[Mountainside of Siquijor Island Philippines]
What a long and tiring day for Angie Perez. They had just finished the funeral ceremony for his late grandfather. It's already six months since she quit her job as tour guide to take care her ailing grandfather. Now, she has no one left on her side. Her father left them for another woman, and because it of her mother died few years ago due to severe depression. She doesn't have siblings nor relatives on this island. After what happened to her parents, she find it very hard to trust in guys. She even promised to herself not to enter in a relationship. She would rather die single than having unfaithful husband. She's already 27 years old yet she never had a boyfriend since birth, nor entertain a single suitor. She built a wall that it's really hard to break.
"Angie, sigurado ba ka nga di ka pauban karong gabii ug higda?" her best friend, Anna Gomez says.
("Angie, are you sure you don't want me to sleepover tonight? " her best friend, Anna Gomez says. )
"Okay ra lagi ko. Naa' y batang gahuwat nimo didto. Kinahanglan ka's imong pamilya," she reply gloomily.
("I'm fine. You have your baby's waiting for you. Your family needs you," she reply gloomily.)
"Pero mas nanginahanglan ka nako karon kay sa akong pamilya. Oy di biya ka nako puwedeng biyaan karon nga ingon aning kahimtang. Magmahay giyod ko sa hangtod kung di ka nako ubanan karong gabiiha. Makabantay man sad akong bana sa bata. Puwede sad nga tawagan nako siya unya diri nalang mi matulog," her best friend is worried about her.)
("But you need me now, more than them. I can't just can't leave you here in this situation. I will be sorry forever if won't stay here with you tonight. Besides my husband can take of our baby. Or I'll call him to come over we will stay for tonight," her best friend is worried about her.)
"Okay ra kaha sa imong bana? "
("Is it okay with your husband?")
"Mo lang! Gikaloy-an giyod intayon ko kay manggihuna-hunaon ug buutan ang akong nabana. Kabawo man sad siya mga importante kaayo nako," she boasts.
("Of course! I'm a blessed with a thoughtful and caring husband. And he knows you're so dear to me," she boasts.)
"Mao giyod. Wow, gikaluy-an giyod kaayo ka ba, "Angie agrees.
("Really. Wow, you certainly are blessed," Angie agrees.)
"Huwat lang sa ha, tawagan sa nako siya," her friend excuse to call her husband.
("Just a moment, I need to call him," her friend excuse to call her husband.)
While she's watching her friend walking away from her, she recalls her younghood days with her best friend. Anna's family lives just few minutes away from her place. They've been friends since childhood and they grew up together. They dreamed to be successful together. Just that Anna got married early and she's unable to finish college. But Angie continued her studies and finished her Tourism degree in a popular university in Dumaguete. Despite living far from each other, they still managed to maintain their friendship even though Angie was away for too long. They even considered themselves as sister and that's something Anna is thankful for. Every time she needed a friend, Anna was there for her, even up to this day.
Although Angie is not envy of her best friend's married life, but she somehow hopes that all men are like that. Unlike her unloving and unfaithful father, wherever he is right now. Faithful and loving man is a kind of very rare gem, it's hard to find; and maybe almost about to extinct.
"Padulong na sila," her best friend interrupts her from pondering things
("They're coming," her best friend interrupts her from pondering things.)
"Mao ba? Oy salamat giyod kaayo ha. Gikaluy-an giyod ko nga naka-amiga ko ug pareha nimo ba."
("Oh yeah? Thank you so much. I'm blessed to have a friend like you.")
"Bisa'g unsang orasa, day," her best friend grasps her hand and continue.
("Anytime, sweetie," her best friend grasps her hand and continue.)
" Oy tuod sa, kabawo ko nga di giyod ni angay nga istoryahan karon pero, wa ko'y mahimua kay nabalaka man giyod ko kaayo sa imo," Anna look at her in the eyes. Full of worries.
("Look, I know this is not the right time to talk about this but I can't help but to worry about you," Anna look at her in the eyes. Full of worries.)
"Unsa ma'y buot ipasabot nimo?" she innocently asks.
("What are you trying to say?" she innocently asks.)
"Kanang, di biya tanang lalaki peraho sa papa nimo. Naa giyod na'y lalaki nga para giyod nimo. Kana bang lalaki nga moamping ug muhigugma giyod nimo. Ayaw lang pud sirad-i ang imong kasing-kasing. Wa lang ta kabalo basin manuktok siya imong pultahan ugma, o kaha sunod simana, sunod bulan, sunod tuig..."
("You see, not all men are like your father. There must be someone out there who's right for you. The one who will take care of you and love you. Please don't close your door, I'm sure he will knock on your door one of these days. It might not today but who knows? Maybe tomorrow, next week, next month, next year..."
"Di giyod na mahitabo," she interrupts while smirking.)
("And maybe next to never," she interrupts while smirking.)
"Oy, seryoso biya ko."
("Hey, I'm serious.")
