Carla

HERE comes another tale of a young woman, in her early twenties, whom I’ve “met” out of a conversation from parishioners somewhere in the borders of Lugait, Misamis Oriental and Iligan City. Let’s call her “Carla,” and she was blessed with a physical appearance at par with angels that slave the hearts of men, and twist their minds out of insanity.

She had a convenient life, having a father who was working in a giant industrial company and a mother working with a profession in a certain field of expertise. She could be the youngest among the siblings, and for that moment, her life was full of grace.

Until her father died and it has changed the course of everything. Carla seems lost, and she began seeing boys, and then later men, both young and old. Rumors began to proliferate of her sightings as one of the girls who was said to be climbing on docked ships at a pier near the town, seducing the hungry seamen (and that uncomfortable feeling when you pluralize their job description and pronounce it) having had most of their lives working on big courier ships with the vast ocean as their day-to-day girlfriend.

And then the news of her being pregnant was confirmed. But she was shy to go to the nearest barangay (village) health center or it might get worse especially that she knows all eyes are on her. And who wouldn’t, she is already carrying her fourth child and will give birth about eight months from now.

It was also said that her three other children were adopted by other people because she let them gave away, and most probably her new unborn child will be seeing a similar fate, or it depends upon her discretion. But at least, it was better that way, rather than letting those children be aborted which is very monstrous and horrible to imagine.

From Carla’s story, the parishioners went on reviving their town’s notorious red light district, which was located at the highway where men, mostly who drove big trucks, were the usual valued customers who sometimes seek stress relievers.

In the outside, it looks like a simple bar with a karaoke machine where beers are served. But it wasn’t just that. Girls as young as 15 will keep the customer satisfied even to their makeshift “VIP Room” at the back of the establishment.

There had been raiding attempts by the authorities but none were held responsible for prostituting the underage teens. Their reason was that the teens visited the place and that the customers are their long-time patrons of the “videoke house.” This happened about four years ago, and who gives a damn anyway.

Carla’s story, as well as those girls at the bar, once again reminded us of the part of our social structure that we keep on fighting to purge out because it’s supposed to be one of the excesses in morality and discourse as highly socialized, literate human beings.

But who was to blame Carla and the girls to have gone a path which was queer and unfathomable in the outside, but on the inside it was an industry that benefited most men and considered it as a basic need? After all, it can also be a good business.

And again, we are stumbled in a subtle realization that sometimes, the “animal” in us can overwhelm our norms and logic, like love, and like lust.

*****

Blind Item: Having a little research about people’s likes and dislikes can actually save your skin from a horrible and unhealthy working relationship and environment especially to your co-workers. This was the hard lesson learned by this once enthusiastic, and sometimes overconfident, Fresh Graduate (let’s name this person as “FG”) who just got a job in a government agency.

Most of FG’s colleagues were die-hard fans of their department boss’ higher boss, and whatever the controversies thrown against their higher boss, FG’s colleagues and department boss were on the higher boss’ side no matter what.

But because of FG’s innocence and tactlessness, FG uttered a commentary that was highly political in nature that cost him his contract to end in due time with no renewal. There’s wrong on both sides, but the majority rules, that is.

(Nef Luczon is a freelance journalist and a part-time communications faculty and trainer. He is also a film and art enthusiast. Read his blog at Nefoi.blogspot.com and send comments to nefluczon@gmail.com)