Resurrection
Posted: 15 Nov 2017, 00:34
A RESURRECTION
This a true story, that occurred amidst the ruins of Baguio City in Northern Luzon, Philippines where a powerful earthquake caused widespread devastation and thousands of casualties, on July 16, 1990.
Against this background a young couple and their twin siblings were enjoying success and a luxurious life, loving each other and never expecting that their business empire and admirable family will suddenly, within a few seconds be destroyed by a vagary of nature.
BAGUIO CITY
It was 4:00 p.m. July 16, 1990 Vincent and his wife Vivian were having a late snack in the terrace of their luxurious home overlooking Marcos highway in Baguio City, as an assistant wearing a uniform that make him look like a navy officer was serving brownies and pasta, in anticipation of the arrival of their twin siblings, seven year old Victor and Vivianca. At 4:15 they knew that the twin will be aboard their brand new Mercedes with their security escort and driver, at 4:17 the bodyguard called via wireless phone that they are on the way home.
The couple sat down and proceeded to sip brewed coffee glancing frequently at the entrance where a guard is ready to open the gate in a few minutes, Victor again glanced at his watch, the time is 4:25 by 4:30 the twin will be home, he thought.
At 4:26, they felt a sudden strong tremor, AN EARTHQUAKE! He got hold of Vivian's hand and led her to the stairs going down to an open area along the driveway, as soon as they are in the open, they heard a very loud crash coming from the downtown, obviously a building has crashed, this was followed by seemingly unending string of loud crashes and shouting by panicked residents crying for help.There must have a hundred buildings destroyed, Vincent thought.Soon clouds of dust and smoke blanketed a large section of the city as fires erupted simultaneously in different areas, the quake lasted for 45 seconds causing widespread destruction and thousands of casualties, water, electricity and communications are down obviously for a long period. Reports by local journalist which were coursed through Manila stations merely verifies the perception that hundreds of buildings were destroyed and all roads are blocked by large boulders, destroying an estimated numerous vehicles including cargo trucks carrying agricultural products to urban centers.
At 5:25 Vincent decided to walk along Marcos highway towards downtown to look for the Mercedes bearing the twin, two of his employees went with him. It was getting dark so they brought out flashlights that they took with them including ropes, if they have to go down to a ravine.
They only have walked briskly for about 20 minutes before finding the car which fell about sixty feet down a ravine, no one has came to their rescue since a large number of injured victims are walking on their own to the direction of Baguio General Hospital.Vincent prepared for the worst as he observed no movement among those aboard the car.
THREE DAYS BEFORE THE QUAKE
Vivian went to the Pines City Hospital to see her best friend Dr. Julie Santos a gynecologist who is maintaining a clinic at the hospital. They went together in a Nursing School, Julie went on and took up medicine specializing in gynecology.
Julie is tomboyish and treated Vivian like a girlfriend so that Vivian always gets what she want from Julie, but this time she is not sure her wish will be granted, she is two month pregnant but she never told Vincent, she asked Julie to abort her child, she came from a large family and they were poor, until she met Vincent who soon proposed marriage which she unhesitatingly accepted knowing that he is a successful businessman, and she loved him too.
Julie and Vivian talked in whispers inside the kitchen at the back of the clinic as Julie's assistant singlehandedly attended to patients. At noon, they silently ate lunch until Julie broke the icy silence by telling her assistant to call their anesthesiologist and make preparations for surgery.
" Do you need to put me under general anesthesia ?" Julie patted her shoulder and whispered, " I will make sure you will never have a child again because I won't do this for a second time ."
Julie, called Vincent as Vivian is being prepared, telling him that she is keeping Vivian at the clinic for 24 hours for a general check up.
AFTER THE QUAKE
Vivian fainted when she was told that the twins are dead together with the driver and bodyguard, and became hysterical when she regained consciousness, Julie, who rushed to her side upon hearing the news sedated her putting her to sleep.
Even in the worst situation the kindness shown by Vincent to his employees and friends paid huge return. His trusted men did everything for them, they were insulated from the chaos outside because they have their own power and water supply while the air outside hints of decomposing bodies they had air conditioners running 24 hours.The wake for the deceased was long and tedious, they have to wait until the roads to the memorial park are cleared. Vincent did almost nothing during the wake except to sit by the coffins in the function room and to be with Vivian who uttered no words, just staring blankly ahead, friends and relatives were unable to come due to destruction of major roads. All the while, Julie was busy treating quake victims waiting for an opportunity to talk with Vincent, while Vivian remained unresponsive to any stimulus.
