Auntie's Betrothal

What if I start writing down various memories and remembrances about the family for reference for the future generations. This thought came to me when I got out of the shower this morning.

There is a part of me that is full of regret of my lack of interest in family and family happenings.

The memory today is about the betrothal of Auntie Evangeline to Uncle Edgar as I remember it.

Auntie was teaching in Kiburiao, Bukidnon at the time. That is where she met Uncle Edgar. She came home for the summer. Then Tia Didang Oyas came back from Bukidnon with a man and Catmon was all abuzz with rumors. There was a lot of comings and goings in our house. Auntie sent me on a lot of errands to Tia Didang's house. The man who came with Tia Didang was ill. Some said he had malaria, some said his body was trying to adjust to the lowlands.

One afternoon, a few days later - Man Iroy and the man came to our house. I was sent to Ilaya to fetch Tata Batoy - except that Tata Batoy was already on his way to the house. Man Iroy started talking to Lola and Tata Batoy.

Auntie and I were in the kitchen preparing something to serve the guests - when all of a sudden Lola burst through the curtains, picked a piece of firewood under the stove and started hitting Auntie with it.

I was stunned, Auntie was running around trying to avoid being hit. Lola was yelling something about Auntie was not ready to be married and that she would kill Auntie first before she would allow her to marry.

Auntie told Lola that she was going to get married anyway because there is a baby on the way - Lola stopped for a minute and then she started crying and hitting Auntie all over again.

Tata Batoy came in and asked both women to go into the sala, sit down and set the wedding date as he had given his permission for Auntie to marry.