The Stranger (OFW series Part 1)

in my attempt to make something meaningful out of this blog, i will start my OFW (Overseas Filipino Write-ups) Series. I will tell you about the mundane things about living in a highly globalised world. After all, Marshall McLuhan's adage applies to my every day existence.

I will document, make fun of, be sentimental about, overanalyse, criticise and basically, share, the littlest, the corniest, the craziest things about being a Filipino outside the Philippines. You know what I mean: what it feels like living with strangers, how to say yes and no in different languages, where to eat the best peri peri chicken, why you can proudly wear mini skirts abroad when in Manila you prolly won't; when is the best time to call home, what website to go to for the best Pinoy news; etc etc etc.


I will start by telling you the story of the "historical stranger".

One time I was running late for work and a Malaysian couple asked me where the MRT is. I can't say no to strangers asking for directions, so instead of giving them a vague you-turn-left-then-cross-the-street-kind-of-stuff,I asked them to walk with me as my office is located near the station.

The guy could speak fluent English. The girl could only speak Bahasa.So basically the guy was the only one I could converse with.He told me that he immediately guessed that I'm from the Philippines because of my accent (that's the very very first thing strangers will tell you!)Then he asked where I study here (that's the second thing strangers ask me).

He said he had stayed in the Philippines for two years. He said he lived in Legaspi Towers in Manila - the one in Makati not the one in Roxas Blvd. Yes, he clarified that there are two Legaspi Towers in Manila (wow, I didn't know that).

He asked how's the Philippines, is Arroyo still the President. When we were like 3 meters away from the MRT, he asked me if Noynoy is really running for President.

I told him yes, Noynoy is indeed running and told him that I was impressed that he's updated with what's happening in the Philippine political scene. Then I asked him if he knows Noynoy, then he said:

He was just a little boy then.

So of course, I asked if he knows Ninoy.

Then he replied:

Yes, I was at the airport when he was shot.


Then a bitter smile appeared on his face. He looked up at the street sign, we're already outside the MRT station.

Wait. He was at the airport when Ninoy was shot? What was he doing there? Was he a friend, a classmate? Or merely a stranger who happened to be at the airport during one of those historic moments? I wanted to ask him the 5Ws and 1H of that particular moment. But he remembered Noynoy as a little boy back then so he's probably a close friend, a family friend, a fellow Anti-Marcos?

I was supposed to ask all these questions. But he said his thanks, both he and his wife smiled at me, and he went to the escalator and was swallowed by the rush hour crowd. I did not had the chance to ask for his name.




He was a fragment of history, he was probably one of those men who ran towards Ninoy when he was lying dead at the airport. Wah. I did not even ask for his name. I do not question the authenticity of his story, because he seemed really really sincere when he mentioned that he was at the airport when Ninoy was killed.

And since this is part of the OFW series, he's one of those thousand fleeting strangers I encountered, but definitely the most memorable one.