❝A FOURTEEN DEGREES NORTH LATITUDE, I thought at first that he was coming at me to give me a monumental scolding for taking pictures of his daughter. I mean the godmother, which does not come out in the wedding report because I was passing by and my intentions were different. Although, it is true, in the church of the convent of St Agustine they warned me days ago that early Sunday morning, returning at noon, there would be kasal (wedding), and not just one, so I dropped by the most traditional neighborhood of Manila, that of Intramural (Intramuros), where, although after the Japanese bombed the Pearl of the Pacific it no longer looks the same, a little Spanish find the friendliest corners of this capital.
The boyfriends They arrive separately at the temple in different but synchronized cars, not like in Spain, and inside, halfway down the central aisle, he waits. Because, well, apart from the fact that the figure of the godfather does not count for anything and it is the godmother who directs the ceremony at all times, with just a look —and the occasional snort—, the bride must wait at the doors of the temple, which will soon they open wide and the marriage takes place. I will not bore here with more details. The feast I was booked a block away. The whole neighborhood smells divinely of garlic and suckling pig.
But let's go back to the godmother. Inevitably I remembered Imelda Marcos and even though she was packed and wrapped in a scented shiny dress from cinnamon colour (with a better tone than that of the new emperor of Japan, I want to clarify), that he did not leave enough air for much movement, he asked me with a good face if I was an American. What a mania! I thought automatically. "No, I'm Spanish," I had to clarify. "And is he a friend of my daughter?" He insisted. "No, I only arrived in the Philippines a week ago," I added, still not believing anything. "Stay for the ceremony," and he continued to tell me some details, as the white limousine maneuvered into the square with no space and it began to rain. The boyfriend, who was twice the age of the protagonist, yes he was American. But he snuck into the church and we didn't speak.
I preferred to eat away from Intramural (Intramuros) this time. In Manila you will eat well wherever you go●
Restaurant dining room Barbara's Heritage in the heart of the Intramuros neighborhood.
