CARPE, Feven Joshua R.

RIVAS, Cyrus Rom P.

TTH 09:15-10:45 AM
January 19, 2015

Deviance Case Study: Part 1

We are done having a phone call with kuya Christian Baluarte. We would like to
thank Ms. Zyra Quinto my apartmentmate`s mother for going to the Cagayan City Jail to
make that phone call happen. By the way, he is at Cagayan De Oro City jail. We know
him, because he was the exdriver of my apartment mate here in Davao. He was a
trustworthy and loyal driver of her family. That was not the first time we talked to each
other, despite it`s my second time talking to him, I still felt nervous. We had like a scary
image of him in our minds because he was convicted before. So we swallowed
everything we got so we can talk to him on the phone without being coward or
something. So, we started our conversation like this Kuya kumusta at pwede
pakikuwento ang istorya ng buhay mo?
Christian Baluarte was born in La Union, Ilocos Region. He also told us that his
name was not really Christian Baluarte, he said that he don`t want to share his
humiliation with his clan. He said by the time he entered the jail in Cagayan. He decided
to change his name to protect his clan. Kuya Christian was born on December 23, 1972.
He said that he chose the name Christian because he`s birthday is close to the birthday
of Jesus Christ aside from that he wants to change his life for the better. Christian
Baluarte`s parents are Sophia and Ferdinand, he didn`t tell us their last names though.
Kuya Christian was the 7th child out of 12 of them. They were four boys and eights girls
in his siblings. At the age of four years old his oldest sister died because she was bartered
by his father. He said that he didn`t understand what`s happening on that age but he said
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that he was so angry with his father. He went to study at BITAG PUBLIC SCHOOL IN
LA UNION. He added we are not that poor to be honest, My dad was a barber and my
second oldest sister was working as a maid so we have a lot of sources for money. My
dad`s game plan that time was to make sure that me and three of my brothers are able to
finish school because he believes that we were the key of our family to raise them out of
the poverty line. At the age of eight, I was expose to drugs and weed. I didn`t use it in
that age though, not yet. There I realize that my brother the fourth oldest was dealing
drugs at the age of 15. I didn`t know what weed and drugs are so I just let it slide. I
graduate elementary with no honors, but the good thing is I graduated. At the summer
after my graduation I saw that my father was part of the drug and weed dealing that time.
I was scared because I know that what they were doing was extremely wrong. For days I
can`t sleep and I just keep on thinking about it. It made cry and mad for almost a week. I
do not know what I ate but I decided to talk my dad and my brother out of the drug and
weed dealing business. I talked to my dad I said Pa masama diba yang drugs? and my
dad replied wag kang makialam buntalun taka. Buntalun is an Ilcoano word that means
punch. I was scared but I still insisted, so he punched me right to my jaw, I was knock out
with that punch my father gave me. The day after that incident, it was almost one week
that me and my dad didn`t communicate.
At the age of thirteen, I was planning to enroll in secondary school near our
house. My dad and my older brother supported me though with the money they got from
drug and weed dealing. It still bothers me that time, I was thinking this is not a decent
way to go to school, this is not right. So because of my mentality I decided to not to go to
school and layas, because that time I was thinking that I can`t live with this illegal
system my dad and my brother are dealing with. So I went to have an adventure to San
Fernando City. I almost forgot to tell you that I was able to go to San Fernando City by
the means of using the money given to me by my father and older brother as tuition. So I
embarked my journey in the city of San Fernando, it was smaller than place I was used
to. So I looked for places that need workers. To be honest it was really hard looking for a
job at that age, I was really skinny that time too. It was so hard that I was thinking to sell
my drugs myself. The first day, the first week and the first month was the hardest. My
tuition money was running out and I was sleeping in the streets with newspapers as my
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bed. The cold nights, the aching stomach, and the evil thoughts crossing my minds are
my worst enemy that time. Every day I walk countless kilometers just to look for a place
to work or to stay. I walking and walking and walking until miraculously I saw a sign that
says Wanted Kargador, I was happy that time, for first time there was hope. It was a
junk shop and when I entered I was welcomed by the Owner his name is Boss Lee. I
asked him if I could apply as a kargador, he stares at me and said uhm, batang bata ka
pa ah, parang hindi ka atang pwede mag trabaho rito baka kakasuhan ako ng gobyerno. I
was sad and I replied Kahit lang po na maliitang suweldo, wala na po akong makain at
matirhan. So eventually he gave me a chance, but the condition is I will only receive
five pesos per 15 days, but the food and the shelter will be accommodated. The shelter
was a budega and the food wass crap. It was all year noodles and sometimes our boss
feeds us with expired dishes, but I did not complain I was still grateful that time, that I`m
doing the right thing.
