yes, i’m a sissy. i never got the courage to walk up to a stranger again until today. the last time was too easy. this one, though as easy as the first one, was difficult to digest.

name: lourdes

age: not important, but with the hardened life she’s had, who knows

address: binondo, manila

occupation: barker*, mother of 4

territory: where the quiapo jeepneys are found in manila

we had a long conversation about raising kids in that part of manila, how important it is for them to stay in school, and how proud she is of her 21-year-old son who now works at a big local fastfood chain.

she’s a barker for quiapo jeepneys, one of the occupations that make our manila culture interesting and busy, and she’s damn proud of it.

hard times, desperate measures. it would’ve been an altogether inspiring story if not only for the part of our conversation that involved some trafficking. i don’t want to go into that really.

my fourth stranger, found in Binondo.

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* bark?er –noun
1. an animal or person that barks.
2. a person who stands before a theater, carnival sideshow, or the like, calling out its attractions to passers-by.
3. in Filipino slang, one who calls out to passengers for jeepneys

**this photo is part of the 100 Strangers pool, come join us.