In one of the rooms of the residential apartment in pre-war Intramuros was occupied by three girls from the Bicol Region. These three girls coming from the different provinces of the region by mutual agreement rented the space while they pursued their education in a school located in Walled City. They could have enrolled in their home provinces but apparently, they wanted to be in the big city and get a diploma from a metro cities school in spite of the hazards and higher expenses therein.
Those three girls had to prepare their own meals, wash their own clothes, and perform all the household chores. Their rice supply would come from the provinces as well as some non-perishable items for food. Two of the girls enrolled in the afternoon, while one was in the morning class so that there would be someone in the room, and food could be prepared conveniently.
The names of the girls were Visitation, big girl of sixteen with long flowing black hair, tanned complexion, and a set of pearly teeth; the other one was Asuncion, a tall and slim girl of seventeen, curly-haired, with a pair of tantalizing pair of eyes; the third one was Natividad, a girl of eighteen, with a light peachy complexion, well-sculptured body and a very charming smile and face. From the other occupants, they considered Naty as the fairest, followed by Siony and Tacion.
“These three girls from Bicol are friendly and helpful,” remarked neighbour two doors away from the girl’s room.
“They are also courteous uttered an elderly occupants as they always would greet her “Good Morning” or Good Evening” as the situation may be.
The many bachelor boarders became the friends of these three girls. These male boarders were either students or employees attending classes in the evening after office hours.
Under the arrangements, Tacion would be in school in the morning to be home by twelve, so the two girls, as Siony and Naty would be in the room preparing the lunch and studying their lessons. When Tacion would arrive, the two takes their early lunch, leave for classes to be home by five- thirty to six in the afternoon. By that time, Tacion had prepared the supper and had studied her lessons. It was well-synchronized and practical arrangements, which other male boarders could not do for obvious reasons. By weekends, three girls would be either washing or ironing their laundry. When the week comes, they had their wear ready in the closet.
During weekends, the girls would receive, male visitors usually who were their classmates, town mates, or new acquaintances. On some weekends, the three would visit their town mates and relatives but by eight or nine they would be back in their boarding room in Intramuros. They never sleep out during those visits.
Later in the year, Siony and Naty had an escort from school when they returned from school. Eventually, Siony and Naty become engaged. Tacion, the homely-looking was never escorted home, although she may have some male classmate visitors. By this time, Siony and Naty are both out on weekends, leaving Tacion in the room alone. She did not complained.
One Saturday morning, Tacion left the house and told the other two that she would visit a friend. By nine in the evening, she was still not back which is unusual for her.
“Naty, do you know where Tacion went? It’s late and she is not back yet and I’m worried”, Siony expressed with concerns.
“I will call her friends for I have a list of their phone numbers,” replied Naty.
A little later, Naty returned and said that Tacion was not in their respective residences. The other boarders got alarmed for they were worried as to Tacion’s disappearance. Up to Sunday, Tacion did not return. By this time, the two accompanied by other boarders reported the matter to the police under the list of “missing person”.
On Monday afternoon, the two did not attend their classes in view of the emergency.
In the evening of Monday, Tacion appeared at the door much to the surprise of the two.
“Where have you been? asked Naty. You kept us so worried as we kept looking for you.
“We reported your disappearance to the police,” disclosed Siony, “we may be blame by your parent”.
“You don’t have to worry anymore, I am back not only alive and alone but with a companion in life”, replied Tacion.
“We don’t understand what you mean, kindly explain, Tacion” asked Naty.
“Meet Carling Fernando, my husband”. Tacion uttered as she presented a man over forty, mestizo- looking but well attired in a sports silken shirt, and an English woollen pants, with a cordovan pair of shoes to match.
While Carling was talking to Siony, Tacion told Naty that Carling was also a Bicolano but a rich one and a widower. They met in a restaurant one afternoon when she went for a coffee on her way from school. Since they speak the same dialect, they understood each other well in no short time. From then on, this man would come to the school area in his car waiting for Tacion on her way to school. Childless, Carling was very lonely, and he needed someone to be with in his mansion in the suburbs.
“We have to go now Naty and Siony”, beamed Tacion as Carling stood at the door. “Next weekend, we will pick you up and you can stay with us the whole day or two”, she followed up. “Don’t worry about my parents as I already wired them. They will be come next week she ended.
“Hasta la vista Mujeres”, Carling spoke with a smile.
As they were leaving, Tacion left on the table an envelope, as she catch up with her husband.
Siony and Naty returned to their room after seeing the two leave in a beautiful Chrysler 97 road star, a rare car during those times, they saw the envelope and open it and found two hundred pesos bills with a note:
“Dear Siony and Naty, Please take this little gift from your roommate. Carling and I hope for the best in your life, your are the most wonderful people that I ever met.” Signed Tacion.
Thus ended a Cinderella type story in the old Intramuros where sceptics would not believe it could happen.
