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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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Love Always Wins

Love Always Wins A Short Story

The sun was already high up even when it was still two hours after sunrise. The roads that lead to the church were already dried up from the mist that wet them the dawn before. Everyone in the barangay was on their best clothes and walking on the same road path. Carmen and her family were on their way to the town to attend Padre Damaso’s mass. Carmen was always feeling happy and light-hearted every Sunday because of the things that her faith in the church has showed her.

But this Sunday was different. She woke up before the wake of dawn feeling positive, as she has always been every Sunday. She prepared breakfast for her husband, Julio, and her son, Antonio, while they are still asleep, and then she cleaned the house and the yard. After which, she woke them up to eat. Everything was going well according to plan but Antonio doesn’t want to go up.

“’Nay, I don’t want to go to church today,” Antonio declared. Carmen was surprised by her son’s behaviour. She didn’t know why but there was something wrong. Antonio isn’t even sick as she felt his neck against the back of her hand. “No, you can’t miss today’s mass. We never miss Padre Damaso’s Sunday mass. You aren’t even sick!” Carmen exclaimed.

“But ‘Nay, he doesn’t even practice what he preach,” Antonio answered. Carmen was flabbergasted by her son’s words and did not understand what her son was talking about. She did not say anything anymore; she can’t take it anymore. She went outside Antonio’s sleeping place and fixed her and her family’s Sunday outfits.

For all she knew, Padre Damaso was a great priest for the San Diego community, and he was even a better ruler for the town than be a priest in the church! She cannot think of why her son was saying such things. She had no idea, but she was disturbed by her son’s exclamations so she can’t concentrate on her day.

But the family still went. They still ate the breakfast Carmen cooked. Antonio did not complain anymore of going to church because he felt his mother’s hurt feelings about the words he said, so he still went to the church for his mother.

People have now gathered at the church. Carmen and her family have come to sit at the third row of chairs. They always have taken their seats there. It’s like those chairs were their own now, after years of consistently sitting at those same chairs. Padre Damaso was now on the vicinity, taking care that everything was set all right for his mass. How Carmen loved the organization of Padre Damaso. Yes, he was strict and somehow righteous, but Carmen didn’t care for he was the link for Carmen and God Almighty.

Padre Damaso’s masses were preceded just the same, with teachings by God and what things must be done to gain Salvation. Carmen was very much concerned in this Salvation, and she is also eager for her husband and son to get the same. After all, if she will be saved, who else would she like to be with, in the promised heaven of God? She had to do everything Padre Damaso says and commands then, and that’s why Carmen was always helpful in the church’s activities and she will always encourage both her son and husband to do the same.

At the middle of the homily, Padre Damaso jokingly and laughingly said “Kaya yung mga babae d’yan, mahihirapan makahanap ng boyfriend na gwapo. Yung iba, pari na kagaya ko, at ‘yung iba naman, mga bakla. Hahaha”. This triggered Antonio’s feelings because he, himself, is a gay and he strongly believes that there is nothing wrong with it. Antonio chose to remain silent regarding this topic because even his religious parents will not understand his feelings. Carmen noticed her son’s uncomfortable aura but Antonio said he was just not feeling well when asked if there was something wrong.

Next Sunday came, Antonio was supposed to attend a political educational discussion at the afternoon, but his mother again successfully persuaded him to attend church in the morning even if he didn’t want to attend. Padre Damaso’s preach that day was about a recent issue about a controversial ad of a famous clothing line with endorsers belonging to the LGBT community. Padre Damaso said that same sex marriage must not be legal in the Philippines because marriage is a sacred sacrament of the church and it must only be between a man and a woman. Padre Damaso emphasized “According to Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, a man lying with another man instead of his wife is considered an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. Kaya hindi talaga ito dapat ipatupad sa Pilipinas” He ended his homily saying “Same-sex marriage is immoral” and that gained approving nods from the religious devout of the church.

Antonio thought that he must keep his true gender a secret because other people including his family won’t accept the fact that he is gay and he has a boyfriend. However, a co-churchmate saw him in the television news, rallying and fighting for free education and also for same-sex marriage. Because her mother Carmen is a devout of the church and his father is a former barangay captain, the news spread like a plague in their town. His family was enraged by this news because their beloved unico hijo defied the rules of the church and their family’s name was destroyed and tainted with bad image. Antonio’s father, Pablo, being clouded by his anger and disappointment, punched Antonio right after he entered their house, “Bakla ka? Bakit hindi mo agad sinabi? Put*! Sirang-sira na pamilya natin dahil sayo, hayop ka”. Carmen, who was currently sobbing and crying hard, prayed to the Lord to help their family, to ease the anger of her husband, and to forgive the sins of her son. She treated Antonio’s wounds and hugged him tight to ease his feelings, “Tanggap kita anak kahit ano ka pa, pero nasaktan lang kami ng tatay mo kasi sa iba pa namin nalaman.” Antonio deeply apologized to his mom and said he will try to fix and clear their family’s name.

After 2 days, Antonio decided to contact his friends in the LGBT community and planned to make a project to spread awareness to Filipino citizens that homophobism is not a sin and people in LGBT community are not devils nor monsters. The project is called #LoveWins which has the advocacy that marriage is not limited being about between a man and a woman, but between love and love. It emphasized that love is not about the gender, but about love. This project also promoted that love and respect must be given to every human, regardless of the gender because giving raised brows, ridiculing and bullying is also against the commandments of the Lord. In addition, it is not directly stated in the Bible that homophobism is a sin.

After 5 months, the #LoveWins project were supported by many people nationally and internationally, due to exerted efforts of the LGBT community and support of many people around the world. The people who ridiculed and bullied Antonio and all the people of the LGBT community realized how wrong they are and apologized for their wrongdoings. The Roman Catholic church was also convinced that there is nothing wrong on being gay, bisexual, transgender or lesbian, because we are all children of God and must be accepted for who we are.

