Sa Gitna ng Isang Gabi sa Maynila…

That night, I was lying in a small motel in Quezon City hugging my lover, when suddenly the phone rang. With my eyes half-closed, I heard my son Miguel sobbing on the line:

– “Papa… bukas ikakasal si Mama… uuwi ka ba?”

That sentence woke me up, my whole body shaking. I stuttered, my heart pounding. Before I could ask more, the other end of the line had already hung up.

In a panic, I put on my still-disfigured clothes, and sped off in the night to my old village in Batangas, where my ex-wife and son lived.

Ang Pagbabalik

The next morning, as soon as I reached the gate of my house, I heard the sound of kutitap ng mga banda, tambol at tawanan echoing throughout the neighborhood. A thousand questions swirled in my mind:

“Totoo ba? Is she really getting married? Why so soon? How will my child endure this?”

I squeezed into the crowd, and then…

I was frozen in place.

What I saw was not my wife in a traje de boda with someone else, but Miguel holding hands with his mother – Isabel – walking up to the stage set up in the barangay hall, choking up and declaring to the neighbors:

“Ako na ang humalili sa Papa ngayong araw. Hindi ito kasal, kundi araw na tuluyan nang pinuputol ni Mama ang ugnayan sa Papa. Simula ngayon, malaya na siyang magsimula ng bagong buhay.”

All around, there was thunderous applause. My face was drained of blood.

Araw ng Pagtatapos

On stage, Isabel wore a bright red Filipiniana dress, her lips curled into a proud smile. Beside me, Miguel glared at me, his voice sour:

– “Papa ‘yan? May mukha ka pa bang humarap dito? Sampung taon mong iniwan si Mama at ako para sumama sa ibang babae. Ngayon, nakikita mo ba kung gaano siya kaganda, kagalang-galang, at masaya nang wala ka? Hindi kailangan si Papa… dahil si Mama kayang maging maligaya, at may taong tunay na nagmamahal sa kanya.”

All eyes were on me. Some were pointing, others were whispering. I just wanted to crawl into the ground.

Ang Pinakamabigat na Sandali

Just then, a strange man – Ricardo, a successful businessman in the area – stepped forward, handed Isabel a large bouquet of flowers, and gently took her hand.

Miguel raised his head, his voice firm:

– “Mula ngayon, ito ang lalaking karapat-dapat sa tabi ni Mama.”

I staggered, almost falling. It felt like I had been slapped straight in the face. Amidst the cheers and the loud music, I quietly walked away, my steps heavy.

In my head, only my son’s words kept ringing:
“May mukha ka pa bang humarap dito, Papa?

Part 2: Ang Bagong Simula, Ang Bagong Bagyo
Ang Panibagong Buhay ni Isabel

After the “ceremony of cutting off the past”, Isabel seemed to be reborn. Beside her was not only her son Miguel but also Ricardo – the man who loved and patiently waited for her for many years.

Ricardo brought the mother and son to live in a spacious house in Quezon City, where light was abundant and laughter rang out every day. For the first time, Miguel felt the warmth of a complete family – having a surrogate father who always listened and was always by her side.

Isabel opened a karinderya shop with Ricardo’s support. More and more customers came, not only because of the delicious food but also because of the story of a woman who dared to stand up after suffering.

Everything seemed peaceful…

Ang Pagbagsak ng Nakaraan

Meanwhile, her ex-husband – Arturo – after leaving everything behind to run after his lover, now fell into misery. The woman who had sworn to live and die with him betrayed him, took his money and ran away with another rich man.

Arturo fell into drinking, gambling, and was abandoned by society. He returned to Batangas, living a miserable life in a shabby rented room, every night filled with only the sound of insects and drunkenness.

But the more miserable Arturo became, the more a thought haunted him: “If Isabel can stand up, if she finds happiness with someone else… why am I left in the mud? I must take it all back!”

Ang Pagbabalik na May Dalang Bagyo

One rainy afternoon, Isabel was cleaning up her goods when suddenly a thin, bearded figure with bloodshot eyes appeared. It was Arturo.

“Isabel…” his voice was hoarse. “Hindi ka ba natutuwa? Bumalik na ako.”

Isabel was dumbfounded, Miguel stepped forward to block her mother’s face:
– “Papa? Akala ko tapos na tayo. Hindi mo na karapat-dapat bumalik sa buhay namin.”

Ricardo also approached, holding Isabel’s hand tightly:
– “Kung may respeto ka man sa sarili mo, Arturo, lumayo ka. Isabel deserves peace, hindi gulo.”

Arturo smiled faintly, his eyes flashing with danger:
– “Akala n’yo basta-basta n’yo akong matatanggal? Hindi pa tapos ang laban. Ako pa rin ang asawa niya sa papel, at wala kayong magagawa doon.”

Ang Bagyo na Paparating

Those words were like lightning. Isabel trembled, Miguel clenched his fists, and Ricardo frowned worriedly.

Arturo continued:

“Kung hindi n’yo ibabalik sa akin ang lahat – ng bahay, ng karinderya, at ng pamilya ko – gagawin kong impiyerno ang buhay n’yo. Tandaan n’yo ‘to.”

Then he walked away, leaving behind a puddle of rainwater reflecting his thin but hateful figure.

Ang Pagbitin

In the warm house that was once filled with laughter, now there was only a heavy atmosphere. Isabel sat down, her eyes filled with tears:

“Ricardo… Miguel… hindi ko akalaing babalik siya para guluhin tayo. Ano’ng gagawin natin ngayon?”

Ricardo held her hand tightly, his voice determined:
“Huwag kang matakot. Hindi tayo papayag na sirain niya ang bagong buhay natin. Kung gusto niya ng laban… haharapin natin.”

Miguel stood up straight, his eyes blazing:
– “Mama, Tito Ricardo… ngayong may banta na, ako ang unang tatayo to protect this family.”

Outside, the rain was getting heavier – as if signaling a big storm was coming, not only out there, but right in Isabel’s life