Words by Kathlene Masilongan
Featured Image by @porkironandwine
I love when people get their creative juices flowing. As a frustrated fantasy writer, stumbling upon the #ManilaEncounters hashtag somehow awakened my hibernating brain and made me look at the city which, on most days, only serves as a backdrop for my mundane life.
I’m not sure how the hashtag started but when I first came upon it, it was being used to share everyone’s unusual Manila encounters but it gradually evolved into a celebration of this not so Alternate Universe Manila. Here are some of the best tweets from the hashtag that will make you look at the metro in a totally different way–complete with magical beings, shadows in the night, and even the good old historical hugot.
Illustration by @porkironandwine on Twitter
1. The millennial albularyo
A millenial albularyo investigates a lump that was allegedly cast by a witch on a patient’s arm. It’s nothing like he’s ever seen before. He feels it with his hand and hears a croak from it. The albularyo, taken aback, exclaims:
“Weird hex but ok”
— ✨?Moon?✨ (@witch_moony) February 25, 2019
2. Libingan ng mga bayani
#ManilaEncounters walk into the libingan ng mga bayani and press an ear to his grave. listen to the simmering, angry silence of three thousand unjustly killed & to the terrified screams of a dictator finally getting his due.
— stella (@isnotsamantha) February 26, 2019
3. Diwatas are sly creatures
Take caution when giving out your name to charming coffeeshop baristas after ordering — if asked, “May I have your name?” say, “No but u may write [name]” or just lie.
One can only wonder what happens if those sly Diwatas succeed in possessing your name.#ManilaEncounters
— ɢᴏʟᴀɴ (@golaaaaaaaan) February 26, 2019
4. Tagu-taguan, maliwanag ang buwan
#ManilaEncounters When you hear “psst” from behind you in Manila, only to find no one, don’t be alarmed. It’s the ghost of the kids who died in the Battle of Manila in 1945, trying to play with you. They were raised to hide from the Japanese, thinking the war was but Tagu Taguan
— Joem’s Buff Baby ? #42 Kabataan Partylist (@BlazerBeLiftin) February 26, 2019
5. Maginhawa who?
#ManilaEncounters There’s a secret street in Teacher’s Village not too far from Maginhawa called Mahiwaga. All the houses here look lavish. The trees are tall, twisted, and beautiful. There is a perpetual scent of Ylang-Ylang. There is only one karinderia here, all are welcome.
— diwata! (@diwataMANILA) February 25, 2019
6. In short: traffic
#ManilaEncounters manila is 3 hours away from manila, no matter where in manila you go, because manila is an endless, winding labyrinth. we’ve all been wandering for a long time, unknowingly. turn back while you still can!
you can’t.
— Kat ? (@bykatmasi) February 26, 2019
7. Titas of Manila, unite!
TITAS OF MANILA. Titas of manila, they always come in threes. If you pay close attention, you’ll see. One spins the thread of fate, one dispenses it, and the last one decides when one’s life is at an end.
— Astrihd von Zarovich (@glittersnicket) February 26, 2019
8. A new take on realism
I’ve been scrubbing my sneakers for about half an hour now, but blood is still caked into the soles. The smell of rotting corpses seemed to cling to me, and I fight the urge to vomit.
They didn’t warn me that Spoliarium would be this realistic. #ManilaEncounters
— cly would die for klaus (@CL4UDEM0NET) February 26, 2019
9. Tao nga ba?
#ManilaEncounters They are known for many things. For their mouths, that thirst for things forbidden. For their claws, that tear at you until they’ve had their fill.
But most of all, they are known for their lies.
“Tao po!” an voice calls, inhuman.
They are such bad liars.
— stella (@isnotsamantha) February 26, 2019
10. Go to Gilmore for all of your reformatting needs
In a store at Gilmore, you say, “Pa-reformat po ng memory.”
“Laptop?” The technician asks without raising his head.