Everything was going well in Antonio’s life until one night, while he was walking on their way home from school, he was forcefully dragged by two policemen and was allegedly accused being a drug pusher. The next morning, he was found dead in the street and later investigations showed that he was shut by a gun in the head when he denied the drug use accusation. His death caused a tremendous downfall in his family and caused a rising outrage of the public against the authorities. When the policemen were interviewed, they said Antonio is being linked as one of the major drug pushers in the city and their source was a well-respected individual in the community. Little did the people know that it was Padre Damaso, who was a homophobe and who felt humiliated by Antonio’s successful advocacy regarding same-sex marriage. He told the city mayor who reported to the policemen that Antonio was a drug dealer as he continually rallied and fought against the extrajudicial killings under the current administration.

-2014-20502

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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Oplan Tokhang: A Tragic and Catastrophic Legacy

President Rodrigo Duterte’s overwhelming victory in the last presidential elections was heavily reliant on his promise to eradicate the problem on drugs within three to six months of his term. He claimed during the campaign that drug dealing and drug addiction were major obstacles to the Philippines’ economic and social progress (Xu, 2016). The drug war is a cornerstone of Duterte’s domestic policy and represents the extension of policies he had implemented earlier in his political career as the mayor of the city of Davao (Xu, 2016). However if we weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of this so-called “War on Drugs”, is it beneficial to Filipino people?

PNP report showed that comparing the statistics from last year, the crime rate went down by 9.8 percent—from 56,339 to 50, 817. However, the anti-drug operation called Oplan Tokhang has already killed 7,000 persons, and could reach 12,000 if unreported cases were to be included (Palatino, 2017). Duterte defended war on drugs as necessary and crucial to fight rampant criminality and corruption across the country (Palatino, 2017), but is interesting to know that most victims are in the low-income group who are unable to protect themselves. The war on drugs is claimed to be “anti-poor” by various human rights groups because the poor are the easy targets who don’t have the access and means to fight for their rights under the law

Police officials have consistently claimed at first that rival drug gangs are behind the extrajudicial killings. They also insisted that state forces are only forced to retaliate because suspects have been violently resisting arrests until a CCTV footage of a teenage boy named Kian Delos Santos being dragged and killed by the police went public. This proved that the officials entrusted to protect the Filipino citizens are now the same people who threaten and harm the people they claim to protect. Aside from making Tokhang the top priority of his government, Duterte is accused of abetting impunity by vowing to protect cops who kill drug suspects. In lieu with this, the police intensified Tokhang operations lately and Duterte praised this operation (Palatino, 2017).

Because many innocent people of all ages have become part of these unjust killings, many Filipinos were worried of more drug-related deaths. In fact, anyone can be the next victim. Human rights are clearly disregarded- a person’s life can easily be taken away without due process. The police were loudly condemned by the public for this atrocity and Duterte was also blamed for inciting police abuse. Even the powerful Catholic Church issued a strong statement against drug-related killings; the opposition pinned the blame on Duterte’s aggressive brand of leadership; and a funeral protest was held to dramatize the clamor for justice amid the spate of extrajudicial killings.

Come to think of it, is drug war the best solution to solve the drug problem in the Philippines? Violence won’t do because it will breed more violence, either as extrajudicial killings as we have already seen or intra-drug wars as drug dealers battle each other (Ongpin, 2016). Instead of eliminating the lives of drug users, the root of the drug problem which is poverty must be the one that must be eradicated and prioritized by the government: by creating job opportunities, and investing in their education. Besides, the number of dead does not mean the diminishing of drug use (Ongpin, 2016). The war to eliminate drugs must be fought first by changing attitudes, defining values, exercising discipline, providing alternative activities that are useful, entertaining and respectable. What has to be done is to change mindsets about drugs. Rehabilitation clinics must be put in place to take care of drug addicts who want to reform or have to be reformed. If these are well-run with properly trained and experienced staff using proven techniques, drug addicts can be reformed and brought back into society where they can become useful members. Knowledge and vigilance regarding drug use must also be publicized and exercised by conducting projects that will educate the public.

In conclusion, the drug war’s Oplan Tokhang is an ineffective solution to the drug problem in the Philippines due to its massive number of extrajudicial killings, its involvement of violence, its economic impracticality, and its human rights violations. It is just a mere tragic and catastrophic legacy of Duterte administration to Filipino people, especially the families of those who were killed. There must be a continuous urgent demand to rethink Oplan Tokhang, to establish alternative solutions, to probe and punish police abuse, and to make Duterte accountable for the worsening human rights violations that are taking place across the country.

References:

Felipe, C. S. (2017, September 4). Bato on drug war: Full speed ahead. The Philippine Star. Retrieved from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/09/04/1735659/bato-drug-war-full-speed-ahead

Jennings, R. (2017, January 7). How Philippine President Duterte’s anti-drug killings will stunt economic growth. Forbes. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/ 2017/01/02/how-philippine-president-dutertes-anti-drug-killings-will-erode-economic- growth/#10d003db3b3

Matsuzawa, M., & Viray, P. (2016, September 19). Casualties of Rody’s war. The Philippine Star. Retrieved from http://newslab.philstar.com/war-on-drugs/poverty

Ongpin, M. I. (2016, November 18). Drug war alternatives. Manila Times. Retrieved from http://www.manilatimes.net/drug-war-alternatives/297134/

Palatino, M. (2017, September 12). Rising outrage over Duterte’s war on drugs in the Philippines. Retrieved from The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2017/09/rising- outrage-over-dutertes-war-on-drugs-in-the-philippines/

Xu, M. (2016, December 16). Human rights and Duterte’s war on drugs. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved from: https://www.cfr.org/interview/human-rights-and-dutertes-war- drugs

-2014-20502

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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Niño Salvador

Naganap ang kwentong ito sa bayan ng San Diego.

Hindi na lamang isang karaniwang bayan sa Pilipinas ang San Diego. Wala na ang dating mapayapa at walang-dungis na ganda ng lawa bagkus ito ay puno na ng mga fish pens na pag-aari ng mga malalaking korporasyon na nagpaparami ng mga isda. Sa paglipas ng panahon ay unti-unti na ring nagsulputan ang mga istrukturang pangkomersyal. Napalitan na ang mga bukirin at palayan ng ilang malalaking mall, opisina, gyms, kainan, at iba pang mga establisyemento.

