Jan 2009

Chapter 14

Santa Ana

‘ … a twig from the branch of Jesse …’

http://www.zcgvaz.com/i/STA.htm

Started 9 September 2007

Last Updated 23 September 2008 p

Simbahan.jpg

Dasalan.jpg

Altar.jpg

     Lynn was awakened by the first glimmer of the sun.  She was lying on a woven banig on the floor.  She vaguely recalled remembered rocking on her grandfather’s tomba-tomba while trying to absorb all the information on the screen.  Her aunt and cousin tried to get her to the bedroom but she was too sleepy and tired to walk.  They helped her get down on the floor.  She was glad to have a soft unan under her head.  She did not even recall asking for a kumot.  Someone must have thrown a bed sheet over her later.  Someone else was awake.  She heard the sound of chairs being moved downstairs.  “I wonder if the electricity is back on.” She thought.  “I hope water is running.”

     Her aunt was trying to clean up the table before starting to put some food on it.

     “Hungry?”  She asked.

     “Very.”

     “There is no ‘koriente’.  Try not to keep the refrigerator door open longer than you have to.  There should be enough leftovers for today.  Of course we cannot warm anything.”

     Lynn picked some items not necessarily meant for breakfast.  Anything cooked was fine even if it is cold.  In the olden days, they settled for that but did not have to worry about warming food.  There was no refrigerator.  It would have been nice, though, to have oven fresh pan de sal.  The local sari-sari store used to have them at the break of day.  They were delivered by errand boys from across the river made fresh in one of the two bakeries in town both beloning to relatives.  It would have been great to get news from them with or without the breakfast rolls.  Sinangag … fried rice was not an option either.

     “Too bad we do not have the old earthen stove and clay palayok pot set anymore.”  Her aunt said.  “I still know how to use firewood on such a kalan.”

     “Are our relatives all OK?”

     “I think so.”  Her aunt replied.  “Someone would have come on foot to tell us if someone had a problem.  Bridges are down and the river is full of debris and hot lahar.  Phones are down but I hope your brother would think of sending a messenger to tell us bad news if any about those on the other side of town.” 

     The door bar on the front metal gate made knocking sounds.  Her aunt looked out to see who was there.  It was Nino.  He told her that he had instructions to meet her at the foot of the Kawayan bridge at 0630 hours.  There is no other way to get across the river except by helicopter.  He needed to make a few errands first.  He will later take her to the simbahan to look through whatever old pictures of the town are left and check on her mother’s relatives behind the church.  Then, they will proceed to NPHQ to meet with some officials.  Her brother will be there as well.  He left a radiophone for her.

     She had to use artesian well water stored in an earthen tapayan and an empty can to use as a tabo to scoop and pour water with.  There was no room for modesty.  She simply turned towards the closed door to prevent an early morning show for whoever may be watching from across the burnt river through the burned out back wall.  At least her cousins and aunt managed to prevent a worse fire by starting to chop down the bamboo fence in the backyard and hosing the walls of the house early.  They heard the noise made by the animals.  Her cousins did not know what it meant.  Her aunt remembered the commotion from an earthquake years ago.

     The chopper was parked on the hump on the street which was elevated to the level of the bridge.  The street on the other side runs from that end of the bridge then between the church patio or front yard and what used to be her grandfather’s cousin’s yard.  It then continues in front of the Municipio and into the barrio named after the town’s patron saint after whom the the old Maliit River was also originally named.  Few would guess that the street replaced the river 

     The fire has died down except for a few embers mixed with lahar where the water was.  The bridge fell and practically disappeared except for a short partially burned section on each end.  The opposite bank was littered with debris from ruined homes which stood as blackened and collapsed makeshift stalls.  That side of the river took a beating.  Their half was good compared to that.  The new parking garage at the foot of the bridge across the street from  the church was blackened but otherwise minimally damaged.  The vehicles may not be completely usable but Filipinos have a thousand ways to recycle anything available.  WW II Army Jeeps were turned into colorfull jeepneys for public transportation after the war.  The surrounding municipal buildings escaped damage.  The old stone church stood proudly.  The elevated patio and stone supporting walls along the river bank held well.  Those Spanish time builders did an excellent job.  Aside from the river bank areas, the town was in good shape.  Nino passed over her mothers’ relatives house and then other relatives homes to provide her with a better view.  They were all intact.

     The chopper landed on the front patio of the church.  There were some vendors in makeshift stalls selling hot food and giving away used clothes and other items.

