Halika, sandali lang

I wrote this article while I was working in Calvento Files. It was originally entitled 'Basta... Halika, Sandali lang.' Seryosong nagulat ako nang mabasa ko ito mula sa isang internet site. Nakakatuwa. Parang hindi ako ang sumulat dahil sa mga salitang ginamit. HAHA! :)

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'Halika, sandali lang.' 

Bumubuhos na luha, naninikip na dibdib, nanghihinang katawan at nanginginig sa takot at galit.

Ganyan ang kalagayan ng 29 na taong gulang na babaeng itatago natin sa pangalang “Ana.”

Ipinarating ang masakit na pangyayaring ito sa aming tanggapan ng biyenan niyang si Gloria Madera.

Pipi at bingi (multiple disabilities) itong si Ana ng Camarines Norte. Naiintindihan si Ana ng ibang tao sa pamamagitan ng pagsesenyas at pagli-'lip read.' (pagbasa ng salita sa pamamagitan ng bukas ng bibig).

Walang trabaho si Ana dahil sa kapansanan. Ang pag-aalaga lang ng dalawang anak ang pinagkakaabalahan niya. Ang asawa namang si Angel ay isang ‘tricycle driver.’

Ika-3 ng Agosto 2009, lumabas si Ana upang bumili ng ‘shampoo’ sa tindahan ni Bernardo. Nang hawak na niya ang binili at tangkang aalis na ng tindahan kinawayan siya ni Bernardo. Sinenyasan siya nito na parang pinapapasok sa loob ng tindahan.

“Basta... HALIKA, SANDALI LANG…,” sabi ni Bernardo kay Ana.

Tumingin si Ana ng may pagtataka. “Ano kayang kailangan nito?” tanong ni Ana sa sarili.

Matagal nang magkapitbahay sina Bernardo at Ana kaya lumapit naman ito. Agad namang siyang pinapasok ni Bernardo at pinaupo sa loob ng kanyang bahay.

Hindi nag-aksaya ng panahon si Bernardo. Pinwersa, pinaghahalikan at binaboy ang katawan. Mula sa labi gumapang ang bibig ni Bernardo pababa sa maseselang bahagi ng katawan ni Ana. Hinablot niya ang 'shorts' ni Ana hanggang maalis. Dinaganan niya ito para hindi makakilos. Inilabas ang kanyang ari saka ipinasok sa ari ni Ana.

Lumaban si Ana subalit malakas si Bernardo. Dahil siya'y pipi, walang boses na lumabas sa kanyang bibig. Nairaos ni Bernardo ang kanyang pagnanasa kay Ana.

Binantaan umano si Ana ni Bernardo na huwag magsumbong kung hindi ay papatayin niya ito at maging ang kanyang asawa.

“Kapag nagsumbong ka! Papatayin kita!” sabi ni Bernardo. Hindi man niya marinig ang mga katagang ito’y mahigpit ang pagkakadiin ni Bernardo sa kanyang braso. Sa lenguwahe ng kanyang kilos parang handa siyang pumatay.

Tumayo si Bernardo at bumalik sa tindahan. Si Ana naman ay nanatiling nakahiga at tulalang nakatingin sa kisame.

Nang makitang wala si Bernardo ay dahan-dahan siyang tumayo, isinuot ang panty at naghihinagpis na umuwi.

Tiniis niya ang kanyang dinanas alang-alang sa pamilya at kahihiyan. 

Kung noon ay bibig lamang ang tahimik kay Ana dahil sa kapansanan pagkatapos ng pangyayari ay pinatahimik niya rin ang kayang damdamin.

Pinili niyang busalan ang pusong punung-puno ng pagkamuhi dahil sa takot na mapahamak ang kanyang asawa.

Inakala ni Ana na sa hindi niya pagkibo ay nalampasan na niya ang malagim na trahedyang kanyang sinapit.

Ika-8 ng Agosto, 2009 habang nagwawalis sa paligid ng kanilang bahay, muling nilapitan ni Bernardo si Ana.

Hindi niya namalayan ang paglapit ni Bernardo sa kanya.

Dahan-dahan si Bernardo. Inipit ang kanyang leeg gamit ang kanyang braso. Hinila siya at kinaladkad. Dinala sa madamong parte ng bundok at inihiga sa matatalim na talahib. Tinitigan siya ni Bernardo. Doon naganap ang umano'y pangalawang panggagahasa sa kanya.

Kinagabihan ay naabutan ni Angel na nanginginig habang umiiyak ang asawa.

Nilapitan niya ito. Tinanong niya si Ana. “Bakit?” Iniangat ni Ana ang kanyang mukha subalit tumingin lamang ito sa kawalan. Muling tinanong ni Angel si Ana. Sa halip na sagutin ay yumuko lang ito.

Hinawakan niya sa balikat ang asawa at tiningnan ng mata sa mata. “Bakit? Anong problema?” muling tanong ni Angel.

Niyugyog niya ang asawa at sinabing “Sabihin mo! Huwag kang matakot. Anong nangyari sa'yo?”

Sa pautal-utal at sa walang tinig na paraan, ibinuka niya ang kanyang bibig at ipinahayag na siya'y ginahasa.