Nariyan pa rin ang simbahan. Nariyan pa rin ang pulong ng gubat, na kumpara sa simbahan na dinudumog ng tao, ay nilalayuan ng mga naninirahan sa San Diego. Sa bukana nito ay nakatirik ang mansyon ng mga Salvador na minana pa nila sa kanilang mga ninuno.

Si Niño Salvador ay isang estudyante ng medisina sa Ateneo de Manila University. Tulad ni Basilio, siya ay nasa ikalawang taon na. Siya ay matangkad, moreno, at gwapo. Siya ay may prominenteng nunal sa kanang ilalim na bahagi ng kanyang bibig tulad ng kanyang lola.

Ang kanyang lola. Matagal na nga palang may sakit ang kanyang lola. Kinukumbinsi niya itong magpatingin sa espeyalista ngunit nagmamatigas ito. May kamag-anak rin naman silang doktor. May pera rin naman sila.

Ngunit iyan ay nakaraan na. Ngayon ay mag-isa na siya.

“Moderno at progresibong San Diego,” bulong ni Nino sa sarili.

“Lingid sa kaalaman niyong lahat, may umaaligid pang manananggal dito,” patawang sabi niya na nasundan ng hikbi.

Sumigaw siya, “Laaaa!” Tumahol ang isang aso sa isang bakuran.

“Ba’t niyo ‘ko iniwan? I’m so lost!” bulong niya habang patuloy sa paghikbi.

Mag-isa at patagong nakaupo sa isang sanga ng acacia, tatlong oras na siyang nagmamasid at naghihintay ng makakain sa Calle San Pedro. Sa progresibong San Diego, may mangilan-ngilan pa ring barangay na napag-iiwanan—madidilim na eskinita, mga patagong kalakalan ng droga at seks, at mga nagugutom na sikmura.

Kumukulo na ang tiyan niya. Isang linggo na siyang ‘di kumakain mula nang pumanaw ang kanyang lola at tanggapin niya ang bato. Kung makapagbibigay lang sana ang bato ng unli kabusugan, e di okay. Kaso hindi.

Walang libing. Naglaho na lamang ang kanyang lola na parang alikabok sa hangin. Isang linggo niya nang pinag-iisipan ang lahat. Saktong ASEAN week kaya hindi niya kailangang magpakita sa klase. Normal pa rin naman siya, ngunit tulad ng iba na nababasa niya sa mga kwentong mito, alam niyang may panahong aatikihin siya. Tulad ngayon. Kailangan niyang kumain. Nagdidilim na ang paningin niya. Tao. Lamang-loob ng tao. Yun ang kinakain ng mga katulad niya di ba?

Tatlong linggo na ang nakakaraan at buhay pa rin siya. Manok ang naging pagkain niya simula noong gabing nakatambay siya sa puno ng acacia sa Calle San Pedro. Saktong may nakataling sabong na manok sa gilid ng tindahan. Wala namang nakakita. At least, ayon sa pagkakaalam niya. Bumalik siya ng unibersidad. Isa linggo rin siyang lumiban upang intindihin at pag-aralan ang magiging buhay niya ngayon. Nung tinanong siya ng isang kaklase, “May sakit,” lamang ang isinagot niya. Sa kabilang lamesa, maiging nag-iisip si Anastacio tungkol sa mga narinig niya.

“Isang food trip lang, sa Calle San Juan!” bulong niya habang pinipigilan ang sarili na kagatin ang kaklase niyang dada nang dada sa tabi niya.

“Ninooooo! Pre, pakopya ako ng assignment mo mamaya ah?” sabi ng kaklase niyang kanina pa nag-iiingay. Si Tony.

Tinapik siya nito nang malakas sa balikat na natakot siya na baka ma-activate yung pakpak niya, “Sige naaaaa, pre! Tropa naman tayo.”

Sa isang taong magkaklase sila, hindi niya alam kung paano nakapasok sa medisina ang taong ito.

Inilapit nito ang mukha niya sa mukha niya.“Libre kita unli buffalo wings mamaya!” sabi ni Tony sabay kindat.

Pero nagpapasalamat siya kay Tony, dahil mabuti itong kaibigan.

Dalawang linggo matapos ang kanyang food trip sa Calle San Pedro, hindi na sapat ang isang manok lang.

“Sige,” sagot ni Nino.

Tumambay siya sa Calle San Juan. Unli buffalo wings at gutom pa rin siya.

“Hindi na sapat, laaaa…ang dalawang bucket ng manooook... Ang kailangan koooooo…” kanta ni Nino habang naka-squat sa isang sanga ng acacia, umaasang susulpot ang namayapa niyang lola para iligtas at yakapin siya mula sa masamang panaginip na ito Tapos ipagluluto siya nito ng masarap na tinola.

Sa katotohanan ay hahampasin lang siya nito.

“TAO!” Sabay tawa na parang nababaliw na. Aminado siyang malapit na siyang magbreakdown. Hindi niya lubos maisip kung paano niya i-ma-manage ang pagpasok sa klase, pagdalo sa mga org activities, at pagsama sa mga yaya ng barkada niya na ganito ang sitwasyon niya. May isang bucket pa ng manok sa mesa kanina at may mga beer pa pero maduduwal na talaag siya—yung para bang magkakasakit. Baka sa pamamagitan ng pagkain ng tao ay maging okay siya. Nananaig na ang pagkamanananggal niya kaysa sa konsensya niya.

*Zoooom. Zuk. Pluk. Zzzuk. Zoooooom.*

Nagising siya mula sa pagkakahimbing.

May itinapon sa ilalim ng acacia.

Dugo. Naaamoy niya.

Tao? Hayop?

Nagmasid muna siya bago bumaba sa puno.

Kinapa niya ang sako.

“Ahhh!” Sigaw niya.

“@%#*^!#$&* Please don’t eat me, I’m innocent!” Dagdag niya habang lumalayo sa sako.

Tao.

Pagkatapos nang limang minuto ng pag-iisip, nilapitan niya at binuksan ang sakong parang minadaling itali.

Bata.

“Pagkakataon ko na,” naisip ni Nino. Matagal niya na ring hinihintay ito.

Gagawa na sana siya ng masama dahil mukhang patay na rin naman ang bata ngunit binagabag pa rin siya ng konsensya niya.

