The Victim: Discrimination and Bullying

The

Victim

(Discrimination & Bullying)

Lita T. Cruz

The Victim: Discrimination and Bullying

@Copyright 2017 by Lita T. Cruz.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

This novel is composed of combined stories and experiences of some people who had been victims of discrimination and bullying. Names, descriptions, entities, and incidents included in the story have been slightly changed by the author to safeguard the identity of the characters who want to remain anonymous. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, and entities is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America

Nonfiction > Family & Relationships > Bullying

Juvenile Fiction > Love & Romance

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Acknowledgment

This novel has been written to acknowledge the existence of discrimination and bullying in the society we live in. To those who feel they are target or victims of discrimination and bullying, it is never too late to stop it. Seek help from those who can help you stop the ordeal.

To those who are not consciously aware that they discriminate and bully, enjoying the fun of being idolized by friends who fearfully look up on your domineering attitude, it is never too late to change. 

The author portrays in her story the negative impact of these two-misplaced attitude by narrating stories of several victims who requested anonymity to avoid any further conflict and controversy.

Let’s continue the journey and as we read, we can examine the difference and similarity of discrimination and bullying and how it affects people and members of the community as well.

DEDICATION

As always, I dedicate this novel to my children and their family. As God is the source of my strength, faith and energy, my children and their family are my inspiration. I am proud to say, that not even one of them bullied or discriminated anyone, same as they never allowed themselves to be victims of Discrimination and Bullying.

To Jojo Reyes, his wife Corazon, daughter, Jean Reyes Poblete (hubby, Christiane and son, JT); Joel Reyes and wife, Geline; Joey Reyes; Jonnie Reyes and wife May (children Jmee. JenJen and JM); Jovie Reyes and wife Ludy (sons, Lyndon, Lemuel, Leonard); Joygi Reyes and wife, Vicky; daughter Joanne R. Murphy and hubby Bryan (children Cadence and Mikey); daughter Jeanne Reyes Geary and hubby, Thomas (children PJ, Mikayla and Caleb).

To all members of the Cruz, Tumang and Principe clan, my love and sincere prayers to all.

PREFACE

Discrimination refers to bigotry, bias, sexism, racism, hatred, favoritism, prejudice, intolerance, iniquity, injustice, and unfairness.

Bullying means being bossy, overbearing, arrogant, autocratic, dictatorial, domineering, tyrannical, authoritative and oppressive.

Is it acceptable for people to be bullied and discriminated? Is it likely for others to bully and discriminate? 

Are you being discriminated and bullied? Do you discriminate and bully unconsciously or do you do it consciously?

Let us read the story and let us get some answers to our questions. Let us see if we are the offenders, the bystanders or The Victim.

Wherever we stand, we can always remedy the issue. Let’s stop Discrimination and Bullying!  

Contents

CHAPTER 1:  The Widow’s Challenge.........2

CHAPTER 2:  Which Comes First?

CHAPTER 3:  Let The Battle Begin

CHAPTER 4:  The Confrontation

CHAPTER 5:  The Preparation

CHAPTER 6:  The Showdown

CHAPTER 7:  Love And Family...............211

CHAPTER 8:  Double Wedding

CHAPTER 9:  All Is Well! That Ends Well

About The Author & Composer

CHAPTER 1:

The Widow’s Challenge

Discrimination due to age is one of the great tragedies of modern life. The desire to work and be useful is what makes life worth living, and to be told your efforts are not needed because you are the wrong age is a crime.   

~Johnny Ball~

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Therese de la Rosa Mondragon was watching the television in her room, her eyes were focused on the screen, but her mind however, was wandering somewhere far beyond reach.

There were so many issues to resolve, but she was alone now. No husband, no partner to reckon with, no more someone to help her mentor and take care of her three sons and two daughters ... at home and ... at school.

Her husband, Gabriel Perez Mondragon Sr., whom everybody called Gabe had joined the Almighty God in heaven.

Gabe, honey, I miss you so much. I don’t know how to live life without you. I am at a total lost. Her tears kept flowing down her cheeks, her heart was palpitating and hurting.

Her children were at school and her house help was in the kitchen cooking for dinner.

She went back to bed and lazily laid her head down, closing her eyes, her mind unconsciously going back to the good bygone years.

Therese and Gabriel got married when she was twenty, and Gabriel was twenty-two years old. It was right after they both completed their Bachelor of Science in Commerce in a famous university in the Philippines. Therese majored in Marketing while Gabriel majored in accounting.

They were still on their one-year honeymoon stage, both jobless, staying at her in-law’s house, when her husband took up his board exam and she was pregnant with their first child.

