Gagamba

PLOT SUMMARY:

Gagamba

Tranquilino Penoy, better known as Gagamba to the populace of Ermita, at the heart of Manila particularly in the outskirts of M.H. Del Pilar nearby the grandiose Camarin restaurant, was one of the few people who have survived the 1990 Luzon killer earthquake.
On July 15, 1990, the often crowded city of Manila was struck by the strongest earthquake recorded in the Philippine history. The whole city was under a big shock for some minutes especially those who are inside the Camarin restaurant which is known to be a majestically stood building offering some services of women for male adults including big personalities like politicians. The popular building is now on isle of crushed rocks and cement from which under the rubber and piles of stone were the fine diners.
Gagamba often stays in front of Camarin restaurant while selling sweepstakes making him familiar with the customers of Camarin and even knowing the stories of their lives. One of them is Fred Villa who is the frequent owner of Camarin since Didi Gamboa, its real owner had migrated in United States. He was in charged with the selection of the girls who will work at Camarin. All these women have been tasted by him already and one of them is Lina who came from Pampanga. Another one who is also a regular customer of Camarin is Mars Floro who is Fred’s friend. Joe Patalinghug, who came from Cebu with his wife Nancy, who dreams a good life here in Manila but lately to found out that life in province is far better than that of the city. The next character is Pedro Domingo, also called as Rizal because he resembles the national hero whenever he wears his tuxedo is a valuable and easy going head waiter of Camarin. Rizal had discovered his wife had a cancer and there was only two months live. His children do not know what to do and Rizal makes all way to cure and extend the life of his wife. He tried so many faith healers one of those was the faith healer of former president Marcos. He goes to Baclaran and wishes for his wife to surpass the pain that she is suffering from. Jim Denison, a foreigner, is having his first Asian tour wherein he was able to find his half sister, Emma Denison, who is a half Filipina. Upon joining several law firms, Eric Hariyan and Gaston Navato have been imprisoned in Camp Crame because they opposed the Marcos government. Even if they had experienced a lot of trouble, they still remained as best friend. Another customer of Camarin are Senator Reyes and Eduarto Dante, who because of money and fame can get whatever they want as quickly as they want, people such as Dolf Contreras who is the husband of Elisa and Tony Picazo who decided to go to abroad to support his family are also customer of Camarin. Fr. Hospicio dela Terra, Tony’s fromer teacher was renting a room and when they reunited, they had a great conversation wherein Father told him a lot of story.
The people trap in Camarin had money, influence in the highest places in the society. The earthquake had happened all the Jaguar, Pajero and other vehicles parked outside of Camarin restaurant are destroyed like a scrap of metal. Almost all the people inside the Camarin died aside from the three survivors who are Joe’s six-month old daughter who had found by the rescuer. Gagamba doesn’t know the parents of the child but he knew they came from Cebu. He named the child Namnam, named after his wife. After three days of searching, they found Fred Villa who had survived because of the water that is being drop from the faucet but unfortunately he had been paralyzed. Gagamba, who has survived as well think that God was everywhere, and it was God’s breath that blew him away from the blocks of cement that had crashing down. He then realized how just God is. He may not be given a normal life just like the others but he is really loved and protected by God.