a day at the barangay hall

I never thought I would be receiving a subpoena ever in my life. Not in this way, not for this reason. I received a subpoena because of unpaid obligation. As all the people who know my current situation, I am unemployed for several months now since last March. Ane is the only one who brings money to pay the bills and everything. Her salary alone is not even enough for everything. We have 3 kids and when you live in a country like this, it is like getting hanged already, most especially when one of you does not have a job. So the unpaid rent starts from the month of March until this month, which makes it six months in total already. Well I went to the barangay hall with my daughter Anais, along with Nanay, who lives right next door, who was also called upon by the barangay captain through subpoena and was complained as well.
We arrived earlier than we expected. The guy whom we asked sitting on the front desk was eating Indian mangoes by the time we got there. And I thought government employees only have an hour of lunch break. It was almost 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
The landlord, Mrs. Nunez, came through the door a few minutes before the scheduled hearing. I had little information about her, but with the way she looked, I will guess she is a little over her 60’s who looked 10 years younger her age. She was pleasant. She shook my hand and carried herself in a very civil manner. It was our first time to see each other in person. Her son, Ariel, was with her and later joined us sitting on the benches, whilst waiting for the hearing to commence.

Shortly after they arrived, a lady, who was wearing a blue vest, walked to where we were and was holding pieces of paper which seemed to me photocopies of the subpoena that were sent to us each bearing our names. She called our names one by one and asked us to go upstairs where the hearing will take place.

There were three people waiting for us in the room. The man in the middle said something like he was representing the barangay captain in his absence. The others were a guy on his left and a lady on his right. Never really remembered their names for they did not formally introduced themselves to us. All they have for us to identify them was a block of wood on which had their names and their ranks in the office. The lady who was wearing the blue vest went inside the room also and stayed at the back.

The Nunez who were sitting opposite us, had given their side of the story and reinstated their demands. They want us to pay the whole sum of money in a month’s time. It was not realistic and feasible for us. 41k in one month? How in the world can I raise such amount when I can’t even pay them a month of rent?
The guy in the middle, after giving the Nunez family the chance to speak, turned his attention to us and asked what can we say about the demands. Well I started off explaining why we were not able to pay the rent for six months. After that I was asked how I can pay the said balance. I told everybody if I can get a job as soon as possible, we will pay the Nunez every payday which will mean we will pay two months worth of rent every month. The guy in the middle, who turned his direction to his left side where the Nunez family was, repeated what I have just said to him. He asked if that was alright to them. I can tell by the looks on their faces that they did not agree with my offer. I can perfectly understand why. There was no assurance on my deal. I said I can pay them starting next month if, and only if, I get a job. Of course that will still rely on whether we can get a nanny the soonest possible time.
The man told me that the hearing will be adjourned and will take place same time next week which is will be the 30th of September, 2 PM.
I was asked by the lady who was wearing the blue vest, who I will later find out to be a police, made me sign on some papers like the minutes of the meeting page where nothing was still written on it.
With great stupidity, I did sign on that paper. Gee. I was too much preoccupied with what was going on that it caught me off guard and apart from the fact that it was my first time ever to attend such. But still, I should have remembered that it was a big no no. I have put myself and my family at a great risk. What if they write something that never really occurred and took place? Like me agreeing to sell my soul if I will not be able to pay them or something like I have given them the right to take valuable things from my home in case I will not be able to pay on time. Anais and I went out of the barangay hall without a sound. I was at a loss. Still scared of what might happen to us.

It hit me like a rock on the head. What was I thinking? It was too late because I realized that I made a wrong move when I was already home talking to Nanay. She was telling Ane and I what happened after I left the premises. Her son Rommel came to her aid to assist her at the barangay hall shortly before we left. I met him while on the way downstairs and asked me if Nanay was with me. I told him that he can find her upstairs. Nanay told us that the lady who was wearing the blue vest did the same thing with Rommel. But Rommel was too smart and had been already gone through situations like these. He refused to sign such with nothing still written on it. I felt something really cold just hit me and realized that the lady made me do exactly like that. Unfortunately, I got too comfortable and caught off guard since I was inside the domains of a government office, that nothing wrong could possibly happen to me. I was still in disbelief that something like this has happened to someone like me. Well I forgot. I should never trust people like them. I am just hoping against hope that nothing bad will happen and that they will not exploit the situation. Or else my family and I are doomed.