Last week I received a txt from someone I met in a hawker's center. I came to know him while ordering a set meal of a quarter fried chicken, coleslaw, and french fries together with the soup of the day. First time I saw him he was in full smile and I don't know if he recognized me as kabayan or he's just being friendly. I sensed that he is kabayan but I am not sure so I asked him if he's one in a guarded tone. He jolted upon hearing the word and sabi na lang kuya??! ako naman ang nagulat kasi though he look young at 25 and because of his height di pa naman ako katandaan. While I was seated just in front of him and waiting for the food, he keeps talking to me in a loud voice. Since I assume that no one understand us, I do the same thing. On our not so convenient conversation, I learned from him that he is new here just over two months. That he is being discriminated by his co workers as he is earning higher than them. That he is having difficulty in his job and staying in his uncle's place far away from his work place. That he paid equivalent to two months pay for him to get his job here. That the job offer he got in pinas was an assistant cook in a restaurant, contrary to his present post which is server and cashier in a small foodstall in a hawkers center.
He sms me to let me know that he just lost his job, just on his third month because the stall he was manning closed shop. His employer already canceled his work permit and channeled his last month pay to his local recruitment agency. The agency deducted some outstanding amount which he was not aware of and ended up getting only a few hundreds. Now he is busy looking for job and he must find one within 30 days. If not he has to go back to pinas. Given the current situation here, it would be very difficult now to find a job. But he has to find job here since the amount he paid in the agency in pinas was a loan and is not been paid yet.
In my current job, for now things seems to be alright. Tomorrow the contractor will start building our site office and has given a month to complete and make it operational. Once completed only then they can proceed with the work. The contractor has given two years to complete the job, it could be longer than that since my previous project site got a year extension. As my current job assignment is a government priority project, maybe I should not worry.
Well just maybe, for now.
Slumdog Monday
I was out on a rainy monday. I supposed to do the errand the day before, but because it would be too frustrating doing it on that day, I waited for the next day. The reason was to send money back home in Lucky Plaza, where else. Lucky Plaza on a sunday is like Megamall having their midnight madness sale, and sending money there on that day is well, like you are going to watch a blockbuster movie. Who would want to be falling in line three times in a day on a situation like that? Yes I did send money separately in three different counters that day.
The first stop was at this remittance center for my niece who asked me for her school fees. First time she asked me so I was obliged. I send the money thru this firm because it would be convenient for her to pick up the money in M. Lhullier any branch in pinas and also she will be needing just one ID card to show to claim the money if the money came from this firm as compared to two from other remittance centers including the next one.
Here in the next outlet was where I sent money for my credit cards bill payment. I have two cards. They charge half the price from the first one. So since I have two transactions, it would mean two charges.
The third one was here. Two transactions here also, one goes to my account for my monthly savings and the other one to my nanay account for her daily stipend.
Being Monday and mid afternoon I thought there will be me or just a few kabayans would be doing transactions. I was surprised since I still have to fall in line, but it was manageable as I was able to complete the task in over half an hour.
After that I decided to watch movie at Lido Shaw. Yes finally I was able to watched Slumdog Millionaire after the third try. I got a ticket for the 4:15pm showing. I still have 20 minutes to kill so I treat myself for mocha frappucino. And while at it, I busied myself gawking down the atrium of the mall, the elevator reminds me of the shang mall, the guy with the macbook was having an argument with the lady companion while tinkering the gadget. My drink is not allowed inside the movie house though it was purchased within the theatre lobby so I have to consumed it before the usher will let me in.
I agree with the comment by an Indian that Slumdog is a white man’s imagined India’ and ‘a poverty tour’. I must admit though that the movie is well made. Watching that movie give me some relief about my pinas. I thought there is no place can beat Smokey Mountain and Parola.
So before heading home, I decided to have dinner first time in one of the restos in Lucky Plaza. First I went to try Jologs Cafe, I heard a lot about their silogs but I want to try other food. Alas, they were closed on Mondays second time happened to me, remember the Mack's Inasal?
So I opted for another resto GP and aimed to have sinigang whatever is available though I drool for tuna panga. I seated myself. Five minutes still nobody wants to take my order. Three lady servers were just standing at the corner near the cash register. I assumed they saw me the moment I stepped in. Few minutes more they still pretended they did not notice me. What's wrong with me why nobody came to serve me, despite of a few people came in and they just standing there. Damn suddenly it hit me, I am slumdog to these foodservers. Disgusted I stood up and cursed silently the place and swear never to sit foot come what may. I ended up at Tang's Market and settled for japanese Tori Q.
Sometimes you can not blame me to have a word or two of these kabayans who look down of fellows and assumes you don't deserve to be served. Do I have to win millions? Is it written?
I've got mail, hilarious one!
Before iPhone, I go nuts sometimes checking my mails on yahoo because of spam mails. Most of them landed on my inbox and takes my time deleting. Friends who have friends who also have friends that either afraid to die, or so desperate for luck, or just being naive, or too religious. Just imagine a friend of you threatening that something will happen to you much worse to your love one if you will not also forward the letter to your own group of friends. But there are some that I most welcome especially if I receive it at an opportune time. Below is one of them. I received this this morning in my yahoo mailbox. I enjoyed watching Diego reciting these rhymes in Bubble Gang tv show. These are not to be read, you have to sing them, and you don't have to be baklush right?
BUBUKA ANG BULAKLAK
Bubukesh ang floweret
jojosok ang reynabelz
shochurva ng chacha
pa jembot jembot fah
boom tiyayavush
tiyayavush chenes
boom tiyayavush
tiyayavush chenes
PEN PEN DE SARAHPEN
Pen pen de chorvaloo
de kemerloo de eklavoo
hao hao de chenelyn
de ba yutech
si friti dapat iipit
goldness-filak
chumochorva
sa tabi ng chenes
shoyang fula
talong na fula
shoyang fute
talong na mapute
chuk chak chenes
namo uz ek
TAGU-TAGUAN
Shogu-shoguan
ning ning galore ng buwan
pag-counting ng krompu
naka shogu na kayey
jisa
krolawa
shotlo
kyopat
jima
kyonim
nyitoert
walochi
syamert
krompu
mga beki
andetrax na si atashi
AKO AY MAY ALAGA
aketch may nyologa
solang majuba
juntot ay majoba
majinis ang nyukha
halgay niya aketch
halgay ko rin siyasi
kaya mekey mudwa
laging magkajoma
SAMPUNG MGA DALIRI
jompung mga joliri
jomay at tiil
joluwang jenga
joluwang tameyk
jilong na magandich
majijiit ng ngipin
majurap ilafez
jilang majiit nagjojobing
wag kang magjijinungalin
INDIAN PANA
indian shona
shoshona-shona
shotlong jitlog
jojolog jolog
indian jona
jojona-jona
shotlong jitlog
jojolog jolog
BAHAY KUBO
valer kuberch
kahit jutay
ang julamantrax dochi
ay anek anek
nyongkamas at nyutring
nyogarilyas at kipey
nyitaw, nyotaw jutani
kundol, jutola
jupo't jolabastrax
at mega join join pa
jubanox, nyustasa
nyobuyas, nyomatis
nyowang at luyax
at around the keme ay
fulness ng linga
AKO AY MAY LOBO
akez ay may lobing
nag flysung sa heaven
wiz ko na na sighting
nyomutok na palerz
shoyang lang ang adeks
pang buysung ng lobing
nyuti pa pang lafez
nyomusog pa akez
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