It was the graduation march then of Maya, who was still on her way to grade school. With her is her mother, Lea, who was very tense on taking picture shots, Ding, her father, Ojie, her brother, and Flor, Lea’s niece.  It was 8:00 in the morning when the program started in the school ground. After singing the national anthem, the principal started to deliver her speech, then the mothers of different children prepared their respective child in participating to the Miss Kinder fashion show.  Ding and Flor helped Maya in her gown while Lea took pictures of her daughter.  Others put make-ups and lipsticks to their daughters, but Lea insisted on maintaining the freshness of Maya’s face. With the chaos around the program, Ojie asks for a softdrink to her mom, but he was told to go to her Dad Ding.  Mentioning the name of Ding, differentiate with his true father, Raffy, who is Maya’s father.  It was Maya’s decision on participating in the pageant, even it requires a difficult task because of  the hectic exercises and on choosing the right gown, and before the graduation, Maya got sick but this was not enough for her to withdraw to the program.  The talent portion begins, and many of the contestants had performed very well.  Lea begin to doubt the talent of her daughter, while Ding was nervous when it was her daughter’s turn. Maya recited a poem on how she was made, then the audience applauded.  Before the  announcement of the winner, students first receive their diplomas.  And the announcement came, which was won by Maya because of her simplicity and total personality, Ding shouted for joy while saying to the crowd that it is his daughter who won.  Lea started taking pictures while her eyes started to tears.  Maya also got a honor but the excitement of Lea was not that intense as Maya have won in the pageant.

           Lea prepared a party for Maya after she received a honor and won as Miss Kinder.  She wanted to express her happiness and fulfillment for Maya during her graduation day.  Lea invited not only Maya’s classmates but also their relatives, friends and even neighbors.  During the celebration, Pilar, Lea’s long time friend visited her.  Pilar wanted Maya to join in a beauty contest launch by Johnson & Johnson so Lea think what is her plan for her daughter.  She imagined Maya if her daughter will won, she will be signed by a producer and will be directed by Lino Brocka, but Lea disagreed because for her joining a contest is nothing, the totality of a person is still important and not being beautiful or whatsoever.  During their discussion, the classmates of Ojie were talking about the relationship of Lea and Maya’s father, if they were married or just living-in.  Maya entered to the scene and said that her mother and father is just married on bed.  Ding heard what Maya said so he scolded her and told not to talk too much because it was improper for a kid like her to tell things like that.

         On that night, Lea felt that she wanted to have sex to her live-in partner Ding.  The latter was not comfortable and went from place to place as if he wants to tell Lea. Unlike Raffy, Ding does not tell Lea if he wanted to have a sex with her.  Lea misunderstood the action of  Ding, so she initiated by telling her partner to go to sleep.  But it was not the real reason of Ding, her mom told him to go back to their house because the former will go to the province before the sun rise the next day, the two had confrontations about their relationship, and ended up on Ding’s leaving the house.  In contrast to her feeling, Lea allowed Ding to go home.  Then Ojie went to her not knocking on the door,  her son asks questions about what is the real status of her mom with Ding and Raffy.  Lea tried to explain to her son that sometimes it is better for the two persons to separate for the benefit of their children because if they try to force working it out and still end up on fight, the children will suffered most.  Ojie did not fully understood what his mother was talking about but one thing his sure of, that her mother love both Maya and him.

         It was Monday in the morning, Lea has not yet pressed her dress because yesterday she played with her two kids and went to CCP to enjoy the whole day. She was confused on what she will cook for the kids to eat, and she has not even went to the market to buy for their food. Fortunately, there was still a corned beef, so she decided to just cook it with potatoes. She told Ojie to go to Aling Zeny, their neighbor, to borrow iron. She was already late but no one will be left to attend to her children’s needs, so she decided to call Ding at his house when suddenly, Ding’s mother answered.  Lea ask politely for Ding but the mother told her that Ding is still asleep, followed by cutting the line.  Lea felt that she was insulted so she called back again, but this time she is angry telling Ding’s mom that the latter should tell his son to go to her home at once.  Lea asks her two children if they can already handle the house and themselves if she leave them alone, Ojie said that he did not want to take care of Maya, then Maya said that she do not need Ojie to care for her,  the two argued when Lea finally interrupted and told them to behave and be good while she is out.  She also told them on what to do if something bad happens and precautions to be done.  Lea’s job is not only a simple secretary nor a saleslady, but a member of a human rights organization who investigate and helps people who were being abused.  The group was assigned to go to a certain province but Lea refused to because no one will be left to take care of her children. Johnny, her sparring partner, was not able to convince Lea to join. Suddenly, the phone rang, so Lea answered, it was Raffy, she was shocked and was not able to speak immediately.  She laughed and cried.

