Del Sur – Chapter 3: The Ground moved

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepcion

Zamboanga City has always been Catholic. The city was made a fortress against the Moro pirates and the influx of Islamized Tausugs. There were manoy Subanen there when the conquistadores ‘discover’ the Philippines for the Spanish king.

But Muslims influx from Sulu and nearby places continued to pour on . The Archibishops of that city made sure that evangelization continues while continuing a precarious balance amongst the Muslims in their archdiocese.

Usually the mass was given by the Archbishop…and this day was not different. Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral was full, for it is its feast day.

Packed with 300 parishioners or so …the 9 o’clock mass was always ecpected by the masses.

While Archibishop Romero is in his homily – about the faith of Mary and how we should emulate her …the ground moved.

It was intensity 7. Epicenter is in the sea – just near the city.

This happened during the end of the rainy season. After Typhoon Helen had ravaged Davao, Cotabato and Pagadian cities.

It is both a howler with heavy rains. And most people scathed by the typhoon are still in the evacuation centers.

INCOMPLETE

Del Sur -Chapter 2 : El Heredero

When he was young, with his sister Katarina.

He is the son of the governor of a Visayan province.
His name is not only chosen from Castilian surnames , but of Castilian lineage.

His father died in the hands of the Japanese Imperial forces. While his uncle – whom he considered as second father – was incarcerated during the dark years of the New Society.

They are five in the family. And he chose instead the quiet life of an accountant, or so he thought – bred in one of the universities in Manila and then in the States.

Then he met his wife, Annalene De Guia – who will finished law in another university and then served for a law firm with Asian connection.

Their courtship started in court case. He, representing his client as their witness while she for her own . Then for awhile they parted ways due to their professional goals.

Gerardo dela Cruz is his name.

His brother was the politician but he was branded as a communist sympathizer -when he was not. And so he died while leading the flag ceremony at the town hall plaza.

So he run as a mayor and won. But before that he was a secret consultant for Interpol dealing with banking fraud and flow of jihadist money.

Then knowing that is not enough , he became a Congressman, then a Senator in just a decade and a half.

Now he is the number one rival for the next election of the current president’s family – Ronualdo Hapayhari.

Del Sur : Chapter 1 -Recuerdos -Martial Law

It was a dreary night.
To remember what has gone before.
What was lost.
Lives and their presence.

Along the road, you met them, and suddenly they left you.

To be loyal to the Faith, to protect the innocents, and to uphold Justice.
Fe, defender y justicia

When the tyrant and his family ruled the land, many died in the ignominious way, away from those who love them. Alone, without the knowledge of hope.

We are not supposed to get entangled in any power struggle. We only rise if it endangers the Church or its faithful and Her priests.

Why should these clerics always embark in dangerous missions – where it is more likely they will die in the hands of their persecutors.

“I need to inform the group”
how to make the rescue as fluid as possible
And as inconspicuous as possible.
We cannot be seen or remembered by the NEW SOCIETY’s intelligence.

Trying to smuggle colegios branded by the regime as communists towards the provinces of Laguna, Cavite or Quezon.

Then I heard a shout:
“Don Rodrigo , we must hurry, we are too few to face the Metrocom this way.”

‘Yes Father Luis, we need to train the next generation or we will be all gone from the cara de la tierra”

Boys , come with us – we must ride this Tamaraw to safe place , before leaving.

As we are riding the vehicle …
Two police cars passed us …not suspecting we have 4 youth activist inside us …

That is a close one.

Del Sur -Guardia Civil

They were sons of Spaniards to Filipina women. It makes them half-breed.

Not indios nor full bloodied Spaniards.

They are mestizos and fluent in the Castillan language. But it does not give them any advantage with respect to the Spaniards nor to their Filipino countrymen.

They were taught to love their Catholic heritage by Spanish friars -most Masonic Filipinos patriots learn to hate.

But some of them has a secret that flows from hundred years in the past -in a different land.