I could spit on a stranger.

I picked up two five hundred bills from my super safe brief and boxer storage cabinet (where I also keep my one year supply of condom, still unused. I bought it back when I was 16. Haay.) and stored one in a small compartment of my handy orange bag, and then another inside my briefs (mwahahaha. try to get my moolah bitch). I loaded my iPod with Weezer, Beyonce, The Appleseed Cast, Radiohead, and Feist. Unplugged the battery charger from the wall, took the batteries from it and then inserted it to the camera. Positive here, negative there.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and talked to it inside my head, “Yiheee… Gwapo.” I grabbed my house keys, a box of matches, my camera, and my wallet. I stuffed them all inside my then-empty bag. I programmed my iPod into shuffle, and then pressed play. Weezer’s Perfect Situation erupted through my earphones: “What’s the deal, with my brain? Why am I so obviously insane?” Hooray to you, Rivers Cuomo! I am obviously insane for dating myself.

I smelled the fresh afternoon scent and went on my way to have a date with myself.

Today, (as I’ve mentioned in my last post) I decided to date myself. To go out with myself, and just to what I want to do. This is me being whimsical and at the same time, being bored out of my ass. It was a day for Quiapo and being alone.

From here to there.

I took a trike from our village, then a jeep to Alabang, and then finally a bus to Quirino. Dear iPod was playing Beyonce all the time which made a shimmy and whatever. Surprisingly, the sun was up and about today. I was actually worried because of the heavy rain that was pouring last night. Thank god for making this day sunny. The downside is, the fear of jabar forming increased tremendously.

The bus ride from Alabang to Quirino Avenue was uneventful, but The Appleseed Cast did make it awesome. Post-rock never ceased to amaze me. The subtle lyrics (which some songs doesn’t even have), intricate guitars and drums were rushing through my head and exploding excessively. I’m telling you, it’s amazing.

As the bus was soaring high through Skyway, I saw the squatter’s area. I thought they demolished these? But alas, the tattered houses with tires and trash bags on their roofs was definitely an unpleasant sight. Poverty, it sure does suck. If only our country had a fairygod mother who would instantly turn our country into a happy place, where everyone has iPods and iPhones, MacBooks and HDTVs. But instead of a fairy godmother, we get a scheming, conniving, grumpy ‘ole dwarves sitting comfortably in their wooden chairs. The dwarves have iPods and MacBooks. The people down below, have nothing.

On the flipside, the sight of Makati’s skyscrapers and buildings show how we’re gradually improving through the ever-so-helpful Youth of the Call Center. But alas, the Youth of the Call Center are turning into konyotic freaks, armed with the latest cellphone model and designer jeans. The Youth of the Call Center sacrificed their studies to have a better life, and some to have better clothes.

I knocked on the bus’ ceiling to signal that I’m going get the fuck out of the bus. I lighted a cigarette and looked up towards the sky. Because, when you’re bored, looking up the sky really do wonders. I looked stupid whilst taking the photo above, though. But whatever. Such a puffy, cotton candy-ish sky. A man walking by looked at my camera lustfully which instantly triggered me to hide it quickly and finish my cig.

It’s 12 pesos from the Quirino LRT station to the Carriedo station. This time, it was Ben Gibbard’s voice which cradled my emotional loneliness while gripping the metal poles of the LRT.

This place is a prison. These people aren’t your friends.

Ben was so true. I looked around the LRT only to see a fistful of couples holding hands or being cheesy. I choked at the sight of these longkas and koyas spending a nice afternoon inside the air-conditioned (but stuffy) LRT cart. But alas, I shouldn’t blame the entire universe for my lack of passion and lust in my life. I know, I know that a couple of posts ago… Forget about it.

This is me prepping myself for another heartbreak.

I hate the LRT for not having that nice woman’s voice that tells you what station you’re arriving to next. At least in LRT 2, there’s a nice pre-recorded lady that tells you that you’re now gearing towards Araneta-Cubao Station. That woman’s voice was really a comfort to hear. Here in the LRT, there’s no one around to tell you that you’re now approaching Carriedo. Much like in the real world, you’re on your own. You have to keep your eyes open to see whether this station is U.N. or Central. Whatevs.

Sometimes, I wish that I step out of the LRT a station earlier. Then the train would suddenly explode in the next station. I’d think to myself that I am now living a second life and that I should lose weight, or be more confident, or buy original DVDs from now on. Or whatever. I’m so random.

Say hello to Quiapo.

Up ahead is the Quiapo church. When you turn right to one of the alleys which has a Greenwich store, that’s Hidalgo. At the other side from this picture, that’s Good Earth Plaza. Go further Quiapo church, and it’s Quiapo-Quiapo. This is as far as my pictures could go. I don’t want to offend my Muslim friends thinking that I’m a spy from the OMB (Optical Media Board).

When I get lonely, there’s always a place like Quiapo to make you happy.

The Cinematheque. The Pirate’s Lair. Home to snatchers and holdapers. MILF-Manila Extension. Call it whatever you want. For me, Quiapo is a happy place. It’s brimming with life and colors and I just love everything about it. Quiapo, Je’taime!

First up is Quiapo-Quiapo. I don’t really know what that place’s name is. I just call it Quiapo-Quiapo because for me, it’s the heart of Quiapo. DBD stalls everywhere. But it wasn’t like this before, Quiapo-Quiapo withstood the test of time. I remembered back when I was 11, we owned a jeep that made rounds from Punta, Sta. Ana to Quiapo (Punta-Quiapo line). On weekends, he’d drive the jeep and I’d be the boy who gives out the change from the passengers. Whatever we earned from the entire Saturday afternoon-evening, he’d give half to me as my spending Quiapo money. Back then it was only pirated cassette tapes. We have money, but my parents did teach me to spend it wisely. So back then, I’d test an album by buying it as a pirated cassette tape. If I liked it, I’d buy the orig. If not, then pirated forevar. Quiapo molded my music taste, in some way. I first bought a Nirvana tape from there. Then eventually, it was the Beatles, and Bread and Bon Jovi. Haha! Wow! ALL B’s!

From cassette tapes, it started to improve with pirated CDs. My dad went flying abroad and my Quiapo hoarding was put to a halt. It’s only three years ago when I started coming back here. And I can’t fucking stop.

Anyway, I was at a tight budget. I only bought a thousand pesos for the entire day and I have to spend it wisely. But I’m telling you, I got a good Quiapo haul from Quiapo-Quiapo. After two-hours or so of non-stop walking (It usually takes me two-three hours to finally nail my Quiapo haul), I went to Good Earth Plaza–where the earth is good and HMVs are fantastic.

I only bought four HMVs from Good Earth. Business was a bit slow for them, and some stalls had the same titles since I was last there. Anyway, it was amazing because there’s a new kind of DBD! Yes! There’s a new generation of HMVs! It costs about 10 pesos more, but you’ll get COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES, A mini poster of the film and a cool zip-lock packaging. From now on, I’ll buy these instead of HMVs. Mwahahaha.

Oh yeah, here’s the entire Quiapo haul list. TOTAL MONEY SPENT: 500.00 pesos.

Knocked Up (yet again, it’s the new kind of HMV! I had to get all the special features!), Jackie Brown (hells yeah!), Magnolia, The Royal Tenenbaums, A shitload of Louis Malle: Au Revoir, Les Enfants; Murmur of the Heart; Elevator to the Gallows. The Doom Generation, Pixar Short Films Collection, The Office: Season 3, 30 Rock: Season 1, La Vie en Rose, Little Children, Aladdin: Special Edition, The TV Set, Hairpray (Musical), and Running with Scissors.

Told you it was a good haul. That’s a total of 17 DBDs for 500 pesos. NOT BAD. Not bad at all.

Towards John Lloyd and Bea.

At around 5:00pm, I decided that I should get going. I left a couple of DBDs behind since I’m running on a tight budget. I rode the LRT from Carriedo to Pedro Gil, then a bus to Alabang. I decided to just watch One More Chance at Festival so that I’d be closer to home.

Festival Mall was packed. They strategically held a three-day sale because SM Mutinlupa is opening this weekend. So instead of people flocking to the new mall, they went to the old mall because there’s a sale.

I stood in front of the ticket booth for 15 minutes. Contemplating whether I’d watch Beowulf or One More Chance. It’s a fight between a muscular legend with Angelina Jolie’s animated breasts OR John Lloyd and Bea in a tearjerker. Angelina’s breasts or a scrummy sex scene of John Lloyd and Bea. Animated breasts or tears? Alas, the boy-pussy that I am chose to buy a ticket for John Lloyd and Bea. Total money left: 250php.

It’s only 6:10pm (no traffic at all!) so I decided to eat. Because I’m cheap (and I wanted to drink beer tonight), I ate at the Food Chain. The chain had double-dead meat galore for 55 pesos! Ordered a sizzling plate of two-piece Pork Chop with lechon salsa sauce. Sounds good, but it doesn’t taste THAT good.

At 6:40, I was inside the packed cinema. My god, John Lloyd and Bea sure knows how to draw a crowd. A review of the film would be posted later on. However, I’ll comment on the effect of the film right here. What can I say, maybe it was the Mineral album that’s in my iPod (along with a couple of tracks from Owen and American Football) that made me totally emotional today. I had no chance to fight back the tears whilst watching the movie. Suffice it to say, sobrang dalang-dala ako kay John Lloyd. And as for Bea: “Fuck you! John Lloyd does not deserve you! You heartless cunt!“

After the movie ended at around 8:30pm, my liver was totally screaming for alcohol. I still had around 200 bucks. 6 bottles of beer is equal to 150pesos. Which is amazing. I downed the beer one by one, so that no one would notice me. A boy drinking alone, how pathetic.

I went back home a bit tipsy.

Somehow, it was an awesome day. I had a date with myself in order to feel good, and you know what? I did feel good because of today. I’d sure love to date myself again. ‘Cuz you know, sometimes the only friend you’ve got is yourself. YEEEAAAAHBA!

Here’s the total expenditure tally for the day:

500.00 – DBDs
150.00 – Bucket of beer
30.00 – 1 pack of Marlboro
120.00 – Movie Ticket
140.00 – Transportation
60.00 – Food
1,000 pesos