Guardia de Honor
by Nick Joaquin
Natalia Godoy is a young woman of 18 who is excited to join
the Feast of the Virgin of Manila as one of the guardias for the first time.
The feast is celebrated every October, where a breath the North stirs Manila,
blowing summer dust and doves from the tile roofs, freshening the moss of old
walls, as the city festoons itself with arches and paper lanterns for its great
votive feast. This feast, in honor of Our Lady of La Naval de Manila is held
every 2nd week of October. Historically, the Virgin is believed to
have guarded Manila against different battles. As it is, the eyes that, long
ago, had gazed up anxiously, invoking the virgin, had feared a grimmer rain---
of fire and metal; for pirate crat crowded the horizon. Our Lady of La Naval de
Manila was declared a “National Cultural Treasure” in RA 10066 or the NCCA
Heritage Act of 2009.
But for Natalia, the feast had become emeralds from her
father. She would wear the emeralds to the procession. The jewels are a set – a
ring, a necklace a brooch, a comb to crown the veil with, and pendulous earring
shaped like chandeliers. She was all set and was awaiting her ride to the rendezvous
of the procession when her father Don had approached her for a conversation
regarding her two suitors; Esteban and Mario. In this conversation, she had
discussed with her father that she has already chosen the man that he loves,
but that she would be riding with the man she has not chosen. Her father found
this arrangement curious commenting “How you girls love to kill with kindness!”
This was the time as well when the good Don had finally realized that his
little girl is finally a young lady whose heart was captured by a young man.
She had asked for his blessings which he had given. In this brief exchange of
thoughts and feelings as well between the father and daughter that the good Don
learned that, Elisa, Natalia’s aunt, is in love with Andong Ferrero. When her
father was to go downstairs, she requested him to tell Mario that she would be
riding with Esteban, a gesture which during their time is considered to be the
woman’s way of telling the suitors who was chosen, only in this case this
practice is not observed. When her father has left, Aunt Elisa had come to see
Natalia asking her to hurry as they would be late. Along the conversation of
these two women who are in love, Natalia had thought of just riding with the man
she loves after seeing a vision of violence and death thus she asked her aunt to see Mario and tell
him that would be riding with him. Unfortunately, Elisa did not see Mario who
came to confront Natalia of her choice insisting that it was him whom Natalia
loves. Irritated by his gesture and unwillingness to listen, she challenged him
saying he has no right to dictate nor question her choices. For a moment’s
whim, she decided to right with Esteban instead forgetting the omen that has
forewarned her of the turn of events. This angered Mario badly leading his to
race them, and for the first time Esteban took control of the horses’ reign and
raced with Mario as if racing to the heart of the woman they both loved. This race had led to the death of Elena and
Esteban. In this accident caused by jealousy and passion, as well as childish
whims, Natalia lost her jewels save a piece of the emerald chandelier earring,
which from then on is worn with grace and pride by the generations of guardia
de honor after her. In the end, when all has settled down, Natalia ended
marrying Andong while Mario, aggrieved at the same time guilty of the wrong
judgement he had committed that day had decided to serve the God by becoming a
man of God.
Andong and Natalia had good and happy life together,
grateful that Elena has been a way of them finding each other.
These events unfolded in the present time as Josie looks
into the mirror in her childhood room. She had seen what had happened and what
was supposed to happen to Natalia and Mario, the ony event he did not see was
the death of Elena and Esteban. Read the
rest of the short story to see how this tale reflects and warns us against
impulsive decisions.
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