" Her spirit has left her," Julie told Vincent so they provided her with a nurse, Marylou, another close friend and classmate.Two months passed by unnoticed, although reconstruction was ongoing at the world outside their compound, everything is slowly going back to normal routine.
With the exception of Vivian and Vincent, both remained like zombies, uncaring about the world outside, while their business was being run by Carlo, younger brother of Vivian.
" Its time to break the news " Julie thought, she meditated and prayed and gave instructions to prepare the ultrasound machine for an outside mission. Julie took a Bible with her and went to see Vincent and her best friend. She put the bible in the hands of Vincent and spoke softly.
" I know that your loss is heavy but there is someone up there watching over you and Vivian, soon He will give you back everything that you lost."
" Do you mean this is God's will ?"
" Sometimes He punish His children to correct them, tomorrow we are bringing our ultrasound machine here, and I am going to deliver to you and Vivian a message from your Father in heaven, meanwhile, read this and pray."
That night Vincent read the Bible, then he prayed fervently and unloaded what is inside his heart.
Morning came without any sleep for Vincent, but his spirit is high. He asked the chef to prepare food for a celebration feeling that something positive will come up.
At 9:00 a.m. Julie and her staff arrived at the compound with the ultrasound machine which they immediately set up at Vivian's room.
" We are going to scan her." Julie announced, while her assistant put up a monitor to show the result.
The door was closed as the scanning was done, it took about thirty minutes, then Julie came out and held the hand of Vincent.
" I have something to tell you, Vivian came to me three days before the quake, she told me that she is pregnant and asked me to......... do an abortion "
Vincent was initially shocked then managed to ask. " Did you do it?" Julie did not answer, she motioned him to follow her inside the room, the operator was ready to show the results in the monitor." Show it " Julie ordered him.
Immediately the image of two fetuses appeared at the monitor.
" Your twins are alive and well, a boy and a girl."
Tears of joy flowed from Vincent's eyes he was crying and laughing at the same time even Vivian showed a glint of reaction from her eyes, the first time in two months.
Julie looked straight at her eyes and told her.
" I know you can hear and understand, you are a mother still, get up and put yourself in order you have two kids to care for." Vivian nodded in assent.
" What names are you going to give them.?
" Victor and Vivianca."
Vincent called the chef and told him.
" Prepare for a c
This a true story, that occurred amidst the ruins of Baguio City in Northern Luzon, Philippines where a powerful earthquake caused widespread devastation and thousands of casualties, on July 16, 1990.
Against this background a young couple and their twin siblings were enjoying success and a luxurious life, loving each other and never expecting that their business empire and admirable family will suddenly, within a few seconds be destroyed by a vagary of nature.
BAGUIO CITY
It was 4:00 p.m. July 16, 1990 Vincent and his wife Vivian were having a late snack in the terrace of their luxurious home overlooking Marcos highway in Baguio City, as an assistant wearing a uniform that make him look like a navy officer was serving brownies and pasta, in anticipation of the arrival of their twin siblings, seven year old Victor and Vivianca. At 4:15 they knew that the twin will be aboard their brand new Mercedes with their security escort and driver, at 4:17 the bodyguard called via wireless phone that they are on the way home.
The couple sat down and proceeded to sip brewed coffee glancing frequently at the entrance where a guard is ready to open the gate in a few minutes, Victor again glanced at his watch, the time is 4:25 by 4:30 the twin will be home, he thought.
At 4:26, they felt a sudden strong tremor, AN EARTHQUAKE! He got hold of Vivian's hand and led her to the stairs going down to an open area along the driveway, as soon as they are in the open, they heard a very loud crash coming from the downtown, obviously a building has crashed, this was followed by seemingly unending string of loud crashes and shouting by panicked residents crying for help.There must have a hundred buildings destroyed, Vincent thought.Soon clouds of dust and smoke blanketed a large section of the city as fires erupted simultaneously in different areas, the quake lasted for 45 seconds causing widespread destruction and thousands of casualties, water, electricity and communications are down obviously for a long period. Reports by local journalist which were coursed through Manila stations merely verifies the perception that hundreds of buildings were destroyed and all roads are blocked by large boulders, destroying an estimated numerous vehicles including cargo trucks carrying agricultural products to urban centers.
At 5:25 Vincent decided to walk along Marcos highway towards downtown to look for the Mercedes bearing the twin, two of his employees went with him. It was getting dark so they brought out flashlights that they took with them including ropes, if they have to go down to a ravine.
