10 Things...

I'll bet you didn't know about the Philippines.

It's that time, ladies and gents, after over a month living here. As with every place I visit, here are just a few things I've come to learn about the 'pines.

1. Jeepneys! A leftover from America in World War II, the Filipinos have taken the old jeeps and extended them so that they have two long benches in back. They're an important part of daily life, running specific routes throughout cities and towns. Plus they have awesome paint jobs! Tricycles are also a common form of transportation, especially in smaller towns. Most are a motorcycle with a side car but you'll see a few that are actual bikes.

2. Similar to much of Asia, the Filipinos love their malls. Huge, multi-story complexes, these house the lastest fashions from Estee Lauder to Adidas, an absurd number of fast food restaurants and a movie theater (where tickets to the newest American films are less than $5). Saturday afternoons are often spent just roaming a mall. I've been told part of the reason is the A/C, but regardless this country loves to shop!

3. Don't ask a Filipino the time. For a week I couldn't figure out why I was always running late. Turns out we were going off of a friend's watch that was 10 minutes fast. I've even been at a train station where the clocks next to each other are 20 minutes apart (and both wrong). But given that most Filipino society, especially in the provinces, is unconcerned with time, I guess it's a bit irrelevent.

4. Be prepared to be treated with the utmost politeness. Walking down the street everyone will call out "good morning, ma'am" and "how are you today, ma'am?". There is a formal etiquette that dictates interactions and while Filipinos are very willing to help, they may say yes just out of politeness of the situation.

5. BYOTP

6. They love basketball the way the Ghanaians love their soccer. Kobe jerseys are abundant and the Filipino guys know more about Team USA than I do. The PBA is a league with about 12 teams but they're not regional. Rather they're owned by corporations so they have some great mascots - Rain or Shine, the Texters...Apparently it is similar high school ball (Filipinos are a bit vertically challenged for such a sport).

7. There is no extra tax on alcohol or cigarettes. The local rum, Tanduay, is $2 a bottle and it's damn good stuff. San Mig at the store is about 50 cents a bottle. Even their strong lager, Red Horse, is under a dollar and this ain't no Bud. 

8. Karaoke, or more specifically videoke, is a national favorite. Every night in Manila you'll walk past bar after bar boasting its top-of-the-line set up. It's not just for the teenagers either. This also means that you'll hear some pretty terrible singing being blasted.

9. Lady boys and prostitutes. I guess I knew, but man did I underestimate this one...be careful which massage parlor you choose.

10. You may forget how to use a knife while you're here. They eat with a fork and spoon (the former being used to cut the food and push it around the plate, while the latter you actually eat with). At times this can be a pain but most meat you get at a restaurant is already sliced. I shouldn't be complaining, at least they figured out a sensible way to consume rice.

Two guys, a girl and a horrifying place

Sunday morning I was back in action, this time heading to the central Visayas, to the island of Bohol. Arriving mid-morning I made my way to Alona Beach (on the nearby island of Panglao) where I had a surprisingly easy time finding Allan and Andrew. An afternoon of sunbathing ensued (and the boys' delicate Canadian skin frying...similarly to their bacon I'd imagine). Andrew will tell you the beach wasn't that nice (they just got back from Boracay), but I still insist it's one of the prettiest beach I've been to, you just can't swim. By no means horrifying. The boys had found some delicious BBQ on the island and we tried to get to bed at a reasonable hour. Amazingly we managed to get up in time to catch the tour van headed to Bohol. The island is historically known for being the site of the blood compact between Magellan and the natives. We stopped at a monument, an old Spanish church, a butterfly sanctuary, a small zoo with a python and a river before we finally came to what we were waiting for - the Tarsier Center and the Chocolate Hills. Tarsiers, with their saucer eyes and suction cup fingers, were the inspiration for ET (but a less creepy, more cuddly version). They're nocturnal but we saw a few with their eyes open. The Chocolate Hills are a compilation of over 1200 unusual mounds sculpted from limestone and coral in the middle of the island. It remains a mystery as to how they were actually formed. Pretty bizarre and when they're dry they resemble chocolate drops. I think I found my birth place!

The rest of the week passed alternating beach, reading, cable TV!, entertaining conversation and 40 peso ($1) rum & cokes... And nearly every meal we ended back at Alona Hidden Dream, despite our insistence that the food was just horrifying and it was definitely not the only restaurant in town. The boys, having spent 7+ months traveling SE Asia together, took a hiatus from bickering to crack some American jokes. Poor Toronto won't know what hit it when I come to visit...!

Thursday afternoon we finally made our way to Cebu by ferry. It turned out to be a smaller, dirtier Manila (just horrifying I tell you!) and we decided there was nothing useful here aside from a way to get home. So yesterday I headed back home, back in time for my class this morning. The boys head back up later this week and spend a few more nights in Manila before continuing their trip in Indonesia. It was a great week, but right now I'm wishing I was up at Donner right now to celebrate with Mom and Ryan! I'll be sticking around Manila this week, getting some real work done and getting excited for Chelsea to arrive!

Thanks for all the concern, but we actually didn't even feel the earthquake - I found out about it from Mom!