The Leftist Order

THE BASTION

The Makati International Language School or MILS at Dela Rosa Street in Makati City was a former overseas worker's bravado. For medical workers and aiders, desperate for a chance to go abroad for greener pastures, this is truly a godsend. According to them, there was a program designed by the school, enabling you to learn basic Japanese language (According to Japanese Language Proficiency Test the bracket is under N5-N4) for just six months. The school was part of the Bridgeway Group, a known group of companies of manpower services around the country (Their offices and recruitment firms were located in Manila, Cebu and Davao) and was established in 1995 by Mr. Marcus Deakin. Mr. Deakin or "Kuyang" as some of his close associates fondly calls him was a ex-abroad worker. The son of a Olongapo-based strip club dancer who was abandoned by his American naval officer father, he worked on various odd jobs as a student and was a consistent honor student. His dream was to buy a large house for his mother and to secure their future. His father, who was already an established family man prior to his assignment to the Philippines, met his mother in a night club and got in a one night stand, resulting in his birth. After just a year, the U.S. military placed them to the U.S. base in Okinawa for a special mission and was never heard of again. The desperate woman tried to contact him but to her amazement, he told her that he already had a family and she should forget him. This left his mother emotionally scarred for life. Which by means, full of mistrust to all men that progressed into deep seated hate.

This loathes also consumed Marcus which allowed himself the use of the philanderer's surname as his own to taunt him. With this traumatic experience etched in his young mind he strives to be triumphant until the end. As the Martial Law succumbs the whole country to extreme poverty because of the dictator's lavish lifestyle, the mother and son's income did not improve. To meet ends, after four years in high school instead of accepting a scholarship program for college he applied for a blue-collared job bound for Japan. This unanticipated change of plan was the source of a heated debate between them, but in the end since both want to fill their empty stomach; Marcus packed his bags and starts his language training.

In the early nineties, working in Japan was less bureaucratic (This is also the time when most women flew there as an entertainer in a Yakuza-run pubs and clubs) and migrant workers from Southeast Asia flocked there since the country progressed after World War Two. Marcus was assigned in a textile factory in Gunma (A prefecture in Japan, north of Niigata). At first the work was tough, plus a demanding boss is another pain in the ass. After three years had progressed, he became used to it that he became a quality assurance checker. Since then, another good performance and lack of tardiness enabled the plant manager to place him a notch higher as the Production Department Head. By this he became active in supporting his fellow countrymen who also like him, faced the same problems in their workplace, he also sympathized with the newbies, listening to their grievances of homesickness, comforting their lonely hearts. In 1992, Marcus acted as a middleman to arrange a deal with Bridgeway Group (With one of their Manpower Agencies) to send 5,000 factory workers legally to their branch at Fukushima. The offer allowed him to oftentimes meet the agency's CEO Philomena del Rosario. Marcus at once fixed his eye on her, willing to place the bait to catch this big fish. At a glance, you could tell, she is no match to him physically. At thirty six, this wealthy spinster who had a penchant for fine clothes and fancy jewelries is an unattractive wench. The woman is also known for her stinginess towards her employers, getting underpaid most of the time. She also had a reputation for being shrewish; taking pleasure in demeaning others she thinks are too dumb to form their own opinion at least, causing some to just quit their jobs just to avoid her. Marcus, on the other hand is ten years her junior with a suave charm. A good conversationalist that can pull anyone towards him, which is an irresistible combination for any woman. With his half American looks and silver tongue, she was into him after a week and then the pair made it to the altar at the end of the year.

In reality the union was not a bit as expected. Since Philomena is obviously the money machine behind everything, Marcus was always subjected to her overbearing scrutiny.

A domineering figure in his every move. In case he was caught womanizing, an annulment paper was at hand preventing his hands to get a grip to her financial assets. Since Marcus’ goal was to use her to get what he wanted he played the dutiful husband and the workforce behind her manpower agency to her. Because of Marcus’ sales prowess (which attracted many applicants to Philomena's agency)he was placed as President in all of Philomena's companies. As a member of the reigning political clan in Makati City(She is the Mayor's niece), Philomena became one of the most revered woman in the city which allowed her company to claw its way onto the top of the pyramid. With this two dynamic combination, Bridgeway Group still grew to become one of the most sought after manpower services provider in the country.

Then in 1995 the Makati International Language School was born. The school was intended to provide consultation to help applicants find a university in Japan that will accept them as enrollees. Back then, during the Asian financial crisis which struck the economy of the whole Asia down. Japan became stringent in accepting visa applications especially wannabe tourists from third world countries.

With that proposition, the only way for the Philippines to allow its citizens to enter Japan rapidly and legally are through the "exchange student" program. Men and women who aspired to go to Japan for better future, flocked the offices for application which would boost the revenue of the company(At this point, the couple had difficulty conceiving a child because some say Philomena had problems with her ovaries leading some to suspect that she had terminated a pregnancy in secret prior to her marriage). Marcus continued to urge them, especially

who had relatives in Japan that can act as their guarantor to not let this opportunity pass by because surely after finishing their studies there, they can guarantee a better job opportunity and a mapped out future. 2005 is surely another blessing for Bridgeway Group (precisely MILS). The Labour attaché in the Philippines, together with the Ministry of Labour of Japan signed a memorandum of agreement, allowing three thousand skilled workers every year to grant them working visas for the following industry: Nursing, Farming, Hotel Management and Housekeeping, Construction and Metal works, and lastly Manufacturing Industry.

