Even The Grass Bleeds

By Norbert Mercado

On July 16, 1990, the most devastating earthquake in Philippine history takes place. Daniel, an engineering student is trapped beneath the rubble of the Hyatt Terraces Hotel. Rose, his girlfriend, is an OFW in Hong Kong. She awaits news of his situation.

A love story which shows the nature of man: his love and hatred, his compassion and greed, his weakness and determination to rise above human tragedy empowered by his faith in God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Norbert Mercado
• Release date: Aug 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476129853

Norbert Mercado

"In this age of revolution, the contemporary writer should utilize the pen for the preservation of peace," Norbert Mercado, a Filipino author, stressed. The books he has written and published, including his anthologies, unapologetically assert the indispensability of peace in a nation’s progress. The author has written more novels than any Asian writer had in just a brief period of time. In fact, he has surpassed the number of novels written by world-renowned novelists like Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn (winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1970) and American authors Ernest Hemingway (winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1954). Solzhenitsyn has four novels to his credit, while Hemingway has eight. His style of writing is simple and succinct, but poignant and colorful like Hemingway’s THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA, and Solzhenitsyn’s ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF IVAN DESONOVICH. "The simpler the novel, the better," he said. In line with Japanese Yasunari Kabawata’s writings about the Japanese way of life, most of Norbert’s novels focus mostly on the current situation in his country. Kabawata is the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968. His books present hope to the Filipino, especially to the "economic exiles" in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan whom he has spent most of his time with, in their daily struggles. But most of all, his novels lucidly show the futility of war and violence in the resolution of political-economic-class conflicts in the Philippines. "War should not be used as an instrument in resolving political conflicts. Writers who abet wars and revolutions must think of the widows and the fatherless, the chaos, destruction, and suffering of the people whom they claim to be concerned about," he said. What if, like Solzhenitsyn, Hemingway, and Kabawata, he eventually wins the Nobel Prize? What will he do with the US$1,000,000 award? "I will use the prize for establishing a Peace Foundation that will assist in the formulation of policies which will resolve the current shooting conflicts in the country and help alleviate the continuing poverty of our countrymen." He will take charge of the foundation and personally campaign for a peaceful settlement of the conflicts in the Philippines. "The insurgency and the secessionist rebellion have foreign support. A Nobel title will give me the personality to approach the leaders involved in the conflicts," he explained. Born on March 25, 1955, he is the youngest among the children of Mr. and Mrs. Aurelio Mercado, Sr. of San Manuel, Tarlac. He graduated from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, with two degrees, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communication. Voted Outstanding Campus Journalist in 1974, he was a columnist and associate editor of the Philippine Collegian, the campus publication of the University of the Philippines. He has also written articles for various newspapers and magazines in the Philippines, as well as abroad. He also won the 1981 National Essay Writing Contest sponsored by SIDESTREETS Magazine. Norbert is a graduate of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), the topmost armed forces school in the country, where he was conferred a Master’s degree in National Security Administration (MNSA) and the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He graduated from the NDCP at the age of 32, the youngest in Class 21 which had already produced several generals in the Armed Forces, and the youngest graduate in the history of the National Defense College of the Philippines. He was elected one of the fifteen directors of Class 21. He was conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity (Applied Servanthood), Honoris Causa, for his almost 30 years work in Christian literature. His batch mates include Senator Robert Barbers, Undersecretary of Trade and Industry and Bulletin Columnist Nelly Villafuerte, Actor and Producer Fred Galang, Rev. Peter Vasaya, and the His Royal Highness Sultan of Sulu and Sabah Ishmael Kiram. A sports lover, he was a rifle marksman in his UP ROTC days, and a winner of the 1988 and 1989 5,000 meter-run sponsored by the National Defense College Alumni Association. His sports include swimming, basketball, volleyball, boxing, karate, cycling, and marathon among others. A traveler, he has attended various international conferences and trainings in Asia and Europe. His travels have widened his insight not only of places, but also of people he has constantly observed and empathized with. He is the youngest graduate of the Singapore Haggai Institute for Third World Leaders in 1980 at the age of 24. "Let us work for peace in our country, in any way we can," Norbert stressed. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." Ria M. Mercado

Book preview

EVEN THE GRASS BLEEDS

by

NORBERT MERCADO

Also by Norbert Mercado

NOVELS

72 Hours in Moscow

Cambodia's Children of Sorrow

The Children of Mars

I Don't Need A Throne

The Korean War

The Last Romanov

BOOKS IN THE SHADOW OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE SERIES

In The Shadow Of The Roman Empire

Farewell Darkness!

The Roman Governor of Judaea

BOOKS IN THE MORNING GLORY SERIES

Morning Glory

Love Is Beautiful

Prepare For Eternity

Dulce Extranjera

BOOKS IN THE ENSOMO SERIES

Pilgrims To Jerusalem

The Burning Of The Fields

A Year Without Summer

Oh, Jerusalem!

Goodbye Babylon!

BOOKS IN THE SANGKHLABURI SERIES

The Bridge

The Divide

The Union

For more information on Norbert Mercado, visit

http://norbertomercado.blogspot.com

EVEN THE GRASS BLEEDS

Norbert Mercado

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents are product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Except in cases of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2012

All rights reserved. This book is sold, subject to the condition that is shall not, by way of trade or otherwise be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

ISBN: 978-1-476-12985-3

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

VERSION: 2017-05-04-0215

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Final Chapter

Dedication

References

A Historical Novelist For Peace

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Back to Table of Contents

. . . CHAPTER . . .

