SILENT SUFFERER

"Please take good care of Lising,{" These were the words of Benito to his wife Insiang. Lising is their youngest daughter who was just ten years old. Fighting his lung disease for several years Benito was afraid he may not see her anymore until the end of the year, Two of their children Bentot and Ising had finished their college degrees and landed with lucrative jobs but they got married right away, Boying a Civil Engineering student will graduate this semester. Why does Benito seemed to be worried if he will not survive his lung disease? Lising at her very young age will face a bleak future unlike her older brothers and sister. She will not see how Benito struggle to give his children all they need to prepare them to have a better life. He was the foreman of a big construction company. He devoted himself to provide for his family. When his brother asked for some help his wife would refuse telling him they need their money for their children, the same thing when the family of Insiang approached them for help. Benito kept his frustrations within himself. He wanted to talk this matter with Insiang but Insiang didn't listen to him. Out of his frustration he became aloof with anyone. He cannot tell to his family what he wanted to do. Insiang was watching him. That also happens when the family of Insiang came around. The more he focused to his work taking all the overtime that he could just to avoid the pressure at home. Then his attention was diverted to drinking. Insiang didn't mind him as long as he was at home drinking alone. No one notice or stop him to drink even his children as he drinks silently. Even at the height of his career it was like work ,work, work and be at home. The only time that he remember to go out with his friends were on christening. Benito and Insiang were sponsors of these gatherings and Benito drank with their newly acquainted friends. Insiang didn't worry why Benito had been used to drinking. Going straight home after the party he slept alone not waiting Insiang to attend to him, Bentot didn't mind his father too, But he wondered why his father was very silent and they didn't have much talk. Maybe this was the plain reason why he tried to seek a friend with the opposite sex to tell her his personal issues since his parents were too busy. Insiang built her own catering business to bring food to the construction workers. His parents attended to their own affairs not knowing that what they were doing affected their family life. It is like each of them had their own world to live on. Bentot met Iris when he was about to graduate in Pharmacy taking the same course. Their parents were too busy. Bentot and Iris talked about their future. Iris parents didn't worry when they learned about the financial status of Bentot. They knew Iris could be on good hands. Two years after graduation they had a grand wedding with their close family in attendance. Benito didn't show any sign of his drinking addiction. One or two glasses everyday before meals led him to bed. Insiang went to bed when she knew Benito had slept. Who would know this was a normal life for Benito and Insiang? They lived as they were. Their daughter Ising met her boyfriend at the hospital. Both of them worked on night shift. He was a surgeon and Ising was his assistant nurse at the Operating Room. They also did well as partners. One time a close family member was diagnosed with heart failure. Ising asked her boyfriend to attend to her. Ising didn't consult her parents. She knew her mother wouldn't agree. Ising remembered their pledge for both a nurse and a doctor to always save lives. It was a successful operation. Her aunt and uncle went to their house to extend their gratitude. Her parents didn't show-up to meet them. Ising accepted their heartfelt gratitude and told them they can come to the doctor's office for regular checkup. Ising and her boyfriend worked together and attended their patients accordingly. It was time for Ising and her boyfriend to settle down. Dr. William Pingol took Priscilla as his beloved wife with their marriage vows to have and to hold, in sickness and in health till death will separate them. With wine and roses during the wedding Benito was excited for his daughter. It was a garden wedding at the newlyweds house. Boying went places to finish his apprenticeship about highway construction. Usually the work would be done at night. He had to review the blueprint and his boys would show him how much more to be done and how long will it take to finish supervise by his Licensed Engineer. Passing by one construction site one day a police car stood by and the bus driver yelled "Sir would you put your car on a safer spot? Maybe the police in the car didn't hear. The bus driver was able to drive through and continued his trip. Boying had to consult highway inspectors when they erect the roadside signs. Motorists must be ensured of their safety when the two lane road becomes only one lane. More supervision when there is a detour sign. Motorists get confused at first to get used to it when their offices happen to be affected. Why many road constructions are happening nowadays. There maybe a growing population and new communities are being formed. Bridge construction for road widening or a new road connection is needed. This works confronts Boying as soon as he graduates. Lising was born out of wedlock. Insiang was very furious when she learned about Lising. Benito was very desperate when he was tempted to go with his friends to stay at the reort without their wives. That was a one night stand with Pinang. Benito had been drunk and Pinang brought her to his hotel room. The unexpected happened. As a Christian family Insiang didn't like Lising to be known as an illegitimate child and carried his father's surname Magpantay. In her heart she cannot totally accept her as her own child. Barely she attended to her. Their household helpers attended to her needs, Silently Benito wanted Insiang to give more attention to Lising. Insiang may have a stone heart. In a true sense Benito wondered if there was really love between them and Lising. He was a good family man. a good provider to his family. Did Insiang reciprocated his efforts with her care? Benito silently ignore Insiang when she refused to help either his family or her family. When Lising was born she totally ignored him and Benito took to himself in his wine drinking to drown his sorrows and pain until he noticed his health was deteriorating. He felt the pain in his chest. When his son in law Dr. William Pingol made a thorough checkup on his lungs and liver they needed to be operated right away. These made Insiang panicked. Who will help her raise Lising? How long did Benito suffer? His illness maybe caused by neglect. Neglect of care and love. Love in a deeper sense don't mean all the money in the bank. Benito didn't know how much money did he earn giving it to Insiang to be deposited in the bank. It may seem doing well but Benito suffered for the sake of his children. Since drinking was addictive Benito didn't know its long term effects. That one day it will be repaid by his suffering, After his two major operations Benito became weaker and weaker. Bentot and Iris came to visit him with their first born who could say his name. That made Benito smiled. Ising and Dr. William Pingol visited Benito regularly to check his blood pressure where there likely be a stroke in this kind of situation. All his family members were around when he has to face his last hour he said to Insiang, "Please take care of Lising."