In Barangay Pinaglabanan, there lived a man named Bartolome. He is the son of Ka Berting, a widower. Bartolome is in loved with Delilah, the daughter of Ka Pacing, a widow. Ka Pacing does not like Bartolome for her daughter. But Bartolome is determined with his feelings for Delilah. One night, he goes to the woman’s house. He picks some small stones and throws one by one to call the attention of his beloved woman.
Ka Pacing hears the noise made by Bartolome. She opens the window. “Ouch!!!” she said. “Bartolome!!!”, she shouted. She goes out of the house and set the dog free to run after Bartolome. “Kill that man!”
Bartolome jumps over the fence and runs as fast as he could. Ka Pacing angrily gets inside the house. “I don’t want to see that monster anymore!” she said. “I’m going to kill him, chop his body and feed him to the dogs!” she added. “But Nanay”, said Delilah. “He’s not a monster”. “He is!” she replied. “I don’t want him for you. I want you to be married to a foreigner. In that case, we can have a palace – like house, a swimming pool outside, tamaraw fx, helicopter, airplane, bodyguards and plenty of money!” “Nanay”, Delilah exclaimed. “Maybe you want me to be married not just to a foreigner but to the President of the United States”.
Then, next night comes. Bartolome comes back the house of Delilah together with his friend and his friend’s bestfriend for a harana. “My, my, my Delilah. Why, why, why Delilah?”
“Make it more romantic”, said his friend. “Sing it from your heart”, said his friend’s bestfriend. “Okay, okay”, said Bartolome. “My, my, my Delilah. Why, why, why Delilah?”
Delilah hears Bartolome. She goes near the window. But Ka Pacing sees her. “Delilah!” she said. “Step away from the window!” she commanded. Ka Pacing gets the arinola with urine inside it and pours it to Bartolome.
Bartolome goes home wet with urine.
But what happened that night does not matter with Bartolome. He wanted to show to the world especially to Ka Pacing that he is true to his feelings for Delilah. Another night comes. Since throwing small stones to Delilah’s house and harana were not effective, he thinks of another way on how to get near and talk with her. He crosses over the fence and climbs up the window of Delilah’s bedroom.
“Oh, Delilah”, he said.
“Bart, how did you get here without being noticed by the dogs or by Nanay?” she asked.
“It doesn’t matter. What is important is I’m here with you”, he replied. “I love you and I’ll do everything for you”, he added.
“Oh, Bart, how sweet of you”, she said.
“Delilah!” called Ka Pacing. “Delilah!” she repeated. “Is there anybody inside your room?”
“There’s no one except me Nanay”, Delilah answered.
“But I heard you talking with somebody”, insisted Ka Pacing. “Open the door!” she commanded.
“I’m alone here Nanay”, she said.
“If you’re not going to open the door, I’ll be the one to open it”, Ka Pacing warned.
Ka Pacing gets the key of Delilah’s bedroom. She opens the door. Bartlome hides under Delilah’s skirt.
“Who’s here?” asked Ka Pacing.
“No one Nanay, no one”, Delilah replied.
“Haaa – choo!” said Bartolome.
“Haaa – choo!” Delilah continued.
“Are you okay?” asked Ka Pacing.
“Don’t worry Nanay, I’m fine”, Delilah said.
Ka Pacing is not convinced of what her daughter said. She searches the room. She looks under the table. She looks under the bed. But she finds no one.
“I’ve searched everywhere but there’s no one”, she said. “The only place I haven’t searched is under you skirt”.
“There’s no one here Nanay”, said Delilah.
“Lift your skirt!” commanded Ka Pacing.
“I’m not hiding anyone Nanay”, said Delilah.
“Delilah!” Ka Pacing looks with suspicion towards her daughter. She lifts Delilah skirt. “Aha!” she said. “You monster! Wait me up and I’ll show you something”. She hurriedly leaves the room.
Bartolome gets out of Delilah’s skirt. “What should we do?” he asked.
“I don’t know’, Delilah replied.
When Ka Pacing returns, she has a shotgun with her. “If you know how to pray, better start”, she said. “Bartolome!!!!!”