Therese was close to giving birth when they read the result of the CPA examination on a nationwide newspaper. Gabriel P. Mondragon Sr.  garnered the 9th position among the thousands who passed. They rejoiced and their parents were so proud.

Congratulations, honey, I always knew you will not only make it, but you will also be one of the topnotches! She remembered saying to her beloved husband while he was busy caressing the baby moving in her tummy.

Now that I am a Certified Public Accountant, it will be easier for me to find a good paying job. We can save so our son and us will have our own place! It was his dream to provide a home for his wife and children.

Gabriel Mondragon, Jr., whom they nicknamed as Gabby was born. Few months after the boy’s first birthday celebration, they rented and moved in an apartment close to the residence of her in-laws.

Gabe Sr. worked as a full-time accountant in a big company, and practiced accountancy on weekend working in their apartment. His patience and hard work made it possible for them to move into their own three-bedroom home in a nearby subdivision after five years.

Therese got pregnant every other year, which she didn’t mind. She enjoyed being a plain housewife and a good mother of five, after twelve years of marriage. They had a girl after Gabby and Genesis, whom they named, Aurora, followed by another son, they had baptized as Timothy and youngest girl, Vienna.

She enjoyed being the wife of a loving and industrious husband, and the mother of three cute boys and two charming girls. She had one lady helper and home chores was not a problem for her. She did the marketing and cooking for her family, while her house helper does the cleaning, washing and household chores in the house.

She remembered that time when she had not met Gabe Sr. yet. She aspired to take up Master in Business Administration after her graduation from college. But dreams were set aside when they met each other. They rushed into marriage, and they took the promise of ‘till death do us part.’.... and they got five children within twelve years.  

Family and friends teased her, but she was never defensive. She was sure of her choice and contented being a mother of five healthy, intelligent and good-looking children. 

On their 15th year class reunion, she became the center of joke, which she took with resilience.

Here comes our dear friend, who inspired us to take up Master in Business Administration after our college graduation. Well she did, but with a different degree. Her best friend, Toby Enriquez teasingly announced as she walked towards them.

Everybody applauded and cheered.

Thank you for your warm applause! She said as she facetiously bowed. I am happy to announce that I indeed passed my Doctorate on Marriage and Child Care, gifted with a handsome husband and five loving children. Therese replied with humor and honesty.

That was few of the so many virtues they loved in her.... her self-confidence and sense of humor. She was never defensive nor offensive in so many years they were classmates and friends. They loved and respected her more for it. She knew what she wanted... her husband... her children! 

You are a college graduate! Your children are all grown up. Time to use your talent. You can probably apply for a job so you can display your ‘double b’ to the public. One of their friends suggested teasingly.

"What is the meaning of ‘double b’ may I asked? It was the first time, she heard about it.

It means ‘brain and beauty’, duh! was the quick reply.

All of them had a good laugh, including the center of their joke.

Well, just to let you know that I tried to look for a job several times, but no company gets interested when I tell them my age and my marital status! She replied without bitterness. She was never sorry for getting married at a young age to the man she loved.

They also rejected me for lack of experience! How could I have any experience, if no one would hire me? She laughed amusingly, which humored her friends and they all laughed with her.

That is what I noticed in our homeland. Discrimination is going on like wild fire, with it is bullying. You have a petition filed by your brother in the states, right? How is it? Toby still remembered.

Oh yes, but I don’t know if it is still active as it has been filed several years ago. I no longer expect it as we are contented and happily settled in our country. She replied with ease and honesty.

I am just saying that in the states, you may be able to work as they hire people regardless of age or marital status! Toby positively commented.

I also read on newspapers that they have an office called Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which protects employees from any sort of bullying and discrimination. He continued.

I guess I am destined to be a work at home mom, married with children. Therese said, humorously ending the conversation about employment.

Therese realized that life was not always as smooth as it seemed. An unexpected frightful and dreadful circumstance happened without any warning... without any sign!

She was busy cooking for dinner, when she received a call from her husband’s office... Gabriel collapsed at work and was rushed to the hospital by his officemate.

She hurriedly called a taxi and upon reaching the hospital, she rushed to the emergency room. She was requested to wait outside with her parents and parents in law. They hugged each other while they all cried.

The doctors and nurses were busy working on her husband. After several minutes, which seemed to them, were like years of waiting, the doctors went out of the emergency room. They looked at her with sadness in their eyes and solemnly spoke; Sorry Mrs. Mondragon, we did the best we could, but.... We were not able to save your husband!

Therese didn’t know what happened next. What she remembered was everything went black and quiet, no sound, no people, no feelings, no pain, nothing at all.... she fainted!