Next year before my birth month the junkshop was closed, because of bankruptcy,
so I was hysterical. It`s like I`ve been torn inside, the feeling of losing something you get
use to was so hard for me as a thirteen years old. So I`m back again at the streets looking
for a decent job. I`m back to the cold nights, and the aching stomach. It`s been days
begging near the St.William Church. I was sitting there in my newspaper bed for five
days straight begging for money. I don`t know what hit me, but I stood up and started to
walk and look for a job. I keep on thinking why would people hire a beggar like me. First
of all is I stink and my clothes are too dirty. I was walking and walking and walking, until
I saw a group of women wearing really seductive garments. I was shocked at the same
time amaze. I whispered to myself Ohh so this is prostitution. A group of gay prostitute
came to me and they said Ang gwapo oh, atin nalang siya. I was scared that time, those
were gays and I don`t even know them. But while I was backing off, one of them told me
that they will take care of me and feed me. I was hungry that time and lost, so I took their
bait. They groomed me and feed me like they promised. But after all of that one gay
started molesting me, I couldn`t move because some of them are strangling me. I was
crying and asking for help, I was even shouting. Then one gay that didn`t join the group
molesting me said TAMA NA! he said Di ba kayo naawa sa batang yan!. They
stopped, but I didn`t stop crying. I was sobbing, then they helped me to stand up, while
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saying sorry. I was filled with mixed emotions, I was glad that they stopped molesting me
and at the same time I`m scared that they might do it again. I left and ran as fast I can, but
before I started running, the gay who stopped them said To ang buhay kay kaialngan
maningkamot jud ka, himua jud tanan para makakaon ka. While running, I`m
remembering that sentence.
I was back at the beginning, I was back to begging near the church again. My life
turned into circles, going back to square one. In the church their was a beggar just like me
he was younger than me about nine years old. He looks really sad, I touched him and he
was hot, then I concluded that the kid has a fever. I went to the nearest hospital to get
some help ,but all of them rejected me, even the pharmacy. My mind covered with the
thought that I need to save this kid, I need to find money. Then the only solution that I
can think of is sell my body. I said to myself kaisa lang, para lang ni sa bata. So I went
were the prostitutes are lurking and I stand near them, and eventually I saw the group of
gays who slightly molested me. They asked me why I was there and I replied
Nahinanglan man gud kog kwarta. So they helped me find a customer, So I`ll be able to
get the money I need to help the sick kid. A foreigner hired me, a guy foreigner, I think he
was American or Canadian, oh I said who cares they all look alike. While we are
mating, I got emotional inside, thinking that this is happening to me, and why I did this,
but what occupied most of my mind is the sick kid near the church. After that night, I
went to the church to see the kid, but I was too late the kid died. I was crying, I keep
blaming God for what had happened. I lost faith in him, making the kid die? I`m
supposed to save him, why didn`t you save him? I continued being a prostitute; I
swallowed my pride just to survive the difficult way of life. My clients pay me above 100
pesos that time. I think I can consider myself that time as a top prostitute in that alley that
time. I was doing that job for some time just to survive and save money to go back to my
home in La Union. Even though I hate my father and my older brother because of their
job of dealing illegal drugs, I still missed them that time though. I cannot stop thinking
about them since I left them. I missed my sisters and brothers. I keep thinking what`s
happening from them. I felt this longing when I left. That`s why I dont mind who is my
customer, even if it`s Indian, Canadian, or even Pinoy. I just keep telling to myself that I
need to survive and I need to save money so I could go back to my family in La Union. I
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can still remember a jar that says Pang-uli. Every day I put about fifty percent of my
income from being a prostitute in the alley. My life was really sad that time spending my
Christmas and birthday alone. Some days I ask myself am I gay? I just need the money
that`s why. But I fall into girls, not to guys nor to gays.
