• Embed Doc
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
 
 The Oriental community has always been a creative bunch. Our people really know how The Oriental community has always been a creative bunch. Our people really know how to drive things off the wall with a serious wipe out. We can do things better than they give usto drive things off the wall with a serious wipe out. We can do things better than they give us credit for. Asians created the Kama Sutra, the calendar,credit for. Asians created the Kama Sutra, the calendar,
balut, lambanog,balut, lambanog,
and lots more. Weand lots more. We survived decolonization with minimum wage for crying out loud. We are not called “Pearl of thesurvived decolonization with minimum wage for crying out loud. We are not called “Pearl of the Orient for nothing. When it comes to the bizarre we are one of Asia’s finest. The WesternOrient for nothing. When it comes to the bizarre we are one of Asia’s finest. The Western countries have known us for our weird food, odd customs and now weird jobs?countries have known us for our weird food, odd customs and now weird jobs?We have to admit that in some Asian countries, particularly in the Philippines, moneyWe have to admit that in some Asian countries, particularly in the Philippines, money doesn’t come off easily.doesn’t come off easily.
PinoysPinoys
can’t have a life served in a silver platter, I doubt if we cancan’t have a life served in a silver platter, I doubt if we can afford a silver platter in the first place. We literally work every functioning muscle in our bodies,afford a silver platter in the first place. We literally work every functioning muscle in our bodies, day and night and whatever that’s left in between. We sell all sorts of stuff too, we haveday and night and whatever that’s left in between. We sell all sorts of stuff too, we have 
 pamparegla, agimat, pamparegla, agimat,
peanuts, and some sell their bodies… while others literally sell their bodypeanuts, and some sell their bodies… while others literally sell their body parts. In a way, money also brings out the best of people (if not the worst, we know thatparts. In a way, money also brings out the best of people (if not the worst, we know that already), because upon lack of it, men conjure up the most creative ways to make a living.already), because upon lack of it, men conjure up the most creative ways to make a living.Working in Kingdom Come funeral part-time, Cleopetra,this candidly-name,Working in Kingdom Come funeral part-time, Cleopetra,this candidly-name, effeminate roadside beautician gets half of her daily earnings powdering and stretchingeffeminate roadside beautician gets half of her daily earnings powdering and stretching cadavers for burial. Cleopetra, still preppy and informal, looks at the cadaver and immediatelycadavers for burial. Cleopetra, still preppy and informal, looks at the cadaver and immediately wagers with the manager the cost and deadline for the job (apparently, she gets fair sum of thewagers with the manager the cost and deadline for the job (apparently, she gets fair sum of the thousands that the funeral home gets). Like the pros of the field, she starts working with thethousands that the funeral home gets). Like the pros of the field, she starts working with the face. She indicates as she pulls up the mandible, showing balls of cotton inside the moth.face. She indicates as she pulls up the mandible, showing balls of cotton inside the moth.  Thinking we were amused, she laughed and motion for us to come closer. Thinking we were amused, she laughed and motion for us to come closer.She puts more cotton or ties parts of the inner lining of the mouth to form a perfectShe puts more cotton or ties parts of the inner lining of the mouth to form a perfect Mona Lisa smile, and then fixes the body posture, which in this case did not need muchMona Lisa smile, and then fixes the body posture, which in this case did not need much tampering (the cadaver is wide). She opens her medicine box filled with make-up, and pulls outtampering (the cadaver is wide). She opens her medicine box filled with make-up, and pulls out a towel. She wipes the cadaver clean, and then powders the protrusions entirely, lining the all-a towel. She wipes the cadaver clean, and then powders the protrusions entirely, lining the all-too-gray mouth and pulling up the long hair in a bun.too-gray mouth and pulling up the long hair in a bun.Part of the job description includes washing the body, manicuring nails, arching andPart of the job description includes washing the body, manicuring nails, arching and plucking eyebrows dressing up the body in Filipino classical clothing or Western formal attire,plucking eyebrows dressing up the body in Filipino classical clothing or Western formal attire, reshaping and reconstructing damaged or disfigured areas of the body using cotton or foamreshaping and reconstructing damaged or disfigured areas of the body using cotton or foam rubber, and other such superficial improvements.rubber, and other such superficial improvements. There are few things in life that you can carry with you after you die, but they will make There are few things in life that you can carry with you after you die, but they will make sure you look amazing… wherever you end up.sure you look amazing… wherever you end up.
