JUST CALL HER "PANGGA"

Just Call Her “Pangga”

by Carmel Villar

 “Pangga, go get the door,” a voice said from inside the house, as I knocked on the door.  I was about to knock again, but the door opened.  Behind the door was a lovely young lady.

Could she be Pangga?  I stared at her.  Her smile bids me inside. She motioned me in as she opens the door.

“Where’s Ma’am?” I asked. She pointed to the direction of the house where I presumed to be the kitchen.  She pointed me to a wooden chair. I thought she wanted me to sit, so I sat.  Then she showed me photo album. She opened the pages and pointed a picture.  “Is that you?” I asked her.  She just answered me with a smile.  By the look of the picture, Pangga is the youngest, and may I say the most beautiful among the three sisters.

As I looked at the rest of the pictures, I did not notice that her mother has joined us.

“O Pangga, so you’ve shown Ate Nery our picture!”  Ma’am Inday offered her hand, “Nery, meet Pangga.”

Then Pangga spoke in a language I did not understand.  She motioned with her hands and spoke with excitement.  But sad to say, I did not understand a word she was saying.  I looked at her mother for an explanation.

“Pangga is special.  Her mental age did not grow with her body,” Ma’am Inday explained. I was pleasantly surprised.  If just by looking at her I wouldn’t have any clue that she is special.  Yes, she is special.  She welcomed me, a stranger, a new “kid” in the block.  Others have looked at me with hesitation, sizing me up from head to toe.  But with Pangga, there was nothing like that.  She just welcomed me without sizing me up.

“Just call her Pangga,” Ma’am Inday said.  “She is our beloved. Our Pangga.”

Yes, she is “Pangga.” She is beloved.  She is special.

Monday, July 29, 2013

9:25:17 PM

Bethesda Cottages

Tagaytay City