Weirdos in the Philippines

[Jollygoodfellow]

OK, I'm sure many will describe me in the same way but let's look at this.

Last night l went out for a beer which turned into two but while just watching the world go by I see a foreigner battling with what looked like a heavy piece of luggage known as a suitcase for older members.

Anyway, I see him dragging it on its wheels on smooth concrete through the jeepney terminal but then he paused and seemed to be talking to himself. He then proceeded to the path which is made of concrete stepping stones if l can describe it that way. So now his luggage wheels were being crushed by the uneven path and were difficult for him to move. He drags it onto a smooth surface again and heads off. Maybe 40 minutes later he is back from the same direction he came from, did a full block circle, and again almost the same thing. 

To cut it short he went off and came back again but only for a minute and retreated from the direction he came from, but a few minutes later back again and off he goes, sweating and seemingly talking to himself.

Now it is about the 4th or 5th time he is back. The luggage he is dragging had airport tags so l thought maybe he just arrived and is lost. This time he is resting nearby and I decided to ask him if he was OK l hesitated as l thought maybe he does not know English or is mentally unstable.

So I approached him and said, hey bud, are you lost? he repeated my words in English and I said it's just that l see you roaming around dragging this luggage and thought you might need help. No is his rely and I said so all is good, Yes.

I went back to my beer and left him but again about 15 minutes he shows up again and to drag that luggage on the path would be destroying the wheels. He then headed off and that's the last I have seen of him.

Very weird to me.

But the point of this topic is the number of weirdos I have come across here.

One Australian l met once says he is ex-Aus police but after he killed 5 people he had to leave the force as that was the rules, what a lot of crap. There were many other things he would talk about as well as being an ex-pilot for major airlines and anything you could think of he has done it, blah bla.

Then there is the loudmouth Amer.... (censored) that talks about nothing but themselves and is similar to the Aussie full of crap.

What about the multi-millionaire friend of mine, who came here to set up a church and got caught with bar girls so the marriage ended? All he ever talked about was in millions and his past life as a diplomat and this and that but often I had to loan him money and me being the poorest foreigner here made me wonder why be a millionaire if you have no money?

Anyway many examples of weirdos here

The list goes on and I wonder what locals think of us?

A former forum member who I found out was still alive about a year ago had a policy not to associate with any other foreigners, I and the now deceased admin was the exception but l understand now.

Yes, many normal good guys out there but I am starting to wonder about that. 

What draws weirdos here to the Philippines? 

 

[BrettGC]

I'm a weirdo and proud of it!

But seriously, these individuals probably don't fit in well at home so they leave to various destinations where, surprise, surprise, they don't really fit in either. Personally I don't go out of my way to seek out other expats but I don't avoid them either.  I've made some good friendships here but I tend to be a little stand-offish  without being rude about it.  

The other side of it is chances are we have nothing in common the same as if we'd met in our country of origin.  There are an abundance of ex-military here so that mitigates that a little. 

Edited March 11, 2023 by BrettGC

[mountainside]

35 minutes ago, BrettGC said:

chances are we have nothing in common the same as if we'd met in our country of origin.

So says my Filipina here in the US, when I spot some Pinoys and encourage her to engage.  

[mountainside]

2 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

What draws weirdos here to the Philippines?

As to the pathological narcissists whose BS stories didn’t work in their home countries, they might believe that Filipinos are more gullible than their countrymen.  And then learn differently a long way from home.

[Old55]

We have no idea what was up with that individual but it was good of you to check in with him as you did Tom. 

Would be interesting to know the real story behind his actions but like many things in Philippines we will never know.

[hk blues]

There are probably no more weirdos here than back home in our respective countries but they stand out more here and probably seek out other foreigners i.e. us so we are exposed to them. 

[Guy F.]

Met a guy on Panglao who claimed to have been a Royal Marine. Never saw anyone so thin except in photos, so I have doubt regarding his story.

[Dave Hounddriver]

3 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

What draws weirdos here to the Philippines? 

Sometimes it seems that normal expats are the exception.  I get the opposite problem here in Canada.  Weirdos come up to me when I am out for a walk with Lyn and say things like:  "I see you have been to the Philippines.  I have too.  A great place."  Then they leer at Lyn and practically drool.  Then they usually try a few words of Tagalog on her.  We are polite and then we move along.  There are normal folks with Filipina spouses here, but they stay home and mind their business unless we drop in for a visit.

So I guess it is the weird ones we notice because the normal ones are at home doing normal things.

[Kingpin]

3 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

 I wonder what locals think of us?

Probably the same we think of them, there are good ones and bad ones.

Your post describes meth-head behavior, and it's not really a well known issue unless you frequent the streets at night, but I've seen more than few foreigners get hooked on the very cheap shabu and they definitely act "weird". 

More than the weirdos are the angry loud foreigners "No I said I want EXTRA pickles, can't you handle a SIMPLE ORDER!!",  "The sale said this wine is here but it's not here GET ME THE DAMN MANAGER!" "I'm sitting here waiting and you aren't doing anything, CALL ME NEXT!" and then they always turn to me "Can you believe this place, these people can't do anything right!" Yeah I've been here more than a few months, I'm not on your side buddy.

[mountainside]

47 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

We are polite and then we move along.

I admire your great restraint.