22/11/2024
"๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐น๐ผ๐ฎ ๐ฒ๐ท๐ฝ๐ธ ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐๐พ๐ฝ๐พ๐ป๐ฎ"
Written by Vena Faith Ricalde, from BSED 4104 English
The sound of my footfall resonates along the grassland I'm walking on with each stride I take. They appear to be deafening me, but at some time, it provides me serenity. When I looked around again, there were dozens of civil guards waiting to accompany me. They will take me to the location where they will put an end to my battle. I assume responsibility for my actions. It's a shame to die in this manner. But what about the taxation of life by the country of origin? I don't believe it was a sorrowful farewell.
When you think about it, my life is similar to a fiction. A sad finale to a wonderful narrative, with a character refined with each chapter yet whose success or failure is unclear at the end. Even if I don't say it, the conflict I'll pass on to Andres will undoubtedly be bloody. What will become of this town? What does the country's future hold for future generations? Will Spaniards continue to dominate the country for which I am fighting? That is exactly what I believe will occur. But it's also not a bad idea to hope that the wind of fate will change. It's a shame I'm no longer present to witness that.
"Fuego!" (Fire!)
At that signal, my eyes closed slowly. I heard the sound of bullets coming from the gun that was aimed at me. However, I was taken aback when the sounds abruptly stopped. As a result, I rapidly opened my eyes, but then I retreated from where I was standing because my surroundings appeared to have altered. The civil guards have vanished and they have been replaced by people in strange clothes. Young and elderly, women and men seem to mingle with each other. When I looked more closely, there were also foreigners.
"What's happening?" I couldn't figure out what to do until a strange carriage came rushing towards me.
"Hey! Are you going to kill yourself? Idiot! Step aside!" Although I was shocked, I quickly stepped aside. By the way he yelled at me, I was sure he was angry. But that's not what matters now. What kind of carriage is he riding? It has two wheels and moves only with the pedaling of the gentleman.
"Excuse me, but may I ask if..."
I wasn't even finished with my question when the teenager left.
What is really going on? What place is this?
I took a deep breath and tried to walk.
Jose, you need to calm down and think. Couldn't it be just a dream?
"Man, don't go there!" I stopped walking towards one of the statues when someone shouted.
As I looked back at it, the face of a young boy appeared in front of me. He wears strange clothes.
"My mum said it's not allowed to come near there! Are you stubborn too?" I can't figure out why the boy treated me like this, but when he dragged me, I just let him. "Here, we can stand here instead of there. It's not allowed there."
"Why is it not allowed?" I asked while frowning.
"Just don't get too near, that's what my mum said," I couldn't help but like what he was saying, so I put my hand on his head and softly ruffled his hair.
"You are a very obedient boy."
"And you are stubborn. You can take a picture of Rizal from afar, why do you have to come closer?" I was stunned there.
"Who?"
"Josรฉ Rizal." Because of that, I immediately turned to the statue. I was shocked when I realized that I resembled the statue.
What is this? Why is there something like this in this place?
When I looked around again, that's when I noticed so many flags that were new to my eyes.
"W-What place is this? Where am I?"
"You're in Rizal Park. You got here without knowing that?" When the boy answered me, I immediately swallowed one after the other.
"Am I still in the Philippines?"
"Probably! Dr. Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines, so yeah! We definitely are in the Philippines."
"H-Hero?" There were so many questions in my mind at that time. But the only thing I could say was the question, "What date is today?"
"November 30, 2022, you're weird."
My heart was pounding when I heard it. I'm not stupid enough to think it's still a dream after I touched the boy's hair a while ago.
So am I in the future?
I took three steps away before turning my gaze around again. The flags, the people and their unique clothing, the amazing infrastructure behind the statue, and the statue itself
My vision stopped there. Even from a distance, I can read the word that arouses my attention.
"Republic of the Philippines."
The country then has its own government. Andres was successful; all of our sacrifices for the country we desired were rewarded. Freedom.
"Man! Why are you crying? Is your costume too hot?" When he mentioned that, I realized that I was about to cry.
"No, I'm just delighted," I responded as I wiped away my tears. "Can you tell me your name, kid?"
"It's Daniel."
"Daniel listened," I exhale in relief before proceeding. "To respect and care for this country means honoring the sacrifice of thousands of lives in the past; we believe in your generation."
I then grinned and closed my eyes again. I was only aware of my fallen body when I recovered consciousness. I wasn't prepared for it, and each bullet strike in my body caused a different kind of suffering. My smile, however, couldn't be extinguished. Because I know that freedom will come after the shedding of blood and pain. Perhaps not right now, but future generations will.
