June 12, 2019
After seeing Tiger Woods, I went back to the Trophy Club to rest. My mission for the day was accomplished so there was nothing left for me to do. Kontento na ako.
Edmund wanted to watch the other players, Woodland, Johnson, etc. so we just set to meet at the entrance of the merchandise store at 3 pm.
I walked back to the Trophy club and positioned myself in one of the long benches. I fell asleep, a really deep sleep. I was oblivious of the dozens of people that were around me. The good thing here in America, I could sit and sleep and no one would tell me “mam ser bawal dyan umupo”.
I set the alarm at 2:45 pm. I had difficulty waking up. When I wanted to sleep I couldn’t sleep, when I didn’t want to sleep before I knew it I would be in deep slumber. When I wanted to wake up I couldn’t wake up. Ang sarap matulog.
With heavy feet and droopy eyes, I started walking to our meeting place.
I saw a sprawling mansion and I couldn’t help myself from asking the security guard at the gate. “Hi, is this a private residence or it’s a clubhouse?”
White American guy—- “Yes, it used to be a private residence but now it’s an events place, you could rent, all 24 rooms”.
omb—–“Wow, it’s so nice. Must be beautiful inside”.
guy—–“I don’t mean to intrude but are you Filipina? I recognize the accent”.
omb—–“Yes I am. Have you been to the Philippines?”
guy—–“Yes, I was stationed there, in Subic…..”
omb—–“Are you married to a Filipina?”
guy—–” In fact yes…”
Our conversation lasted for 30 minutes and I didn’t know that my husband had been calling me a dozen times. I wasn’t looking at my phone because I was so engrossed talking with this fellow.
This guy was married to a Filipina and they have a daughter. He got separated from them because according to him he did something bad.
omb—–“What happened?”
guy—-“I got myself into trouble. I was in jail for four years”.
omb—-“Four years?”
guy—-“No, forty years”.
omb—-“FORTY YEARS? FOUR ZERO?”
guy—-“Yes, 40”.
omb—-“What did you do? Did you kill someone?”
guy—-“I did”.
How many people did you kill?”
guy—-“Only one”.
He said he was not supposed to go out that evening but he did, then this guy threatened him with a sharp object so he punched him and since he was a trained US marine, isang chop lang tigok na yung lalaki. He didn’t want to tell me the reason why he confronted the guy, but something tells me it could be jealousy.
He could have been out of jail for good behavior sooner but he refused to show regret for what he had done. He stuck to his belief that it wasn’t his fault, that he was only defending himself. The pardon committee probably felt he was not remorseful and there was still anger in his heart and he could still be a threat to public safety. That was why it took them so long to pardon him. Imagine, this guy was only 22 years old when this unfortunate event happened. He spent 40 years in jail and got involved in 5 fights while inside the facility which prolonged his years of stay.
22 + 40 = 62 plus I don’t know how many years he’s been out.
He told me he searched for his wife on facebook but she blocked him. He told me her full name and her last known address which is ten minutes from my sister’s house. She has remarried and I told him not to bother her, the new husband might get mad.
His wish is to be able to connect with his daughter who by now must be 41 years old at least. He’s been practicing the words he would say to his daughter. I told him to tell her that he has never stopped thinking about her and he loves her dearly and wants nothing from her except to be able to see her in person or speak to her.
Before I left, I lectured him on patience. That 90% of people are annoying and sometimes you just want to punch them in the face. “You don’t want to go back to jail to spend the rest of your precious life, be very patient and tolerant of people. Better still don’t go out at night, don’t drink, etcetera etcetera. Be good. I sounded like his mother.
