“Pabunot” Pigeons

I don’t know how in English is this “pabunot” thing called. Am sure many Pinoys out there know what it is. You pay the manong some coin, you pick a tiny square piece of paper on a sheet, split the little thing open and see what number you got. If you’re lucky, that number may correspond to something as prize. I know this thing, hindi ako ganun katanda! But during my childhood years, this “game of chance” was to be had only at sari-sari stores AND the winnings would either be a plastic toy, a coloring sheet, a pencil, pen, balloons or even candies.

Never did it enter my “hinaga” that live pigeons would replace the toys! I asked the manong (actually still youngish man probably in his early 20s) how a number can correspond to winning a bird since the birds were not numbered. He said that if there is a zero “0” then the number wins. Though he clarified that others in this kind of ‘business’ can dictate other digits as winning numbers. Hmm, at 500 numbers multiplied by 5 pesos, that would be P2,500! Then I actually started to do a mental count how many numbers have zeros. Gosh, how much is each of those birds anyway?! 86 birds are supposed to be won from that whole sheet! If each bird is 10 pesos each, the manong still earns something like 780. Business sense!

I encountered this surprising scene at the side of the road near Catbalogan City’s children’s playground. Got curious as to what was this thing attracting many of them kids. So I watched as they took turns paying manong their 5-peso coins for a chance to pick a number that might cause them to bring home one of those pigeons. After 6 tries by 4 kids, none was able to bring home a poor bird. Well, I was not even sure how to react. If a kid was unlucky, was I supposed to say “oh poor boy”. And if lucky, would I have said “lucky little kid” or “poor little bird”?

I realized here, there still are kids not hooked to internet games (there are hundreds of those in Catbalogan)! But I am not really sure if this thing they were into is good. Is it?

Oh well, the “games of chance” in these our times…


Previous
Next

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE BOULEVARD, Surigao City

Image
Virtually everyone in Surigao City is related to this boulevard directly or indirectly! It's such a big thing , they even have a Surigao City Boulevard Development Program and a Surigao City Development Authority . I'm not joking. Those are for real. As in! Involved in it are not only their local politicians but also the chambers of commerce. What is it anyway? Foremost it's a 1.8 kilometer stretch of a highway along the seafront. The concrete pavement tells me it is still new. That is it! Walang basagan ng trip! It is an emulation (kumbaga sa Tagalog pa: gaya-gaya ) of Roxas Boulevard in Manila, or pwede rin Dumaguete’s Rizal Boulevard - and many other seafront boulevards. Aside from being a “park” for the residents, it is supposed to be an attraction in the city, showcasing whatever bla-blah-blah to attract tourists from everywhere on earth. While I was inclined to raise my eyebrows, it did attract me. I was a tourist, right?! So okay, without a speck of d
Read more

Balantak Falls

Image
I haven't heard about this waterfall until I was already moments away from being there! And I have no regrets whatsoever. Ah, sometimes, beautiful surprises do happen to my itchy feet. Sometimes haha! For me who had seen many a waterfall, this one would seem nothing to shout to the world about. But being there was mesmerizingly refreshing enough. How tall is it? I'm not sure, but see my habal-habal driver on lower ground and compare his height to that of the waterfall. You should get a hint, at least! Discovering Balantak Falls How I found-out about Balantak Falls ! I was in Brgy. Guirang (pronounced gi-rung) in Basey Samar, for another round of "work-related work"! While walking-around by the entrance to the barangay's main residential area, I happened to see this: A fairly new hut and open on all sides, so I asked them what it is. They said it's a waiting shed. I asked further 'who would wait here' since I knew there are no commuter jeeps in t
Read more

THE Ride from Tuguegarao to Sta. Ana

Image
Alrightee folks! I traveled from Tuguegarao to the northern-most town of Cagayan Valley, that is, Sta. Ana. And, Oh My Gee! I never expected this "mode" of transportation! It was a van, yes. The type and style that we call "UV Express" all over the country. But not the usual that I have seen, even in the more remote areas of the Visayas and Mindanao. This ride was on a piece of "flying junk" hahaha! It started like this... the night before I check-out at Hotel Roma, I asked the friendly front desk staff if there was a better way to go to Sta. Ana. than riding the bus. The very helpful suggestion was, I ride the vans instead of the bus, because, they are purportedly faster and more comfortable. Okay, I thought I would do just that. Staff even told me to remind them during check-out that I'm taking a UV Express commute to Sta. Ana. I did just that. The eager staff went out with me to front of the hotel. He hailed a trike for me and gave instructions t
Read more