Chapter Five [Poverty that recognizes no boundaries]

Chapter five [ Poverty that recognizes no boundaries]

Nancy and Jason are gathering proof using stolen images from moving cameras and images taken during the farmers' insurgent operations.

Five years after the Hacienda authorities murdered the insurgent farmers, including their children, and raped their wife and daughter as they fled after taking the grains and livestock they had been raising on the Hacienda's property—a land area that at the time was almost 6,000 hectares in size—justices forced them to rise up.

Her four brothers were in the first grade at the time, and she was still a baby being breastfed by her mother. Jason was still away and had just gathered the legal evidence provided by the rebelling educated farmers who could provide authenticated evidence to the Department of Agrarian Reform office.

"It is revealed here how the landowner defrauded them following the supreme court's order of the land reform program announcing award certificates carrying an order releasing 1 hectare for every deserving farmer paying P40k installment plan," the statement reads.

Nancy asks Jason to explain it to her, her eyes welling up with tears of pain.

Jason continues, "At that time, all farmers were joyfully in tears because God had heard their prayers. But because other delinquent farmers refused to pay it, they failed to receive the one hectare of land that had been awarded to them. Perhaps because of Climate Change and unfavorable weather conditions causing floods and, weather pattern change that causes continuous rainy days, weeks, and months that destroy their crops and bring pests to their livestock.”

Jason displays several images and says, "It wasn't their fault, but the officer in charge who collected the cash harassed them, forced their spouses into sex objects, and raped their old farmer daughters. They abused their position as officers in charge of the hacienda."

“Look at this one, which was taken and photographed by the officer in command who teases the victims' companions, and these, which were taken by a farmer inside the victims' offices while posing as a servant and hacienda maintenance worker.”

Nancy is unable to look at the picture that Jason shows her of him forcing a lady to have sex with him inside a small house because of the horrific sight that her administrators caused.

"Their priorities were first the old and good farmers who had fought for years to get it. Shares of holders of the Hacienda land and shares of stocks did not fulfill the decisions coming from the supreme court. Instead, they slaughtered the beneficiaries and declared them missing or disappeared. This causes the young farmers to become delinquent and notoriously rob the Haciendas' grains and livestock which have been existing until you became one of the owners of the hacienda.”

After Nancy viciously attacked the thieves earlier that evening within the hacienda, Jason continued his narrator's revelation by revealing Nancy and letting her know about it.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I'll never know how the suffering of the people throughout the previous administrations went unnoticed by my father and brothers."

Nancy stated in agony.

Jason instantly cut Nancy off by saying, "No, that's not true," and then went on to show Nancy images of her father when he was younger.

“Actually, you were trying to protect your people against them. You never know or me. Perhaps they were still on the verge of attacking one another to show you that they need one another to survive and the farmers in your covered area have to share their harvests with those who do not belong under your supervision which you mistook for enemies because the mountain people are being forced to live in conflict with one another.”

Jason tries to make sense of what he sees happening between the rebels and the farmers.

Jason said, "Look at these photos of your dad, Honey. He was with the officer in command while obtaining the payment from the farmers. He was carrying his gun as he rode on the black horse and he attacked the young farmers who failed to pay it.”

"What is he thinking?” Nancy asks questions.

"Because the officer in charge told him so many lies about the farmers who didn't fulfill their obligations. Not knowing that storms and floods caused the farmers to lose their harvest, he told his parents that they were idle and lazy. And your father felt angry at them." Jason does a good job of explaining how the administrations of the haciendas are characterized by falsehoods and deceit.

He also provided more information regarding the activities of their officer-in-charge.

Because your officer was unskilled and corrupt, they miscalculated the data and lost millions of dollars from the shares of stocks. I wanted you to examine these records inside the log book and the computations they made.”

The hours passed by so quickly as Jason attentively studied the material. Nancy, who was also growing tired, began to snore before Jason.

"Honey, are you still interested in doing some research?" Nancy refuses to reply as she closes her eyes to sleep. He queries her. He carefully assisted her in setting everything down and lying down on the plastic mat so she could rest.

“You are very precious in my heart because I love you, but you also need to be a nice person to be the mother of my kids, therefore you should learn how to balance everything and gently listen to your conscience and humanitarian reason.”

Since it was still dark and light seemed to be coming from farther away, Jason’s mused while trying to warm her. Jason made the decision to retain all the evidence in his bag and lie down next to Nancy to sleep.

Nancy has been reading from Jason's accumulated reports and information that has been legally provided to the government about the events in question. She is inconsolable with emotion as she reads about the young and elderly farmers who have suffered because of her ancestors' mistakes and injustices.

Nancy is contemplating and analyzing the circumstances she has just learned about from Jason, all the while asking herself a lot of questions.

Nancy poses her questions about Jason's identity, asking,

 "How could he have obtained those kinds of documents."

“Why does he have all those proofs when we've only been friends for about a week?”

Nancy shuts her eyes and thinks as she feels Jason's warm embrace and hears him snoring as though he believes she is already asleep.

The accumulated records and proof of Jason raise some concerns for Nancy and cast doubt on his genuineness in their romantic relationship.

