Once Upon A TYPE…

Pakalog – The Latest Prostitution Trend in Cavite City

After living more than a decade in Manila (Philippine’s capital)  my parent’s have decided to move in my mom’s town in Cavite City. It is a small town in Cavite, surrounded by the waters of Manila Bay and South China Sea. Home base of the Philippine Navy and Sangley Point, America’s Naval Base in the 50s.

Being able to grow with the local people, my siblings and I have adapted to the simple Caviteno ways of life. People are all fantastic. Oldies normally speak in Chavacano (old style Spanish) and fiestas are all fun to attend. Gorgeous boys and girls are all around the corner…Well let’s admit it, Cavitenos are well known to be good fashionistas and kickass smart, am I right?

After almost 6 years of being away in the country, so many things have changed in the lives of our teenagers in Cavite City. Every time I come home, I always tell my mom that things have changed in town. And looking back to my previous chats with my family, I have learned that teenage suicide is becoming rampant in Cavite. My brother, Benok’s best friend “Je t’aime” committed suicide as a result of frequent arguments with her boyfriend and family. My sister, Inah’s high school classmate decided to take his own life by swallowing firecracker powder, all because his girlfriend broke up with him. Our nearby neighbor’s niece also had suicide by using silver cleaning liquid which is very poisonous.

Now, from a footage done by Ted Failon for his TV program Failon Ngayon, he has featured Cavite City’s latest trend in prostitution – PAKALOG. See the video for vivid details.

I could still remember how my pals in high school used PAKALOG in our day to day activities…well let me define what it’s meant for us BEFORE:

PAKALOG – a Tagalog jargon for “classmate, penge namang barya pambili ng…shake, flying saucer, or yosi.” It is a friendly term for asking pals some money to buy simple stuff like food. We are doing it because we do not have money, but for fun.

NOW:

PAKALOG – a Tagalog jargon which is an ex-deal for prostitution in exchange of some money…take note, some money ONLY! And now they are doing it because they gravely need money to feed their hungry tummies!

Looking back from where I started my article, looks like so many things have changed! Yes, teenagers these days are more competent in doing things, trendier in wearing clothes, and they treat life for granted. Looking back, I think we’re not getting any better.

What happened to our education system? What’s wrong with the parents these days? They are supposed to protect their children but now they’re the one pushing them in the mud of darkness! What is the Department of Social Welfare doing to reach out kids in need of help? What’s going on with the newly elected officials in the city town office? Mayor Ohmie Ramos, can’t you do something about this?

Cavite City is such a small town and I am just a concern citizen who’s currently in Cambodia now earning a living for my family, who comes home every year to visit my relatives and friends. Aplayang Munti is where we always “tambay” when we’re in town and having PAKALOG around is not good to hear and could make us change our minds in going there.

This latest trends simply proves deterioration in many ways. Deteriorated government system, deteriorated education system, deteriorated parenting, and deteriorated way of living. If nothing will be done to make these stop, let us all face it that we’re all bound to “kangkungan.” I am sure of that.

Related posts:

1. Cavite City Regada Festival
2. 101 things why I miss Ho Chi Minh City…
3. Sott Kelby’s World Wide Photo Walk

Tags: cavite city, munting aplaya cavite city, pakalog, pakalog cavite city, pakalog jargon, ted failon, ted failon ngayon

This entry was posted on Friday, October 29th, 2010 at 4:38 pm and is filed under Daily Dose. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.