Some Winds Blow Forever

By Norbert Mercado

Cara, a well traveled Lithuanian-American businesswoman, has uncovered the truth she was asked to search for in Macau. Ecological destruction results in a terrifying natural disaster.

SOME WINDS BLOW FOREVER is a social novel which shows the tragic consequences of ecological destruction. It appeals to the present generation (through the presentation of a horrifying incident in the Philippines - the Ormoc flashflood which killed more than 8,000 people) to help in the preservation of the environment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Norbert Mercado
• Release date: Aug 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476394916

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

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SOME WINDS BLOW FOREVER

by

NORBERT L. MERCADO

Also by Norbert L. Mercado

NOVELS

72 Hours in Moscow

After the Summer Rain

Beyond Revolution

The Children of Mars

Chrysanthemum

The Days of an Empire

Even the Grass Bleeds

I Don't Need A Throne

The Last Romanov

One Love, Three Summers

The Protracted War and the Quest for Peace

Some Winds Blow Forever

Three Cornered Sun

Unchained Melody

Windflowers

The Winter is Young

OTHER BOOKS

Asia Health Book 1

Asia Health Book 2

Cambodia's Children of Sorrow

The Future and Your Family

Jerusalem: The City of Destiny

Ronald Reagan: Profile of a President

For more information on Norbert L. Mercado, visit

http://norbertomercado.blogspot.com

SOME WINDS BLOW FOREVER

Norbert L. Mercado

Copyright © 2012 Norbert L. Mercado

Norbert L. Mercado has asserted his right

to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction, and except in case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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: 9781476394916

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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: 201208131645

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

Last Chapter

Dedication

A Historical Novelist For Peace

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CHAPTER

1

Cara’s excitement could not be concealed as she phoned Gina Mijares, a Filipina friend, that Saturday afternoon. The former, a Lithuanian-American from Sta. Cruz, San Francisco, California, had just arrived in Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui, along Mody Road.

The hostel is located on the fifth floor of an old building. It houses mostly Caucasians who are travelling to or have come from other Asian countries like China, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines, with Hong Kong as their transient point.

These travelers, transients on an island of transients, choose the hostel for its budget rent which is HK $40 a night.

Six persons, or eight, or even ten, with an uncomfortable mix of men and women at certain times, stay in one room.

The beds are double-decked to save on space, and these Caucasians, mostly Americans and Europeans, content themselves with the unusually uncomfortable arrangement because of the very minimal cost of stay.

What is important for them is a place where they can sleep with the least cost. In Hong Kong, the cost of sleep is higher than the cost of food for most travelers.

Gina, I’m back, Cara said, her voice fresh with excitement. I just arrived at the airport three hours ago. I’m staying here in Garden Hostel, the same place where I stayed before. Remember?

Garden Hostel?

Yeah! Here in Tsim Sha Tsui! You accompanied me back here one night. Remember?

Oh, yes! Very much! Gina replied. How are you now, Cara?

Fine. Healthy. In good spirit. Aching to travel again like before.

Will you stay in Hong Kong for long?

Maybe three weeks. Then I’ll go to Macau; afterwards, to Bangkok, Cara answered.

The travel bug, huh!

Cara laughed at her newly – acquired title. Yeah! I like travelling. It may take time before this vice disappears, Cara said.

If it is a vice, as you say, then, it is certainly a good one, Gina kidded her.

Yeah! It gives you the feeling that the world is just a small village.

Lucky you! Gina stated. How I wish I had the opportunity, time and money to do what you’re doing.

Maybe someday, who knows? Cara said.

I hope so, Gina curtly replied.

Gina, may I see you at Statue Square today? Cara asked.

You know, I’d love to! But I don’t think I can. I have a fever now, Cara. It started last night. I think I have a flu, Gina replied.

Oh, boy! Sorry, I didn’t know that. Who’s taking care of you?

Nobody. I’m alone in the house now. My employers are in Singapore for two months. Mr. Wu was sent to Singapore by his company for a month-long training. Mrs. Wu went with him. That’s why I’m alone in the flat now, Gina said.

Cara was hush for a moment. Then, she told Gina that she would go there, to Aplie Chau, Aberdeen, to see her.

Good! Gina said. Why don’t you bring your things and stay here for a while.

Your employers won’t get angry? Cara asked.

I don’t think so. I’d explain to them that I invited you in to accompany me.

Okay! Cara said. I’ll be there.

I’ll wait for you.

Gina was joyful at