"I need to know if he really is on my side to protect me. But how could I know if he is really sincere," Nancy said. "It deeply inflicted my heart to think that my love has been against my management from the beginning and he just became my partner to tell me about his evidence. He might be on the side of the rebel group. I think I might be pregnant because I feel it.”

Nancy smiles as she closes her eyes before falling asleep soundly and temporarily forgetting all of her worries and troubles with Jason. Jason is gently holding Nancy as she drifts off to a deep sleep that early before dawn.

When Nancy opens her eyes, there is already a hint of the sunrise in the east. Jason is still holding her, acting as if he won't let her leave his strong arms that early in the morning. Nancy grabs her coat and slowly pulls away from him to look for her shoes. She gives him a kiss, but he doesn't wake up.

“If you don't believe me, we might wind up splitting up early. I love you, Jason. But I must find out who you are to my administration. Why do you possess those pieces of evidence of my former ancestors.?”

As the thought of their separation creeps into Nancy's consciousness, she feels the most agonizing sorrow she has ever known.

"Never mind, I still think that if we were meant to be, Time would find a way for us to be together again. I must settle all the differences with him before I leave."

After casting a glimpse at her beloved, who was still sound sleeping, Nancy made a bold decision. She then slowly turned to look in the distance while putting her shoes on.

As she turns to see, Jason is already running towards her to find out her thoughts on the recent concerns they had identified. She heard movement at her back.

“The decision still belongs to you because you are now in a position to handle them. I have not reviewed the evidence yet, Honey. Because I was not fully aware of the situation. I don't want to make drastic conclusions about the two sides and opposing parties.”

Jason quickly explains while holding Nancy's waist and gazing off into the distance at the wide area of land where the impoverished had been living.

"Jason, how did you manage to compile all of those data and information? "Nancy releases herself from his powerful arms that are encircling her body and asks him a serious question, staring straight into his eyes.

“They were groups of young farmers; I have no idea to which side they belong or where they came from. I just see them coming from the town proper and they were distributing paraphernalia and fliers around selling some high-tech appliances and modern farming too. You weren't here yet when they caught me observing through my binoculars from the mountaintop.” Jason responded without hesitation and without taking his time.

"Are you certain?” Nancy asks him in a hurry.

"Of course. I was unaware that they were worse enemies as I observed them first talking to one another like discussing any matters pointing to their properties and harvesting when suddenly groups of men and women arrived from the town area and immediately, they all scattered and threw each other stones, piles of wood to hit each other. They grabbed the sacks of rice and corn, and put the poultry inside the sacks, along with some small animals.” Then, as Jason narrated, “They made a U-turn to face the mob.

One of them approached and said,

‘Hello, would you mind keeping these files with you and submitting them to the appropriate city authorities? We don't have much longer to complete this.’ “A young man who appears to be in charge approaches me and instructs me to do so. After only a few weeks in this area, I was in a perilous situation when I came across you that night engaged in a conflict. I quickly grabbed my whipcord to defend you from those who were enraged to attack you. Since you were a part of the hacienda Administration, I knew they were mad at you.

Jason further explains.

"You mean to claim that all you wanted to do was look into the real problems?” Nancy probes Jason carefully in an effort to discern his motivations and feelings for her.

Jason says clearly as Nancy's eyes sparkle but she is still in a miserable situation because she is the administrator. "Not just to investigate. As I told you already, I like to protect you because my heart leaps and grows to ponder how you captivate my desires and heart with your bravery and stunning personality to protect your people makes me feel in love with you."

"How could I resolve these disputes knowing that you were involved? "Nancy yells, her eyes growing enraged.

Jason continues, thoroughly persuading Nancy, "Please don't get furious at me. It was not my fault to have this evidence. It was only an accident that they asked me to submit these documents to the city because they all know that I am not a Filipino."

Nancy asked Jason, who seemed to be having some argument, "Can you accompany me to them? I wish them to know that I am innocent of what my ancestors did to their ancestors and I like to make friends with them slowly."

“You are putting yourself in danger. It would be risky to approach them right now given their prior experiences working for your brother. “Jason remarked.

“Where are my brothers right now? I haven't seen them since I arrived here.” Nancy asks as Jason replies,

Jason says, "I advise that you pose as my wife and we are not a member of the administration. We will settle with them as tourists for around one or two days." Nancy quickly nods as the two begin the lengthy, slippery trek down to the tribal group.

As he made the suggestion, Jason grinned at Nancy and said, "Wait, you should wear a feminine outfit to convince them that we are a couple."

“Oh come on, I know what you think of me, but I should follow your orders since I need a lady's dress! "Nancy shouts.

Jason hands Nancy a lip sheen and says, "You just put your long hair down and apply lipstick. I have here one."

"Why do you have that crimson lip gloss on?” Nancy asks a question to him.

Jason responds immediately, "I just spotted it from the creek where your identical twin sisters were taking her sunbathing. "Nancy almost laughs out loud but controls herself and says,

In an effort to cover her doubtful expression, Nancy shouted, "Aha, good idea, you still remember my twin sister."

“He could find that we are just one," she says gently adding in loud voice,

However, Nancy emphasizes, "There's no doubt that you admire her because we both look alike.”

Jason clarifies right away, "No, you are different because I loved you before she showed up.”