#( papatayin = turn off & kill )

[justpandoeruh]

Soldevilla Series

Special Chapter (Amari)

Pinaikot-ikot ko lang ang hawak kong fountain pen sa kamay ko habang nakikinig sa discussion ng isang board member.

To say that this board meeting is boring me is an understatement. I could’ve joined the Tredici with their mission but my priorities as a CEO is not allowing me. Talk about bad timing.

The board member was in the middle of talking when my phone rang, turning all eyes on me. Normally, I would just turn my phone on silence but after seeing the caller’s name, I knew I had to take it.

“Excuse me,” I excused myself. I headed out of the conference room and went to my office.

By then, my phone had stopped ringing so I had to dial the number again.

After three rings, she picked up the call. “Hello, maam? Tulong po!”

“What happened? Is everything okay?” My voice is laced with urgency and worry. Rosie wouldn’t call me unless it’s an emergency.

“Papatayin po ako ni Atasha, ma’am.”

“Hindi ka pa aalis?” My brows furrowed when I heard my daughter’s small voice in the background.

“Ma’am ipupokpok na niya po sa akin yung bato,” sumbong ni Rosie. I heard shuffling in the background which makes me think that maybe she really is serious.

Napahawak nalang ako sa sentido ko habang nag-iisip ng dapat gawin. I ended the call and dialled Avo’s number immediately.

“Hey, I have a client. Is there anything wrong?” bungad nito nang masagot ang tawag.

“Our unica hija is trying to kill her new yaya.”

He chuckled, “Again? That girl is starting to become a mini version of you.”

I rolled my eyes at his statement. Alam ko naman na mana sa akin si Atasha. I was also a brat when I was a kid. And wow, talagang nakaka-frustrate pala mag alaga ng ganon. It makes me salute to my friends and family.

“Can you go home and check on...” I cut myself mid-sentence when I remembered that he said that he has a client. “Nevermind, I’ll do it instead.”

“Uuwi ako maya-maya. I’ll just refer my client to another lawyer.” I smiled. I am aware of how busy he is in his firm, being one of the top highest paid lawyer in the Philippines. I visited him once, hindi na ako umulit kasi hindi rin naman niya ako pinapansin. But even with all the pressure and stress he gets from his work, he never failed to make time for his family, especially the kids.

“Okay. Daanan mo nalang si Asher sa bahay nila Chaos. I’ll see you both at home.”

“See you. I love you,” he didn’t wait for my reply and immediately ended the call. Kaya nag text nalang ako sa kanya.

Nag iwan muna ako ng mga gawain sa secretary ko bago ako umalis. I also asked her to send me the report of the meeting awhile ago.

——

Hindi pa ako nakapark ng maayos sa garahe nang makita ko ang yaya ni Atasha na tumatakbo, behind her is my little princess carrying a rock big enough for her to carry.

Naibaba niya ang hawak niyang bato nang makita ako. She ran and welcomed me with a hug. Agad naman akong umuklo para suklian siya ng yakap.

I leaned back to look at her face. Pawis na pawis na ito at namumula ang pisngi. Sobrang dungis na din ng itsura niya. I wiped her sweat my hand kasi wala akong dalang panyo.

“No work, mommy?” she asked. Naalala ko tuloy kung bakit maaga akong napauwi.

“I heard you made a little ruckus today. What did you do?”

She smiled at me sheepishly with her puppy dog eyes that made my non-existent anger vanish. How she managed to soften me is beyond me. That’s a talent that she and her brother got from Avo.

“I’m sorry, mommy. I was just bored.”

“Wag ka sa’kin mag sorry,” I looked at Rosie behind her kaya napatingin din doon si Atasha.

“I’m sorry yaya Rosie. Please forgive me,” humaba ang nguso nito at nakadikit pa ang dalawang palad. Napailing nalang ako sa pagpapacute ng anak ko.

“Okay lang Atasha. Just don’t do it again.”

I signalled Rosie to leave us. She grabbed her bag, mouthing a thank you before she left.

Tumayo na ako tsaka naglakad patungo sa kotse ko. I still need to park it properly. Nakasunod lang sa akin si Atasha.

