Chapter ONE
Leap of Faith
“YES! Natapos din sa wakas. Thank You LORD!” Maya said with eyes closed and clenched fists as she claimed victory. In her heart, Maya knows she WILL pass all her subjects this second semester because she gave her all. “Kahit wala na sa Dean’s List okay lang, babawi na lang ako next sem!” she said to herself. With the stress she went through at work that coincided with the finals, she settled with just passing.
Maya is now 25 years old and a third year law student in UP. Law is in her blood. After all, she is the daughter of Teresita dela Rosa – a lawyer specializing in family law who has become popular with the celebrated cases she handled through the years, and Arturo dela Rosa – a law professor at the Ateneo School of Law, and a former Regional Trial Court Judge who has just been appointed by The President as Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan.
With the connection, and because her parents are very much known in the legal circle, Maya has to work double, if not triple time, to prove herself especially when people realize who her parents are. She needs to show her schoolmates that she deserves the high grades given by her law professors, and not just because she is the daughter of her parents. After all, she always wanted to do what is proper. That is Maya, so wanting to be righteous. She will not do things that will compromise values and family name. She has always been so humble and has never caused embarrassment to her family.
Maya: Emman! Labas naman tayo to unwind. We need to distress ha. Ang sakit ng balikat ko. Look, ang tigas na sa stress o! I’m so glad tapos na ang exams…… Huy! Okay ka lang bestie?
Emman: Teka wag makulit, binibilang ko ilan ang mali ko! I forgot to cite the case law! Oh my pink walls! Yun yung sagot dun sa no. 5! How could I not see that?! Ang bango kasi ni Papa Wilson eh, na distract ako!
Maya: Anu kaba Emman. Diba ang rule after exams, wag ng balikan because it is useless to discuss them. This is not philosophy class. This is law. Bahala na si batman basta sinagot mo kung anu ang tingin mo ay tama. Tapos! So can we now move on? That is water under the bridge my dear.
Emman: Point well taken Attorney Maya! So, gora na tayo sa spa? Dun sa dati para may shabu shabu kasama! My treat!
– O –
SPA – shabu shabu after massage ……..
Maya: Emman, I’m resigning. I need to resign from work.
Emman: Sure ka? Kung sa bagay, you don’t even need to work. Mayaman sina Mama and Papa! Besides, okay yung sideline natin as events organizer diba?
Maya: Mag re-resign ako pero I still want to work. I need to work. I can’t imagine myself being financially dependent kina Mama and Papa again. Masarap yung feeling na may sweldo ka na pinag hirapan mo. At yun ang dapat kasi pinagtapos na nila ako ng college.
Masyado lang stressful ang work sa court. Hindi ko control ang time ko. Naka bundy clock kami. Naiilang ako mag basa ng lessons natin kahit break time or kahit tapos ko na ang binigay na work sa akin ni Judge. Pinag iinitan na nga ako ni Attorney eh. Nagseselos na ata si bossing sa special concern ni Judge sa akin. Eh kasi naman mas naging close pa si Judge sa akin kesa kay boss eh ang tagal na nyang Attorney dun sa office ni Judge. Besides, ayoko mandaya sa oras because my salary comes from taxes collected, pera ng taong bayan yun. Hindi ko kayang bigyan ng kahihiyan sila Mama and Papa. Anu na lang sasabihin ng mga tao, eh konting galaw ko hinahanapan lagi ng mali, eh di lalo pag naging pasaway ako.
Emman: Eh anu ginagawa ni Papa?! I’m sure may item sa office nya sa Sandiganbayan noh. Dun for sure wala mangengelam sayo kaya ka boom!
Maya: Were you not listening? Ayoko nga gumamit ng office hours to study, pandadaya yun! Ma bla-block ang blessings kasi nega vibes yun eh. Makarma pa ako sa bar exams!
Emman: Hmp! Panalo ka na naman attorney! Eh pero anu balak mo?
Maya: Eh di mag re-resign nga tapos hahanap ng ibang work. Tamang tama summer vacation na mas marami ako time to go job hunting.
