The parents of the child di*d because of an accident in Manila and they live together in the province since.
“Lola kwento mo po ulit yung aswang nyong kapitbahay. Si Malena ba yun,” her grandchild said.
“Paulit ulit ka naman Jason eh. Hindi mo ba narinig sa mga kapitbahay na may mamimigay raw ng relief goods bukas ng umaga? Baka maubusan tayo. May libre pa raw check up para sa malabong mata ng matatanda,” she said.
“Sige na lola, last na. Sige na po please,” the child added.
The story is about their neighbor, Malena, a visitor whom she didn’t know where she came from because her age at that time is the same with Jason. Since she arrived at their area, many got sick and quick to make speculations to have someone to blame.
The woman’s hair was long and seldom leaving her cottage. They often hear the voice of a child crying who is probably her victim. Their suspicions were triggered when they saw Malena washing a baby’s cloth with blood. When they sneak out to her window, they saw medicine bottles, different leaves she crumpled, perhaps she used to harm other people.
Because of anger and speculations, they confronted Malena at her house, holding torches. They were shocked when she transformed that’s why they put her house on fire. Malena was burned inside while crying for help.
“Simula noon ay hindi na nagkakasakit ang mga tao, kung aswang sya o mangkukulam ay di ko alam. O baka pareho. Siya, matulog ka na, baka puntahan ka pa ni Malena.”
The next day, the child and the elder line up to get relief goods and Aling Berta listed her name for the free check-up. Before they began the check-up, their mayor spoke up, welcoming the doctor who will lead the medical mission.
“Salamat po mayor, good morning! Ako po si Albert Corpuz, doktor rin ako sa mga mata. Sana po ay nag-eenjoy tayong lahat, malapit sa puso ko ang lugar na ito kaya naman talagang pinush ko na dito unahin ng organization namin ang libreng pagpapacheck up,” the doctor said.
“Bago tayo magsimula gusto ko lang ibahagi sa inyo ang isang importanteng kwento, dahilan kung bakit ginusto kong maging doctor at makatulong sa iba. Ang lola ng mommy ko ay may sakit noong kabataan niya, sumusuka ito ng dugo, halos ito na nga ang gumamit sa mga lampin ng kapatid niyang sanggol noon dahil ubos na ang damit nito sa dami ng dugong isinusuka, gabi-gabi ay ganoon na lamang ang iyak at daing nito. Pero dahil salat sila sa pera ay di nila magawang magbayad sa doktor. Kaya naman ang nanay niya ay gumawa nalang ng mga halamang gamot para mabigyan siya ng lunas. Hindi nila akalain na iyon ay magiging daan upang pagkamalang aswang ang kanyang nanay, nagalit rito ang mga taong bayan at sinunog ang bahay nila, habang naroon ito sa loob. Mabuti na lamang at pinatakas sila ng kanyang ina, bitbit niya ang sanggol na kapatid ay nagpakalayu-layo sila sa lugar na iyon. Lumaking ulilang lubos ang lola ko..” the doctor added.
People listening started to talk to each other and said, “Ang sama naman ng mga taong yan dok!” and “Mapanghusga!”.
The doctor continued, “Kaya naman ninais kong maging doktor upang makatulong hindi lamang sa mayayamang may sakit kundi lalo na sa mahihirap. Pinili kong maging espesyalista sa mata upang mabigyang linaw ang paningin ng mga tao ukol sa panghuhusga nila sa kapwa.”
“Oo nga dok, karmahin sana iyang gumawa nyan sa lola mo,” said Aling Berta
“Saang baryo ba yan? napakawalang kwenta ng mga tao.” asked by one person.
“Ang baryong pumatay sa lola ko, ay ang baryong ito.” the doctor answered.
They were all shocked to the claim of the doctor.
“Tama kayo, si Malena Corpuz, ang babaeng pinagbintangang aswang.”
Aling Berta immediately took Jason because she can’t face the doctor. They headed to the church and prayed earnestly, asking for forgiveness to what Malena suffered.
On the other hand, Albert was just smiling because he is successful with his mission. This is not to make the people embarrassed but to clear the name of his grandmother.
