By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

 

YESTERDAY, I dragged my foot to go the SM North to buy a hose connector. It was six o’clock, traffic was not bad, and public transport was easy, despite the fact that most workers would be going home around that time. I found what I was looking for, bought two. I could have saved a lot, ordering this item from Lazada or Shopee, but it takes two days before it gets delivered, and I would have strained my muscles carrying pails of water to the adjacent lot for the plants to survive the heat.

I also decided to buy a hand saw, to cut the trees at Mapagkawanggawa that grew so high and healthy despite the limits of the container I planted them in. I decided to cut them so that my friends who will adopt them can easily transport them in an open vehicle. I will keep some, the giant atis (annona squamosa) gift from Girlie Villariba and some vines given by Ric Casco.

I could have cut them earlier as the plants irritated a neighbor, who believes that the “kabakiran” (wilderness) is a breeding ground for snakes. Her unemployed husband cut a few of them whenever I was out of town, according the marites (rumormonger) in the neighborhood. The trees exacted a vengeance by growing more profusely. I deliberately foot-dragged moving them for my own joy. In my 36 years of developing that urban mini-forest, I never saw a snake, but have seen birds build their nests in between the front window and the bougainvillea branches. So, I ignored her growing animosity, in exchange for the song of the birds.

Finally, my neighbor will be freed from the wilderness to expose the concrete structure that I covered green. I’m moving my plants and stuff from this place, which I entrusted to my brother when I left two years ago to live with my sister at Filinvest. I need to prepare the space where they will be transported.

After accomplishing what I came for, I had Hainanese chicken at Hawker Chan. Chan’s Chinatown hawker stall Hawker Chan become one of just three street food stalls to be awarded a Michelin star in 2016. ”The stall, which specializes in Singapore’s de facto national dish Hainanese chicken rice, became famous overnight — and achieved cult status among foodies worldwide.”

Dinner was pleasant, with occasional interruptions from a precocious child who sat on the adjacent table with his mom. We both finished at the same time and headed towards the restroom.

“Mama, dito po ako, lalaki po ako, hindi po ako bading!“ (Mama, I am supposed to be here, I’m a man, I’m not gay!)

“No, come with me, you are still a child, if you go alone, there’s a chance you will be molested by a gay!”

The mother tightened her grip and dragged him towards the Ladies Room. The boy sat on his ass, making it difficult to drag him. The mother dragged him with difficulty but with determination. The last words I heard from the protesting boy was laughable.

“Mama, malaki na po ako, kaya ko na po ang sarili ko, ayokong makita ng girls ang bird ko!” (Mama, I’m big now, I can defend myself. I don’t want the girls to see my bird.)

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