A Tragic Tale of Addiction, Infidelity, and the Inevitable Cost of Compromise in Manila’s Gritty Streets
In the teeming, unrelenting corners of Tondo, Manila—a district famous for its vibrant energy and its relentless struggle—unfolds a deeply personal tragedy that serves as a chilling cautionary tale. It is the story of Riza Absalon, a woman whose descent into the darkness of illegal drug use and subsequent infidelity shattered her marriage and her life, culminating in a devastating encounter with the law. This narrative, set against the backdrop of Barangay 123, Morion Street in Tondo in 2001, is a raw look at how one fatal choice can dismantle a seemingly stable existence.
The Foundation of a Simple Life
The story begins with Nimwel and Riza Absalon, a couple two years into their marriage, carving out a modest life in a neighborhood that rarely sleeps, filled with the constant noise of struggle and survival.
Nimwel was the embodiment of stability: a merchandiser at a local Pure Gold supermarket, quiet, responsible, and driven by the simple dream of providing for their future. Riza, conversely, worked as a food attendant at a hotel in Divisoria. Known for her bright smiles and energetic demeanor, she was considered diligent and attentive at work. Their early years were characterized by mutual effort and shared hardship, battling life’s financial constraints together.
However, beneath Riza’s cheerful exterior lay an untested vulnerability—a susceptibility to temptation that would prove fatal.
The Tipping Point: A Night of Exhaustion and a Whispered Vice
The turning point occurred during an anniversary party at Riza’s hotel. Exhausted from hours of dancing and revelry, Riza was weary the following morning. It was during clean-up that she was approached by Jessie Alampayan, a co-worker known for his jokes but secretly harboring a dangerous addiction.
Noticing Riza’s fatigue, Jessie offered a cryptic solution. “It’s okay,” he grinned, “I have something to boost my strength for tomorrow. Even with just a few hours of sleep, I feel brand new.”
Riza, intrigued, asked what he meant. Jessie leaned in and whispered a dangerous promise, showing her a small packet—a packet of illegal drugs she had never seen up close. “Don’t worry, it’s small. But once you taste it, you won’t feel tired. You’ll feel like you’re flying.”
In that moment, Riza hesitated. She knew her husband, Nimwel, would disapprove of her going home with a male colleague. But the intense curiosity—and the desperate need to perform at work the next day—overrode her loyalty. She rationalized the lie: she would deceive Nimwel to keep her job secure.
The Descent: From Curiosity to Craving
At Jessie’s small, cluttered dwelling, permeated by the stale smell of smoke and coffee, Riza took her first inhalation. The moment was slow, almost hypnotic. The sound of the lighter, the wisps of smoke coiling from the foil—it was a seductive ritual.
The initial effect was exactly as promised: a feeling of lightness, a profound loss of fatigue. “Yes, I feel so light,” she whispered, “All the tiredness is gone.” The temporary high was enough to quiet the initial fear and replace it with a deceptive sense of relief.
Riza arrived home at 4:00 AM, frantic with missed calls from Nimwel. She quickly concocted a lie about the party running late. Nimwel, though concerned and observant, was pacified by Riza’s unusual warmth and affection that night, mistaking her heightened state for renewed passion.
Yet, Riza’s need grew quickly. The pampalakas (the ‘booster’) became essential. When Jessie offered it again the next morning, Riza’s brief internal struggle was quickly silenced by her craving. Weeks passed, and the fleeting joy of the drug became a necessity for Riza to face her daily life.
The Ultimate Price: Betrayal of Honor and Trust
The financial burden of the new habit soon became apparent. Riza could not risk spending her hotel earnings, as Nimwel managed their joint finances. This necessity for free access to the drug opened the door to a darker, more devastating form of compromise, fueled by Jessie’s demands.
Jessie made it clear he could not continually supply her without a return—a return that he had long desired. In a moment where the drug-induced craving overshadowed her conscience, Riza agreed to the ultimate act of betrayal. Her need for the temporary strength superseded her marital vows and self-respect.
The routine became a dark secret: after work, Riza would go directly to Jessie’s house, not just for the drug, but for the adulterous relationship that followed. The initial shame was numbed by the high, replacing the love for her husband with a fleeting, destructive pleasure.
Nimwel’s Awakening: The Signs of Broken Trust
Nimwel, however, was not oblivious. Riza’s late arrivals, her absent-mindedness, her lack of appetite, and the faint, unsettling glimpses of foil in her pockets began to fuel his suspicion. His intuition, often a quiet whisper, grew into a deafening alarm.
Driven by fear and a need for truth, Nimwel took action. He staked out Riza’s workplace. At 7:00 PM, he watched his wife exit the hotel—and was immediately struck by the fact that she was accompanied by a male co-worker, Jessie. Controlling his rage, Nimwel shadowed them, his heart pounding with dread as they walked deeper into the community.
His world exploded the moment Riza and Jessie entered the co-worker’s small house. Nimwel, overcome by a mix of fury and anguish, approached a nearby street vendor for confirmation. The vendor, without hesitation, validated his fears: “Yes, I see her with Jessie all the time. Sometimes early in the morning, buying cigarettes. And you know, Jessie is known here as a drug user.”
The revelation—that his wife was not only cheating but was deeply involved in illegal drug use—crushed Nimwel.
The End of the Road: Justice and Heartbreak
Nimwel did not confront them. Instead, he retreated home, pouring himself a drink, allowing the alcohol to numb a pain far deeper than any physical wound. He recognized the devastating truth: the woman he loved had chosen a path of self-destruction.
For days, Nimwel let Riza’s dark routine continue. He watched her come and go, silent, heartbroken, having already made a painful decision. Recognizing that he could no longer save her from the monster of addiction, Nimwel ultimately chose to protect himself.
Driven by a sense of moral duty and the pain of betrayal, Nimwel filed a complaint with the local police, detailing his wife’s activities, Jessie’s identity as an addict, their nightly visits, and his strong suspicion of drug use. The police acted swiftly, confirming Nimwel’s reports through surveillance.
The raid was executed under R.A. 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). Riza and Jessie were arrested inside the house, caught in possession of drug paraphernalia—undeniable evidence of their guilt. Riza’s world of lies and temporary highs collapsed into the harsh reality of cold steel bars.
The Final Goodbye: No Room for Forgiveness
Days later, from the confines of the jail cell, Riza used a police phone to call Nimwel, pleading for forgiveness and help. Nimwel listened to her tearful plea but remained silent. His decision was final, rooted in a devastating clarity.
“My love, I am sorry, but I am no longer the answer to your recovery,” he quietly told her. “Sometimes, you have to be hurt first to learn how to stand up alone.”
He acknowledged the pain of watching her choose this path: “I saw you with Jessie for a long time. But because you chose those things, I allowed myself to walk away, even though it hurt. It’s hard to force my life into yours when you chose a path contrary to ours.”
With those final, painful words, Nimwel hung up. He knew that the justice system had dealt the truest punishment: a slow, agonizing realization in the confinement of a cell. The drug, which they had embraced for temporary pleasure and strength, had become the very instrument of their downfall and slow decay.
A Stark Warning
Riza’s story is a stark reminder of life’s unforgiving balance. The pursuit of transient happiness or energy through drugs is a devil’s bargain that demands the highest price: trust, respect, and one’s very dignity. Once trust is broken, it is rarely recovered. Once dignity is surrendered to temptation, the person is often lost forever. The momentary high is always paid for with a lifetime of profound regret.