Desperately seeking Ary

Ary is an Indonesian friend I met way way back in Kuala Lumpur. I haven't heard from him since then. This March I was kind of shocked when he messaged me through YM telling me he is in Cebu. What the hell this Indonesian is doing in Cebu? I was thinking he is on vacation. Sort of, he kept me guessing.

He wanted me to see him because he is desperate. By desperation I thought he was using a new-found word. Indonesians are like our Asian neighbors who have difficulty with the English language. You mean you are sad, I told him. No, I'm sad in a way, he insisted. I should see him.

When finally we had the chance of meeting, I see a different Ary for Ary has become a grown up man. Still has that boyish smile though and the pranks he used to do. He loves making faces.

His desperation? He could not find halal Indonesian food here in Cebu. I forgot Ary is a practicing Muslim and Indonesians love their food spicy and hot! And he is literally starving because of that lack. He cooks his own food according to him but could not find some ingredients here. His schedules also could not accommodate cooking his food every time. Being new to the place and with a language barrier like that, I understand his hopelessness. He is just a boy. And just like his friends, he is afraid to go out and explore Cebu.

I asked my friends if they knew some Indo restos in Cebu. All they could think is Shangrila. And Ayala. Ary is not quite convinced! He tried eating in Bananaleaf in Ayala and he told me aside from the fact that the food is not authentic, the prices there are horrendous. 

Now that's real desperation. And I have no means to help.

Adding to that is the search for mosques in which he could come and visit. Nobody could point them. I could not either. Ary, culture-shocked, was expecting a mall-wide sized mosque in the country. Now I made that up hehehe. All he wanted is a mosque.

I told him to gather all his worries and fears and have them transported to Jakarta when he goes back. He said is very sad. He said sad like SAT but linking sadness and desperation, maybe all he needs is sat. To sit and think and decide.

Then he called me up again. He is very happy now. How come? I used his favorite word when he could not understand what I'm talking. Because I have tickets for Jakarta and leaving tonight, he told me. Whaattt? Already? Yeah. I'm going home.

I'm happy for him. Maybe he really needs a break. I will miss you boy.

(Ary is a former cabin staff who is now on upgrade training for pilots in Mactan, Cebu. He loves eating buko.)

Slumdog?

No. This child just came in from a shower wrapped in striped towel after a whole day of wallowing in the beach. And this child is Filipino.

       

The Fish Greeters of Alcoy

They just sat there. On the beach. Like some entranced zombies waiting for the kill. I did not understand. When I saw them they were silent. Staring. In the distance. If not of the torches put in a red plastic containers, the place would have been mistaken as abandoned. The moon slowly inched up the sky. There I saw them. That was when I discovered them.

Still I did not understand. I did not asked for the answers. Some times we never ask. Observation provides the answers. 

And then the innocent boats came to shore. Their innocence was evidenced by just the shadows the moon cast on them. Like ghosts never wanting to be disturbed. But a single boat with a torch slowly made circles and advancing towards the shore. A leader? A shining light to be followed? I was amazed. The boats and the people at the shore acted the same. 

And then a shout.

Just one shout and the shores suddenly made a frenetic activity. The zombies came alive. Running. Dragging. Pulling. Shouting. Their shadows illuminated by the moon. The torches came on. Then I saw the small silvery fish on the nets they were pulling. The zombies were preying on the small fish. The small things jumping out, their silvery color being enhanced by the moonshine. The moon and the death amongst them. Survival of the fittest. Silver. Moon. Death. Survival.

The once-thought-as-zombies were alive with the intent to kill. Eat specifically. They were putting small silvery fish on containers. Large ones. Too large for the small fish. And giving a measure to those who helped. One for the pullers. Two for the drivers. How much for the sailors?

I was caught in the madness...

Flirting for the Country

Aside from the fact that she is flirting and eventually getting the attention and extra manipulations from the foreigners, this whore (I would like to presume basing on her actuations) caught everyone's imagination at Tingko Beach. She is spreading a different malaise every time she walks around and when she sings the karaoke. Off-tuned of course. (Take note of the reaction of the kids in the background)

Poseidon's Trident Above Water

I was combing a beach in Alcoy (a municipality in the southern part of Cebu province) when I saw this early morning scene: a fishing boat and poles in an early morning sun. I did not know what those poles are and what was their purpose. I did not ask and don't want to know. I was imagining them to be the tips of Poseidon's trident.