Humagulgol si Ana at yumakap sa asawa. Inilapit ni Angel ang mukha ni Ana sa kanyang dibdib.

Habang nakatingin sa malayo, sinabi niya “Sino? Sabihin mo kung sino ang may gawa nito sa'yo?”

Iminuwestra niya kung anong nangyari at ipinagtapat sa asawa. “Si Bernardo,” aniya.

Agad na sinugod ni Angel si Bernardo. Nagkaharap sila. Walang sabi- sabi, sinuntok niya ito. “Anong ginawa mo sa asawa ko?” sigaw ni Angel.

“May relasyon kami ng asawa mo,” galit na sagot ni Bernardo.

Nagkagulo sila hanggang umabot sa barangay ang nangyari. Itinuloy sa korte ang kasong ‘Rape’ laban kay Bernardo.

Sa ‘counter affidavit' ni Bernardo, itinanggi niya ang mga akusasyon sa kanya ni Ana. Galit lang diumano sa kanya si Angel dahil may relasyon sila ng asawa nito. Kababata at 'ex-girlfriend' daw niya si Ana.

Naputol lang daw ang kanilang ugnayan nang lumuwas si Ana sa Maynila at mamalagi ng matagal doon.

Nang bumalik daw si Ana ay maayos pa rin sila bilang magkaibigan.

Dagdag pa nito, lumapit si Ana sa kanya noong Hulyo upang humingi ng payo tungkol sa kanyang problema sa asawa. Doon daw muling nabuhay ang pagtitinginan nila sa isa’t isa.

Naikwento din daw ni Ana ang problema nila ni Angel maging sa asawa ni Bernardo.

Kinukwestyon din niya kung bakit wala man lang galos o pasa sa alinmang bahagi ng katawan itong si Ana kung talagang sapilitan siyang ginahasa.

Matapang na pinanindigan ni Bernardo ang lahat ng kanyang salaysay upang depensahan ang reklamo ng pamilya ni Ana.

Nakulong si Bernardo, nakalabas ito pansamantala sa pamamagitan ng pagpiyansa.

Sa ngayon, tuluy-tuloy ang pa rin ang pagdinig tungkol sa kasong ito.

Itinampok namin sa aming programa sa radyo na “Hustisya Para sa Lahat” sa DWIZ 882 Khz (tuwing 3:00 – 4:00 ng hapon) ang istorya ni Ana.

SA AMIN DITO SA CALVENTO FILES, isang magandang hakbang ang ginawa ng asawa ni “Ana” na pagsasampa ng kasong ‘Rape’.

“The weakest form of defense is denial,”. Malinaw na isa kina Ana at Bernardo ang nagsisinungaling. Sa ngayon habang nasa ilalim pa ng korte ang kaso, ang pinakamabuting gawin ng biktima ay maghanap ng matitibay na ebidensya na magpapatunay na talagang ginahasa siya ni Bernardo. Gayundin naman si Bernardo na kung talagang wala siyang kasalanan at tunay na may relasyon sila ay nararapat na maglabas ng saksi.

Nararapat din na alamin ng biktima mula sa kanyang abogado ang lahat ng kaniyang mga karapatan upang mas maipaglaban ito. Siguradong sa bandang huli, nakasisiguro ako na lalabas ang katotohanan at makakamit ng tunay na biktima, ni Ana o ni Bernado man, ang hustiya. (KINALAP NI MONICA ESTUPIN) Sa mga gustong dumulog ang aming mga numero, 09213263166 o 09198972854. Ang landline 6387285 at ang 24/7 hotline 7104038 o magpunta sa 5th floor CityState Center Bldg., Shaw Blvd., Pasig City mula Lunes-Biyernes.

Published in Philippine Star on June 13, 2011 
here's the link:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=695658&publicationSubCategoryId=94
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Reading this, I felt nostalgic. I missed working with my loves (Cristy, Thea, Lhanz, ate Monique and ate Aicel). We didn't had the chance to work with each other for a long time but I know that I have a family with them forever.

To ate Aicel who helped me with this article (at nagturo ng mga salitang hindi ko akalaing maisusulat ko, SUPER THANKS! :)


       xoxo

BINATA NA KO! My 21st Year :)

AUGUST 18, 2011 -- a date to be thankful for -- this is how I want to describe this another gift that God has given me. Time really flies so fast that here I am, taking another step of my life.

As I read my post a year ago, I felt how blessed my last year was since everything is all about saying thank you. I love how I wrote this a year ago: Our life really depends on how we will look at it. Think that it's such a lonely life and you will forever suffer. Think that life is a blessing and we will forever be thankful. This is how I want to think about my life, A TRUE BLESSING.  

It is another year, another beginning, and another opportunity to make life worth living for. In this 21st year of mine, I have nothing to complain because I always believe that each moment in my life happened, happens and will happen for a purpose. 

21 years of being alive, alone, is something that I must be truly be thankful for above anything. Not everyone is given the chance to live this far. I remember, it was just yesterday when a man went here in our office asking for help because his grandson died. His grandson died inside his mother's womb. This made me feel more blessed because God gave me 21 years to live. I also realized that I really have to value this life because it is a gift from heaven.

