I once took a jeepney outside the usual tourist spots to see what life was like for Filipinos. Somewhere in the red-marked area on the map, they were selling fried chicken – I can't quite remember if it was wings or legs. But the fried chicken had no meat. They were selling bones coated in batter and fried.

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Is this like the "bone chicken" that was popular in Korea at one point?

I'd never seen it before, so I didn't know what it looked like exactly.

When I asked the price, I was shocked: 10 pesos (about 250 won). It was incredibly cheap.

I bought one to try.

How do you eat it?

A woman guiding me showed me how: "You eat the crunchy white cartilage at the end of the bone!"

Where's the meat?

"There's no meat. You eat the cartilage!"

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Is this perhaps the "pagpag" I've heard about? Did they collect it from places like Mang Inasal or Jollibee?

Neither the street vendor nor the guide said anything...

I asked the woman, "This is for the *taong grasa* (homeless people), right?"

"Probably..."

I told the woman, "You ate it earlier, so you're *taong grasa*!" You *taong grasa*!

The woman's expression turned serious, and she shouted "You!!!!" at me. Filipino women seem to have a lot of pride. They never back down.

I tried it, and it suited my taste. I've always liked the texture of cartilage, and it was savory because it was fried. It was delicious...

As I walked further, somewhere in the yellow-marked area, a gambling session was in full swing right on the street. It was a poker game. I don't know if they were playing Hold'em or Seven-card stud. There were three to four people sitting at tables playing, with about ten people watching each table. The stakes seemed quite high, with many 500 and 1000 peso bills visible.

They're gambling openly on the street, and they don't get arrested? This is a country where the government broadcasts bingo and sabong.

I wanted to join, but as an outsider, I was met with suspicion, and they had the aura of seasoned gamblers. So, I decided to just pass by. Besides, to join a game like this, I desperately needed a friend to translate. But that day, my friend was at Chanel...

I want to go back again if I ever visit Angeles City.

It's not far by jeepney.