Mi Familia

Graduation

"Only what?" Sandro looked at his cousin like he grew two heads. Vinny and Simon were also surprised. As far as they knew, Imelda Marcos has only 8 grandchildren which are all guys so it was a big surprise for the 3 brothers who just got back from London. "What do you mean a granddaughter kuya, whose daughter is she?" Simon supplied the question because Sandro was obviously lost for words.

Hindi alam ni Borgy kung paano sasagutin ang tanong ni Simon. Wala siya sa lugar para sumagot at siguradong hindi magugustuhan ng kanyang Uncle Bongbong kung sa kanya manggagaling ito. Nakalimutan nya na napakatalino ng tatlo at siya ang nag-trigger upang paulanan sya ng mga tanong ng mga ito.

"Oh look, were here." Matthew, the youngest son of Governor Imee Marcos saved his brother and Borgy never felt so relieved. He made a mental note to treat their bunso whatever he wants later.

Sandro, Simon and Vinny had no choice but to leave the car and smile as photographers, students and so many people bombarded them like stars. Glad their guards were fast enough to form a human barricade so they could enter the Auditorium peacefully.

Halatang kabado at balisa si Lisa, ganito rin si Bongbong na sa unang pagkakataon ay pinagdudahan ang sarili kung kaya nya bang harapin ang mga taong naroon upang making sa kanyang sasabihin. Sinalubong sila ng Pangulo ng University sinabayan sa pagpasok.

The Vice President was escorted to the stage while his wife and the rest of the clan were escorted to the side of the stage where the VIP seats were located. Imelda was not with them, she was at a private room with some of the university officials.

Puno ang malaking auditorium para sa pagtatapos ng mga nasa College of Education. May mga magulang, mga magsisipagtapos at ilang media na nag-aabang sa Vise Presidente.

And so the ceremony started. Sandro noticed his mom was a bit nervous which was unusual. The lady Marcos was often very composed and confident wherever they were so he held her hand in which the lady gladly returned with a grateful smile in support of her husband.

VP Bongbong delivered his speech well even with minor lost of focus which didn't go unnoticed by the clan, especially Sandro. Imee and Irene were pokerfaced while the rest of the grandchildren were stiffed and unresponsive. Sandro found it very weird. Simon was the same but he chose to be quiet about it while Vinny was just too bored to care.

The audience stood up as the VP finished his speech and awarding ceremony followed. That was the time where Sandro excused himself to find some air because the auditorium's atmosphere was suffocating, Simon followed and Vinny was left with their mother.

The two came back when the student with the highest award was delivering her speech and their mother was in tears, as well as their aunt and even the VP was teary-eyed.

Simon couldn't help but whispered to his cousin Luis as he took his seat, "Is the speech that moving?" But the person asked just gave him a concerned smile. Vinny was even sure what was happening so he just continued to comfort their now quietly sobbing mother.

"That lady is amazing. She got the highest award and the best thesis. She also got the presidential award of excellence. How could even a lady that size do that?" Matthew, the resident joker, tried to lighten the mood but got elbowed by his mother so he had no choice but to keep quiet.

Sandro rolled his eyes. What so special about getting the highest award, every school has to give one. Then he remembered that Matthew said that she will also receive the president award of excellence which was only given to students that reached the required grade. "Well, I hope she does well in life," he said.

Little did he know that lady will change their family's life forever.

**************

"Gusto ko siyang makita." Liza was still sobbing and was inconsolable. The security had to create a human barricade once again in order to leave the place without creating any suspicions from the people. After the student with the highest award finished her speech and left the stage, Liza became more and more bothered and demanded to leave the place to talk to that lady as soon as possible. But she wasn't allowed and was stopped by her sisters-in-law. She calmed down a bit but when the ceremony ended, she immediately went to her husband and demanded him to see the lady once again.

Sandro, by this time, was already suspicious about what was happening. With what Borgy said in the car, he was quite sure that he knew who was his cousin was talking about. What made him bothered was why their mother was acting that way and the way his father shook the hand and looked at the student who got the highest award was not the usual look a vice president will give a student. It was more of a longing look and that thought made Sandro uneasy. He looked at his brothers and he could tell that they were feeling the same. Simon was quiet and just observing but his eyes were questioning, just waiting for the right time to fire what was on his mind. Vinny on the other hand was just looking at their mom with concern, wondering what was wrong, he was too distracted to put logic to the things that were happening.

Nakalabas sila nang maayos mula sa lugar na iyon. Walang nagduda sa kinikilos ng mga babaeng Marcos at walang pumuna sa pamumugto ng kanilang mga mata. Inisip ng lahat na nadala ang tatlong babaeng Marcos sa speech ng nakuha ng highest award.

To the eyes of the people nothing weird happened that day, but not with the Marcoses.