Bata, Bata Pano ka Ginawa
By: Lualhati Bautista
Chapter 1
It was the graduation march then
of Maya, who was still on her way
to grade school. With her is her
mother, Lea, who was very tense
on taking picture shots, Ding, her
father, Ojie, her brother, and Flor,
Lea’s niece. It was 8:00 in the
morning when the program started
in the school ground. After singing
the national anthem, the principal
started to deliver her speech, then
the mothers of different children
prepared their respective child in
participating to the Miss Kinder
fashion show. Ding and Flor helped
Maya in her gown while Lea took
pictures of her daughter. Others
put make-ups and lipsticks to their
daughters, but Lea insisted on
maintaining the freshness of
Maya’s face. With the chaos around
the program, Ojie asks for a
softdrink to her mom, but he was
told to go to her Dad Ding.
Mentioning the name of Ding,
differentiate with his true father,
Raffy, who is Maya’s father. It was
Maya’s decision on participating in
the pageant, even it requires a
difficult task because of the hectic
exercises and on choosing the right
gown, and before the graduation,
Maya got sick but this was not
enough for her to withdraw to the
program. The talent portion begins,
and many of the contestants had
performed very well. Lea begin to
doubt the talent of her daughter,
while Ding was nervous when it
was her daughter’s turn. Maya
recited a poem on how she was
made, then the audience
applauded. Before the
announcement of the winner,
students first receive their
diplomas. And the announcement
came, which was won by Maya
because of her simplicity and total
personality, Ding shouted for joy
while saying to the crowd that it is
his daughter who won. Lea started
taking pictures while her eyes
started to tears. Maya also got a
honor but the excitement of Lea
was not that intense as Maya have
won in the pageant.
Chapter 2
Lea prepared a party for Maya
after she received a honor and won
as Miss Kinder. She wanted to
express her happiness and
fulfillment for Maya during her
graduation day. Lea invited not
only Maya’s classmates but also
their relatives, friends and even
neighbors. During the celebration,
Pilar, Lea’s long time friend visited
her. Pilar wanted Maya to join in a
beauty contest launch by Johnson
& Johnson so Lea think what is her
plan for her daughter. She
imagined Maya if her daughter will
won, she will be signed by a
producer and will be directed by
Lino Brocka, but Lea disagreed
because for her joining a contest is
nothing, the totality of a person is
still important and not being
beautiful or whatsoever. During
their discussion, the classmates of
Ojie were talking about the
relationship of Lea and Maya’s
father, if they were married or just
living-in. Maya entered to the
scene and said that her mother and
father is just married on bed. Ding
heard what Maya said so he
scolded her and told not to talk too
much because it was improper for
a kid like her to tell things like that.
Chapter 3
On that night, Lea felt that she
wanted to have sex to her live-in
partner Ding. The latter was not
comfortable and went from place
to place as if he wants to tell Lea.
Unlike Raffy, Ding does not tell Lea
if he wanted to have a sex with
her. Lea misunderstood the action
of Ding, so she initiated by telling
her partner to go to sleep. But it
was not the real reason of Ding,
her mom told him to go back to
their house because the former will
go to the province before the sun
rise the next day, the two had
confrontations about their
relationship, and ended up on
Ding’s leaving the house. In
contrast to her feeling, Lea allowed
Ding to go home. Then Ojie went to
her not knocking on the door, her
son asks questions about what is
the real status of her mom with
Ding and Raffy. Lea tried to explain
to her son that sometimes it is
better for the two persons to
separate for the benefit of their
children because if they try to force
working it out and still end up on
fight, the children will suffered
most. Ojie did not fully understood
what his mother was talking about
but one thing his sure of, that her
mother love both Maya and him.
