of red wine. This time, I found extra time to examine the peculiar mixtures that gave exotic taste in my perception. My wife in silence extended a sign for us to play them only, as a sign of respect and in submission only to the couple’s wishes.

We proceeded back to the living room after our dinner and go on with our casual get to know better conversations. They showed to us some personal memorabilia of their personal and professional triumph and achievements in the past, until such time that my wife Ching found time for us to ask for our honorable exit. “Sister Dorie, I feel that it is getting late in the evening and we feel we have to leave now.” my wife persuaded. “Ohh! Sorry I was oblivious of the time. Okay, I have to prepare my car.” “Just wait here for a moment; I will call you when the car is getting ready.”

Minutes later Bro. Ciano came back, “I’m very sorry Bro. Chao and Sister Conching, it was very unfortunate, my car has gone kaput.” “I am not certain what the problem was and I could not fix it at this moment of time.” Sister Dorie immediately assuaged us not to worry about our situation. “Don’t worry we have room for you to sleep.” “I’ll ask Julia to prepare the room for you.” “Don’t worry, just leave early in the morning tomorrow.” Dorie went immediately to their aide’s room near the kitchen. “The road going out of our place is very difficult during night time.” “I suggest you just stay with us in our house this evening” “Anyway, we have good place for you to spend the night.” “Okay, let us continue with our celebrations,” Ciano tried to sooth the growing apprehension that was evident now in our faces. There was nothing I and my wife could do at the very moment, except to face the unexpected turn of events.

Dorie immediately served us once more with another set of red wine. “Sister Dorie, I am not used to drink alcoholic beverage, I declined to drink again”, my wife beg off. Despite the peculiar taste that I have tasted, I tried to swallow the glass contents every time the couple offered a toast. Various kinds of foodstuffs were served also in the table, but my wife was deliberate with her acts. Then we talked about the various events that we have encountered in our lives.

We were oblivious of the time that passed when in a sudden the couple informed us in a haste that it is time to call off for the night. I made a quick look at the wall clock, and it reads 15 minutes before 12:00 midnight. They seem they feared something when the clock strikes 12 that they herded us in hurry to get inside their guest room. Restlessness was evident in their action as they brought us to their spacious guest room. “I… I… hope you may have a good night sleep”. “Good night.” the couple parted off. I recognized the sudden change of the tone of his voice. But before I could turn to their direction, the couple immediately went out of the room in haste.

With the help of the faint light coming from old kerosene lamp placed in their makeshift altar, I recognized the two separate spacious beds that were neatly prepared. Big and old wooden dresser with big mirror was present in the head end, which made my body hair rise, probably in concurrence of the fearsome moment. The historic portrait of some medieval persons that hanged firmly around the walls, which resembles prominent European personality added horror to our already frightening situations. The stern looking eye of these men in the portrait seems looking at us wherever we positioned ourselves in the room.

I suffered the greatest scare of my life that caused my heart to thump abnormally faster when in a sudden an extremely intense flash coming from the eyes of the same big, black cat glitters after it was hit by the ray of the sun as I slightly open up the window curtain to observe the building perimeter. The faint irregular sound coming from the animal before became more evident and audacious now. My wife without a word immediately lied down in the other bed and covered her whole body with the thin linen blanket that was provided in each of the bed. Then in a sudden the long silence of the night was broken by the loud repeated gong of the antique clock, which indicates it was 12:00 midnight.

I wanted to sleep beside my wife to do away the fears that has enveloped the innermost chamber of my soul, but I noticed that she was no longer moving. I realized now that I possessed a flimsy and feeble heart. I look outside from the big window glasses that were slightly opened after I tried to pull down the window curtain earlier. I found out the golden ray of the moon outside that lighted the surrounding vividly in this cold and lonely night, as its rays flickered through the open spaces between the thick vegetation around the perimeter of their dwelling. But in a sudden, I was shocked when I heard an unexpected bizarre sound of people that seems to have experiencing great pain of their body. The sound was coming from the room where their household aide entered after our dinner and the other coming from the room of Ciano and Dorie. The rooms were adjacent to the room where I and my wife were placed. The noise sounded like a long Aaaah…Aaaaah…. Ohhhhhh. The sound keeps on and getting stiff and intense, which were ensued by the continuous faint howling of dogs outside that seems getting more daring and bold. I could no longer think of what safe acts I am supposed to do. With no other recourse, I lied down in the bed and covered myself fully with the blanket that were provided to us, leaving behind the glass window and curtain that I earlier made half open.

