Nang Sonia’s fate

Let’s just call her ‘Nang Sonia”- not her real name.

i remembered her as an elegant and reserved lady who shared her passion for plants and flowers with my mother. My sister calls her “Auntie”, which I am not comfortable with because her family was not really a relative of ours, so I just call her “Nang” or “Nang Sonia”.

Her Husband is also a friend of my father which started when we were still doing business on farm supplies. They too were in the same business and oftentimes we trade stocks with them. They were also into corn and copra trading. They  own several trucks for the business and they have a huge and mansion-like house which will tell you that they lived a comfortable and lavish life.

Their adopted son Jojo who was about 4 years old then was very fond of my younger sister. He had no other playmates but my sister. They always bring my sister whenever they go shopping, outing or simply in celebrations and family gatherings.

When I moved to Manila to work, I was unaware that their businesses were continously losing and worst, they lost their house which was used as a collateral to their loans. My father said that Nong Ramon (not his real name), Nang Sonia’s husband was hooked with cockfigthing. I dunno if its the only reason but it was evident that they were bound to lose everything.

After some years, I heard that they were struggling to make an income. I understand that it was really hard for them since they were used of comfortable living. But it was even harder running away from debts and loan.

They were rescued by their respective families so many times but stopped doing so because her husband never gave up his old habit.

They moved places…within the Province and eventually, we heard that the couple went to Mindanao to try their luck and left their son in Iloilo who has then started with his Nursing course. I don’t know also how their son took all of those things. Maybe its more than hardships and heartaches.

My sister later said that the couple were just selling barbeque to earn a living, as told by Jojo, who until now never lost contact with my sister.

And today, I received the news that Nang Sonia, only in her 40s already passed away. I asked my sister what’s the cause. Although, I knew how hard they had been living, its still unbelieving that she died because of ulcer and other sickness related to malnourishment and the fact that they don’t have enough to eat. Maybe, I thought, she was too tired and didn’t have the will to live anymore. 

When its hard to earn a living, how can they eat a decent meal? When they were haunted by debts and loans, how can they get a sleep at night? I can only imagine what they were going through. 

To Nang Sonia, may you find peace in our Creator’s hands…