Island No. 132 of 7,200 Philippine Islands

Island No. 132

Lisa Rossiter shared with me this photograph while we were chatting the other day, and apparently this island is found somewhere here in the Philippines. “You’re guess is as good as mine,” she answers when I ask exactly where it is. I was skeptical at first. I mean, it could’ve been an awesome job done in Photoshop, but Lisa was insistent on its authenticity. Apparently, the same picture was featured by the dudes at National Geographic apart from being featured in another site called Purplyana: Culture of the Philippines. So, OK, I’m sold.

Now that I’m convinced that the photograph is real and authentic, next comes the question – where the hell do they get their food or their fresh water from? What about sewage? And who the hell was in charge of the zoning? And what kind of idiot would still want to add yet shanty No. 66 after discovering that 65 already packed the island? What can i say? Life’s a beach.

Well, the situation of Island No. 132 (I just named it that on a whim) is no different from what is going on in Metro Manila or in other parts of the Philippines. People crowd on an island and congest it to the max without regard on the need to adhere to some zoning and prepare the necessary resources such as a fresh water supply, or even sewage, or garbage disposal. And for lack of any creativity, they’ll put up Jojo’s Fresh Pineapples right in between Lucy’s Pineapple Stand and Betty’s Pineapples. Some idiot tourist, who notices the abundance of pineapples and pineapple stands, will still manage to ask “Miss, pineapple lang lahat, wala bang guyabano?”