Having had enough of the upscale city life, I checked out. I moved in with Rhea in a crowded squatter community where I was the only non-local within a very large radius. Outside, the busy streets of Pasay City are filled with criminals, drug dealers and prostitutes.
We must stoop to enter the small wooden hovel they called home, and once inside there’s only room for one person to walk at a time. Rhea introduced her close fren and roommate Mimi who works as a GRO under her. I call her Ate (elder sister, pronounced ah-teh). They live in a one-room shack which was only big enough for the single bed they had. Hence, clothes were hung on wires across the tiny room or folded in a corner. The two shared the bed, and for the next few nights there’ll be three. The toilet has no flush nor shower; just a tap and pail.
The room is rented from the landlord (I call him Kuya, elder brother) who puts up in the next room. We went over to watch TV and Rhea introduced me to him. The TV was barely the size of a gift box, but my eyes were fixed on the gun he had on his mattress. It was the first time I held a loaded pistol. Street fights and gunshots were common. You had to be careful.
I felt nostalgic; about both being a thug back then and living in a shanty house. There were only two differences; our shack was made of brick-stone while theirs is made of thin plywood, we used our fists but they have guns. Tried syabu with Kuya, without Rhea’s knowledge. Almost all the taxi drivers there take syabu.
The last night before my flight, Rhea, Ate Mimi and I barhopped and watched live bands in one of the more popular joints, Cowboy Grille. We took photos and videos, but they don’t have a computer – all for memories’ sake. We went to a karaoke bar where we were the only patrons. Ate is a really good singer; she pulled off Halo by Beyonce so well that I was awe struck. It’s in her blood, she’s Pinoy after all. We sang, we danced and we drank till 7am.
Rhea and Ate cooked some food for me while I lay in bed to get some rest before my flight. We had breakfast together. After eating, the three of us squeezed into the bed as usual and fell asleep. 10am – Rhea woke me up. I got ready to leave. Goodbye Manila.
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