Semua Bab The 36th of Michael Benedicto: Bab 11 - Bab 14

Listening to Uncle Mike’s revelations appalled Cheska a lot. One cannot believe it was a narration from a person whom everybody loves in this area. He has the kindest face she had ever seen and somehow, familiar. She went home late that evening, she was engrossed in his story. Deep inside her, she wanted to stay longer but she was also thinking of Uncle Mike’s condition. He easily gets dizzy and tired. “I had this health issue since I fainted that day, haha.” He jokingly tells her. “Uncle I want to take you to a doctor to check your health. That’s not a good sign.” She’s genuinely worried about him. Uncle Mike is like a father to her and despite his turbulent past, he is a good man. He looked at her and smiled, “I wish you were my daughter.” The whole Sunday Cheska just stayed home. It rained the whole day and her mom sent her messages. Nothing in particular just asking her how she’s doing and if she is eating well. She assured her she was okay. She looked at her dad’s p

The more that I stayed away from them, the more circumstances seemed to draw us near. It was Saturday, February 1st, 2003, the Lunar New Year. You see, Binondo has been the center of Filipino- the Chinese community for centuries. While my mom was praying insideFo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, my sister kept on insisting that we buy some “Tikoy” or Nian Gao to Mandarin or better known as Chinese mooncake. It is a sticky cake and they believed that if one eats this cake during the Lunar New Year, your family will always be together and will prosper. Family ties are very important for Filipino-Chinese people.As a tradition, we participated in the Eight Lucky Rituals which comprised of lighting the first incense, the ringing of the gong, and so forth and so on. My sisters and mom greatly enjoyed them but since I converted to Christianity, they were more like customary observance for me.Me, my sisters Agnes, Esther, Gina, and Mia were watching the Dragon Dance near Ongpin stre