R E D ! [Under Revisions/Editings]

"Start of the Red Journey"

Philippines is an archipelago in South East Asia, composed of three large island groups, namely, Luzon (the northern part of the country, where Metro Manila and the Capital City was located), Visayas (composed of small group of Islands surrounded by seas), and Mindanao (the southern part of the Philippines; many of the provinces in Mindanao are affected by the ongoing terrorism by some rebel groups and terrorist).
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January 14, 2008..

Like what Marie had said, she stood beside me and supported me. But we planned it carefully before entering into that battlefield. Way back then, we talked if we would settle there for good or we would just come there to be volunteers for a while...
We end up deciding to leave the comfort of our life in exchange of pursuing an advocacy and charity work in a place that we could get ourselves killed.

Sometimes, there's a question inside of me that I often ask myself that time, if it was just my EGO talking or was it really the PATH that I'm destined to take.

I asked Marie, "Honey, am I becoming too selfish? Answer me honestly.."

She sat beside me in our beige, leather sofa and held my hands and with a mild toned voice, she uttered, "Honey, what are you thinking? Why are you asking me a question like that? I did said that I would always be beside you no matter what, right?", she gripped my hand tightly.

I leaned my head on her shoulder and kissed it, then I answered, "I know that Hon.. I know that. But.. But.. You know..", I couldn't voice it out.

She leaned her cheeks on my head, then wrapped me with her arms, "But..?", she chuckled.

I sighed deeply. "I know you are comfortable here. You love your job, you love your students you've been teaching and here in this very place lies the memory of your father. I am torn in between, because I feel so selfish that I will take it all from you and you will sacrifice it all just for me. I feel so selfish Hon.. I am so sorry to put you in this kind of situation. You know that I love you and I do care for you, you know that, right?"

She comforted me with her warm embrace, and I felt tears flowing from her eyes as she spoke these while she cried, "I will never.. Ever.. Regret.. That we both chose to leave both of our fancy life for the common good of others and sacrifice both of our comfort zone to enter into that battle zone.... That rhymed Hon!", then she chuckled while still hugging me and crying at the same time.

"Yes, it does rhyme.. You're a poet Honey!", we both laughed so hard and I kissed her on her forehead.

So..

Me and Marie discussed on the plans and drafts of our charity work in Mindanao. We thought that since Mindanao was the 13th largest Island in THE WORLD, and composed of many provinces, cities and barangays, we might have difficulties on giving aide if we don't have enough funds and volunteers. So, we decided to just take it step by step and do our charity work whole day every weekends, while working during weekdays to gather enough money for the both of us and also for our charity work. We both agree on that note.

We also asked for some friends to support us - teachers, doctors and nurses, and they all became interested in what we were planning.
Even the Heavens, I believe, were on our side that time. I could literally say that, because when a common friend of ours heard our plans of giving aid and charity work in Mindanao, he offered us a free stay on their family rest house located in a place called, DAVAO CITY, in Mindanao. He told us that we could stay there as long as we wanted. We gladly accepted it.

I sent my Curriculum Vitae via email in both Davao City Medical Center and Davao City State University, and blessedly, the hospital, when they saw
my credentials, they sent me immediately an offer and asked me to work for them as a medical consultant.
I was also accepted as part-time faculty member of the State University of Davao City, teaching Biology and Physics. Meanwhile, Marie also secured a job in a private school in Davao City. Way back then, we felt that everything in our plans were falling into its proper places...
It was like, we were destined to be on this position.

Some friends offered us financial support and even both I and Marie, even shared the half of our savings for the planned charity work in the bloody place of Mindanao.

Before we left Manila, we invited our friends for a simple dinner to wish us blessedness and success in the tough path that we have to face. They've asked the both of us..
"Its a good thing that since we will be supporting the both of you and somehow, someday, we will work together in that charity work you're putting up, have you already think of a name for it? You know.. like a simple Org (organization) name?

Marie answered with a smile, "Yes.. We already do have a name for it.. "

Marie looked at me, and smiled..

We called it...

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(WHAT DO YOU THINK??? 😂😂😂)
zahera37 aneesamuhammed786 PrincessLockwood PrinceNiheb Ristin_Yalc Priyaroyalg

(To be continued..)