⌛ A day in the Philippines - part one

Well I wake in the morning to the sound of mad cockerels and the traffic rumbling pass on it’s chaotic accident prone journeys. Oh d*mn someone’s got there music at full blast and does not know how to balance the base.

Just another day in the Philippines, go and shower and proceed to make a cup of decafe, oh how coffee makes a good start to the day. Well the guy next door thinks I want to share his smoke from his fire, oh yummy what’s that smell its like sewage. It’s just got to be dried fish, wonderful. Get out the air spray and spray the house, my partner is up, washed and dressed and at the stove cooking breakfast. The bacon and eggs smell delightful, how I love the smell of bacon.

After breakfast I make my way to the bank, driving my motor bike I pass many other bikes many with families aboard and even young babies. Yes I think to myself the chances people take just to save a few pesos. A coach goes passed the driver of course has his foot down and knows only one speed seeming not really caring about any other road user and greedy to get a head of everyone else, like a madman or a bat out of hell. Of course many a lorry seemingly copies this pattern trying to run everybody else of the road.

Later after playing the local game of dodgems I find a parking space, once I stop a street salesman shoves some of his goods under my nose and does not give me time to take off my helmet and get of the motorbike. How rude I think, no thought other than to quickly sell his goods. After I politely tell him no thanks he then proceeds to put some packs of Viagra in front of my face. Once again I say no thanks, take of my helmet and get off the bike. You still here really young man I do not need your Viagra or any of the goods please leave me alone. He reluctantly walks away only to be followed by another street salesman of whom proceeds to sell his face towels, behind him is a beggar. Final after ten minutes I arrive a the ATM that states it’s out of order. Oh yes I think it Sunday and I will be lucky to get some cash. After a walk around I actually strike luck and able to take some money from a ATM machine.

I then walk to MacDonalds where I had parked my Bike earlier and go get a cup of coffee to drink outside. Am I left alone, no a string of street salesmen pounce on me one by one. Then the beggar’s pounce after a few coins the girls walk by and give me a cute smile and I think to myself I am not that handsome. Got to be something else because the street salesmen think I am a prime client for Viagra, I am too d*mn old.

I wing my way home and nearly get run off the road by a coach and a lorry, both traveling at a speed not right for the road condition and the on coming traffic. I note every body wants to get in front of everyone else, blow you jack I am all right. The car in front stop suddenly and its good job I still got good reflexes as the driver seeming does not know his stop light are blown, probably doesn’t care.

 

I feel pitty for you

Why you stay at the Philippines ?

Greetings J.Diver

 

Why so far I am having a wonderful day?

Why do I stay in the Philippines, I have responsiblities here, my partner her family and those I send to school and university. I also bring money into this country to help the ecconomy.

Still cant see why you seemingly think start to the day was a bad one a normal one maybe? It was beautiful in my garden that morning the birds were singing, when you could hear them. My friends waved as I went pass and I heard that friendly cry of hey joe. (pulling leg a bit further)

What your day like and do you feel like excaping to america. (one more pull)

 

I feel more pitty for you

You beleve your own lies.

Greetings J.Diver

 

I feel pity for you

you do not believe the truth or let say want to..

No need to pity me I really do have a great time, but write about the problems we poor old foreigners, the tale is fiction but based on the real and true problems my best friend has in the city of duma and some of the foriegners have and can not adjust too.

He sir has purchased fans to place on the wall to turn on when his neighbors have dinner or lunch or burn the rubbish. He has goats, pigs and cockrels just over the over side of the wall. He is moving of course as to him its gone past the limits of what he is use too.

Me I don't really care I have found a very quiet haven, even the problems my friend finds with traffic driving I dont give a toss. Music love it, church noise I join in the singing. Beggars cause me no problem and street salesmen they all know me and we laugh and joke. But other foriegner's oh how they complain. Every one and every thing I state here on DI is from both sides of the fence what I have heard from Pinoy and what I have heard from foriegners. Somethings are from my own life experience in the Philippines.

I am actually very happy indeed, got my art my writing and a very nice understanding and inteligent partner of whom I must say is the best filipino I have ever met and we are very close and if anyone complains about filipinos its her that normally complains.

 

Babel- I've been reading your posts/thread since from the beginning. I noticed that you don't like Filipinos/Philippines at all. Why don't you just pack up your things and leave the Philippines/Filipinos alone. Bring your Filipina partner/lover to your conuntry and see if she will get a good treatment from your fellow citizens from UK or wherever you came from.

SO far, you are not a nice person. You know what, it doesn't matter where a person come from, what matters the most is your individual character. All of your threads are all about criticising Filipinos. That we are not mannered enough and or we are not polite. You are the foreiner, you are the visitor in this country, and you think you can manipulate us and tell us what to do, the way you like it? You are OUT OF YOUR MIND!!! You can not change our culture and lifestyle by expressing your bad opinion about this country.

And what do you mean by saying your bringing money to this country? Do you own the Super Lee plaza or a Robinson mall? As far as I am concern, you are just a normal person trying to take advantage of out cheap food, and properties. Because if you are wealthy british, white man then you probably going to America and live in Beverly Hills!!!

Good day to you!@

 

back on the track I see

Now there is the babel-fish that I like to read that has humor and the words ring of how true it is. I knew you could write without becoming too personal and offending everyone. But it will be awhile before everyone calms down. Writing is an art as well you need to think before to put ink to paper. Now everyone else this time what he has wrote as fair and true it is what expats and everyone see daily. But dried fish (bulad) doesn’t smell like sewage, but more like a thousand rotting fish. Yes it smells bad but it taste so good. But the Chinese have stinky tofu now that smells like sewage, but again it tastes great.

 

the idea behind these kind of threads is to make pleasant or entertaining reading

this is not, get some serious hobby you are turning into a bitter old man (seriously you might not notice yourself but I have met my share)

1. Dumaguete trafic is still a walk in the park compared to manila or any big city in the world really, that there are so many females on scooters etc sort of proves it (not sure if female drivers make things safer but they tend to stay out of mad trafic)
2. Yes there are ppl trying to make a living everywhere in the Philipines, street salesmen can be a bit of a nuisance if you are not used to it (you live if the country for 8 years) but they are trying to make an honest living and you got no idea how desperate some are to make some money. Advantage is that everywhere you go you can purchase water, sigaretes etc., everywhere ppl are running shops and providing services.
3. the garbage burning is all over the place even in the city, it is something they should look into, ppl burning stuff in the country-side is common practice all over the world though

 

babel-
I find it very difficult to successfully determine the intent of your postings as your writing "style" is so atrocious.

 

Babel let me explain

Babel I have read what you wrote about four times. I understand what you were saying. However I can also see what everyone else is seeing to which gives me mixed emotions on this subject. On one hand you sound like you are complaining on the other it sounds like telling what you see. But honestly you are an outsider or a guest in the Philippines no matter how many years you have been there. Think about it if your host feels that you are being rude then you probably are. I have tried to tell you in every way I know but the course you are taking is a lonely one. Maybe you care maybe you don’t or do you think the world is a joke and the people here are your play things. Well that is how most people here feel and that is the way you are treating them this is why they are so unhappy with you.