Bankrolling Poverty

By Paul Mathews

A brutal but uplifting story of survival. Cielo, a Filipina sex-worker, works hard just to survive. But she would not even be a footnote in the mainstream telling of poverty in the Philippines. She would have been overlooked because she’s a woman, a puta, and poor. Nonetheless, her life is a lens through which we can clearly view the horrors of neo-colonialism and the brutality of patronage that bankroll poverty, exploitation, and extra judicial killings.
Even though Cielo is seemingly trapped in a cycle of puppetry, subject to the string-pulling of the wealthy Rodrigo Tiago, she realizes a means of retribution, freedom and justice. Tiago’s immersion in illegal activities exposes him to fatal ruin.
Born in the mountains, raised in the slums, having lost her job and loved ones, Cielo learns from a friend how to use, of necessity, her body in performative ways. Facing her own troubled past, she thus manipulates Andre, Tiago’s nephew and troll-like accountant, to bring down the house of Tiago. By a final quirk of nature the Spirit of poverty is purged.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Warrior Publishers
• Release date: Feb 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224782260

Paul Mathews

Dr. Paul Mathews is an anthropologist and sociologist who has worked on Philippine issues for 25 years, and also spent 2 years in Taiwan. He has written extensively about Philippine society and culture in such areas as health, gender relations and sexuality, values, and economic development. He is currently freelancing, following a Research Fellowship at the Australian National University. He is Secretary of the Philippine Studies Association of Australasia, and former Managing Editor of Pilipinas, A Journal of Philippine Studies.

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Bankrolling Poverty

Paul W. Mathews

Copyright 2024 Paul W. Mathews

Published by Warrior Publishers at Smashwords

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FICTION

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Steal not this book my honest friend

For fear the gallows should be your end,

And when you die the Lord will say

And where’s the book you stole away?

Cover design by Paul Mathews

Based on Cartoons4Change/Jonesy

Table of Contents

Glossary and Notes

1. Munni and Hunnies

2. Puerto Galera

3. The House of Tiago

4. Cielo: Born to be a Star

5. Secrets

6. Revealing Secrets

7. The Storm Cometh

8. Karma

Other Books by Warrior Publishers

Glossary and Notes

I have presented most of the dialogue by and between Filipinos in English, or rather Taglish, to facilitate reading. However, I have taken the liberty, without any intent to denigrate, to present this English in its more limited form (Taglish) as some Filipinos often speak it. My view is that if Filipinos attempt to learn and use English then we should make a better attempt to listen to and understand them. If I/we could speak Tagalog/Filipino as well as they try to speak English, we too could be proud.

Some Filipino words have no direct English equivalent, or have multiple meanings or uses.

Peso to USA dollar is calculated at about 40php = $1. (AUD$ 35-36php).

Kapitán Tiago is a fictional character in José Rizal’s novels (Noli me Tángere [Touch Me Not] and Filbusterismo [The Subversive or The Subversion, or The Reign of Greed]) who symbolizes the rich Filipinos who oppress their fellow countrymen (sic) in exchange for the influence and the riches that the elite might gain from their powerful associations; he loses all his properties and becomes addicted to opium in Rizal’s novels.

Glossary of words/terms

akawntant = accountant

ako = I/me

anak = son or daughter

artista = artist; flamboyant/dramatic performer

asawa = spouse (husband or wife) (pron: as-a-wa)

aswang = an umbrella term for various shape-shifting evil creatures, such as vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and transforming human-beast hybrids (usually dogs, cats, pigs)

até = aunt, or aunt equivalent term of respect (pron: art-tai)

ay naku = Oh my god! An exclamation of surprise/frustration

ba = suffix for asking a question

bahala (na) = it’s up to you/God/fate, whatever happens

bahay = house/home (pron: ba-hi)

bakit = why? (pron: bar-kit)

bakla = transvestite/transgender (pron: buk-la)

balik = return, (come) back

baliw = crazy (pron: bal-oo)

