Chapter XVIII: Family is Unity, Part 2
Across from the RQ Store is Eduardo "Addo" Alfonso, an old man who treats Mark as if he were his grandson. Addo is no ordinary man—he once was a sarsuelista, performing plays in the plaza in front of the Provincial Capitol. He acted in comedies, most famously "Tikong ken Tikang," and the older folks still remember his booming voice and exaggerated gestures. Now retired from the stage, he runs a vulcanizing shop beside the RQ Store, fixing tires while humming old songs.
Addo attended Mark's first birthday party at Jollibee Hermosa Plaza, where he danced with the mascot to everyone's delight. He spoils the boy with sweets and always says, "This one will be on stage one day, just like me!"
Mercy sometimes mistakes him for another Addo—the late Eduardo Formoso, Tinang's driver, who died when Elric and Meric were still children. Two Addos, two different men, but only one remains alive to dote on little Mark.
Until, of course, the bad news comes.
One afternoon, the neighbors tell Mercy that Addo has passed away. Mercy, shocked of this news, calls Meric. Her voice is low. "Addo is no longer alive... he has passed away."
Meric is shocked. She takes Mark by the hand and goes straight to the RQ Store. From there, together with Rico and Mercy, they walk next door to Addo's house. Inside, the atmosphere is heavy—the smell of candles, the soft murmur of prayers, the old photographs on the walls.
As Meric looks at Addo's lifeless body in the casket, she whispers, "Lelong Addo..."
Then remembers something, taking the flashback into her childhood.
Back then, Addo inherited a small carrozza from his family. Since he has no grandchild, then-young Meric and Elric would go help him decorate the carrozza for the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Elric would arrange the flowers and plants that some came from the neighborhood, while Meric helps him. Addo would instruct them while they help him. After positioning the image of the Resurrected Christ on top of the carrozza, they soon arrange and organize the flowers. Then, after polishing the finishing touches of the carrozza, the three would walk the carrozza towards the cathedral which is just a few blocks away. Even though Calle Plaridel is a one way street, they walk the carrozza the wrong way since it is not a vehicle, and the carrozza is respected and revered by the passing vehicles. Each driver who passes by the carrozza with the Resurrected Christ on top of it, does the sign of the cross.
Then Meric ends the flashback.
Mark, not fully understanding, holds Mercy's rosary and sits quietly for once. Meric leads the family in prayer, their voices blending into the chorus of neighbors.
Life goes on, and at Caluipat, a different kind of gathering takes place in Caluipat. Ben and Meric decide to renew their vows. They invite family and friends, call in a pastor, and transform the sala of their house into a chapel-like space. Relatives flock, Mercy and Rico sit proudly in front, and Jonn arrives just in time.
The ceremony is intimate, but of course, Mark cannot resist being the center of attention. As the pastor speaks solemnly about love and commitment, Mark charges forward with toy cars, nearly crashing into his parents' feet. "Mark! Behave!" Meric hisses, while everyone chuckles.
Even during the kiss, Mark tries to wedge himself between them, shouting, "Me too!" Everyone bursts out laughing.
Mercy wipes tears from her eyes, both from laughter and joy. Her beloved grandchild has once again made the moment unforgettable.
Another year rolls around, and Mark is no longer the little toddler who runs around the plaza with a milk bottle in one hand and fries in the other. At the age of four, he is already a day care pupil, and his cousin Adrion joins him in this new adventure. The day care center is at Barangay 3 Hall, right along Quezon Avenue, where the sound of jeepneys honking and the clickity-clack of Calesas hooves passing by mixes with the chatter of parents and children every morning and afternoon.
The system works like clockwork: Adrion attends the morning session, while Mark attends in the afternoon. This arrangement secretly pleases Mercy because it gives her an excuse to spend almost the entire day near the barangay hall, sitting on the benches, talking to other grandmas, and proudly announcing that she has not one, but two grandsons enrolled in day care.
Meric, meanwhile, dives headfirst into school affairs. Somehow, after the first few meetings, she is elected President of the PTA. Perhaps it is her loud but confident voice, or perhaps it is her habit of volunteering before anyone else speaks, but soon enough everyone simply agrees.
"Congratulations, Ma'am President," Ben teases when she brings home the news. "Does this mean you can pass laws about snacks and recess?"
Meric rolls her eyes. "No, but it means I will make sure your son is not climbing windows instead of learning ABCs."
Still, there is pride in Ben's tone. He has always admired Meric's energy, and in day care politics, she shines just as she did in the neighborhood gatherings before.