Bartolome runs as fast as he could. The following morning, he thinks again of another strategy on how to get the woman’s hand from her mother. Another night comes. He brings with him flowers for Delilah and chocolate for her mother. He knocks the door. Ka Pacing opens it.
“The monster again!” said Ka Pacing.
“Good evening Ka Pacing!” he greeted. “I have something for you”.
Ka Pacing gets the chocolate from his hand. “What do you think of me, a kid?” she asked.
“No, Ka Pacing. It’s just a simple gift from me. Everytime I come here, I will bring something for you”, he responded.
“Okay, okay, I’m going to permit you to get inside of the house and talk with Delilah but only for 5 minutes”, Ka Pacing said.
“5 minutes? But Ka Pacing…….”, Bartolome exclaimed.
“Don’t you like?” Ka Pacing asked. “Then better go”.
“Okay, okay 5 minutes”, he said.
As soon as Bartolome enters the house, Ka Pacing eats the chocolate. After that, she gets the mat, the pillow and the blanket and lays them down near Bartlome and Delilah. She yawns as if she is sleepy. She lies down the mat and pretends to be sleeping.
“Oh, Delilah it’s been a long time that I’ve waited this moment to happen”, Bartolome said.
“Me too, Bart”, Delilah added.
Bartolome holds the hands of Delilah.
“Ehhheeeem!!!!” said Ka Pacing.
When Bartolome is about to kiss the lady, Ka Pacing shouts.
“Time is up!” she said. “5 minutes is over”.
“But Ka Pacing……”,Bartolome said. “Your 5 minutes seems to be very fast. I’m just starting”.
“When I said time is up, time is up!” Ka Pacing demanded. “Or would you like my shotgun explains to you that your time is over?”
“No, no Nanay. I mean Ka Pacing”, he answered.
“Don’t you dare calling me Nanay because I want a foreigner for my daughter and not a pauper like you”, said Ka pacing..
“But Ka Pacing, I really love your daughter and I’ll do anything for her”, Bartolome explained.
“Anything? You said anything?” asked Ka Pacing.
“Yes, Ka Pacing”, Bartolome replied.
“Okay, then by tomorrow morning when I wake up I want to see a swimming pool outside, a helicopter, tamaraw fx, airplane, bodyguards and plenty of money”, Ka Pacing ordered.
“But Ka Pacing, I’m not a magician nor the President of the United States”, said Bartolome.
“That’s exactly the reason why I don’ like you for my daughter, pauper!” Ka Pacing said. “Now go, before my shotgun drives you out”.
Bartlome leaves the house thinking of another strategy, his ultimate strategy. Then another night comes. Bartolome brings with him his father in going to Delilah’s house. As promised, he has a chocolate for Ka Pacing and a flower for Delilah. At this point, his father, Ka Berting knocks the door. As usual, Ka Pacing opens it.
“Yes? Oh, what a handsome being!” Ka Pacing said.
“Good evening, Ka Pacing”, greeted Bartolome.
“You again!!!”, Ka Pacing puts her hands on her waist. “How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t like you for my daughter?” She faces Ka Paking. “Oh, by the way, I’m Pacing, short for Pacita. What’s yours?” she asked.
“I’m Berting, short for Roberto”, he responded. “What a beautiful name you have!”
“Oh, really?” said Ka Pacing. “I’m flattered”. She faces Bartolome. “And you pauper, what are you doing here?” she asked. “Berting, kindly send him out”.
“Pacing, he’s my son”, said Ka Berting.
Ka Pacing is surprised of what she heard. “You…… him …..”, she uttered.
“Yes, Pacing”, he said. “You got it right”.
Delilah gets closer to the door. “Oh, Bart”, she said. “I miss you so much”.
“Me, too, Delilah”, Bartolome holds and kisses the hands of Delilah.
“My son is right when he said that Delilah is beautiful”, Ka Berting said. “Now, I’ve found out that she got her beauty from you”.
“Oh, thank you. I know that already”, Ka Pacing agreed.
“Will you marry me Delilah”, asked Bartolome.
“Yes, Bart”, she replied. “I will”.
“Will you marry me Berting?” asked Ka Pacing.
“Yes, Pacing. I will marry you”.
Bartolome is married to Delilah and Ka Berting to Ka Pacing. That’s the start of the proper treatment of Ka Pacing to Bartolome.