          Lea remembered the last time she and Raffy have met and talked. It flashbacked on her mind when Raffy has discovered her relationship to Ding, but Lea explained that she too have needs and it is all the fault of Raffy because of the long distance relationship they had....he heard Raffy’s voice on the phone asking her to meet him at a restaurant nearby her office. Immediately, she called Ojie but was not able to tell her son that she had a talk to her dad, instead she said that she will be late coming at home. Before going to their meeting place, she had a hard time fixing herself in the ladies’ room, forcing her to be presentable. Lea came earlier than Raffy and as expected they were both shocked and unable to speak immediately. Raffy asked her on her new life now and Ojie, now that his son is about to become a teenager.  He also asked on how Ding and Ojie treated each other. Lea responded positively and told her former husband on the way their life is. Then Raffy asked permission if he could see his son, which was agreed immediately by Lea.  Lea thought that her husband still have at least a feeling of love towards her until Raffy told her that he has already a wife, Elinor.

          Raffy and Lea parted with each other. Lea returned home to bring the news to Ojie that his father came and wanted to see him. Maya insisted on coming with Ojie and Lea on the next day. The following morning Lea called Beng to tell her brother that Maya is coming. Because Raffy’s family is liberated, they facilely accepted the fact that Maya is coming.

          Lea, Maya and Ojie traveled to Cubao from Malabon. During the trip Ojie felt uneasiness on his father because it has been years before they have met. They came to the place they have agreed upon, then, exasperatedly, Ojie and his father embraced each other. Then Ojie introduced Maya to his father and they went to Fiesta Carnival. After the rides Lea and Raffy talked and had a short discussion on what they have regretted and later they embraced each other as well.

           At home Lea wondered about what Raffy would do to his new child’s name on the birth certificate. Then she had an argument with her kids and Ding about love and respect among her nuclear family. After settling down Lea and Ding made love while Raffy ironically being in Lea’s mind instead of Ding.

          Ojie had undergone circumcision. Lea was worried about Ojie because he is depressed and lone of a father. After circumcision Lea told Ojie that after healing he’d go to his father’s new home. What’s in Lea’s mind, though, is what would happen to Ojie there because Raffy has a live-in partner, Elinor. Then following that Ojie was insistent on going to his father, Lea took him there.

           Lea called Raffy while Ojie was cleansing his genital as the circumcision doctor had ordered. She told him that Ojie might be shocked upon arrival there when he sees Elinor. Then she had a discussion with Ojie about what might happen if a girl sees his genital after circumcision. Later that night she informed Ding that Ojie would go to his father.

          Lea and Ojie reached the home of Elinor and Rafael, but upon reaching it only Elinor was there.  They went in and were offered something to eat and drink, and a little but quite heated chat prospered between the two ladies.  Since Ojie was still uncomfortable with Elinor, he went out for some fresh air, and thereupon met his dad outside.  Lea said her goodbyes, letting them know that she just had to bring Ojie there and nothing more, and so went home.

          The day after, Ding was not home, so Lea was forced to bring Maya to her office.  The little girl was entertained by Johnny Deogracias.  She had a little talk with him, and afterwards was offered to view some videotapes.  During this time, Lea showed to her daughter all the things she was involved in with her job:  symposiums, events, issues, and reports related to social activitism and human rights. 

        Lea noticed that Maya was exhausted with all their undertakings, so she went home and arrived upon a sour-faced Ding.  Ding was almost angry of Lea’s actions:  letting Ojie spend the summer in Raffy’s, exhausting Maya along with her troubles in the workplace, etc., but Lea did not mind him.  During the deepest of the night, Raffy called Lea, saying that they should meet the next day for her to fetch Ojie and to hear what important thing he has to say.  Lea was restless during the night, excited to hear what Raffy has to say the next day, thinking that maybe Raffy wanted to make up with her.

          Lea went to the meeting place the next day, and there was Raffy.  They went to the carnival again to let Ojie play and to have some privacy between them for the thing that Raffy has to say.  Lea was shocked by what he asked:  if he may let Ojie come with him to America.  Raffy did not mention any actual length of time when they would be staying there, although about a year was given for Ojie to think this through.  Upon arriving home, Leah advised the child what would be the advantages one parent has to offer him if he would stay with him/her.  Lea made him think that day, but did not make him answer yet.