Chapter 4
It was Monday in the morning, Lea
has not yet pressed her dress
because yesterday she played with
her two kids and went to CCP to
enjoy the whole day. She was
confused on what she will cook for
the kids to eat, and she has not
even went to the market to buy for
their food. Fortunately, there was
still a corned beef, so she decided
to just cook it with potatoes. She
told Ojie to go to Aling Zeny, their
neighbor, to borrow iron. She was
already late but no one will be left
to attend to her children’s needs,
so she decided to call Ding at his
house when suddenly, Ding’s
mother answered. Lea ask politely
for Ding but the mother told her
that Ding is still asleep, followed by
cutting the line. Lea felt that she
was insulted so she called back
again, but this time she is angry
telling Ding’s mom that the latter
should tell his son to go to her
home at once. Lea asks her two
children if they can already handle
the house and themselves if she
leave them alone, Ojie said that he
did not want to take care of Maya,
then Maya said that she do not
need Ojie to care for her, the two
argued when Lea finally interrupted
and told them to behave and be
good while she is out. She also told
them on what to do if something
bad happens and precautions to be
done. Lea’s job is not only a simple
secretary nor a saleslady, but a
member of a human rights
organization who investigate and
helps people who were being
abused. The group was assigned to
go to a certain province but Lea
refused to because no one will be
left to take care of her children.
Johnny, her sparring partner, was
not able to convince Lea to join.
Suddenly, the phone rang, so Lea
answered, it was Raffy, she was
shocked and was not able to speak
immediately. She laughed and
cried.
Chapter 5
Lea remembered the last time she
and Raffy have met and talked. It
flashbacked on her mind when
Raffy has discovered her
relationship to Ding, but Lea
explained that she too have needs
and it is all the fault of Raffy
because of the long distance
relationship they had....he heard
Raffy’s voice on the phone asking
her to meet him at a restaurant
nearby her office. Immediately, she
called Ojie but was not able to tell
her son that she had a talk to her
dad, instead she said that she will
be late coming at home. Before
going to their meeting place, she
had a hard time fixing herself in
the ladies’ room, forcing her to be
presentable. Lea came earlier than
Raffy and as expected they were
both shocked and unable to speak
immediately. Raffy asked her on
her new life now and Ojie, now that
his son is about to become a
teenager. He also asked on how
Ding and Ojie treated each other.
Lea responded positively and told
her former husband on the way
their life is. Then Raffy asked
permission if he could see his son,
which was agreed immediately by
Lea. Lea thought that her husband
still have at least a feeling of love
towards her until Raffy told her that
he has already a wife, Elinor.
Chapter 6
Raffy and Lea parted with each
other. Lea returned home to bring
the news to Ojie that his father
came and wanted to see him. Maya
insisted on coming with Ojie and
Lea on the next day. The following
morning Lea called Beng to tell her
brother that Maya is coming.
Because Raffy’s family is liberated,
they facilely accepted the fact that
Maya is coming.
Chapter 7
Lea, Maya and Ojie traveled to
Cubao from Malabon. During the
trip Ojie felt uneasiness on his
father because it has been years
before they have met. They came
to the place they have agreed
upon, then, exasperatedly, Ojie and
his father embraced each other.
Then Ojie introduced Maya to his
father and they went to Fiesta
Carnival. After the rides Lea and
Raffy talked and had a short
discussion on what they have
regretted and later they embraced
each other as well.
Chapter 8
At home Lea wondered about what
Raffy would do to his new child’s
name on the birth certificate. Then
she had an argument with her kids
and Ding about love and respect
among her nuclear family. After
settling down Lea and Ding made
love while Raffy ironically being in
Lea’s mind instead of Ding.
Chapter 9
Ojie had undergone circumcision.
Lea was worried about Ojie
because he is depressed and lone
of a father. After circumcision Lea
told Ojie that after healing he’d go
to his father’s new home. What’s in
Lea’s mind, though, is what would
happen to Ojie there because Raffy
has a live-in partner, Elinor. Then
following that Ojie was insistent on
going to his father, Lea took him
there.
Chapter 10
Lea called Raffy while Ojie was
cleansing his genital as the
circumcision doctor had ordered.
She told him that Ojie might be
shocked upon arrival there when
he sees Elinor. Then she had a
discussion with Ojie about what
might happen if a girl sees his
genital after circumcision. Later
that night she informed Ding that
Ojie would go to his father.
Chapter 11
Lea and Ojie reached the home of
Elinor and Rafael, but upon
reaching it only Elinor was there.
