Jorge's aunt arrived at about six in the evening after her duty at a radio station where she is working as a researcher. She found Jorge reading but this time, it's not the 1987 Philippine Constitution but a magazine with Vice President Leni Robredo as the cover.
"Jorge, nandito ka pa pala." her aunt told her
"Yes tita. I told mama that I will stay here until you arrive." she answered
"Si VP Leni ba yan?" she asked
"Ha?" asked Jorge confused by her aunts' question
"Sabi ko, si VP Leni ba kamo yang nasa cover?" she said
"Ah yes. It's VP Leni. I'm reading an article about her here. Of course, I want to check if I am supporting the right candidate for president kaya lahat ng pwede kong mabasa about her na based on facts, binabasa ko." she answered as if she was in Miss Universe
Her aunt looked at her and then stared at the photo of the vice president on the cover of the magazine which now lays flat on the table. She was astounded upon realizing that her niece, Jorge has the vice president's eyes. She looked at Jorge again and this time, Jorge smiled at her. Jorge also has the vice president's smile and her dimples.
"Tita, are you okay? Kanina ka pa nakatulala sa akin. Ganda ko no?" Jorge said that made her go back to her senses
Jorge also has the same calm voice of the vice president. She heard rumors from their purok before that Jorge was adopted and her real parents are the late Mayor Jesse Robredo who just finished his term that time, may he rest in peace and Atty. Leni Robredo. The rumors died down because the people had no proof and well, her mama said that the fourth Robredo daughter was not able to survive the car crash in 2002. She knew that her elder sister, Jorge's mama went to Bicol that same year to visit her biological father while she was pregnant and eventually gave birth to Jorge however, Jorge was registered late because Jorge's mama, her sister was not able to make it to the hospital and gave birth to Jorge at her father's house.
"Tita. Yuhooo. I'm talking here." Jorge said
"Okay na Jorge, pwede ka nang umuwi." she said
"Siya nga po pala, may pinapahanap po sa akin si nanay sa mga gamit niya kaya daan po muna ako doon. Urgent kasi." she said
"Sige, punta ka lang doon. Naandon naman si papa at ang tito mo." her aunt said
"Okay. Bye tita, bye nanay." She said and then went out of the room
When Jorge left, her nanay asked her aunt.
"Oh Em, bakit ka natulala kanina noong nakita mo picture noong bise presidente?"
"Kasi ma, parang magkamukha sila ni Jorge. Naalala ko tuloy ang mga sabi-sabi sa atin na isang Robredo si Jorge." Her aunt answered her nanay
"Magkamukha nga sila ni VP Leni at ni Jorge. Tingnan mo naman, parehong maganda at parehong matalino." Her mama said
"Ma, totoo po kaya ang mga kwento dati na anak ni Sir Jesse si Jorge? Kasi naandon ka diba noong nanganak si ate sa Bicol. Naalala ko na sumunod ka doon dahil nag-aalala ka kay ate na baka manganak doon at hindi maalagaan dahil may trabaho si kuya dito." Her tita said
"At naalala ko pa na noong araw ng aksidente ng pamilya Robredo ay nakauwi agad kayo dito pero mukha namang imposible kasi buntis naman talaga si ate noon." Her aunt continued
Jorge's nanay did not answer her aunt's question but instead she asked.
"Binilhan mo ba ako ng hapunan? Gutom nako Em."
"Ito po. Kain tayo" she answered
They ate their dinner together but Em is still analysing if it is possible that Jorge might be a Robredo.
"Magkamukha lang naman. Nangyayari naman talaga 'yon." She told herself
Jorge being a Robredo is also impossible since they have a proof that she is their own blood because of her birth certificate and it was also said that the body of the fourth Robredo child was never recovered. It might have been tossed around by the waves of the sea. Poor little girl, may she rest in peace.
Curious about what Jorge was reading earlier, she took the magazine from the table and read it. She saw that the little Robredo angel was mentioned in the article, it says, "The Vice President admits that she haven't moved on from the untimely demise of her beloved husband and her little angel, Jorgina Amalia who was only 2 days old when she passed away."
"Jorgina Amalia?!" she said loudly almost at the point of screaming
"Ano yan?" asked her mother
"Magkapangalan si Jorge at ang anak ni VP na namatay noong 2 days old palang." She said
"April 23, 2002 ipinanganak yung anak ni VP tapos si Jorge naman ay April 16, 2002. Malapit ang dates pero mukha naman talagang imposible. Magkapangalan nga pero nauna namang ipinanganak ang Jorge namin." She said
"Ayan Em, kung anu-ano kasi ang pinagbabasa mo." Her mother told her
Em didn't bother herself with it anymore and started to read stories on her phone.
Meanwhile, Jorge arrived at her nanay's house where she was greeted by her tatay.
"Hello tay." She greeted him and went over to reach for his right hand and placed it on her forehead, a very rich Filipino tradition called "pagmamano"
"Kaawaan ka ng Diyos." His tatay said
"Nakapanyapon ka na?" his tatay asked (Have you eaten yet?)
"Wala pa tay." She answered (Not yet)
"Panyapon di anay antes ka magpauli." (Eat first before you head home.)
Her tatay placed the Bicol Express that he cooked on the table.
"Yehey! Bicol express! Paborito ko ni." She exclaimed like a happy little child (This is my favourite)
"Sabi kasi ni tita mo, dadaan ka rito kaya nagluto ako ng paborito mo." Her tatay said
"Ayy sana all love na love. Sabagay ako naman ang paborito mong apo." She said
Indeed, she is the favourite grandchild of her grandfather since she is his first grandchild. First apo privileges.
After eating dinner, she told her tatay that she needs to get something from their room, as told by her nanay. Her tatay lead her to their room and she searched among the things of her nanay.
After searching for about 15 minutes, she finally found a little wooden box with her name written on it. It was only written, not carved. Maybe to indicate that the box was for her.
After bidding goodbye to her tatay, she headed home and when she entered her room, she opened the little box and she was surprised at what she saw.
YOU ARE READING
The Fourth Robredo Daughter
Hayran KurguWe can all see that the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo is already contented and happy with her 3 daughters, Aika, Tricia and Jillian but little did we know that a piece of her heart is missing. One pie...
