Destined to be yours Episode 21 #DTBYPaalamNa
I am still reeling at the road this series has taken. It’s akin to the disbelief that you’re getting the same old plot despite the “environmental activist icing” slathered on top of it. But I can be wrong, and even if I’m right, it’s not like my cynical opinion carries any weight. I want to be proven wrong so please, universe, grant my wish (because it’s senseless to plead with the director and writing team because my request will simply be seen as childish complaining).
Enough with my rant. In this episode, the Obispos lose their house to the fire, Benjie rushes to Pelangi (giving no f***s to his work) and DJ Sunshine signs off.
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Sinag is trapped in her burning house, and Badong comes to Sinag’s rescue. And because he gets hurt, Sinag is now indebted to him.
In Manila, Jason finally deposits a completely wasted Benjie to the consternation of his mom. Just as Amanda is questioning Jason why Benjie got drunk, he drunkenly calls out to Sinag, repeatedly asking her to stop being mad at him.
As the family and neighbors are putting out the fire with buckets of water and an ambulance rolls in to help the injured, look who has the gall to show up: Mayor Dante Escobar. As Sally and Teddy (rightfully) accuse the mayor, he defends himself saying he is insulted that despite his ambulance, he is treated so badly (as I am listening to the mayor talk back, I am wondering, is her drunk? Why are his words slurred?)
The next morning, the Obispos and Badong’s grandparents wait in the hospital. Sinag is desperately praying for her friend’s recovery (he’s the only one that’s left because Ninay and Arman have gone to Manila). The doctor gives them the bad news: Badong is now baldado (I know the pun is insensitive), thus adding to Sinag’s guilt.
Benjie wakes up with a hangover, and his first words to his mom are, “did I throw up on you?” Amanda tells him to go to her instead of alcohol when he has problems, and Benjie admits that he just can’t get her out of his mind and heart…despite knowing that there was no second chance. His mom advices him to go and see her (does she not understand what her son did? Did he not tell her that the one thing Sinag asked of him was to leave town? Are they living in a different teleserye universe?), assuring him that she’ll support her.
Badong finds out the bad news and his despair makes Sinag feel more guilt. And this time, Ninay will not be around to tell her that it was not her fault (It’s amazing how his hair is still well groomed despite what has happened). Badong tells her it’s not her fault and that he would do it all over again because she’s his friend.
WHY ISN’T BENJIE FIRED YET??? Benjie decides to skip work even though he is aware that they have a meeting that day. He’s the frickin senior associate of the project (whatever that means) and he’s playing hookey. He calls Jason just so he’ll know and help him cover up (not even going through the proper channels to inform the company that he was not showing up).
Back in Pelangi, we find out that at least the Obispo’s hard earned money was not destroyed in the fire and they were able to pay for Badong’s hospital bills. Of course that drains their savings intended for paying unpaid taxes but that’s inconsequential at this point. Sinag opens up to her parents about feeling guilty over what happened to Badong and Sally repeats this episode’s mantra: It is not your fault.
Teddy points out who’s the one really at fault: Rosales Development. Spot on but they can’t ask for an investigation from the police because they’re under the mayor’s control. Sally tells Teddy that maybe they should throw in the towel before another one gets hurt. As much as Sinag wants to object, her father agrees (So yes. Catalina’s scheme worked. And that is why she is a top executive. She gets the job done. Evil and efficient).
As Teddy tries to see if there were artworks that survived to sell, Sally receives help from their kind neighbors. Even though their situation may seem depressing, a rainbow in the sky gives them hope.
Sinag drops by the radio booth for one last time (they could sell the radio equipment or at least get money for them from a junk shop. And there are also a couple of paintings littered in the radio station lobby that they could sell) to say good bye to Pelangi. As their enemies gloat over their victory, Teddy tearful watches his daughter signing off. Sinag asks forgiveness from her deceased grandfather, for surrendering. Shots of Pelangi is scene, as if a one last look before Rosales Development takes over.
