Lost is Quiapo, three blunders in one day

The universe conspired against me today, March 11, 2008.

I made three errors in my stories. I left my concentration in my apartment: I said the budget 2008 budget was P2.227 trillion instead of P1.227, I said the budget was for the "three Gs" instead of the "three Es," and I wrote Executive Order 127 instead of 712.

It's easy to blame it on fatigue, after all, I'm working the equivalent of three print reporters on two major beats, but at the end of the day, it's my responsibility.

I just wasn't myself today, I need a vacation bad.

I decided to call it a day early. I usually walk from the Malacanang press office to the Legarda LRT station, but I decided to take as jeep to Quiapo and take the train from Recto because of the early evening drizzle.

There I was, a 27-year-old lost in Quiapo. It was a long walk. I held on to my bag and my phone in my pocket, I was in snatcher territory.

I asked for directions from a pedicab driver. He didn't give me a straight answer. He couldn't believe that I couldn't find my way to Recto. I hope he burns in hell.

Luckily, a policeman (or at least I thought he was one) was on the street corner, I recognized him from his "Manila's Finest" sports shirt. His motorcycle wasn't marked.

He said I could take the jeep or walk the entire stretch of what I assumed was Avenida. I decided to walk, and in the 250 or so meters, I found out that at 5:30 p.m., you can buy the following in downtown Manila:

• DVDs (porn, American TV, movies)
• what I assumed were inflatable dildos (Imagine a shampoo sachet, 12 inches long, and with a picture of a penis)
• a "live show" (The faces of the girls were displayed on white illustration boards covered with plastic wrap that were displayed in front of doors that open to a narrow staircase. They looked like they were in their later 20s to early 30, and auditioning for "That's Entertainment)
• squid -- deep-fried crispy calamares style, or dried and roasted over hot coals
• knock-off fashion -- rubber shoes, shirts, jeans, jackets
• Diplomas, the one I saw was supposed to be from DLSU
• huge speakers, the kind that makes your heart and lungs beat
• roast pork belly (I would have stopped for one, but the place didn't look hygenic) and chicken

I decided to treat myself to Jollibee chickenjoy for dinner, but only the wing part was available. I ordered it just the same. It didn't taste fresh and it was a it overcooked. Damn. And the Jollibee Katipunan branch charged VAT separately, which explained the unusually steep bill. It said so in the receipt.

I hope I used up all my bad luck for the year today, and I'm really looking forward to my vacation.