banca = a (small) outrigger canoe-like boat

baon = money, food, or other provisions taken to school, work or journeys

barangay/barrio = Philippine village, the smallest administrative unit in the Philippines

barkada = small group of special friends (pron: bar-karda)

barong = traditional male loose-fitting, light shirt, usually white

bata = child

bobo = stupid

bola-bola = teasing

boomboom = sexual intercourse, sex

bruha = witch (pron: broo-ha)

buko (pie) = a favourite food made from coconut (pron: boo-ko)

cantina = small canteen, café, eatery

chismis = gossip

CR = comfort room, toilet

diba/dba = isn’t it/isn’t that right (pron: dee-ba)

duwende (duende) = humanoid figure, comparable to dwarves, gnomes; can be evil and hurtful

EJK = extra judicial killing

GRO = Guest Relations Officer/waitress

gagoo/gago = stupid

gulay = vegetable/s

gwapa/o = beautiful (woman/man)

helicopter = sexual intercourse in which the girl is on top

hilot = local, indigenous healer

ikaw = you/you’re

ina ng lalaki = mummy’s boy (pron: ina nang la-la-kee)

indio = Spanish term for native Filipinos

jakol = masturbation

jueteng = a gambling game (pron: wet-teng)

kaderi = dirty, disgusting, horrible (pron: ka-dear-ree)

kalesa (calesa) = horse-drawn carriage of a Spanish style, with two large wheels

kain = food/eat (pron: ka-in)

Kamusta = hello (how are you) (pron: ka-musta)

kano = American (Amerikano)

Kapitán = captain of a barangay

karabo = carabao, water buffalo

kasi – because (pron: kas-ee)

konti = a little/small amount (pron: kon-tee)

kumpare = best friend, usually the godfather to one’s child (pron: kum-par-ay)

kuripot = stingy (pron: koo-ree-pot)

kusina = ktchen

kuya = brother

labindero = laundry man

Landusan = a spirit responsible for some cases of extreme poverty

lang = (now) just/only

lasing = drunk (pron: lar-sing)

lasingero/a = drunkard (pron: lar-sing-gero/a)

lola = grandmother, or equivalent respected aged person

mabait = good character, kind (pron: ma-ba-it)

magkano = how much?

mahal = expensive (pron: mar-hal)

makapal = thick skinned (pron: maka-pal)

makulit/kulit = annoying, mischievous (pron: mak-ku-lit)

mamasan = a woman in a position of authority, especially one in charge of a girlie bar.

mana = a term of respect to an elder female, usually a sister

manook = chicken (pron: ma-nook)

marami = a lot, many (pron: mar-ramee)

mataba = fat (pron: mata-ba)

mayabang = pretentious (pron: may-a-bang)

merienda = snack, morning or afternoon break

morena = (dark) brown/blackish

na = already; now

nakakatakot = scary

naku/ay naku = Oh my god! An exclamation of surprise/frustration (pron: nar-koo)

nalang = that’s it (pron: na-lang/lung)

naman = a general expression to show a mild to strong exclamation of one's feelings

nanay = mother

OFW = Overseas Foreign Worker

Oo/Uu = yes

pala = expressing a reaction to new or unexpected or realized information; also ‘by the way’

pandasal = small bread pieces

pangit/panget = ugly

pantaloons = pants/trousers

patay = dead/die

pera = money (pron: pear-ra)

pigsa = boil, sore, ulcer on the skin

pilya = cheeky, mischievous

poblacion = town or business area (pron: poblashion)

Portiere (French) = curtains across a doorway

probensyana = a person from the rural provinces (derogatory) (pron: probensy-ana)

provincia = province/provincial

pulis = police

puta = promiscuous woman; prostitute (pron: poo-ta)

putang ina mo = prostitute; literally: your mother is a whore

rebond = dye one’s hair

regla = menstrual period

saan = where?