     “We need an information and Medical Triage Station right there.”  Lynn said pointing to the area close to the road beside an Acacia tree.  Folding chairs can be set up under the shade.  Arrange for some vendors to sell drinks … non-alcoholic, of course.”

     “K.J!”

     The inside of the church was dusty and smelled of smoke but otherwise surprisingly uncluttered.  They found the “Town Heritage Display”. 

     “What are you looking for?”  Nino asked.  She told him and then proceeded to inspect the rest of the building.  The church was built by the Agustinian priests in 1587 when the town was established.  It was damaged during an earthquake in the 1800’s and repaired.  Except for the linen and statues’ vestments, the church has remained the same since the mid 1900’s till the past twenty or so years.  Then major renovation started to celebrate its 400^th birthday.  Then there was a major beautification job to prepare for its rededication on December 2001.  The outside stones were evened out.  The interior walls were polished.  There were no more loose tiles for playful children to rock back and forth on.  They were replaced and the buckled underlying surfaces were flattened.   The altar has been rearranged and ‘marblelized’ but Sta. Ana and the Child Mary still occupied a special place on the secondary altar closer to the main street.  She chose a pew at the right of the middle aisle near the front and tried the new, cushioned kneeler.  It felt 100% better than the original old wood and neither creaked nor wobbled.  The windows were thick as ever with no cracks anywhere.  One of her cousins on her mother’s side stood on a window sill to watch the proceedings of a town meeting called by the Japanese during WW II.  He stayed very close to the wall as far back as possible to be hidden from the view of the soldiers standing in the choir loft.  Those on the floor may have noticed him but probably did not consider an altar boy an intruder.  Suki was there serving as the interpreter for the Japanese officer.  She smoked incessantly.  That was the one thing that made him have an unfavorable impression of her.  No one specially a female smoked in church.  No woman in town ever smoked anywhere.  Whe she was killed later, he said that she deserved what she got because she had no respect for God.  She did not resist either when the Japanese took her with them when they ran out of the church after someone cried: ”Amerkano!”.  Through the front door he saw fire rising from the location of the Kawayan bridge.

     Lynn was baptized and confirmed here.  Friends and relatives were married here.  She probably played here while waiting for her mother and her mother’s cousin to get a break from their seemingly endless volunteer church activities.  Her father and his best friend who later became a relative by marriage to her father’s cousin played tennis behind this church.  That was located between this building and the home of her mother’s relatives.  That is where her parents met.  The young boy who used to recover their runaway tennis balls later revealed a secret previously unknown even to her family.  Close to the very end of the war, the Parish Priest had an urgent errand for the boy.  He was to find certain men in town quickly because they were going to be arrested by the Japanese.  Her father was one of them.  He did not find him and a few others.  A couple were captured.  Her father apparently was in the river literally with his head concealed by surrounding water lilies.  Much later, during peace times, the church served as the center for special town events.  when her father’s friend, then her uncle by marriage into the family, he was honored by the town on his promotion to the rank of Brigadier General.  The celebration included a coming home parade that culminated in this church and a mass.  There were just a handful of generals in the entire country and none in the town till then.  There were three more years later.  The latest was her brother.

     One of the last family events held here  that Lynn was involved in was the wedding of a younger brother of the altar boy and her paternal cousin.  Lynn was the maid of honor.  She was then recovering from Hemorrhagic Fever.  With her mother’s four inch heeled shoes and weakened condition it took a lot of effort to balance on the wobbly tiles, walk gracefully, prevent her then loose dress from falling off her shoulders and smile at the same time.  Memories!!!

     She did not go into the sacristy.  She presumed it was in good shape. 

     “Santisima Ana, Lola de Dios y Imaculada Virgen Maria, Madre de Dios,”  Lynn prayed silently.

     “Gracias.  That’s the extent of my Espanol.  I am a Tagala.  After the initial shock, my town mates would realize the miracle beyond the catastrophe that jolted them yesterday.  The river that were drying up and the one that completely did years ago were widened by the earthquake.  After the debris cleanup, they will note that the initial work they have to do shall have already been accomplished.  They may still desire to deepen the waterways some more and reinforce the banks.  Then the rest of the plan suggested earlier can get going.“

     She thanked them for saving the areas of the town not included in the area for construction work and keeping the damage low.  Only a handful of persons have been reported missing and Lynn knew who they were.  No one seemed to miss the other two.  Only two died and they happened to be chronically ill and in pain for a long time.  The rest were able to flee.  There were several injuries but not life threatening.  Transports have already been carried out mostly to surrounding town hospitals and the more complicated ones to Metro Kaharian and military facilities.  She would be discussing a Medical Transport Plan with Military top brass in NPHQ.  It would involve helicopters adapted for the purpose.  Nino would have to help with that.  His expertise as a Philippine Marine pilot made the transfers during the previous night easier.  It would also be time to talk about the suggestions she detailed earlier at a barrio meeting with the local people concerning steps to make the area environmentally sound and save the bay, lake and rivers system. 