“Hindi po. Ng memory.”
He finally looks up and notices you are emptyhanded. He takes you to the old lady in the back.
You leave a new man.#ManilaEncounters
— Rogue Witch (@B_RA_Ve) February 26, 2019
11. The spirit of Manila
i wake up, there are flowers everywhere. i can’t breathe, i can’t breathe. above me, a hole opens up and a bright light beams on my face, an old man peeks inside.
he says hello. it’s a voice from my childhood!
it’s lito atienza. im inside his shirt
— reg #88Akbayan (@reginarebueno) February 27, 2019
12. Better cover up
You were about to sleep just as the electricity went out. You started to get hot so you stuck your foot out the blanket. You suddenly remember your irrational fear of being grabbed and quickly cover it again.
You hear a soft sigh from under your bed “sayang” #ManilaEncounters
— Edlen Sanchez (@edzwashere) February 26, 2019
13. Waze can only do so much
#ManilaEncounters At midnight, Waze tells me to turn right at Balete Drive.
I refuse, and in my refusal is a punishment: San Juan, all blind corners and high concrete walls, is labyrinthine.
Waze recalibrates, and recalibrates, and recalibrates. I can’t get out.
— princess leia de lima (@staennis) February 26, 2019
14. For all the Starbucks lovers
Learn to ignore names called by baristas in SB. If you hear the name Magwayen being called, keep your eyes focused on your phones or wherever. Avoid looking at the person at the counter. It’s the goddess of death getting her caffeine fix. She hates attention.
— #postmodernunicorn (@tofi_alonte) February 25, 2019
15. Saksak puso, tulo ang dugo
One day, you managed to be the target of rage of the evil engkantos. They danced around your half-dead body, singing a familiar tune.
“Langit, lupa, impyerno…”
It’s too late when you realize they weren’t playing – but picking where to send you off to. #ManilaEncounters
— jewel (@jewelenrile_) February 26, 2019
16. Night classes are something else
Late class: 6 to 9pm
Every hour your prof would ask for you guys to have a head count
Prof: Okay 20 lang ha, may dumadagdag kasi.
— g buenaventura ?✊ (@smthngnthrn) February 26, 2019
17. We’ve all heard this story before
#ManilaEncounters
“I really don’t like the vibe at Starmall Alabang.”
“It isn’t just you. They built it over a cemetery after all.”— Mia Marci (@miithinks) February 26, 2019
18. The only friend you’ll ever need
#ManilaEncounters
Everyone knows the rules. Say her name three times in front of the mirror. Wait.
Her bloody face appears, and breaks into a smile. “O, kumusta?”
You sit and sigh. “Bad trip eh.”
She tuts sympathetically. “Wanna tell me all about it?”— ghost potato (@delpilak) February 26, 2019
19. Second-hand camera for sale!
FOR SALE: Olympus AZ-2000 film camera
PRICE: negotiable, I just wanna get rid of this thing tbh.
RFS: old, but quality is fine. I just don’t like how every so often some people would come out headless in the photos and die a month later
— Joem’s Buff Baby ? #42 Kabataan Partylist (@BlazerBeLiftin) February 26, 2019
20. That’s why they closed it
#ManilaEncounters It becomes what you feed it. In the early days, it had been peaceful, quiet & calm. But as wars raged, bodies dumped, & pollution piled, it has become ugly. Violent. Blood thirsty.
Now, the waters appear clean but we know the truth.
Manila Bay craves flesh.
— stella (@isnotsamantha) February 26, 2019
There are still so many fun and creative stories in the #ManilaEncounters hashtag on Twitter! Couldn’t sleep at night? Stuck in traffic? This hashtag is a gift that keeps on giving, accompanying you through the twists and turns of Manila. I could fill a whole website with these entries because they’re all so good. Visit the hashtag if you have the time!
What are your favorite #ManilaEncounters entries? Do you have your own?
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