1

The three pink roses in her hand were as fresh as the flowers newly-plucked by a gardener early in the morning.

Daniel bought them for her in a flower shop near Baguio market.

Will you still give me flowers when we are old? Rose asked, wanting the assurance of a perennial love.

Daniel smiled. He looked at her, and said, Until my last breath…

They were seated on the grass, facing each other. Dahlia flowers bloomed near them, witnesses to an unspoiled, young love.

The place was Burnham Park in Baguio City. It was three o’clock in the afternoon, the last Friday of June 29, 1990.

What time will you leave for Manila on Thursday? Daniel asked her.

Rose smelled the scent of the flowers after which she was named. At six o’clock in the morning. I should be in the airport by two o’clock in the afternoon, she replied, referring to the international airport in Manila.

What time is your flight?

Seven o’clock. I want to be there early.

Daniel looked at the grass with sadness. He didn’t know what to ask next.

Happy graduation in advance, Rose said, smiling. I hope I’ll be here by then.

Daniel nodded, still looking at the grass.

But if I can’t, just remember that I’m happy when you’re happy… she said, her eyes expressing tenderness of a first love.

Daniel was in his fifth year in Civil Engineering at the University of Baguio. He was scheduled to graduate at the end of the school year.

Rose, a graduate of a secretarial course from the same university, met him when they were both in their first year.

She finished her course after two years, and decided to go to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper five months after graduation. It was her aunt, Sally Abobo, who had been working in the British Crown Colony since 1984, who looked for an employer for her.

Times move so fast… Daniel said, observing a boy riding a bicycle. Ten years ago, I was just like him…

Rose glanced at and watched the boy who was enjoying his ride.

Sometimes, I want to be as young as that boy again… Daniel said with a wry smile.

Why? Rose asked, surprised.

The world is his. He has no problems.

Rose looked at the face of the young man dearest to her heart.

Is something troubling you? she asked him.

Just feeling the academic pressure… And now, you will be leaving, he answered.

It won’t take too long. I’ll be back in two years time. Remember when I first left for Hong Kong? You were so sad then. I was too. But we quickly overcame the sadness. It wasn’t long before I was back with you, Rose said, trying to cheer him up.

Daniel looked at her eyes. He could discern her loneliness through those eyes, though she bravely tried to hide it. Yes… But you’re leaving me again, he said.

Daniel, I hope I can get a job with a reasonable salary here. But you know I can’t. How much does a secretary earn here? From 1,500 to maybe 2,000 pesos. In Hong Kong, we earn HK $2,500 a month – that’s more than 7,000 pesos. You know I’m the breadwinner in my family. Nanay is sickly. Boy is only in his fourth year in high school. Tina is only in her first year in high school. I wish I could work in Baguio, but even if I could find a job here, the salary would just be enough for me, she said.

Daniel nodded. Yes… I understand…

Let’s be patient. Soon, you’ll be an engineer and you may no longer need me. By that time, other women might have entered your life, Rose teased him.

You know that won’t happen. Kung gusto mo, pakasal tayo agad pagbalik mo. Graduate na ako noon.

(If you want, we could get married as soon as you return. I would have graduated by then.)

Rose smiled again. Talaga? she asked, kidding. Huwag… mahirap mapasubo agad. Mahirap magpamilya ngayon.

(Really? "No… it’s hard to make immediate commitments. It’s difficult to marry and start a family at this time.)

I know, but with God’s help, I’m sure we can manage, Daniel said.

I’ll ask you a question. Pero wag ka magagalit, Rose said.

(But don’t get mad,)

Bakit naman ako magagalit. What is it? Daniel was curious.

(Why would I get mad?)

Suppose, I’ll marry you five years from now. Will you agree to it? she asked, smiling.

Daniel was surprised. Hah? Ang tagal naman! Huwag naman! Baka hindi ako makatagal!

(What? That long! C’mon, not that long. I might not be able to wait!)

Rose turned serious. Nangako kasi ako kay itay, bago s’ya nalagutan ng hininga. Ang sabi ko sa kanya sa ospital, kahit anong mangyari, tutulungan kong makatapos si Boy at si Tina ng college… It was a vow. I don’t want to fail in my vow to him.

(I made a promise to my father, before he breathed his last. I told him, while we were in the hospital, that no matter what happens, I will help Boy and Tina finish college…)

Daniel could not say anything. He just listened to Rose.

Have you ever promised anything to a person who was dying?

Daniel shook his head.

Rose had graduated from the Baguio City High School as valedictorian of her class when her father, Captain Anacleto Afable, PA (Philippine Army), was ambushed in Sagada, Mountain Province, together with his troop, by the New People’s Army (NPA).

. . .

Her father was then travelling in an army jeep from Bontoc to Sagada, together with four army soldiers, when a group of NPAs ambushed them on a narrow curve five kilometers away from Sagada Proper (the main town). The four soldiers who were with her father were killed on the spot.

Captain Afable was wounded in the stomach. When the NPA’s approached them, he pretended to be dead.

The communist rebels