sala = lounge room; also sofa

Santo Nino = the Christ child

sari-sari = small grocery store

shabu = meth/methamphetamine, illegal drug in the Philippines (and elsewhere)

sige = sure, fine, all right, ok (pron: siggy)

sinigang = a favourite food of soup made with vegetables, chicken and/or pork or beef

sip-sip = to fawn compliments and platitudes

sumpong = moody, commonly characterized by one person not talking to another who has ‘offended’ them

Sus/susmaryosep = A contraction of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. An interjection (when one is angry, frustrated or in disbelief). The shorter versions Sus! and Maryosep! may also be used. (sus pron: soos or suss)

tala/tala-tala = crazy, mad

tamad = lazy

tapos = then, after

tao = person/people (common folk) (pron: tay-o)

tatay = father (pron: tat-ay)

utang = debt (pron: oo-tung)

utang na loob = debt of gratitude, inner debt

Uu/Oo = yes

VAT = Value Added Tax (sales tax)

wak-wak = witch

walana = none, nothing, no (walana pera = no money) (pron: wal-arn-a)

Main Characters

Cielo Marikit

Edna, Cielo’s mother

Gregorio, Cielo’s father

Juan, Cielo’s eldest brother

Elsa, Juan’s girlfriend

Cisco Valdez, Cielo’s de facto husband

Joel, Cielo’s 2nd de facto husband/boyfriend

Merci, Cielo’s cousin

Annie/Annalyn, Merci’s sister, another cousin to Cielo

Jane, a sex-worker (GRO) at Hunnies, a friend of Cielo

Cesar, a minion of Rodrigo Tiago, Jane’s nephew

Grace, Cesar’s cousin, a bargirl at Hunnies

Renato, Elsa’s friend, a co-burglar/helper with Mark

Ashnee, a friend of Cielo’s at the boarding house, and a sex-worker

Abu and Rodrigo Tiago, nicknamed Bruha and Buddha

Andre Mendez, nephew to Tiago

Ruby Tiago, Abu’s adopted daughter and de facto maid

Alex Tiago, Abu’s and Rodrigo’s son

Rose, Abu’s ‘sister’

Nika, a maid to Abu and Rodrigo

Jhea, the maid at the Mendez household

Raul, a friend of Mark

Jerry Bautista, a journalist

Eve, a 10 year old beggar-girl at Puerto Galera

Andy, a hustler in Puerto Galera

Fatima, a masseuse/sex-worker in Burgos Street

Place Names:

Balimbing, a satellite city/town northeast of Manila

Basabasa, a town outside of Balimbing

Bellagio Hotel, the hotel above Cubana

Bilibid, a famous major prison in Manila

Cubana, an el fresco bar/café in Makati

Escudero, the name of Andre’s house in the better part of San Roque

Hunnies, a girlie bar near Bellagio

Makati, a major city and financial and shopping area of Metro Manila

San Roque, a barrio/section of Balimbing where Cielo initially lived after leaving Basabasa

Santa Elena, Hagonoy, Malolos, where Rodrigo and Abu Tiago live

Chapter One

Munni and Hunnies

It was early in the new year that Mark Messenger paid a visit to Hunnies, a not unusually small girlie bar just a few steps from his hotel, Bellagio, in Burgos Street, Makati. He entered through a single, heavy wooden door of royal blue, its veneer cracked and peeling. A short step in he encountered very heavy, thick portières of a dark mauve colour, through which any one could easily become entangled in their overlap. He attempted to find the slit between the two folds—perhaps somehow symbolic, he ironically thought.

My dint of persistence, or a chance parting of these pieces of soft felt, he was suddenly confronted with a mixture of both darkness and bright, coloured lights and strobes with a pinkish tinge, to which he consciously attempted to adjust his eyes; and, invariably very loud music, not always of a soothing or even likeable genre—from rap, hiphop, heavy metal to the Beatles or current Filipino favourites. Whatever the flavour, it was just loud.

In this scene he saw about 15 small, generally young, Pinays. Most were barely clad in bikinis, a few in sexy shorts with bikini tops. A fewer number of girls and older women sported common black pants or jeans and white tops; these were the Guest Relations Officers (GROs), or ‘waitresses’—although in these bars everyone was a waitress. The mamasan was one among them.