They went in and were offered
something to eat and drink, and a
little but quite heated chat
prospered between the two ladies.
Since Ojie was still uncomfortable
with Elinor, he went out for some
fresh air, and thereupon met his
dad outside. Lea said her
goodbyes, letting them know that
she just had to bring Ojie there and
nothing more, and so went home.
Chapter 12
The day after, Ding was not home,
so Lea was forced to bring Maya to
her office. The little girl was
entertained by Johnny Deogracias.
She had a little talk with him, and
afterwards was offered to view
some videotapes. During this time,
Lea showed to her daughter all the
things she was involved in with her
job: symposiums, events, issues,
and reports related to social
activitism and human rights.
Chapter 13
Lea noticed that Maya was
exhausted with all their
undertakings, so she went home
and arrived upon a sourfaced Ding.
Ding was almost angry of Lea’s
actions: letting Ojie spend the
summer in Raffy’s, exhausting
Maya along with her troubles in the
workplace, etc., but Lea did not
mind him. During the deepest of
the night, Raffy called Lea, saying
that they should meet the next day
for her to fetch Ojie and to hear
what important thing he has to say.
Lea was restless during the night,
excited to hear what Raffy has to
say the next day, thinking that
maybe Raffy wanted to make up
with her.
Chapter 14
Lea went to the meeting place the
next day, and there was Raffy.
They went to the carnival again to
let Ojie play and to have some
privacy between them for the thing
that Raffy has to say. Lea was
shocked by what he asked: if he
may let Ojie come with him to
America. Raffy did not mention any
actual length of time when they
would be staying there, although
about a year was given for Ojie to
think this through. Upon arriving
home, Leah advised the child what
would be the advantages one
parent has to offer him if he would
stay with him/her. Lea made him
think that day, but did not make
him answer yet.
Chapter 15
Tomorrow came. It was the first
day of classes. To avoid all the
hassle of Monday, Lea already
readied their things for school.
Afterwards she brought them to
school, although Ojie did not like
her mother still clinging with him
when going to school. They
reached the campus, and it was
time to pay the tuition and dues.
Lea noticed that she could make
use of a deductible due, being that
she has two kids in the same
school, needing only one payment
of a certain due for both kids. But
having two, even three including
hers for that matter, last names
were a big problem, so she went
through so many teachers and
offices until she reached the
principal’s office. Mrs. Zalamea, the
principal, advised Lea to move one
of her children to another school,
which she totally refused, leaving
another heated battle open for Lea.
Lea shortly afterwards walked out
of the office to express her
disagreement; she finds out the
day would be full of hassles after
all.
Chapter 16
Lea was invited to a PTA meeting
at the children’s school. She was
very hesitant to go to that meeting
and Ojie, seeing this, got very
irritated and said to his mom that
they don’t have a father and now
they even don’t have a mother. Lea
often hears this kind of thing from
Ojie. Lea also thinks that Ojie is
doing all these things to provoke
Lea to get mad at him, so that he
would have a reason to go with his
father. Lea, sensing this, calmed
herself and advised herself to be
more patient with his son. She
wanted to show Ojie that she is a
good mother and should not be left
alone by him. The day of the
meeting came, they and all the
other students with their parents
were at the school ground under
the scorching heat of the sun. The
meeting started with the principal
addressing the parents and
students. The parents one by one
stood up and introduced
themselves to the other parents.
When it was Lea’s turn, she told
that it doesn’t matter what their
name is, but what she wanted is
that the meeting to start and get
over with.
Chapter 17
The teachers of Maya stood up and
commended what Mrs. Gascon has
said. Suddenly, another teacher
corrected it saying that Lea was
not Mrs. Gascon but Mrs. De Lara.
Both of them argued for a while
when the school principal told them
that she is both. Many reactions
arose from what they have learned,
and a guy in front of Lea became
interested in her. The voting for the
officer of the association followed.
Again Lea took the attention of the
crowd because of her loud laugh. In
the voting of officials, Lea found
herself nominated for presidential
and vicepresidential slot to which
she both lost. She was starting to
feel irritated because she was
getting humiliated. She then was
again nominated, now for a
position in the board of members.
