Casa Arrastia
Poblacion
San Angel
24 May 2019
4:44 pm
The rain lasted until a half hour past four in the afternoon. As soon as the downpour shifts to mere trickles, the heat and humidity of the May days seem to have vanished for the time being at the poblacion. The thick stew paired with the fluffy puto made for a great afternoon snack as the guests from Bauan got reacquainted with their hosts at San Angel. The strumming of the guitar in the background blends with the chitchat and the sound of cutlery hitting the porcelain bowls.
Tita Sylvia: Hello, everyone! Hello! Hi, andito ka pala! Good afternoon, Tito Cente!
Sylvia arrives. Her shrill voice piercing through the mellow afternoon buzz at the upper level of Casa Arrastia. Her fuchsia dress with the overly pronounced sleeves and chunky platform shoes would give Lady Gaga a run for her money.
Lolo Cente: Good afternoon, Sylvia. Nice to see you —again...
Don Vicente greets her.
Tita Sylvia: Ganda the flowers ano, Tito Cente?
Never one to wait for compliments, Sylvia would always —without fail— call attention to her contributions. The flowers she spoke of this morning —the garlands made by Bubbles' team, Sylvia feels, must first be to her credit though she did nothing but pay for them.
Tita Sylvia: And that rain, ano?
Even the rain si never spared by her entitlement.
Migz raises his eybrows upon hearing it.
Migz: Umabot sa inyo, Tita? Akala ko kasi dito lang sa mga Taga Guitna bumuhos ang ulan?
He questions her.
Tita Sylvia: Umabot sa 'min Miguel, don't be ridiculous! It's rain, rain is not selective.
Her dismissive tone gives Miguel enough fuel to stoke the fire.
Migz: Mrs. Bautista, umulan ba sa inyo kanina?
He calls the attention of Mrs. Bautista who is seated nearby; a retired secondary school Filipino teacher, one of the elderly women who leads the prayers. She is also Sylvia's neighbor.
Mrs. Bautista: Naku hindi nga! Akala ko nga tutuloy kasi napaka-banas sa amin kanina. Lalabas na sana ako papuntang poblacion kaso lakas ng kulog at na-ihip nga yung hangin. Akala ko bubuhos hanggang sa 'min. Dito lang ata sa may poblacion bumuhos.
Migz: Sabi kasi ni Tita Sylvia umulan daw sa inyo.
Migz tells her of Sylvia's claim about the recent downpour, knowing quite well that he overheard Mrs. Bautista talking with the other women earlier that the rain never got to reach their part of town.
The retired teacher gives Sylvia a puzzled look.
Mrs. Bautista: Paano nga aabot samin yung—
Sylvia interrupts her.
Tita Sylvia: Aannnyyyywwwwwaaaaaayyyyyyy the pick-up is on it's way from the plaza. They're going to be here any minute. Let's watch!
_ _ _
Casa Arrastia
Poblacion
San Angel
24 May 2019
4:38 pm
A pick-up truck stops just under the window at Casa Arrastia. Its back is dressed up to look like a throne room complete with Corinthian Pillars, a golden throne with red velvet upholstery, and a red carpet. The Chi-Ro symbol hangs on the backdrop above the throne. A little girl, around nine or ten years of age, is dressed in a white gown with a tiara and matched with a purple cape is seated on the throne. Behind her, a retinue of little girls, teenagers, and young ladies wearing white t-shirts printed with a black cross and golden rays follow.
BINABASA MO ANG
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