PASSING THROUGH HIS LIFE'S STORMS

Emong gazed the damage brought by the Super Typhoon Ondoy carrying gusty winds of 120km/hour. Although their place is called a typhoon path this one passed by three days ago brought surmountable destruction. The river has overflowed causing loss of properties, houses domestic animals and fallen considerable number of trees. Emong's backyard is more of a heartbreaking sight, infront of his house, the oldest and biggest mango tree is totally lost with its three trunks, are totally cut in half. There is no chance to regrow its branches maybe good to use as firewood. Emong thought back to the time this mango tree is bearing so much fruit being harvested to sell in the market a big source of their household income. It provided his family enough to send his children to school until they finished their secondary school except his two eldest sons Since Emong is an industrious farmer, his other household income sources is generated from his peanut and watermelon plantation. His eldest son Cornelio didn't disappoint his parents to finish his studies becoming a civil engineer. His second son became a lawyer. These two brothers didn't practice their professions at their hometown. In many cases families like Emong expects their children to help them especially in supporting the education of their younger siblings. While Estrella is a fulltime housewife to their six children their two children next to the engineer and lawyer didn;t have the high ambition to pursue their studies. Pirong chose to help his father in the farm. Mitchie is the first to get marriedat the age of eighteen having no hope to pursue to be able to pursue her studies. In the city Cornelio the engineer didn't have the chance to go and visit his family. He is married to a family who doesn't mind about the family of their son in law, Cornelio. He is devoted to his wife who is like her parents not interested to know his family. He didn't asked Cornelio to visit his family. She became pregnant after six months of being together, the more Cornelio can't invite her to visit his family back home There is no way he could push what he wants to his wife Helen , his family didn't know he finished his studies with the help of Helen a year before he graduated. He has to work hard to pay back Helen ,to start their family life independently. Cornelio's situation has not reach Emong . He has no communication with him Besides Emong has been busy to look after his family with his two younger children. He is hoping Cornelio might come home one day to visit them. Then one day Helen thought of going to the province with Cornelio bringing their son to meet his grandparents who is already five years old. Cornelio was also eager to see how his parents are doing . He remembered the big mango tree infront of their house. He planned to his homecoming in time for the mango fruits to be ripening to bring home back to the city including the peanuts and watermelon. How happy Emong was to see Cornelio and his family. This is the first time Helen visited a farm. She is delighted with the helpers who brought the watermelon ,peanuts and baskets of mangoes. They cooked rice cakes for them to eat with the sweet mangoes. Helen is excited to meet them buying T-shirts for them to use in the farm. Cornelio's mother, Estrella is a religious woman who goes to church everyday. She invited Helen to go with her. They drop by the town market after the mass to buy fresh meat and newly catch fish. How happy is Helen to have all these kinds of meat and fish. They bought dried fish for them to bring home to Batangas City. Cornelio and Helen promise to Emong and Estrella to send a little help regularly to maintain their farm and to support their younger brother and sister to finish their schooling since there is a nearby college for them to attend. Joseph who build up his career with his wife who is also a lawyer were able to set up their own law office in real estate. They handled mortgages with very big clients, owners of high rise buildings and subdivisions. Joseph's wife Monique has not gone to the farm at all. For her it is a strange place, with all the slow pace of life and the simple way of living. Joseph thought he has to let Monique visit his humble beginnings , mentioning how his father was able to to support him just by being as farmer. Mango fruits, peanuts and watermelon are the main sources of their income being plantations to yield high productions. Corn is added to meet the daily food consumption in their region, they have animals like horses and carabaos. When they arrived at the farm Monique wondered how could Emong do all the farm work? There is a huge granary for the corn. Helpers would come and open to separate the kernels from the corn cob by hand. Wholesale buyers come and buy sacks of peanuts and corn. Joseph and Monique didn't stay long. They promise to come back and bring home a machine to help Emong cultivate the soil. with farm machinery. There is not much problem for water to irrigate since a water pump can be installed to draw water from the river. Their farm when visited by a typhoon also worries Emong. He has to be ready when it comes bringing the animals to a higher ground. His two youngest children are working hard to finish their courses. Lucio took his course in agriculture to help Emong in the farm. He introduces better farming practices and adding more products in farming. They have to use natural fertilizer coming from the animal waste. They are raising chickens for their poultry consumption and supplying eggs to their local market. This time Emong has still high energy to visit the farm paddling a canoe to cross the river. where there plantations of peanuts and watermelon are located. The chicken coup has been built by his son and supervised its operation. Lucio is hardworking to do all of these. He knows his father is going to retire and no one will maintain the farm work his father has started. His mother has been helping in their church taught Lucio to be helpful and kind. They have contributed ,many times to the church supporting their community events like church festivals. Lucio joined these church activities since he was young and he does them until he became an adult. Soon ladies try to catch his attention. He knows he has to prepare himself if he wants to get marry. He wants a lady who value him, a lady who knows the meaning of true love which comes from God. She may come sooner or later. Another typhoon passed by. Chickens were sold cheaply to get back some of the expenses of the feeds and fertilizers for the farm. Lucio put aside some hidden funds to answer emergencies like this time. He knows what to do incase the river overflows. His primary financial resources come from his savings accounts and cash hidden in a secret place not to be touch at all. His produce has to be dispose before next planting season. Another helping hand has arrived to help him in the overall operation of their farm. Molly becomes a licensed pharmacist. Lucio agreed to help her set up their drug store, a building they manage together side by side with the farm products and groceries. Molly contacted their local hospital to provide their medical supplies. While delivering medical supplies she met one of the young physicians Dr. Pons H. He agreed to send all his prescriptions to be filled up by her. Soon Monique drugstore grew servicing many customers. She didn't expect Dr. Pons H. to start visiting her drug store more often including buying his personal needs. Later on he asks Monique to go to their house to meet her parents. Monique asks her helper to look after the store telling her she is going home. She can close the drugstore later on. When Dr. Pons H. arrives she quietly steps inside the car after Dr. Pon H. opened and closed before going to the driver's seat. Both of them are quiet along the way. As soon as they arrived at her house her mother is sitting in the living room. She stood up to meet the doctor. Emong is outside giving fresh brewed coffee to their helpers. Estrella called him to come in having a special visitor of Monique. Dr. Pons H. stood up to greet Emong. Emong looks at him in surprise. To him, his looks are extraordinary. Well groomed and clean shaven. Monique introduces him as a doctor in the hospital. Although how rough are his hands working at their farm tilling the soil he accepted his handshake warmly. Emong's heart finds consolation to meet a professional like him. Will he be a candidate to become a member of his family? Dr. Pons talked to Emong about the purpose of his visit, his intention to pursue Molly. He told them he is willing to wait when Monique is ready to accept him, Monique is silent, they have to talk it over. They invited him to have supper with them. Lucio is excited to see Dr. Pons H, during their dinner. It took a few months before Monique agreed to the doctor's marriage proposal. They decided to have their wedding on harvest time of their mangoes peanuts and watermelons. There whole family has to be there at their wedding. They put enough time to prepare informing Cornelio's family and Joseph's family to be at their wedding. It is a big occasion and many guests attended their lavish reception. Emong and Estrella are very proud to have a prominent member of society to become their son in law. Soon the rainy season is coming, six months after their wedding then the typhoon thunderstorms flooding comes with it., It's the coming and going of these storms passes by like the storms in life. although the biggest mango tree has fallen in front of his house Emong knows this is not the end of harvesting mango fruits. His children were the fruits he has planted. They are the blessings of God given to him. Life storms passes by, Men has to count them not as obstacles and challenges. These life storms will pass like the sunny and rainy seasons.GP