Deep silence ensued. I tried to glimpse the vicinity of the house from inside the blanket, which was still visible due to the ray of lights coming from the moon. The quietness outside has further intensified the growing nervousness of my soul. I personally feel some evil eyes looking at us trying to seize the opportunity the moment we commit mistakes. I tried to hold on to the Holy Rosary that has saved me in numerous dangers that I have encountered before. I let myself get ready of whatever adversities that would befall to us this evening. I wanted to advise my wife, but she was too far for me to reach out in the other bed and also she remained not moving anymore; I presumed she was already fallen into deep sleep. I stayed calm and desist moving as if I had fallen asleep already, to deceive anybody around inside the room who had an evil intention for the two of us.

I remained covered by the thin linen blanket for a period of time with my eyes wide open inside and get ready of whatever might happen to us this evening. After the long silence a strange sound followed, the noise made was similar to the sound made by big feathered animals when it is going to flutter. Sudden bizarre sounds of vampire bats associated the ecstatic sounds of the people around. The flapping continued for a couple of minutes, asserting my personal impression that the creatures have not used its knack for along period of time. The continuous flapping now was simultaneous with the faint hysteric laughing coming from more than one person, probably inspired by the big, bright full moon above the sky that was shining brilliantly at its midpoint journey.

I was shocked when all of a sudden I heard a successive loud thud from an object that I believed had hit the deck at the side of the house, near the window of the room where we were billeted. The deck was overlooking the thick forest and the huge valley below where you can catch site of the majestic landscape of the Buso Buso and Veterans Valleys. Despite the shadow cast by the thick vegetations that surrounds the vicinity, I visibly saw from inside of my thin blanket, the shade of people wearing black long vest. They made some peculiar noise and budging that were very apparent in spite of the continuous howling of dogs and bats in the vicinity. I close my eyes for a moment to take it easy of my already exhausted and sleepy eyes. But after I opened up my eyes again, I lost sight of the people that I consider was standing at the edge of the viewing deck earlier. What were apparent to me were the simultaneous strong flapping sounds that were fading, right after they disappeared from my sight.

Long chilly silence in the vicinity ensued. I tried to fight off my sleepy eyes and stayed vigilant inside the thin linen blanket. The scary and anxious time waiting for the sun to rise in the eastern hemisphere seems eternity for me. But, I was contemplating that this was their gambit that once I tumbled and fall asleep, they will launch a quick and conceited attack. I strongly fought off the long agonizing minutes of uncertainty and insecurity when as swiftly as when they left was the landing of the same peculiar animal that has left a couple of hours ago. This time, darkness has already covered the vicinity after the moon has passed more than half of its journey in the sky that its shining ray was partially covered now by the building. However, the peculiar sound of different kinds of animals gathered around and seems very ecstatic of the arrival of their master. Their weird sounds were getting apparent that they seem were celebrating sumptuous festivities for the good catch of their master. I heard them guzzle and gulp for foods and drinks, like it would never ever happened again in their lives.

I never have the good opportunity to witness them in person; not just because of the extreme darkness that covered the area… but, because I was trembling with great fear if ever they found me still awake and mindful of their activities. Their revelry lasted for a couple of minutes until such time that their sounds faded gradually. The next few hours were a long and lingering moment of my life that the continued ticking of the clock seems eternity. I was hoping for the premature appearance of the mighty sun. The faint but continuous sound coming from my wife whom I consider was vividly drawn to the wonderland of make believe the whole evening was alluring; however, my strong determination to stay awake prevailed.

The emergence of the gentle and soothing ray of light from the sun as he slowly rises in the mountains of Buso Buso has quickly erased the enigma that has shrouded my entire evening in this devil’s paradise in the mountain. I saw my wife starting to move and stretching her arms and feet. Before she made another turn, I quickly stand up and greeted her, “Hello! Good morning.” “Thanks God you had a good sleep last night.” I immediately went up for her and I embraced her and quickly planted a kiss in her lips while she started to wipe away with her bare hands, the sticky leftover in her eyes and in her lips. She slowly sat in her bed, after having obtained enough momentum; she then proceeded to the half open windows and pull wide open the linen curtain that cover conspicuously half of the window. “Wow! What a pleasant sight to behold”, she sighed in concurrence to the wonderful scenery. “I wished to live my whole life in a place such as this,” she added… But inside of my mind I have other perception that I will probably keep secret to her forever, “If you only know of what I have experienced last night my beloved wife, you’ll probably hate to stay even a single minute of your life in this place.”

