Ever Summer

Chapterr 19

Circa : 1980 -1990

Gerrard

Before President Marcos lifted martial rule in January 1981, Gerald had already left the country. His concerned parents insisted he live with them in their family house in San Diego, California. His father wanted Gerard to work in his budding architectural firm.

Gerard had an easy time adjusting to his new life in Amerika. Relatives, friends and acquaintances are just a few miles away. He decided to accept his father’s job offer. He started as a draftsman.

The very permissive society in his new environment, presented him with abundant opportunities for casual s*x, one -night stands, and short-term relationships. Gerard embraced with abandon the wild party scene, wallowing in meaningless s*x, which almost always left him feel empty ..like the ever present void in his heart.

After sometime, the wild scene had lost its appeal and Gerard decided to focus on his work .

It was at this point that Jenny , a Filipina nurse came into his life.

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Manila

The raging seed of discontent stemming from the assassination of the charismatic opposition leader and former Senator Benigno Aquino in August 1983, reached its tipping point during the presidential snap election of 7 February 1986 .

Corazon Aquino, widow of the assassinated leader was the opposition bet against Marcos. She lost by a landslide amidst claims of massive cheating engineered through Marcos’es guns, goons and gold . Chants of “Cory, Cory, Cor coupled with Oust Marcos “, reverberated throughout Metro Manila and key cities and provinces in the country.

After two weeks of massive civil unrest and persistent clamor for Marcos to step down , the simmering social volcano inevitably erupted into then world - renowned “EDSA People Power Revolution” a three-day peaceful revolution marked by sustained massive protest demonstrations. mostly in Metro Manila from 22 to 25 February.

On the first day of the uprising, people rushed to the National Police Headquarters to answer the call for support by high ranking police and military officers who decided to defect to the opposition side. They were holed up in the sprawling buildings inside a vast compound called Camp Crame along EDSA avenue. A main thoroughfare in Quezon City.

Among the people who came was Gerard.

Call it fate, for Gerard was already in Manila two weeks before the revolution broke out. It was a family emergency. They came for the funeral of his uncle, his mother’s elder brother.

Gerard joined the multitude of supporters not out of curiosity like some of the kibitzers. He was already an active member and organizer of an anti-Marcos group in a Filipino community based in San Diego. Like many others, Gerard came to answer the frenzied call of the beleaguered defectors who fear for their lives in anticipation of Marcos brutal response to their betrayal.

Gerard decided to join the vigil in front of Camp Crame.

By morning, the crowd had swelled into tens of thousands, rendering a long stretch of the EDSA avenue impassable.

In the afternoon of the second day, Gerard came back with his best friend Alex. By then, there were at least a million people milling around the vicinity. Strangely, the crowd was orderly despite its massive size. People coming from all walks of life, gathered there bound by one common goal: to protect the defectors and hopefully, encourage more armed personnel to switch loyalty.

The crowd.

It was a sight to behold. People praying, singing. Strangers hugging, smiling, crying, Impromptu programs were also staged.

Food, water, matts, umbrellas, even rosaries and other religious articles were passed around.

Gerard and Alex brought along boxes of sandwiches and bottled water. The best friends joined the passionate chanting of “Cory Cory Cory” amidst the seemingly festive atmosphere despite the uncertainty of the situation.

Before sundown, Alex had to leave.

“Bro, I have to go, wifey is waiting at home. We’re having dinner with my in-laws.”

“ Ok take care. I won’t be long anyway.” Gerard said while giving his long time friend their customary bro hug.

After some time, Gerard , tired and sweaty, decided to call it a day, bracing himself for a long walk towards a place where he could take a ride home. While inching his way through the sea of people, squeezing himself between the mass of warm bodies, he inevitably stepped on someone’s foot.

“Oh I’m soo…” the rest of what he was about to say got stuck in his throat. Mouth agape. eyes rounded as he stared at the woman whose foot he had stepped on.

“AIDA?... AIDA?” he blurted as he regained his speech, unmindful of his hands clutching the woman’s shoulders.

“I I’m sorry, you must be mistaken” the woman stammered, obviously shocked as she shrugged Gerard’s hands off her shoulders. But as she turned to walked away, Gerard grabbed her wrist.

“Aida, I know its you, please just give me a moment. I need to talk to you.” “AIDA, PLEASE. IM BEGGING YOU”

For a moment, the woman stood still. Her eyes, intensely fixed on Gerard’s face, began to tear.

“Gerard, please, don’t , I know what you want to say to me” Aida pleaded as she reluctantly acknowledge her identity.

“Aida, I just want to ask you…”

“STOP , PLEASE , Soraya is doing well now. Leave her be if you really care for my friend”

“Aida, I just want to see her..I need to see her please. . I promise, I’ll just talk to her”.

“Gerard, Soraya is married to Ricky now. What is there to talk about? Just leave her in peace. She had gone through a lot.” Aida said as she again turned and started walking away. She hadn’t gotten far when Gerard hurried behind her.

“ Aida, wait !!“ Gerard called as he pulled out his business card from his wallet.

“Aida. Please, at least give this to Raya. I’m flying back to the States next week” Gerard pleaded desperately.

Aida hesitantly took the card and walked away leaving Gerard without saying a word..

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