I saved a lot of money that time by selling my flesh to numerous clients. I gained
friends from that alley where I stand and waited for hours just to get customers. At the
October of 1986 I decided to go back to my home in La Union. I rode the bus and bough
some pasalubong for my siblings and my father. I was excited that time and at the same
time afraid, because my siblings and my father won`t accept me back.
I arrived in the terminal, then I rode a single, nang pedicab gud, because that
was the cheapest way of transportation back then, and aside from that my house was quite
close to the terminal. I saw my home there have been a lot of changes since I left for
about two years. I saw my ate Marjorie, she hugged me while crying. I remembered this
words coming out from her mouth Wala na si papa to. I cried and cried and cried. I
was in greif, I wanted to commit suicide that time. I ask my ate Marjorie kalian siya
namatay ate? She said anim na buwan na nung inatake siya sa puso, may sakit kasi sa
puso si tatang, nung lumayas ka lumala ang kanyang sakit. I punched the wall , while
crying. I keep blaming myself for the death of my father, what if I didn`t run away. What
if I stood by him, only if I knew that this will happened I have had never left. Because of
me he is now dead. If I just stayed , my dad should not be dead that time. The morning
pass and it was about six or seven in the afternoon when my older brother arrive, Kuya
Jiro. He is my kuya who accompanied my father on drug dealing. He said Bat ka andito
and I said Kuya sorry, then he replied di mo ba alam dahil sa kagagohan mo kaya
namatay si tatang. I was astonished by that statement and I started to cry again while
asking for my kuya`s forgiveness. He added Di ka kabalo sa hago namo ni tatang para
makaiskwela ka pero gibyaan lang gyapon nimo mi, wa kay utang na loob . I keep
asking for his forgiveness, I keep on saying Kuya patawarin mo na ako, bata pa kasi ako
kuya, sorry. Then he added again Maayo pa, wala ka nibalik!, ng binut-an nimo?
Walay kay maabtan ana!, wala kay makuha ana!. After those exchange of word me and
my kuya had, our siblings stopped us. I decided to stay at the house, I visited my dad`s
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corpse. I`m used to not with them for almost two years being alone, but knowing that you
father is dead, is really a different story.
I was there in La Union, In my home. My kuya Jiro still do not talk to me. I still
think he does not forgive me yet. He was still in illegal drugs and marijuana business
though. I just let him do his thing, because he was supporting the family though. Ate
Marjorie and Ate Lisa got pregnant. My kuya Jiro was really mad. Eventually ate Lisa
and ate Marjorie left the house and stayed with their respective husbands. I was sixteen
then but I experience different kinds of life that a man could have; be a prostitute, be a
beggar, be a kargador and etc.
Seven months later, Ate Marjorie got married. We were invited of course, me and
kuya Jiro were there. We rented the cheapest barong tagalong for my ate`s wedding. We
wittnesed their vows and we enjoyed the reception. Me and my older brother, Kuya Jiro
are getting along.
Kuya Jiro is a guy who prays a lot and thinks of his family first before everything.
To be honest he does not have any girlfriend yet, because he is devoted to sustaining our
family more than everything. In the new year day`s eve of 1989, me, kuya Jiro and my
siblings celebrated new year together. We ahd a small buffet, lechon, and spaghetti. We
also setted up an altar for our late mother and father. We enjoyed each other`s company.
We started to joke around, and entertain ourselves. Ate Marjorie even said to kuya Jiro
Mag bagong buhay ka na kuya. Kuya Jiro replied Eh di wala tayong makakain.
Everybody laugh because everybody in that gathering knows what Kuya Jiro`s work is.
In this year, I wanted to help my older brother in sustaining our family, so I
decided to look for a job. Then there I was hired in the port, in the fish port to be specific.
I was a kargador there carrying the fishes from one place to another. I was not getting
enough money though. The salary I made their wasn`t even enough for me, but I gave it
all to the family`s allowance. All I can think of, is as long as I`m helping kuya Jiro it`s
okay.
