Chapter LIII: Cracks and Floods
In one corner, there exists a place where time no longer rules. A place where age no longer bends backs, where sickness no longer weakens bodies, and where tears no longer fall because of pain. The place looks very similar and familiar. It stands atop rolling green fields beneath a sky brighter than any dawn in the living world. The house standing there is unmistakable, and it's the ancestral Banggai House.
Yet not the Banggai House as it exists now where it's wooden beam are termite-infested, aging walls, rusting window grills, and falling Capiz windows. It's also not like the house burdened by disputes, greed, and neglect. This house appears exactly as it once was when Don Carmelo Cortez Sr. and Doña Tory constructed and first moved into it. It's in its former glory. Its wooden floors shine, its Capiz windows sparkle, its carved details look freshly made, its grand staircase stands proudly, and its rooms are filled with warmth and life. And within this place, life continues. Not mortal life but immortally.
Inside the spacious living room, several familiar faces gather together. Escolastica sits comfortably on a wooden chair, and beside her is Mercy. Across from them sits Restituto, and nearby are Lucio and Balbino. Their conversation flows naturally. They speak not of sorrow, nor of suffering, but of the families they continue to watch from afar.
At the kitchen, Tory prepares tea. The aroma drifts through the house.
Outside, Melo stands near a gleaming Mercedes-Benz parked beneath the shade of a large tree. The old man runs a hand along its polished surface. Even in heaven, he remains proud of his car.
Eventually he enters the house, and Tory follows shortly afterward carrying a tray of tea cups. The family gathers and the atmosphere feels peaceful, warm, and comforting. A reunion that never ends. Tory sets the tray down.
"Tattan, (Now then,)" she says with a smile.
Her eyes settle upon Escolastica.
"Kasano met diay pamilyamon? (How is your family doing?)"
Escolastica leans back.
"They're doing... alright."
Tory nods.
"Even after Lawry?"
A brief silence follows. Then a familiar voice speaks.
"Well, I'm here now."
Everyone turns as young man emerges from one of the hallways, and it's Lawry, smiling and healthy. He's like alive in a way no earthly doctor could ever restore. He sits beside his mother.
"Kagapgapuk lang diay Korea idi met. (I had just returned from Korea back then.)"
Tory smiles warmly.
"Wen, malagipko. (I remember.)"
Lawry chuckles.
"It still surprises me how quickly everything happened."
The conversation continues. Then Melo turns toward Lucio. The old patriarch strokes his chin thoughtfully.
"Lucio."
His voice is calm.
"Kasla, agrigrigat sa met dagiti annak mon. (I think your children are struggling.)"
Lucio sighs heavily.
"Yes."
There is no denying it.
"They are."
Everyone waits. Lucio takes a deep breath.
"I made mistakes, and I went to abroad to earn and make a living for my family."
The admission comes honestly.
"I worked abroad for many years."
His eyes lower.
"I sent money home."
"A lot of money."
Nobody interrupts.
"But discipline..."
He shakes his head.
"Didiay lang ti agkurkurang. (That part was lacking.)"
He continues.
"Their mother spent much of the money gambling."
Tory sighs and Melo immediately frowns. Then he utters a familiar phrase and shakes his head.
"Sugal, sugal, biag langaruden ket maysa nga sugal. (Gambling, gambling, life itself is already one big gamble."
Everyone falls silent. The truth in those words echoes throughout the room. Tory nods in agreement.
"We never relied on gambling, nor we did once. Yet we relied on hard work."
Melo smiles.
"Usto met. (That is true.)"
The old couple remembers the difficult years. All the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, the labor and the determination. Nothing came easy. Everything was earned. Then Tory's expression darkens slightly.
"Speaking of gambles..."
She looks toward Melo.
"Our Junior made one."
Melo instantly understands. His jaw tightens.
"Diay balay. (The house.)"
Tory nods.
"The Banggai House."
A sigh escapes her lips.
"Inagom na metten. (He took it.)"
The room grows quiet. Everyone understands the sadness behind those words. The ancestral house had represented generations of memories. Generations of sacrifice and generations of family. Yet greed had clouded judgment. Melo shakes his head. A few colorful words follow. Enough to make even Lucio laugh despite the situation.
"Tang."
Lucio chuckles.
"Still angry?"
"I will always be angry about that."
The room erupts with laughter. Even Tory cannot help smiling. Eventually she turns toward Mercy.
"Sika met Mercy? (And you, Mercy?)"
Mercy brightens.
"My grandchildren are doing well."
"Two are already in Senior High School, and the other is in college."
Tory smiles and say, "Elric became architect, Jonn became a nurse, and Meric is your successor"
"Yeah, kasla met kaniayo nga dua ah. (Just like the both of you.) I worked hard, even though my husband is such a lazy bone, and I managed to make things out, and my children to finish their studies.", Mercy says.
Melo grins.
"And your old teacher is now teaching your grandson."
Mercy immediately laughs.
"Dr. Rosuman."
The memory returns instantly.
"Back then she was still Ms. Fortuna, the Filipino teacher. Now, a former dean, and a brilliant researcher."
Tory smiles.
"Life certainly has a way of repeating itself."
For a moment they all sit peacefully, watching, listening, and remembering. Then Tory glances at Lucio again.
