"The best thing about a picturE is that it never changes,
even when the people in it do."
Andy Warhol
photoessay: the eye doctor
(FOR FOTESAY CLASS, 2015)
PHOTOESSAY: LOST, BUT NOT GONE
(FOR FOTESAY CLASS, 2015)
Before she turned 21, her mother was murdered in daylight with an icepick by one of their money-hungry employees.
To this day, justice was not served.
Jerilyn Ang had a good childhood in Olongapo with her family. She has two older brothers, two younger sisters, and rags-to-riches parents who loved her very much. Her mother loves to cook, play the piano, and travel. Her mother came the principal of the school she and her siblings were studying in. It was a small Chinese school in the homey province. Her dad started out as a janitor, but by the time his wife became principal, he had already worked his way into a stable job as manager of three movie houses in the area. After being with the school for a few years, she left the job and helped her husband with the cinemas. She handles one while her husband handles the other two. One innocent day, she was at her office doing paper works. The town was peaceful and things in the movie house was running smoothly.
Her door slammed open and an employee of hers stood there, eyes bloodshot from the large amounts of alcohol he had consumed (this information was later given by his co-workers who was with him before the whole incident happened). He immediately stated the increase he wants for his salary. Alarmed but still in a clear state of mind, she carefully explained how that money has been tight and they would not be able to increase their salary for now. He sees an icepick on top of the little fridge she had on the side of the room. Nobody can be sure how the events unfolded, but it ended with her body having 3-5 stabs from the icepick, her office space bloody, and her handbag missing. Later on, other employees reported to have seen their co-worker (the murderer) walking out of the movie house, blood smeared everywhere, holding the lady handbag of their boss. They all knew her handbag well. She was the outgoing, friendly type of boss, often making rounds during working hours. However, none of these witnesses confessed to the police when they were asked after the murder. Nobody wanted to take the stand against their fellow Filipino. Racism was at its worst--rumor was they wanted to get as much money as they can from the Chinese family of the town. Justice was not served. When the final day of trial came, the man shot himself.
All five children had to be sent to Manila to continue their studies. Jerilyn and her two older brothers stayed in the big house of their grandfather. It was what they called the "clan house" where all of their aunts and uncles lived. Jerilyn stayed in a little yellow house behind the main house of the small compound. The family business factory was also there. They produce staple wires for cardboard boxes and other things likewise. She had to take care of herself for the first time. She washed her own clothes (as well her brothers' because she was the only girl) and worked her way through college. She didn't have any guidance when she was going to chose her college program. So she went with her passion and took up AB Music Education Major in Voice. It was (and still is) a pretty controversial and "useless" program, but it apparently was a blessing in disguise. After years of struggling and coping with her sudden loss, she graduated with the help of God (she is a religious Protestant Christian) and a handful of best friends. She went to church and put her degree in action, becoming the conductress of the church choir. There, she met the man she eventually married. They then went to seminary together, and received their diplomas with a baby already in her tummy.
Years later, Jerilyn Ang is still happily married to the same man. They now have three children, and are all serving in Makati Gospel Church. She is still best friends with those she had met in college (their kids are also great friends!) and has never felt more blessed. However, after more than a decade of cancer treatments, her father had also passed away. Not as sudden, but shocking and depressing nevertheless. He requested to be placed in the same area as his wife. They are both cremated, their ashes now together in Elysium beside St. Luke's, Rodgriguez.
To this day, justice was not served.
Jerilyn Ang had a good childhood in Olongapo with her family. She has two older brothers, two younger sisters, and rags-to-riches parents who loved her very much. Her mother loves to cook, play the piano, and travel. Her mother came the principal of the school she and her siblings were studying in. It was a small Chinese school in the homey province. Her dad started out as a janitor, but by the time his wife became principal, he had already worked his way into a stable job as manager of three movie houses in the area. After being with the school for a few years, she left the job and helped her husband with the cinemas. She handles one while her husband handles the other two. One innocent day, she was at her office doing paper works. The town was peaceful and things in the movie house was running smoothly.
Her door slammed open and an employee of hers stood there, eyes bloodshot from the large amounts of alcohol he had consumed (this information was later given by his co-workers who was with him before the whole incident happened). He immediately stated the increase he wants for his salary. Alarmed but still in a clear state of mind, she carefully explained how that money has been tight and they would not be able to increase their salary for now. He sees an icepick on top of the little fridge she had on the side of the room. Nobody can be sure how the events unfolded, but it ended with her body having 3-5 stabs from the icepick, her office space bloody, and her handbag missing. Later on, other employees reported to have seen their co-worker (the murderer) walking out of the movie house, blood smeared everywhere, holding the lady handbag of their boss. They all knew her handbag well. She was the outgoing, friendly type of boss, often making rounds during working hours. However, none of these witnesses confessed to the police when they were asked after the murder. Nobody wanted to take the stand against their fellow Filipino. Racism was at its worst--rumor was they wanted to get as much money as they can from the Chinese family of the town. Justice was not served. When the final day of trial came, the man shot himself.
All five children had to be sent to Manila to continue their studies. Jerilyn and her two older brothers stayed in the big house of their grandfather. It was what they called the "clan house" where all of their aunts and uncles lived. Jerilyn stayed in a little yellow house behind the main house of the small compound. The family business factory was also there. They produce staple wires for cardboard boxes and other things likewise. She had to take care of herself for the first time. She washed her own clothes (as well her brothers' because she was the only girl) and worked her way through college. She didn't have any guidance when she was going to chose her college program. So she went with her passion and took up AB Music Education Major in Voice. It was (and still is) a pretty controversial and "useless" program, but it apparently was a blessing in disguise. After years of struggling and coping with her sudden loss, she graduated with the help of God (she is a religious Protestant Christian) and a handful of best friends. She went to church and put her degree in action, becoming the conductress of the church choir. There, she met the man she eventually married. They then went to seminary together, and received their diplomas with a baby already in her tummy.
Years later, Jerilyn Ang is still happily married to the same man. They now have three children, and are all serving in Makati Gospel Church. She is still best friends with those she had met in college (their kids are also great friends!) and has never felt more blessed. However, after more than a decade of cancer treatments, her father had also passed away. Not as sudden, but shocking and depressing nevertheless. He requested to be placed in the same area as his wife. They are both cremated, their ashes now together in Elysium beside St. Luke's, Rodgriguez.