SOULFUL

Archive for October, 2011

That girls love to feel loved is a universal truth. That girls love jewellery is another universal truth. Let us put them together and we have a wonderful jewellery gift for your lady love in the form of a Message on a Necklace. This is probably one of the most romantic gift any girl could ever receive. What better way to express your love for someone but to let her feel cherished..

When I was in high school way back in the province, I remember a couple. I already forget their names but I wouldn’t forget their story.

They were newly weds and they were as sweet as newly weds could be. As far as I can remember the boy works in the farm and the girl sells rice cakes. In the afternoon when their tasks were done, they would walk hand-in-hand in the farm. They did it every day that it became a common sight.

Then one day, the girl was in her 6th month of pregnancy. They were walking down the road they usually take when it suddenly rained. It was only a drizzle but the boy got worried for his pregnant wife so he decided that it was time to go home. He held his wife’s hand and was walking faster than usual when he saw a blinding light and heard a deafening sound, then BLANK. When he regained consciousness he was lying down the wet and cold earth, beside him was the lifeless body of his wife. She was buried after a week.

The first few months were the hardest for the boy. He went on with his usual farm chores as if nothing has changed. But the scary part was, he was living as if his wife was still with him. He was often found sitting by the tomb of his wife at the cemetery singing her songs he used to sing to her. He was always seen walking in the farm talking with no one. His family worried for his sanity but they did their best to help him cope up. They succeeded.

After a few years, the boy led a normal life. Last time I heard he remarried and was living in the province together with his family.

“LOVE NEVER DIES but PEOPLE DO…”

(Blog author’s Note: I still do not know how the girl was struck dead by lightning while her husband only suffered slight burns. I did not study science much but I have too much respect for nature so I do not question its power, still, this case left me curious.)

Dear Protected,

Let me tell you first how lucky you are to have such a loving mother. I have to say I understand your mother but it doesn’t mean I don’t understand you. I am not in the position to tell whether your mom is wrong or right, but one thing I can be sure and I know you know it better than I do, that your mom loves you so much and she wants what’s best for you. Be patient child, time will come and you’ll be on your own and you will realize how right your mother has been. But for now, it would be best to do what your mother thinks is best..

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Naldo* was an impressive University of the Philippines student when I met him, I was in grade school at the time. He was a distant relative and I could say, a close one. He was the hope of his family and everybody was expecting so much from him. So, it was kind of sad when I learned that he joined a group of militant students and instead of finishing his studies, he did something else.

After several years,  he realized he made a mistake and came back home. With him, however, was a very pretty lass of 17 years, and was about 10 years younger than he is. Obviously, Nita* was smitten by the impressive young man and fell for his persuasive and diplomatic skills. They were unquestionably in love.

However, life was difficult and it was more so for people with unfinished college education. Naldo had no choice but to work in the farm, and work in the farm he did. After a few years, his calloused hands and cracked feet are silent witnesses to the kind of life he and his family had. At 30, he looked 45.

His wife bore two boys and was pregnant with the third when I saw them again. Nita was just as pretty as I met her first, except for the rough calloused hands. She was selling vegetables that she herself grew in their own backyard. As always, she was smiling as if everything around her was beautiful, but I wasn’t easily deceived, I saw something else from her eyes, MISERY. I don’t know how true it was but rumors had it that Naldo hit her from time to time.

After several more years, I wasn’t surprised when I learned that Nita ran away. She ran away with another man who operates a gambling house in the place. She didn’t take anything with her including her children. She left all of them to Naldo. Maybe she fell in love, maybe she got fed up or maybe.. she simply found a way out of her miserable life.

Was I surprised? Not at all

*not real name

Dear Lonesome,

What you have in mind is a very noble thing to do. I’m ALL FOR THAT, and I would pray that you be given the courage to bear any difficulty the outcome of your decision might bring. Good luck, girl! May the generosity of your heart be repaid with more blessings.. GOB bless you!

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Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me..

The Bedanios were among the wealthiest families in our small town. They owned various stores like a sari-sari store, hardware, etc. that’s in addition to an enormous warehouse for onions and palay. What more, they lived in the grandest bungalow in our place at the time. I even attended a party there when I was in fourth year high school.

Mang Renato* and Aling Binay* were a handsome but extremely intimidating couple. Their son, Renato Jr. was my classmate in grade school but was transferred to another section in high school. He remained my friend, though.

About 15 years ago, I learned from my family back in the province that Mang Renato left Aling Binay. Rumors had it that the old man ran away with one of their young and beautiful helpers, one of their salesladies. Aling Binay, however, was one tough woman, despite what her husband did, she was able to manage their businesses.

After being gone for three years, Mang Renato came back. Thin and sickly. For their children’s sake, Aling Binay took back her remorseful husband. She nursed him back to health until he was strong enough to manage the businesses. Predictably, they flourished once again.

One morning after two years, though, Aling Binay woke up with Mang Renato gone, presumably back to the girl he left behind. Gone also were one 8-wheeler truck and their bank book leaving her with what they had in the store, the warehouse and a few thousand pesos in her wallet. The second blow was harder to take. Aling Binay had a stroke which left her invalid from the waist down.

Last time I went home, the stores were closed, the warehouse was empty and the bungalow was for sale. My friend, Renato Jr has been working in the Middle East as a factory worker, I guess. He is even asking me for a batch reunion in December, I said I’ll think about it. One tough guy..

*not real name

Photo taken and owned by Charles Fredeluces Mundo

“I miss you so much it hurts..”

~Soulful

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Aling Ligaya* was married to Mang Boy*, an unemployed, physically abusive drunk who beat his wife when he’s intoxicated. All her friends advised Aling Ligaya to leave her husband, but she couldn’t. We assumed that it was because of her children.

After several years, however, her children got old enough to understand their mother’s situation. One of my conversations with Ann, the oldest, assured me that they would understand should their mother decide to leave their father. She didn’t.. We assumed, then, that she was scared Mang Boy would hunt him down if she did.

After several more years, I learned that Mang Boy had a stroke and was left invalid from the waist down.

“Finally, Aling Ligaya was free,’ we thought.

We were wrong. Aling Ligaya stayed with Mang Boy. She took care of him, fed him, bathed him, and did everything to make him feel comfortable. The mean old man, on the other hand still abused her verbally. He would yell at her like he used to do and in his inability to hit her with his fist, he would grab anything nearby, usually a bowl of leftover soup, and throw at his loving wife.

At this point in time, we knew our battle was lost. Aling Ligaya stayed for only one reason.. LOVE.

Photo taken and owned by Charles Fredeluces Mundo

“You don’t need to explain yourself, you don’t even need to speak.. Just hold me and let your heart talk to mine..”

Dear Modern Day Martyr,

Indeed you are.. I know very few people who would do that. I’m not even sure if I, myself, would do that. Maybe you did it for your children, but you didn’t mention it in your letter. So, I assume that you did it for yourself, because you love your husband and you don’t want him gone.

It’s ok, girl. You chose to have him back because that’s what you want and that’s what will make you happy. Good luck and I hope there are more people with forgiving hearts such as yours..

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