          Tomorrow came.  It was the first day of classes.  To avoid all the hassle of Monday, Lea already readied their things for school.  Afterwards she brought them to school, although Ojie did not like her mother still clinging with him when going to school.  They reached the campus, and it was time to pay the tuition and dues.  Lea noticed that she could make use of a deductible due, being that she has two kids in the same school, needing only one payment of a certain due for both kids.  But having two, even three including hers for that matter, last names were a big problem, so she went through so many teachers and offices until she reached the principal’s office.  Mrs. Zalamea, the principal, advised Lea to move one of her children to another school, which she totally refused, leaving another heated battle open for Lea.  Lea shortly afterwards walked out of the office to  express her disagreement; she finds out the day would be full of hassles after all.

          Lea was invited to a PTA meeting at the children’s school. She was very hesitant to go to that meeting and Ojie, seeing this, got very irritated and said to his mom that they don’t have a father and now they even don’t have a mother. Lea often hears this kind of thing from Ojie. Lea also thinks that Ojie is doing all these things to provoke Lea to get mad at him, so that he would have a reason to go with his father. Lea, sensing this, calmed herself and advised herself to be more patient with his son. She wanted to show Ojie that she is a good mother and should not be left alone by him. The day of the meeting came, they and all the other students with their parents were at the school ground under the scorching heat of the sun. The meeting started with the principal addressing the parents and students. The parents one by one stood up and introduced themselves to the other parents. When it was Lea’s turn, she told that it doesn’t matter what their name is, but what she wanted is that the meeting to start and get over with.

           The teachers of Maya stood up and commended what Mrs. Gascon has said. Suddenly, another teacher corrected it saying that Lea was not Mrs. Gascon but Mrs. De Lara. Both of them argued for a while when the school principal told them that she is both. Many reactions arose from what they have learned, and a guy in front of Lea became interested in her. The voting for the officer of the association followed. Again Lea took the attention of the crowd because of her loud laugh. In the voting of officials, Lea found herself nominated for presidential and vice-presidential slot to which she both lost. She was starting to feel irritated because she was getting humiliated. She then was again nominated, now for a position in the board of members. Upon hearing this she became very irritated and burst out with a loud voice. She continued on with her speech in front of the stage. After she spoke, to her surprise many teachers and parents applauded her, and requested her to stay. She was nominated as a board member and surprisingly as a chairwoman.

          Lea began to notice some unusual things about Ojie. He always goes home late, always ask for money, and one night a man filled with tattoo on his body returned his school ID.  One night when she was on her way home, she bumped into the teacher of Ojie and learned that he was absent for class for two straight days. Upon hearing this she immediately looked for his son. She asked the street children but no one saw him except for one. He told Lea that Ojie spends his time in Gerona; only one thing popped out of Lea’s mind: drugs. When she came into the place where his son stays during night she was surprised to see her son playing billiards. At home she started to question Ojie, but he started to answer back. Lea became so angry that she slapped Ojie on the face. His son then burst into tears and began to tell all his sentiments of not having a father. Deep inside Lea felt guilt and started to cry. On the other hand Ojie apologized to his mom and said that he would never play billiards again, Lea taught Ojie to learn to prioritize things.

         Next day, Lea was thinking of what she did to her son. Maya came to ask for some money to give to her classmate because her father died. Because pay day was arriving, Lea decided to give the money to Maya and in addition she bought a bike for Ojie. When she arrived, Ding confronted him about the bike, because it would only bring danger and harm to the kids. They argued for a while but Lea got used to it a long time ago. On the other hand, Lea thought of his friend, Johnny. She knew that Johnny was the type of man that she could flirt with. She then started to flirt with Johnny through phone and when are together at work. They are to go to Baguio City for a field work.

          Lea was so excited with the fact that she would be spending some nights with Johnny. She’s been thinking about the things that could happen between Johnny and her. That night, she waited for Ding to come home so she can leave her children behind, but Ding never came. The next day she woke up early and started packing the things of her children and went immediately to school to fetch them. She then went to the house of Raffy hoping that Elinor is not around, when they arrive at Raffy’s place she was surprise to see Elinor. She wanted to back out but she was desperate so she asked Elinor if her children can stay until Sunday.  Elinor was hesitant but she agreed. She went to the office and looked for Johnny, she went to find him and was surprised to know the he isn’t coming with them anymore. 