The candidate must subject themselves into a one day screening process wherein representatives of the Japanese employers would conduct a one on one (or sometimes panel) interview. When the entrant passed the series of interviews, he or she will undergo a Japanese language training for six months, which of course paid by the employer. After that, future employees should take and pass the Japanese Foundation Skills Test (JFT) and the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) for the Japanese government to certify that they can speak the language well needed for the specified industry. Since there was also a boom for Nursing and Caregiving at the time, many new graduates of nursing and former nursing aides came forward to Marcus to apply. The couple seized that chance to again augment their income. Before acceptance, applicants who wish to join their learning program should sign a tripartite agreement which states the following:

1.) That an individual who a close relative of the applicant must be financially capable to be their guarantor. The contract is protected by a bond that if breached monetary settlement will take place

2.) The school will provide the necessary lodgings of the applicant on a condition that the applicant must stay there during the course of the training. Drinking is prohibited at any rate during this period

3.) Weekly allowance for the student's daily expenses shall be provided by the employer/benefactor through the school and will be given every Monday after class.

4.) Tardiness and Intoxication is an indictable offence. Would-be offenders will be automatically terminated from the program. Guarantors are subjected to pay the bond.

To ensure excellence, Marcus hired graduates from his alma mater, the Philippine Nippon Technical School in Batangas and some Japanese natives to become their school's language teacher (sensei). Unfortunately for these hardworking fellows, getting underpaid

and Philomena's ill temperament drove some of them to resentment or worse - to resign.

Before the beginning of January until June of 2005, MILS successfully registered many former nurses and nursing aides as their first up to fifth batches of students. By the end of July the earlier batches took their first JFT's and JLPT's and seventy percent of them passed the first round which satisfied Marcus and applauded his teachers for training them well (But not Philomena who continues to manifest herself to the employees how superior she is).

By the end of September 2005, before the tenth batch commence their language training program an unknown serial killer(or some say monster) etched fear into the hearts of transients and boarders residing in Makati City. Someone or something infiltrates homes and attacks random women-and some babies and toddlers.

According to news reports, the killer's modus operandi is a bit bizarre and somewhat gruesome:

"The victim's orifice(mouth, ears, nose etc.) was brimming with dead flies,

the killer also left a hefty number of these nasty creatures within the crime scene. Then the killer made an anatomical surgery of removing the victim's head which was done in a peculiar manner, some speculated that it was "clawed". Proceeding to the lower abdomen, the killer like his vicious manner of decapitation,

made an opening to remove all the victim's liver, spleen, intestines and heart in which is nowhere to be found."

Similar reports also surfaced within Washington Street and in Makati's outer circle (Bangkal and Rembo).

Meanwhile that Sunday evening, Yuri finished grocery shopping, buying all the stuff she needed. As she pulled her shopping cart towards the Taxi bay, she waved into one of the units on standby to take her home. The taxi pulled in front of her, the chauffeur gave a hand to load her bags on the back compartment and hailed towards her condominium unit located in the innermost part of the city.

As the taxi entered a narrow street to avoid the rush hour traffic in the main road, a sudden loud thud on the top of them promptly cut them off. As the two got off the vehicle to check what had just happened, a mysterious figure with bat wings was seen flying towards them. The chauffeur became terrified when he recognized the monster, grabbed Yuri's wrist and cried," It's a Tik-Tik!!!! Run faster Madame!!!! Hurry!!!!!"

“Tik-Tik or sometimes called Mananagggal is a type of flying Aswangs with large leathery bat-like wings which spans at around two meters with entangled hair as hard as a tin wire. It's body is glistened with filthy drab-colored oil like substance.”

As the two run for their lives (With Yuri's face still shocked to disbelief), a swarm of flies appeared from nowhere attacking the sly famished cryptid. Yuri and the cab driver watched in amazement as the monster struggled to ward off the pests. Then the shaking man called on to Yuri, begging her to take this opportunity to escape but the woman wouldn't respond, fixated

to the amazing spectacle. Appalled, the chauffeur hastily ran off, abandoning Yuri who hid in one of the double parked cars to record the event using her phone camera. Unfortunately for the flying monster, he was overpowered by the sheer number of flies trying to eat its way onto his skin and he was thrown to the ground struggling still. While the monster is busy resisting the flies the same man in gray hooded jacket and covered face with surgical mask and shades rapidly thrusts his katana at its back piercing the monster's chest. He then positioned at the front of the cryptid, positioned his sword in a side-ward arc which hastily beheads it.

To Yuri everything she saw was very unreal, as if it was just a bad dream. When Yuri decided that she had to make her escape covertly, she accidentally stepped into a discarded soft drink can that caught the vigilante's eye. Yuri became stunned by fear as the man approached her slowly, grabbed her phone and destroys it. Because of what happened to her phone, she was brought back to her senses and protested. As soon as she opened her mouth the man revealed his right palm. He threw an invisible wave that knocked her down unconscious.

Then slowly, Yuri opened her eyes and was astonished to see that she was in a

lying-in clinic. As soon as Yuri tried to get up, the chauffeur from the evening incident ran towards her, helped her to sit by the bedside and warned her not to tell anyone of what happened that evening. But curiosity really got into her that she persistently asked the man again, then the driver whispered something into her ear," It is very hard to explain Madame. If I were you. I'll just keep my mouth shut if you don't want to be laughed at".

The man then got up and nodded to her telling her to take care of herself. Yuri then thanked the man by giving him a Japanese bow. Before the chauffeur leaves he told Yuri that all of her shopping bags were inside the cabinet beside her bed. As Yuri sat down on the side of the bed, these questions still bothered her- What was that? Who is that guy?