“Are you enojada?” sobrang liit ng boses niya habang tinatanong yun. She knew she would get in trouble after what she have done. Pero alam niya din na hindi ko siya papagalitan sa harap ng ibang tao.

I faced her. “Hindi ko gusto ang ginawa mo, Atasha,” seryoso kong saad.

Napayuko siya, her hands are fumbling with the hem of her dress. “I’m really sorry, mommy.”

“I want you to reflect on what you did. I’m not gonna ask you to make promises. But I want you to know that there is a consequence to each your actions. Pag inulit mo ito, you will get reprimanded or worse we’ll ground you. ¿Entiendes, mi pequeña princesa?”

“Opo, mommy. Lo siento.”

Sobrang lungkot ng boses niya kaya hindi ko na rin natiis. I stretched my arms. “Come here, give me a hug.” Agad naman siyang lumapit sa akin at niyakap ako.

Pinahid ko ang luha na sinbukan niyang itago kanina sa pagyuko. “I forgive you. Te amo.” I whispered as I kissed her hair. I felt her hug tightened.

“Yo también te amo mamá.”

We were in that position when Asher and Avo saw us. Agad lumapit si Asher at nakisali sa yakapan namin. Si Avo ay nanatiling nakatayo habang nakatingin sa amin. His eyes filled with love and adoration as he was looking at us softly.

“Daddy’s here, princess,” he announced. Agad tumayo si Atasha tsaka tumakbo papunta sa daddy niya. Hinalikan ni Avo ang noo nito bago binuhat.

Nagsimula na silang maglakad papasok sa bahay kaya sumunod kami ni Asher. I looked at Asher when I felt his small hands holding mine. Napangiti ako sa kasweetan ng anak ko.

“How are you? ¿Te divertiste?”

“Yes, mom. Mis primos were there too. Tío Chaos even taught us some games that he learned when he was young,” kwento nito. Napatawa ako habang iniimagine ang mga bata na naglalaro kasama si Chaos. Puro kalokohan pa naman ang mga laro ng lalaking yon.

“You wanna go there again tomorrow? Isama mo si Atasha.” He nodded eagerly kaya natatawa kong pinitik ang ilong niya. He complained but he couldn’t get the smile off his face.

Nang makapasok kami ay nakita namin ang mag-ama na nakaupo sa sahig ng sala. Atasha is applying a bright red nail polish in his father’s nails. Pulang pula din ang labi ng dalawa.

Saglit lang naman kami sa labas pero ito na agad ang maabutan ko. Napailing nalang ako tsaka tinabihan si Avo. Asher went to the kitchen.

“Sis, magkano bayad dito?” natatawa kong bulong.

“Free lang daw, sis,” pagsakay niya. Pinaliit pa niya ang boses niya pero fail kasi lalaking-lalaki pa rin ito. Para tuloy siyang barumbadong bakla.

“Hindi bagay sayo.” Pabiro naman akong inirapan ni Avo.

Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa balikat ni Avo. Nagreklamo pa si Atasha kasi nasanggi ko daw yung kamay ng ama niya. I let Avo pacify her tutal daddy’s girl naman yon. Uto-uto yun pagdating sa ama niya eh.

Maya-maya lang ay naupo na din sa tabi namin si Asher. He was a carrying a plate with sandwiches na agad niyang nilapag sa mesa. Avo said his thanks, I kissed his hair as a sign of gratitude, si Atasha naman ay niyakap siya at hinalikan sa pisngi.

Pagkatapos pagandahin ni Atasha ang ama ay si Asher naman ang kinulit nito. Hindi nakatakas si Asher sa kapatid niya kaya ngayon ay nakanguso na ito habang nilalagyan ni Atasha ng pink lipstick ang labi niya.

I grabbed my phone and took a photo of the three of them. Avo looking gorgeous while looking at the kids, Asher frowning with a very flushed cheeks, and Atasha clearly enjoying.

I sent the photo to the Soldevilla GC with the caption ‘Free service from Atasha Dior De Marco’.

I received replies from the others kaya inabala ko muna ang sarili ko sa cellphone. Paminsan-minsan akong natatawa sa mga text ni Chaos.