When she was revived, she was on the hospital bed, surrounded by her children, her parents and friends, all crying for her and her husband.

Therese, be strong. Not for us, but more for your children. Her parents were in tears hugging her. Her in-laws were not around as they were with her husband...  grieving for their son!

Gabriel had a heart attack at work and was dead on arrival at the hospital. No one knew that he had a heart problem. Not even his parents nor Therese. If he had kept it a secret, he was very good at it, as he seemed always jolly and healthy.  

Everyone felt so sorry that Gabriel Mondragon Sr., a forty-year-old successful accountant, an ideal son, loving husband, doting father and a talented young executive would depart at a very young age, leaving behind his thirty-eight-year-old wife, a housewife, and five children, aging from nine to seventeen years old.

Almost everybody feared and doubted how would a housewife, with no job experience nor business acumen, handle the family that the deceased had left behind?

Her parents and two brothers, as well as her parents in law were worried on how she would handle her household.

Therese Mondragon refused to believe that her capacity was being underestimated. Deep within her, these people’s doubt had a trace of truth!  She herself was scared! She was skeptical if she could ever be a reliable breadwinner.

The previous failure on her job search due to no experience and married with children, served as a trauma that haunted her since then.

She ended up being a widow, tagged with no work experience, and getting older every click of the clock, each passing day.

She didn’t even know where to start!  

Dear God, please help me find a job! She was not in prayer ... she was nagging the Lord Almighty.

The same question bugged her sanity and consciousness as she watched the cadaver of her husband that night at the funeral parlor. She whispered to him as she cried, to help her think of ways to continue the responsibility that was suddenly and unexpectedly thrown on her shoulder. She didn’t know, where and how to start as a capable provider.

Probably it was mere coincidental that a slight cold wind gently brushed on her shoulder and her cheek, but she wanted to believe that it was her husband trying to comfort and assure her that he would always be around and she would be fine. He believed in her.

The donations that came in from her parents, in-laws, relatives and friends were more than enough to pay for the expenses on the internment. Her savings at the bank remained untouched.

The forty days prayer for her deceased husband was over, and she had to decide what to do next.

Look for a job?

Just the idea alone, gave her cold ... no not cold, but freezing feet. She refused the idea of being turned down again. She no longer wanted to see any thumbs down!

Perla came from the magazine stand, bringing the newspaper that she requested her to buy. She opened the Employment Section. Almost all the ads on the paper had the announcement in big bold letters: 

Age: Between 22 to 30 years old

Status: Single

God Almighty, please help, tell me what to do! She quietly prayed after she checked her five children and went to her bedroom.

The following morning, she woke up with a decision. She had more than enough savings to enroll for Master’s Degree in Business Administration. She would not waste and spend her time and money looking for a job. She already knew the answer.

As she took her shower, her head started to ache. It seemed so heavy.... it was like a huge stone set on her neck and shoulder. Her tears were helplessly flowing down her cheek non-stop due to extreme pain. She finished her shower, prepared to dress up and called Perla.

Ma’am, you look so pale, are you sick? Their house helper noticed as soon as she saw her.

I have a terrible head ache. Kindly get the pain reliever from our medicine cabinet. Therese said as she went to the refrigerator to get some cold water to drink with the capsule.

She sat down on the dining table, took a piece of bread and ate it, while waiting for Perla.

No one and nothing can stop me from enrolling, not even this nasty terrible headache. She muttered to herself.

She took the pain reliever, continued dressing up, fixing her face with slight blush of powder and lipstick, and went to the bank to get some cash for her tuition fee.

At the street corner, she took a passenger jeep going to the university where she completed her degree in college, and now to enroll for a Master’s Degree. Tears kept on falling due to too much pain in her head, and her co-passengers were looking at her as she covered her eyes with her handkerchief. It tickled her humor that the passengers were thinking that she was crying for something or for someone.

Upon reaching the school campus, she immediately went inside the chapel and silently prayed for His divine mercy and assistance.

"Lord God, Mama Mary, dear saints and angels’ in heaven, I don’t know who is stopping me from taking up this course, but I am sure it is not any of You. I admit, I am scared and doubtful of what I plan to do, but I am more scared if I will not do anything at all.

For the sake of my children dear Lord, please assure me that enrolling for this Master’s Degree is the right thing to do. Thank you, dear Lord." 

She stayed, prayed and cried heavily, until the pain eased, she was no longer hurting, and her tears stopped falling.

There were only few people who enrolled at the Master in Business Administration course so it took her only few minutes. She was able to buy a guide book at the school bookstore, which she could read that