          Johnny won’t be able to go with Lea to Baguio.  He reasoned that he would be compiling reports about nuclear arms.  He sounded like he didn’t have any regrets for not going.  Lea just convinced herself that Johnny was too dignified to let anything happen.  But she was very much irritated with what just happened. 
         Because of car trouble, they parked the car at the side of the zigzag road.  While the men were fixing the vehicle, the women except Lea went sightseeing.  Sister Ann confronted Lea, who felt that Lea needed some help.  Lea asked the nun if she had ever experienced love, not the love for God but the love between opposite sexes.  Sister Ann was surprised of the question but remained calm about it and told Lea that she is a nun.  She knew Lea had a problem and Lea did have one.  She wanted someone to look after her, someone to care for her, someone who will understand her and someone who will stay beside her.  But Lea knew that Sister Ann would not understand her. 
           As they reached their destination, they immediately went on to their business.  They conducted interviews of testimonies from those who were snitched off their land by military men.  They were abused, left to starve and their families, killed. 
           Before heading back home, they stopped at the cemetery where those killed were buried.  But she didn’t head back home with the group.  Lea stayed and enthralled herself with the many sights of Baguio.  She went home not Sunday, the day she promised Elinor to get the kids, but Monday, August 21 when Benigno Aquino was assassinated.

           Lea attempted to watch TV when she got home past midnight but to no avail.  All she had was the paper with Aquino being murdered.  She wanted to call Raffy’s house but worried that she might be disturbing their sleep.  But she called anyway until several rings with nobody answering. 
           When Lea was about to sleep the door opened.  It was Ding.  He immediately asked Lea where the kids were.  And when he knew that they were at Raffy’s Ding became furious.  But Lea at once reasoned that she had no one to depend on that may look after the kids when he did not come home.  Each of them was getting angrier when the phone rang.  It was Raffy. 
           Lea went to the hospital where Elinor gave birth.  The kids were there too.  Raffy on the other hand, was furious of Lea’s thoughtless act of leaving the kids with them.  He suggested to Lea to stop working and that he will have to bear Ojie’s expenses or have his son under his care.  But Lea, being herself, argued about the idea.  She was not going to quit her job.  If he wanted to have Ojie, he would have to talk to the child.  In the end, Lea got her children and took off with the pain from the argument with Raffy and the worry if her fight with Ding will still continue when she gets home.

            In the office all papers, local and foreign, contained a headline about the assassination of Benigno Aquino.  There were protests and vigils all over the world.  Every person even the little ones were asking who Aquino was.  Lea brought her children to Aquino’s wake.  The assassination awakened the minds of those who suffered from the regime.  Finally, they moved forward to be heard and never to be shut off again. 
            Lea received the kids’ cards.  Maya had better grades than Ojie.  She was not surprised because she never saw Ojie study.  After signing the cards, Maya noticed that Lea signed the wrong name in her card.  The same happened with Ojie.  They tried to erase it but it only damaged the card.  So Lea tried writing to both of the kids’ teachers about what happened and both answered that she better talk to the school principal. 
            Lea went to the principal’s office and was prepared to have a heating conversation with Mrs. Zalamea.  But the principal was calm with her presence.  Mrs. Zalamea instructed that Lea may pay for the replacement of the cards and since she looked like she had spare money to spend, it would be appreciated if she could give contribution as an act of paying condolence to a person who committed suicide. 
            Lea laughed but later stopped upon hearing that suicide was the cause of the death.  It was brought to her knowledge that it was the wife of the man who was killed in the picket line.  Lea’s laughter turned into tears and the principal thought she understood Lea.  But Lea explained that she was in a human rights organization and part of her job was to look after labor union strikes like of that with Maya’s classmate’s parents.  Mrs. Zalamea could not imagine what she learned from Lea.  She never expected her to be in such an organization.  In just a short while, the two of them were, for the first time, agreeing with each other and on the same side.
 

            Lea participated in a rally for justice.  Along with thousands of women, men, and children they all marched.  After taking part in the rally, Lea went to the office to pick up some things.  She received a call from Zeny, her neighbor.  The kids were in the hospital. 
            Lea hurriedly went to a hospital in Malabon.  It was not much of a big accident.  Ojie suffered a little gash on his head and Maya, a bruise on her arm.  But the physician who attended to the kids suggested that they be confined over the night. 
            Raffy was there for Ojie and Ding for Maya.  The three of them were face to face in silence.  Lea introduced one to the other.  Raffy left the room after a while.   Then Ding started blaming Lea for the incident.  Lea knew it was useless arguing with Ding because both of them were not there when the incident happened to the children.  She went out of the room only to face another useless conversation with Raffy.  Both Ding and Raffy took turns in telling her what she must and must not be doing.  Until Lea can not take it anymore, she ran outside the hospital and went home. 