     “Please make them listen.  I know that both of you care very much about this town.  I never knew why till lately.  This place reminds you of home.  If we reverse the North-South direction, the layout would be similar to that of Jerusalem.  The Malaki river connects to the Lawin Lake now at the North of town with the Kaharian Bay now in the South.  That would be like the Jordan River connecting the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea.  Magdalena is along the lakeshore with Sta. Cruz marking the vicinity.  The temple is where the church is now.  That’s where Virgen Mary was presented and grew up in.  That is where the Angel Gabriel announced that God will GIVE the throne of OUR FATHER David to the Fruit of her womb Who she will name Jesus.  Much later, the world called Him “God with us” … “Emmanuel”.  It was here later that the infant Jesus was presented and Anna wanted to see the MESSIAH. It was then that the high priest said that a sword shall pierce the heart of His mother, the Virgen Maria.  Immediately after Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn by an invisible hand.  It was also here that all eligible men were asked to come for selection of a suitable husband for the Virgen Maria.  The man selected by God was supposed to show a visible sign.  St. Joseph’s staff bloomed miraculously.  He did not acknowledge ownership of the staff at first but eventually did. 

     These excerpts were taken from the Internet.

“THE GENEALOGIES OF JESUS DO NOT REPRESENT ERRORS IN SCRIPTURE ²

by John F. McCarthy

109. The fifth solution: legal adoption. According to Urban Holzmeister, if Mary was an only child, it was in keeping with Old Testament law and custom for her father to adopt her husband and transfer to him all of his rights and possessions. If this happened, the genealogy of Luke, while remaining materially the genealogy of Mary, would formally have become the genealogy of Joseph, who had inherited Mary's ancestry from her father by way of adoption. Holzmeister finds a precedent for this kind of special adoption in 1 Chron 2:34. Jacques Masson rejects this theory on the ground that, according to St. John Damascene, Joachim, Mary's father, was the son of Barpanther, son of Panther, son of Levi, and not the son of Eli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, as the Lukan gen­ealogy reads. But F.X. Patrizzi, after studying the same testimony of St. John Damascene, concluded that St. Joseph must have been Blessed Mary's uncle, and, therefore, he would have had the same genealogy as Mary from Levi on backward (even prescinding from the idea that Eli was actually Joachim, which Patrizzi rejects).

110. The sixth solution: consanguinity. Cornelius a Lapide elaborates on the theory of Marian genealogy (solution four above) to speculate that both of the genealogies may actually present the ancestry of Mary. He affirms that, while Eli (of Luke's list) was Joachim, the father of Mary, so Matthan (of Matthew's list) was the biological grandfather of both Joseph and Mary, inasmuch as Jacob (who begot Joseph according to Matthew's list) was the brother of Anne, Mary's mother. Thus, according to this theory, Matthew gives the ancestry of Mary through her mother Anne, but, in keeping with the Hebrew custom of favoring male names in genealogies, Anne's brother Jacob is mentioned instead of Anne, just as Joseph is mentioned instead of Mary. In defense of the idea that Mary and Joseph could have been cousins, a Lapide notes that, according to Num 36:6-10, women who are heiresses of their parents' property are ordered to marry, not only within the same tribe, but also within the same kindred and closely-related family, lest the inheri­tance pass to outsiders. He points out also that authorities such as Ambrose, Jerome, Theodo­retus, Jeremiah, Bernard, and Suarez hold that the Blessed Virgin Mary was also a descendant of David through Solomon, and, therefore, in the line of Matthew's genealogy. Patrizzi reasons that Joseph was the paternal uncle of Mary and the brother of her father Joachim, and that Joachim, Cleophas, and Joseph were the three sons of the last Jacob in Matthew's genealogy. In Jewish law, marriage of an uncle with his niece was sometimes permitted, especially by way of the Law of the Levirate. Masson agrees with a Lapide that St. Anne was the sister of Jacob and the aunt of St. Joseph. Hence, according to Masson, Mary and Joseph were first cousins on her mother's side  as shown by the O.H.T. STUDY PROGRAM: LESSON 16: SEPTEMBER 2006. 

