Dateline Manila

“Dateline Manila” is a section from a tabloid, Celebrity Pinoy, about upcoming movies and Lolita Luna’s relationship with other celebrities, especially a rising starlet, Bootsy Pimentel, whom Lolita dislikes.

Movie Star

Lolita plays loud music, to the irritation of the general. She would like him to fund her so that she can leave and pursue a more serious acting career in America. When she asks, he speaks condescendingly to her, telling her that she has everything she needs. He also tells her that she should not be seen with Girlie Alacran, as she is a known sex worker, and this might mar Lolita’s image. Lolita asks if the general killed Senator Avila. The general calmly states that they caught the assassin, and she tells him that he is disgusting. She smokes a cigarette, which she knows annoys the general, and puts another cassette into the player. The general kicks the player, destroying it. She then begs him to arrange passage to America, but he refuses, saying that he wants her to stay. She is furious and begins to cry, saying that some of her colleagues have received threatening calls, but the general says that they are dissenters and deserve what they get. She also shares that she heard a rumor that Daisy Avila has been captured. She throws her panties at the general and asks him to leave, but he tells her that the lease is in his name, so she locks herself in the bathroom. She considers one more option to make enough money to leave Manila: an art film with close-up shots of her vagina surrounded by suggestive, violent images. The general pounds on the door, and she opens it and walks out.

Golf

Girlie Alacran dreams of her family and friends at the country club, singing a song about stars. As they sing, they are attacked by caddies who live in caves in the jungle. The caddies are armed with golf clubs, and one drags Girlie around by the hair before another attempts to beat her head in. In an act of desperation, she offers her body to them, but they are not interested.

In reality, Girlie is sitting at the club with Tito Alvarez, Boomboom Alacran, Joselito Sanchez, and Pepe Correon. Looking for someone to have sex with, Tito asks Boomboom about the different women who walk by. The others poke fun at Tito’s lack of subtlety before Pepe tells them that “the man confessed.” Girlie asks who Pepe is talking about, and Pepe is annoyed with her as Tito runs his hand up Girlie’s thigh. Pepe complains about how much time Baby spends sleeping, and after reminding them that Baby is expecting, Girlie is generally disgusted with her company. She leaves, and Tito comments on how sexy she is. Tito hopes she will return. Boomboom is content but wants to know the details of the torture that it took to convince the man to confess. Pepe then begins to tell a joke, but Boomboom blurts out the punchline. Pepe briefly feels rage but chooses to laugh along with the rest of the men. Tito notices the unstable nature of Pepe’s laughter, and it scares him.

Insect Bounty

The Associated Press releases a story reporting that residents of the Tondo district of Manila are being paid five dollars for every 1,000 flies they catch in an effort to prevent the spread of disease.

Hunger

Joey hops onto a crowded jeepney (bus) called Guilty Mother. A young boy, as well as three elderly individuals, stare at Joey. An elderly woman has a white chicken...