I normally don't read SI-type fics, even if they're
just "SI-like" and not "GSIF." But since this was
an RK fic, I just had to read it.
: I savored the smell of barbecuing chicken intestines, blood, chicken
heads, chicken feet, pig ears and pig intestines as I waited in front of
the local barbecue stand, a street corner away from my apartment.
Oh wow, isaw and sisig just outside the house! You must
live in heaven. ^_^
: "Eto na ho, Manang Elsa," (Here it is, Madam/old-timer Elsa)
Manong Jess, the proprietor of the little streetside establishment,
addressing me by the title of "manang".
Seeing that kinda shocked me for a while... I was rather
thinking it was the Japanese "Eto", that is, "that is." ^_^
Imagine my befuddlement when I finally realized it was
actually in Tagalog, hahaahhahha.
: "Manong Jess naman! Masmatanda ka pa sa akin, eh, tinatawag mo na akong
manang!?" (Old-timer Jess! You're older than me and you call me madam!?) I
responded, mock-outraged at the white-haired barbecue vendor.
You know, that English translation just doesn't quite
capture the feel of the Tagalog version...
: "Mag-asawa ka na kasi, Manang. Ang rami naman diyan na magandang lalake
na liligaw, ah!" (Marry already, madam. There are many handsome men who
would court you!)The gap-toothed grin on the old man's face held all the
warmth of a father has for a daughter.
Seeing Tagalog "sub-titled" like this never ceases
to amaze me. I suddenly remember "Madrasta."
: "Bata pa ako, manong. O ano, ayos na ba ang isaw ko?" (I'm young yet, old
man. Well, my barbecue ready?) I asked hungrily as I looked at the five
long strips of chicken intestines set on five separate sticks. Manong Jess
picked them up and dipped them in a jar of vinegar and onion.
: "Limang piso lang ho." (Five pesos only.)
Oh yeah, the isaw is really cheap over there. That's
downtown Manila for you. They charge twice that in BF.
: It does look like a concrete version of Ikkoku-kan, though it does have
three floors. I have the top floor and access to top floor, which I've
converted into my personal exercise yard and sometime sunbathing spot. As
if there are any other taller building around here, being at the outskirts
of the Metro Manila region. My humble domain is located on a parcel of land
that my
I've been trying to pinpoint just where exactly this
place you are referring to is. It's really tough,
but I'm assuming this place is somewhere around
downtown Manila, near La Salle or St. Scho or something.
It was really hard, since you can find an Andok's Litson
just about anywhere these days...
Anyway, somewhere near 1/4th of the fic I finally got
tired of waiting for the RK elements to come out so
I just got to typing this quaint little message.
I'll have to admit, I'll never make it to the FFML
Synopsis review team; I was getting sleepy quite a
bit into the fic. ^_^ Sorry, it's not a reflection
on your writing ability, but rather one on my innate
aversion of the self-insertion-type fic. Also, the
everyday life of a Filipino might actually be
interesting to some readers on this list, but for
me, it's just... everyday life. ^_~
For what it's worth, your description is really good,
and it really does capture the feel of native Manila.
You get it right down to the itty-gritty bits of
everyday life! If only you described the isaw with a
little more detail, I'd give this fic 5 stars for
that alone. ^_^ I dunno... I have this morbid
fascination with isaw and sisig.
Sorry, I dunno why I'm even bothering to comment on
this fic, when I haven't even finished reading it. I
just can't seem to resist commenting on an RK fic,
even if I didn't get to the RK elements, and moreso
one written by a very illustrious countryman writing
about home-sweet-home.
Later!
boyu