Exile to Malabon...

One thing leads to another…

Two Saturdays ago JL called me up in the late afternoon whilst I was spending some quality time with Joyce. He had sought legal advice regarding search warrants. I must fail to disclose some details due to the somewhat privileged nature of the communication and God knows what, the powers that be of the State could possibly be watching my every move by now.

NOT!!! Hehehe.

After almost a week, he notified me in advance if he could stay in our house (location must not be disclosed. Hahaha.) for one night, whilst his brother will stay in his wife’s and in-laws house somewhere near my house. (This entry should be quashed for qualifying under the ‘void-for-vagueness doctrine.) I hafta oblige as a friend and reciprocate his hospitality and generosity over the years.

Lo and behold, before the expected day of search, the minions of the State came at night to their abode, his family having been tipped off, took flight and sought sanctuary in Southern Metro’s hotels, while my friend on the other hand, didn’t know what to do after, since he was attending to some matters. What scared them was that, for that particular night, checkpoints were set-up, and their fear was possibly being stopped at the checkpoints and being ordered arrested or what. If I were them, I would be scared indeed because of the two kids, and the youngest just being two months old.

So, after the trouble in Paradise, they continued with the plan, which they dubbed as ‘exile to Malabon.’ They couldn’t return to their town until today probably when all campaigning stops.

That Friday night, I was told to watch TV Patrol because a political rally was held by his father’s ‘manok’ that afternoon at the place where the search was conducted the night before, denouncing the acts of the manok’s political rival. I didn’t even listen to what was happening in that particular news segment, all I was looking at was the place, and I can’t believe it, there it was… that place which is my home away from home, where I find rural serenity, away from the noise that is Manila… is now in political turmoil.

Around 8 he came here after dropping off his brother, his brother’s wife and kids at the wife’s house nearby. We talked about the events at my own ‘pantalan’ (otherwise known as the bangkaan) (which btw, I rarely do sit down there, that as a matter of fact some of our bangkeros do not know I even exist, and that they mistake their employer for a passenger at times.)

So, after calling up our other college friend who also lives nearby, we decided to cruise around and look for some place new. After consulting with Cianelle, I decided we should try out that place known as Blue and Gold. She was correct in holding that the new place is far better than Balsa. Themed like a Mediterranean beach-bar with amenities like videoke rooms, private dining halls, live bands, KENO Lottery, and a Badminton Court beside it, it is a hidden sanctuary. The crowd is fine, mostly comprised of the local business class. The price, just right, if not the same with Balsa.

And so, the five of us, in the course of the night, dubbed their stay here as ‘Exile to Malabon.’

Point is, politics is one thing, the law is another… the law should not be used for political abuse… instead, it should be the other way around. Politics is dirty. Period. You can’t prejudice against the law enforcer since there is a presumption of regularity in the performance of duty. It is those who set the things in motion whom we should prejudice about.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

Cianelle and I found our new Coffee Shop just around the corner… Tiffany’s.

It’s a restaurant in Rosas Arcade which serves divergent food --- Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Pinoy dishes. They also serve alternative choices like soy and protein shakes and those thingies which you can see in fitness stores. Of course, COFFEE. Plus, it’s easy on the budget. You just walk out of the place, and you got an instant smoking veranda.
We’re planning on bringing in the Coffee subculture of the Graduate School courses (studying plus the ‘chillax’ mood) to that place. It ain’t that quiet though, it’s Malabon, studying in Coffee shops is unheard of, but nothing that earplugs can’t handle. So, once we spread the word, hopefully, the place would be teeming with the local medicine and law students. Plus, we can go there in our pambahay and cheap chinelas, and saves precious traveling time which could be spent on reading. And speaking of time, it is now time to hit the books.

And btw, Happy Mother’s Day… c”,) (especially to my ex-future-mother-in-law. Haha.)

So, Goodbye Starbucks for now, we found our new tambayan.