Prologue

#OnePromiseWp

Prologue

A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society."

- Billy Graham

Have you ever questioned God? Why do God allows it to happen? Why is God making me suffer like this? What is it that God wants that he allows you to feel the pain? I thought, God loves me? Then, why?

Sobra tayong nalunod sa katanungan na wala naman tayong kasiguraduhan sa sagot. Bakit nga ba? They said the answer is in the Bible, true enough, baka nga nandoon. Pero paano naman tayo nakasisigurado na ang Biblia ay galing mismo sa ating Diyos? Na ang Biblia ay totoo?

Sabi nila, ang buhay ay parang kulay. May isang kulay na ganap nang itinakda sa mga bagay at hindi mo kukuwestyunin ito dahil alam mo at naniniwala ka sa loob ng iyong puso na ang mga bagay na iyon ay naikulay Niya nang maayos. Nagandahan ka rin doon, napamahal, at mas lalo mong nagustuhan. Hindi naman dahil gusto Niyang ganoon nga iyon kundi iyon ang pakiramdam natin na iyon ang tama.

Pero, ganoon nga ba siya?

Tumingala ako. Isang puting kalapati ang nakita kong matulin na lumilipad sa langit. Tahimik ang kalangitnaan. Sana ganito na lang araw-araw. Sana ganito na lang katahimik ang mundo ko. Walang problemang kinakaharap.

Mariin kong ipinikit mga mata ko. I need focus. Hindi puwedeng tuliro ako ngayon. I have to ace this interview-for him, for me and my dream.

I followed the agent assigned to me. She thoroughly briefed me with the things I should do once the host called me. She also taught me the cues and hand signs, so I'll be guided.

Loud cheers and charade of claps surrounded the area as they announced each winner this awarding ceremony.

I never expected to be here. I never expected any of this. I just dreamed and wrote down everything my life did offer me.

I wanted to share my experiences to inspire.

Funny how everything worked for me. From someone who experienced the most torture life could bring, I still managed to raise myself up here.

"In this grand stadium, sitting along with the guest chairs is one of the newest world record-breaking authors who sold millions of copies of her Christian books with its movie adaption which achieved Today's top-rated movies, One Promise!"

Nagpalakpakan ang audience, kaya mas-lalo akong kinabahan.

The promising movie is said to have ranked top for six consecutive months in the movie industry, and One Promise has been nominated to set off the Guinness World Records label! It's still on the process of maintaining its rank! We couldn't miss her in this special day, right?"

Nag-ingay ulet ang crowd. Ngumisi ako dahil sa pagiging proud sa aking mga supporter.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's all welcome, our world record-breaking author, it's none other than Naomi Angeles!" m masiglang sambit ng international host na nakasuot ng magandang pulang night gown na bumagay sa natural look makeup nito at classy hairdo ng isang panggabing show.

I took a deep breath. This is it, Naomi, eto na. Kinuyom ko mga kamao ko para humugot ng lakas ng loob papasok ng center stage.

Isa ito sa pinaka-enggrandeng awarding ceremony na nagaganap dito sa USA. Global Awards is an annual awarding ceremony which held every January. It gave awards to every blockbuster movies that was released last year. Yung mga imbitado lang dito ay yung mga artista o pelikula na talaga pumatok sa buong mundo at na-nominate para sa categoryang nararapat doon. Most were veteran actors and actresses, directors, and producers. Being part of it and one of the awardee felt surreal and unrealistic too.

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang nandito ako ngayon sa stage. Hindi ako makapaniwalang naimbitahan ako, not only as an awardee, but a chance to have an exclusive interview, live!

Sabi nila, bihira lang daw talagang mangyari ang mga ganitong bagay, lalo na sa Global Awards. Especially to us, Filipinos. It was an honor that I'd get a chance to join this stage, not as an American citizen that have Filipino blood, but as a Filipino citizen with pure Filipino blood. Usually, instead of interviews, they would go for concert styles or Hip-hop dances during the break, kaya sobrang nakagugulat daw that they'd allow an interview to be held.

That made everything even more surreal. What did I do to deserve this? I never wanted the spotlight anyway. I wanted a getaway to express myself. I wanted to have that something I can voice out my thoughts and I can lean on no matter how messy my life is and that was through writing.

I couldn't wait to see Dad's huge smile, clapping for me among the crowd.

I smiled and waved. Loud cheers erupted again from the crowd. Nakakita pa nga ako ng posters na nakapaskil ang quotes. There are posters that has my name and pictures too! I internally giggled when I saw the crowd posters. I'm shy because until now, I'm still not used to this, and proud of them for bringing support to both my story and God's name up high.

