Things you found strange about the Philippines

[actob99 156]

A few things stuck out , but I loved the Philippines. The place I visited was poor, but everyone there was happy and content with their life. They didn't want more. When I would take Jovie's family out to eat ,you can tell they really enjoyed it , When we went to blue jazz in Samal , We got a nice room and I remember how happy her parents were to sleep in a tent on the beach. I didn't kick them out or anything thats what they wanted to do I kinda felt stupid because now me and Jovie had this big room and I thought maybe to others it looked like I kicked them out of the mansion . I loved the kids there. They played outside and roasted in the sun happily "Tumbling" .They would follow me everywhere. I remember buying them all some cola from the little stand and they would drink it as fast as they could to hear themselves burp.the deemed themselves my body guards. The most surprising to me is there was a big storm one night. Wind blowing , rain pouring , It was crazy. A tree fell and smashed the house down that was RIGHT behind Jovie's parents, and thank god the little boy who lived there wasn't in his room sleeping, because it was smashed. I remember looking up as I was helping get the water out of the porch( I guess you would call it a porch....) Area , and I saw a freaking roof flying down the road. I remember thinking ... what have I got myself into now... But the crazy part to me , was after the storm how all the fils got together at the end , and laughed about it , counted their blessings , and the next morning they were helping each other put back together the damages. I mean I don't know about you guys that my trip really changed my outlook on alot of things in life.

Excellent points and I felt the same. After a huge storm no one screaming at the government to help rebuild. They just rebuild like nothing happened. Plenty of re-usable materials laying around after the storm.. It's all about the family being safe and no one getting hurt. I live my life very differently know due to my living in the Phils. I have simplified my life as much as possible..

[Jasman0717 9]

Balut and fish paste that has an odor powerful enough to suppress life everywhere it drifts.

Ah yea, balut! I ate 5 of them after a few SMs

[rlogan 2,036]

Hot slim babes!

Getting drugs from the pharmacy directly instead of paying extortion money to rich doctors first!

Real terrorists blowing things up instead of Government agents provocateur creating them for propaganda!

Fearing criminals instead of fearing the government! (At least with criminals you can fight back.)

Being the tallest person in the room!

People living in garbage & excrement but with spotless clothes and shoes. (I have to hide my shoes so they don't wash them)

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

MSG and garlic on everything, in everything.

Less than attentive hotel staff.

Steel gates on the front door of the hotel, but the back door is left open all night.

Armed security guards opening doors for customers.

Ten year old kids selling porn on pedestrian bridges.

Sidewalk urinals draining across the sidewalk into the street.

Near impossible to find a fresh brewed cup of coffee, or unsweetened iced tea.

Uniformed school girls everywhere.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Some of these posts are drifting towards the edge, after all this is home to many who also read here.

Just saying...

[A and T 82]

I've been living in Manila almost a year, over all its not that bad. Pollution has got better somewhat, and things like banking are a huge pain. Or small tasks can often take up a whole day waiting , because things are so manual (often no computers used at all at some businesses , just paper and pens)

But it has so many great things as well, i feel so free here and the people are so nice.

[southcalhog 43]

Some of these posts are drifting towards the edge, after all this is home to many who also read here.

Just saying...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The wife brought up one last night: The smell of raw sewage from the roadside ditches and drainage canals, and the big mess it makes when they overflow after a rain. She is so happy to be here in the US when she thinks about that.

Edited January 28, 2012 by ☼

[acuratlsd 11]

What I found strange... Hmmm I was there last year from May till July.

1. Living in Baclaran, be sure to make friends with the local cockroaches. The Filipinos just sweep them out with the rest of the dirt. LOL It is an everyday morning thing.

2. Going to banks. I felt that the security guard helped me more than the people who worked there.

3. When taking a taxi. If it is too inconvenient for the taxi driver he will dismiss you. For instance, going to SM Megamall around 5pm. They rather not take your money than drive in the traffic. Just make sure you don't inconvenient the taxi drivers. Like, do their job and use the meter. I also found it weird that Going from Baclaran to Quezon City was one price, but going back on the same route was another price. All meters work differently? lol

4. Shopping at the department store. Here in america you get lucky to find someone to help you, but there in Pinas, at the cash register, your bag will go through about 6 different girls for inspection. Each one has a job, staple, fold, run the register.

5. Oh, going to the department store and having them fold your clothes for you before you buy it. Ha! Come to walmart and ask for that amenity.

6. That one guy saying no means no. I learn to say "umalis ka!" to the little boys when their hands out. I found it strange that they don't understand Tagalog from an american tongue .

7. I took a homeless girl into McDonald's and fed her some food and I got stares at by the older filipina. They don't do that here in states. Not so judgmental about that stuff.

8. I know its not as common in the states, but if you clean up your table at a restaurant, you get strange looks like you did something wrong. Especially at mc donalds and jolliebees.

9. The guys at the malls trying to sell you over priced condos. I found out the best thing to do is put your Ipod on and if they come to you, wave them away or just say "Hindi po" but then again, they still might not take no for an answer.

10. I found it strange how they are so formal at Taco Bell at the Gateway Mall. When you order, it just gives you a weird vibe. Reminds me of the Taco bell from Demolition man.

[acuratlsd 11]

Sorry I just have to add more after reading a few:

1. Getting up in the morning and following the smell of Pandesal to the closest bakery down the block. Yum! 5am Fresh Pandelsal.

2. You guys mentioned the toilet paper, but forgot to mention that there are so seats on the toilets themselves.

3. Watching Pinoy Movies, if any american has every watched one, self explanatory. