Knowing that I was related to Rio made me protective of her.

Kahit nasa location shooting ako, I kept tabs on what was going on with the show.

I asked my assistant, Marie, to give me feedback sa nangyayari.

Siya ang nanonood ng live telecast kapag nagti-taping ako.

Kahit curious siya kung bakit ganoon na lang ako kainteresado kay Rio, she wouldn't ask me why.

May takot pa din siya sa akin at mabuti na ang ganoon.

I may share things with her pero pagdating kay Rio, I have to be careful.

I called Tito Kin after the premiere.

Sinabi ko sa kanya ang discovery ko.

Hindi siya makapaniwala na pamangkin niya si Rio.

"Sure ka, Ellis?" Pabulong na tanong niya.

"Yes, Tito. I saw a picture dati. Hindi ako puwedeng magkamali. Besides, hindi mo napansin ang similarity niya kay Tita Glenda?"

"Now that you mentioned it, may hawig nga sila."

"We have to tell Rio."

"Huwag tayong magpadalos-dalos. Kailangang pag-isipan muna natin ang lahat."

"What else is there to think about? Tita has been waiting for this. This could be the key to helping her get better." Katwiran ko.

"Alam ko, Ellis, pero hindi puwedeng basta-basta mo na lang kausapin si Rio at sabihin na hello? You are an Almeda."

"What are we going to do then?"

"First you have to win her trust. Oo nga at excited tayo pero does she feel the same way?"

"What do you mean?"

"Glenda left them. Abandoned is more like it. I won't be surprised kung galit sa kanya si Rio. Isa pa, hindi puwedeng lumabas na isa siyang Almeda. It would be scandalous not only for me but also for the show. Alam mo naman ang media. They would present what they want the people to believe kahit pagbali-baliktarin nila ang katotohanan. I won't be surprised kung may magbibintang sa akin na alam ko ang tungkol sa identity ni Rio."

Napaisip ako sa sinabi ni Tito Kin.

"So, anong plano?"

"Since tayo lang naman ang nakakaalam, why don't we wait till the show is over?"

"What?" Gulat na tanong ko. "That's more than two months away."

"It will go by fast." Mahinahon ang tono ni Tito.

"For now, tahimik ka lang muna. Isa pa, we have to plan what we have to do with this information."

"Plan what?"

"What if mali ka? What if hindi siya ang anak ni Glenda? What then?"

"Tito, I'm pretty sure na si Rio ang anak ni Tita."

"Just because of the similarity sa itsura?"

"They have the same last name."

"That doesn't prove anything."

"Ilang Riordan Ybañez ang kilala mo with the same birthday as Tita's daughter?"

Hindi siya nakasagot.

Maaaring hindi niya alam ang kaarawan ng anak ni Tita.

But I know because Tita Glenda told me about it dati.

"I did my research, Tito. What I found out has no loopholes. Isa pa, I won't make this declaration kung hindi ako sigurado. Tita's healing depends on this. I cannot afford to be careless."

I heard him let out a sharp exhale.

"Basta, Ellis. Be careful. Kilalanin mo muna si Rio and wait for me to give you the go-ahead."

My excitement died in an instant.

According to my assistant, Rio was standing strong sa show.

During the third week, Iris ang kinanta niya.

May surprise din siya sa mga audience and judges.

She didn't bring her guitar.

For the third week, she played the piano and rearranged the song kaya imbes na rock, mellow and soulful ang kanta.

Ayon kay Marie, soulful ang rendition ni Rio ng kanta.

Parang galing daw sa kaibuturan ng puso nito ang emosyon.

Damang-dama nga daw niya ang lungkot.

I'm not sure if she was exaggerating pero muntik na daw siyang maiyak.

"Grabe, Ellis. Habang tumatagal, lalo siyang nagiging confident. Lalo na ding dumadami ang mga fans niya."

I rewatched the episode on my way home that night.

She was still outfitted in the usual white cotton top and jacket.

Pero unlike her audition na malaki ang denim jacket na suot niya, this time, she wore what I bought for her.

I had Marie get Rio's size from the wardrobe department.

Hinabilin ko sa kanya na bumili ng good quality jacket.

When I saw the receipt, it was too late to return it.

Hindi lang high quality ang damit, branded pa.

I was worried na baka kapag nalaman ni Rio ang presyo, ibalik niya ang damit.

Kaya naman when I saw her wearing it, I felt proud.