This year has been a difficult year for me. I can't imagine how I have faced all those hardships but now, slowly, I'm starting to understand how. First, of course is because I have God with me. Also, I have my friends, officemates and especially my family. THANKYOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL STRONGER AND FOR ALWAYS BEING BEHIND ME FOR 21 YEARS NOW. 

Living on earth for 21 years is indeed a blessing and this one must be celebrated. Honestly, I don't have any plans for my birthday but God has plans and He helped my special day, as always, a memorable one (may extension pa!) And so, I want to thank my Father in heaven for the following:

The chance to celebrate with my mom and brother exactly on my birthday. We just attended mass then ate dinner out. This is the kind of celebration that I really love, simple yet memorable. I always love celebrating special occasions with the people that I love the most and that's my family. :)

Celebrating with my friends is the second thing that I always look up to when there are special occasions in my life. It doesn't have to be a big celebration ('di naman kasi sila choosy kahit muntik na nilang i-order ang pinakamahal sa menu. haha!) but just to have them around is so much to be thankful for. I am glad that my birthday became the way for us to cope up with each other. It also became a way for me to open up things to them that made me prove that they really know me so well. Kain, inom, iyak, tawa. I am happy that I have friends who are with me not just when I am happy but also when I not-so-happy. :)

for capturing this stolen shot at alam kong hirap na hirap ka dahil ngiti ako ng ngiti, many thanks, Pat! :)

Last year, I celebrated with a new family, my Broadcore family. It's been months since I left them. It was sad because I really have shared a lot of memories with them but I am glad that the friendship is still there. And as always, there's a reason why parting must take place and that is for me to meet these wonderful people that I am with right now. I thank God for my newest family, the people in the City Government of Antipolo. :)

[photos to be ulpoaded soon]

I am also thankful for the following gifts that I have received:

And to all those who remembered and greeted me, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! :)

I know that there are more to come for me since I am just in the middle of my journey. 21 years of living on earth is definitely a blessing but to live my life better each year is a goal that I must achieve. I may not be able to mention all those who became the reason why I am here now but I want you to know that even the littlest thing from anyone is a big part of who I am now. I THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING ME FEEL BLESSED.

Lord, thankyou for the 21 years that You have given me. I know that saying thank you is not enough to give it all back to you so I will just promise to be a better person as much as I can. I may not understand all the things that are happening to me now but I know that you have the BEST plans for me and for each of us. I lift you everything and I thank you for all the blessings and people that you have given me to help me through thick and thin. FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, THANKYOU LORD! :)

Again, I will say, if my life will be taken from me now, I will be very willing to give it because it is an order form God. Anyway, I have enjoyed it and I became happy and so blessed with the past 21 years that was given to me. But until I am still here, I will choose to live my life with happiness and optimism.

Cheers to my 21st year! 

BINATA NA 'KO, AYOS! :)

         xoxo

Hello, AUGUST!

AUGUST has always been my favorite month. This maybe because it is my birth month. Also, without knowing why, a lot of things, good things I mean, are happening whenever this month is about to come.

Today, as August starts, I feel blessed as the whole Philippines celebrated Cory Aquino's death anniversary. Truly, it is a sad thing that she died but her death is something that must also be celebrated. Her death signifies the strength of a woman.

Tough as it may seem, Mrs. Aquino's fight against colon cancer was never considered a burden by her. No questions to God, no hatred and no sadness. She even didn't considered her illness as her greatest trial because according to her, "it only involves her."

"Everybody has to experience suffering," Cory said. I have this same belief as her that each of us must experience suffering in order for us to be strong and ready to face life. Also, we cannot appreciate success if it is the only thing that we know. Happiness cannot be appreciated if sadness and suffering aren't around.

Life is not easy. We all know that. There are rough roads to surpass and difficulties to overcome. Likewise, life has smooth roads where we can enjoy the ride. 

Life is a roller coaster ride. Sometimes we are sad, sometimes we are happy. There times for joy and times for sorrow. All we have to do is to understand that there is always a reason for everything that is happening in our life. We may not know it for now but surely, we will know it at the right time. 

Last 2 months have been a roller coaster ride for me. Time came when I really don't know where I wanted to be. But now, slowly, I am understanding why all those things happened. I may not know all the answers to my "why's" as of the moment, but at least I am given the chance to see the good sides of those things.

Being hurt, crying and sadness. All of these are part of living here on earth. Anyway, joy, laughing and happiness are also recipes of life so never feel that you are always down. Remember that in order to succeed in our journey, we have to experience everything.

August has always been my favorite month and I love to be happy in this month which I consider mine. I know, each day cannot be the way I want it to be but I will try hard to choose what can make me happy (even just for this month).

It's been a while since I updated this blog so let me end this post with this:

PLEASE BE GOOD TO ME BECAUSE I PROMISE TO BE A GOOD GIRL THIS MONTH. PLEASE MAKE ME FEEL HAPPY BECAUSE YOU'RE MY MONTH AND I LOVE YOU.

        xoxo