"Ako sad. Kabalo ka, dili na buot ipasabot nga kung naa kay bana sigurado giyod ka nga unungan ka niya hangtod sa hangtod. Pangutan-on teka, sigurado ba ka nga unungan giyod ka sa imong bana hangtod sa hangtod? Sa pagsulay, kulang ang gugma lang para sa tawo nga maluibon. Moingon sila nga lingaw-lingaw lang giyod to ba, unya sa asawa man sad sila mo-uli. Oy di puwede sa ako, no! Di ko gusto nga mapareha sa akong mama, nga basin ug gibutang na sa atubangan ang kabet, nagugmaan pa giyod kaayo siya sa akong papa. Nangamuyo siya para lang giyod nako, gibiyaan lang gihapon. Nakit-an giyod nako unsa ka pait giagi-an ni mama," she's emotional.
("And so do I. You know, having a husband doesn't guarantee you, that he will stick with you forever. Let me ask you. How sure are you that you're husband will stick with you until the end? Love is not enough for an unfaithful man in times of trials. They might reason, it's just for fun and after all, it's their wives whom they will return. And that won't work for me! I don't want to end up like my mother. She still loved my father even though he shoved it to her face that he had a mistress. My mother begged him for my sake but in the end he left us. I was with my mother all along and I saw how devastated she was," she's emotional.)
"Oy, sorry kaayo nga giistoryahan ni nato karon. Tabian kaayo ko ba!" Anna hugs her.
("I'm so sorry to bring that up at this time. How tactless I am!" Anna hugs her.)
"Okay ra kaayo. Kabalo man ko nga nabalaka lang ka nako nga mag-inusara. Di lang giyod nako kapug-ngan ang akong kaugalingon kung si mama ang istoryahan. Mausab giyod ang akong buot. Kung makit-an lang giyod nako si papa karon, pasaylo-a giyod laman kay giandaman nga giyod siya nako ug hanting," she's clenching her teeth in anger.
("Don't be. It's fine. I know you're just concern about me being alone. But when it comes to my mother, I always get emotional, I just couldn't help it. And if I could just see my father right now, God forbid but I already prepared a dagger for him," she's clenching her fist in anger.)
"Manggiluloy-on! Ayaw tig huna-huna ug dautan oy, kay di na maayo. Ayaw pagdumot ug dugay kay maguba ang pagkatawo nimo ana. Kinahanglan nga makakat-on ta ug pasaylo sa uba aron pasayloon sad ta sa Ginoo. Kabawo ko nga lisod na buhaton ug masakitan ka pero para man sad ni atong kaayuhan. Di ka puwede nga mabuhi nga ingon ana."
("Good heavens! Don't think evil. Don't hold a grudge that long, it's unhealthy. It will harm your whole being. We should learn how to forgive. God will not forgive us if we can't forgive others. I know it's hard, I know it's still hurting inside but it's for our own good, both emotionally and spiritually. You can't live a life like this forever.")
"Oo lagi. Maglagot man giyod ko oy. Pero kapoy biya, sakit lang sa gudgan. Pasalamat giyod nga naa ko'y maayong manalambag nga peraha nimo.
("l know. I'm just frustrated. Yet it's tiring and suffocating. I'm just thankful that I have a good adviser on my side. I have you.")
"Oy, magdahom giyod ko nga imong ablehan ang imong kasing-kasing. Maayo sa pamati ang mahigugma ma kay magdahom ka unya mo-antos ka tungod sa gugma," she grasps Angie's hand again.
("Hey, I really hope you'll open your heart someday. It's feels great to be in love. You'll be hopeful and you endure things out of love," she grasps Angie's hand again.)
"Di ko mupasalig ana. Ako lang paningkamutan nga mapasaylo si papa pero di ko makatugot nga gub-on sa laing lalaki akong kinabuhi. Ayaw lang kabalaka, kaya lagi nako nga mag-inusara. "
("Well that thing, I can't promise you. Yes, I will learn to forgive my father and move on but that doesn't mean I'll let another man ruin my life. Don't worry I can handle this, what I mean is I can handle being alone.")
"Oy huwat sa," Anna pauses then look at her awkwardly.
("Wait a sec," Anna pauses then look at her awkwardly.)
"Unsa?"she asks.
("What?" she asks.)
Anna remain silent and still looking at her awkwardly that makes Angie feel uneasy.
"Hoy, pagtarong diha ba. Unsa lagi?"
("Hey, stop that. Tell me what is it?")
"Di ba ka lesbian?" Anna even covers her mouth in shock. With that, Angie's face turns red in annoyment.
("You're not lebsian, are you?" Anna even covers her mouth in shock. With that, Angie's face turns red in annoyment.)
"Ikaw giyod ba!" she shouts pointing at her best friend. She take deep breath and continue.
("You!" she shouts pointing at her best friend. She take deep breath and continue.)
"Tutok ug maayo diri ba. Mura ba ko'g lesbian?" she is still trying to maintain her composure because she's offended by her best friend. And that reaction makes her best friend burst out laughing.