Pinulsuhan niya. Buhay pa ang bata ngunit malalim ang mga sugat nito.

Naisakay na ang bata sa ambulansya. Kumukuha na rin ng mga litrato ang mga pulis na rumesponde sa lugar.

Napabuntong-hininga si Nino habang nagmamasid sa taas ng puno na pinaglipatan niya.

Masaya siya sa ginawa niya.

Simula noon ay napagdesisyunan niyang gamitin ang kanyang pagiging manananggal sa pagtulong sa mga batang target at biktima ng mga masasamang-loob tuwing gabi.

“Oyyyyy! Ninooo!”

Binilisan ni Nino ang lakad niya ngunit maaabutan pa rin siya ni Tony.

“Paps!” sabay akbay kay Nino. Tumingin si Nino sa kasama. Tumingin lang din ito.

“Ano?” guilty-ng tanong ni Nino.

Tumingin lang ulit si Tony sa kanya.

Kinabahan siya.

Dahil sa kanyang bagong responsibilidad, hindi na masyadong sumasama si Niño sa mga yaya ng barkada. Malimit na rin siyang pumunta sa mga org activities. Noong una ay nakakapanibago sa kanila ngunit nasanay na rin sila kinalaunan. Ngunit nagbago at naging komplikado ang lahat nang kumalat sa unibersidad ang tungkol sa manananggal superhero na nagliligtas daw ng mga bata sa San Diego.

“Sama ka mamaya?” tanong ni Tony nang may pataas-taas pa ng kilay.

Napabuntung-hininga siya.

Mapapatawa nang malakas si Tony. “O bakit? Akala mo pagbibintangan kita? ‘Wag ka nga nagpapaapekto kay Tasyo. Pasikat lang yun.”

Nakatingin pa rin si Nino sa kaibigan niya.

“Pre, ‘wag ka ngang assuming. ‘Di ka papantay sa kagwapuhan ng manananggal na yun,” dagdag ni Tony habang tumatawa na parang baliw palayo.

“Mamaya ah. Kain din tayo,” sigaw ni Tony bago ito lumiko sa hallway.

Bumuntong-hininga ulit si Nino.

Kung bakit ba naman kasi mamayang gabi pa magpaplano ng Christmas Party kung kailan bilog ang buwan. Basta na lamang nagpatawag si Anastacio—presidente ng klase nila—at kailangan daw dumalo ang lahat.

Si Anastacio. Hindi lamang siya isang normal na kaklase. Siya rin ang mariing katunggali ni Nino sa klase. At noong mga nakaraang linggo ay lagi itong nakabuntot sa kanya, nakatingin nang parang mangdudukmal.

“Crush ka yata, pre!” kantyaw ni Tony nang lunchtime ng sumunod na araw pagkatapos ng Christmas Party planning meeting.

Tawang-tawa si Tony sa nangyari nang nakaraang gabi. Hindi niya maisubo ang kaning nasa kutsara sa takot na maibuga niya ito.

“’Di mo kasi pinapansin. Pinaulanan tuloy tayo ng bawang at paminta kagabi.”

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Nino. Kung ano man ang susunod na binabalak ni Anastacio ay wala na siyang pakialam.

(2014-19184)

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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#1 Untitled

Before I never understood why you’d curl up in your bed

as if you were stuck in a cocoon.

You’d press your head deep

to the left side of your pillow.

You’d cover your face with your hand or your blanket.

Sometimes, it’d fall

and reveal your face as you daydream.

I’d discreetly watch—

your eyes deeply closed,

your lips pursed like a bud rose,

everything in your body rigid

as if fighting for the littlest details of your sweet memories

not to escape your being.

Then you’d relax and release a deep breath;

you’ve defeated the dragon that wanted to steal your dreams,

and you’ve reconciled with your prince,

whom you love dearly;

And finally you’d sleep,

satisfied with your own happily ever after.

I’d remain in my bed,

which was next to yours,

wondering like a moviegoer puzzled with a film’s ending.

I know you’re in love;

yet, I never really understood why,

every time you’d hit the bed,

You’d do that.

It was weird to me—until I felt my own dragon claw on my heart,

attempting to steal the so few memories

I’d gathered. (2014-19184 - Modern - A reaction to Jose Rizal’s poem, Flower Among Flowers, as a roommate of a modern hopeless romantic Jose Rizal.)

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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#2 Untitled

It’s been five weeks

since I last saw you.

Newspapers were never read;

books have collected dust.

Since I last saw you,

things have slowed down—

books have collected dust

like our short conversations online.

Things have slowed down.

I’m back in my old ways.

Like our short conversations online,

My life never picked up pace.

I’m back in my old ways.

Newspapers were never read.

My life have never picked up pace.

It’s been five weeks. (2014-19184 - Pantoum - A reaction to Jose Rizal’s poem, Flower Among Flowers, as the woman talked about in the poem.)

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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The other side of the coin: Why a shift to a resiliency approach is a better solution to addressing the drug problem in the Philippines

“When I become president, I will order the police to find those people [dealing or using drugs] and kill them. The funeral parlors will be packed. These were one of Duterte's most famous promise programs that put him to where he is now. It's been more than a year since Rodrigo Duterte took office as the Philippines' 116th president and his war on drugs campaign started. 6,216 people, as of December 31, 2016, have already been killed—many lives are still being claimed by the government's use of the “kill, kill, kill approach” to reduce the production, contribution, and consumption of drugs—while a thousand others are in already-cramped prisons or in rehabilitation centers, unsure of their future once they are out—if ever they get out.

It's not that we don't want the drug problem in the country to be addressd, but it is not the fittest solution, to begin with. The resiliency approach is a better solution than the current “war” approach in addressing the drug problem in the Philippines because it considers the problem's underlying social factors and is humane as it employs nonthreatening initiatives in treating and reforming drug users and pushers such as providing rehabilitation, promoting education, and improving access to health care, among others.

