IN 1995, HE LEFT HIS WIFE BECAUSE SHE GAVE BIRTH TO FIVE CHILDREN BECAUSE SHE WAS A “BURN” — AFTER 30 YEARS, HE CAME BACK TO COLLECT, BUT HIS WORLD CRUSHED WHEN HE KNEW WHO THE “BURNED” ONES WERE AWAY FROM HIM

THE TURN (1995)
The year is 1995. In a small, shanty house in the countryside, five babies are crying at the same time.

Maria has just given birth to quintuplets (five twins). She is very thin, pale, and has nothing to eat.

Instead of being happy, her husband Ramon is furious.

“Five?! Maria, five?!” Ramon yells as he packs his things. “We’re already having a hard time feeding one mouth! Then five more?! We’ll starve!”

“Ramon, don’t leave us,” Maria pleads as she carries the two babies, and the three are on the mat. “Help me. Let’s work together. We can do this.”

“No!” Ramon pushes Maria away. “I don’t want this life! I want to get ahead! Those children are a burden! They’re a curse on my life!”

Ramon took the remaining savings from under the pillow—the money he was supposed to buy milk.

“Ramon! That’s the kids’ money!”

“I’ll pay for the trouble you caused!”

Ramon left. He took a bus out of Manila. He didn’t look back at the crying of his wife and five children. All he could think about was himself.

THE RISE OF ALONE
Maria’s life became hell.

To support her five children (One, Two, Three, Four, and Five), she worked as a laundress in the morning, a shopkeeper in the afternoon, and a dishwasher in the evening.

The neighbors teased her. “That’s the mother cat. Her husband left her after her children.”

But Maria didn’t give up.

Every night, before going to bed in their cramped room, he tells his children:

“Don’t be angry with your father. But promise me… one day, we will prove that you are not a burden. That you are a blessing.”

The five siblings grew up to be smart, hardworking, and God-fearing. They saw their mother’s hardship. This inspired them to study hard even though sometimes their food was only salt.

THE RETURN OF SUTIL (2025)
30 Years Have Passed.

Ramon is now 60 years old. His dream of making a name for himself in Manila? It didn’t happen. He became addicted to vice, got sick, and is now suffering. He has no family because his girlfriend also left him when he lost money.

He has kidney failure and needs a lot of money for surgery.

One day, he saw a news in the newspaper:

“MOTHER OF THE YEAR: MARIA DE LEON, TO BE HONORED AT GRAND MANILA HOTEL.”

Ramon’s eyes widened. It was Maria! His wife! And he saw from the photo that she looked rich.

“They’re rich…” Ramon whispered. “I have a right. I’m a father! I can ask for money for surgery. I’m sure they’ll accept me.”

Ramon dressed neatly (even though it was old) and went to the Grand Manila Hotel.

THE GRAND CELEBRATION
Upon arriving at the hotel, Ramon was stopped by a guard.

“Sir, invitation please?”

“No! I’m the wife of the party owner! Maria De Leon! Let me in!” Ramon blurted out.

Because of the noise, an old woman came out, elegant, full of jewelry, and looking like a lady. Maria.

“Ramon?” Maria asked in surprise.

“Maria!” Ramon ran and knelt in front of Maria. “Forgive me! I made a mistake! I’m back, Maria. Let’s start our family. I’m sick… I need your help.”

The guests whispered. Is this the husband who left?

Maria looked at Ramon. There was no more anger in her heart, but there was no more love either.

“Ramon,” Maria said calmly. “30 years. Not a single letter, nothing. Now that you need money, then you’re coming back?”

“I’m still a father!” Ramon argued. “Where are my children? I want to see my children! I’m sure they’ll understand me!”

Suddenly the lights went out. The spotlight was pointed at the stage.

“Do you want to see your children?” Maria asked. “There they are.”

THE FIVE “HEAVY”
One by one, the five strong and successful men and women took to the stage.

ONE – Wearing a Judge’s uniform.

“I am Judge Juan De Leon. The youngest Justice in the Court of Appeals.”

TWO – Wearing a Police uniform full of medals.

“I am General Jose De Leon. Chief of Police of the National Capital Region.”

THREE – Wearing a business suit.

“I am CEO Marco De Leon. Owner of De Leon Construction who built this hotel.”

FOUR – Wearing a cassock.

“I am Father Lucas De Leon. A priest who helps orphanages.”

FIVE – Wearing a Doctor’s Coat.

“I am Dr. Gabriel De Leon. The most famous Nephrologist (Kidney Specialist) in Asia.”

Ramon was stunned. The five children he called “burdens” and “curses” before… are now pillars of society.

Ramon climbed onto the stage, trembling. “M-Children… This is me… Father…”

Singko (Dr. Gabriel) approached. He looked at the medical chart Ramon was holding.

“Father,” said Dr. Gabriel. “I read your name on the list of patients who need a kidney transplant at my hospital.”

“O-Yes, son!” Ramon said excitedly. “You’re the doctor! Save me! Operate on me! I’m your father!”

Dr. Gabriel smiled bitterly.

“Do you remember 1995?” Gabriel asked. “When Mom begged you to leave the money to buy our milk? But you took it and left?”

“Because we didn’t have milk, I got sick. I almost died of dehydration. Mom sold her blood just so someone could treat me.”

The other siblings came over.

Judge Uno: “In the eyes of the law, abandonment is a crime. But we won’t send you to prison. Because life is a harsher punishment.”

CEO Tres: “You asked for money? I can give you a million. But my money is only for the people who believed in me when I didn’t have anything.”

Father Lucas: “I forgive you, Dad. I will pray for your soul. But that doesn’t mean we will let you break Mom’s peace again.”

Dr. Gabriel returned to his father.

“Dad, I am the best doctor for your illness. Only I can save you.”

Ramon knelt down. “It’s as if you have mercy on me, son… do it.”

Dr. Gabriel shook his head.

“As a doctor, I have a sworn duty to cure everyone. I will operate on you. I will save you.”

Ramon’s face lit up. “Thank you! Thank you, son!”

“But,” Gabriel added. “After you recover, never show yourself to us again. This operation is the last help we will give you. We have paid for the life you gave. Starting tomorrow, we will be strangers.”

END
The operation was performed. Ramon was safe.

When he woke up in the hospital, Maria and the five children were gone.

All he had left was the hospital bill marked “FULLY PAID” and a small envelope.

Inside the envelope, there was 500 pesos.

The exact amount he had stolen from Maria in 1995 before he left them.

Ramon left the hospital with his body alive, but his heart dead. He sees his children’s success on TV and in the newspaper, but he can only look at it. He will carry the regret for the rest of his life that the five “burdens” he threw away back then, were the ones who would carry him in his old age.

THE END