WHEN I WAS SLEEPING

By Manal Sugadol
Philippine Daily Inquirer

In front of the church, families head home after the Sunday Mass, the children playfully running toward the gate. They are happy and grateful for life.
But two blocks away an old woman is sitting beside a tomb surrounded by dry leaves. It is cold and windy. The woman is crying, her hair disheveled by the wind, her torn dress trailing on the ground.

A year earlier the woman was in church, thanking God for His blessings—her family’s wealth, her loving husband, their healthy son and daughter. One day, her husband won a family trip to a province known for its nature spots. He told her the happy news and said they should grab the chance to enjoy a vacation. She was also happy with the prize yet for some reason she could not explain, she was hesitant to say yes. But she saw the excitement in her husband’s eyes, and decided to make arrangements for the trip.

It was dusk when the family left home in the car. The children slept contentedly in the back seat. Midway in the trip (about five hours of travel), the wife glanced at her husband. He was focused on the road. She smiled and glanced at their sleeping children.
She didn’t realize that she herself had fallen asleep. Minutes later—or hours, she could not say—she felt her head striking something. She had been thrown against the windshield, and her hands were trembling. There was blood on them, and on her clothes. A sense of terror flowed through her body.

Her mind pushed her to move forward. She looked behind her but could not see her children in the back seat. “Where are my children!” she shouted repeatedly. She looked at her husband but he was not there. “Where are you? Please tell me, where are you?” she begged. No answer came.Hysterical, she walked away from the scene. She walked and wandered, not knowing where to go.

After walking a long time, she reached a church and saw playful children and their families happily heading home after the Sunday Mass.
Two blocks away, she saw a tomb surrounded by dry leaves. The place was cold and windy. She read the name on the tomb, realized that it was hers, and began to cry…
This story took form when I was sleeping. It continues to give me goose bumps and tears. It’s a dream that has haunted me every night.

Manal Sugadol, 19, is a new communication studies graduate of Mindanao State University Marawi.

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This was published last July 31, 2012. 

        I am Manal J. Sugadol. A wanderer and excursionist in nature. I love to explore and try new things for it gives me the adrenaline rush and energy which I  really like.  I love dancing especially modern dance but I also dance cultural and modern contemporary. I usually make people smile and laugh even I look ridiculous. I am an activist  of NO TO STRESS and NO TO PRESSURE and I still need members.

By the way,  these are some facts about me,  I was born on October 15, 1992 at Medina, Monawara Kingdonm of Saudi Arabia. My zodiac is Libra and my animal year is Monkey. Both of my parents were overseas Filipino worker (OFW) back then. My father, Usop Sugadol, was working then as a blue collar job while my mother, Belinda Jingona, was a midwife in a government hospital. I have four siblings, three boys and a girl. Mohammad Usop is the eldest, we call him Kuya Mamad. Maher is the second, Kuya Mae or Maher. I am next followed by my younger brother Mohannad Hani or Hani/ Bonbon. Lastly, my little sister Marwa or Jam2x. We are seven in the family including my parents when we are all at home everyone has its own work designation. 

My mother would not allow us to sit and watch TV she will be angry doing such. So, as her cadets we involuntary follow her orders day until night. Believe me sometimes we don't take rests yet that training gave us the opportunity to be responsible.  Back to the facts, we are permanently living at Blk. 21 Lot 33, RH-8 Notre Dame Village, Cotabato City, Philippines. We stayed at Cotabato for almost 25 years same with the age of my eldest brother. We have relatives through out the country but mostly are residents of  Datu  Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao and Indanan Jolo, Sulu relatively to my parents.



      Academically, I graduated my prep and basic education at Notre Dame Village Elementary School and my secondary at Notre Dame Village National High School both places are  kilometer away in our house. Even I live so near the school still I am late, always. I remember one moment I was not able to enter school because the school guard did not permitted me for such I was 30 minutes late. I will be so early for the second subject sarcastically he said, those were the days. I have vast memories in High School may it be happy, sad, lovely, romantic, chill, relax ... name it and I have it.

        When I reached College, I am proud to say that I am a public girl it does not mean I am for  public consumption. But, I am a so called  "Skolar ng Bayan" for I graduated my tertiary education also in a public university or may it say in a government funded university and literally a scholar by then. I took the course of Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies major in Speech Communication and Theater Arts at Mindanao State University- Main Campus, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.  I love my course not because of its terms embedded on it but the people who are in it. I became an artist, performer, public servant, leader, writer, activist, protagonist, antagonist, so and so. I had experienced a whole new world contrary to what was nurtured.

 I became independent and responsible on many aspects of life, financial, moral, spiritual, social, personal and physical. That experienced make me a strong person, a person that has flexibility and versatility to different people and work. I am  alumna of Sining Kambayoka Ensemble, Commuter's Hardcore, Voice of the Youth-Lanao, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, League of the Filipino Students, Future Shaped Laboratory Theater, Union of the Communication Artist and SAMAPAH.

         
 Consolidating all the knowledge and experiences I had acquired to all these organizations which I applied in my day to day life I leaved my alma mater as CUM LAUDE and College Performer Year 2011-2012 (April 12). Our batch were tagged as the "Golden Batch". Since, we graduated on the 50th year founding anniversary of the university.Then, the reality of life awaits us.

       Now, I am continuing what God intends for me, my dream, my mission and  the change I want to make in the world. 

Visit my facebook account for current updates about me and my fight