Gem was in Grade 6 when her mother decided to work full time in Cagayan Valley. There were many occasions in school when both of her parents were not present and their relatives were the ones who took on that part. Her elder sister Renmin, 26, took on the responsibility of taking care of her siblings.
But whenever her mother visits them in Pasig, they spend quality time together. Their bonding includes a day in the spa and malling. They also love to eat her spaghetti and goof around when staying in house.
They were never scolded by their mother, Gem said, joking that it was is only when a file in her computer went missing that heard her yell.
Stronger
Gem said they managed to get through the death of their father, and now their mother’s imprisonment is another crisis that the family is handling quite well. Gem thinks that it made them stronger.
She said that somehow, they are all right because they are used to her always being away for work. Still, the idea that their mother was abducted, treated inhumanely and was emotionally tortured was a different thing.
Gem narrated that it had been her brother AL’s recital when Myrna went missing. AL was in his second year at the Philippine High School for the Arts majoring in ballet. “He was rehearsing for their recital at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and we are going to watch him together with Mama. But then the news broke out and when he knew about it, AL struggled to pretend that Mama was watching even though he was very bothered about Mama’s arrest.”
Gem, Myrna’s daughter, has been in the frontlines in pressing for her release. (Photo by Anne Marxze D. Umil / bulatlat.com)
Her brother Ganbu, 23, was also deeply bothered. But unlike AL who is vocal about his emotions about their mother’s imprisonment, Ganbu chooses not to talk about it. “He’s a silent type of person and Mama’s arrest made him even more silent. He was often sad even though he says that he’s okay,” Gem said.
Renmin, who have loads of emotional baggage since their mother’s decision to work away from them, was the most affected. During the time when Myrna went missing and the quick response team went on searching, Renmin wasn’t able to go with them because she just gave birth to her first child. “She gave birth through caesarian section so she’s not able to go with us.”
Gem is the one who focused on the campaign for her mother’s release. Once or twice a month she visits her mother together with her family and other relatives.
Behind all this was their mother’s strength and optimism. “In jail, when we’re visiting her, she’s always happy as though she were not in jail. She and her inmates were able to sell food to other visitors and they were also able to solicit some money to buy gas stove and water dispenser.”
Gem also added that they are thankful that jail officers at the BJMP Tuguegarao were kind. And even if she’s imprisoned, her being a consultant also applied inside the BJMP’s re-organization. “They have respect for Mama, they consulted her regarding their re-organization and she also helped to form committees inside the jail.”
Gem said President Benigno S. Aquino III “should be true to his words to help victims of human-rights violation. We also call on the release of all political prisoners. There are many families aside from us that were victims of human-rights violations,” Gem said. “These should stop.” (Bulatlat.com)