"Hello!" I greeted them.

Nagsigawan na naman ang audience. Napatingin ang mga international artist sa kanilang likod dahil sa ingay na nilikha ng crowd.

"The crowd are so hyped. Is that what we call Filipino support, then?" pabirong sambit ng host.

Tumawa yung audience, tumawa rin ako.

"That's what you call God's unending love!" sigaw ng isa sa mga audience.

Napatawa ako roon and the host, as well as the other guest did too.

Nasabihan na ako ng organizer ng kaunting briefing bago magsimula yung show. Itinuro nila sa akin kung ano dapat gagawin ang ko at sinunod ko ang bawat turo.

I sat down in the middle of the sofa provided for me. It was a 15-minute interview. I hope I wouldn't embarrass myself though. Lalo na, this is world wide! Everybody is watching me.

Kabado nga ako kasi never ever kong iniisip na maisasalaysay ko ang aking talambuhay sa masa.

Sabi nila, to hype up the crowd, i-interview-hin nila ako sa break time ng show. Special scene ako since malaki raw talaga ang naging impact ng aking istorya sa buong mundo. Nakakatuwa naman at nakakataba naman ng pusong makarinig nang ganoon, and most of the audience here now are Filipinos.

I would want to make my country prouder.

"Good evening, Naomi."

Umupo ako sa provided sofa bago nginitian ulit ang host.

"Good evening," I greeted back.

"I can't imagine, you'd agree to be here with us tonight! It's an honor that you'd grant us to interview you. Here, live, on our Global Awards' awarding ceremony!"

Tumawa ako. "It's not a problem! In fact, it's an honor that I'd got to be here with you. But can I answer your questions in my own mother tongue instead? That way, I can explain freely what I wanted to say. I can speak English but words conveyed in my own mother tongue is more homely and reassuring for me," I softly said.

The crowd giggled.

Natawa rin yung host. "It's not a problem. I'll just call out a interpreter that can help us." Ngumisi ito.

Planado na talaga ito kaya may inihanda na rin silang interpreter na agad namang lumabas pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon.

"Sa totoo lang, isinulat ko talaga itong story and script sa loob lang ng tatlong araw. Gusto ko lang talaga ibahagi sa inyo ang aking istorya kasama ang aking pinakaminamahal na ama. Hindi ko talaga inakalang sisikat iyon. Nagulat na lang ako, from one supporter, it multiplied into tens then hundreds, it continued multiplying until it became a movie!

I was beyond overwhelmed. I've received letters from several fans claiming that my story had saved them, and God has worked into their lives because of me.

Nakakaiyak makabasa nang ganoon. Since then, it became my anchor to pursue more of my dreams. To look for more ways to inspire people into God's words. Share God's word to others and help saved those poor souls who lost their way.

That's what God wants us, Christians, to do. That's our ultimate role in this world. God wants us to save others by sharing his word, gather more disciples for Him."

"When I watched your movie, I don't know what's in it that saved me that time. I was dealing so much-well, most of us, deal so much of our lives, the pain and the grief. Then there's this movie that gravitated world wide. It became . . . a life saver." Ngumiti yung host. Hinarap niya yung crowd.

They were chanting something I didn't quite get though.

"This story . . . rescued millions of viewers. It inspired hundreds or thousands to God. I kept wondering. Who could write this? What did they have to go through to be able to produce something like this? This is aspiration, Naomi. A chance for our world to aspire, to change." The host heartwarmingly smiled at me. She placed her hand on top of mine and she squished it. "It's really an amazing story, Naomi."

I smiled back. "It just kinda happened, I guess? It took me days or weeks to finish this story. Uploaded it in W*****d. Unexpected turn out events brought me here." I laughed.

Tumawa na rin yung host. "You didn't complete this story in days. It's your story, Naomi. It took a lifetime in writing this. You can only imagine how powerful God is, as he have used you and your story to be one of his vessel, Naomi. He used you so many were saved by His grace. How'd you manage to come up with a story like this?"

Mapait akong ngumiti.

It's my story, indeed. One promise had made me who I am today . . .

Hinarap ko yung crowd. I scanned through each of the faces I could see. Lumaki ang ngiti sa aking labi nang makita si Papa. He was smiling widely in the middle of the whole arena. He was nodding his head looking proudly at me, encouraging me to tell them more about our story.

This is it, Daddy. It's time I tell them our story, right?

My heart never felt this contentment ever. I nodded back.

I am Naomi Angeles, daughter of Theodore Angeles and Chezka Angeles, and this is my story.