In Hunnies, Mark noted, there was a smallish bar to the right, mostly unoccupied. Almost directly in front and discernible was a high table that could seat 10 or more customers on stools, but which also was mostly unoccupied except for a few girls waiting their required turn to dance. In addition, a few round tables each with 2 or 3 stools were scattered about the space, and around the wall there were black vinyl-cushioned open cubicles that could seat 6, each with their own round table. Somewhere hidden in the recesses of the architecture and décor was the DJ in a box-like structure barely large enough to accommodate a turntable, while at the back of the place was a small stage that might hold up to 6 supposedly dancing girls. The thrill here was that one had to get up close and almost personal to pass by the stage, be in the spotlight so to speak, to access the single, tiny, unisex comfort room (CR, or toilet).

Overall, the whole establishment at ground level was barely 50 feet by 30 feet across, loud, dark, cozy, but not special, and usually not crowded.

Hunnies Bar

Mark had gone to the bar, one of a dozen or so in Burgos Street, on spec, after visiting a few others, where the music not unexpectedly was loud, at best, or excessively loud. At Hunnies he felt not only appreciated by dint of the money and hence potentiality he carried for the girls, but also felt a little ambience at this bar—well, at least the music wasn’t blaring and was more attuned at times to his genre, and he quickly succumbed to the overwhelming attention he received.

It was not busy—in fact he may have been only one of two foreign customers. Almost a dozen ‘girls’ immediately descended upon him, as was their occupation. Some guided him to a corner seat, dark and secluded; but none of the 6 or more girls who attended were overly attractive, in fact, several were ‘old’, 40-plus, and showing their age and wear. But they were nevertheless kindly, friendly, willing to talk, and to flirt, tempting Mark to have a liaison. As usual they took brazen physical liberties, to the point of making Mark get a hard-on, and commenting amongst raucous laughter and with pleasure that ‘it’ was ‘long’. So far they had not put flesh to flesh. That was to be left to Cielo, who at the moment was ‘dancing’ with two other girls on the small stage.

Much of the time the bar girls, on a rotational basis, ‘danced’, essentially shuffling their feet in fashionable enormously-high heels that often didn’t quite fit; barely lifting them with their small feet from the glassy floor, and supposedly gyrating their bodies, although one may be forgiven for not seeing any connection of movement to the rhythm of the music.

The exception, in some respects, was Cielo. She tended to put some effort and style into her dancing, as though she seemed to like pirouetting, the movement of her body an expression of herself and her feelings. The others tended to look at her with some admiration, as did Mark. His coterie of GROs, to put a fancy name to the waitresses, groomers and sex-workers, also commented on her, and the obvious interest Mark showed in Cielo.

Mark observed that Cielo was tallish, slim, with a very good figure despite having had two children, he later found out. She dressed with taste and carried herself very well. Her face was oval overall, perhaps a little egg-shaped, having high cheek-bones covered in firm flesh, and deep black eyes, thin-almond shaped. A shorter rather than long nose that mildly flared descended from a broadish bridge, and she exhibited succulent full lips that were always stretched with laughter. Her breasts were on the smaller size, as Mark liked them, and firm, and her figure curvy, with black hair extending almost halfway down her back. She was overall very attractive and cosmopolitan that presented a decorous sexuality.

After a few minutes Cielo was relieved of her public spectacle and came to Mark’s table, where no less than 9 other girls were now crowded, pleading for ladies’ drinks, pizza, attention, and all holding the possibility to capture his amorous purse. Cielo pushed her way in, with the other girls telling her Mark was horny and that he had a long cock. She didn’t take that as gospel, but instead simply unzipped him and pulled out his manhood, gave it a sniff, then a short suck. She willingly let him slip his hand down her very scanty orange bikini, a standard girl-wear in Hunnies, and for her to show her breasts and let him kiss her smallish nipples—all to the great merriment and laughter of the other females crowded around them.