Poverty, unemployment, and community stability are few of the social factors considered why people deal with drugs. Unemployed people especially those at the fringes of society often deal with drugs because it is an easy source of money. According to an ethnographic study on shabu use by Leonardo Estacio, Jr. in 2009, drug users deem shabu as “a gamot sa problema at kalungkutan (problem and depression healer), gamot sa kagutuman at kahirapan (hunger and poverty healer),...gamot sa pagkabagot (healer of boredom).” Providing them with training and resources to start a livelihood program would keep them busy and productive while providing for their family's needs. Moreover, informing and training community leaders about drugs can help them become aware as well as ready to create their own drug intervention program to help drug users and pushers in their neighborhood fight dealing and using drugs.

Unlike the war approach—unmerciful killings licensed by the President himself—employed by the government, the resiliency approach offers a humane and nonthreatening combination of harm reduction and social development initatives. Through these, it attempt to bring change to the person's behavior instead of alienating him or her from the society through a punitive approach. For instane, harm reduction initiatives like improving access to health care like rehabilitation treatment for occasional drug users and providing programs like needle exchange program for drug dependents can slowly usher their behavior toward being drug-free. While the harm reduction approach is criticized for being lax on drug users, it is, in fact, a good approach towards drug users who don't want to quit drug use right away. Moreover, providing relevant education programs can also help people become aware of the causes and effects of drugs and be wiser in considering it. On the other hand, social development initiatives include creating community-based organizations to help drug users and pushers encourage a drug-resistant community by supporting their neighbors in recovering from drug use.

The risk of using drugs is real; however, it is also a reality to consider that forcing a band-aid solution to a widespread problem such as the use of drugs without considering its root causes will only disrupt the flow of the trade in the short term. Shifting to a resiliency approach, through a combination of harm reduction and social development initiatives can better address the existing problem on drugs because it considers the underlyng social factors affecting the drug user instead of the face value of the problem. Furthermore, it uses nonthreatening initiatives that would likely encourage drug users to change their behavior towards being drug-free and drug-resistant. (2014-19184)

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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Fire & Water

Fire and water it will suffice

To say that one Is the other's demise

So gently they must coexist

For both to thrive

Let water be water

Let fire smolder

If we are water

And them, fire

We must do what we must

Or perish we shall

-esguerra, a.b.d

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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Sa Aking mga Kababata (reaction)

Tunay naman ang sinabi

Ng ating pambansang bayani

Na ang ating sariling wika

Ang dapat na mamayani

Ika ngay higit pa sa isdang malansa

Yaong taong walang pagpapahalaga

Sa mga salitang pinagkaloob

At minana pa

Kaya naman marapat lamang talaga

Na sa murang edad ay hubugin na

Ang pagmamahal sa wika

At sa ating bansa

May angking rikit

Ganda't tindig Kapag ito'y narinig

Sa ating tinig

Ang simbolo ng kasarinlan

At ating kalayaan

Para sa aking mga kabata

Si Rizal ay ating pakinggan

-esguerra, a.b.d.

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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Empower Me

2015-03044

I grow tired of the things You asked me to do,

Living by Your side is hard and sometimes I let go

But Lord, help me change my heart, renew my soul,

and keep me close, 'cos with you I can do it all.

Being a light into the world, is not an easy task

Being a disciple, being a candle and bearing a light

I'll strive to do it Lord with all the things that you ask

I trust You Lord, that you will never leave my side

Remind me oh God that you're in control

Give me strength and make me whole

For with the trials you give I will see

That You know the plans you have for me

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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“A Victoria est Defectum”

“The Success of Failure”

2015-03044

Thinking about what you want to be

Things that we can’t easily say

Choices that can be vast as the sea

Choices that you can't easily weigh

To become a doctor was the goal

Though only a few can take the role

It was not chosen out of a poll

But decided by the heart and soul

Achieving dreams ain’t an easy track

Shedding tears and sweat, what do I lack?

Questioning myself, "will I suffice?"

Is the dream worth all the sacrifice?

Seeing people endure all their need

Leaving their lives hanging on a bid

Financial problem may be the lead

This is why I wanted to succeed

To serve people is what I adore

To provide light is what I long for

If tis the reward for all the price

Then, the dream's worth all sacrifice.

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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Taxing the Unhealthy to Fight Obesity

An Argumentative Paper by BCLL (2015-46079)

ESSAY OUTLINE

Thesis Statement: “Fat tax” is a surcharge placed on products that contribute to obesity, as well as the individuals who possess such weight issue. It is a socio-economic food health policy which addresses the health issue’s alarming rate increase and growing concerns of the masses.

Introduction

Weight has always been a sensitive topic among people and, lately, obsession over alternative workouts such as boxing, pilates, and zumba has increased over the years to address unhealthy weight gain and to maintain fitness.

While these methods promote positive results, there are still cases where even the most challenging diet and exercise routines will not help, and cases or health issues that are often out of the hands of the bearer or assistance of medical help. Such cases include obesity. Because the benefits of dietary measures and exercising can only help up to a certain extent, experts, together with the government, proposed a policy on food consumption. This policy, the “fat tax”, is a surcharge placed on products that contribute to obesity, as well as the people themselves with weight issues. It is also a socioeconomic food health policy addressing the health issue’s alarming rate increase and growing concerns of the masses.

As the topic institutes a concern that affects the society socioeconomically, this paper provides a discussion on determining the effectiveness and necessity of the implementation of the said policy. It is important to know whether policies such as the fat tax truly address the health risks observed today or are governmental ploys to exploit their taxpayers.

Definition of Terms

1. Obesity – “typically defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above” (Southworth, 2004, p. 48)

2. Fat Tax – a surcharge on major contributors of obesity; a policy that aims to reduce the consumption of products that give way to unhealthy weight gain (Strnad, 2005)

Hypothesis

1. Does the implementation of the “fat tax” truly reduce the increasing rates of health risks such as obesity?

2. Is the “fat tax” an effective positive health propaganda?

Sub-thesis Statements

I. Fat tax is surcharge or price increase on the factors involved in obesity, a grave health issue concerning the weight of an individual. A. Taxation is the process of imposing tax on people and products B. Fat tax is a type of excise tax, one of the basic taxes in the government.

II. There are two elements that can be taxed under the policy. A. Tax the products, leading agents of obesity, to limit food consumption and, eventually, curb the growing rates of obesity. B. Tax the person with obesity to promote responsibility.

