|
Family Reunion |
|
1946 Someone knocking at there door Felipo got up from his chair “Who could it be at this late night” He asked to himself looking at Ermana she’s just rolling her (banig ) made from palm dried leaves she’s been waving after dinner .Felipo dashed towards the door he open it slightly to see who’s was it. There are two gentleman smile at him “are you Felipo Valderama?”. He nodded and asked.” yes may I know what is your business in this late hour?” He offered a ginger tea to the two gentlemen setting at the table outside the balcony. He took a deep breath as he listened to Jose from Cebu, his story was interesting he heard this before but he didn’t know that could be true. I was centuries ago his great grand father left three children and his local wife and that was it . It was a story from his grand father was passed it to him. The father of this three boys went by ship they didn’t where. And yet this man from Negros giving them the link ,continuation of the lost story from his childhood. Spanish man left his young family to starved ridiculed by his own race because she was not one of them. Her great, great grand mother loved her husband so much until the end of her life, she’s longing that one day he will come to her . The last word that past through generation was his name “Pedro ” only one family that carry his this family name and it was Felipo. He sighed deeply leaned to his bamboo chair. Jose was adamant but shook his head “according to my elders he didn’t abandoned his family it was his officers and duty to the Spanish that made him leave his young family” If great grand mother Mayumi called his name on her last breath so was he” Jose continued bent his head slightly. It was very cleared in Jose’s memory that passed through generation the pleading word of Don Pedro.” I have a family in Pitogo,Tayabas find them and tell her I always loved her” It had been centuries but Valderama’s taste of adventure was also run in Jose’s vein liked the grand fathers before him , he wants to see the world. But first and foremost he want to see the origin of the story where his ancestor came from how he traveled and get to this isolated town. Felipo was a tall with slim physic but gentle his eyes was brown still can trace that his blood was not pure Pilipino his nose was high not normal his gentleness to his wife Ermana is noticeable . On the other hand Ermana was strong more commanding .”Where we going to put him to sleep?” she murmured to her husband as he passing by as he get in to the kitchen .He dip the porcelain cup into the water storage made from ceramic. As he drank he felt the freshness of the water came from the big jar. He nodded and lookout the small shack near the mangoe tree next to their house “ that one will do” Felipo smile at her. He knew Ermana was a bit hesitant to make a stranger to befriend with them she didn't know Jose and wondering why he has to traveled far to look for a family that had been neglected for centuries and yet there he was, eager to meet them. As they climbed up at the Tower fortress Jose touch the blue stone laid in every corner of the castle .The fortress was small in a round shape with two huge window facing at the sea, built on top of the middle hill of the town, from a distant the incoming boats are visible they are reached on top the tower a breathtaking view of deep blue sea far end was Marinduque Island. “ One of this stone was laid by our great grandfather Pedro” Felipo pointed one of the stone setting at the bottom corner he scrub slightly and a small letter and a love heart sign appeared “ P/M” He was still here when they are building this tower one hundred sixty years ago “ Felipo continued as he looked at Jose still wondering why he was interested to look for another family in this part of the world. Jose looked back at him and nodded “ I know what you think as I read your mind” He smiled at Felipe. “ During the war I was imprisoned at Dumaguite, Pampanga I thought I will die so I promised to myself I will look for any family member that connected to my ancestor it was then I remembered that my great great grandfather has a family somewhere in this area” Jose grabbed a little stone and throw out near the edge of the cliff where the tower was situated. Felipe and Jose were setting at the balcony, they just finished their dinner as Ermana made a pumpkin gourmet with coconut milk and dried fish. The moon started to shine from the east. As Felipe gazed up to the moon he curiously asked Jose about their great grandfather’s life. Jose sighed and smiled at Felipe as Ermana slowly sat down at the stool next to Felipe even her also curious what happened. “ Good somewhat sad” Jose sat down and told them the story. There was a huge typhoon the ship were sailing towards Cadiz when the ship has been capsized near Bantayan Island Pedro was injured as he hit his head when the foremast fell over him, a fisherman found him floating over the sea holding only to a piece of wood. When he woke he up he didn’t remember anything , he had an amnesia it took him years to remember who he was. He then looked at Felipe then looked down the floor “ His three children was already born and one of them is my grandfather”. Felipe nodded “ so he had another family that is why he didn’t return.” Jose turned to his head to Felipe “ he didn’t want to come back because one of his leg was amputated, the shark bitten his leg during that typhoon “ It was then Felipe understood is great grandfather was disabled and if not because of Ligaya the woman who saved him fell in love and married him despite of knowing that he has an amnesia it took her the opportunity of his disabilities .She looked after him and learn to love her though from time to time he will go at the beach questioning himself what is there he left behind at night he has this peculiar dream a woman with long straight hair with boys in her hands he will chased her but seems the more he chased the farther she was , he can’t see her face but long straight shiny hair. Ligaya’s family owned huge sugar farm in Cadiz , despite of his disability he put his mind into farming and made it successful and became one of the biggest producer of sugar in the island. Because of his amnesia he believed we was not born in Spain he thought he came from the big island Nueva Castilla that’s what the Spanish called to what is now Luzon . Rocco, Benjamin and Antonio his sons from Ligaya are all educated Rocco was a doctor ,Benjamin became a captain of the ship and Antonio who was and accountant and Jose’s grand father also the landlord of the sugar farm. Felipe stood up ,gazed up to the moon as if its too closed to him to touch, he then looked at Jose “ so your lucky that great grandfather managed to give your family a good life” Jose nodded “ yes that is why I went to looked for great grandfather extended family of what they became” he replied with sadness in his voice. Jose stood by next to Felipe holding the rail and also gazed up the shining moon. “ Great grand father returned his memory on the day my grandfather got married there was a terrible storm half of the sugar farm was destroyed great grandfather was at the mill when a falling debris struck his head and loss consciousness “ Felipe was stunned “ so his memory was back so what’s happened then?” he asked curiously .” he was seventy at the time, he told to my great grand mother Ligaya that he had another family and their a woman he loved so much named Mayumi, my great grand mother new the name because every time he had a nightmare he called out Mayumi’s name”
To be continue...
|
