Annoying Local Behavior

[JJReyes]

We have been in the Philippines 4 months, which is long enough to become annoyed be some local behavior.  

People suddenly stop anywhere blocking the path for other pedestrians.  They just stop.  It could be to use a mobile phone.  The phones have gotten to be so huge you need two hands to dial and hold.  If in a group, everyone in the group likewise stops.  Same thing happens when they see friends.  Good time for a chat.  Complete blockage.  You are expected to get off the curb and walk on the street in traffic.  

Pedigree barking dogs being pushed around in carriages inside malls.  The owners are oblivious to their constant barking because they probably continuously bark at home.  It becomes fever pitch when they spot another dog.  They are not being exercised by riding on a carriage so there is no reason to take them to a mall.  I wish I had a Doberman to teach those dogs some manners.

We are staying in a condominium owned by my sister, and it needed emergency air condition repairs.  She was in Aukland at the time.  We requested for names from the building administration and a crew was contacted.  I asked after, "How much do I owe?"  The reply, "It's up to you, sir."  In other words, I had to guess.  If too little, the crew gets pissed off and they won't return in the future.  You therefore have to be over generous.  No reaction when you do give the money.  It's a Goldilocks moment whether it is too much, too little or just right.  

Interiors of restaurants are mostly concrete, wood flooring and plywood panels.  Nothing to absorb sound like carpets and draperies.  It is difficult to converse.  Add a young group of friends at a nearby table who, after just one drink, thinks any comment should be followed by a burst of laughter.  They are loud.  They are not drunk, just oblivious that there are other customers.

Anyone else with local pet peeves?

[Old55]

During our visits I'm accepting and understanding of most behavior and realize it goes with the territory. Filipinos are for the most part are kind caring people.

Like you JJ, we have low tolerance for constant barking dogs and pity them held in small cages. It's inhumane cruel and totally unacceptable that civilized people treat animals in that regard. This is something I don't understand about Filipinos. 

The very loud motorbikes and loudspeakers set at 11 can be a nuisance. I've a theory most Filipinos suffer hearing loss due to noise pollution and don't actually realize how loud they are. Generally speaking Filipinos have little regard for how noise affects others around them.

[stevewool]

It’s been a few years since being there but , barking dogs , drivers and riders blocking a pedestrian crossing , loud music with to much bass and out of tune 

[Jollygoodfellow]

3 hours ago, JJReyes said:

The phones have gotten to be so huge you need two hands to dial and hold. 

Yep those dial cell phones need two hands 

[Jollygoodfellow]

3 hours ago, JJReyes said:

Good time for a chat.  Complete blockage.  You are expected to get off the curb and walk on the street in traffic.  

I walk through the center of them where possible and don't care. Not really any different than the supermarket isles back home.

3 hours ago, JJReyes said:

I asked after, "How much do I owe?"  The reply, "It's up to you, sir."  In other words, I had to guess.

Never happened to me as I get a price before asking for a service.

3 hours ago, JJReyes said:

Interiors of restaurants are mostly concrete, wood flooring and plywood panels.  Nothing to absorb sound like carpets and draperies.

Not sure where you eat but most places I have been are not like that here in the city.

3 hours ago, JJReyes said:

They are not being exercised by riding on a carriage so there is no reason to take them to a mall.

How else can they show off their status symbol? 

[Jollygoodfellow]

3 hours ago, JJReyes said:

We have been in the Philippines 4 months, which is long enough to become annoyed be some local behavior.  

The one thing that gets to me is taxis which have to toot the horn when I'm walking somewhere. For fuc&sake if l wanted a taxi l would be waving one down.

[Freebie]

Selfish p ricks that have no idea what the purpose of a pedestrian crossing is adn think they can barrel thruogh regardless of a pedestrian on the crossing. My strategy, given that filipinos are generally very nervous about crossing roads and tend to do the stop start shuffle, is to walk across a ped X with hand held high in direction of driveer, indicating Im not taking any sh1t and Im walking on the crossing. Works most of the time but still some idiot selfish drivers think they have the right of way....

[hk blues]

31 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

The one thing that gets to me is taxis which have to toot the horn when I'm walking somewhere. For fuc&sake if l wanted a taxi l would be waving one down.

Even worse they sometimes drive alongside us gesticulating. 

[Gator]

Taking two steps off an escalator and stopping to look where to go or playing with their phones. I’ve barreled thru a more than a few. 

33 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

The one thing that gets to me is taxis which have to toot the horn when I'm walking somewhere. For fuc&sake if l wanted a taxi l would be waving one down.

Same with trike drivers. If I want one I’ll hail one. I don’t need them shouting incessantly.  

[OnMyWay]

5 hours ago, Old55 said:

Filipinos are for the most part are kind caring people.

Superficially, yes.  In reality, for many regular activities, no.  My wife says it is because everyone grows up in a dog eat dog environment and the attitude is encouraged by parents.  One of the reasons I am leaving.  After 10 years here, I don't want my kids to grow up only experiencing this and think it is this way everywhere.

Examples of me, me, me first.

Corruption at all levels of society

Kamote drivers and anything driving related

Pedestrians walking without any precautions expecting cars to avoid them.

Cutting in line or attempted cutting in line in places like SM and restos.

No respect for crosswalks.  This was a few weeks ago in Olongapo near our house.

 

 

 

Edited March 6 by OnMyWay