The Graveyard of Hopes and Dreams

The smoke reached the boy’s lungs and constricted him. The boy coughed loudly, catching the attention of everyone who is riding the jeep all the way to Taft Avenue. He looks away and apologizes, groaning about the fuel odor combined with the black smoke. Clank, the jeep bumped because of the potholes made by the mosaic-like asphalt in the road. As his head throbbed in pain for hitting the metal bar above him, he yelled loudly, “BAKIT GANITO SA ‘PINAS(Why is it like this in the Philippines)? An old woman replied “*Leche, tumahimik ka nga diyan *iho. Kung hindi ka masasanay dito, umalis ka na(Can you please be quiet? If you can’t adapt here, better leave)… The boy, known as Hector Valdez, shrugged and showed of his arrogance. He knocked loudly against the ceiling of the jeep and signaled that he would go down. The driver followed quickly, beeping his horn automatically to attract passengers. No one knew that even before he rode the jeep, his day was already ruined by his classmates who kept eschewing their project by allotting imaginary dates.

As a boy who grew up from a foreign land, Hector had no idea what is it like being a Filipino. His father is a pure blood British and his departed mother was a Filipina. Hector was sent in the Philippines because his father had to leave him under the care of Paciana, his aunt. The boy studies in a prestigious science school whose name can be changed through the hands of a powerful autocrat. He is the president of his class, a known varsity player and a silver medalist. Though fulfilling all his duties both in school and in his house, Hector did not feel satisfied with his life in the country. He knew that inside, there is an empty space that needs to be filled.

He entered inside a park, filled with butterflies and mild breeze. As he continued to walk, he realized that the place is a graveyard. He sat in one of the benches with a couple of pigeons, trying to nib his shirt. The boy looked at the trees with withering leaves and gloomy twigs. His eyes traveled to a tombstone which stated:

Here lies Dr. J--------------
Hoping that his wishes and dreams of supporting the youth maybe unearthed and kept forever while his body may rot to its very core.

Another one said
Here rests the body Gen. E--------------
“The will of a brave mind does not bend to anyone; for he knew the Lord was with him….”

All of the tombstones convey a single message as Hector scrubbed his eyes. It seemed like a dream, trying to give him a message from the different icons of his country. He continued to stroll and wept until he reached the last tombstone. It said

This is the body of a martyr named J-------------------------
Believing that standing out against the sinful crowd and herding God’s flock is better for a short period of time is better than living a lifetime of wickedness…
His spirit rose and went for the gate. He looked at the society full of unguided people, tyrants, and beggars. He has the God-given knowledge no man living knew. The cemetery lay behind him, buzzing him of every thought he got from these heroes. This is the time, he has to act…

(prepare for a sequel)