III. It is a preventive measure of concerned citizens such as experts and the government to reduce the increasing rate of obesity. A. Theoretically, the implementation of extra tax on particular foods should not only discourage people from purchasing said products, but also improve their perspective on food intake and eventually veer them to a healthier eating lifestyle. B. Denmark is the first country to adopt the policy as a preventive measure and it was soon followed by other European countries such as Hungary and France, where there is also a high record of obesity within their jurisdiction.

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ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER: “Taxing the Unhealthy to Fight Obesity”

Weight has always been a sensitive topic among the people. Nobody likes talking about it in the fear of appearing conceited or accidentally body shaming another. Lately, obsession over alternative workouts has increased over the years to address unhealthy weight gain and to maintain fitness. Such exercises include circuit training, boxing, yoga, pilates, zumba and other abdominal (ab) drills.

While these methods promote positive results, there are still cases where even the most challenging diet and exercise routines will not help, and cases or health issues that are often out of the hands of the bearer or assistance of medical help. Such cases include obesity. Obesity is “typically defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above” (Southworth, 2004, p. 48) and cannot be cured in an instant. The lifestyle, eating habits (frequency and type of food intake), and genetics of each obese person have to be taken into account before attempting to address the condition. Because the benefits of dietary measures and working out can only help up to a certain point, experts, together with the government, proposed a policy on food consumption. The “fat tax”, is a surcharge placed on products that contribute to obesity, as well as the people themselves with weight issues. It is also a socio-economic food health policy addressing the health issue’s alarming rate increase and growing concerns of the masses.

According to Merriam-Webster, “taxation” is the process of imposing tax on people or things and obtaining revenue in the end by the government (taxation, n.d.). There are two basic tax policies, namely excise tax and property tax (“Kinds of Taxes”, n.d.). Excise tax is tax concerned with the wide range of products of clothes, appliances, and food and their manufacturing process which begins in production and ends in the shipping until the products reaches consumers. Property tax, on the other hand, is the tax that is returned to the government based on the annual income of each taxpayer. Fat tax, by nature, is a type of excise tax that was introduced in places where there is an observed rapid rate of weight gain to the point of obesity among their citizens. It is a surcharge placed on the leading contributors of obesity such as fatty food and beverages aimed to eliminate or reduce their consumption (Strnad, 2005).

According to Southworth (2004), two major contributors of obesity may be taxed under the fat tax policy. As mentioned earlier, a main contributor of the said condition is food and beverages. These products are branded as fatty or unhealthy based on two factors: (a) societal connotation, and/or (b) the product’s calorie and fat content. The first factor, societal connotation, is the shared views and opinions of experts and enthusiasts on food. Often, it promotes and endorses the food that “must be eaten” and assesses those that “must be avoided” in order to maintain a healthy diet. Food that must be avoided, based on this category, are candy, chips, or those which come from fast food chains because they do not contribute health benefits on the consumer. The other factor, nutritional content, only further proves certain products to be truly unhealthy as evidenced by their nutritional labels where the calorie and fat contents are found. These labels show products like butter and cooking oil contain high amounts of saturated fat which are agents of unhealthy weight gain (Gunnars, 2013a, 2013b).

Similar to Southworth (2004), Pomeranz (2013) believes that overweight people, the second major contributor of obesity, ought to also be taxed under the policy. This is to promote individual consciousness on one’s own weight and health, to remind the bearer of the condition that there is still hope for change, and to spread public awareness about this health issue in society. More than being a surcharge, the fat tax also serves as a preventive measure against the alarming growth of obesity. With the support of the government, experts, public health practitioners, economists, and concerned citizens proposed the policy to guide consumers in their food choices and food intake. Instead of encouraging means of reducing and maintaining one’s figure, the policy focuses on the major contributors of obesity and directly puts a cap or limit once and for all (Stastny, 2004). Theoretically, according to Strnad (2005), when price increases, consumption should decrease. The implementation of extra tax on particular food should encourage people to make well informed choices regarding food. Therefore, adding extra charge on products should curb the growth of obesity altogether and this should eventually veer society, as a whole, to a healthier eating lifestyle. The policy further reminds society to watch one’s health and to be cautious of the food eaten.

The first of many countries to impose the policy was Denmark and they called it the “Danish Fat Tax Act”. According to Alemanno and Carreño (2013), beginning October 1, 2011, all produce made in and brought into Denmark such as “meat, certain dairy products, animal fats, edible oils and other fats, margarine, spreadable composite products, and other products which can be considered as substitutes or imitations of the above” (p. 102) were surcharged with 16 Danish kroner or €2.15 per kilogram of saturated fat, except those that contained less than 2.3%. Their aim was to limit food consumption and to endorse healthy eating and living. It should be noted that Denmark included food that were prescribed by the universal food group pyramid where most nutritional specifics are based on. This shows that the Danish were desperate for a drastic change in their eating lifestyle. Although the Danish had the best of intentions, the fat tax policy was abolished after 15 months of implementation because of various reasons that orbited around the economic aspect of the policy: food businesses, especially small establishments, suffered great loss in revenue for their products were compromised by the price increase in some of their ingredients; cross-border shopping to purchase some products at a lower price and stocking up on these started to popularize which affected the local economy; and people just lost jobs along the way due to the decline in the food market (Snowdon, 2015).

Ultimately, taxation is implemented to generate income for the country. Placed on people and any product, the total revenue often goes to the execution of legislations and projects for the benefit of the people. Fat tax, a preventive policy, aims to address the increasing rate of obesity by raising the prices of unhealthy products that lead to the unhealthy condition and anticipating the decrease in consumption. This should curb overweight rates and unhealthy consumption rates altogether.

The fat tax policy further aims to go beyond the encouragement stage of the campaign. With the funds collected, the policy also wishes to positively alter the food environment by offering healthier food choices and to provide rehabilitation facilities to help those in need (Zheng, McLaughlin, & Kaiser, 2013). The fat tax policy, as a whole, serves as a reminder to take good care of oneself and make wise and informed choices regarding food.

References

Alemanno, A., & Carreño, I. (2013). ‘Fat taxes’ in Europe: A legal and policy analysis under EU and WTO law. European Food and Feed Law Review, 2, 97-112.

