As Tuesdays go, my yesterday was different than usual. I’d prepared a power of attorney for my daughter (her auto loan is in my name) and scanned the document to her, but the credit union wanted the original. Since moving here, this is the first time I had to physically send paper back to the USA. My little town has no FedEx outlet, so I used a similar service called LBC Express. I had to make two trips to their office because they required the recipient’s phone number and email address, neither of which I had on my first visit. The real shock came when it was time to pay–a two-page document weighing less than an ounce was almost 3000 pesos ($60.). Yikes! I hope I won’t need this service in the future.
The other out of the norm experience was doing my Tuesday night drinking with Swan at her place instead of in a bar.
Early in my visit with Swan, her nieces came “home” from school. They’ve been staying with her recently, and Swan had previously asked me if I would allow one of them to stay after I move in. I did a little research and found something called Republic Act No. 7610, “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,” which includes this pertinent provision:
(b) Any person who shall keep or have in his company a minor, twelve (12) years or under or who in ten (10) years or more his junior in any public or private place, hotel, motel, beer joint, discotheque, cabaret, pension house, sauna or massage parlor, beach and/or other tourist resort or similar places shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000): Provided, That this provision shall not apply to any person who is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity or any bond recognized by law, local custom and tradition or acts in the performance of a social, moral or legal duty.
Now, if Swan were the mother or legal guardian, I might have some protection, but a kid I’m not related to staying in my house is a huge red flag. As I understand it, this is a non-bailable offense, and I’d potentially rot in jail for years waiting for a trial. All it takes is someone with an axe to grind calling the authorities and I’m guilty until proven innocent. I posted this issue on one of PI forums I belong to and the consensus opinion was “run, Forrest, run!”
So, I advised Swan last night that her niece would not be permitted to stay at the house once I moved in. To my surprise, she said she understood, and that would be fine. So, issue resolved.
Swan’s sister arrived shortly after our talk (not the mother of the niece in question), so other issues pending discussion had to be tabled for the night. The gals drank wine, I drank beer and spun some tunes from my Spotify playlist for our listening enjoyment.
Swan prepared a nice meaty dinner that I failed to take a picture of; I ingested some more beers and enjoyed the company. I’ll be glad when the day comes that I don’t have to make that drunken walk home in the dark. It’s mostly uphill too. Oh well, I made it safe and sound.
Via Facebook memories, I was reminded of my last failed romance in Korea (well, with a Korean, I mean).
I’m going to feed the girls at Hideaway tonight, then see what happens next. I do have a 500 peso voucher for Whiskey Girl I need to use, so that will definitely be one of my stops. Here’s hoping I don’t do anything stupid.
At least I’m smart enough not to do something dumb enough to put me in jail. I ain’t fighting the law!
shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its maximum period
So “prison mayor” sounds as if some Spanish ended up in the English. In Spanish, for example, edad means “age,” so una persona de mayor edad is a senior, i.e., “a person of major age.” Is that what’s going on here, or is the law really saying you get to be mayor of the prison?
I also enjoyed watching the sun go down from the living room patio.
Beautiful shot. And October’s not far off. Found anyone for your current place yet (I realize that’s not really up to you, but still)?
a nice[,] meaty dinner
Delightfully vague. Filipino-style? Amurrican-style? Something else entirely?
and then crazy reared its ugly head
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Hot/Crazy Matrix.
Here’s hoping I don’t do anything stupid.
You know, if you just avoided alcohol altogether, you’d cut way down on the stupid.
…Naaaaaah. Chemically enhanced living is better living!
Well, good luck as you figure out your near-future living arrangements. And make sure some nubile young niece doesn’t “accidentally” slip into bed with you one night so she can practice her reverse-cowgirl technique.
In general terms, I agree with Kevin’s comment about avoiding alcohol to prevent stupidity, but on the other hand……….
Alcohol – because no great story ever begins with someone eating a bowl of lettuce!!!
Brian, speaking for myself, I do stupid stuff with or without beer. Same thing with air. I see no reason to give up either!
Though presumably well-intended, that law is so terribly drafted as to be preposterous and subject to bizarre and arbitrary interpretation.
Who knew “beer joint” was a legal term?
And “any public or private place” would seem to cover the bases sufficiently and render any further enumeration redundant.
As written, the law would seem to apply if you were at the beach and a minor was present, even if accompanied by both parents. There’s no clear exception for non-relatives of accompanied minors.
And what constitutes “in his company?” If some kid walks up and tries to sell you food or trinkets, or even sits next to you on a bus, how fast and far must you run to avoid potential exposure to a criminal charge having a penalty of life in prison?
Run, Forrest, run, indeed.
Kev, I see now it should be “prision mayor”–I changed it to “prison,” thinking it was a typo. According to this, the meaning is: “The duration of the penalties of prision mayor and temporary disqualification shall be from six years and one day to twelve years, except when the penalty of disqualification is imposed as an accessory penalty, in which case its duration shall be that of the principal penalty.” Now we know–six to twelve years in jail for being alone with a minor you are not related to.
I have had two looky-loos so far. In both cases, they deemed my place too small for their needs.
The dinner was beef chunks in a white sauce served with mashed potato. It was good. Swan does know her way in the kitchen.
I don’t recall seeing “the hot/crazy matrix” before, but it was good stuff. The problem with Eun Oke was she was normal most of the time, then off the scales crazy after a few beers. I tried and failed to get her to moderate her intake.
if you just avoided alcohol altogether, you’d cut way down on the stupid.
Nope, not me. My stupidity does not seem to increase with alcohol consumption, in part, I think, because I’m on guard when I’m drinking. I make bad decisions, sober or drunk.
As to a young niece “slipping into bed with me”–that ain’t EVER going to happen! The problem is that being alone with a minor you are not directly related to under any circumstance is a crime. I’ve heard of guys being arrested for being with the girlfriend’s kid at the mall. In another case, the guy brought the girl to the bus station on his scooter (and the aunts were following in a car), and he went to jail, despite the family’s protestations. It’s a crazy law, and I intend to avoid any situation that could be viewed as a violation.
Drain, yes, the law is poorly written and full of redundancies. But as I mentioned in another comment response, enforcement runs the spectrum. Someone called the cops on a guy at the mall with his girlfriend’s daughter, and another guy got busted for giving a girl a ride to the bus station on his scooter. Scary stuff, and it is just best to avoid ANY situation that could be interpreted as violating the broad standards outlined in this law.
It is my understanding that the key violation is the being “alone” with the child part. If a parent or guardian is present, you’re okay. Still, as you note, where do they draw the line? At the beach and the GF says, “Honey, I’m going to use the CR; please watch Trixie until I get back.” Nope, take her with you. Better safe than sorry.
Agreed, but I note that the law doesn’t even specify “alone” with a minor, pretty impossible at a mall or bus station anyway. Common sense should prevail, of course, but this being the Philippines…
Such squeezable ambiguity.