My wife and I made ourselves prepared very early for our trip back home. I tried myself to be formidable despite the exhausting hours that I have battled the night before. We went outside to refresh ourselves and savor the fresh early morning cold air from the nearby mountains that are still covered with thick haze that are gently rising up now to the atmosphere. We both took the advantage that we rarely come to get in the Metropolis, until such time that the vapor had disappeared in the sky and the mighty sun has slowly risen above the mountains in the eastern horizon bringing in his brilliant ray of lights. I tried to sneak a look at the rooms of Ciano and Dorie and their household aide, but I observed extreme silence.

The ray of lights coming from the sun was by now biting our skin when we noticed the arrival of Dorie and Ciano. “Good morning!” the couple greeted us in succession. “We trust you had a pleasant evening in our place.” Dorie added. “Thank you very much for the opportunity.” my wife Ching politely replied. “It’s getting late in the morning now, I consider we have to go home now,” I explained.

The couple wanted us to take breakfast first in their house, but we were very persistent to depart at the moment citing the already getting late in the morning. The couple was very polite in accommodating our sincere appeal. We extended once more our kind appreciation for taking us, as their special guest in their 40th wedding anniversary celebration, “Thank you very much Bro. Ciano and Sister Dorie.” “Again, we wish you have more celebrations to come.”

We noticed the couple’s extreme tiredness as they drove us back to the National highway, where we could take a jeepney ride back to our place. “We hope you enjoyed the celebrations.” Thank you very much for coming, take good care,” the couple’s parting words as they maneuvered back to their home.

We remained silent during our trip back home and even after we arrived home. The occasion was planted in our brains just like any other significant events that we have participated in the past. The pleasure and the memories will probably be reminisced only once in awhile; most likely, every time only when we experienced another similar occasions and similar wonderful place. I returned to the normal daily activities that I used too, so with my wife whom I consider was oblivious of the odd experience that I have gone through.

I put out of my mind the event until such time; I recall, exactly one month after the event happened, while the moon also was at its fullest when I experienced extra ordinary strength in my body. I felt some extra rigor that I expended extra activities that I am not used too especially during the evening, until I fall into deep sleep. However, I was awakened in the midnight feeling some extraordinary pain in my body. It seems I was hallucinating, but I was mindful of the happening. A strange spirit was making an effort to come out of my body that it leaves an excruciating pain that was almost unbearable. The course was very lengthy that leaves an agonizing pain that I was wailing hard with great pain. I perceived I was crying Ahhhh…..! Ahhhh….! Ohhhhh….! The sounds I made attracted dogs in the neighborhood to weep, until the weeping of dogs outside became incessant. The pain still persisted until such time that I passed out of sense.

I woke up the following day very late already in the morning, which was very unusual of my behavior. I felt extra pain felt all over my body that I preferred to remain in my bed instead. I tried to touch the parts of my body that were hurting when I came to touch some sticky substance in my lips. I was surprised when I discovered it was dried up traces of blood, including some traces in some parts of my body and shirts. I immediately went to the bathroom and cleansed myself from the unthinkable blood that stuck in my body.

The incident became a mystery in my own opinion. I continuously keep it secret to anybody including my wife; however, it cannot be denied that I was greatly bothered. The days that passed was agonizing, contemplating of several consequences that may have caused. Until one day I realized about the most recent occasion that I have encountered in the night of the 40th wedding anniversary of Ciano and Dorie. Taking into account that occasion and the fairy-tale that I often heard from my ancestors, and from the fairy books that I have read during my childhood days, I understand now that I may have received unwittingly the special powers that most people is afraid to inherit..

Today, while the moon was expected to be at its fullest, I started to sense again the similar sensations that I have experienced a month ago. I remained silent, skeptical of the correlations of events I read and that of what I have gone through. Still, I keep the account secret to my wife, but I get myself prepared of the possible spirit transition that may occur in my body tonight. As the time is approaching midnight, I began to hold on firmly to the Holy Rosary that has saved me in the numerous dangers that I have encountered. I tied also, the Cross and the statue of the Black Nazarene in my hands and at the same time hold on tightly to the Holy Bible in my right hand. Then I slowly went inside our guest room, waiting when the moon comes at its fullest tonight at 12:00 midnight; getting ready and prepared to battle alone, personally, this wicked curse.

The End.

To be continued in Part II.

