History Never Repeat Itself

"Please spare me my life, Señor," I appealed to the Supremo.

"He's a spy, Supremo," the Katipunero who had beaten me up insisted on.

"I am not a spy, Señor. I am here to bring a message."

The Supremo gave me a look of pity. "Let him go," he said, "and bring him to my room."

Inside Andres' room, I was offered a seat at his table. On the table were letters to his officials who are itchingly waiting for orders to attack the Spaniards in the provinces. By the papers was a quill pen standing on its holder. Behind the Supremo's throne set by the wall was a red flag with a white KKK in the middle. Under the flag on the ground were stacks of bolo knives and Spanish-M93 rifles.

Andres unholstered his 38-caliber revolver and placed it over the papers. "This," he patted the revolver, "has killed more than you know. This never fails me." He held the grip, pointed at me, and slanted back. "Now tell me your story."

I glanced at a young Katipunero standing by the door and back to Andres. "I'll tell you in secret," I whispered.

Andres scowled. "My men stay where they are. What you tell me, I tell them."

"What I'll tell you concerns the nation. It concerns your countrymen's welfare, although this is not the right time for them to know."

"He's my highest-ranking officer and my confidante. You better start now or I will shoot you."

"I'm from the future," I declared with courage.

Andres sneered. "You are from the future. This idiot is from the future." He laughed boisterously. "From the future uh?"

I knew it would happen but I ignored his reaction. "I come here to warn you."

"A warning!" he raised his voice and pounded the gun on the table.

"I come from the year 2020. A lot has happened…" And then, I told him the history of his beloved country.

Andres and Emilio were incredulous but somehow dumbfounded.

"What is the warning?"

"I told you when and how you'd die. You never have a personal interest in becoming the highest man in the country. You've wanted freedom and equality for Filipinos. You've yearned to free our country from Spanish colonization. You've wanted to establish equality between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. You are a true patriot. A patriot forever."

"Uh-huh," he smirked.

"History tells that your execution is the first victory of personal ambition over true patriotism. That was Mabini who said it. History has repeated itself several times. I've witnessed it. In my time, a pandemic has caused many Filipino lives. The government has been doing good in handling it. However, there are public officials whose personal ambition and interest prevails. The pandemic is inevitable.

"The present culture is a blend of Spanish, American, Japanese, and Chinese cultures. But if you become the first Philippine President, everything will be better."

Andres put the revolver back in its holster, and he mused on.