When the Last Peso Falls

Chapter 12 Revisiting the Past

The morning sun gently filtered through the curtains of the Manlapig home, casting a soft, golden light over the living room. The house, once bustling with the warmth of familial love, now lay heavy under the weight of secrets exposed. The family sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts, struggling to process the devastating revelations of the previous day.

As the stillness enveloped the room, memories began to surface, unraveling the past that Lola Remedios had kept hidden for so long.

Flashback 1: A Secret Meeting

The scene transports us to the late 1960s, inside a modest, sunlit home on the outskirts of San Lucas. A younger Lola Remedios, in her early thirties, sits opposite Aling Ising. Remedios wears a simple yet elegant dress, her expression a mixture of determination and anxiety. The tension in the room is palpable as the two women converse in hushed tones.

Lola Remedios: "Ising, you must understand. Our relationship... it was a mistake. I cannot allow this to ruin my future."

Aling Ising: "But Remedios, what about Ernesto? He is your son, too."

Lola Remedios: "I love him, but my family depends on me. I cannot risk everything. Keeping this secret is the only way—for everyone's sake."

The camera lingers on Lola Remedios's face, capturing the emotional turmoil that tears at her heart. Her love for her son conflicts sharply with her sense of duty to her family and her standing in the community. The decision she makes in this moment sets the course for the future, veiling her life in secrecy.

Flashback 2: A Hidden Affair

The scene shifts to a dimly lit, upscale hotel room, where Lola Remedios sits with Lolo Gregorio, her husband. The air is thick with tension as they engage in a heated conversation.

Lolo Gregorio: "Remedios, rumors are swirling. People are talking. What is this all about?"

Lola Remedios: "Gregorio, it's nothing. I promise you, it's all in the past. Let's focus on our future."

Lolo Gregorio: "You need to be honest with me. If there is something, I deserve to know."

Lola Remedios, desperate to protect her secret, fights to maintain her composure. The guilt and fear gnaw at her, yet she remains resolute in her denial, unwilling to risk the life she has built with Gregorio.

Flashback 3: Ernesto's Childhood

In a modest, rural yard, a young Ernesto plays, unaware of the complex circumstances of his birth. Aling Ising watches him with a mix of pride and sorrow. As the scene progresses, we see Lola Remedios secretly visiting, her eyes filled with longing as she observes from afar, torn between her desire to be part of her son's life and the need to maintain her distance.

Lola Remedios (voiceover): "Each time I see him, the weight of my decisions crushes me. It's not fair to him, but I must protect the family I have chosen."

This flashback poignantly reveals the personal sacrifices Lola Remedios made. Her secret visits to Ernesto underscore the depth of her internal conflict and the profound impact her choices had on her life and those around her.

Flashback 4: The Decision to Hide

The final flashback occurs in Lola Remedios's study, cluttered with documents and family photographs. She is seen writing a letter with a solemn determination. Aling Ising enters the room, her face lined with worry.

Lola Remedios: "I have decided to keep this hidden forever. I cannot jeopardize everything we've built. It is better this way."

Aling Ising: "But what about Ernesto? He deserves to know where he comes from."

Lola Remedios: "Perhaps one day. But not now. Not while I'm still alive."

The flashback ends with Lola Remedios sealing the letter, her expression a blend of resolve and sorrow. The camera zooms in on the envelope, marked with the words, "For the Future."

Return to the Present

The scene shifts back to the present day. The Manlapig family remains gathered in the living room, their faces etched with the weight of the past that has just been unveiled. Mila's voice trembles as she finally breaks the silence.

Mila: "I had no idea about the sacrifices Mom made. She kept so much from us, all to protect her family."

Tonyo, still struggling to comprehend the truth, speaks with a mix of disbelief and sadness.

Tonyo: "It's difficult to reconcile the loving mother we knew with the woman who made such painful decisions."

Patricia and Luis exchange glances, their understanding of Lola Remedios forever altered by these revelations. Their grandmother, once a pillar of strength and morality, now appears in a more complex, human light—someone who bore the weight of her choices silently, to protect those she loved.

As the family sits in contemplation, the flashbacks leave them with a profound mix of emotions—compassion, anger, and an overwhelming sense of loss. The truth about Lola Remedios's past has not only reshaped their understanding of their matriarch but has also exposed the fragile foundations upon which their family's legacy stands.