     St. Anne is the sister of the Jacob listed before Joseph in the Genealogy of Jesus. Her father or other member of the family probably arranged for her inheritance to stay within the family through traditional custom.  Females are not allowed to own or transfer property.  A male partner has to be born or legalized.  Students of both the Old and New Testament should be happy to note that one of the prophesies about the coming Messiah was that He would arise from a twig from the branch of Jesse.  There was no mention of gender, blood or legal papers. 

     The above conclusions establishing St. Anne as the matriarchal link to the House of David reflects and is compatible with a virgin birth occurring on the last two generations agreeing with both the Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ and that of the Blessed Virgin Mary also.  St. Luke only knew of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ when he did his research.  Another person who understood the miraculous birth of the Lord is Nostradamus.  He referred to Christ as the Androgene Begotten.  Both men were Medical doctors, well read and educated and wrote in at least one language other than their own.  I salute my illustrious colleagues.  The Obstetrical histories of Sarah, St. Anne and Mary’s cousin Elizabeth were suggestive of genetic Infertility problems.  Doctors knew of more than one theoretical way to conceive without the help of a mate or artificial means.  Of course, no one so far has documented such naturally occurring events.  There are myths that suggest the same.  Isis and Semiramis may have been also blessed.

     Elizabeth, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s cousin,  was from the daughters of Aaron, of the house of Levi.  They were all Israelites. The world has been and is still confused but King Herod was NOT!!!  King Herod knew that Jesus was not his relative, therefore did not belonging to the house of Essau, therefore was not an Edomite, therefore had to be an Israelite and could very well be the rightful King.  King Herod, an Edomite, was the puppet ruler supported by Rome at the time.  Herod ordered the massacre of all males in Bethlehem under two years of age.  It was and still is umportant to some and imperative for others to prove their descent from Israel and not Essau or Edom so much so that the earliest Jacob adopted his own grandchildren.  Essau or Edom gave up his birthright and all his descendants had the same fate.  Things were supposed to have changed when Haddad, an Edomite was one of the rulers who shared the kingdom left by King Solomon.  That Josephus did not write this should not be a surprise to those who had been familiar with King Herod and his descendants’ wrath.  St. John the Baptist’s head ended up on a silver platter.”

     Then she added: “In fact, you may actually be in a piece of your old home.  When the original landmass divided and subdivided, scattered and rejoined in some places, pieces of the bottom portion of the plates may have formed our country and those around us.  There are similarities in different pockets of civilizations.  Even in our small nation, we have variations that can only be explained by common subdevelopment and origin elsewhere.  I often wondered if we were broken shards from the original earthenware.  We seem to be ‘retazos’ of different places.  At least one of our islands could have originated from the Australian, African, Arabian and Eurasian plate.   How else can we explain the Aetas who are ethnically  thevsame as the Negritos of Indonesia be our first settlers and at the same time be Aborigenes of Indonesia and look like the Aborigines in Australia and be very similar to some African and Afro American  groups?   Recently, a 55,000 year old skeleton of a human being of African genetic origin was discovered in Australia.   I can understand those in the USA and Carribean regions being imported from Africa but how about the same Aborigines in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines?  A tiny piece of Jerusalem may have floated here as well.”

     Further mixing by land movement in addition to travel can be expected.   In Africa, fissure eruptions from the flanks of the Erta Ale Volcano have been occurring since 1967 or maybe 1906.  In East Africa, spreading processes have already torn Saudi Arabia away from the rest of the African continent, forming the Red Sea.  The actively splitting African Plate and the Arabian Plate meet in a triple conjunction where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden.  A NEW SPREADING CENTER may be developing under Africa along the East African Rift Zone.  When it blows, the present African continent we know will split allowing the Indian Ocean to flood the area and transform the Horn of Africa into a large island.

     At 7:00 evening on 30 September, 2007,  the crew of a Canadian Navy vessel sailing towards the Suez Canal noticed ashes in the air.   A volcano on the 2 mile long island called Jabal al-Tair meaning Bird Mountain, 70 miles off the coast of Yemen spewed ashes thousands of miles up and lava hundreds of miles into the air.  The entire island was aglow.  Yemen is a poor Sunni area in the Southwest tip of the Arabian Peninsula.  Jabal al Tair Island had no settled population but was used as a Naval Control and Observation Station.  The Military Garrison located there was evacuated.  NATO helped with search and rescue.  Nine soldiers died.  Molten lava poured into the surrounding waters.  The Bird blew its top and the Red Sea showed its true color.  Cherubim and Flaming Sword may have revealed  their locations. 

