The old farmer laughed loudly. “Don’t you be worrying about me, young missy. I’m fine and I’ll get my revenge on them, you can be sure of that. Well, to be fair, I’m getting a bit too old for that sort of thing, but I’ll tell you what, my three sons will get my revenge for me. They’re all proud members of the revolution. They’ll collect their Papa’s dues, no worries.” Minda and Hernando laughed along with him, amazed at his grace and courage.
***
Once two months had passed, it was probably fair to say Minda and Hernando were starting to suffer from a mild case of “cabin fever”. Oh, they still loved each other’s company, but both longed to get outside, to feel the sun on their backs and to actually begin their adventures as fully-fledged members of the revolution. It was a great relief, when after breakfast that morning, Carlos strode into the barn and greeted them both with fraternal hugs.
“Good news guys!” he greeted them with. “As you know, some of the local girls are ‘friends’ with a few of the soldiers and we use them to pump their ‘boyfriends’ for information. Yesterday Roselynn reported that the search for you two has officially been called off. Apparently, her ‘friend’ told her the Commandante was certain now that you were both in Manila and probably trying to find a ship to board to get out of the Country.” He paused, grinning, before adding, “the entire Manila-based militia is out scouring the docks for you, hahaha.”
Minda exhaled a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s fantastic isn’t it?” She looked at Carlos. “Does that mean we can get out of this barn now and start going on missions. We are so ready.” Looking at Hernando, she finished, “aren’t we darling?” He nodded his agreement.
Carlos took a very deep breath before starting in. “Ahhhh, well now, that’s a bit of a problem, you see. It’s not at all going to be that easy.” Minda’s face fell and Hernando began to open his mouth to speak. Putting his palms outward, in front of his chest, to silence the pair, he continued. “You see, your defection Hernando, has caused quite a stir back at headquarters. To say the High Command is excited and ecstatic about it, would not be overstating matters. Let’s go into the house and chat guys.”
Hand in hand, Minda and Hernando followed Carlos into the old farmhouse. It had been a long eight weeks and both were just relishing the fresh air and sunshine, but they reluctantly entered the front door and sat with Carlos at the long table. He turned to them and both noted he still had a broad smile on his face. “Now, there are three reasons why I can’t send you out on any missions. Firstly, Hernando has yet to be initiated into the KKK. That’s vitally important before he can become a part of our revolution.” Looking directly at Hernando, he added. “You may have thought of us as a rag-tag bunch of rebels, but in reality Hernando, we are a well-organised army, with a proper military structure, and strict protocols. We take our commitment to the cause very seriously, so you have to go through the initiation process the same as everyone else.”
Looking back at both of them again, Carlos continued. “Secondly, the High Command is so excited about the prospect of having a Spanish Officer as part of our Army, they are coming here themselves to conduct the initiation.” Carlos giggled. “Even I can’t believe it! None other than Emilio Aguinaldo, Gregoria de Jesus, and Mariano Alvarez are coming here to oversee your induction, Hernando. God, it is so exciting.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully, “oh, and yes there’s one other thing about them coming here; I think they have a special job for you and Minda.” Carlos’ face dropped. “I rather think we’re going to lose you to the ‘big-wigs’, which saddens me so much.”
Minda turned to Hernando and hugged his shoulders. “Wow! Honey, this sounds so, so amazing. We’re going to get the opportunity to meet some of the founders of the revolution and maybe even do some missions for them… wow!”
Hernando grinned at her youthful enthusiasm. He’d met enough ‘dignitaries’ and ‘big-wigs’ in his time not to be automatically seduced by their names and their star-power. He squeezed Minda’s shoulder before asking Carlos a question. “You said there were three reasons why we couldn’t go on a mission, Carlos. What’s the third reason?”
Carlos guffawed. “I thought that would have been pretty bloody obvious to you both. You have a wedding to plan.” The pair sat there, slack-jawed, as the import of what Carlos told them, sank in. “Yes, it will be held straight after your initiation Hernando and I understand General Aguinaldo will be bringing a tame priest with him to officiate the ceremony.”
