SHE WORKED AS A DISHWASHER SO THE MISTER COULD FINISH HIS DOCTORATE — BUT ON GRADUATION DAY, THE MAN ANNOUNCED HE WAS MARRYING THE DEAN’S SON, SO A SPLASH AND A CHARGE WENT OUT THAT SHOOK EVERYONE

Loida was sitting at the far end of the Grand Convention Center. She was wearing an old dress she had just sewn. Her hands were rough, calloused, and cracked from five years of soaking in soap and water.

On the stage, stood her husband—Dr. Jericho Mendez. Handsome, elegant in his Toga, and full of success. He had just received his PhD in Business Administration Summa Cum Laude.

Loida was crying. Finally, she thought. Our hardships were over. My time as a dishwasher at the cafeteria was over. My time as a night janitor was over. We will have a good life.

Loida still remembers how she begged her bosses to give her an advance to buy Jericho’s book. How she ate only dry food and rice so that Jericho could pay for his thesis defense. Every cent of her salary went to her husband’s dream.

Jericho climbed the podium for his Valedictory Speech.

“Thank you all,” Jericho began. His voice was full of confidence. “I would not have achieved this success without the inspiration of my life.”

Loida smiled. She waited for her name to be called. She was ready to stand.

“I want to thank,” Jericho continued, “the woman who has colored my world for the past two years. The woman who was by my side while I was finishing my dissertation. The daughter of our University President… Ms. Veronica Chua.”

Loida was stunned. Veronica?

A beautiful woman in a designer dress stood in the VIP section and waved.

“Veronica,” Jericho said in front of thousands of people. “Now that I’m a doctor, I’m ready to face the future with you. Will you marry me?”

The people screamed. “Yes! Yes!” they shouted. Everyone was thrilled. Veronica climbed onto the stage and hugged Jericho.

Loida? She froze in her seat.

Her world had collapsed. The five years of sweat and tears. The nights she didn’t sleep to iron his uniform. The husband she had worked so hard for… turned out to be someone else. And in front of everyone, he had rejected her.

Loida didn’t cry. Instead, she felt a fire ignite in her chest.

She stood up.

Loida walked down the middle of the aisle. Fast. Each step was heavy.

The people were amazed. “Who is that woman? Guard, a madman is coming to the stage!”

But Loida didn’t let herself be stopped. She climbed the stage steps.

Jericho saw her. His eyes widened. His smile was replaced by fear and shame.

“L-Loida?” Jericho whispered, trying to smile so that others wouldn’t notice. “What are you doing here? Get down! You’re embarrassing! You’re so filthy!”

“Shameful?” Loida asked.

In front of the microphone, in front of the University President, in front of Veronica, and in front of the entire crowd…

PAAAAAAK!

A very strong slap landed on Dr. Jericho Mendez’s face. His glasses almost flew off.

The entire hall fell silent.

Loida grabbed the microphone.

“Good afternoon to all of you,” Loida greeted. Her voice was shaking with anger but intact. “I am Loida. The ‘shameful’ woman. The ‘dirty’ woman.”

She looked at Jericho who was holding her red cheek.

“And I am also the LEGAL WIFE of this man for seven years.”

Everyone gasped. Veronica looked at Jericho. “Jericho?! Are you married?!”

“Let me explain!” Jericho defended.

“Shut up!” Loida shouted.

Loida took out an old notebook from her faded bag.

“Jericho, do you want to marry someone else? Sure, I agree. But before you leave, we need to take care of something.”

Loida opened the notebook.

“This is a list of everything I spent on you since you were a 1st year PhD student until now. Since you don’t have a job and are supposedly a ‘full-time student’, I’m the one who supported you.”

Loida read the list into the mic.

“Tuition Fee for 5 years: P 500,000.”

“Thesis Defense and Printing: P 150,000.”

“Rent for the Condo you’re staying in so you can ‘focus’: P 600,000.”

“Your daily allowance, including your purchase of briefs and socks: P 200,000.”

Loida turned to Jericho.

“The total is 1.45 Million Pesos. I made it washing dishes at the cafeteria, Jericho. My hands swell up every night. I don’t have new clothes. I don’t eat good food. I gave you everything so you could become a ‘Doctor’.”

He approached Jericho, face to face.

“Now, if you want to be free and marry that woman… PAY ME. Give back every cent you took from me! Because if not, I will sue you for Bigamy, Economic Abuse, and I will make sure your license and diploma are revoked before you can even work!”

The University President (Veronica’s father) approached. He was very angry.

“Mr. Mendez!” the President shouted. “Is this true?!”

“S-Sir… what…” Jericho stammered.

“You lied to my daughter! You said you were single! You manipulated us!”

Veronica also slapped Jericho. “Cheater! Get away from me!”

The University President turned to the crowd. “Security! Escort this man out! And what about his diploma? We’ll hold that pending an investigation on ethical misconduct!”

Jericho lost everything in an instant. His fiancé, his diploma, his reputation, and his dignity.

Loida calmly closed her notebook.

The University President handed Loida a calling card. “Wife, we are sorry regarding this. The university will cover your legal fees to get justice and your money.”

Loida nodded. “Thank you.”

She looked at Jericho who was now crying on the floor.

“Congratulations, Doctor,” Loida said with emphasis. “I hope you use your intelligence to pay me. I’ll wait for your check.”

Loida walked out of the Convention Center. She was no longer married, but she felt lighter. The weight she had carried for five years was gone.

She entered as a “shameful dishwasher,” but she left as a woman who would never be oppressed again.