Category: Manila
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As Dirty As A Charcoaled Rug
Everyone in the compound seemed awakened by the loud voice from the entrance. Even a nocturnal guy like me, who spends the wee hours of the morning watching tacky movies like Bruno and Borat, was moved out of bed by a man’s jovial yet familiar voice. I was not mistaken. It was Kuyang Rey, the…
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Between the Giant and Rationality
In Manila, it is not uncommon to see mothers spending countless hours playing bingo, “tong-its” (local version of poker), or “mahjong” (an addictive Chinese tile game) while neglecting household chores. Mothers are often oblivious to their children crying and unaware that they are burning the hard-earned money their husbands had brought home from scavenging or…
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Bicycling in the 70s (with Ray Anthony Nario)
The year was 1977, and Ferdinand Marcos was still the Philippine president. A few months back, Jimmy Carter was sworn in as the 39th President of the U.S., and I had just completed my freshman year in college. It was our summer vacation and so, earlier that week, Ray and I decided that we would…
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In The Streets of Manila – 2005 Reprise
I knew it would be hot and humid, but I went with my wife to visit Manila by the end of March. After all, it had been almost three years since I last sauntered upon its streets — to see again the places that had been mute witnesses to my frivolities in the early years…
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Tata Fidel
He used to come often to our store/house in Baclaran (a ‘barangay‘ in the, then, town -now, city- of Paranaque, which is a mere 2.5 miles south of Manila) to visit his younger brother (my father) as well as to acquaint us with his latest interest — which was quite diverse. Those years were in…