Romeo Roman was an indigenous product of Walled City. His parents were both from Intramuros where Romy, as many of his friends called him, was born. After finishing his high school, he was not eager to go to college for if he did; his parents would strive hard to let Romy have a college education.
So Romy went from one job to another, for it appeared that this young man did not know what kid of a job he wanted. The longest he would stay on a job would be two to three months.
He was already 22 when the Pacific war broke out. During that time, Romy was visiting gambling dens, where his aptitude seemed to fit. He would easily learn the many types of card games, and in no time at all, he seemed to have mastered many of them.
With borrowed capital, he would gamble and within short time, he would be loaded for he was a sure winner.
Everybody loved a winning gambler, so Romy won a slew of admirers and friends. His name became a byword in casinos and other gambling houses. He was already living comfortably from his winning when the war exploded. He was one man who hated that the Pacific war came for it could change the course of his life.
“Life is a gamble,” Romy would say to his friends. “Anything we do or plan is a gamble- for you either won or lose.”
During the occupation years, gambling was totally banned aside from the fact that due to the economic hardships, people shied away from gambling places as they were engaged in some occupation to earn cash. From gambling, Romy went into swindling as a part of the thriving buy and sell business. He would offer not easily available items like drugs and imported goods, and then he would ask for down payment and then would make a disappearing act. To escape body harm from those swindled, Romy befriended certain enemy civilian and military officials. Romy called his social splurge as a gamble, for he was able to make himself beyond the reach of those he swindled in black market business. To other businessmen who did not know Romy’s background, his closeness to some high enemy officials served as a shingle for his credibility. Later, Romy could be seen riding in cars belonging to the enemy and his neighbours in Walled city could not believe what they were seeing. Evidently, Romy’s gamble paid off for he was able to live again in style when he was a professional gambler.
“How’s life, Romy?” asked an old time friend who met him in a downtown coffee shop.
“It’s okay,” Romy replied casually.
“How did you make the grade in big business under the new administration?” inquired his friend as he slowly sipped his Batangas brewed coffee.
“Simple, I studied Nipponggo. With that as a tool, the rest is easy. How can the top officials believe you when you cannot even communicate with them?” explained Romy whose logic sound plausible.
“It’s on me, Darwin.”Romy said as he stood up after laying on the restaurant table the occupation bills. A car with a flag flying in the left front fender came and Romy left without a word.
During the war years, Romy got himself a wife. With his good income, the two lived well in a rented apartment in Intramuros. With his connections, he was able to make a good income, dubious as the deals may have been.
The Occupation years were on as life became more difficult for most of the population. Food was scarce, and inflation had made the currency notes almost useless. Romy’s connections gave him unprecedented income which to him was the reward of his gamble –befriending enemy nationals and acquiring the ire of many who are suffering. By August 1944, news filtered in that the Allied Forces had landed in Leyte, and if true, was for liberation would not be far away.
Romy and his wife stayed put in the Walled City because of his properties and other assets as he continued his business dealings with the Japanese government. By the end of the year, and the early part of 1945, the big Allied push started, sooner than many realized. The Japanese forces had withdrawn to Northern Luzon as the allies continued their offensive.
By the first week of February 1945, the allied forces had reached the northern part of Manila while the southern part including Intramuros was still in enemy hands. Eventually, the remaining troops holed themselves inside Intramuros and sealed all entrances. The residents of Intramuros, including Romy, were caught by surprise when the exits were sealed.
“I will see how we can get out of Intramuros”, Romy told his wife.
“Be careful, Romy, for you will never know the temperament of the enemy in a situation like theirs” cautioned his wife.
“Don’t worry, darling, this is another gamble I have to take” retorted Romy as he ran downstairs and disappeared in the street.
Unknown to Romy after he left, the residents were told to come out in the streets by the soldiers and then herded in the churches of Intramuros. Romy’s wife joined the others as they were forcibly moved at bayonet point to a big ancient church nearby. There was crying and hysterical shouts.
Romy knew the streets and back alleys of Intramuros very well. He went to all exit and found them all barricaded. At this juncture, Romy hiding in an empty building took his time and pondered. To escape the Walls, he had to wait until dark then he would climb the high walls near Muralla Street facing the Pasig River and make a dash to the other side. He had to do this when the sentries patrolling the top walls would be out of his sight.
Once he reached the river, he would swim across where the Allied troops are stationed. Romy thought that this option was his last gamble for so far, he had always won.
At that time, he forgot all about his wife and parents left inside Intramuros. Self preservation took control of Romy as a professional gambler.
Romy waited for darkness. Hungry and thirsty, he was able to find some leftover food in a building vacated by the occupants when they were herded by the soldiers.
By past midnight, Romy observed the guards on top of the wall and their timing. At the proper timing when the guard was far, Romy climbed the wall and when he was on top, he tied a rope to a gnarled roof of a tree and then he would get down on the other side which was about 30 feet high.
As he was sliding down, a foot patrol on the street saw him, and he sounded the alarm. An outpost spotlight was put on and was focused on the running form of Romy dashing for his freedom from the wide of the Walls to the open street in front of him. There was a staccato of automatic fire, coming from the watch tower on the Wall, the running figure quivered and fell on the street pavement.
Romeo Roman, the compulsive gambler, made his last gamble. He lost! ***
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