Morning Glory

By Norbert Mercado

The first novel in a trilogy about the love story of the Philippine National hero Dr. Jose Rizal, and the Irish beauty, Miss Josephine Bracken.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Norbert Mercado
• Release date: Feb 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311289155

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

MORNING GLORY

by

NORBERT L. MERCADO

Also by Norbert L. Mercado

NOVELS

72 Hours in Moscow

Cambodia's Children of Sorrow

The Children of Mars

Even the Grass Bleeds

I Don't Need A Throne

The Last Romanov

The Korean War

In The Shadow Of The Roman Empire

Farewell Darkness!

The Roman Governor of Judaea

For more information on Norbert L. Mercado, visit

http://norbertomercado.blogspot.com

MORNING GLORY

Norbert L. Mercado

Copyright © 2014

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: 978-1-311-28915-5

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: 2014-12-23-2230

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

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Last Chapter

Background

A Historical Novelist For Peace

You Can Also Connect with Me Online:

Discover Other Titles by Norbert L. Mercado:

Back to Table of Contents

. . . CHAPTER . . .

1

DAPITAN: FEBRUARY 1895

"Joe, I saw an English Bible in your clinic. Where did you get it?" Marie Josephine Leopoldine Bracken asked the man who was walking with her that night on the shore in Dapitan.

The man with her was Dr. Jose Rizal, an ophthalmologist who was educated in Europe. Josephine called him Joe. Aside from being an eye specialist, he was also a sculptor, a poet, an essayist, and a novelist. He was a man of letters. He wrote and published two novels which stirred nationalism among many of his countrymen who had been under the heavy yoke of the Spanish Empire which had already ruled at that time for more than 300 years.

I bought it in London when I was there, Joe replied.

You were in London? Josephine asked. She seemed surprised that the man she was talking to had been to the capital city of England.

Yes. I was there for a few months, Joe replied.

Did you practice medicine in London? Josephine asked.

"No. I was there to annotate the chronicles of the Spanish historian Antonio Morga. His chronicles are compiled in a book titled Sucesos de las islas Filipinas. Mr. Morga wrote his observations on the lives of the Filipinos when he visited the Philippines during the early years of Spanish presence in these islands," he said.

Where did you live in London? Josephine asked.

Not far from the British Museum. The museum has a copy of Morga’s book so I wanted to live in a place nearby. I boarded in a house owned by the Beckett family, Joe said.

The countenance of Gertrude Beckett flashed in his memory. Gertrude, called Tottie by Rizal, was the eldest of the three daughters of Mr. & Mrs. Charles Beckett. She was a curvy girl with a vibrant spirit. She was blue-eyed like Josephine.

Gertrude was seriously in love with Rizal. They became sweethearts. But the relationship ended when Rizal left London after completing his annotation of Morga’s book.

Before he left London, Rizal gave Gertrude a wood carving which he made featuring her and her sisters in remembrance of their love affair.

Josephine noticed Rizal’s sudden silence as they walked on the beach towards a big black rock.

Why are you silent, Joe?

Rizal just shook his head.

Maybe, you remembered someone in London! Josephine teased him.

Let’s climb that rock! he told her, being subtlely evasive. And he led Josephine to the huge rock.

Rizal climbed the huge black rock first. It is more than a man’s height.

I’m scared! I can’t climb that high! Josephine exclaimed.

You can! Don’t be scared, Rizal said encouragingly.

Josephine refused. She would not climb the rock. She was really afraid to do it.

Everything will be alright. Come on! Give me your hand, and I’ll pull you up, Rizal told her.

Josephine was still hesitant, but after much prodding, she gave Rizal her right hand. The latter pulled her up to the top of the rock.

See! I told you you could do it, Rizal said.

Now that I’m up here, how do I get down? Josephine asked nervously.

That’s easy. I’ll help you… But first, let’s sit here and enjoy this moment, Rizal said.

The night birds chirped and other sounds could be heard from the trees. The tides’ rhythm could also be heard on the shore. The moon, though hiding behind a few clouds, shined its gentle light upon them. And the sea breeze was cool and pleasant. It was a very romantic night.

It’s scary here. And you’ve been living here alone… Aren’t you afraid? Josephine asked Rizal.

Well, before, I was. It was frightening, especially during my first night of stay here. But now, not anymore. I’m used to the sounds of the birds and the other animals in the trees, Rizal replied.

Josephine looked at him and asked, How long will you stay here, Joe?

Rizal again fell silent. He looked to the distant and peaceful