Observations From Living 5 Months In The Philippines

[RonHenk]

These are just a few of my observations from being boots on the ground in the Philippines for 5 months. Let me caveat this by saying I live in Caloocan City. A very busy and populated suburb of Metro Manila. This is an attempt to be humorous on some of the things I have observed. In no way am I meaning to slander my gracious hosts. I like it here. Anyway here goes:

 

- I've never seen so many, with so little, so happy.

 

- If you smile, they will smile back. Just be careful who you smile at when Asawa is around.

 

- A white haired, white skinned Kano, sitting on the porch, is a never ending source of curiosity and amusement for the   neighborhood kids.

 

- Filipinos are hard workers. A quote from my nephew (a Filipino) "Filipinos are hard workers because even the simplest job they will find a way to make it hard" I couldn't agree with him more.

 

- Shopping at the mall. Why deal with only one sales person when you can have ten or fifteen?

 

- "No stock sir" is a polite way of saying "I don't have a friggin clue what your talking about"

 

- Traffic in Manila sucks. Big time.

 

- It takes a long time to get anywhere. Even by plane. Mainly because it takes 4hrs to get to the airport. Unless you go at 3 AM in the morning.

 

- You can tell who is in your house by the slippers at your stoop.

 

- It's HOT. But I'm slowly getting used to it.

 

- The water is COLD and I'm not getting used to that. Talk about shrinkage!

 

- Install an aircon and set it at 21C. No more relatives in your house! Trust me it works.

 

- There is a certain humor and irony in telling your sister-in-law that her aso is sick.

 

- No, the dog doesn't speak English either.

 

- 6ft 200lb Filipinos are not that uncommon. Neither are 5ft 95lb Filipinas.

 

- Since when did boiled pork fat and skin become good eating?

 

- It is difficult to tell by looking at it, what part of the chicken that piece of JollyBee Chicken Joy is.

 

- One crumb = one hundred ants.

 

- Only in the Philippines. "Let's go to McDonald's for fried chicken and spaghetti."

 

- A Big Mac, fries and a coke tastes the same as in the U.S. KFC doesn't. Haven't tried Burger King yet.

 

- WHAT? I can't hear you! The music, videoke, jeepney, motorcycle, trike, barking dog are too loud!

 

- A trike can hold 7 to 8 adults or 10 to 12 school kids w/backpacks. Even more if you unstrap the refrigerator from the top.

 

- No matter how full, a jeepney can always hold more.

 

- It is best to hide while your Asawa is negotiating taxi fare. Or anything else for that matter.

 

- I've driven everything from a go-cart to an 18 wheeler. I will not drive here in Manila. I'm afraid. I'm deathly afraid.

 

Anyways, I hope I brought a smile to someone's face. Please add your own lessons learned. I will update as my experiences broaden.

 

Eez more pun in the Pilippines!

Ron.

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[lyno 47]

^{Spot on Ron ,its the same in Cebu only the traffic moves a bit faster.}

[chris49]

- I've driven everything from a go-cart to an 18 wheeler. I will not drive here in Manila. I'm afraid. I'm deathly afraid.

 

I lived about 7-8 km south of you, or if you took the Commonwealth extension even closer. A few km south of SM Fairview. I moved up north 4 years ago.

 

I had my own car, I drove everywhere for 6 years. It is much easier than it looks and part of the challenge is selecting the travel time.

 

Cold water? I did have an electric water heater, but I got used to the cold. Sure it can be a bit bracing. Here in the province it's all cold except Gina will add hot water now and then.

[chris49]

Let me add. I don't drink much now but even so, don't ever open a bottle at home and expect you won't be surrounded by friends and neighbours.

[Jake]

These are just a few of my observations from being boots on the ground in the Philippines for 5 months.

 

Anyways, I hope I brought a smile to someone's face. Please add your own lessons learned. I will update as my experiences broaden.

 

Eez more pun in the Pilippines!

Ron.

​

Triple LIKE Ron!

[Guy F.]

Learn to regard cold showers as "a cheap thrill."

[BrettGC]

Hahahaha love it mate, my longest stay has only ever been 3 months.  With your permission I'm gonna quote this on fb :)

[BrettGC]

- I've driven everything from a go-cart to an 18 wheeler. I will not drive here in Manila. I'm afraid. I'm deathly afraid.

''

 

Would you believe I think the traffic is worse in Jakarta and Bangkok?

[Hey Steve]

Personally, I'm looking forward to the brown outs-as I see the glass half full in this situation :dance:

[davewe]

- "No stock sir" is a polite way of saying "I don't have a friggin clue what your talking about"

 

I think there's a lot of truth to this. Often Filipinos don'e know the word you are using, you don't understand their description, and it is just easier to say they are out of stock.