Malate, as much as I love its little cafes and sidestreets, will always be Malate.

My fear of Malate started when my friends recounted their oh-so-famous run-in in a popular cafe in Malate which refused to let them enter for no apparent reason. Judging from the UP-FA fashion, I'm guessing it was because of the Adidas Gazelles, faded jeans and too-small rummage sale T-shirts.

Ever since that story, I avoided Malate like a disease, mainly because, no matter how cowardly it sounds, I'm afraid of being in a crowd of bourgeousie. It's horrible to feel lost amidst people who look like mannequins. I mean that with wide-eyed sincerity, without any snide underlying.

The last time I'd been there was half a year ago and I've never been there again since. I'm really a scaredy-cat, except when I summon my quixotic moods. Meow.

That is until tonight, since, like the good old 70's acid trip, in an afternoon flurry of madly-typed IM's, I'm joining my friends for a girl's night out at Malate instead of rotting in my usual seat at the gallery. It's really getting pretentious, the gallery, or maybe I just need to be elsewhere, for a while. Maybe I need to get away from myself, cause there's a lot of self-loathing right now. Or I'm the one being pretentious! No time for pointing fingers. It's gonna be fun hanging out with Judi, flem and Honey again, after a long time. It's goinag to be just like how we used to hang out in camiguin, except now we definitely won't have sand between our toes, and the sunset won't be as smashing.

My goal for the night is to have my picture taken with one of the drag queens roaming Malate streets, dubbed The Most Beautiful Non-Women In Manila. I know I should stay in bed and nurse my flu, but I figure cheap beer and good conversation with girl friends is the best medicine money can't buy.

I conclude
Saturday, sept 222001 : 12:18 a.m.

We all probably shine so brightly when viewed from beyond --- a surreal landscape of discordant elements. Inhabitants make their planets and environment glow. The Universe is a showdown of Lights! Souls are like Diamonds, and diamonds are polished when rubbed with other diamonds. So i conclude that souls are brighter due to the constant friction of interaction.