She, along with few others who had in innate sense—as perhaps experienced women often do—recognized that Mark was more than interested in Cielo, and they encouraged both. There may have been jealousy or regret, but they didn’t show it. They all knew the game, of who might be lucky one night or another, and would leverage the good fortune of the supposedly blessed girl to share her catch in some way.

Cielo was not shy, but she was, as she later told Mark, a bit desperate. She had not had a client for over two weeks, and needed money. She pulled her bikini down, rubbed her vagina on his parts, with approving applause from the other naughty nine who effectively shielded them from the all-watching mamasan. It was impossible for Mark to resist. The girls closed around the couple so Cielo and Mark could fuck or suck there, in the public arena, and urged him to do so. They clearly indicated that he would not have to pay a bar-fine to take Cielo out if he fucked her there, but also knew they would get some commission for their own endearing efforts. But Mark was never of that disposition, and certainly had never fucked in front of 9 women. If he had sex it was private, with some emotional content, however fleeting. Yet, at the same time Mark couldn’t resist Cielo’s charms and good looks, nor the lust and passion aroused.

I want to fuck you, he whispered as he stroked her curves and fondled all, that she allowed.

It two-k, upstairs, we have privacy, she told him, adding a smile and a touch. Or you wait when I finish work.

Oh, I don’t like boomboom in a hurry, in some pokey, bare room. I like love-me-long-time, he smiled.

This meant that if Mark waited a short while Cielo would meet him discreetly at his hotel where she could do her best performance and pocket all of the 2k, instead of sharing it with the establishment. Despite being blinded by lust, he said he would wait.

What time do you finish? he asked, impatient to be with her in private.

Soon. She looked at her watch. Ten. You wait me at the hotel. Which one?

Bellagio, next door. Downstairs at the bar.

At that moment the mamasan came over and scared-off all the women. She shouted at them in Filipino, effectively telling them to attend to other customers—even though there were only two others—if Mark was not buying them ladies’ drinks.

You buy, lady’s drink, all of them? she directed at him with some insistence, more as a directive than a question.

Mark did a quick calculation: ten lady’s drinks, as they were called—usually just Coke or Sprite—would cost him over 3,000 pesos!

Ah, no thanks, he politely responded. I have to leave now…

You buy, one only, for Cielo. She had obviously detected Mark’s interest in Cielo.

Cielo slightly shook her head behind mamasan’s back.

Ah, no thanks, he persisted. I have to be going. With that he laid out 150 pesos for the single beer he had consumed, and the mamasan promptly snatched it up and took it to the bar on the other side to be receipted.

She a bitch, Cielo whispered in his ear. You give me tip only, diba. One-hundred only na.

Mark knew some of the rules of bars, and expectations. Customers were expected to buy at least one lady’s drink for having a lady companion, which she would drink slowly while chatting to him. So long as she had the drink, or he was willing to buy another, the girl didn’t have to dance, she could just sit with the man and talk, all the time enticing him to pay a bar-fine to the establishment in order to take her out for the night.

Mark almost ignored her request for a tip, thinking she would soon get paid for her personal ‘service’, as they called it. But in the end, after a momentary hesitation, pulled out a 100-peso note and put it down her bikini.

I’m going now. See you at ten, he responded as he stood up and squeezed out between the table and bench-seat.

Get table inside, she told him.

This was unfortunate, because Mark liked to sit at the very front of the hotel’s bar to ogle at the street scene.

Mamasan saw Mark stand up, but did not come over or say anything, just watched. He muddled his way out through the thick curtains into the hot, noisy street, alive with traffic, loud constant horns, girls everywhere walking up and down the street, some trying to call him over. He pleasantly dodged a few before reaching Bellagio Hotel, of which the ground floor was a lively el fresco bar and café, Cubana. He took a seat at the front, contrary to Cielo’s directive. He wanted, as usual, to ogle, to take in the social antics of the street, and especially all the young girls who openly plied their ‘services’ as they traversed the congested roadway and narrow footpaths.

