The biggest thing in this picture is the internet ad — aside from that, it’s just an ordinary boarding house, with lodgers hanging out on the porch above the street.
This particular boarding house is across the street from the main gate of Foundation University, so it’s likely that at least some of the people staying there are students. I don’t know the people pictured here, but the young man, who is turning into the dark on the right, seems student-like; the strap over his shoulder indicates a book-bag, and his shirt is perhaps part of a school uniform. But he doesn’t live here; the sign clearly means, “Women Only”.
“Accept Lady Bedspacers”, the sign says; another sign, now half covered by the internet ad, said “Accept Lodgers”. Accept— this seems strange — as though the owner is doing you a favor to take your money for a place to sleep, and then only if you’re a “lady” and otherwise approved of.
Job applications here have similar language, specifying what age, what sex is acceptable, and even then, requiring proof of “good moral character”. It’s clear that for lodging or work, the owners hold the upper hand without restriction. It’s a classic buyer’s market.
These women on the balcony- it’s hard to say who they are from a casual glance like this, but they’re obviously acceptable in some way. The woman on the left seems to be the mother of the little boy beside her; the woman in the center seems friendly and outgoing and that’s all you can say.
Whoever they are, they’re part of the boarding house in some way: helpers, lodgers, owners, family friends, hanging out on the balcony in the afternoon. It’s a scene that would have looked the same on some other balcony fifty years ago. Except for the internet ad.
The internet didn’t exist fifty years ago, nor did cell phones, laptops and I-pads. And everybody is now connected to everybody else. There’s hardly a person poor enough not to have a cell phone, or access to the internet.
When technology changes, social change follows- slowly or quickly, but absolutely- even in Dumaguete. The internet is not restricted to “young ladies of good moral character” nor are the opportunities it offers. The only requirements are ability and skill. This will change everything.
But young people will still hang out on balconies in the afternoons.
