“A powerful earthquake of tectonic1 origin measured at intensity 8 on the Richter Scale hit the island of Luzon in the Philippines at about 4:35 p.m. today!” the male newscaster of the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) in Hong Kong announced.
Rose, who had regularly tuned in to the 6:00 p.m. FEBC news broadcast, stopped slicing the Chinese pechay she needed for the dish she was about to cook, and listened with thirsty ears to the newscaster.
“The damage created by the powerful quake is still undetermined, but it is feared that thousands may be affected either as injured or as casualties. Cities in the Philippines hard-hit by the earthquake include Cabanatuan City, Dagupan City, and Baguio City. Metro Manila only experienced a mild shock, and only one person died as of this hour,” the newscaster said.
Rose was worried upon hearing that Baguio was one of the cities hit hard by the earthquake.
“In Baghdad, Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein accused Kuwait of stealing oil from Iraq’s territory. Hussein warned Kuwait of grave consequences if it did not compensate Iraq for the oil that the former allegedly stole from the latter. Kuwait’s ruler, Sheik Jaber al-Ahmed, on the other hand, denied the Iraqi leader’s allegation, saying that Hussein was making up stories to justify his aggressive design in the Arab region.”2
There were knocks on the door.
Rose turned off the radio and walked to the living room.
“Perhaps, it’s Ma’am,” she said to herself, as she opened the door.
It was Patrick Lee, her male employer.
“Good afternoon, Sir,” Rose greeted him.
He nodded.
“Ma’am not yet around?” Mr. Lee asked.
“Not yet, Sir?” she replied.
“What you doing?” he asked in broken English.
“Cooking, Sir.”
“Me rest. Sleepy!” he said.
“Okay, Sir. I’ll continue cooking.”
Mr. Lee nodded and went to his room.
Rose, on the other hand, went back to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for chopsuey.
She turned on the radio again for the news. But the newscast was over.
The announcer was playing an instrumental piece of the song “Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing”. She liked the song, and wished that she and Daniel could have chosen it as their theme song. They had none.
The song is the theme of the movie of the same title, based on a novel titled “A Many Splendoured Thing” written by a Chinese author named Han Suyin. The novel was written during the Korean War. She had already read the novel twice, but she had not seen the movie yet. Her mother, who saw it, told her once that it was a beautiful film shot in Hong Kong. How she had desired to see it.
But that night, even as she listened to the song, that desire was far overshadowed by her concern for her family in Baguio. She knew that Baguio was hit by an earthquake. But that was all she knew at that moment.
How was her family? Especially her mother?
And Daniel?
She was deep in her thoughts about them when the phone rang.
“Hello, Ma’am?” she said, thinking that the person on the other end of the line was her mistress, May Lee.
“Hello, is this Rose?” the caller asked.
“Yes! Who is this?”
“Rose, si Manang Consuelo mo. Nangngeg mo daydiay news?” Aling Consuelo asked.
(“Rose, this is Manang Consuelo. Did you hear the news?)
“Tungkol po sa earthquake?”
(“About the earthquake?”)
“Wen! Pati Baguio kano ket heavily hit! Madanagan ak kadagidiay addim ken ni Manong mo.”
(“Yes! And Baguio City was heavily hit. I’m worried about my children and my husband.”)
“Pati siak, Manang Consuelo. Ni inang masaksakit pay.”
(“Even I, Manang Consuelo. My mother is even sickly.”)
Both of them were anxious.
Consuelo realized, since she was older, that one of them should provide strength and encouragement.
“Agkararag ta ading. Ammo ni Apo Dios nga tulungan dagidiay umawag Kaniana.”
(“Let’s pray. God knows how to help those who call upon Him.)
For the first time in their lives, they prayed together while using the phone. Each one agreed to the prayer of the other.
They both believed that the Immutable, Omniscient, and All-Powerful God answered the petitions of those who had no one to turn to except Him who guides and rules the destinies of men and nations.
He who levels the strong and proud is also the only One who can truly strengthen the weak and the lowly.
And when the contrite in heart turn to Him, everything – worries and cares, present and future, their whole lives – then, the heart of God is touched, and He comes to the aid of those who implore His name.
Rose felt lighter after their intercession. God knew what was best for her family. And she believed He would rescue them.
“Manang Consuelo, ipaubaya na lang po natin sa Lord ang lahat.”
(“Manang Consuelo, let’s leave it all to the Lord.”)
“Yan ang talagang dapat nating gawin,” Consuelo stressed.
(“Yes, that’s what we should do.”)
Rose nodded.
“O, paano, tatawag na lang uli ako sa ‘yo kapag wala akong ginagawa,” Consuelo said.
(“So, I’ll just call you again in my free time.”)
“Sige po, Manang Consuelo.”
(“Okay, Manang Consuelo.”)
“O kaya, kapag wala kang ginagawa, tumawag ka sa akin. Magbalitaan tayo kapag may nadinig tayong news tungkol sa Pilipinas,” Consuelo stated.
(“Or you can also call me whenever you’re free. Let’s exchange information whenever we hear news about the situation in the Philippines,”)
“Sige po,” Rose said.
(“Okay.”)
Consuelo hung up the phone.
Rose continued what she was doing.
Though she still thought about her family, and Daniel, she was less worried now.
“The Lord will take care of them,” she said to herself.
Back to Table of Contents
. . . CHAPTER . . .
7