Since finding out na siya ang pinsan ko, may maternal instinct kicked in.

Oo nga at talented si Rio at may itsura din naman siya.

Pero ang suot niya during the audition was threadbare.

Ang laki ng butas sa tuhod ng pantalon at kupas na kupas na ang maong.

It didn't look stylish.

On the contrary, she was wearing her poverty.

Pero habang tumatagal, she was gettingmore confident.

But unlike other contestants na kita sa pagdadala sa sarili ang pride,  it was Rio's unassuming attitude that I find endearing.

Hindi ko alam kung aware siya kung gaano siya kagaling.

I'm not even sure kung alam niya ang tinatawag na stage presence.

Ang lakas ng dating niya and she connects with the audience

Aside from that, I see the joy in her face kapag kumakanta siya.

Laging puno ng mga tao ang studio pero parang siya lang ang nasa stage.

It was just her and the music.

I zoomed in on the screen and saw something.

And I don't want the world to see me

Cause I don't think that they'd understand

Was it my imagination or did I really see tears on the corner of her eyes?

It was quick at hindi ko alam kung anong pagpipigil ang ginawa niya but she didn't falter.

Her voice didn't break.

Natapos niya ang kanta na hindi pumipiyok.

Kinabahan ako ng konti.

Kung pumiyok siya, it would be the end of her stint.

Mortal sin ito sa The Chosen.

I couldn't get the image out of my head.

Why was she teary eyed?

Hindi ko kilala ang pinsan ko.

Wala akong alam sa buhay niya.

Aside from the bits and pieces na naikuwento ni Tita, hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa kanilang magkapatid ng mawala si Tita Glenda.

Bago ko pinagtapat kay Tito ang tungkol kay Rio, ang balak ko was to tell her about Tita Glenda.

Balak ko siyang dalhin sa ospital para magkita silang dalawa.

After that, wala na akong plano.

Tama nga siguro si Tito Kin sa desisyon niya not to tell Rio the truth about her family until after the show is over.

Hindi na din naman problema si Lolo dahil he passed away a year ago.

Kaso nga lang, he remarried two years before his death.

Ang babae was fifty years his junior who had two teenaged daughters from a previous marriage.

Hindi namin siya feel ni Tito dahil she had gold digger written all over her.

Ang masama, before he died, sa babae niya pinamana ang halos lahat ng properties niya.

He didn't fulfill his threat of not giving me my inheritance dahil sa akin niya iniwan ang corner house sa compound namin.

Tito Kin was so angry ng malaman niya na nirevise ni Lolo ang will nito.

May iniwan din naman sa kanya ang ama but the majority of the property was given to his wife.

Kahit kontrabida sa buhay ni Tita Glenda, may iniwan siyang pera para dito.

The amount was more than enough para patuloy siyang maalagaan sa ospital.

Other than that, nasa bago niyang asawa ang bulk ng kayamanan nila.

I don't really talk to his new wife.

Hindi ko gusto ang vibe niya.

After Lolo passed away, wala na silang ginawa ng mga anak niya kundi ang magtravel.

The house was empty most of the time.

Dahil hindi din ako malimit umuwi, mga katulong ang malimit maiwan.

I think this woman will blow through her inheritance in no time.

On the other hand, okay lang din sa akin.

I don't really want to deal with her and her children.

But even with Lolo gone, hindi ko puwedeng dalhin si Rio at si Len sa bahay.

Nasa bahay ngayon ang asawa ni Lolo.

The last time na nagkasalubong kami, sinabi niya na magpapahinga daw muna sila.

Namiss daw nila ang Pilipinas.

Kapag dinala ko sa bahay ang magkapatid, it will only be a matter of seconds bago mabunyag ang sikreto.

Hindi maiiwasan sa mga katulong ang magdaldal.

Worse, baka ang bagong asawa ni Lolo ang magbunyag.

The dilemma of keeping things a secret weighed heavily on my mind.

Ang isa sa gusto sa akin ng mga fans ay ang pagiging honest.

Oo at minsan eh nasasangkot ako sa gulo dahil sa wala akong filter.

Pero hindi ako takot to say what's on my mind.

I always stand up for myself.

But what if being honest puts people's lives in danger?

What if being truthful does more harm than good?

The joy I felt when I finally found Rio was now replaced with fear.

I'm not used to doing this.

I don't like this feeling.