adventures in neverland

there was a time when the blinking christmas lights outside the walls of the central bank complex along roxas boulevard highlighted the country's impressive economic statistics -- faster growth, slower inflation, etc. now, it's just plain giant lights greeting everyone a joyous christmas. still, it's ironic that just outside of its well-guarded gates, the scene is distressing and far from merry: malnourished street children either begging or selling sampaguita garlands, homeless people sleeping on pavements, tricycle drivers waiting and calling for passengers, thereby contributing to traffic congestion, and other depressing sights. we are not blaming the central bank, tasked among others to chart the course of the philippine economy along with other economic planning agencies, for the widespread poverty in the country. poverty in the philippines is just so malignant that it will probably take a hundred years, hundreds of billions of funds, focused programs...

"who are all these happy people? from which planet are they from? because as far as i can see, there's no reason to smile, to feel good, what with all the poor, miserable people living on the streets around you. beggars, hawkers, hookers. rich, dirty old men who steal money from the government trying to seduce an innocent  young man or woman." -- mahatma gandah. "happy people are not humans. they are aliens who want to invade the earth." why did i bother to come back, i wondered as i searched the smoke drenched bar -- filled with sweaty young men dancing to the band's version of pitbull's americano -- for somebody nice enough to go home with. there were about a hundred men and women inside the bar, at least eighteen and up, all genders, wearing their weekend uniform: cut off denim shorts and skin tight blouson for most of the girls and jeans and shirt for the boys. it was a bar for upper and middle class kids. most of them were...