("Look here. Do I look like a lesbian?" she is still trying to maintain her composure because she's offended by her best friend. And that reaction makes her best friend burst out laughing.)
"Da oy, karong panahona lisod na kaayo mabaw-an kinsa 'tong dili,"
("Well, nowadays, it's hard to tell which is which," Anna still laughing hardly.)
"Undang na diha ha!"
("Stop it!")
"Oo lagi, sorry kaayo. Joke ra biya 'to," Anna decides to stop teasing her best friend because she knows her limit.
("Alright, I'm sorry. I'm just joking," Anna decides to stop teasing her best friend because she knows her limit.)
"Puwes, di kataw-anan!" she snorts.
("Then it's not funny!" she snorts.)
"Oy bitaw ba, nalipay ko nga dili diay ka lesbian. At least naa pa'y paglaom nga ablehan nimo ang imong kasing-kasing. Bata pa ka, guwapa pa. Such beauty must be cherish. Pero di man pud siguro ka man-hater, 'di ba?"
("Hey, kidding aside, I'm a just happy that you're not. At least I can still see a little hope that you'll open your heart to a man someday. You're young and beautiful. Such beauty must be cherish. You're not man-hater, are you?")
"Di oy! Man-hater gud tawon. Di lang giyod ko mamahala, okay? she sounds desperate to make it clear to her best friend.
("I don't hate man. I just don't want to take a risk, okay?" she sounds desperate to make it clear to her best friend.)
"Oy sa tinuod lang no. Wa man giyo'y siguro sa kaminyu-on. Sugal ang pagminyo. Pero puwede man paningkamutan ang relasyon para di mabugnaw. Wa biya'y perfect marriage, samot ng wa'y perfect husband. Pero kung in love gani ka, magmaantuson giyod ka. Mo pasaylo pud ka. Kana makatabang ninyo nga molugtang. Kami bitaw sa akong bana, daghan pud mi ug awayan pero balikan man namo ang rason nganong nagminyo mi, mao ang among gugma sa usa'g-usa. Dako pa ni'ng subidaon pero among giyo'ng paningkamutan," Anna relates her married life to Angie.
("Well, honestly. Nothing is certain in this world, even marriage. Marriage is a gamble. But married couple can work as hard as they can to keep the fire burning. There's no such thing as perfect marriage, nor perfect husband. But you're when you're in love, you endure things. You forgives. That will help you hold on to each other. Me and my husband, have so many disagreements and conflicts. But at the end of the day, we look back to where we started. And that's our love for each other. We still have a long way to go, but we'll work harder as we can," Anna relates her married life to Angie.)
"Grabe! Lamuma kaayo adto. Di pa giyod ko andam ana'ng butanga. Naanad man gud ko nga ako rang kaugalingon hunahuna-on. Mao gud siguro nga mura'g wa ko manginahanglan ug kauban sa kinabuhi. Labi na 'ron nga wa na Si lolo, unya gibilin sad niya kaning lodging house. I don't have time for relationship."
("Whoa! That's so deep. I could tell I'm not ready for that. I get used to think for myself alone. And I'm comfortable that way. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I feel like I don't someone in my life. Especially now that grandpa is gone and left me with this lodging house. I don't have time for relationship.")
"Kasabot ko. Ayaw lang pagdali, makahulat man ang gugma ba."
("I understand. Take your time, love waits.")
"Speaking of lodging house. Dako kaayo'g utang si lolo. Giabot ko'g sulat sa bangko last week. Ilang imbarguhon 'ning balay kay collateral man gud ni siya. Di ni puwedeng makuha nila, mao na lang giyod ni nabilin sa akoa," Angie is worried.
("Speaking of lodging house. My grandpa left a huge debt. I just received a letter from the bank last week. They're taking this place as a collateral. I can't afford to lose this place. This is the only thing I have," Angie is worried.)
"Hala day oy, unsaon na lang ni nimo?"
("Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry to hear that. What you're gonna do then?")
"Ambot oy, mangita pa ko'g paagi. Kulang man gud ang akong kuwarta ibayad."
("I'm still figuring it out. My money is not enough to pay the debt.")
"Pagsulti lang kung kinahanglan nimo'g tabang. Wa mi dakong kantidad, pero basin diay sa laing paagi makatabang mi."
("If you need help, just tell me. We don't have such a huge amount of money but in some ways maybe can help.")
"Salamat kaayo. Mosulti lang unya ko. Motabok diay ko sa dakbayan ugma. Moadto ko sa bangko para masulbad na ni."
("Thank you. I will let you know if ever I need help. I'm going to the city tomorrow. I need to go the bank personally and settle this right away.")
"Nganong sa Dumaguete pa man? "
("Why you have to go to Dumaguete?")
"Wa ma'y branch diri sa isla."
("Because they don't have branch here on this island.")
"Gusto mo, ubanan na lang teka? "
("Do you want me to go with you?")
"Ayaw lang oy. Ako na lang moadto"
("No, it's fine. I can go there alone.")
Suddenly the doorbell rings and it's Anna's husband calling outside.