“You don’t want a priest to marry us, Minda, isn’t it?” Hernando commented.
She looked over at him and smiled. “Hey! If General Aguinaldo wants to go to all that trouble to get us married, what do I care who officiates? A priest will do just fine, my love.” They hugged and kissed, oblivious to their grinning comrade.
***
THE WEDDING:
The day of Hernando’s initiation into the KKK and that of their wedding came around so quickly, neither had much time to worry or prepare for it. Minda had schooled Hernando well in the format and he was ready to take the pledge. He couldn’t help but notice the extreme reverence the men of the local unit had for the leaders of the KKK when they arrived at the farmhouse. General Aguinaldo was treated almost like a God, by the men. After taking his initiation, Hernando realised, although these men were not dressed as fine, military gentlemen, their uniforms were, at best, scrappy and their weapons were often second-hand and ancient, this group of revolutionaries was still a real army, with discipline, pride and an immense amount of courage. Along with the rest of the men, he sat and listened as General Aguinaldo gave them a stirring pep-talk, as he welcomed Hernando into the organisation.
The General stressed that this was a turning point for their revolution; that recruiting a convert from the Spanish Army – an officer and an aristocrat was a major coup for the revolutionaries. Concluding his speech with the words, “Captain Hernando de Abreu, you are today a true brother of the Philippine revolution and we welcome you with open arms,” Hernando felt a deep sense of belonging swell inside him. He’d never felt this way about Spain or his fellow officers and men in his regiment. There was something special about assisting these courageous men in their battle for freedom and his heart swelled with pride. He was beaming from ear to ear and he could feel Minda furiously squeezing his hand with love and pride of her own. Finally, Hernando felt he belonged.
The General came down from the small dais, the men had built for him and walked across to Hernando, placing his hands on his upper arms and lifting him to his feet before grasping him in a tight bear hug and kissing him on both cheeks. “Welcome to our fight, Hernando,” he whispered in his ear. “I do hope you get to see the victory, but regardless, if you die, you die for The Philippines. You are a Filipino now and when I assume office as President of the Republic of the Philippines, I can assure you my first act as President will be to confer full citizenship on Hernando de Abreu.”
Overcome with emotion at the General’s words, he surreptitiously wiped away a tear that threatened to roll down his cheeks. Smiling back at the General, he replied. “I just want to serve, Sir.”
“That you will, my boy… that you will.” General Aguinaldo boomed back at him. “I already have some exciting missions in mind for you and your soon to be, good wife, young man.” He turned to the gathered assembly and ordered, “right, I understand we have a wedding ceremony to conduct in here, so men, get this hall sorted out so we can get on with it.” Taking a beautiful, tortoise-shell covered watch from his waistcoat pocket and glancing at it, he ended, “I have to be away back to Cavite within an hour and I do not intend to miss this ceremony, so get this place organised, quick-smart.”
As the men rushed around pulling tables away and creating an aisle, with chairs on either side, General Aguinaldo sidled over to Minda. Placing his hand gently on her shoulder, he spoke softly with her. “Congratulations my dear. I am sure you two will have an exciting, if not entirely safe married life.” With a grin, he ad
ded, “would it be presumptuous of me to offer, dear girl, to walk you down the aisle. I know your father cannot be here, for obvious reasons and nothing would give me more pleasure than to give a beautiful, flower of Filipina womanhood, such as you, away in marriage to this fine upstanding Officer of the Revolution.”
Minda was stunned by the General’s overly kind offer and stumbled over her words as they flowed out. “Ahhhh, Ummmm, General, I would be honoured if you would walk me down the aisle. I’m so surprised. I’m almost at a loss for words.”
Chuckling and looking at Hernando, the General joked, “I’m bound to say, I doubt that happens very often, Captain.” Hernando returned the grin and nodded, while Minda’s face took on a distinct shade of pink.
***
For the ceremony, Hernando changed out of his Spanish Captain’s uniform and donned the standard uniform of the revolutionary army. The General had advised him he would be commissioned in the Army, as a Captain, the same rank he already held. One of the General’s adjutants had brought a Captain’s uniform with him and although it was not as fine and flashy as his Spanish version, Hernando was excited, thrilled and proud to be wearing it for the first time, at his wedding.