Upon hearing this she became very
irritated and burst out with a loud
voice. She continued on with her
speech in front of the stage. After
she spoke, to her surprise many
teachers and parents applauded
her, and requested her to stay. She
was nominated as a board member
and surprisingly as a chairwoman.
Chapter 18
Lea began to notice some unusual
things about Ojie. He always goes
home late, always ask for money,
and one night a man filled with
tattoo on his body returned his
school ID. One night when she was
on her way home, she bumped into
the teacher of Ojie and learned
that he was absent for class for two
straight days. Upon hearing this
she immediately looked for his son.
She asked the street children but
no one saw him except for one. He
told Lea that Ojie spends his time
in Gerona; only one thing popped
out of Lea’s mind: drugs. When she
came into the place where his son
stays during night she was
surprised to see her son playing
billiards. At home she started to
question Ojie, but he started to
answer back. Lea became so angry
that she slapped Ojie on the face.
His son then burst into tears and
began to tell all his sentiments of
not having a father. Deep inside
Lea felt guilt and started to cry. On
the other hand Ojie apologized to
his mom and said that he would
never play billiards again, Lea
taught Ojie to learn to prioritize
things.
Chapter 19
Next day, Lea was thinking of what
she did to her son. Maya came to
ask for some money to give to her
classmate because her father died.
Because pay day was arriving, Lea
decided to give the money to Maya
and in addition she bought a bike
for Ojie. When she arrived, Ding
confronted him about the bike,
because it would only bring danger
and harm to the kids. They argued
for a while but Lea got used to it a
long time ago. On the other hand,
Lea thought of his friend, Johnny.
She knew that Johnny was the type
of man that she could flirt with. She
then started to flirt with Johnny
through phone and when are
together at work. They are to go to
Baguio City for a field work.
Chapter 20
Lea was so excited with the fact
that she would be spending some
nights with Johnny. She’s been
thinking about the things that
could happen between Johnny and
her. That night, she waited for Ding
to come home so she can leave her
children behind, but Ding never
came. The next day she woke up
early and started packing the
things of her children and went
immediately to school to fetch
them. She then went to the house
of Raffy hoping that Elinor is not
around, when they arrive at Raffy’s
place she was surprise to see
Elinor. She wanted to back out but
she was desperate so she asked
Elinor if her children can stay until
Sunday. Elinor was hesitant but she
agreed. She went to the office and
looked for Johnny, she went to find
him and was surprised to know the
he isn’t coming with them
anymore.
Chapter 21
Johnny won’t be able to go with
Lea to Baguio. He reasoned that he
would be compiling reports about
nuclear arms. He sounded like he
didn’t have any regrets for not
going. Lea just convinced herself
that Johnny was too dignified to let
anything happen. But she was very
much irritated with what just
happened. Because of car trouble,
they parked the car at the side of
the zigzag road. While the men
were fixing the vehicle, the women
except Lea went sightseeing. Sister
Ann confronted Lea, who felt that
Lea needed some help. Lea asked
the nun if she had ever
experienced love, not the love for
God but the love between opposite
sexes. Sister Ann was surprised of
the question but remained calm
about it and told Lea that she is a
nun. She knew Lea had a problem
and Lea did have one. She wanted
someone to look after her,
someone to care for her, someone
who will understand her and
someone who will stay beside her.
But Lea knew that Sister Ann would
not understand her. As they
reached their destination, they
immediately went on to their
business. They conducted
interviews of testimonies from
those who were snitched off their
land by military men. They were
abused, left to starve and their
families, killed. Before heading
back home, they stopped at the
cemetery where those killed were
buried. But she didn’t head back
home with the group. Lea stayed
and enthralled herself with the
many sights of Baguio. She went
home not Sunday, the day she
promised Elinor to get the kids, but
Monday, August 21 when Benigno
Aquino was assassinated.