     Earlier in the month, a series of earthquakes jolted Indonesia.  More are expected.  We already know that sunken civilizations are REAL.  The 2004 Indonesian tsunami revealed one of them to present day witnesses.  Archeologists confirmed the finding.  There may be more Indonesian Islands in the future along with new ones from Africa and Arabia and maybe India.  On the other hand, some of the old ones may disappear.

     “May I make a request for the benefit of the world?  I may not be around by then  so I would like to ask now.  Please ask the Lord not to send Meggido this way.  How about sinking it?  Thank you very much.  You helped us all through the Japanese occupation.  We may need your protection at least one more time.  On the very last one, please whisper the correct answer to those who by then still do not believe … GOD WITH US …EMMANUEL.”

     “I found them!”  Nino announced.  “Here is a picture of the first High School in town.  I understand that it belonged to your grandfather’s cousin. He and his family were kept in the older house with the servants while the Japanese officer used the new one as his headquarters.  He also kept the Japanese lady of the house as a hotage and interpreter.”

     “ Did you read that somewhere?”

     “No.  Someone briefed me.  Here you are.  The other little girl is your cousin and the older one is her sister who was Valedictorian of the class.”

     “She is the one who told her maternal grandfather what she saw from the back window of our paternal tgrandfather’s home.”

     “I’ll add that to my mental notes.”

     “You missed your calling. Would you consider being an investigative reporter?”

     “Might as well.  Now here are photocopies of pages from that book you wanted to be included in the Heritage Display.  They already did.  It was difficult to spot.  It looked so insignificant.  No one knew what I was talking about.”

     Lynn reached for the papers he was handing her.

     “It looks like the church at least has emergency power.”  She said, noting that there still were no lights but someone obviously used a copier.  Whoever did it knew what pages to duplicate.  “There they are!”

Last Days ……………………….. page 69

Dumating ang Hinihintay ….. page 70

Suki’s Death ……………………. Page 71-73

     It was all in Tagalog.  It clearly stated what the American officer wrote in his notes.  Shortly after arrival in town, a very old woman leading a child of the same gender showed up in his office to report the location of the Japanese officer and his troops.  One day, there was privileged information that the officer and the Japanese lady were riding on a boat down the river.  Troops already on alert and waiting spotted them and the others on separate boats.  The Japanese officer on seeing one American soldier dressed in green fatigues standing on the river bank mistook him for one of his own men.  He soon realized his mistake and tried to reach for his gun. The American was ready earlier and fired first hitting him on the lower extremity.  The Japanese lady was hit and killed and so was a boatman.  Another boatman was injured and fell into the water but survived.  Another simply jumped into the water and did not surface till he was safely away.  The Japanese officer fell into the water but was not found till later.  He was captured on the river bank crawling on a bed of kang kong plants.  He was transported to a medical facility somewhere.  His men ran away from town towards the East since the bridge and the river were no longer useful for escape purposes.  Their underground hideout was further South.  They presumed that the Americans already were aware of that by then.   The American camp was in the North.

     According to Lynn’s cousin, his brother’s comment later was that Suki was hit on the jaw because she smoked in church.  Another story was that she tried to cover herself with her umbrella.  Another was that she was shot by someone standing on the bridge.  Lynn presumed that it was the Kawayan Bridge but found out later that the bridge was burned earlier.  Someone said it was the bridge across the Maliit River which branched off Malaki River towards the back of the Japanese headquarters.  However, the cousin who narrated the story to her said that the American troops were WAITING close to the barrio’s artesian well.  They must have been on the same side of the river as her grandfather’s house, just a few houses away and standing on the small diving board sized bamboo docks usually protruding from some backyards along the river.  Lynn does not recall seeing the event but she may have been there!     Opinions about Suki’s role during the Japanese occupation was mixed.  Some outrightly accused her of having been a spy who infiltrated the town and situated herself in favorable surroundings physically, socially and politically.  The Japanese officer may have known where to go before his arrival.  Others said she was an innocent victim.  Some said she may have tipped the Japanese about those imprisoned and killed.  Others said she actually warned some of dangers and saved lives.  The family stood by her and her memory through the years.  The book about the town was as impartial and objective as can be and even omitted details about her presence in town.  Her name was mentioned only in relation to the preparation of the lungga as a remote hideaway and the river incident.  His personal opinion was completely kept to himself.  She did accompany Lynn’s father’s friend’s wife who searched for her husband after being included in the Death March from Bataan.  For years, Lynn thought that Suki secured his release as implied by people in town.  Her father’s cousin revealed that his friend was released by the Japanese commander as a result of mutual respect for each other.  In fact, he was ordered to get out of the detention camp when he refused to leave without his men.  He was terribly ill from Malaria infection by the time he was found.  Suki helped by asking Japanese soldiers the location of camps were inmates were released.  There were only a few.  The old and less old homes used by the family and taken over by the Japanese have been gone for years.  The compound has been transformed into a municipal facility.  There was no damage visible from the air.

