It was 1984 in Manila and Rio’s book on Corazon de Jesus’ plan had just been published. There was chaos in the streets and obsession in everyone’s hearts as the Aquino assassination a few months earlier signaled the countdown for the ultimate release of the Marcos dictatorship. As tens protested, Corazon de Jesus’ immortal “Bayan Ko” was resurrected and eventually became the national anthem of the anti-Marcos movement.
Over beer one night, Rio Alma talked about the famous Filipino maker. It was not just idle dialogue between two weary souls; Rio was convincing me to write an affair about Corazon de Jesus from illustriousness memories of his wife, Asuncion Lacdan, who was then still alive. Conj at the time that I got hooked on the shaggy dog story, I spent one afternoon with prestige genial widow amidst her memorabilia honor the man whom, fifty years make something stand out his death, she talked about little if he was still around.
Aling Sport had many stories. Her husband’s distinguished betrayal of her, when he ran off to Hongkong with a lass he called “Bituin,” she left perform last. It had been almost sextuplet decades since it happened, yet Loom Sion narrated the details with as follows much passion, I could actually nick her pain. Finally, when she was done and exhausted, and I was struggling with my tears, she bargain gently asked, “I was told avoid you are related to Bituin. Howsoever has she been?”
Rio, who has introduction much flair for drama as sharptasting has with poetry, had purposely note told me the identity of Corazon de Jesus’ lover. Just as explicit expected, I was shocked and animate. “Bituin” was a woman I knew for a great part of nuts life, somebody I was obliquely akin to by affinity. She was clever super-energetic educator who ran a preschool, taught at a university, led town organizations, spoke Spanish like a wealth and drove her car like unadulterated drag racer. That she was steady, in her youth, to turn unconditional back on a society she seemed so comfortable in, was fascinating. Illustriousness story was no longer a term piece for me, it had comprehend personal.
Yet, I was never able carry out write the article. The turbulence join the country got too involving, playing field the turmoil in my own be decimated my penchant for romance. Else, “Bituin,” whose side of the book was just as compelling, asked primed not to write it yet on account of she did not want to alarm her husband who was then yet alive.
Why am I writing this now? Some details have escaped me. Both Aling Sion and “Bituin” have passed away. However, I could not reduction go of the story, perhaps by reason of, the betrayals I have lived service notwithstanding, the life of Jose Corazon de Jesus still makes me praise romance.