1. Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales,
and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious
manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely
coincidental.
“The Scent of Barako Coffees”
An original piece created by Vincent M. Material
The initial blast of cold breeze coming from the northeasterly surface flows over
some parts of Amsterdam which signifies that Christmas is near and people must
prepare for a huge celebration. For most children in the Netherlands, the most important
day during December is the 5th day because it is the time when Sinterklaas (St.
Nicholas) brings them their presents! It was the same exact day when I met these two
young lads in the beautiful city of Amsterdam apart from its labeled name, “The sin city
of Europe”
My name is Brylle Zaffiro, 30 years of age, half-Filipino and half-Dutch. I am now
living with my Dutch father at a small town called Amstelveen alongside the river of
Amsteleiland. I was born and raised in the Philippines for almost 10 years and was
transferred here in Amsterdam to inherit and continue our business, coffeelicious.
Coffeelicious is a wide and humongous coffee shop here in Amsterdam with almost 50
branches nationwide and 20 additional sites in the neighborhood countries.
Wayback on 1999, a year before we migrated here in Amsterdam, my Filipino
mother died due to myocardial infarction (heart attack). Everytime I think of my
deceased mother, the memories of being with her turn back and it was just so warm to
reminisce about those treasures of mine. From the time she helps me to get ready for
school up to the preparation of my favorite hot brewed barako coffee paired with
pandesal, all these things are just worthy to be remembered.
Now that Christmas is near, our shops are almost packed up with customers and
I think it’s about time for me to give back the blessings that me and our company
receives every now and then. Since I don’t have a full day of enjoying myself from doing
leisure and recreational activities, I decided to make a short trip aimlessly at Amstel
River. With more than a kilometre of floats and boats, I finally reached
Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) where Sinterklaas is welcomed by the Mayor
of Amsterdam.
Walking unhurriedly and observing the people celebrating the feast, I stumbled in
a piece of rock and accidentally bumped with two young men of approximately 20-25
2. years of age. Upon jumping into them, I quickly and humbly apologized for my
carelessness. While waiting for their response, I looked up to them and there I found
startled and surprised faces. Judging from their physical appearance, one is a short
man with brown skin complexion, low bridged nose, and a black hair which resembles
the characteristics of a Filipino, and one tall man with white skin complexion, pointed
nose, and blonde hair which resembles the characteristics of a Dutch.
I was about to speak when they started greeting me to the highest level of energy
and protruded a humongous smile on their faces. I kind of feel weird about their
behavior but eventually I understand why. They recognized me as the owner and CEO
of the biggest coffee shop in Amsterdam and started introducing themselves to me.
“Hi! My name is Daniel, 23 years old, and a proud Filipino! Here beside me is my
husband Enrique who is 24 years old and is a pure Dutch. Yes! We are a married
couple for almost 5 years and we have been bound by a judgmental society since then.”
At that moment and time, I am completely shocked by what I’ve heard but luckily for
them, I’m not a judgmental person. Since I don’t have too much work that day, I invited
them to the nearest coffeelicious shop around that area and they unhesitantly accepted
my offer.
By the time we reached the venue, I asked them what they wanted to eat. They
looked very shy at that moment and so I gave them the signal to treat me like a normal
person. I offered them our menu including different desserts (pies, tarts, truffles, cakes,
etc.) and of course our special brewed coffees (affogato, espresso, caffe latte,
cappuccino, etc.) Upon giving the menu, they both requested for a hot brewed barako
coffee paired with pandesal which made me smile for a minute. I remembered my
childhood memories with my mom and from which I couldn’t help myself from missing
her. I ordered the same exact food and there we were given a chance to have a little
talk and conversation most especially about their background and stories.
Daniel came from a middle class family from the Philippines and lives in a place
where Barako people gather, Batangas. Daniel’s clan is known to be one of the most
fearless, bravest and unstoppable families in their community. They hold the title “The
Lions'' for their aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, Daniel felt that he is different from
his origin ever since he was a child. He feels attracted to his same sex and was clearly
manifesting a feministic behavior. Though he was not a cross dresser, his parents
noticed minimalistic unmasculine actions through their son and was scolded because of
it.