     Then a thought entered her mind.  Water in the Lake and Rivers system flow in from Kaharian Bay during the dry season and reverse directions during the rainy season when the lake is full. It may be the wrong time of the year but the liquid level and pressure in Malaki River should be high at this time.  All the debris and lahar in the rivers would now flow into the Kaharian Bay, the portion of Anak River meandering through Kaharian proper, the Maganda River and Lawin Lake plus the tributaries.  The Anak River portion on display in Kaharian proper and Maganda have just been through extensive and expensive clean up measures.  The government cannot wait till they get too messed up again.  The source of the problem has to be dredged promptly.  Dredging Malaki River has been deferred indefinitely and would have probably been erased from the plan permanently because it did not impact greatly on the overall economy of Metro Kaharian until now. She stifled a laugh.  Immediate dredging would give Malaki River about five to ten years of added life.  That would be enough time to have permanent improvements constructed before the final crunch of global drying and death of agriculture and fishing in the town.

     “Good job, Grandma!”  She said aloud.

     “Grandma?”

     “Ana San Joaquin.”

     “She is your grandmother?”

     “She is Maria San Jose’s mother.  That makes her Lola.”

     “… must be through the extended family system.”

     “Right!”

     They followed the course of the river out of town.  The midsection of the Maybayad Bridge collapsed.

     “That may need to be replaced.”  Nino said.

      “People may actually be happy about that.  It has been due for something a long time ago.  It is old and not wide enough for today’s traffic and wider vehicles.  It will be a terrible inconvenience in the meantime.  All land transportation need to be rerouted.  The military can fly across but the civilians will have to go beyond town to do the same.  Those working in Kaharian and vicinity may have to choose a longer route to get there or  stay with relatives who reside closer to their places of work.  A long time ago, most town residents worked in the fields and the rivers and the lake.  They managed to get to their jobs by bamboo sleds pulled by carabaos.  Some just walked.  When the bridges were down, some run a ferry system.  Now that the river is clogged, that option is out.”

     Presidente looked good from the air.  NPHQ was not damaged at all.  Neither was the Army HQ across the highway. Only pictures on the local paper showed evidence of what happened in Tabing-Ilog.  The helicopter landed on the parade ground.  A young officer met them and escorted them to the Situation Room.  Her brother was with some high ranking officers.  They apparently discussed reports and plans before she showed up.

     “Have a seat.”  He said pulling a chair beside him.  Lynn did not recognize any of the gentlemen across the conference table.  They introduced themselves.  She handed her report on the previous day day’s events to her brother in the meantime.  He added them to the draft of her earlier recommendations about plans to revitalize the Lake Lawin to Kaharian Bay Waterway System with emphasis on Malaki River.

     “I see that this is an all-inclusive plan to start programs to improve the environment and help slow down global warming in our terribly miniscule way.”  The Armed Forces Chief of Staff started 

     “Almost, Sir. It would be a critically needed step for the local people who may lose their livelihood and health if the Malaki River dries up.  It would boost the efforts of Lakes Watch program which includes local, national and international projects to save the Lake systems. We are fortunate to be a receipient of such concern and recommendations for improvement.  They were written way back in 1967.  Portions of the general plan have already been implemented the last few years.  Those were the ones which impact Kaharian proper and metro area.  We would simply redirect focus on Malaki River area because of the recent change in the local status now even greatly impacting Kaharian and may cripple the major part of the Lake Lawin catchment basin.  It would be a major stimulus to international effort to motivate small countries to do what they otherwise cannot do individually to reduce global warming and planetary deterioration. 

     “The general plan is fine but the components sound very ambitious and impossible to me.”