Hernando had asked Carlos to stand with him, as his best man and together they stood at the front of the hall awaiting Minda’s entrance. Hearing a shuffling of feet and a few gasps, both of them swung around to look where she would be emerging from. Hernando’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped as Minda walked slowly and serenely into the main room of the farmhouse, her arm linked with that of General Aguinaldo. He was stunned by what she was wearing. Leaning over to Carlos, he whispered breathlessly, “where on earth did she manage to get a wedding dress from? My God, she looks like an angel from heaven.”
Carlos chuckled and responded, “ahhhh, well, we are a wealthy family, so I was able to ‘borrow’ the dress my mother was married in, all those years ago. A few minor alterations and it fitted her like a glove, no?”
Hernando just shook his head in amazement and wondered to himself what they had done to deserve such magnificent treatment from these humble Filipinos. In that second all his doubts about what he was about to embark on were swept from his heart and mind. These people do deserve to be free and they do deserve to govern themselves, he thought, and I will play my tiny part in making that happen. Such thoughts were rapidly driven from his mind as Minda glided up beside him. General Aguinaldo handed her hand to Hernando and for a brief second, their fingers and their eyes met. The love he saw reflected back in her eyes was so overwhelming he felt himself begin to tear up.
Shaking his head to clear his mind, he smiled at her and softly mouthed, “I love you, darling. You look incredible.”
Minda giggled softly and mouthed back, “you don’t look so bad yourself, you dashing military hero, you.” The pair then turned toward the priest and knelt in front of him, waiting for his blessing and the dedication of marriage to begin. The ceremony was over before Hernando even realised it. It had flown by in a flash of his eye and if you’d asked him about it, he would have just shaken his head and admitted he really couldn’t remember it. What mattered was that he and Minda were now husband and wife, ‘for better for worse, till death they do part’. It was the death part that had Hernando particularly concerned, but looking into his wife’s brave and determined face, he understood that whatever the future may have in store for both of them, they were now united for all eternity and nothing, nor nobody could change that.
Hernando reached down to lift the veil from his bride’s face for the traditional, ceremonial kiss. As he gazed into her eyes, he could feel the power of her love drawing him deep inside her. Conscious of the watching crowd, however, he satisfied himself with nothing more than a semi-chaste and quick kiss to her lips. “I love you, Mrs de Abreu,” he spoke softly.
“And I love you, too, Mr de Abreu,” she replied equally. As they stood up and faced the cheering crowd gathered in the farmhouse, Hernando cast his eyes around the room at the smiling, grinning, and foot-stomping crowd of his friends, colleagues and now brothers-in-arms. He felt totally at peace amongst them as if he had come home. His gaze alighted on one man, standing apart from the rest, his hands thrust into his trouser pockets, slouching against the far wall of the farmhouse. The body language was bad enough, to begin with, as was the scowling, twisted lips, but it was when Hernando looked up at the young man’s eyes, that he recoiled in shock. Arturo’s eyes were black, dark and twisted in pain. He was staring, fixedly at Hernando and he was in absolutely no doubt that if the circumstances were different, Arturo would be standing there with a gun in his hand, ready to splatter his brains all over the celebration. His gaze at him was only broken, when Minda pulled anxiously at his sleeve. “Honey, we have to go and talk to the General. He’s leaving now, but he wants to give us some orders before he goes.”
Reluctantly, Hernando dragged his gaze off Arturo’s cold, calculating eyes and turned to his wife, forcing a broad smile across his face. “Of course, my love, of course. Besides, I really have to thank the General for everything he’s done for us today…” He swept his arm around the farmhouse. “Oh hon, it’s been absolutely amazing.”
Nodding, Minda dragged her new husband across the room to where General Aguinaldo sat at a small table, plotting and planning, with his adjutant and several other soldiers. Hernando coughed discreetly as they sidled up behind the General. Looking up, the General’s face creased in a smile, “Ah, the young couple. Excellent! What a wonderful ceremony that was Captain, don’t you agree?”