 
More than just rotting oneself on Enchanted Kingdom’s Space Shuttle’s control booth,More than just rotting oneself on Enchanted Kingdom’s Space Shuttle’s control booth, the operator also experience one heck of a ride in his seat as he takes in-charge on the lives of the operator also experience one heck of a ride in his seat as he takes in-charge on the lives of  people while they are enjoying the loop-a-loop of the roller coaster.people while they are enjoying the loop-a-loop of the roller coaster.Sounds exaggerated? Think again.Sounds exaggerated? Think again.One of the most exciting parts when going to amusement parks here and abroad isOne of the most exciting parts when going to amusement parks here and abroad is riding on a roller coaster and this ride has been so far amusements parks’ best feature. A tripriding on a roller coaster and this ride has been so far amusements parks’ best feature. A trip to an amusement park wouldn’t be completed without the hell-screaming and shouting broughtto an amusement park wouldn’t be completed without the hell-screaming and shouting brought by this “breath and soul-taking ride.”by this “breath and soul-taking ride.”But behind the fun it brings still some refuses to take the challenge because manyBut behind the fun it brings still some refuses to take the challenge because many factors and one of it is the recent malfunctions that were hovering all over the news nowadays.factors and one of it is the recent malfunctions that were hovering all over the news nowadays. With this, being a roller coaster operator is not a so-so job knowing that the safety and wellnessWith this, being a roller coaster operator is not a so-so job knowing that the safety and wellness of its riders are in their hands.of its riders are in their hands.Aristotle, the roller coaster operator, assured that Enchanted Kingdom is doing everyAristotle, the roller coaster operator, assured that Enchanted Kingdom is doing every possible way to make sure that the Space Shuttle will bring fun and excitement minus thepossible way to make sure that the Space Shuttle will bring fun and excitement minus the danger to its riders. Riding a roller coaster sure is adrenaline pumping; being behind thedanger to its riders. Riding a roller coaster sure is adrenaline pumping; being behind the controls is another matter. If something happens, you’ll get adrenaline rush too (which rarelycontrols is another matter. If something happens, you’ll get adrenaline rush too (which rarely happens), but if you’re a little more imaginative, and sadistic… well, controlling the rollerhappens), but if you’re a little more imaginative, and sadisticwell, controlling the roller coaster would be a lot more fun wouldn’t it?coaster would be a lot more fun wouldn’t it?If you choose to be member of any dance troupes, you might as well choose to dance toIf you choose to be member of any dance troupes, you might as well choose to dance to the tribal beat wearing face paint and ethnic clothing. If your course doesn’t jive with thethe tribal beat wearing face paint and ethnic clothing. If your course doesn’t jive with the rhythm of your interest, you may apply as a tribal/fire dancer in Enchanted Kingdom.rhythm of your interest, you may apply as a tribal/fire dancer in Enchanted Kingdom.Difficult, complicated and painstaking are the words that came out from the mouth of Difficult, complicated and painstaking are the words that came out from the mouth of  Michael Navarro when he described what the job is. With is sweat dripping all over his bodyMichael Navarro when he described what the job is. With is sweat dripping all over his body during the interview, and when we asked how hard his job is, (as we had the talk after theirduring the interview, and when we asked how hard his job is, (as we had the talk after their performance), Michael remains passionate towards his work and believes that he has alreadyperformance), Michael remains passionate towards his work and believes that he has already found his body’s greatness through dancing and eating fire. Michael said that he was satisfiedfound his body’s greatness through dancing and eating fire. Michael said that he was satisfied with his job because of the fine pay and the cheerful company he found with the other dancers.with his job because of the fine pay and the cheerful company he found with the other dancers.The safety in this job seems inconclusive but still, Michael put in a good word for this job The safety in this job seems inconclusive but still, Michael put in a good word for this job since there is a tedious training before getting in.since there is a tedious training before getting in.She comes in before dawn, wearing casual clothes, to help fit in several grown men in aShe comes in before dawn, wearing casual clothes, to help fit in several grown men in a two-meter square room, moving up and down. While her job description may sound only tootwo-meter square room, moving up and down. While her job description may sound only too familiar, she’s actually not sweating it as much you think. In fact, she may even be havingfamiliar, she’s actually not sweating it as much you think. In fact, she may even be having more quirks to her job. More unpredictability with each hour she spends working with smallmore quirks to her job. More unpredictability with each hour she spends working with small square room.square room.When we first met Alice, she was pressing the elevator dial like a boy. Her face openWhen we first met Alice, she was pressing the elevator dial like a boy. Her face open with flashlight precision, quietly greeting us as we enter and prop ourselves beside her. Likewith flashlight precision, quietly greeting us as we enter and prop ourselves beside her. Like four designated elevator operators for the day shift, she wears casual clothing, looking quietfour designated elevator operators for the day shift, she wears casual clothing, looking quiet and rurally obscure against the modern overpass square.and rurally obscure against the modern overpass square.She tells us her situation: operators like her were “discovered” while working in theShe tells us her situation: operators like her were “discovered” while working in the Municipality of Dasmariñas. They earn about Php 200 per day, which is little below theMunicipality of Dasmariñas. They earn about Php 200 per day, which is little below the minimum wage, and the day shift is a meager 6:30 am to 2:30 pm, but she enjoys working 9nminimum wage, and the day shift is a meager 6:30 am to 2:30 pm, but she enjoys working 9n this solitary calm. Her conduct reminds us of those ferrymen or clockwork guys that say “Yes,this solitary calm. Her conduct reminds us of those ferrymen or clockwork guys that say “Yes, sir,” all the time, but their undeniably Pinoy working class poses gives it an unpredictable twist.sir,” all the time, but their undeniably Pinoy working class poses gives it an unpredictable twist. It’s that synergy between the beauty of modernity and the all-Filipino ironies that elevatorIt’s that synergy between the beauty of modernity and the all-Filipino ironies that elevator operators here to embody to a comical full.operators here to embody to a comical full.
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...