SO CRUEL BUT LOVE IS LOVE TO THE END

Episode 2

She was the sister of a former official ( named Lorenzo) of a small remote village and he earned his college degree in Manila, when so few can afford much less go to a far big city , where it needs three days to travel. Since, he is one of those lucky people who earned education in

the late 1800, he is looked upon taller and respectable among his peers. He dressed like a Don in the old tradition with a cane and smoked Abano; a big cigar to match his smart look!

He was witty and had clever disposition thinking he is more knowledgeable than the rest of the provincial people during their time and; much as he looks impressive because of his smart outfit and imitating the body language of the Spanish Illustrados, who ruled the country for three hundred years since Ferdinand Magellan came to the Philippines in 1521…

He walked and befriend indeed the businessmen; the politicians and wealthy landlords and since he was not a stranger to manipulations; intrigues and other machinations which is associated with acquiring more wealth, he was himself a skilful law breaker or has talent to circumvent the law and bend morality to his interest.

And since my Grandfather had no formal education during the Spanish time, he idolizes and admired people with education and more so, when they wear expensive clothes like Lorenzo. Talks little Spanish and brags for broken English language to impress the crowd such that, my Grandfather was excited when Lorenzo visited their home to see his daughter, my Auntie Luisa. He instantly liked him and so later on, they wedded with vague romantic relationship since it was a forced a marriage imposed by my Grandfather, despite the fact that my Auntie had true love from another man!

Lorenzo, who became my Uncle, used all kinds of magic to woo my Auntie and so the wedding happened and years later they had siblings and one of them was Joe, the good cousin who helped me land my first job in the big city!

During the war, his family evacuated to a secluded area from the city and by sheer bad luck, Lorenzo met a married woman and by his glib tongue, he was able to corrupt her. They had secret liaison every now and then without the knowledge of my Auntie and kids. Some people though knew of their affair…this became a talk of the barrio and just so cruel and unfortunate, they were caught in the act and the woman was undressed in public and people stoned her!

Men during this time were not condemned for their illicit deed but women are subjected to shameful punishment and so Lorenzo had it good to brag his wrong doing to his friends!

The shameful experience though did not destroy the marriage of the woman. She was forgiven by her husband and by good blessings, their only daughter later on got married to a rich man logger who became a billionaire and owned a Mansion in Ox Subdivision, in Hollywood, and so the whole family migrated to America, including the poor woman who had an affair; and there lived a happy life ever after. While Lorenzo remained. However ,his penchant for closeness to powers- that- be, which was one of his smart qualities, made him a Deputy Governor in a far flung jungle area inhabited then by monkies!

In a twist of fate, and by what coincidence, the former boy friend of my auntie happened to evacuate in the same hiding place away from the savages of the Japaneses Imperial Army! While my Uncle, Deputy Governor was away, emotional magnet draw them closer again and so the expected reconciliation took place and out of six former children, one was not his daughter! So few knew and I did not know until I was about 22 years old!