Take for instance non-government organizations, or not-for-profit organizations that market programs in high traffic areas like the malls. One relatively, leisurely day for me at the nearby mall, a corporate-clad lady approached me and since I felt magnanimous at that certain instance, I sat down with her to listen. She started comparing me, for one, my fake pearl earrings to hers, and to some soap opera queen who had faded to oblivion.

I had notions of the worthiness of the WWF program and wanted to know more about volunteering perhaps, like building homes or planting seeds/trees. I knew she was sizing me up or in brief, probing. Of course she had to ask if I had a credit card to pay the membership fee. That was the clincher…as I stood to leave, she asked how many children I have and their ages, “old na rin?”


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Legend Villas used to be a motel, someone told me. It’s located along Pioneer Street, just before the tunnel and a walking distance from where I work and live. Years ago, when it was undergoing a face change, I dared have my children’s joint birthday party by the pool. They were if I recall, in early high school or senior.

Two years into this job, I had joined Christmas Parties in suites there that had fine amenities and more importantly, space to hold some 15 to 20 of us, where we played games, sang and dance, ate and slept especially those that lived far. I’d always just walked home.

Lunch at Legend Villas could be a delightful experience with interesting foods, couple that with a conversion with Chef Gilbert who studied culinary arts in New York. My friend managed to wangle a free cup of steaming coffee, microwaved twice as she demurely demolished two cute servings of Brazo de Mercedes. In other places, you’d have to see hair underneath your salad to get something free.

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At the downstairs Mini-Stop, one of those days when I had to sleep and couldn’t, I decided to get myself some fancy vodka rather than take a trip to Mercury or Watson’s for my usual Sleepasil, but that would have required changing costume from my usual tee and shorts. When paying, I noticed the store helper had a grin on his face who braved asking me, “di kayo makatulog ma’am?” I mean, what would have prevented me from having him fired? Duh.

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