The biggest event of the year comes when the day care holds its spoken poetry presentation. Parents and grandparents crowd into the barangay hall. The air is warm and thick, the electric fans barely keeping up with the body heat of excited families.
In the morning session, Adrion steps up first. He wears a clean white polo and a nervous smile. When his turn arrives, he recites his poem carefully, syllable by syllable. His voice is soft, but steady, and Mercy beams proudly from her seat. "Ay, that's my apo! Very good!" she claps, nudging the other grandmas and parents around her.
But the afternoon holds a bigger surprise.
When Mark's turn comes, he walks onto the little stage with confidence far beyond his age. His barong is slightly crooked, one sleeve higher than the other, but he carries himself like a tiny actor. He pauses dramatically before reciting his piece, his hands gesturing wildly as if he were declaiming before the Supreme Court.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he shouts at one point, completely off-script, sending the audience into laughter.
Even the teachers giggle, but Mark continues, unbothered, finishing his poem with a bow so low he nearly tips over.
The applause is thunderous, and Mercy is wiping tears from her eyes. "That boy," she whispers to Meric, "he has the soul of a performer. Adrion was wonderful, but this one—this one is a star."
The year ends with day care graduation. Ben and Meric sit nervously in the front row, waiting for their son's name to be called. They expect him to get perhaps one or two awards, maybe "Most Talkative" or "Active Participation."
What they do not expect is for the teacher to start handing over an envelope. Then when they open it, they take a ribbon, but not just one, it's ribbon after ribbon.
"Best in Reading."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZFSaN1khR
"Best in Poetry."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprg8FqvNAN
"Most Energetic."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCFDHC3KFI
"Best Attendance."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jww1YEATq
"Best in Art."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGcc4XgZVu
"Most Friendly."
And the list goes on.
By the time the ceremony is finished, Mark has more than ten ribbons tucked in a large brown envelope. Ben and Meric exchange bewildered glances. "Is this a graduation or a coronation?" Ben mutters, half-proud, half-dazed.
Mark, oblivious to his parents' shock, marches down the aisle with his envelope like a little general carrying his victory loot. The other parents whisper, some amused, some perhaps a little envious, but Mercy does not care. She nearly shouts, "That's my apo! The smartest boy in the Poblacion!"
Not long after graduation, Mercy convinces the family to join her on a field trip with the Ina Poonbato devotees. The trip includes Rico, Meric, Ben, and Mark, along with the rest of the faithful. They board a rented bus decorated with blue and white ribbons, the colors of the Virgin. Inside, snacks are passed around: boiled corn, pan de sal, and bottles of mineral water.
Their first stop is Namacpacan, La Union, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan. The church is grand, its façade rising tall against the sky. The pilgrims kneel in prayer, and Mercy, ever the storyteller, leans toward her family.
"You know," she says, pointing to the image, "this Lady was meant to be brought to the Major Seminary at Hermosa long ago. But she refused. After the storm, she wanted to stay here, in Namacpacan, showering her blessings and devotion to the townsfolk."
Meric tilts his head, confused. "Mang, how can a statue refuse?"
"She just did," Mercy insists. "Miracles don't need explanations."
Ben chuckles, whispering to Meric, "Well, even the saints have their favorite places."
After prayers, the devotees move on to their next destination—Manaoag, Pangasinan. The bus ride is filled with hymns, the devotees' voices rising and falling together. At Manaoag, the family lights candles and joins the long line of pilgrims touching the mantle of Our Lady of the Rosary.
For lunch, the group spreads out picnic mats and opens their packed meals—rice, adobo, fried tilapia, and soft drinks. Mark eats happily, though he spends more time chasing after pigeons than chewing. Mercy, meanwhile, explains devotion after devotion, her words flowing as naturally as breathing.
While Mercy fills her life with prayer and grandchildren, changes ripple quietly through the family. Elric leaves for Abu Dhabi, seeking work abroad. It is a big step, one that leaves Aldric and Adrion in the care of their mother.
Mercy worries, as all mothers do, but she also trusts. "God will take care of him there," she tells Rico. "And here, we will take care of the boys."
For Meric, Ben, and Mark, life continues in its lively rhythm—between day care achievements, pilgrimages, and family gatherings. Yet with every trip, every graduation, and every ribbon pinned to Mark's chest, Mercy feels her heart grow fuller. She sees in her apo not just a child, but a legacy—an echo of the family's past and a promise for its future.
In the laughter of spoken poetry, in the ribbons of graduation, and in the long bus rides with fellow devotees, the family of Hermosa keeps weaving its story—where faith and childhood mischief live side by side, and where Mercy's love for her grandchildren shines brightest of all.
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and then Add to home screen.