I am a survivor

By: Raymond Sucgang

I NARROWLY ESCAPED A HARROWING AEROSOL CHEMICAL ATTACK OUTSIDE QUIAPO !!! During my usual visit to Quiapo, navigating through the bustling areas surrounding the church is inevitable. As I strolled through the crowd, a sudden wave of dizziness and breathlessness enveloped me. I quickly identified the source – it was a lachrymator, a potent chemical capable of inducing nausea, breathlessness, and even unconsciousness.

I realized I was under a chemical attack!!! Swiftly identifying the perpetrator, I decided to distance myself from the danger. Fortunately, I managed to move away from the targeted area before the effects intensified. The narrow escape left me both relieved and intrigued by the peculiar choice of weapon – a chemical designed to assault the senses in an unconventional and strangely humorous manner. The streets around Quiapo Church, usually filled with the sounds of vendors and devotees, had transformed into a temporary battlefield of olfactory warfare.

The particular chemical weapon turned out to be 2-methyl-3-hexenoic acid, more commonly known as “putoK” – a play on words derived from the Filipino term for body odor, “putok.” It was a tale of survival with an unexpected and absurd twist, reminding me that danger can manifest in the most unexpected and oddly scented forms. 🙂 🙂 🙂

(The author Raymond Sucgang is a senior researcher at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology)