The other side of the coin

Last night's encounter got me thinking... that when it comes to encounters like that, I'm lucky to be a guy. I remember horror stories from gay friends about their encounters with male prostitutes/callboys. Ok, I'm sure there are females out their who pay for the services that these men offer, but I don't know any of these people, and I'm sure they only comprise a small part of these men's clientele. I mean, except for bridal showers, I can't think of any instance women would pick up callboys. And at those bridal showers, my female friends tell me they don't touch the men, their gay friends are the ones who end up in the bedroom with those men. Maybe old lonely ladies could pick them up occasionally... now i'm veering away from my main topic. hehe. so anyway---

There's this place in the Manila area called Nakpil street where these men hang out. I've passed by the area several times and the men are practically littered in the streets! No Joke! It's like a gay shopping market, you could take your pick from a lot of assorted items! haha. And when a car passes by, these guys would flash their smiles hoping to be picked up. It's funny how at one time I was trying to find a bar in the area so I was driving slowly, then a lot of those guys kept following my car. Geez, as if I would pick them up! I was laughing by myself at that time, but looknig back, that was one nauseating experience. It's an open secret that the area is a haven for male prostitution--- okay, maybe it's not really an open secret for people who are not familiar with the area. But in the gay community, and for people who know a lot of gay people (hey, I went to UP in college, and there are a lot of gay people there)--- let's just say these callboys don't need to advertise to make people aware of their location. And even if a person doesn't know that Nakpil street is the place to pick up men for hire, one would know by just passing by the area. The area is obviously a red light district, I'm surprised that the city government has not done anything about it... or maybe they're just turning a blind eye.

I've heard several gay friends endorse the area to fellow gays--- about heavenly experiences, and how there a lot of good looking guys in the area, unlike in QC circle or those other places where the men look dirty, filthy, ugly--- practically any derogatory adjective one can think of. hehe. but I've heard a lot of traumatic experiences too. Here's the story of my gay friend #1:

On one lonely night, he picked up a guy in the area. He thought he was the perfect guy, sweet, funny, loquacious, animated, real kind, a perfect gentleman. And he did look good. After doing the deed, he was asking for an amount far larger than the amount they agreed on. The callboy threatened my friend, that he would beat him up. He saw my friend had an ATM card, and told him they'll go to the nearest ATM machine to withdraw money. Yup, he emptied my friend's ATM account. And on the way he was so harsh--- the complete opposite of his initial persona, that he kept pushing and cussing gay friend #1.

Now take gay friend #2. He picked up a guy in the area also. Same scenario, the guy seemed too perfect for words. They were looking for a a cheap motel, the guy recommended a place. turned out the operators of the motel (or some people pretending to be operators) were part of the callboy's modus operandi. They got his cellphone, watch, and ATM card. poor gay friend--- It's bad enough that he didn't get laid, he lost his valuables to boot. He's lucky they didn't take his car. And they threatened him not to call the cops, and being meek and mild, he stayed silent.

And here's my gay friend #3's sob story. same scenario. picked up a guy, seemed too perfect for words. My friend was short on cash, so the guy just suggested this isolated place. They parked the car, and just as they were beginning to do the deed, the guy brought out a knife, which was like 10 inches long. geez, now there's going to be murder, in addition to theft?! I bet my friend was hoping for some other thing measuring 10 inches to stab him. hehe--- nasty comment there. anyway, The guy took his phone, ATM cards, credit cards, jewelry, and the CDs in his car. Good thing my friend reported his credit cards stolen before the thief could use them.

And for my gay friend #4's--- wait, make that gay acquaintance #1's story. Same beginning: picked up a guy, seemed too perfect to be real. THey parked on an isolated area. Agreed on 500 bucks. After the deed,the guy said he deserved more than 500 bucks for what he did. WHat he did--- that part of the story I didn't ask. hehe. Apparently the guy wasn't that big, because my acquaintance said he was bigger, so the callboy can't do the threatening style to get more money. The guy got his car keys and ran. My acquaintance chased his, but since the guy was so fast, he agreed to pay him-- with the all the money he had in his wallet. After getting the money, the guy threw the keys, and when my acquaintance got his key back, the guy was nowhere to be found. (the guy must be the flash)

For gay friend #4, who's probably the most unlucky of the bunch---- same story, except he made the mistake of bringing the guy home. After doing the deed, they both went to sleep. When my friend woke up, the guy was gone. And so was his laptop, dvd player, jewelry, and the contents of his wallet. Ouch. no wake up call could beat that.

I've heard of a lot more horror stories. In a way, I'm lucky to be a guy. I mean, no callgirl/ prostitute can threaten to beat me up. I would have beaten them to a pulp before they could even hurt me. And if i wasn't afraid of making a scene, I doubt if that slut form last night could've gotten money from me. Also I'm not really vulnerable emotionally--- at least I don't think I am. Okay, at least not much. For gay people, it's so much different. For one thing, they're more vulnerable to physical abuse, unless they're one of those gay men with huge bulging biceps. And their loneliness make them even more vulnerable to these vultures. I asked my friends what keeps them coming back to the area even with such bad experiences. They always say it's LONELINESS. sure, sometimes they're just plain horny, but most of the time, they pick up these callboys because they need companionship--- even if the companionship is not really genuine since they have to pay for it.

At times, I pity my gay friends, or gay men in general. Most of them want love from straight men, but that's impossible since by definition,straight men can't fall in love with fellow males. To get that, there's always something in exchange, be it money, some other material stuff, or maybe a shot at fame. SOme are aware that the love they get isn't real, but some are enveloped in the illusion. And it is this need that keeps them coming back, even if the last encounter was a traumatic experience, hoping that the next one would be the right one, hoping that the next one can give them what they really need. Before when I passed by the street, I thought it was funny how the place seemed like a market for male meat, with all those callboys bargaining with gay men who pass by. But now, after hearing all those tragic encounters, in the arid desert that is Nakpil Street, these poor gay men aren't the hunters taking their pick from numerous wildlife, looking for the most prized animal they can take home. They are like weak cattle, who got lost in the desert, with those numerous vultures encircling them overhead, even before they've taken their last breath. What makes it even more pitiful is that they don't realize that.