The lunch reception was held at the Syudad, Barrio Fiesta, inside the Gaisano Mall.
We were early, thirsty and hungry because I didn’t eat breakfast. Baka kasi ma-late kami.
I went around the mall’s small ground floor while waiting for the reception to start. A school mate saw me. She was surprised to see me there. Kumustahan. She’s retired and spends a lot of time taking care of her grandchildren. She told me she goes to the Thunderbird Casino almost every day for fun and relaxation. I asked her if she puts a limit to the amount of money she brings every time. “A oo naman, minsan isang libo, dalawang libo.” Hmmm, if she loses a thousand a day that’s 30,000 bucks. Oh well, it’s her money, not mine. She proudly mentioned the names of her companions, a government official, and his wife, and the secretary of another government official, whom she said receives lots of commissions. “Si _____? Hindi mo kilala? Ano sya, assistant ni (name of a government official).
A—–“Araw-araw nasa casino sya? Marami syang pera.”
Friend—-“Ah oo, maraming commission yun sa projects… nila…..”
A—–“Daang libo sya tumaya?”
Friend—-“Anim na raan, isang libo, isang taya.”
Wow, that adds up. In one month her losses could run into hundreds of thousands or even a million. Madali silang kumita ng pera, bumabagsak lang sa kanilang harapan kaya madali lang nilang itapon. Hindi nila pinanghihinayangan. Tayo, tayong mga nagtatrabaho, medyo preno tayo pagsugal dahil mahirap maubos ang pinaghirapan. Talking about casinos, shock ako kasi I found out last week that a male acquaintance of ours has lost some 50M in the casino. Ang yaman naman kasi nito kaya bale wala sa kanya magtapon ng 50M. Pinapayaman nya masyado ang Okada.
I went back to the restaurant kasi I was so hungry already. I was glad the food was served even if they were still waiting for the other members of the family.
Barrio Fiesta’s famous kare-kare.
I ate lots of crispy pata skin. I also brought home for our dogs bones from the crispy pata.
After the reception, on our way out, we saw about 40 young girls, mukhang mga elementary pa lang, mga naka-make-up, walking like models, acting and projecting like artistas. Actually hindi sila bihis artista, parang aakalain mo mag-a-apply sa beerhouse. I think there was a summer workshop for artista wannabe’s. There was a little girl, so tiny, must be 3 years old, fully made-up, her t-shirt pulled up to show her belly and some buttocks, walking and gyrating like a putatsing. Feel na feel nya, complete with pouting lips. Para syang mini prostitute. Kayong mga nanay, yung pantasya nyo huwag nyong itulak sa mga anak nyo. You are training your daughters to act like bar girls. Children are cute. There is beauty in youth. Kids have flawless skin and pink lips. No need to splatter their faces with artificial coloring. They look innocent and pretty the way they are. Putting red lipstick, thick eyebrows, mascaras, and all those colorings did not make them any prettier. Nagmukha sila lahat na mumurahin. Plus to top it all, they were made to walk, criss-cross their legs, pout their lips, and gyrate as if they were aspiring to become bellas.