Emman: Ganun lang yun? Resign ng walang kasiguruhan na may kapalit na work?
Maya: Yes. That’s what you call leap of faith! God will provide. Hindi naman nya ako pababayaan.
Sasamahan mo naman ako mag hanap dba. Ikaw naman ang puno’t dulo nito eh. Nung November 2008, nagpasama ka mag LAE pati ako na pa exam kaya tayo ngayon pareho stressed out sa law school!
FLASH BACK
September 2008, in her hotel room in Hongkong, Maya was resting on the bed when her phone rang. It was Emman on the other line.
Emman: Mayabells! Where exactly are you?
Maya: Nasa hotel room here in Hongkong, sa Nathan Road. Bakit, may problema ba? D ba na finalize na ang plans for the event this Saturday? I’ll be there Friday late evening, don’t worry.
Emman: Dumating na si Kuya from US! Tapos na ang kanyang masters churva, and so, back t0 work na sha sa family business. So, I’m free as a butterfly! Pwede na ako mag law school! Pinayagan na ako nila mother! Eksakto naman at hahabol ako sa LAE this November. Samahan mo naman ako please……
Maya: Huh?! Itutuoy mo talaga mag law school? Kelan ba ang LAE para ma ayos ko ang schedule ko sa flights para ma block off yung date.
Emman: Corrected by yan! Tutuloy ko ang law school plans natin kahit ikaw hindi! Sa November 28, 2008 ang LAE sa UP Diliman. Promise me sasamahan mo ako!
Maya: Oo naman. Matitiis ba naman kita bestie? Basta wag mong mabanggit banggit sa bahay yan ha lalo na kina Mama and Papa at alam mo na…..baka mabuhay ang usapang law school.
Emman: Pinky promise!
In April 2006, Maya graduated from college with honors (magna cum laude!) – AB Philosophy, a course chosen by her father, obviously in preparation for law school. Unlike her Ate Cris and Kuya Ed who became professionals, Maya decided to find work right away instead of going to law school. Carefree as she is, she did not think twice when she saw the ads Time Airways put up for flight attendants. Highly energetic and full of optimism at age 20, nothing and no one could stop her from joining the airline industry. It may not be as impressive as becoming a doctor like Ate Cris or an architect like Kuya Ed, but that is Maya. She only wants simple things. She is so easy to please. Flying to different places excited her.
February 2009
Ring Ring Ring
Maya: He….hello? Eman naman, hindi ba pwedeng text muna. Ang aga naman ng tawag mo. Ang ganda pa naman ng panaginip ko.
Emman: Oh my pink walls! Sabi ko na eh, walang alam itong girlalung itich! Haaay! Wake up na! Lumabas da daw ang results ng LAE! Let’s go na to UP Diliman! Hindi na kaya ng powers ko ang tension, bumabaliktad na sikmura ko!
Maya: (nagising ang dugo, naging aligaga at sinabing)
Ha?! Today?! Totoo ba yan? Teka, ano– pano— saan– Emmanuel! Hindi magandang biro yan ha!
Emman: Ano ka ba? You think I will make a joke about it? I’m so scared na nga eh. Pano yan if I did not pass? Teka, Maya ha. Affected ka?
Maya: (Trying to hide her excitement and anxiety)
Eto naman oh, shempre excited ako for you! Eh kasi naman ikaw, nang gising ka na nga sa gitna ng maganda kong panaginip, nang gulat ka pa!
Emman: Dba usapan natin no matter what, personal nating pupuntahan ang results sa UP? You have nothing to lose, you took the exams para may kasama ako at walang nakaka alam that you took it.
Maya: O sha, end of discussion. TARA na! Daanan kita in 30 minutes ha.