As Marjorie rejoices that Pelangi is now “Sinag-free” (and will literally be in the near future because of the pollution the new development will bring to the place. You’ll experience smog that will block the sun), and Catalina confirms that they’ve gotten the last properties they need for the project, our main kontrabida gives a huge sigh of relief because she can finally come home, before signing a check (see that look on her face when Marjorie called out to her? It’s clear that she no longer wants to deal with the Escobar brat). Marjorie volunteers herself to join her team in Manila, and you could see in Catalina’s face that she would do it just to make Benjie’s life miserable.
The Obispos and Badong’s family are ready to move out and since they no longer have any money to pay for Badong’s discharge, Teddy and Sinag try to sneak him out of the hospital (civil disobedience FTW, a middle finger salute to the local government). But their plan is thwarted when the mayor and Marjorie show up in the hospital.
Because Marjorie is so obsessed with Sinag, she immediately recognizes her despite the disguise. And when she tries to get her dad to file a case against them for skipping out on paying the hospital fees, the mayor declares they were free to go. Teddy is in disbelief and the mayor goes, “Unlike popular belief, I am not a bad person” (sure, you just help a big company executive burn down a house in the middle of the night), insisting that all he has done and is doing is for the sake of Pelangi. Sinag calls out his b***$*** (a ballsy but stupid move) and the mayor bring out the “progress and development” card. Sinag gets the last word and they leave the hospital with Badong…and a free wheelchair!
Team Pelangi arrives at the bus terminal and we discover that Sinag is a celebrity of sorts as one of the vendors calls out to her and asks why she wasn’t on air, showing her that she was ready to tune in. Sinag regretfully tells her that she decided to sign off because no one listens anymore. Just as their bus is about to leave Pelangi, Benjie’s bus arrives and he immediately heads to Bahay Obispo.
Random thoughts
* I have a theory. The mayor was indeed drunk. He decided to inebriate himself so he wouldn’t have to deal with his conscience.
* What with all the guilt trip in this series? Utang na loob as emotional chains.
* Because teleserye clichés are not enough, we are now delving into shoujo manga conflict cliché, where the inane romantic third wheel gets a chance with the lead because she/he feels guilty over his/her injury. As the lead voluntarily takes care of the injured third wheel, feelings may or may not be muddled (is it love or merely guilt with a dash of deep gratitude?), and the third wheel may or may not take advantage of the situation.
* Teddy rummaging through the burnt remains of his artworks is heartbreaking.
* You know how Don Vicente always says he hates wasting money? Imagine how he’ll react when he finds out that the money Benjie asked him during his first week in Pelangi was spent to buy a new radio station antenna, a radio station that would eventually go down in less than a month.
* I wish this would the last time we see Maine cry. She’s damn good at it but it’s heartbreaking.
* Catalina is that kind of person who would have goons burn down a house with a family sleeping inside, and say “Thank God” the next day without flinching.
* It’s interesting that although Catalina usually wears neutral, subdued colors, she wears a bright and cheery shade of orange after masterminding arson.
* It’s nice that the series attempts to inject comedy in this series. Underscore on the “attempt.”
* There is fundamentally wrong with you when you are a worse person next to a corrupt mayor.
In conclusion
As I watch Marjorie, her Yaya, Mayor and Catalina, I wonder are there people in the real world who are heartless like this, who have no regard for the environment, the welfare of others. Who only care about themselves and money. Like they can witness a fire and destruction and not even flinch. They can rejoice that someone’s house is burned down and are now forced to leave town. Are they still human? Do they bleed red blood?
Then I ask myself: do I have a tendency to act and think like that? When I insult a person on social media or spread gossip, aren’t I subscribing to the same hatred and egotism that these fictional characters explicitly display? When I carelessly waste resources or litter, am I not as uncaring about the environment as well?
It’s so easy to make excuses and defend myself and say that “I am not like them. At least I am not horrible as they are.” But just because I’m less horrible does not erase the fact that my actions are not wrong. I realize that I should be more mindful of my speech and actions, especially in social media where it’s so easy to hide behind anonymity.
And that’s how DTBY helped me be a kinder person. Kinder but not less critical.