Dr. Pearl, Ikabud, and The 100-Peso Bill

Being confined to my house for over a week has started to fray my nerves. I never realized that doing absolutely nothing could be so stressful.

This so-called "week off" from work has been nothing short of disappointing. Firstly, our technical training has been postponed for two frustrating weeks. Secondly, I won't receive any payment during this vacation period, and I'm in desperate need of some cash. The promised allowance will only be provided after the completion of the technical training, and these delays are depleting my reserve funds.

Nevertheless, I made the decision to escape the confines of my home before I lost my sanity. I reached out to some of my friends from work and suggested meeting up at SM Clark. I emphasized that I simply wanted to hang out, with no particular purpose in mind. We could enjoy the mall's air conditioning, soak in the sights, and not spend a penny. I arrived at the mall with a mere 100 peso bill in my wallet, along with a few smaller bills and coins in my pocket—barely enough to purchase anything to eat.

Soon, my friends joined me. However, their idea of hanging out involved sitting around at Starbucks and sipping on expensive drinks. I foiled their plan by claiming to be allergic to coffee and lactose intolerant simultaneously. I'm unsure if they bought my excuse, but they agreed to go to a slightly more affordable place—still a status symbol among the youth—called Dr. Pearl. They specialize in various flavored shakes with jelly pearls.

We settled into patio chairs, perusing the menu. During times when I'm strapped for cash, I read menus like the Japanese read newspapers—starting from the right, where the prices are listed. I opted for a small Watermelon shake, which cost me 50 pesos.

As we sat there, engaged in conversation, I was grateful for the opportunity to make the most of my 50-peso investment. After we all finished our shakes—which took about an hour and a half—the majority decided to head to Ikabud, a well-known resto-bar at SM Clark, located alongside Dr. Pearl.

At this point, a hint of worry crept in. Naturally, everyone would contribute to the bill, but I was too proud or embarrassed to admit that I couldn't contribute as much as they could. I allowed them to order, and thankfully, they seemed to realize that my funds were limited, so they didn't go overboard. The seven of us shared two buckets of Red Horse beer and a plate of Pork Tofu salad. When the bill arrived, I could only provide 70 pesos—ensuring I had enough left for my jeepney fare—while the others covered the rest.

This experience taught me that you don't need a substantial amount of money to enjoy the company of true friends. I had a wonderful time and completely forgot about the monotonous week I endured.