The Wonders made by Our San Antonio Statue

Aug. 19, 2007

The Wonders made by our San Antonio Statue
(DEA – May 2007)

During my teenage years, the makeshift altar where the statue of our San Antonio de Padua was placed, now and then became my alternative source of instant cash for my expenses in my daily adventures. The altar was placed besides our main door and was made from an old wooden table and was covered with synthetic fabric. Young and still reliant from my parents, I often made naughty acts in the house to satisfy my financial expenditures in my daily escapades outside with my close friends. Pocketing of the loose coins placed voluntarily by devotees at the altar where the statue of our old San Antonio was placed was one of the several silly acts that I have carried out. The money that was placed in the altar in recognition to the saint’s pious deeds, has not escaped from my unforgiving mischievous character.

But just as it happened in every average earning family, drought in cash money was customary in the family, as it was in my main source of instant cash. Probably, feeling greatly manipulated on some occasions by my daily trips to his pant pockets, my Tatay would deliberately hold his pocket empty of loose coins during some occasions. However, since I’m not willing to give up immediately and leave empty handed, I often go secretly to his wallet, which he normally placed in his bamboo basket that was always hanged in our wooden house column. Similarly, I occasionally stumbled upon the same empty feat.

Desperate to have instant cash always in my hands, I often look at my other alternative mine quarry, which is my Nanay’s tin can, where she placed the collections of the “Baranggay and the Minagsuon biray”. But sometimes good fortune is not at hand all of the times and the windfall that I get used, on some occasions is dried up, just as the Sahara desert of Egypt. When despondent, I go and obliged to take my last alternative, which are the few loose coins placed in a small water glass at the foot of the “San Antonio de Padua” statue that is placed in our makeshift altar. Several other statues are placed by my mother on this altar, but it was distinct that loose coins are only found at the foot of the old statue of San Antonio, besides some candles that are lighted and stick. These few loose coins placed in the altar help resolved my cash necessities. Though these are few and loose coins only, for me it was better than having none at all. But, with my numerous trips to the altar before, I never have in the distant picture of my mind the thoughts, why this glass has always had these coins most of the time. I never entertained the thoughts then of why devotees have placed money, and why it was placed specifically only at the statue of San Antonio. In my young mind then, what was important is I have something in my pocket that can cover the expenses in my daily escapades.

During my last visit to our residential house, only just recently, I noticed that the altar was moved by my elder sister “Uday Larrie” to a new position inside the house that attracted my immediate attention. Now with a matured outlook, I tried to make a quick look in the water glass where the coins are placed before. Memories in the past went back in my mind, and a comparable aspiration flashes in my brain that instantly enabled me to make a silent grin as I look in the burgeoning coins that overflow the now larger glass. I came to realize that there is no more brother “Aple” in the house, and it was very long ago since I have last visited this old residential house, an obvious reason why the coins flourished now. Probably, Ite Dave also was so saintly and does not dig on small time money.

Late in the afternoon, after I woke up from my long slumber, and while still trying to regain the strength I lost caused by my long journey from my home in the capital city, I witnessed an elderly woman praying intently, kneeling down in front of the statue of San Antonio. I noticed she was praying solemnly and seriously that attracted my inquisitive brain to comprehend what inspired her to pay a visit and meditate in our private altar. I figured out she was coming from the neighboring Baranggay, for I could not fully recognized her personality in “Lutao”, She probably have serious problem for she looks somber. Though I have already relocated from “Lutao” almost three decade ago; I could still recognized most of the residents in the Baranggay, especially the elder individual.

After my long nap, I sat in our wooden sofa placed in the porch trying to shake off the hangover. Since working in a private company, I never have the opportunity again to take a long sleep in the afternoon. With my keen interest now about what is the secret behind the congregations of the numerous residents that asked assistance to the San Antonio statue in our house, I failed to notice that the woman was already standing in front of me. I was stunned when she suddenly called my name and asked what time did I arrive from the capital city. Embarrassed for I could not immediately keep her in my memory, I immediately asked her of what drove her to visit and light candles in front of our old San Antonio statue. In a very poignant voice she answered to me that their domesticated “carabao” they regularly used in their farm, could not be found for two days already. She recalled a couple of years ago; she asked intercessions also from the same miraculous statue in our altar regarding their domesticated cow that could not be located for a couple of days. She asked assistance and she lighted a candle, and the light of the candle in our altar pointed to a specific direction of where her lost animal was located. She told that the statue was very popular for it helps a lot of residents in the neighborhood solved some odd personal and family problems.