Moments later, Emman and Maya are among the oh so many want-to-be-lawyers outside Malcom Hall of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, eagerly waiting to check if their names are in the list posted. After finding Emman’s name as among those who made it, Maya’s heart was suddenly beating so fast and loud she could hardly breathe. She searched the list for surnames starting with D and using her index finger, she read each name
Maya: …….Dantes, Eduardo O., De Asis, Elizabeth F., De Castro Francis C., Dela Cruz, Mary Ann M., Dela Fuente Antonio G., (sa isip ni Maya – ang dami naming Dela dito! Dela, Dela, Dela…Delikado parang walang Dela Rosa! Arghhhhh!) Dela Paz, Cristina Mae B., Dela Rama, Karina Marie L., Dela Rosa,….. Ma. Yamina C.!!! Ako to! Ako to! Emmmaaannnuel! Pasado din ako!!!!!
Emman: Girl naman, maka Emmanuel ka naman jan wagas! Sabunutan kita jan eh! Wait wait, parang bigla atang may change of heart?! Excited much? Kala ko ba ang pagiging FA ang ka-career-in mo? Eh bakit happy ka you passed LAE? Change of plans my dear?
Tandaan, once mag enrol ka sa law school you have to let go of the other. Kaya mo Maya Dela Rosa?
Maya: Panira ka ng moment. I’m just happy that I passed. Matter of deciding na lang if I pursue it. Kasalan mo ‘to eh, ginulo mo ang buhay ko. Okay na ako as FA lalo na at nasa international flights na ako. I like simple things in life. Ngayon you just made it complicated.
Emman: Ano kasalanan ko? Nagpasama lang ako sa’yo mag exams. Hindi kita inobliga mag enrol pag pumasa. Aminin mo na kasi, sayang ang talino mo kung fly ka lang ng fly! Ano bei Maya, si Ate Cris doctor, si Kuya Ed Architect, at si bunso engineering ang course na napili. Ang Papa at Mama mo mga nag excel bilang mga aboga……..”
Maya: And your point is?
Emman: My point is….yun nga! Pamilya kayo ng mga may utak at saying nga kung fly fly ka lang! Face it bestie, law is in your blood. Yan ang dumadaloy sa mga ugat mo and you know it! O diba nga ang past time mo nung college mag basa ng copy ng Supreme Court decisions na inuuwi ng Papa mo from his office? And remember kung pano mo na impress si Atty. Ventura when we were discussing the Bill of Rights sa Philippine Government subject natin? At dahil sayo nawala ang takot ng buong class sa terror prof na yun! Gawin bang law school style and recitation sa class nya eh minor subject lang yun nung college! Buti na lang na in-lababo sa beauty and brains mo!
Maya: Aruuuu! Ikaw ha, fishing for compliments ka ba? Diba dalawa tayong “last persons standing” sa recitation nya kaya umikot ang mga tanong nya sa ating dalawa lang? Hhhmmmm parang exciting nga sa law school. Kakaba kaba ka everyday sa recitation pero super fulfilling naman pag nakasagot ka!
Emman: Oh my gee! I can still remember his handsome face and gorgeous eyes na nakikipagtitigan sa mga mata mo nung palitan kayo ng tanung at sagot! Nakaka in love talaga si Papa James!
Maya: (Serious mode) Bestie, give me time to decide ha. Tutal naman pasado na tayo, hindi tayo kasama sa list ng for interview. Nandito na to, so intayin mo na ako para sabay tayo kung sakali. Please? May ilang araw pa naman before the deadline dba.
Emman: Eh anu pa nga ba? So are you finally going to tell to them? Maya malalaman at malalaman nila yan sa family mo, so better na manggaling sa iyo ang news. For all you know, may nagko congrats na kina Tita at Tito sa oras na ito noh.
Dela Rosa Residence
Teresita: Maya! You’re here. Akala ko you won’t be joining us for dinner because you’re busy for an event?
Maya: (Makes mano, then kisses her mom’s right cheek and hugs her ) Hi Ma! It’s all set, we’re ready for the event. Where’s Papa? Is he home na po?
Teresita: Yes, he’s in the study. May binabasang kaso. Are you going up to your room? Paki daanan si bunso at siguradong gutom na yun! He played basketball after school kanina.
