Throughout no more than a few days, Tessa Lopez found herself shuffling to the Cordilleras. Celia's revelation made her decide to take the initiative. There were indeed people out there who needed help. The trips became regular. She even cared less about herself, most of the time getting fatigued by walking. Then there was taking care of her patients jumping from one hut to the other visiting to check how they were doing. It took time and painful sacrifice, but she never complained because she had to do it, not only because of the Hippocratic Oath that she upheld but also for humanitarian reasons that she was inculcated with.
Without the help of Becky, Celia and Rosemarie it would have been too laborious. They became her aids and on-the-spot nurses. With their valuable assistance, her job became lighter. She treated her patients with love and care so that most of them got healed. Over time, the whole population sh
The events in Tessa's country did not escape JC at all. Most especially the hearing of the case against the military to see who was guilty. He had been following every bit of it from the feedback sent to him by Tommy's people, never even missing a single day. The higher court overruled the investigating body's decision and acquitted all the accused. Observers said that the pressure from the palace made the court decide in favor of acquittal. Everybody knew they were responsible. General Ver was jubilant, as well as all of the other accused. On TV his haughty countenance returned. This made people angry in protests. Even the introduction of the tape proved nothing to find them guilty. Doomed, people were flabbergasted. Anger was boiling all over the country. “How can they get away with murder?” they asked. The decision added fire to the already rising anger of the people.
Enlightened burst into his office at full speed. Huddled around a table in the middle of the room, Freedom and four other members were attentively listening to the radio. It blared with hope and inspiration. After some commercials and waiting, the weakening voice of the strongman came finally on the air. He started with a brief introduction then moved forward with his announcement. This was what they were waiting for. Then he finally said it. Opening with all the intricacies of the law, he announced the holding of an election. The message echoed on the walls of the university. Their whooping outburst overshadowed the remaining flicker of the broadcast. Then they contained themselves gradually to absorb the implications of an election. Christmas was around the corner and that news was so far the best gift for the people who had been waiting for a long time. “Do you think a presidential election was the solution?” asked one mem
In the early morning of Feb 7, 1986, public schools were opened, and throngs of people trekked to the polls to cast their ballots. People were excited and hopeful. Optimism filled the air, for freedom had come back, at last. The election went on roughly with several skirmishes in the provinces. Countrywide fraud was committed by the military to help the incumbent. They were powerful so they intimidated the opposition poll watchers, most of the time stealing ballot boxes and replacing them with tampered votes. When the balloting closed, the administration without waiting for the official canvassing of votes, declared preemptively the incumbent as the winner. Protest rang all over the country culminating with the walking out of the computer programmers who supervised the canvassing. There was a report of a coup d'état. The non-violence struggle for justice was de
The chief editor’s door was closed. Outside, the other workers were wondering about what was going on inside the office. Through the glass window, they could only guess what the fracas was about. JC jumped to his feet, paced then sat down again. He was firm in his stand. What they saw was his hand jabbing in the air to explain something. Even Kate couldn’t make out what it was all about. “It’s me who should go, Mr. McMillan,” he said, insisting. Mr. McMillan remained seated, calm, and cradling a pipe in his hand. “Look JC. There’s a group there who’s after you. And I don’t want you to be harmed.” “I assure you nothing will happen to me, besides the reason has already disappeared. More than two years had passed. Despite the evidence, all those responsible got an acquittal. What is there for them now to go after me?” He blew smoke
JC left at once, not knowing what would come next. He took the left-wing of the building and out onto the parking space. On turning the aisle to the left, his heart jumped when he sees her face. He asked himself, is this Tessa? Is she real? Yes, it was her. She was wearing a white uniform with a stethoscope hanging on her neck coming his way. She looked the same and was ever lovely. He stopped in his tracks. He was unable to take away his eyes from her demure face, wanting to watch her eternally, his joy matching his desire. She slowed her walking on seeing him and her face lit up. She stood there unmoving, not knowing what to do. As he gazed at her his longing shot through him in the same way as it always did when she was near. Three years had passed and he had never wanted a woman as much as he wanted her. It seemed she was even more beautiful than ever. In that instant, she was all he had desired.  
At the hospital, they were all huddled around the bed, JC, Tommy, Carlo, Enlightened, Freedom, and Eloisa´s husband. They congratulated her for having a successful delivery. JC brought a bunch of roses, Carlo some chocolates, and Tommy a box of pizza. Then the nurse came in holding the baby in her hand. “She´s a baby girl,” exclaimed Carlo. “Then, what are we going to name her?” asked Tommy. “How about Voice?” retorted Freedom. “Let´s just make it simple and common, like Maria,” smiled Eloisa´s husband. All of them agreed to simplicity. They said that the child would probably have difficulties in writing it down. And her friends might have some difficulties in remembering it. Then, after a while another nurse came in, she announced, “Doctor Lopez gave this to me. It´s for Mr.
Most of the guerrillas in the Cordilleras laid down their arms and started moving back to the city. A handful of them was transformed by the episode, their lives redirected. The change had come and it was time for them to move on with their own lives. The monster had gone. Becky Roberts went back to her province. She might go back to the university and take up Political Science or try to apply for vacancies in the pharmaceutical sector. Celia decided that she too should come back. With Rosemarie gone, she lost hope of staying in the Cordilleras. Jeanie was the reason for her to continue. Tucked by her side, she appeared on Rosemarie's mother's doorsteps for the first time. Shy as she was to show herself, she gathered all her strength for Jeanie. She knew beforehand that there will be an emotional encounter in the beginning. “I am Celia, Rosemarie's sister-in-law and this is
JC was triumphant when Tessa agreed to go out with him again. They had dinner and a little stroll. Without fear of any ramifications or punishments from the palace, now she was more confident that nobody would stand in their way when the reason for her rejection existed no more. After dinner, they promenaded along the bay freely. It was a beautiful evening; The sky was cloudless and the full moon shone brightly. The beach was calm and they were walking hand in hand as if they alone existed in the world. The bay was uniquely enchanting. “I used to come here with my dad and mom. We used to have picnics and they'd tell me stories. They called this place the 'Riviera of Broken Dreams'. They had secret names for every place we used to go. “Why the 'Riviera of Broken Dreams'?” he asked. “They said many disappointments in love are poured out here.