Numbers Game

Mang D used to work in my grandmother’s coconut farm. He was an expert at climbing the tallest coconut trees and usually got top pay for bringing in the most coconuts for copra production. A cheerful fellow, he was well liked by many.

One day he was invited to take a swig of some tuba (fermented coconut water) by the men who frequented the local watering hole (sari-sari store). Unknown to Mang D, a pill was mixed in with the tuba. Before long, Mang D felt strange and he noticed the quickening of his heartbeat. He thanked his generous host and went off to the direction of his house.

While on his way, he noticed that there was a beautiful bird singing up high a coconut tree. It was as if the bird was calling to Mang D. Without a second thought, he climbed up the coconut tree.

The next thing he knew, he was on the ground and wringing in pain. Luckily, a neighbor happen to pass by. Noticing that there was something terribly wrong with Mang D, the neighbor went off to get help.

When asked what he was doing climbing an electrical post, Mang D could only shake his head. Everything was a blur for Mang D. He had burned both hands.


In order to save Mang D, the doctors had to cut off both arms. The right arm was cut just below the elbow. While the left was cut closer to his shoulder.


That was several years ago. Mang D can no longer climb coconut trees but he has found another source of income. He goes around the barangay taking in bets for the local numbers game popularly known as Masiao. Bettors reach into his shirt pocket for the neatly folded paper and pen to write their number combination. They then place their bet in the right pocket of his pants.

Life goes on for Mang D.

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Masiao, the illegal numbers game, is alive and well in Leyte and many parts of the Visayas. A bet of P1 on a three number combination can mean a kilo of rice the next day—if one is lucky. The problem is that kilo of rice may be long in coming if one does not have the winning combination.

And so it goes in many barangays in the city and in the rural areas. Stories of large winnings fan the gambling flame. This is an addiction that is hard to beat when hope for a better life is just a P1 away.

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On a lucky day, a hearty meal for many rural folks consist of a can of sardines. To extend the amount of serving, vegetables, noodles or an egg is added. But on a bad day, a meal could mean day-old rice and ginamos. Ginamos or bagoong is tiny fermented fish.

But to me, it’s always a lucky day when ginamos is present in any meal. Served plainly with a dash of calamansi and it’s a dipping sauce for fried meat or boiled green bananas. It can add life to stewed vegetables or the perfect addition to sautéed trio of tomatoes, onions and garlic.

It’s a numbers game when guessing how much rice you will end up eating when you have ginamos--- plain or fancy.