It was December of 1973. My very first time to go home since I transferred from Marbel to Manila. Will be spending my 2-week Christmas Break with my dear Tatay and Nanay. In my excitement to buy Christmas decors, food, and gifts, I realized too late that I already spent all my money!
Before I could even think of a solution to my problem, my aunt/guardian told me she and my uncle will fetch me at my Dorm and bring me to the airport. Bless them! I didn’t have to worry about my transportation expense anymore. I already had the airline ticket so no need to worry.
Or so I thought.
The plane landed in Davao City. Nanay was supposed to be there waiting for me. We will ride the bus going to Dadiangas (now GenSan) then ride another bus going to Marbel.
Guess what? There was no sign of Nanay among the people waiting in the Lobby. Instead, there was a number of fellow kabababayans (townmates) who were shrieking like they won the loterry upon seeing me. I had no idea why my presence made them so happy. It turned out that they were stranded in Davao City because they already spent all their money so they couldn’t leave the airport anymore. They were waiting for a fellow kababayan whom they can borrow money from. And they thought I had money to lend them so they were jumping with joy!
You can just imagine how disappointed they were when they learned that we shared the same fate. Our only hope was my dear mother who was nowhere in sight.
So there we were, exhausted like refugees in an Evacuation Camp, wondering if we will ever be rescued. After waiting like eternity, Nanay suddenly appeared. Everybody at my left and right rushed to her and enveloped her. They were crying and laughing at the same time while having a group hug. They explained their predicament to Nanay and my mother generously distributed cash to each and everyone of them as if she was a representative from DSWD. They promised to pay her back in Marbel.
After the commotion subsided, I told her I was dying of hunger so off we went to the first restaurant nearest the airport. There, I stuffed myself to my heart’s content. I was free to eat anything I want and I wasn’t the one paying heheheh…
When we finally arrived at the Bus Station, we were informed that the last trip already left. We had no choice but to stay overnight in a nearby hotel and return first thing in the morning. The following day, we received the shocking news that the last bus was ambushed at the outskirts of Davao City. We thought we were unlucky to miss the last trip but we were actually the lucky ones!
I wondered how much money Nanay brought with her. She practically fed a small village in a manner of speaking and she still had money left! I shivered at the thought of what might have happened if she didn’t arrive to fetch me. But I was more scared thinking that we nearly lost our lives on our way home.
Nanay could no longer remember anyone from Marbel and anything that happened there. All she could remember was her being the Rural Health Midwife of Marbel.
I just hope those people whom she helped in their times of need did not forget her. And I wish they include Nanay in their prayers.
To be continued . . .