Gunnars, K. (2013a). 7 Reasons Why Butter is Healthy in Moderation. Retrieved from https://authoritynutrition.com/7-reasons-why-butter-is-good-for-you/

Gunnars, K. (2013b). 6 Reasons Why Vegetable Oils Can be Harmful. Retrieved from https://authoritynutrition.com/6-reasons-why-vegetable-oils-are-toxic/

Kinds of taxes. (n.d.). In Collins Dictionary of Law. (2006). Retrieved from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Kinds+of+Taxes

Pomeranz, J. L. (2013). Taxing food and beverage products: A public health perspective and a new strategy for prevention. University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, 46(3), 999-1027.

Snowdon, C. (2015). Denmark’s fat tax was a failure – but revisionists are trying to rewrite the story. Retrieved from http://health.spectator.co.uk/revisionists-are-trying-to-turn-denmarks-failed-fat-tax-into-a-great-success-dont-be-fooled/

Southworth, L. M. (2004). The skinny on fat tax: Obesity and microeconomics. Policy Perspectives, 11, 41-50. doi:10.4079/pp.v11i1.4121

Stastny, D. (2004). Fat-tax: An economic analysis. Retrieved from http://www.libinst.cz/Files/KqLFy4r2/profile/2423/stastny_fattax.pdf

Strnad, J. (2005). Conceptualizing the 'Fat Tax': The Role of food taxes in developed economies. Stanford Law and Economics Olin Working Paper, (286), 1221-1326.

taxation. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taxation

Zheng, Y., McLaughlin, E.W., & Kaiser, H.M. (2013). Taxing food and beverages: Theory, evidence, and policy. American Journals of Agricultural Economics, 95(3), 705-723.

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emulatingrizal-blog · 6 years

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Jane

A short story by BCLL (2015-46079)

PLOT OUTLINE

I. Exposition A. Jane, a 26 year-old woman, is the only daughter of Tomas and Lerma and they live in a humble house in Pasig. B. Jane works at a lifestyle parlor in Makati at which she is hailed and awarded as one of the best employees the establishment has ever had. 1. She is very good at her work that she receives many requests of assistance from regulars. 2. She is so good that she has gained an admirer who has been persistently pursuing her: Robert James. C. Robert James gains, after a long time, the trust of Jane that they have grown as confidantes, both professionally and personally.

II. Rising Action A. Jane’s parents receive a letter from the mail at the beginning of September. B. Jane discovers that she is adopted from an overheard discussion between her parents, Tomas and Lerma. C. Jane seeks Rob’s counsel as he is, coincidentally, a lawyer and asks him to help her uncover the truth about her parents.

III. Climax A. As he investigates, Rob finds out that his father, Dante James, is the reason for Jane to be separated from her biological parents. B. After much thinking, Rob decides to tell Jane everything he found out about her parents and his father even though he knows what it will do to their friendship.

IV. Falling Action A. Jane receives the inheritance that her biological parents had left her after their death. B. Jane decides to go back to her parents and talk things through. C. Jane and Rob remain very good friends.

V. Resolution Because Rob helped her uncover the truth and was very honest with her about everything, he and Jane are still very good friends. Jane keeps him close as he had changed her life for the better.

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Jane

It was a quarter past six in this Thursday morning of July as Jane knocks on the door of her parents’ room.

“Ma, I’m heading out now. Jessica called earlier and told me I needed to be at the shop by 7 a.m. because Mr. James scheduled an urgent appointment and, as usual, asked for me. I have to go now if I don’t want to be late. There’s breakfast on the table. Please eat with papa. He’s out in the garage, washing the car. Again.”

“Okay, take care of yourself, sweetheart.”

“I will, bye! Love you!”

Jane passed by her father before she left the house.

“Bye pa. See you later. There’s food on the table, ok?”

Jane is a 26-year-old woman who works at one of the beauty salons in Makati. She lives with her parents, Tomas and Lerma, and older sister Jessica. She has a knack in being a manicurist and masseuse, but her ultimate dream is to enroll at a fashion design school. She is working tirelessly to earn enough for her education.

As Jane got to the end of her street where she always hails a tricycle to ride to work, she heard her name being called out somewhere nearby. As she found the source of the shouting, she saw Mr. Robert James, or Sir Rob as he is called at the salon, waving at her from his parked car a couple of houses down from where she was standing. It looked like Sir Rob had been waiting for her to come by.

“Good morning, Jane! How are you? Are you on the way to work?”

“Good morning, too, sir. Uh…yes I am.”

“Perfect! I’m going there now, too. C’mon, hop in!”

“Oh, sir, that won’t be necessary. I can go on my own. I’ll just meet you there.” And Jane caught the next vacant tricycle, leaving Sir Robert, surprisingly, smiling as he watched Jane ride off.

Once in the salon, she started to prepare for today’s business, starting with Sir Rob’s appointment. Usually, he asks for a mani-pedi cleaning and, on special occasions, a foot and body massage. What Jane did not understand was why he always asked for her when there were more experienced and talented employees in the salon.

Today went by as a blur after Sir Rob’s appointment. She had two more customers after before she went for a break. While she ate, she could hear the usual snipes of Jessica, her boss and sister, to her friends. Tomas and Lerma helped Jessica put up her own business. When the business started, it was only a two-roomed unit, but, now, it has expanded to a loft-type place, where more customers and services could be accommodated. Despite her loathe against Jane, Jessica was forbidden by their parents to fire her sister because, they said, they had to be a team. No power against her parents’ bequest, her hatred comes in all forms except her utmost desire of expulsion.

Throughout the entire months of July to August, Robert would schedule appointments with Jane just to see her. At first, it was once a week. Now, he has come by thrice a week since. He means no harm, he says, but Jane cannot help but feel uncomfortable. Only when September rolled in did something change between them.

Two weeks into the month of September on a Wednesday morning, Jane woke up because of frantic voices in the kitchen. Jane got up from the bed to investigate. Jane heard her parents discussing about a letter they received in the mail earlier that month. She heard them say that it was time to open the letter. By their voices, Jane could tell that the piece of envelope they were holding was making them nervous, at the same time, reassured. By the time her father had finished reading the letter aloud, Jane did not realize heavy tears were falling from her eyes. It was because she found out that Tomas and Lerma were not her biological parents, that she was adopted, that she was living a life of lies.

