Chapter XVII: Family is Unity, Part 1
Sunday mornings are busy in Hermosa City. The cathedral bells toll like rolling thunder across Calle Jacinto, Calle Burgos, and Calle Nueva Segovia, pulling people in waves to the two plazas. After mass, the faithful scatter into the side streets—some to vendors selling bibingka, others to family gatherings, and others simply to stroll in their Sunday clothes. For Meric and Ben, with their little boy Mark—now three years old—rituals after mass have become their own family tradition.
The trio often heads to Centro de Regalos, a large food court next to the Arzobispado. The building itself looks unusual for Hermosa—it has tall truss ceilings, like an airport hangar, with large industrial fans and wind turbines on top that spin lazily, clacking sometimes as if to remind the diners of their presence.
"That's not the Holy Spirit, that's just air," Ben jokes every time the fan blades make a loud whirring noise.
Centro de Regalos once stood beside an old bowling alley, long abandoned, which everyone in the city remembers vaguely but pretends not to miss. The food court, however, is alive. It smells of frying bagnet, steaming ladek, corndogs sizzling in oil, sweet calamay wrapped in banana leaves, and bibingka baked on clay pots. Vendors shout prices while customers squeeze past each other with trays.
Mark, though, has his favorite stall—the street food corner. His tiny fingers point at fishballs. He doesn't even need words; his eyes widen and Mercy's grandson charm works every time.
"This boy," Meric sighs, "he'll grow up eating fried chicken and meatballs instead of vegetables."
At the far end of Centro de Regalos is an open terrace. When the family finishes their food, they step outside, where the breeze comes in strong and cool, and below them the Govantes River snakes its way through the city.
From this terrace, the view of the Govantes River is spectacular. The water shimmers in the late morning sun, and fishermen in small boats row lazily downstream.
"Mommy, look!" Mark says, pointing at a heron standing motionless near the waterlilies.
Meric smiles, adjusting his shirt collar. "Wen Balong, (Yes Son,), it's looking for fish—just like you looking for fries." Ben laughs and heads off to the food stall, ordering bowls of steaming pancit, rice meals, and fresh fruit shakes.
The river glitters in the sunlight, and Mark claps at the sight of boats passing by. Ben sometimes lifts him onto his shoulders, making him feel like the king of Hermosa.
Some Sundays, instead of Centro de Regalos, they change course and go to Plaza Jose. There, they enjoy a warm bowl of Miki—the thick noodles soaking up a golden broth, topped with slices of kutchay leaves and shredded chicken and sometimes meat. But sometimes, they go for something different: McDonald's takeout. Ben orders a fried chicken nugget meal for Mark, and they all bring the paper bags over to Plaza anicJose. While Mark munches on fries and nuggets, Meric and Ben still choose Miki and Pipian from a nearby vendor, slurping it contentedly while watching Mark alternate between his Happy Meal and his burger.
(Pipian is an Ilocano dish, made of grounded rice grains with an orange hue due to seed or plant material called Azuete.)
When Ben has no work, Meric takes the opportunity to visit her parents at the RQ Store, bringing Mark along. This means Ben temporarily takes over the Bensmert Store, standing behind the counter with the confidence of a seasoned shopkeeper, though he occasionally calls Meric to ask where certain items are.
At the RQ Store, Mercy's face lights up the moment she sees her grandson.
"Aba! My Mark is here!" she exclaims, opening her arms wide.
She grabs him, kisses him noisily on both cheeks, and tells Meric,
"You stay here, Mayyang, run the store for me. I'm taking my apo out."
"Mang met, you just saw him yesterday!" Meric protests.
"And what about today?" Mercy shoots back, already pulling Mark out the door.
Off they go—Mercy and Mark, grandmother and grandson on little adventures around Hermosa. They stop at Jollibee Hermosa Plaza, not just any Jollibee, but one built in the style of Hermosa's old architecture: capiz windows, clay tiles, and a façade that blends into the plaza's Spanish-era look.
Mercy marvels at it every time, telling Mark, "You know, apo, this place used to be Tower Café where your Papang Rico and I had dates back in the 1960s. Papang ate spaghetti, and I ate more than him."
Mark doesn't care about the history, though—he only cares about the Jollibee kiddie toys displayed on the corner.
On other days, Mercy calls all her grandchildren to the RQ Store. Aldric and Adrion, the sons of Elric, come bustling in. The grandchildren are very well-behaved inside the store. When all the customers are gone, they all go to the front lawn, sometimes play with bikes there. She loves all her grandchildren dearly, but Mark, being Meric's son, has a special place in her heart.
"Mang, you're spoiling him too much," Meric says.
"You spoiled? No, this is love. And besides, look at him. He's cuter than the others." Mercy winks, half-joking, half-serious.
One week, Mercy joins the Ina Poonbato devotees on a pilgrimage to Zambales to see the original image of Apo Ina. She travels with the group in a vehicle owned by the head of the group, singing hymns along the way. When she returns, she steps into the RQ Store with a tired smile but a sparkle in her eyes. From her bag, she pulls out a small rosary and hands it to Mark.
"This, apo, is for you. Pray with this. Even when you're small, the Virgin will watch over you."
Mark twirls it like a toy at first, but Mercy holds his hands gently and teaches him to kiss the crucifix.
Semana Santa arrives, and the streets of Hermosa become alive with devotion. Carrozas—beautifully decorated floats carrying life-sized religious statues emerge from the cathedral. Meric, Ben, Mark, Mercy, and Rico stand at Plaza de Salcedo to watch. Lanterns and candles flicker in the twilight, casting golden light on the solemn faces of the statues. The air smells of candles and incense, the solemn drums beating slowly as each float passes. Mark watches, as if it were a parade. "Shhh, apo," Mercy whispers, though she is secretly amused. Mark points at each one, whispering questions to his mother. Later, the family walks to the large Philippine Map monument at the same plaza, tracing their fingers along the islands, naming the places they dream to visit.
Mark runs across the map, stepping on Luzon, leaping to Visayas, and finally landing on Mindanao. "He's already a traveler," Rico laughs, chasing after him.
Whenever there is a special occasion at the cathedral—Our Lady of La Naval, The Immaculate Conception, Nazareno, Sto. Niño, Ina Poonbato, St. Paul, Semana Santa, and Tres de Mayo, Mercy is there without fail. Her devotion is unwavering. One afternoon, she takes Mark and Rico to the Anacleto Mansion for her prayer group meeting. The grand house, with its high ceilings and antique furniture, fascinates Mark. He runs his fingers along the carved banisters until Rico gently tells him, "Don't do that, Apo, or else you will get in trouble."
Sometimes she drags Rico, sometimes her children, but if none are available, she still goes. "If the Virgin is here, I must be here too," she says firmly.
Jonn graduates from college and his course of Nursing. Meric, Mercy, Rico, and Mark goes there at his graduation.