[Capítulo Diez: Agosto (August) 26, 1896]

THE two of us made our way towards the bustling crowd gathered in the backyard of one of the houses.

Once again, it was Goyo who had led me there, inexplicably finding me amidst the assembly.

“Jong!” I turned to see Marianne beside me, already dressed with wet hair like the other maidens.

“Kilala mo siya, Binibini (Do you know her, Miss)?” one of the maidens inquired of Marianne.

“Huwag niyo nang alamin kung sino siya (You don't need to ask who he is). Masama ang ugali niyang panot na iyan (That creep's crazy). Ayoko naman sa kaniya (I don't even like him),” she replied, crossing her arms and furrowing her brows.

“Napakaguwapo naman ng dalawang iyan (Those two are really handsome),” said another.

“Dalawang iyan (Those two)? Anong pinagsasasabi niyo (What are you saying)?” asked Marianne.

“Balita ko ang pangalan ng isang iyan ay si Gregorio at iyang isa naman ay si Joaquin (I heard that one of them is Gregorio while the other is Joaquin),” another one spoke.

“Teka (Wait)! Gregorio?” Marianne’s eyes widened when she once again saw the man beside me. Once again, she was consumed by silence.

“Kailangan na nating umpisahan ang rebolusyon! Ngayong alam na lang naman ng mga Espanyol ang tungkol sa Katipunan, bakit pa natin kailangang magtago (We need to start the revolution! Now that the Spaniards are already aware of the Katipunan, why do we still need to hide)?” From my concealed position, I absorbed the charged atmosphere as voices collided.

“Teka lamang, Supremo (Begging your pardon, Supremo). Hindi ba’t hindi maayos na basta-basta na lamang tayong lulusob (Isn't it better to plan and not just recklessly charge in)?” voiced one man, injecting a note of caution.

“Tama si Pio, Supremo. Mas maganda kung mas pagpaplanuhan pa natin ang laban na ito (Pio is right, Supremo. It's better if we plan this battle more thoroughly),” reasoned another, advocating for thoughtful planning.

“Para sa akin ay ayos lang naman (For me, it's alright),” nonchalantly contributed one of the men, revealing a casual stance.asual stance.

“Ipagpaumanhin mo na, Kapatid. Naniniwala ako sa sinabi nina Pantas at Valenzuela (I apologize, Brother. I believe in what Pantas and Valenzuela said),”  added another. “Maaaring marami ang mawala sa atin nang dahil sa desisyon mong iyan (Many may be lost due to that decision of yours).”

The room erupted into chaos, two opposing groups forming, locked in silent contention over an undisclosed, crucial decision.

“Ano kaya ang pinapag-usapan nila (What could be their conversation)?” I overheard Gregorio's speculative remark as his gaze fixated on the house in front of us.

After a brief interval, Señor Andres emerged from the room, his countenance now marked by determination and gravity – a stark contrast to my initial impression of him.

“Alalahanin ninyo ang naging kapalaran ng mga kababayan nating binaril sa Bagumbayan. Kapag bumalik tayo sa mga bayan natin, babarilin din naman lang tayo ng mga Espanyol (Remember the fate of our fellow countrymen shot in Bagumbayan. When we return to our towns, the Spaniards will shoot us, too),” he declared, his voice resonating to silence the crowd.

“Natuklasan na nila ang ating organisasyon at lahat tayo ay mayroon ng marka sa kanila (They've uncovered our organization, and we all have a mark on them),” he continued. “Kapag hindi pa natin sinimulan ang paglusob, huhulihin at huhulihin pa rin tayo ng mga Espanyol. Ngayon, ano ang inyong masasabi (If we don't initiate the attack now, the Spaniards will keep arresting us. Now, what do you have to say)?”

Whispers permeated the once-quiet air.

“Pag-aalsa (Revolt)!” echoed the collective shout, reverberating among the crowd, and even those around me joined in. Marianne, however, remained silent, her gaze still wandering.

“Ilabas ninyo ang inyong mga cedula (Present your cedulas)!” Señor Andres commanded. Papers emerged from pockets, raised defiantly in the air.

“Nasaan ang inyong mga cedula (Where are your cedulas)?” queried one of Marianne’s new acquaintances, addressing both of us.

Marianne abruptly snapped out of her daydream, frantically searching her pocket.

“Naku (Oh, no)! Naiwan ko ata sa bahay namin (I think I left it on our house)!” she gasped.

“Kaya siguro kayo hinarang ng mga Espanyol, ano (Perhaps that's why the Spaniards stopped you, isn't it)?” the woman speculated.

“Uhh… Masama ba iyon (Is that bad)?” inquired Marianne.

“Sa totoo lamang ay napakatapang ninyo kung ganoon (Honestly, you are very brave if that's the case),” Goyo remarked. “Napakasuwerte rin ninyong dalawa dahil hindi kayo tuluyang pinaligpit ng mga Espanyol na iyong nakasalamuha (You two are also very fortunate that the Spaniards you encountered did not completely apprehend you).”

“Pagmasdan ninyo ang isang papel na umaalipin sa ating lahat. Ilang daang taon na rin tayong nagpasakop sa mga Espanyol. Panahon na para makamtan natin ang kalayaan (Look at this document that enslaves us all. We've been under Spanish rule for hundreds of years. It's time for us to achieve freedom)!” the Supremo declared.

“Tama (Indeed)!” resonated from the crowd.