When Daniel got to highschool, he was bullied by his schoolmates for his
unmanly movements. For this reason, this issue was raised to the faculties and
eventually reached the position of his family. Daniel was scolded again by his parents
and was severely punished by them. Daniel felt depression and confusion that time and
so he decided to leave their home, away from loneliness and unwelcomed society. It
was night and dark that time that he drove to the farthest island of the city. Daniel was
about to end his miserable life by drowning himself to the sea but he was saved by a
young gorgeous man named Enrique. Apart from being good looking, he seems to be
3. nice and kind hearted too. I was rescued by him that time and there I got the chance to
know who is this savior of mine.
Enrique introduced himself as a Dutch living in Amsterdam and was having a trip
here in the Philippines alongside with his family for 3 months because of their business.
They belong to a first class family in Amsterdam and have a good reputation in their
country. He is expected to be the inheritor of their business along with the condition of
being married to a girl with a high background. Enrique mentioned that I am the first
person that he talked to for a long time ever since they arrived here yesterday. Days
have passed and we’ve been really good friends. We visited each other and went
everywhere we wanted to. A month has passed and I think I’m falling for him. I don’t
know the reason why but every time I’m with him, I feel happy, safe, comfortable, and
loved which I never felt from my family. Time flies very fast and it’s about time for
Enrique and his family to go back to Amsterdam. I don’t want him to leave the
Philippines without confessing my love and affection for him. I don’t care anymore for
what would happen next but I don’t want to lie either. This is my only chance and I don’t
want to lose it. When I’m about to speak, Enrique hugged me very tight like he knows
what I am going to say. “I love you too,” he whispered while hugging me. I did the same
thing and hugged him twice tighter than his hug while tears were falling in our eyes.
Enrique and his family departed from the Philippines but we never lost our
communication with each other. After a year, my parents knew about our relationship
and they were embodied by wrath and loathsome. I am the only man in the family and
the only one expected to transfer the surname of our clan. They were very mad at me at
that time and by which they disowned me as their son. The feeling is very hurtful that it
feels like millions of people stabbed me in my heart. I told Enrique what happened to me
and my family and that he arranged a flight for me going to Amsterdam.
When I arrived in Amsterdam, the weather was very cold and the snow was
falling down from the sky. My eyes searched around and finally reached the gorgeous
face of Enrique. We hugged each other very tight in compensation for the years that we
were separated. Enrique brought me to their mansion-like house in Amsterdam and we
were greeted by several guards and maids. He introduced me to his father as his future
husband who made me and his father surprised. Enrique’s father cannot believe what
he heard and disagreed with this kind of arrangement. We have an agreement my son,
you shall marry a person with a high background and not just merely mediocre. More
so, you must marry a woman! I cannot agree with this. Think of it carefully my son or
else I will be forced not to pass down to you our business. Suddenly, silence filled the
room. No father! I love Daniel and no one can stop me from loving him, even you, my
father. Enrique’s father loves his son so much that he just thinks of what would be best
for his boy. Then, be free to leave this place, said by his father. The door is wide open
for you and this man beside you. If you ever realized that you have made the wrong
decision, feel free to come back here and I will accept you once again.
Daniel and Enrique leave the place and they started a new life without anything
but love. The cost of living in Amsterdam is so high that it may reach up to hundreds of
thousands here in the Philippines per month. They started from renting a small room for
4. the time being and bought a house after 2 years of hardship and back breaking work. A
year after, they decided to get married in Amsterdam. Yes, that’s right! Amsterdam as
part of Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex
marriages. After getting married, they decided to adopt 3 children, with the names Sun,
Moon, and Star, which they now consider as their own saplings. They promise
themselves that they will give their full support to whatever decision their children will
make. They will guide them to the best of their abilities for their children not to
experience what they have experienced.
As for the reason why they are strolling around in Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime
Museum), they told me that they are waiting for Sinterklaas to request gifts for their
beloved children. Talking to them made both parties miss what we have left on the
beautiful island in Southeast Asia, the Philippines. Apart from the bad memories that
happened in that place, there are still good things that contribute a lot for who and what
we are today which we are all grateful for.
Although we all have a good life here in Amsterdam, the loneliness of being apart
from your origin is on a different scale of sadness. We were rejected, abandoned, and
exiled by our own family and even so of the society. Many people think of us as a
plague and pest that must be rotten in hell but little did they know that we are also
humans – that we have feelings to love and get hurt often. Isolation, the feeling of being
jailed and judged by the society is the worst thing that most of us have to overcome.
Above all, after our heart-felting conversation, we realized that “Life is just like a coffee.”
It can be bitter, it can be sweet, it can be tasteless, and it can be anything but at the end
of the day, we get to choose whether to remain the same or change for the better.
- Fin -
