Mrs. Araneta

Chapter XIV: Teddy 🧸

Manila International Airport
December 1991, Five years later.

After more than five years of living in exile, after winning the hundreds of racketeering cases filed against them in the US, the Marcos family can now go back home.

HOME.

And they are coming home today. Though it is still uncertain whether they will go to Ilocos Norte or stay in San Juan. But one thing is for sure. The entourage that boarded the plane on February 25 of 1986 is not the same group the press will be seeing as they arrive in Manila.

And since they will no longer be under the care of the presidential security group, Bong contacted Greggy. He recently set up his own security company. He asked for their travel assistance from the airport to their ancestral house in San Juan. And Greggy has been nothing but generous with his efforts.

GREGGY's POV:

I do not know what to expect for today's events. It was only a week ago when Bong reached out to me through Liza. It's a welcome surprise, to be honest. Liza is a cousin of mine.. I didn't know that she and Bong are dating. Well, they are more than dating, they're engaged.

You cannot really expect people here in the Philippines to know more about them. The government has been very successful in blocking all possible news that pertains to the former first family. Even I, I don't know know much. But nevertheless, here I am waiting for their flight. It has been five years, I don't really know how they feel towards me specially Mama Meldy and Daddy Andy. I wasn't able to get in touch since their exile.

But I am most anxious by this unspoken possibility that I might be seeing Irene. Bong didn't really disclose much details, for all I know and all he asked was security details for their transportation for them to be able to go to San Juan safe and sound.

I already talked to some friends here, so that I may be allowed to fetch them directly from the aircraft. I just have to. I would feel better if from that point on I will be with them until their last security check after the immigration.

'Announcing the arrival of Philippine Airlines flight PR 752 from Honolulu, again.. flight PR 752 from Honolulu has arrived. Passengers may claim their baggage in carousel 4, thank you.'

They're here.

***
I stand up from my seat and wait for the signal from the ground staff for me to get in the plane. When all is clear, I close my eyes briefly before I checked for their seat number.

I saw Bong first. And Imee, and Mama Meldy. But there's no sight of Irene and Daddy Andy.

'Greggy. Hey! Salamat ha. How are you?'
"Bong. Good. Kayo? How's the flight?"

I hug him first, then Imee. And last, my Mama Meldy. I can feel my chest tightening from the surge of emotions that is coming in.

"Ma.."
'Anak. Thank you, Greggy. Let's go? Pwede na ba? Ang sakit na ng likod ko kaka upo.'
"Yes Ma. Bong? Assist mo si Ime. Ako na kay Mama. Si Daddy pala?"

Bong looks at Imee before looking at his mother. I know that something is not right. But there's still time for this later. Ang mahalaga, maiuwi ko sila ng ligtas.

'Nako. Nasa Hawaii pa, 'nak. Baka next year namin iuwi ang Daddy mo. Si Irene, naiwan. Hindi naman nun iiwan ang Daddy nya.'

I chuckled a bit. Always a daddy's girl talaga.

***
Everything went from good to chaotic. As soon as we passed by the immigration, the media went crazy trying to get a scoop from the three of them while we wait for their baggage.