“Kung tunay na handa na kayong mag-alsa… Nais ko kayong makitang punitin ang iyong mga cedula (If you are truly ready to revolt... I want to see you tear apart your cedulas),” Andres added. “Ito ang magiging tanda ng pag-alis natin mula sa pamamahala ng mga Espanyol (This will be the symbol of our departure from the rule of the Spaniards).”

I observed the people's unwavering determination to achieve their longed-for goal. Despite being in the dark about their exact plans, an unmistakable sense of significance filled the air.

“Punitin ninyo ang inyong mga cedula (Tear your cedulas apart)!” Señor Andres held up the paper, tearing it into pieces. Others quickly followed suit, shredding their own 'cedula.'

“Mabuhay ang Katipunan (Long live the Katipunan)!” Andres exclaimed, raising his fist high.

“Mabuhay (Long live)!” the people shouted, emulating the same powerful gesture.

“Mabuhay ang rebolusyon (Long live the revolution)!” resonated a voice from inside the house.

“Mabuhay (Long live)!”

“Mabuhay ang Supremo (Long live the Supremo)!” another voice joined in.

“Mabuhay (Long live)!”

After that momentous day, the crowd dispersed in all directions, their shared purpose uniting them in the pursuit of freedom.

“Kailangan ko nang bumalik kay Colonel Vicente Enriquez (I need to go back now to Colonel Vicente Enriquez),” Goyo uttered.

“Paalam, Señor (Goodbye, Sir),” the ladies bid farewell in a charmed tone.

I observed him walking away. Just before entering a nearby house, he turned his face toward us, offering a charming smile.

“Saan ba galing na bayan ang sinasabi mong Gregorio (From which town does the Gregorio you're talking about come)?” one of Marianne’s friends asked.

“Ang alam ko ay taga-Bulacan siya (I think he's from Bulacan),” replied the other.

“Naku (Gosh)! Mukhang nahulog na ata ang aking loob sa kaniya (I think I fell in love with him),” said another with a playful smile.

“Tumigil ka nga riyan, Teresa (Stop it, Teresa),” the first one to ask interjected. “Alam mo namang nasa gera tayo, hindi ba (You know that we are on a war now, right)?”

The group turned their attention toward Marianne, curiosity evident in their expressions.

“Marianne,” they called out, anticipation filling the air. “Maaari mo na bang ipakilala si Joaquin sa amin (Could you introduce Joaquin to us)?”

“Joaquin?” she questioned. “Sino naman ang sinasabi niyong Joaquin na iyan (Who are you referring to)?”

“Ano ka ba naman (Seriously)? Nang dahil ba sa katapangan mo ay hindi mo na kilala kung sino ang kasama mong mestizo (Is it because of your bravery and that was why you forgot the name of your mestizo friend)?” Teresa playfully chided.

“Joaquin Garcia,” I introduced myself, breaking the suspense.

“Ako nga pala si Teresa (I am Teresa),” Teresa introduced herself, pointing to the two other girls with her. “Ito naman sina Loreta at Maria (And these are Loreta and Maria).”

I responded with a friendly smile, acknowledging their introductions.

“Sigurado ba kayong gusto niyong kausapin iyan (Are you sure you want to talk to that man)? Baka magka-nosebleed lang kayo (You might get a nosebleed),” Marianne teased.

“Nosebleed?” Loreta inquired.

“What do you mean nosebleed?” I asked, curious.

“Pareho kayong kakaiba ang ginagamit na mga salita. Paano namin kayo maiintindihan (Both of you are using different languages. How can we understand you)?” Maria expressed her concern.

“Nagsasalita iyan ng Espanyol tsaka Ingles (That man speaks Spanish and English),” Marianne boasted. “Kung gusto ninyo ay aralin niyo na iyon kung gusto niyong makaporma riyan (If you want, you can study it now so that you can have a chance for him)!”

“Aba’y hindi ako marunong ng mga wikang iyon (Oh, I don't know those languages),” Teresa replied.

“Ako rin (Me, too),” Maria added.

“Kung ganoon ay baka naman maaaring ikaw ang maging tagasalin niya (If that's the case, then maybe you can be his translator),” said Loreta.

“Ako nga ang inatasan ng lider ng lugar na ito (Funny because I was assigned by the leader of this place to be one),” she replied, her eyebrows still furrowed.

“Ganoon naman pala (So that's how it is),” said the two with a smile.

“Uy (Hey)! Ano ba ang pinagtitipunan ng mga kababaihan dito (What are the women gathering for here)?” When I looked behind me, there was Clara again, dressed differently from last night.

“Narinig niyo namang malapit na ang pag-aalsa, hindi ba? Bakit nandirito pa kayo at imbis na tumulong ay nag-uusap-usap lamang (You heard that the uprising is imminent, right? Why are you still here, just talking instead of helping)?” she added in her calm voice.

“Pasensiya na, Señorita (We're so sorry, Miss),” the three spoke.

“Teresa, Maria,” she called in a shift of tone. Her transformation from calm to authoritative revealed her capability to lead in the midst of their cause. “Pumunta kayo kay Tandang Sora at tulungan siya sa paghahanap ng mga panggamot! Loreta, samahan mo na ang mga kababaihang nagluluto ng agahan. Nagugutom na ang mga bisita natin (Go to Elder Sora and help her in finding medicines! Loreta, accompany the women preparing breakfast. Our guests are hungry)!”

“Masusunod, Señorita (Will do, Miss),” the three replied, then went into different ways.

“Ngayon (Now),” she added with her gaze dropped towards us, “ano kaya ang maaari ninyong gawin (what could you two possibly do)?”