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ABC's of Living in the Philippines Title: ABC's of Living in the
Philippines |
Every country and society has their own quirks. Could be in the customs, could be in the fads and trends...some may even strike tourists as weird and totally funny. Still, whatever those quirks are, they serve as pretty good guidelines in how to get by in a country with a totally different culture from that of your own. I'm a Filipino and the Philippines is where I live. Trips I have taken abroad have just served to bring home the truth that the Filipino people and society are in different classes of their own. Classes which people new to the country may find disconcerting and make them go "say what?" So here I give you, a few of the Filipino characteristics, facts of life, and quirks tourists may just stumble upon during their stay in the Philippines. A-- ARNIS Filipino Martial Art practiced with the use of two hard wood sticks. Watching it is like poetry in motion accompanied by the clashing of the sticks the opponents use. It's been widely recognized and respected with groups from the US and Europe taking an interest in it and setting up their own schools for this. B-- BALUT Under-developed duck eggs eaten with salt on a newspaper. Hmm, sounds like fish and chips doesn't it? The difference there being fish doesn't have feathers and bones that go "crack!" as you bite into them. It's a local belief that balut is an aphrodisiac. Why? I have absolutely no idea. C--CORRUPTION
Other words: Crab Mentality; Crisis; Charter Change (what is this the 4th or 5th time?...) D-- DIVISORIA Bargain shopping central. The place to go with only P500 pesos in your pocket and you can go home with new jeans and a shirt. A favorite with tourists who find themselves buying extra suitcases or boxes in which to fit their purchases. E-- EDSA Oh yes, there's EDSA.
That veritable bastion of Filipino democracy that fills up with people
every time they want to protest som Other words: Economic Crisis; Exotic Escorts F-- FIESTAS Everybody knows that the Philippines is party town. Remembering a saint? let's "par-tay," just earned your city hood? break out the lechon people! Wanna toss the President out of Malacanang? Let's rhumba in EDSA! Heck, it's only in the Philippines where even wakes turn into party centers with mah-jong and card tables set up on the streets outside while food and drinks are arranged on a side table for the guests also known as mourners. G-- GAYS The Philippines is one
country
H-- HALO-HALO Mm-hmm, that cold, sweet fruity dessert made up of mung beans, white beans, gelatin, purple yam, jackfruit slivers, sweet bananas and pinipig flakes topped with ice cream, milk, sugar, more purple yam, and leche flan (local version of the creme brulee.) The Filipino way of beating the awful summer heat.
I-- ISTAMBAY ("stand-bys) Yup, they're full of potential. Too bad they stay at that potential state. These are the people who sit around street corners watching the world as the day goes by. Big burly men with tattoos who never seem to have jobs to go to yet miraculously have money to spend on cases of the local brewskies, gin and women. Happy days come during protest rallies where they get bonanzas at being hired as "professional protestors." Their motto? "He who pays highest gets our support."
J- JEEPNEYS
Gaudy colors, blaring stereos with either tinny-sounding or pumped up bass speakers and drivers whose sanity you seriously doubt. Riding a jeepney is like playing Russian roulette. Your gamble begins the minute you step in the jeep and it lurches forward without even waiting for the passengers to be seated. Its your choice whether to hang on to to your rosary or the metal bar attached to the roof as you pray for dear life. This all happens as the driver maniacally weaves in and out of the lanes, stopping in the middle of the street for passengers, and running through red lights at intersections. But hey, for just a few pesos, they get you where you want to go. Whether if its one piece or not or how disheveled you are is another question. Good jeepney drivers are a hit and miss thing. (pardon the pun.) For an added thrill, try riding on the roof of provincial jeepneys. K- KARAOKE
L- LECHON Special holidays and events have always been marked by the Lechon. No fiesta, big birthday bash, or community party is ever complete without the succulent roasted pig stuck on a bamboo stick with an apple stuffed into its mouth. My memories of Lechon consist mainly of the adults scrambling to get first dibs on the pig's crispy skin (Never mind if they'll be complaining of high blood pressure later on.) The good thing about Lechon is that the left-overs can be "recycled" later on into another Filipino dish, the lechon paksiw. M- "MAMAYA NA" AND MALLS
Malls. They're actually one of the reasons nobody really believes the Philippines is as poor as they say. With highly populated multi-level malls that take a little more than an hour just to get from one side to another, I'd have serious doubts about the poverty issue too. Hmm, well, maybe there is some credence when some people say that the Philippines really isn't a poor country. It's only the government coffers that are empty. (See "C" for Corruption.)
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It's
a sad fact of life but there it is. Satires have been made about
the vast amount of corruption that takes place in both the highest and
lowest sectors of the government. From the many millions salted
away by Big Kahunas of Philippine politics down to the lowly
street traffic aide who gets meal and snack fees from the drivers he
catches. Whether the charges are trumped up or true, well, that's
another story. If most people have contingency funds, Filipinos
from the business and private sectors have the "kotong" (bribery
and extortion fees) funds set up. These are used to pay for the meals of
traffic enforcers, condos and properties of the politicians, and dress
and trip allowances every time the state sends someone abroad on
international conventions and representation.
ething.
At one time, EDSA bore witness
to more important and truly noteworthy things like the
ousting of a dictator or protesting against government
policies. Nowadays, EDSA is THE ultimate party central with
humongous malls surrounding it (so convenient if you want to take a
break during all those protests,) and ready venue for mini-concerts,
celebrity sight-seeing, and the obligatory speech to make rallies seem
more credible during protest stunts.
where Gay Pride has started to become the norm. They're
everywhere! In the workplace, at restaurants, bars...with faces made up
and clutching dainty hand bags, Filipino homosexuals range from the "faggest
of the fags" to the more refined types. They dominate the
workplace with that combination of charm and vicious tongues.
Tourists are forewarned. A lot of Filipino gays can be rather sexy
and pretty. Be careful that the fine lady you may be flirting with
in a bar may just turn out to be a pretty "ladyboy."
Oh
yeah we Filipinos just LOVE to
sing. You hear people giving their...er...unique renditions
of Old Blue Eyes' "My Way" for the
men and "Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
for the ladies. From the streets to those classier Karaoke places
like Music 21, there are people
belting out their favorite tunes be it a capella or accompanied.
Music has always been in the Filipino's
soul. 
Other
than being hospitable, there is another trait most attributed to Pinoys...they
are RARELY on time. The "Mamaya Na." (Manana) or "Later" attitude
is one that most Filipinos have. "You're going somewhere?
Mamaya na. Have a drink first!;" "You have a 3 o'clock appointment?
It's only 2:45. Maaga pa! Mamaya ka na umalis." (It's still
early. Leave later.)| || Submit your own article. Inquire Here » |
