Sisa..

I was doing my thing in the bathroom when it came to me. What if Sisa had the opportunity to file divorce? What if she had a way of emancipating herself from her drunkard bastard-of-a-father husband?

Let us first start off with a quick recap of who Sisa was. Sisa is a character from Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. And if I remember my High School education correctly, she was married to a drunkard, and had two kids, Crispin and Basilio. Sisa was portrayed as your usual Filipino girl. Mahinhin, mabait, mapagmahal. She was soft spoken, kind and loving. Sisa loved her kids, but couldn’t afford to provide for them a good life, because of said bastard father. Her children served as sacristans to the local Church of the barrio and suffered ill fate. Crispin, whose whereabouts remained uknown, and Basilio who ran far away from home. As a response to the situation, Sisa turned psycho, and died at the end.

Sisa may be a fictional character, but Rizal portrayed her as the weak Filipina in relation to that generation’s context. But what if, Sisa were able to separate herself from her husband? Wouldn’t that change the story, maybe tweak it a little bit, and create a better outcome for her and her kids? The situation may be fictional, but it also depicts some of the common predicaments modern day women face. Let us try and retell the story of Rizal.

Sisa filed divorce against her husband. She showed proof of physical violence, such as bruises and scratches (which I’m pretty sure was mentioned in Noli). She provided the court with testimonies and other evidence that indeed her husband was a drunkard. Due to the child negligence and domestic violence, Sisa won the case.  What if she succeeded to sever her marital duties, if she was granted freedom from her husband’s oppression? What if her husband paid and shouldered a fine, then was put to prison? What if she was able to seize custody of both Crispin and Basilio. What if she were granted protection and property and was able to live a decent life. What if the Church and State of San Diego was less corrupt and more divided? What if that’s how it happened? It would make a really bad story on Rizal’s part, but wouldn’t it have made perfect sense?

That is what these forms of legislature stand and fight for. These laws stand for the betterment of lives and for upholding justice. They are drafted to provide each citizen the choices and a means to achieve a desired outcome. The capacity of these laws, bills such as divorcement and annulment, is to give modern day Sisa’s a fighting chance, and a second wind to get things right. Isn’t that worth debating for? Isn’t that what the recent talk is all about?

What if the government passed and discussed a standard and well thought-of protocol for times like these. We have the power to change and shape our lives, that is why we need something to guide us through.

So ask yourself, what if Sisa were able to file a divorce. What if.