Five years late, In the year of 1995. Kuya Jiro fainted while walking on the way
back to our home. He was rushed to the hospital, everybody were confuse, and scared at
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the same time. I think it was just kuya`s fatigue levels, because of too much working. But
the doctor called me and said that my Kuya Jiro has a stage three prostate cancer. I kept
the doctor`s statement from my siblings. I don`t want them to worry, and I know kuya
Jiro doesn`t want them to worry either. I said it to kuya Jiro and he said that he knew that
he had prostate cancer. He just don`t want us to worry about his condition. I said Kuya
ipagagamot ka namin, maghahanap ako ng paraan para makakuha nga eight hundred
thousand,, para mapaigamot ka kuya. He just laughed and said Loko loko, wala tayong
perang ganun.
I cried and started to look for work. I was a kargador in the morning, and a janitor
in the night. Saving up to 800,00 is not an easy thing to do. At the same time kuya Jiro`s
illness is getting worse. So I decided to swallow all my pride and entered the drug dealing
industry, I was selling drugs to clients, and sometimes even delivering it door to door. I
was doing this drug dealing for years and made different connections through it. I begged
for donations for my kuya`s operation but it was not enough. In March 16, 1998 my kuya
died, his body finally gave up. That time, until now, I still blame myself for the death of
my father and my kuya Jiro. If I just did something earlier I could have save them from
their deaths, or maybe they could have last longer. This time it was so tough I`m the only
one sustaining our family, my other sibling are helping though, but I`m the one who is
main source of our income. I continued the drug dealing business.
On the year 2000, I stopped dug dealing, me and my family has saved up enough
money to create a mini sari-sari store. I also applied as a taxi driver in La Union. While
buying in the mall, I saw a beautiful cashier. I talked to her and we exchanged numbers.
We talked and talked until we got along. At the year of 2002, we got married. We had a
small house in a lot quite far from the city. On January 1, 2003 our first baby was born.
She is a girl and her name is Jera, I named her after my Kuya Jiro. Life was tough that
time and my worked as a taxi driver is not helping. So me and my wife decided that I
should go look for a better job. A friend of mine ask me to go back to the drug dealng
business, but I neglected it. Another friend of mine ask me If I want a job in Cagayan as a
driver and bodyguard of wealthy guy in Cagayan. The wealthy guy was Jessica`s

(Feven`s roommate) father. He payed me more than what I need to sustain my family`s
financial needs. I go back to my family twice a month.
One evening of 2007, I surprisingly visited my wife and my baby girl, but what
welcomed me escalated my anger. I saw my baby lying on the bed sleeping, while my
neighbor and my wife are having sex. I can not remember what happened next to be
honest. Blood were all over the knife I was holding and I saw my wife naked and my
baby girl crying. Aside from that I saw my neighbor dead naked on the floor. I picked up
clothes and ran. I went back to Cagayan, but what I`ve done was known by everyone.
When I arrived at the Cagayan De Oro Terminal, a bunch of police cornered me. I could
not do anything. So I followed them, they imprissoned me. The media and my wife
changed the scenario, I`m not insane, I did not do it because i`m drunk. I did it because I
need to. It was supposed to be a great evening for me, my wife and my baby girl. I was to
be a surprise, we were supposed to be happy that night. I miss my baby girl! ( He was
crying this time while on the phone, so I said sige kuya salamat kaayo, thank you
masyado, If we visit Cagayan we will visit you). Our conversation ended there.
Kuya Christian Baluarte is not his real name, he does not want to say his real
name. He is now at Cagayan City Jail. He`s been imprisoned from 2007 until now. He
never saw her wife and her baby girl again. He hopes that her baby girl would read this
article that we made with Kuya Christian Baluarte to say that he just did that because he
loves her baby girl. The Quinto Family is still visiting him though sometimes because he
served her family for almost four to five years.
Me and Cyrus, felt sad with this article, at the same time we were enlighten by
Kuya Christian`s story. How a guy liked him became a deviant. How events and chances
changed a persons thinking capabilities.
Word Count : 3718 words