The SAFE housE

by
Sandra Nicole Roldan

The story took place during the period of President Ferdinand Marcos told on the point of view of a 5-
year-old girl. It begins with a housing project catering the middleclass of society. Among the facilities were
tennis courts and a swimming pool. Her family was in the same project and people from all appea ive here
anymore”.

https://philnews.ph/2020/02/27/the-safe-house-by-sandra-nicole-roldan-summary/rances were living like

everyone in the community. Everything went well. One night when everyone turned their light off before
sleeping, her father would oddly keep his light beside the window on beside the window for no reason. The
house would have visitors at night when they are asleep but then the would come more often and gather in
another room. the girl asked them what they are, they were introduced as uncles and aunts. They kept going
for years to the point that it has become a practice. The “uncles and aunts” will stay up all night talking things
like “soldiers, dead bodies” and “escaping through the tall grass is the best way”. The kids would come home
to see these relatives gathered in the TV front watching the news or programs with a revolutionary theme. The
girls would at times shocked to see the president’s face on the monitor. A year later, these “relatives” became
used to the house that they think of it as their own. Enraged at the loss of privacy and her quiet life and
burdened with unpaid bills and taxes, the couple of the family finally had a talk. “We cannot go on like this”
the wife said. “You have neglected everything!” The father said that the president has to be stopped. His
resolve was clearly unshakeable. The wife was urged to leave. A year has passed and the father was arrested in
front of their houseThe children were left under the care of their grandparents. Now with her new life, and
living in a different house, she would often have recurring dreams of searching for her former home. The girl
would see her father who was in Camp Crame. Years has passed and she is now a woman. She finally
understood. The “relatives” were revolutionaries and her father is one of them. At nights, there would be
people knocking on her door asking “Are you his daughter? to which she would reply “He does not live here
anymore”.

Source:
https://philnews.ph/2020/02/27/the-safe-house-by-sandra-nicole-roldan-summary/