     “Without help from others, you may be absolutely right, Sir.  However, with the cooperation of other interested countries and organizations, it can be at least initiated and gradually completed.  More than that, other small countries can be encouraged to follow our example.  It would give a one time in a million chance in world history for so called United Nations and allies to cooperate with some so called enemies to work together for a change.”

     Laughter.

     “That last one alone may be worth the effort.”  Someone said.

     “I agree but who is going to convince them?”

     “You are, Sir.”

     “Thanks!  That’s all I need!  The first question I shall have to answer is where we can get the money.  We already owe the entire country to IMF and the World Bank.  Even if so called loans are voluntary, we cannot accept what we cannot afford to pay.  Even donations are bad because if they come at all, they get lost in the budget system or elsewhere.”

     “… unauthorized pockets!”  Someone commented.

     … Mixed laughter and groaning …

     Lynn’s brother stood up.  “My sister already hinted such a plan to the US leadership who soon after attended different conferences in Australia and elsewhere.  He seemed to like talking about cooperation to save the planet.  It gets people’s mind off Iraq.  She mentioned involving the EU, China, UN and other interested countries.”

     “We still need money.  That is still THE stumbling block.”  The AFP Chief of Staff said.

     “We, Sir are not going to request money!”  Lynn explained.

    “What!?”

     “As you said sir, we cannot afford loans and do not expect to actually see donations.  We shall request countries who already are pioneers in environment saving technology to build examples of their works here.  Alternatively, they can ship the technological products here and we incorporate them in the construction project with the help and supervision of experts.  In the plan I submitted the reasons for action and what to do were listed.  Today, I would like to suggest who we need to ask for help and why.   The Yangtze River Dam builders in particular would be most valuable because they are building a huge dam on a fault.  Our fault is just a tiny crack in comparison to what they are dealing with.  That is super advanced capability.  The dam and locks they would design and construct here would look like razor blades compared to theirs.  Our little lake rivers system and one mini volcano will be no challenge to them at all.  Portugal and UK can supply Sea Wave, Tidal Barrage and River Flow Power Electricity Generators.  It would be difficult if not impossible to acquire them otherwise.  We may sign an agreement not to make duplicates for sale or share design information with others.  It would be most courteous to offer to do so without being asked.

      Alcohol burns more completely reducing emissions and growing the plants used as basic ingredients will consume more Carbon dioxide and release more oxygen for humans.  We get independent of foreign oil which countries end up fighting for or pay a high price for. However, cars have to be adapted to the new fuel.  Germany is working on that problem. Some pipes and tubes may need to be replaced with those made of more suitable materials.  Coal mining is still dangerous and emissions result in cardio-pulmonary problems. That was the major incentive for building the Yangtze River Dam.  That makes the Chinese key figures in the effort to promote alternative sources of energy.  Brazil can help us start an Alcohol Fuel project.  That country is the leading exporter of Ethanol  which is getting popular along with new models of vehicles using such fuel.  They use sugar cane primarily.  However, we do not want to give up necessary food for transportation fuel.  That would be a sure way to get into a worse reason for war … starvation not to mention economic collapse from increased food prices.

     We need to get rid of water lilies clogging our rivers.  If successful in revitalizing our water supply and irrigation system, the boost in Agriculture would increase other cellulose by products that would need to be discarded also.  The British now are turning such garbage into Butanol fuel.  We should ask them to help us start such a project and manufacture the adapters needed to enable old model cars to use them.  The US can design an overall Waste Management program.  Japan and other densely populated countries have followed their techniques. That would avoid another sad experience with a moving garbage mountain killing treasure hunters on or around it.  They can be paid workers in the project instead.  Saudi Arabia has been using sea water desalination for decades.  The US can show us how to recover the moisture resulting from the process and use water for drinking or making hydrogen cell batteries.  Hydrogen cell powered vehicles can generate enough energy to supply added electricity for homes and establishments.  That may be a good source of auxiliary and emergency power for public and other key buildings.  Our Japanese neighbors would be glad to display their new hybrid and electric cars of the future.  That is just a partial list.”  She ended.

     “Would that new volcano that showed up in the lake discourage our would be helpers?”

     “It would be a deterrent for the meek but simply another challenge for the bold, Sir.  We have to point out that the US is actually thinking of an Atmosphere Management System that would use Sulphur dioxide or similar substances than can act as an umbella over the earth.  It is well accepted now that the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo may have slowed down global warming for about ten years or so.  Sangol Lawin may be a plus rather than a minus.  Iceland and Greenland rely heavily on Geothermal energy sources.  We can add them to the list of experts to invite.”