When I looked up I saw Avo staring at me. Nang mahuli ang tingin ko ay agad siyang ngumiti. “I love you,” he mouthed, making me smile as well.

I felt at peace and happy as I looked at the view in front of me. I’m lucky to witness such scene. This is something I would never replace for anything in the world.

They’re my lifeline, my home.

[phgq]

PRRD tells marines to finish off enemies of the state

#PHnews: PRRD tells marines to finish off enemies of the state

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday encouraged members of the Philippine Marine Corps to use their brand-new equipment and firearms to eliminate enemies of the state.

Duterte made this pronouncement after turning over military equipment and firearms to members of the PMC to enhance its capabilities and heading the awarding ceremony of the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the ranks of Kampilan and Kamagi to soldiers who actively participated in the liberation of Marawi City.

Among the equipment and firearms that were handed over include Barret Rifles, Glock Pistols, Rock Island .45 caliber pistols, .50 caliber sniper rifles, and 5W VHF hand-held radios and repeater systems.

“Binigyan ko naman kayo (I have given you new equipment and firearms). Use it to kill the enemies of the state. Ubusin ninyo, patayin ninyo ang mga p********** 'yan (Finish them off, kill them all),” Duterte said in a speech in Taguig City.

"Patayin ninyo ang kalaban. 'Pag nasa crosshair na, i-target mo 'yung puso pati ulo. Kasi kayo talagang papatayin kayo ng mga walang-hiya na 'yan. Mag-ambush pa (Kill the enemies. When they're in the crosshair, target their heart and head. Because they'll really kill you. They'll ambush you)," he added.

Duterte lauded the 103 officers and 1,800 enlisted personnel who successfully regained the Mapandi, Banggolo, and Masiu bridges in Marawi and recovered more than PHP80 million worth of cash and checks.

He urged the marines to continue working with this administration not only in the promotion of peace and order but also in humanitarian and disaster response in times of natural and man-made disasters.

In turn, he assured them that the administration would continue to boost their morale, efficiency, and responsiveness through modernization, capacity building, and other meritorious initiatives.

According to Duterte, the government has been fast-tracking the acquisition of vessels, aircraft, trucks, drones and other equipment as part of the more than PHP283 billion worth of projects under the Second Horizon of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program since 2018.

He expressed hope that by 2021, the marines would be better capacitated with the light armor systems upgrade, squad rocket launchers, and protection equipment to keep the country’s forces at par with their foreign counterparts.

Families will survive

Lamenting how it pained him to see how soldiers captured by terrorists were “treated like dogs in camps”, he urged them to reserve one bullet to take their own lives rather than remain captives.

“Kung na-corner ka na (When you get cornered)…” Duterte said, making the gesture shooting himself in the mouth.

He assured that should they be killed in action, he would see to it that their families would be taken good care of.

“I will see to it that your family will survive and I will see to it that your children will have a good education,” he added.

The President admitted that although he might not be able to restore marines who have lost their limbs and legs from injury to their “original state”, he would make it a point that they have their dignity intact.

“Titindig pa rin (You’ll still stand),” Duterte said.

He said the wives of marines who are injured or killed will also be given jobs.

In October 2017, Duterte announced the liberation of Marawi City after more than four months of battling Islamic State-inspired terrorists. Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao after the Islamic State-inspired Maute group laid siege in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on May 23, 2017.

Congress extended the initial 60-day martial rule thrice upon the President’s recommendation to help state forces quell the insurgency in Mindanao.

Martial law in Mindanao expired on Dec. 31, 2019.

Birthday gifts

Meanwhile, Duterte said he would give PHP50,000 to each member of the members of the Philippine Marine Corps, who are celebrating their birthdays this month.

“I’ll give you PHP50,000 each. Ito ibigay ko lang sa inyo para may madala kayo...birthday gift ko sa inyo (I’ll give this to you so you have something to take home….it’s my birthday gift to you),” Duterte said.

Duterte told them to give the cash gift to their families.

“I’ll send you the PHP50,000 by...the latest would be Wednesday,” he added. (PNA) 

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "PRRD tells marines to finish off enemies of the state." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1090766 (accessed January 14, 2020 at 04:31PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "PRRD tells marines to finish off enemies of the state." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1090766 (archived).