It seemed that Jane had no other choice, but to talk to what seems like her only friend at the moment: Robert. His appointments turned lunch reservations turned walks around the business park of Makati. During these sessions, Jane talked about what she had overheard from her parents, her feelings, and her options. As it turned out, Robert is a licensed lawyer and offered his counsel and assistance over Jane’s case. He felt compelled to help her because they have grown a lot closer over the past few months and adopted a different kind of care for her.

So, he set out to investigate on her case. As he did, he immediately found trails and little pieces of the puzzle. As it turned out, Jane’s case was pretty famous for an issue of adoption. While he did this, Jane confronted her parents.

On the night of September 16, Jane found her parents in the kitchen sitting with Jessica. They were discussing future plans for the beauty salon.

“Err…hi. Jess, can I talk to mom and dad for a second, please?”

“Go away, Jane. Can’t you see we’re discussing something important here?”

“Jess, please. Mom, dad? Can I talk to you for a second?”, Jane says with more conviction, tears streaming her eyes. This her parents saw and asked Jess to leave for a while. Jessica looked pointedly at Jane as if she was the worst thing that happened to her.

“Jane, honey, what is it? Is something wrong?”, her dad asked.

By this time, tears were definitely rolling down Jane’s cheeks. “I don’t know how to tell you this…”

“It’s okay, honey. Is this about work? Or is it about school? Come, sit here. That’s what we were talking to Jess about. We were discussing your enrollment next semester at the fashion school you’ve been dreaming about!”

“Mom, dad. I heard you talking in here the earlier this week. Yo-you were holding a-a-a letter in your hands. Something that happened 24 years ago.”

Tomas and Lerma were speechless. They did not know what to do. Or say.

“Oh, sweetheart…”

“When were you planning to tell me? Never? If you didn’t want me to know at all, why didn’t you wait ‘til everyone was out of the house? HOW COME YOU DIDN’T TELL ME? Mom, dad, please. Just tell me the truth, no excuses. No more lies!!”

“Honey, calm down please”, Tomas said. “Here, have a glass of water. We’ll tell you everything. Why don’t we start from the very beginning, hmm?”

And they did. Jane was the daughter of the late Edgar and Malou Reyes, who were both lawyers during their time. Tomas and Lerma were a part of their big household help in their house in Antipolo as driver and cook, respectively. Jane’s birth was a surprise to the whole household as Edgar and Malou were already in their 40s when they had her. Everyone adored Jane because she brought so much laughter and joy into the house.

When Jane was two years old, little did she and the household help know that Edgar and Malou was involved at a very controversial lawsuit at the firm they worked but Tomas and Lerma could not recall specifically which. The controversy was so toxic to the point of murder threats here and there that Edgar and Malou decided that it was best for Jane to be sent away. They, then, requested Tomas and Lerma to take her into their custody as it was no longer safe for all of them. At this time, Tomas and Lerma had a three year-old little girl. Yes, it was Jessica. So, they fled Antipolo and returned to their house in Pasig. Until now, no mention of Edgar and Malou was dropped ever again. Unfortunately, the old couple died at a car crash and Tomas and Lerma never knew what had happened with their lawsuit, whether they had won or lost.

After a few moments of silence, Jane cautiously asked, “So, what was that letter?”. Tomas and Lerma looked at each other.

“Honey, it came from the lawyer who handled the case of your parents.”

The next day, Jane and Robert was scheduled to meet over lunch. Rob was very rattled at this point from the things he found out in his investigation and was not too thrilled to see Jane. Rob saw Jane from the window of the restaurant they were to meet with. He looked at her with so much sadness and weight that he did not realize Jane was waving at him with her phone at her ear. Apparently, she was trying to reach his cellphone as he was not responding physically. Rob, to Jane’s amusement, picked up the phone.

“Rob, what are you doing inside? Come to the aircon!” Jane said with lightness. But Rob, could see right through her: pale face, swollen eyes with dark circles under, puffy cheeks.

“I’m coming.”

As they ate, Jane could see that Rob was nervous. “Spit it out, Rob. Is there something you want to tell me?”

Rob looked her in the eyes and said, “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry, Jane. If it weren’t for me, you’d still be with your parents. If it weren’t for me…”

Jane looked at him with confusion. As it turned out, her biological parents worked at the firm Rob’s father owned, Dante Firms. Dante James was a powerful man. Until now. That is where Rob works.

“No, it can’t be. I-I have to go. I’m sorry.” And Jane rushed out of the restaurant, leaving Rob with his hands covering his face. Jane and Rob did not talk for a few weeks. Not until Rob marched into the salon one November afternoon because Jane was not picking up her phone or acknowledging his emails.

“Jane. I don’t care if you don’t want to talk, let alone see. But I found the lawyer from my father’s firm who was at the opposition from your parents. I’ve got big news.”

It turned out that her parents were innocent and that Dante James tampered with some evidences because he did not like losing. Rob said that Edgar and Malou were close to winning, but Dante James acted faster and used lots of money to win no matter what.

“So, what do you think the letter my parents received contained?”, Jane asked.

“I don’t know. Do you want to find out?”

And Rob drove Jane back to her house where they found Tomas and Lerma sitting at the porch.

“Mom, dad. Can I read the letter?”

As promised, the letter read that Edgar and Malou were innocent and it has been 12 years ago today. There was also a will with inheritance that was left in the care of their lawyer. The lawyer wrote that it had taken a long time to find Jane as they could not track Tomas and Lerma anywhere.

“Honey, we’re sorry. We were afraid that if you found out about all these things, you’d leave us! We can’t imagine a life without you, sweetheart. Please forgive us.”

“Rob, how do we go from here?”

Rob helped Jane track the lawyer who sent the letter down. They retrieved all her inheritance, including the house in Antipolo. To show gratitude and ask for forgiveness, Jane brought her entire family to come live in her house in Antipolo. As for Rob, well, they still continue seeing each other as Jane is very thankful for his help, because without him, she would not have been able to do the right things.

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