Chapter 25

           The phone was ringing when Lea reached home.  She bet that it’s either Ding or Raffy begging her to go back to the hospital for the kids’ sake.  She thought that she’d swear whoever was on the other line.  But when she answered the phone and did the cursing, she later realized that it was Johnny on the other line.  Johnny was surprised and confused what to say and how to react.  Lea simply asked Johnny to meet with her. 
           They went out and watched a movie.  But Lea was too noisy inside the moviehouse asking Johnny questions about why Ding and Raffy were both against her, that they went out and did not finish the movie.  Lea’s tactlessness made Johnny feel embarrassed when in the escalator and in a transport vehicle. 
           Both of them were tired and hot.  But there was Johnny accompanying her in a time where she was having problems.  Then Lea blurted out something that she had been wanting to say.  She told Johnny that she wanted to have sex with her.  And that Johnny could tell her if he wanted to do it also.  Johnny was very shocked with what Lea said and quickly said he didn’t want to do it.  But Lea insisted that she will only do it if Johnny was willing to do it too.  He knew Lea felt ashamed of what she was saying that he got close to Lea and snuggled her and kissed her.  The only mistake was she asked if Lea really wanted to do it so they ended up in a hotel that night. 
 
 

Chapter 26

            Lea prepared food and many other things for her children's return from the hospital. The two were accompanied home by Ding who left quickly after a brief argument with Lea. Lea then turned to her children and talked to them about what they feel. Later that night, Lea met Chona, Johnny's wife, who told her that the latter was arrested. Lea then immediately called Sister Ann who in turn promised to help Johnny's case. After Chona left, Lea bumped into documents and tapes of activists who were killed. This made her scared of what may happen to Johnny. 
 
 

Chapter 27

           Lea participated in a protest in Plasa Roma which aims to free political detainees. When she got home, knowing that it was Christmas season, she took out the christmas tree and placed it in the corner wherein posters of what she believed in are displayed. The next morning, Lea brought her children to the first political rally for children. After several days,  Christmas Eve came.  Lea was patiently waiting for the carolers to come.  These carolers collects signatures of various persons instead of money for support of thier cause.  Lea gladly gave hers. 
 
 

Chapter 28

            Lea and her children celebrated the New Year together. Sister Ann was with them who kept on asking Lea about her relationship with Ding. Suddenly the phone rang. It was for Maya who probably stayed there for about twenty minutes. When Maya put the phone down her mom asked her why she used it for so long. Lea was surprised to hear that the brother of Maya's classmate died who was celebrating his birthday that same day. The reason of its death was his incapacity to adopt to bottled milk. Lea then went to the child's wake and noticed that it turned out to be more of a birthday party. Suddenly people started to sing Happy Birthday but all are obviously unhappy with the incident. Sister Ann then found Lea at the back of the house crying. She was crying because of what she feels and told the Sister that she wants to fight back. Days passed by and Sister Ann vanished without a trace. The news about her is that she became a leader of an underground movement. 
 
 

Chapter 29

           Lea missed Ding so much that the only thing in her mind was to reconcile and talk to the latter when it comes home. Her long wait finally ended when Ding came home. After taking a glimpse at the kids, Ding confronted Lea and told her that the reason of his long absence is that he got married. Cool heads prevailed for minutes until Lea could no longer hide her feelings. She figured in a fight with Ding and at the end the latter told her that he wants Maya to come along with him. The next day Lea told Maya what happened. The child was so confused that she asked her mother for help. Lea though told her that it's up to her to decide. Lea then went out and saw a mother hitting her child. She said to herself that her children would remember her as a caring mom who might have hurt them unintentionally. 
 

Chapter 30

             The historical Lakbayan commenced. All people from all walks of life gathered in one voice: To boycott the 1984 election. Lea participated in the event. When she stopped for awhile to catch up with her breath she saw Raffy beside her who finally understood the value of fighting for people's rights. 
 
 

Chapter 31

          Lea patiently waited for Raffy in a restaurant. She knows that it will be the last time she will ever see her former husband for the latter will be going to the US. In that instance she started to reminisce the good times she shared with Raffy. Finally Raffy came and they started talking. At the end they decided to spend the day together. 
 
 

Chapter 32

          It was graduation day. Lea was the guest speaker of that affair. Lea didn't prepare any speech but delivered a very inspiring one. Her speech was about how people mature so fast and how life works. In her last lines she told the graduates that graduation is not the end but is just the start of new things to come.