PRIDE'S CURSE
Long ago, in a small town near Zamboanga City, lived a man well respected by his
barangay and beyond. He had two wives and fifteen children. The eldest son of his
second wife was nicknamed "Chong." Chong was an ambitious and adventurous young
man, though reckless at times. Above all, he was hopelessly in love.
As beautiful as a summer blossom and as bright and alive as a roaring flame, his
love for his partner only deepened with each passing moon—it felt as if nothing
could break their bond. But life, as they say, is change. The day arrived when
Chong was to meet his lover's father, hoping for a new chapter, only to realize it
was the last page.
Her father saw only shame and ugliness. He instantly rejected Chong, dismissing him
as easily as one might discard gum stuck to a shoe. His lover, cowed by her
father's will, did nothing. It happened so fast, sending Chong spiraling into a
deep depression. Each day felt like both seconds and years without his beloved. His
father, witnessing his once devout son crumble, promised, "My son, be patient. I
will find you a good and faithful woman who fears God."
At the time, Chong was studying criminology in college, hoping to become an
officer. However, after his heartbreak, he began to neglect his studies, skipping
classes frequently. His father eventually discovered this. Despite lectures and
promises, Chong's behavior worsened until he met another woman. She held different
religious beliefs, but despite his father's advice to wait, he took the risk.
Inevitably, a fight erupted between father and son.
After months of watching his son's decline, his father gave Chong two choices:
leave the woman, be forgiven, and have another chance; or keep her, and forfeit his
place as a son. In the end, Chong chose his lover and moved with her family to the
province.
Years flew by. After much time, Chong's lover, now his wife, was finally pregnant
with their child. Only then, after countless moons filled with regret, did he
decide to apologize to his father. But as he returned home with his wife,
something felt wrong. Whispers surrounded him: "It's him," "He's back," "Does he
know that...?"
As he reached the gate of his former home, his once strong and stubborn stature,
now frail and broken. Tears of regret and shame streamed down his face. So many
years of anger, pride, and self-absorption had prevented him from contacting his
family. His intention had been to earn his father's forgiveness before the birth of
his firstborn. But how does one ask forgiveness from six feet above?
He fell to his knees, the gravel digging into his skin, as his tear-filled eyes met
those of his mother. He begged for forgiveness, clutching her skirt, pouring out
centuries' worth of apologies—all too late by just one year. He was welcomed back
into the family, along with his wife and unborn child. Yet, the question lingered:
would his father forgive him?
MORAL - When you have the chance to fix things, do it before it's too late to do
so.
BASED OFF THE STORY OF — BENHARD ''CHONG'' Y. HASSAN (The uncle of Sameerah H.
Kuhutan)