He ordered a beer for almost half the price that girlie bars charged, and relaxed, oblivious to the drama unfolding inside Hunnies.

~

Mamasan, Abu by name so Mark was to soon learn, had immediately pounced on Cielo after he had departed.

Why he go? she demanded. You make customer buy lady drink. That your job! No drink, no pay!

Yes ma’am. I tried. But he kuripot.

Ha! Kuripot or not, you try hard.

Yes ma’am, Cielo answered demurely, biting her tongue to stop the thoughts she wanted to say from exploding out her mouth.

And don’t think you meet him outside! You know the rules.

Before Cielo could answer again with another demure ‘yes ma’am’ another customer parted the heavy entrance curtains and stepped inside to a chorus of clucking glee from all the girls. Mamasan Abu pushed through the growing throng of almost naked girls and beckoned to the new foreigner.

Welcome, she said as sweetly as she could muster, very much in contrast to her managerial style. Come, she gestured. Good table.

The man followed, more out of being lost in the darkness than obedience. She led him to the table and seat that Mark had only moments before vacated, and where Cielo still stood. Without customers there was nothing much else she could do other than be and hence appear unoccupied.

Hello, Cielo seductively welcomed him, taking his arm and guiding him into the seat, where she immediately sat close to him. I’m Cielo. Where you from?

From? Oh, Germany, he almost yelled over the loud music.

Ah. Nice, she answered with a standard cliché. What your name?

Hans, he again boomed, leaning into her ear to make sure she heard him.

You want beer? Abu interrupted, already with her receipt book and pen at the ready.

Sure. One beer.

And for the lady? Abu persisted.

Uh? he replied a little bewildered.

You buy a drink for the lady, Cielo, Abu said, with Hans not knowing if this was a question or a requirement.

Oh. Ahh, ok. A beer for her also.

Sprite, sir, Abu informed him. She not allowed beer on duty.

Ok. Whatever. Hans thought why not, couldn’t be any more than a beer.

Abu quickly wrote up the docket and stepped across the room to gather the drinks.

Cielo continued her practiced performance. You come here before?

Here? Philippines? No no, first time.

Ahh. How long you stay here?

One week.

And then you go home?

No, no. I go Thailand. He smiled, perhaps in anticipation.

Nice. How old you, Hans? she quizzed, taking his hand and putting it on her bare thigh.

Me? How old? Hans seemed to like to repeat everything that was asked of him. Oh too old, too old. Forty-five. You? How old you?

Twenty-two, she smiled.

Oh, so young.

Abu returned and placed the two drinks on the table, and the chit, the bill, in a bamboo cup on the table.

Where you stay? she asked Hans when Abu had again left.

Stay? Hotel you mean?

Yes. What hotel you stay?

The Western, I think it called. Just up the street. He took a large draft of his beer.

Nice.

That your drink? Sprite? he queried, looking at her glass barely larger than an egg-cup. He had anticipated a bottle of Sprite.

Yes. Thank you. She picked up her glass and clinked his bottle of beer. Cheers.

Cheers, he rejoined. Small. Just Sprite? You don’t want Schnapps?

Sure. But expensive.

Nah. Can’t be so expensive, Hans dismissively declared. He waved Abu over and ordered a Schnapps for himself and one for Cielo. Abu smiled, almost genuinely, as she rushed off to get the order.

How much they are? he casually asked out of curiosity.

Three-fifty.

Each!? And the Sprite?

Same, Cielo smiled, hoping this would placate any misgivings.

Bloody hell. Soft drink three-fifty!

Yes. But for a nice girl, diba, like me, she smiled.

Well, you better be nice, he declared rubbing her thigh.

Abu returned very shortly and placed the glasses, and also another chit in the bamboo cup.

Hans picked up his glass and gave a salutation: "Prost!"

Cielo just smiled and gulped down her drink, then the Sprite as a chaser.

You very beautiful, he suddenly declared.

Thank you. You like me?