They only have walked briskly for about 20 minutes before finding the car which fell about sixty feet down a ravine, no one has came to their rescue since a large number of injured victims are walking on their own to the direction of Baguio General Hospital.Vincent prepared for the worst as he observed no movement among those aboard the car.
THREE DAYS BEFORE THE QUAKE
Vivian went to the Pines City Hospital to see her best friend Dr. Julie Santos a gynecologist who is maintaining a clinic at the hospital. They went together in a Nursing School, Julie went on and took up medicine specializing in gynecology.
Julie is tomboyish and treated Vivian like a girlfriend so that Vivian always gets what she want from Julie, but this time she is not sure her wish will be granted, she is two month pregnant but she never told Vincent, she asked Julie to abort her child, she came from a large family and they were poor, until she met Vincent who soon proposed marriage which she unhesitatingly accepted knowing that he is a successful businessman, and she loved him too.
Julie and Vivian talked in whispers inside the kitchen at the back of the clinic as Julie's assistant singlehandedly attended to patients. At noon, they silently ate lunch until Julie broke the icy silence by telling her assistant to call their anesthesiologist and make preparations for surgery.
" Do you need to put me under general anesthesia ?" Julie patted her shoulder and whispered, " I will make sure you will never have a child again because I won't do this for a second time ."
Julie, called Vincent as Vivian is being prepared, telling him that she is keeping Vivian at the clinic for 24 hours for a general check up.
AFTER THE QUAKE
Vivian fainted when she was told that the twins are dead together with the driver and bodyguard, and became hysterical when she regained consciousness, Julie, who rushed to her side upon hearing the news sedated her putting her to sleep.
Even in the worst situation the kindness shown by Vincent to his employees and friends paid huge return. His trusted men did everything for them, they were insulated from the chaos outside because they have their own power and water supply while the air outside hints of decomposing bodies they had air conditioners running 24 hours.The wake for the deceased was long and tedious, they have to wait until the roads to the memorial park are cleared. Vincent did almost nothing during the wake except to sit by the coffins in the function room and to be with Vivian who uttered no words, just staring blankly ahead, friends and relatives were unable to come due to destruction of major roads. All the while, Julie was busy treating quake victims waiting for an opportunity to talk with Vincent, while Vivian remained unresponsive to any stimulus.
" Her spirit has left her," Julie told Vincent so they provided her with a nurse, Marylou, another close friend and classmate.Two months passed by unnoticed, although reconstruction was ongoing at the world outside their compound, everything is slowly going back to normal routine.
With the exception of Vivian and Vincent, both remained like zombies, uncaring about the world outside, while their business was being run by Carlo, younger brother of Vivian.
" Its time to break the news " Julie thought, she meditated and prayed and gave instructions to prepare the ultrasound machine for an outside mission. Julie took a Bible with her and went to see Vincent and her best friend. She put the bible in the hands of Vincent and spoke softly.
" I know that your loss is heavy but there is someone up there watching over you and Vivian, soon He will give you back everything that you lost."
" Do you mean this is God's will ?"
" Sometimes He punish His children to correct them, tomorrow we are bringing our ultrasound machine here, and I am going to deliver to you and Vivian a message from your Father in heaven, meanwhile, read this and pray."
That night Vincent read the Bible, then he prayed fervently and unloaded what is inside his heart.
Morning came without any sleep for Vincent, but his spirit is high. He asked the chef to prepare food for a celebration feeling that something positive will come up.
At 9:00 a.m. Julie and her staff arrived at the compound with the ultrasound machine which they immediately set up at Vivian's room.
" We are going to scan her." Julie announced, while her assistant put up a monitor to show the result.
The door was closed as the scanning was done, it took about thirty minutes, then Julie came out and held the hand of Vincent.
" I have something to tell you, Vivian came to me three days before the quake, she told me that she is pregnant and asked me to......... do an abortion "
Vincent was initially shocked then managed to ask. " Did you do it?" Julie did not answer, she motioned him to follow her inside the room, the operator was ready to show the results in the monitor." Show it " Julie ordered him.
Immediately the image of two fetuses appeared at the monitor.
" Your twins are alive and well, a boy and a girl."
Tears of joy flowed from Vincent's eyes he was crying and laughing at the same time even Vivian showed a glint of reaction from her eyes, the first time in two months.
Julie looked straight at her eyes and told her.
" I know you can hear and understand, you are a mother still, get up and put yourself in order you have two kids to care for." Vivian nodded in assent.
" What names are you going to give them.?
" Victor and Vivianca."
Vincent called the chef and told him.
" Prepare for a c