| revised version & under editing |
Annaliese Thalia is known for being an active member in the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Growing up from the conservative, yet a big, happy, and a loving family of the Executive Minister; her life revolves around school, ch...
Oh wow. Grabe naman ang pambungad sa akin ni ate Elaine kanina. Take note that I even heard her saying that word nung nag-vivideo call sina Mommy weeks ago. Saan kaya niya nakuha yang lakas ng loob na sabihin niya na "stepcousin" daw ako?
At ano ang tingin niya sa akin kaya ganyan yung bungad ko? A criminal? An unwanted visitor?
"Buch, you okay?"
Bumalik ang presence of mind ko nang tinapik ako ni kuya Sandro sa balikat who's sitting just beside me.
"Uhmm... a bit." I replied, smiled lightly at him.
"Geez. I don't know what's gotten in Ela, huh? I thought she'll gonna welcome you not only as cousins, but sisters also." sabi ni kuya Simon.
"Yeah right." ani kuya Alfonso. "Looks like we'll gonna keep an eye on her for a quite, some time. Right?" napalisik naman eto kay Elaine na nakabusangot na parang baby.
"Fine." matipid niyang sagot, napairap na lamang ako dyan.
After we finished our little snack time, they're now giving me a tour of this house. I really didn't mind having my feet going sore from walking dahil namangha ako sa classic at vintage charm ng bahay ni Mamu.
I saw the things they had in this place—old photos of Daddy and my aunts nung bata pa sila, mga terno na sinuot ni mamu dati, mga lumang libro, and an indoor garden, too! It even has large paintings displayed on the walls that it looked more I'm inside a museum.
We're still walking hanggang sa napahinto ako at tinignan ko ng maigi ang isang portrait sa harapan ko. My eyes are glued to a man's face with it's serious, yet dignified expression. Same goes for his pose, also dignified na para siyang hari ng isang kaharian o prime minister ng isang bansa.
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I studied the details for a minute until images of the that person flashed in my mind with scenarios and old photographs he's been from the past na napanood ko from social media—thanks a lot, Tiktok. That's when it hit me. The man inside was none other than Ferdnand Marcos Sr.
The man who became President for twenty years.
The same man who was despised by those who hate him dahil sa pag-declare ng Martial Law for a reason.
The same person who despite of everything they've been through, ginawa niya pa rin ang kanyang makakaya para maiangat ang bansa.
And most of all...
... my biological grandfather who I never had. Nakakalungkot dahil, syempre—he died before I was born. He died before I got the chance to hug him, kiss him, or even got to bond with.