     “Your plan sounds like a tree with very wide spreading branches.” 

    “The tree of life, like a complex waterway, has many tributaries, Sir.”

     “Beg your pardon?  Such as … ?”

     “Communication, peace keeping, understanding, intercultural tolerance,teaching, planning, drafting, contributing, supplying, helping, cooperating, teamworking, inspecting, scrutinizing, recommending, advertising, etc.  All these enhance survival of the tree.  Inability to supply chokes the tree.  Inaction at a time of jeopardy is irresponsible negligence.”

     “When does it become criminal?”  Someone asked.

     “It is not up to us to determine that.  We are not our brothers’ keepers.  We hope to inspire and motivate.”

     “Are you suggesting that we have to do all that?”  The AFP Chief of Staff reverted to the original subject matter.

     “… and more, Sir, if we want to convince the world that together we can come up with a showcase of everyone’s genius and good heartedness to save the planet.  We may very well be the host location of the cooperative International small scale practical application of multinational achievements.”

     “Advertizing opportunity may be a very attractive incentive for less  known countries with new or less popular inventions.  It would be an environmental technology world conference.”  A previously silent member of the group commented.

     “Good.  You get to be Officer-in-Charge of the Planning Committee.  Nix, you get to speak with the president ASAP.”

     “Aye! Aye! Sir!”

     “Yes Sir!  In fact I already did, Sir.”  Lynn’s brother said.  “My sister gave me the draft prior to a meeting with the Chief Executive herself. I showed it to her. Soon after that, she sent me to Beijing for something and authorized me to mention it while I was there.”

     Lynn was dismissed from the rest of the conference.  She had already worked out Transport Procedures with the Medical Officer in Lungga.  Nino has implemented most of them during their experience in Aklan and the previous day.  He took over the discussion.  Her brother stayed.

     Her youngest brother stood up from the chair when Lynn stepped out of the room.  They drove straight to their old home.  Her bags were already packed by the housemaid.  She stuffed other items and removed some.  She then placed essentials in her hand carry bag.  Her new “I” Page and e glasses went into her blazer’s pockets.  She then re checked her passport and airline ticket.  She would have to confirm her itinerary at the ticketing counter.  Her brother made arrangements for new times and dates.  There still is a stop in Tokyo for a local WOWI Area Seminar. 

     “No ‘terno’?”  The maid asked incredulously.  She needed two last time.  That was in 1987.  She took the opportunity to attend as an excuse to visit the Phiippines to check on her family and the country in general.  That was the year after the first People Power Revolution that ousted the long time Dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies.  The District Conference was held at the Manila Hotel that time and hosted members from neighboring countries and International Oficers.  She sat with the International President and incoming President.  She warned them about the possibility of being harassed or even kidnapped by insurgents and die hard opposition members of the deposed and the new head of the country.  The current International WOWI President informed her that some Japanese delegates already experienced some mild but unsettling occurrences.  Lynn advised them to quietly spread the warning and advice to take precautions.

      “Don’t go anywhere by yourselves especially by taxis and public transportation.  Ride with local delegates.  They usually have cars and chauffers to drive them door to door wherever they go.  Only join tours sponsored by WOWI and definitely do not stray from the group even to go to the restrooms.”

     “Are you going with us to meet the new President?”  They asked.

     “No.  I just came to warn you.  Now, you’re on your own.”

     “Later a hotel waiter disclosed that there were members of the old HUK organization in the building.  She thanked him and asked him to keep an eye on the foreign guests.

     “We cannot afford embarrassing news all over the world at this time.”  She stressed.

     “She went through a ‘de je vouz’ not too long ago.

     She had a last taste of rice cake ‘suman’ and mango for snack.  Then she hopped into the car so her youngest brother could drive her back to NPHQ.  However,  another car rolled into the driveway.  Fr. Arnie arrived to say good bye.

     “In our family, seniority is determined by which generation we belong to and our chronological age whichever is greater.  I hereby give you my blessing.”

     He traced the sign of the cross on Lynn’s forhead with his right thumb.

     “Dominus vobiscum.”  He invoked.

     “Et cum espirito tuo.”  Lynn replied.

     She then took his hand and while bowing slightly, touched the back of his fingers to her forehead in the old traditional sign of respect for elders.

     “Mano, Po.”

All Rights Reserved

MMVII

Magdalena D. Guerrero, M.D., FACOG/GP (dr G)