The daughter-in-law urged her husband to kick her father out of the house to take possession, but only 1 week later, both of them had to accept the bitter end…
Mang Ben is over 70 years old this year, his wife died early, he single-handedly raised his son Lemuel to adulthood. After many years of working on the lupang minana plot in San Ildefonso district, Bulacan province, he saved up to build a decent house for Lem, and married a decent daughter-in-law. He still thought that his life was fulfilled: having children and grandchildren around in old age was enough.

But life is unpredictable, people’s hearts change.

When she first became a daughter-in-law, Lani – Lem’s wife – always acted gentle and respectful towards her father-in-law. But after giving birth to her first child, her personality changed completely. She often whispered to her husband:

– Honey, our land is so big but the papers are still in my father’s name. If something happens in the future, will it be troublesome?

At first, Lem dismissed it:
– That’s Dad’s land, Dad worked his whole life to get it. When he dies, he’ll leave it to me, what are you worried about?

But Lani didn’t stop. She planted sweet but calculating words in her husband’s head:
– You’re so naive. What if Dad changes his mind, sells it or gives it to someone else? Old people are easily fooled. It’s better to ask Dad to transfer it to the name first.

Day by day, the whispers became a thorn in Lem’s mind. He began to look at Dad differently – instead of being grateful, he became suspicious.

One afternoon, during dinner, Lani bluntly said:
– Dad is old, how can he manage the land when he lives alone? Why don’t you transfer the title to my wife and I so we can take care of it.

Mang Ben put down his bowl, his eyes filled with sadness:
– This land is a keepsake from our grandparents, Dad will keep it until he dies. You can rest assured, Dad won’t sell it.

But Lani did not give up. She whispered, cried and forced her husband. Finally, Lem – the only son that Mang Ben loved with all his heart – said something that hurt him to the core:

Dad… why don’t you go live alone for a while, we’ll take care of the house and land.

Mang Ben was stunned. In all the years of raising his children, he never thought that one day his own child would want to kick him out of the house. He quietly gathered a few sets of clothes and walked out of the house he had built with his own hands. Not a single tear, not a single word of appeal from his daughter-in-law – only cold silence.

He moved to the bamboo hut next to the palayan. The neighbors in the barangay were all heartbroken, but he just smiled sadly:

He is my son, why blame him.

However, exactly one week later, the story took a turn…..
One morning, the barangay officials, along with the munisipyo representative and the court’s people came to Lem’s house. They brought with them documents confirming that the land where Lem and Lani were living was part of the provincial road expansion plan. Many years ago, there had been a survey and a notice of compensation for site clearance, but because the land title was in Mang Ben’s name, all the documents – including compensation and resettlement – ​​were recorded for him. The file was still intact; it was just that the clearance deadline had not yet come, so he had not told his son.

The officer said sternly:

According to regulations, all compensation and resettlement plots will be given to the person whose name is on the land title – Mang Ben. You and your husband have no right to complain.

Hearing this, Lani’s face turned pale, Lem was devastated. They had kicked their father out of the house, thinking they had taken the entire land, but they had actually pushed themselves out.

A few days later, the news spread throughout the barangay. People whispered:

– Unfilial children will not be forgiven by heaven.

– If you cannot keep the land, you will lose your blessings.

Lani bitterly cried and apologized to her husband for her “dirty scheme”. Lem stood before his father’s bahay kubo, knelt down and begged him to come back, tears streaming down his face:
– Dad, I was wrong. I foolishly listened to my wife’s instigation, please forgive me…

Mang Ben looked at his son bowing his head and crying, his heart both aching and sad. He spoke slowly:
– Dad doesn’t blame me – because I only have you. But remember: land is fleeting, once you lose your filial piety, you can never get it back in your entire life.

After that, he agreed to accept the compensation and bought a small house near the town market to enjoy his old age. Lem and Lani had to fend for themselves, rent a room outside, and experience poverty.

Everyone in the barangay said that it was a bitter end to greed and unfilial piety. Lem herself also felt it: a week of mistakes, paying the price of both honor and family love.