Remembering he was now in the presence of a superior officer, Hernando’s military training kicked in, despite the circumstances of the day and he snapped to attention, throwing a precise salute at the General. “Yes Sir, it was truly momentous for both my wife and I. We just wanted to express our extreme gratitude for everything you have done to organise this wonderful day. We are truly blessed by your presence here and we are so thankful.”
“Nonsense, my boy. It is I who should be thanking you. Your desertion, your marriage to Luzviminda and your joining our revolution will do more for the morale of our Army and the consternation of theirs, than any number of battlefield victories.” He chuckled. “I don’t really think you have any idea what this means for our revolution; having you on our side. It says so much about what is possible, so it is I who is thanking you.”
Stunned by the General’s incredible words, Hernando couldn’t think of anything at all to say and just stood there mutely, smiling and holding Minda’s hand. The General, realising the emotion of it all, jumped in to fill the pregnant pause. “Right, now on to business, young Captain de Abreu. I have a mission for you to undertake. I want you to lead a company of men, from this town to the town of Pandi, Bulacan, where Canuto Villanueva has established a large fort and is forming a new republic, at Kakarong de Sili.” The General leaned over and had a hushed conversation with his adjutant before swinging back to Hernando. “It is our understanding that the Spanish hierarchy has decided they must make an example of Villanueva’s grand scheme and I understand they are planning to send a massive force, under the command of General Olaguer-Feliu, to take and destroy the new Kakarong Republic.” He looked hard at Hernando. “We cannot afford that to happen, Captain de Abreu. You are to report to one of my most able soldiers in the region, a Lieutenant Gregorio del Pilar who will fill you in on everything.”
Hernando snapped back to attention. “Yes Sir, we will do our best to defend the fort, or we will die in the attempt. When do we leave?”
General Aguinaldo chuckled. “Don’t die in the attempt please, good Captain, I want to be able to be Ninong (Godfather) to you and Minda’s firstborn, one day in the future. As to leaving, the sooner the better. You should get your gear and your men together and leave tonight.” He grinned, “not much of a ‘wedding night’ for you two, I guess, but duty calls.” Rising from his chair, the General hugged Minda and kissed her on the cheek, before shaking Hernando’s hand and w
ishing him well. “Godspeed, Captain and long live the Republic of the Philippines.”
Grabbing Minda’s hand, Hernando looked frantically around the room for Carlos. “We’d better find out what Carlos has organised and who is going with us. Come on honey, no time to waste.” He dragged her across the room.
Minda muttered to herself, grinning, “so this is what married life is like, is it?”
***
THE JOURNEY:
Once they had located Carlos, he took them into the kitchen, where he’d set up a small table and three chairs, motioning for them to sit down.
“Quite a day, eh?” he began.
Hernando just laughed, “yeah, different to most, that’s for sure.” Turning serious, he asked Carlos, “so, the General told us we are going to Pandi to help reinforce the fort there. How many men are coming with us? Have you selected them yet?”
Carlos leaned back in his chair, folded his arms across his chest and grinned at the couple. “Indeed,” he began. “We are all going to Pandi, the lot of us and you are going to lead us there Hernando.”
Hernando’s jaw dropped, “I… l… l… lead you there, Carlos?” he stuttered, but surely you are the commander of this company of the Revolutionary Army?”
Still smiling, Carlos placed his hand on Hernando’s arm. “Was the leader, my friend, was the leader. Now, I am just your second in command. Hernando, the General told me to let you know that you are no longer a Captain. As of now, you are promoted to Coronel (Colonel). I will have the rank of Capitan (Captain), and your darling wife Minda, here, will be promoted to the rank of Teniente (Lieutenant). So yes, Colonel, Sir, you will lead our force of fifty-five men the twenty or so kilometres to Pandi. Given the state of the tracks, I would imagine it will take us most of the night and part of tomorrow.” Carlos stood and snapped a quick salute. “I await your orders, my Colonel.”
Love Beyond: Walang Hanggang Pagmamahal Page 17