Chapter 22
Lea attempted to watch TV when
she got home past midnight but to
no avail. All she had was the paper
with Aquino being murdered. She
wanted to call Raffy’s house but
worried that she might be
disturbing their sleep. But she
called anyway until several rings
with nobody answering. When Lea
was about to sleep the door
opened. It was Ding. He
immediately asked Lea where the
kids were. And when he knew that
they were at Raffy’s Ding became
furious. But Lea at once reasoned
that she had no one to depend on
that may look after the kids when
he did not come home. Each of
them was getting angrier when the
phone rang. It was Raffy. Lea went
to the hospital where Elinor gave
birth. The kids were there too.
Raffy on the other hand, was
furious of Lea’s thoughtless act of
leaving the kids with them. He
suggested to Lea to stop working
and that he will have to bear Ojie’s
expenses or have his son under his
care. But Lea, being herself, argued
about the idea. She was not going
to quit her job. If he wanted to
have Ojie, he would have to talk to
the child. In the end, Lea got her
children and took off with the pain
from the argument with Raffy and
the worry if her fight with Ding will
still continue when she gets home.
Chapter 23
In the office all papers, local and
foreign, contained a headline about
the assassination of Benigno
Aquino. There were protests and
vigils all over the world. Every
person even the little ones were
asking who Aquino was. Lea
brought her children to Aquino’s
wake. The assassination awakened
the minds of those who suffered
from the regime. Finally, they
moved forward to be heard and
never to be shut off again. Lea
received the kids’ cards. Maya had
better grades than Ojie. She was
not surprised because she never
saw Ojie study. After signing the
cards, Maya noticed that Lea
signed the wrong name in her card.
The same happened with Ojie.
They tried to erase it but it only
damaged the card. So Lea tried
writing to both of the kids’ teachers
about what happened and both
answered that she better talk to
the school principal. Lea went to
the principal’s office and was
prepared to have a heating
conversation with Mrs. Zalamea.
But the principal was calm with her
presence. Mrs. Zalamea instructed
that Lea may pay for the
replacement of the cards and since
she looked like she had spare
money to spend, it would be
appreciated if she could give
contribution as an act of paying
condolence to a person who
committed suicide. Lea laughed
but later stopped upon hearing that
suicide was the cause of the death.
It was brought to her knowledge
that it was the wife of the man who
was killed in the picket line. Lea’s
laughter turned into tears and the
principal thought she understood
Lea. But Lea explained that she
was in a human rights organization
and part of her job was to look
after labor union strikes like of that
with Maya’s classmate’s parents.
Mrs. Zalamea could not imagine
what she learned from Lea. She
never expected her to be in such
an organization. In just a short
while, the two of them were, for
the first time, agreeing with each
other and on the same side.
Chapter 24
Lea participated in a rally for
justice. Along with thousands of
women, men, and children they all
marched. After taking part in the
rally, Lea went to the office to pick
up some things. She received a call
from Zeny, her neighbor. The kids
were in the hospital. Lea hurriedly
went to a hospital in Malabon. It
was not much of a big accident.
Ojie suffered a little gash on his
head and Maya, a bruise on her
arm. But the physician who
attended to the kids suggested
that they be confined over the
night. Raffy was there for Ojie and
Ding for Maya. The three of them
were face to face in silence. Lea
introduced one to the other. Raffy
left the room after a while. Then
Ding started blaming Lea for the
incident. Lea knew it was useless
arguing with Ding because both of
them were not there when the
incident happened to the children.
She went out of the room only to
face another useless conversation
with Raffy. Both Ding and Raffy
took turns in telling her what she
must and must not be doing. Until
Lea can not take it anymore, she
ran outside the hospital and went
home.
Chapter 25
The phone was ringing when Lea
reached home. She bet that it’s
either Ding or Raffy begging her to
go back to the hospital for the kids’
sake. She thought that she’d swear
whoever was on the other line. But
when she answered the phone and
did the cursing, she later realized
that it was Johnny on the other line.
