I went to bed last night feeling excited about today. I am going to Divisoria to buy school supplies for the kids in Tondo. I was also excited about seeing 25 babies under the care of the Missionaries of Charity.
This morning I woke up inspired, I couldn’t wait to see Sister Perla and the kids. Oyen reminded me to look poor since I am going to Divisoria. So no LV today, no wristwatch and earrings. I decided to bring my Fendi backback para iwas dukot. And no wallet para walang ma-dukot. My Fendi smells luma because it’s really luma. I bought this from Rustan’s some 12- 15 years ago for P14,000. Ngayon ko lang naisip na parang ang mahal yata ng bili ko.
I wore this very old polo shirt of mine, siguro 10 years old na ito, I bought here for P750.
While I was having breakfast, our cook Cherry asked for my permission to go to Arranque Market to get her wristwatch.
Me—– Ang layo naman, bakit doon pa
Cherry- Eh Mam doon kasi yun talagang nagre repair ng relo.
Me—– anong klase ba yung relo mo?
Cherry- ROLEX.
(wow)
She also rode with me.
Me—– Cherry mukha kang balikbayan baka mahablot ang bag mo.
Cherry- Mam, marunong akong mag ayudo. (Judo).
(wow again)
I went to the office first in the morning then left for Divisoria at 1:40 pm.
Cruising along Roxas Blvd feels like I am in a field trip
Mga kababayan, sumaludo kayo
Manila Hotel, where my Kuya Junior had his oath-taking when he passed the Medical board exam and became Dr. Tan.
Jones Bridge. I hope no one erases a part of Manila’s history by changing its name. Baka next time maging Isko Moreno bridge na ito.
Pasig River still looks dirty. The water is choco loco brown.
Binondo Church
I learned that most of this tricycle drivers actually live in their tricycles. They park at night inside the nearby elementary school grounds.
There’s a new shopping mall called Lucky Chinatown, owned by Megaworld.
The old structure is a contrast to the beautiful buildings of Megaworld across the street. I won’t be surprised if soon this would be replaced by SM naman.
I told the driver to bring me to 168 Shopping Mall in Binondo but I was kind of unsure whether I would find a school supplies store inside 168 because I know it’s more of a fashion mecca. For sure, I can find school supplies vendors sa kalye at bangketa but I don’t want to go that far, mahirap magpark doon.
I saw Atoy Co walking by himself, mukhang galing sa 168.
Daming nagpapa-picture
I got off the car at the entrance of 168 but I didn’t know where to go, bahala na, magtanong na lang ako.
As soon as I entered 168, I asked a Chinese guy manning the first store I saw where I could buy school supplies, he replied “melon ako school supplies”. How can I be so lucky? On the other side of his store were notebooks, pens, crayons, bags, etc. I bought 500 notebooks, 200 ballpens, 100 writing pads, etc.
There were so many buyers. Siguro kasi pasukan. If I am not mistaken, the owners of this store are from mainland China. They speak some Tagalog but I could tell from their accent that they’re not local Chinese.
I haven’t had lunch so while they’re packing the school supplies, I ate two pieces of bicho-bicho (P13 each)
Eto pala mga tsinelas, si Edmund gustong bumili ng bagong tsinelas.
Me——– magkano?
Tindero— P160
Me——– Ha
Tindero— P150 na lang, Three stars na yan.
(kleng kleng kleng, pag sinabing 3 stars, 4 stars, 5 stars, or 7 stars, basta may STAR ibig sabihin peke ito!)