Maya: Sige po Ma. Akyat muna ako to change clothes and will call Andre na rin.
Dining Table
Arturo: How are you guys?
Andre: School is okay Pa! Akalain mo, matatapos na ang first year ko sa college! I’m really having fun.
Arturo: That’s good son! ………
(already aware of the LAE results) Maya? Bakit tulala ka diyan? Do you have something to tell us?
Maya: Po? Ah, okay naman po yung coming event namin ni Emman. Ready na kami. And, ah…..uhm….next flight ko po sa Korea! I’m so excited to eat authentic Korean food!
Teresita: (also aware of the LAE results) Maya, nak, yun lang? Wala ng ibang kaganapan?
Maya: (realizing the inevitable)
Eh, yun na nga po….Ah, sasabihin ko din sana that……ah….pumasa po kami ni Emman SA LAE…..
Arturo: Y-you’re going to law school?
Maya: (not wanting to give hope)
Pa, Ma, I took the exams para lang may makasama si Emman that time. Passing it never crossed my mind. So, sa ngayon hindi ko alam on what to do after LAE. Kasi, okay naman ako with Time Airways, I’m enjoying and I’m still young, law school can wait…..
(seeing the faces of her parents)
………but I am considering it this early. Isipin ko munang mabuti Pa, Malaking responsibility ang law school. Ang daming babasahin and I’m sure there will be expectations from me because you’re my parents….
Arturo: Kaya ba you did not consider Ateneo? (Maya nodded)
Thank you for considering going to law school, anak. If you decide to pursue it, it should also be your decision where to take it.
Maya: Talaga po? H-hindi po kayo galit?
Arturo: Of course not. Masaya na ako that you are even considering law school.
– O –
PRESENT TIME:
Arturo: Maya! I just talked to Jenny. Why did you resign? Hindi ka naman daw mapigilan, sayang.
Maya: Papa, kalma……hear me out muna. Pa, when I decided to enrol sa law school, hindi ako half hearted. Meaning to say, I told myself hindi ito trial and error thing, that I should and will give it my all, hindi come what may…….Nawala po ako sa Dean’s list last sem. That is because I can no longer handle the work with school. Not because hindi ko kaya mag work, but because I can’t give 100% in both work and study. Isa dun ang dapat mag give in and in that case, study ang nag give in because hindi ako pwede maging less than 100% sa government service. Sabi nyo ni Mama, be indispensible sa work. Huwag maging primadonna lalo na at colleague mo ang boss ko at anak mo ako.
Pa, 4th year na po ako sa pasukan, review classes na yun tapos bar review na…….
Arturo: Okay, I get your point iha. I understand. You didn’t have to work in the first place. Anyway, you can always go back to the service after the bar examinations. Nanghinayang lang ako because Judge Jen de Castro is a good and decent Judge. Hindi ka mapapahamak sa kanya.
Maya: Uhhm…. Pa?…..I still want to work…..I will still work…..I will find one that will match my study schedule…
(seeing her father’s eyebrows raised) ……bayaan mo na ako Pa, I need work to keep me on the right track…..baka mawala ako sa focus if I’m free from another responsibility….
Arturo: You really have a mind of your own Maya, kalian kaba nag papigil?
NEXT:
Maya: Emman! May nakita akong ads! Looking for a tutor for a pre schooler, may allowance, may own room, may driver, may provision for education, basta madami benefits….basta at least 2 years in college, patient, female and single, willing to -!
Emman: And what’s the catch?
Maya: Huh?!
x x x
Maya: Yung nga lang….stay in dapat…..at sa Antipolo ang location…..
x x x
Maya: WHHAAAAATT?! Yang Mr. Singkit na mukhang naluging magtataho kaya bugntin at masungit ang magiging boss ko?! FORRRRGET it! ……………………
…………geez! Is he always in that tiger mode? Ang sama makatingin oh, at lukot pa ang mukha!
AttyMayiVR 