Johnny was surprised and confused
what to say and how to react. Lea
simply asked Johnny to meet with
her. They went out and watched a
movie. But Lea was too noisy inside
the moviehouse asking Johnny
questions about why Ding and
Raffy were both against her, that
they went out and did not finish the
movie. Lea’s tactlessness made
Johnny feel embarrassed when in
the escalator and in a transport
vehicle. Both of them were tired
and hot. But there was Johnny
accompanying her in a time where
she was having problems. Then Lea
blurted out something that she had
been wanting to say. She told
Johnny that she wanted to have
sex with her. And that Johnny could
tell her if he wanted to do it also.
Johnny was very shocked with what
Lea said and quickly said he didn’t
want to do it. But Lea insisted that
she will only do it if Johnny was
willing to do it too. He knew Lea
felt ashamed of what she was
saying that he got close to Lea and
snuggled her and kissed her. The
only mistake was she asked if Lea
really wanted to do it so they
ended up in a hotel that night.
Chapter 26
Lea prepared food and many other
things for her children's return from
the hospital. The two were
accompanied home by Ding who
left quickly after a brief argument
with Lea. Lea then turned to her
children and talked to them about
what they feel. Later that night,
Lea met Chona, Johnny's wife, who
told her that the latter was
arrested. Lea then immediately
called Sister Ann who in turn
promised to help Johnny's case.
After Chona left, Lea bumped into
documents and tapes of activists
who were killed. This made her
scared of what may happen to
Johnny.
Chapter 27
Lea participated in a protest in
Plasa Roma which aims to free
political detainees. When she got
home, knowing that it was
Christmas season, she took out the
christmas tree and placed it in the
corner wherein posters of what she
believed in are displayed. The next
morning, Lea brought her children
to the first political rally for
children. After several days,
Christmas Eve came. Lea was
patiently waiting for the carolers to
come. These carolers collects
signatures of various persons
instead of money for support of
thier cause. Lea gladly gave hers.
Chapter 28
Lea and her children celebrated the
New Year together. Sister Ann was
with them who kept on asking Lea
about her relationship with Ding.
Suddenly the phone rang. It was for
Maya who probably stayed there
for about twenty minutes. When
Maya put the phone down her mom
asked her why she used it for so
long. Lea was surprised to hear
that the brother of Maya's
classmate died who was
celebrating his birthday that same
back of the house crying. She was
crying because of what she feels
and told the Sister that she wants
to fight back. Days passed by and
Chapter 29
Lea missed Ding so much that the
only thing in her mind was to
reconcile and talk to the latter
when it comes home. Her long wait
finally ended when Ding came
home. After taking a glimpse at the
kids, Ding confronted Lea and told
her that the reason of his long
absence is that he got married.
Cool heads prevailed for minutes
until Lea could no longer hide her
feelings. She figured in a fight with
Ding and at the end the latter told
her that he wants Maya to come
along with him. The next day Lea
told Maya what happened. The
child was so confused that she
asked her mother for help. Lea
though told her that it's up to her
to decide. Lea then went out and
saw a mother hitting her child. She
said to herself that her children
would remember her as a caring
mom who might have hurt them
unintentionally.
Chapter 30
The historical Lakbayan
commenced. All people from all
day. The reason of its death was
his incapacity to adopt to bottled
milk. Lea then went to the child's
wake and noticed that it turned out
to be more of a birthday party.
Suddenly people started to sing
Happy Birthday but all are
obviously unhappy with the
incident. Sister Ann then found Lea
at the
Sister Ann vanished without a
trace. The news about her is that
she became a leader of an
underground movement.
walks of life gathered in one voice:
To boycott the 1984 election. Lea
participated in the event. When she
stopped for awhile to catch up with
her breath she saw Raffy beside
her who finally understood the
value of fighting for people's rights
Chapter 31
Lea patiently waited for Raffy in a
restaurant. She knows that it will
be the last time she will ever see
her former husband for the latter
will be going to the US. In that
instance she started to reminisce
the good times she shared with
Raffy. Finally Raffy came and they
started talking. At the end they
decided to spend the day together.
Chapter 32
It was graduation day. Lea was the
guest speaker of that affair. Lea
didn't prepare any speech but
delivered a very inspiring one. Her
speech was about how people
mature so fast and how life works.
In her last lines she told the
graduates that graduation is not
the end but is just the start of new
things to come.