Unveiling the Past

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Inside the cozy confines of the Calachuchi Inn, the Mangubat and Changco families sat together, enjoying a brief moment of respite from the chaos unfolding outside. As the sounds of the town fiesta drifted through the windows, they shared stories and laughter, blissfully unaware of the danger lurking just beyond their doorstep.

Lola Esperanza, her memory jogged by the events unfolding outside, finally decided to share the tale of Don Salvador del Fierro's journey after the fall of the hacienda.

"Anak, I think I need to do something," Esperanza told her daughter Sylvia, "why don't we tell them what happened about Don Salvador?"

"Tell them about it, Mama," answered Sylvia.

With a wistful smile, she began recounting the tale of his resilience and determination in the face of adversity.


"Don Salvador was a proud man, fiercely independent and determined to make his own way in the world," Lola Esperanza began, her voice soft with nostalgia. "After the fall of the hacienda, he set out for Maharlika in search of a new life. He worked tirelessly, taking on multiple jobs to make ends meet and save up enough money to pursue his dreams."


"Lola, how did he meet Sylvia?", asked Miriam.

"Eventually, my dear Miriam, he managed to scrape together enough savings to fulfill his lifelong ambition of starting his own business," Lola Esperanza continued, her eyes sparkling with pride. "He opened a small coffee shop in town, hoping to create a place where people could gather and share stories over a steaming cup of brew."


"It was there that he met Madam Sylvia Ortega, a mysterious woman with a gift for fortune-telling," Lola Esperanza said, her voice tinged with intrigue. "Don Salvador was captivated by her from the moment they met, and before long, they became inseparable."


"As their love blossomed, so too did their business," Lola Esperanza added, her smile widening. "Together, they built a thriving coffee shop that became a beloved fixture in the town, known for its warm atmosphere and delicious brews."


"I see, Tita Esperanza," remarked Elijah, "they got together through coffee, same with, are we Miriam?" Everyone laughed.

"Well, knowing him was half the journey before I married him," Sylvia said, "It was one night that I knew he was a mananaggal."

As Lola Esperanza's story unfolded, the atmosphere in the Calachuchi Inn grew increasingly tense, the air heavy with anticipation and foreboding. The families listened in silence as she recounted the tale of Salvador and Sylvia's blossoming love, unaware of the dark secret that lay hidden beneath the surface.

"After some time together, Salvador and Sylvia's relationship deepened, and they decided it was time to take the next step," Lola Esperanza continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "Sylvia brought Salvador to meet her parents, hoping they would approve of their union."

"At first, Sylvia's parents welcomed Salvador with open arms, delighted to see their daughter so happy," Lola Esperanza said, her voice faltering slightly. "But one fateful night, on the eve of a full moon, Salvador's true nature was revealed."

"As the moon rose high in the sky, Salvador underwent a horrifying transformation, his body contorting and shifting until he stood before Sylvia as a manananggal," Lola Esperanza recounted, her words tinged with dread. "Instead of recoiling in fear, Sylvia was captivated by the creature Salvador had become, proud that he was truly of the dark side."

"In that moment, Sylvia's love for Salvador only deepened, and she vowed to stand by his side no matter what," Lola Esperanza said, her voice filled with sadness. "Together, they embraced their newfound power and set out to destroy humankind, believing that they were destined to rule over the darkness."

"But not anymore," remarked Sylvia, "I never want to go back to the darkness any longer."

As the shocking revelation sank in, the families sat in stunned silence, their minds reeling with the implications of Lola Esperanza's tale. In the midst of the chaos unfolding outside, they now faced a new and even greater threat – one that struck at the very heart of their town and threatened to tear their community apart.

Suddenly, a male resident of San Roque rushed into the Calachuchi Inn, and panic spread like wildfire among the families gathered inside. 

"Everyone! Hide! There is chaos in the town plaza! There are hordes of manananggal attacking the city and people are getting hurt!", shouted the man.

Everyone gasped in shock and fear. Elijah and Miriam's hearts clenched with fear at the mention of the manananggal horde invading the beauty pageant, their thoughts immediately turned to their daughter, Tabby, and her boyfriend, Miguel.

"Have you seen Tabby and Miguel? Are they safe?" Elijah asked urgently, his voice tinged with desperation.

But the man, clearly shaken by the chaos unfolding outside, could only shake his head in response. "I-I'm sorry, sir. I didn't see them. There's just...so much going on out there," he stammered, his words trailing into a fearful whisper.

Elijah and Miriam exchanged a worried glance, their worst fears beginning to take hold. With each passing moment, the threat to their daughter's safety loomed larger, and they knew that they had to act fast if they had any hope of finding her amidst the chaos.

Miriam told everyone, "We need to find shelter away from the town, for Elijah is still recovering. But we will pray for the lives of Tabby and Miguel."

"But my love," pleaded Elijah, "it's dangerous out there, and there might be Jeremy and Alice returning to attack us again. I don't want you to get hurt like I had."

Meanwhile, Salvador's car sped through the streets of San Roque, the tension thick in the air as he approached the town center. As he neared the checkpoint, he rolled down the window and addressed the police officers standing guard.

"What's happening here? Why are there so many police?" Salvador asked, his voice tinged with concern.

The police officer's face was grim as he replied, "There's been an attack, sir. The beauty pageant in the town plaza is under siege by manananggal. It's chaos out there."

Salvador's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the manananggal, his mind immediately racing with thoughts of Alice and Jeremy and their dark plans. Without another word, he pressed down on the accelerator, his car speeding towards the town plaza with a sense of urgency driving him forward.

As Salvador's car disappeared into the distance, the families in the Calachuchi Inn were left grappling with the grim reality of the situation unfolding around them. With their loved ones in danger and the town under siege, they knew that they had to band together and fight back against the forces of darkness that threatened to consume them all.

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