IT WAS a not-so-lazy Saturday evening. My friend from Iloilo, Anton, wanted me to meet him at Goldenfield Commercial Complex. He had his 7 p.m. meeting with business associates at Pagcor Hotel and by around 8:30 p.m., we could have dinner together. It would just be a meeting of two naughty friends. He requested me to prepare an exotic tour package for his agency. He is closing contracts for two LGUs which will have their Executive-Legislative Agenda Workshop in Bacolod with a side trip to Iloilo.
I arrived early at our meeting place, a cozy nook near Pagcor Hotel. Sixty percent of the place was occupied - drivers, employees, entertainers and some new faces. There were two small tables at the left side. One was taken by a lady wearing a purple top with plunging neckline and staple black skirt; and the other one was vacant. I positioned myself quietly and ordered my favorite sweet cocktail concoction - peppermint margarita. I paired it with turron de pili bars.
The lady in purple top was finishing her dinner, Chinese fried rice with pork-tausi and kinchay. I made a quarter turn, flashed a cordial smile and gestured to her a gentleman's salutation and an invitation. She raised her head and softly quipped, "Thank you." She got glamorous façade and youthful glow. That alone brought me in high spirits. "She is friendly", I thought. I found out that she got no dessert after dinner. I genially offered my turron. "It's the specialty here. Please take. I will order for cheesecake." I felt like a loving Big Brother caring for an adopted sister.
That started our conversation. I ordered chocolate martini for her. She wanted to be called Pinky. (Probably because of her strawberry pink cheeks.) She asked about my work and my purpose in coming over. Presumably, she just wanted to know that I am not a kidnapper or a person hunted by authority. I didn't know if it was the chocolate martini effect or I simply appeared very brotherly to her. She started having a little revelation about herself.
She is from Colon, Cebu; a college drop-out; worked as receptionist at the Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa; had a bartender boyfriend...and ooops, eloped with him. She shifted to a serious mood. "I loved Alejandro, possibly first love! I became pregnant. We had no money. Then, came the baby!"
"We rented a small room in Mactan. We started having petty quarrels. He went home drunk often. I was mad about it. The rage moved on. One night, our confrontation was precarious. He slapped me. I kicked his ass. That was the end of our world. I fled. A friend accommodated me in her house. It was not for long. I have to live. My baby girl, Barbara, should survive. Work is not easy to find. Milk and medicine are expensive. I have no way out. I have no face to face my parents. Maybe, I made a wrong decision, but this is it now." Silence followed.
I was not ready to hear a confession from a new-found friend but that was it. "Sorry," Pinky apologized. "I made a drama in front of you. But, I can't find anybody sane enough to listen to my shit life!" She gradually redeemed herself from that emotional convulsion. I offered tissue paper to wipe away her tears and running nose. She started to show raw smiles.
To appease her, I threw some words, "If you are stressed, you get pimples. If you are angry, you get wrinkles; so why not smile and get dimples. C'mon, show me your dimples!" She curtly laughed and that broke the spell. "Sorry again." She looked at my face and probably did not find Alejandro. "You really are a different person."
There was another lady approaching our table. Pinky stood up and introduced me to her. "Sir, please meet my friend, Josie. There was a little exchange of pleasantries. Pinky concluded our short but melodramatic engagement. "Well, thank you for the choco martini. This is a wonderful evening. Nice meeting you." We shook hands. Her hands were still trembling. She gave me a long tight press.
Josie showed a grin. She noticed something. "Why don't you invite your friend to see our show? He might want to pick you up. Bar fine is only P700. You are free by two in the morning." I was astonished. "You mean, you work somewhere here...singer, band member, dance instructress?" Pinky groped for an answer. "No, never mind. It's alright. Come, Josie!" They hurriedly left but Josie left some words. "We dance at K_ _ _ y Bar! We have a good show!"
I have not been there but I know that place. It features floor show - topless dancers, or even naked sirens. I am sure of that. I am not an ascetic person with a holy life and I know what is happening inside. Pinky is there dancing in front of salivating men with bulging eyes. And after her number, she would go to the backstage to feed her baby, lull her Barbara to sleep, fix her diaper, wash her undies... Is pinky dancing for enjoyment and fun? Or, sweating like a sow to nurture her Barbara. Ah, I can't forget that evening. I got serendipity. I met only one Pinky but I know that there are more Pinkys around. Like us, they are also temples of the Holy Spirit!
I want to tell all Pinkys with this, "If one dream should fall and break into pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. That's the beauty of being alive; we can always start all over again."
It was 8:47 p.m. I saw Anton coming. Now, we can talk business!