"Ammom... (You know...)"
She leans back.
"Your plan for the house was actually good."
Lucio smiles sadly.
"It was, Nang"
"You wanted to preserve it, and keep our memories alive. Amin nga nagbanbannogan mi iti dayta nga balay, nga agbalin kuma nga kasla diay mansion dagiti Crisostomo met. (All of our hard work for that house, like it would have turned out like the mansion of the Crisostomos.)" (Tory)
"Exactly."
Tory sighs.
"But Junior ruined everything."
The room falls silent. Nobody disagrees, not even Lucio. Finally Melo shifts his attention toward Restituto.
"How about you, Totong?"
Restituto groans dramatically. Immediately everyone laughs.
"What?"
Mercy teases.
"The daughters again?"
"Yeah, always the daughters.", Restituto says.
The room erupts with laughter. Restituto shakes his head.
"Agpinpinnangato da. (They compete with one another.) They compete too much, and they always want to outdo one another."
Meanwhile, far below, and back in the living world, life continues. In Lawag, one of Restituto's daughters, Xen, has become highly successful. She owns Lawiswis, a beautiful restaurant located near the bypass road. The venue regularly hosts celebrations, events, and gatherings. Business remains strong and customers arrive daily.
Meanwhile Jing enjoys success as an accountant. Her client list exceeds three hundred individuals and businesses from across the country.
The remaining siblings maintain smaller enterprises in Banggai and other areas of Guardino.
On the surface, everything appears successful. Yet beneath prosperity lies tension.
One evening, Jing's daughter Nica once again tests everyone's patience. The teenager possesses a rebellious streak. Jing tries to guide her and her husband often spends more time doing so. But teenagers rarely follow scripts. Without warning, Nica travels to Lawag. She stays at Xen's residence, and when Jing discovers this, panic immediately follows. She calls and messages, yet no responses nor answers.
Eventually she and her husband travel to Laoag. The confrontation becomes inevitable. The moment they arrive, emotions explode. Jing and Xen argue fiercely. Years of buried frustrations rise to the surface. Accusations fly, and pride takes over. At one point Xen openly boasts about her family's wealth.
"My husband earns more."
The statement lands heavily.
"And I don't need anyone's help. Even your help!"
Jing's face hardens. Jing's heart is shriveled upon hearing this. She helped Xen and funded her education. She helped her in many ways. Yet the tables have turned.
Nearby, their mother Dita attempts to mediate. Yet everyone knows a difficult truth. Dita often leans toward Xen's side since she live nearby. The argument drags on. Old wounds reopen. Family bonds stretch thin once more. Far above, Restituto sighs.
"See?"
Everyone laughs sympathetically.
Back in Caluipat, another struggle unfolds. The old house continues deteriorating.
One afternoon Rico inspects one of the supporting wooden beams. His expression immediately darkens as he sees termites, and there're thousands of them. The beam is badly damaged. The realization unsettles him. The old house that once sheltered generations is slowly losing its battle against time.
As if matters are not difficult enough, weather forecasts begin issuing warnings. A typhoon approaches the region. It's not an ordinary storm, but it's a powerful one, and its name is Typhoon Goring. The skies darken, and winds strengthen. Preparations begin immediately.
However, like before wedding Mercy, he transforms back into her old self. He is the lazy version, much lazier than he was married.
As the storm arrives, nature unleashes its fury. Rain falls relentlessly, winds scream across the landscape, trees bend violently, tin roofs rattle and floodwaters descend from the higher portions of Damag and the mini zoo area. The runoff surges downhill straight toward Caluipat's basin-like terrain. Eventually, the floodwaters reach the front of the Caluipat house.
The time that floodwaters seep into the floors of the living room, that's only the time he reacts. Jonn had warned him before that they should act fast, yet the old man is stubborn.
As they act, they transfer valuables and important belongings to Meric's newer house. Its elevation is higher, safer, and stronger.
Fortunately, Meric's house remains safe with its higher position protects it. But the old Caluipat house suffers. The water entered and mud follows. The furniture is damaged, and rooms become soaked. The family watches helplessly. Outside, rain continues hammering everything in sight for hours, through the night, and into the next day. .
Eventually the storm moves on, the skies clear, and silence returns. Yet the damage remains. Inside the old house lies thick mud. Floodwater has receded. What remains is heavy brown sludge covering floors and belongings.
Without complaint, Rico gets a shovel and Jonn grabs another. The father and son begin working side by side. Scoop after scoop, wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow, and mud leaves the house, slowly, painfully, and exhaustingly. The work lasts hours. Sweat mixes with dirt, and muscles ache. Yet they continue because there is no other choice. The old house may be aging, damaged, and be slowly losing its fight against time.
But it remains part of the family, their history, and their story.
And as Rico and Jonn continue shoveling mud beneath the afternoon sun, far beyond mortal sight, Tory and Melo watch from the porch of the restored Banggai House in heaven. Neither speaks and neither needs to. Because despite all the conflicts, storms, arguments, greed, and hardships below, they know something important remains. Families stumble, fight, and become divided.
Yet somehow, through every generation, through every storm, through every loss, they keep moving forward. Just as they always have and just as they always will.