An excerpt from the book WINGS AND WANDERLUST – The Art of Discovering Your Inner Self (send the book as a Christmas gift to friends anywhere in the Philippines, Php450 all postal charges included, received via JRS in 2 to 3 days, no credit card needed. Email request to eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com).
every path is unique no one can live your life for you gurus can only give tips and guidelines in the end you fly your own aircraft you flap your own wings you watch your own sunset you find your own path in your own way in your own style when you enter the dark forest good and bad things lurk to make and break your soul take the chance, you will not regret it darkness and light will encompass you make the Lord your beacon for He is the Light in your darkness gather strength in His grace and everything will fall into place beyond your imagination eastwind
On my second day in Athens, I wandered into Syntagma Square in the center of the city.
GREEK WAITER (dressed in all-white) – Hey you, Filipino! ME – Hello. GREEK WAITER – You Filipinos are the craziest people I have met ever. ME – Really now. How come?
There were about ten waiters dressing up with white linen a long table about a third of a kilometer long across the entire square. It practically ended at the horizon.
GREEK WAITER – (Moving his finger 360 degrees.) You see this table, 300 meters long all around? This table is for big shots like the mayor of the city or an important businessman. This table is expensive. Only rich people have their parties here. ME – What does that have to do with crazy Filipinos? GREEK WAITER – (Pointing to one giving instructions to other waiters.) You see that crazy Filipino over there? ME – That’s the crazy Filipino? Looks normal to me. GREEK WAITER – You don’t understand. He is a humble second officer in a Panamanian ship that just landed in Piraeus yesterday. He can’t possibly afford to hire this long table. ME – If he is a Filipino seaman, he can. GREEK WAITER – That’s what I mean. You guys are crazy. He saves his salary for five years and spends it all in one birthday bash. He is inviting all Filipinos in the entire city of Athens, I mean all. Now, tell me, what is the logic in all that? ME – I don’t think you would understand even if I explained it to you. GREEK WAITER – Try me. ME – Well, okay. Filipinos have a different way of looking at things. Money is not everything. You work your ass off, that’s okay. But for a Filipino seaman, you earn money to spend it. GREEK WAITER – I give up. You’re just as crazy. I wouldn’t kill myself for five years inside the belly of a lousy ship just for a birthday party. He’s crazy. ME – I agree. He’s crazy alright. But in a commendable way. He likes a birthday bash. What can you say? I must meet him and get invited.
I walked over to him and he smiled upon seeing me, speaking in our native language,
MONCHING (Filipino merchant marine) – Name’s Monching. What ship are you from? ME – Name’s Bernie. No ship. I’m not a seaman. That waiter says you are crazy for having an expensive party. MONCHING – (Laughing.) You only live once. You’re invited anyway to my birthday tomorrow night. All Filipinos are invited, no matter who they are, what they are, nurses, musicians, bar girls, whoever. Tell all Filipinos you know. Listen, I’m busy. You go talk to my friend Kardo over there.
I went over to Kardo. He had a huge duffel bag with him.
KARDO – What ship? ME – No ship. KARDO – I am the US Navy. Big warship. What are you doing here? ME – Not much. Just passing through? KARDO – And you’re not a seaman? ME – Nope. KARDO – That’s strange. You must be a tourist. Filipino seamen were not aware of Filipino drifters, hitchhikers, which were rare at that time. I did not bother to explain.
KARDO – (Whispering furtively, to make sure no one else hears.) Listen, man, I need help. ME – Yes? KARDO – You see this?
He opens the huge duffel bag. I peered in and saw a ton of blue seal Salem and Winston cigarettes, green and red like Christmas decor.
KARDO – You help me. We sell this in the night bars. You get free drinks. ME – You’ve got about $2,000 worth in there, right? KARDO – Shhh. Shut up. Five thousand. That’s just for this week. If I am not tired, next week again. Unlimited supply. ME – I bet. You have a friend in the commissary. KARDO – Yes, Filipino also, my best friend. He gets 20%. Okay, okay, I’ll give you a commission. ME – I’m not interested in a commission. I’d like the drink though. KARDO – You’re on. Let’s go. ME – You navy men are crazy. KARDO – Of course, only way to be. This is nothing. I smuggled Harley Davidsons in Corsica and Smith and Wesson in Rotterdam. I’m a businessman, sailor on the side. ME – You got anything in mind aside from making money on the side? KARDO – Of course. Women. You want a woman tonight? On me.
I did not reply. And so we left Monching, fixing up his birthday party, and went around the bars. I was amazed the bartenders knew him. He must have been smuggling cigarettes regularly for years. We had one or two free drinks in every bar. After about ten bars, we were dead drunk. The duffel bag was now almost empty. Kardo treated me to American steak somewhere. I could hardly walk. I couldn’t go home, so Kardo dragged me to his three-star hotel. Pretty good. I ended up with a hangover and missed Monching’s party. I could have met the entire Filipino community of Athens but I had a splitting headache from retsina, the Greek wine which smelled and tasted like aviation gas to a Filipino. eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com
Read more eastwind memoirs http://www.sisterraquel.com/2014/04/eastwind-memoirs-collection Send the book as a Christmas gift to friends anywhere in the Philippines, Php450 all postal charges included, received via JRS in 2 to 3 days, no credit card needed. Email request to eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com).
A Christmas Card (click photo to blow up)
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