Now, I am regretful for not being able to gather information of the numerous miraculous events before that were answered after some of our neighbors had asked assistance to the statue of San Antonio. Tatay and Nanay who have witnessed these miraculous interventions made by our statue in the lives of several devotees, could no longer tell tales of their experiences. The authenticity of the miraculous powers that the statue has granted to our neighbors will now rest silently in the crypt of my parents. What were left in my brain to recall, are just the memories of those candles burning in the late afternoon sun, every time I smelled anew the scent from the smokes of candles burning.

I was still in a trance when another woman went inside and went silently straight to our makeshift altar. She kneels down in front of the statue of San Antonio; afterwards I heard her faint voice muttering some words. She was there for a couple of minutes that the scent of the candles that she has lighted has enveloped already in the whole living room of our ancestral house. I was surprised by her unusual acts, but not of her presence in the house for she was considered a regular member and fixture of the family, before she got married.

A couple of minutes after her meditations she approached me, and we started our customary conversation. Later, she narrated the reason that gave her great suffering in her mind that compelled her to ask our San Antonio’s miraculous intercessions. Her husband; she recounted, came to work recently in the capital city, but later on, his daily remittance of money for the family became scarce and far in between. It is not much with the financial dole outs that she was worried about, what she was deeply worried was about the news that spread in the neighborhood that her husband has lived with a young and gorgeous woman in the city. She weeps for she cannot accept her husband would be commandeered by another woman. She loved her husband very much, and her life would be a mess if he happens to leave her, and lived with another woman.

“Dodong I prayed for our San Antonio’s intercession”, she narrated. “My husband is leaving tomorrow back in the capital city after a week of vacationing here.” “I prayed hard that he would change his mind and abandon his plan to go back and work again in the city.” She said; “I am ready to sacrifice and put my body to extreme hard works for a living, as long as he is always by my side and safe from temptations.” A couple of minutes have passed, before she bade us goodbye. She left our home already dark at night, but not without some tears in her eyes rolling down in her cheeks.

Two days later, I met coincidentally the woman whose carabao could not be located while I was in the market. She happily narrated to me; “Dodong, we’ve found the animal in the area where the direction of the candle lights has pointed out.” I was pleased by the simple and valuable good deeds that our statue has granted. As I prepare my luggage that evening for my return trip back home to my permanent home in the metropolis, the second woman drop by in our house to extend recognition to our San Antonio statue. With renewed enthusiasm, she happily relates to us that on the night after he made her prayers, her husband got drunk as he made farewell rounds of drinks to his close friends in the neighborhood. On his way home, having drunk one too many of his customary consumptions, he inadvertently lost his money that is intended for his transportation fare and for his allowance. With no more other recourse, he decided to forego his trip back to the capital city until he could raise again an equivalent amount.

What a remarkable turn of events that has happened to these two women, but it would not just have happened if not by the intercessions of our beloved statue of San Antonio. As I was about to leave back to my home place in Antipolo, another woman who looks very pale and piteous with her very old and worn out dress arrived and politely asked permissions to enter and make use of our altar. With tears in her eyes rolling down already in her pale cheeks, she narrated that her youngest son was dying from a sickness that started from just an ordinary sickness. Due to extreme poverty the boy’s conditions was getting serious from various complications for their gross negligence and with no proper medications being applied. Her family could not afford to bring her only son to the hospital. So, she looks for any reasonable measures until she was informed by her friend neighbor about the miraculous powers of our statue that restored also to health her neighbor’s child a couple of years ago. “Dodong, there is no other way I have in my mind, except to pray and ask favor to the statue of your San Antonio, to restore my only son’s good health.”

The woman was still in our altar praying devotedly when I boarded the passenger bus that would carry me to Tagbilaran, and back to my home place in Antipolo. After I found a seat in the bus, I started to pray that our San Antonio would help restored to health her little boy. I pictured out the sad manifestation that was indicated in the woman’s face, the same sad looks that my beloved mother have experienced, every time any one of us in the family got sick. The sad looks ripped my heart with extreme sympathy every time it surfaced in my thoughts as I trekked back home.

At home, I waited eagerly for the news updates from my beloved Uday Larrie regarding the conditions of the little boy; however, days had passed without having information received. I presumed Uday Larrie’s silence denotes that our San Antonio has bestowed once more his phenomenal healing powers, adding numbers of devotees that have received wonders from our old San Antonio statue. Thoughts in my mind came up now after I fully realized its wonders, where this old statue originated? Nobody from among members of the family could tell exactly about the origin of our old San Antonio statue; probably, only Tatay and Nanay can tell its origin. However; what was important, is it continue to give soothing remedies to countless people in our neighborhood.

The end.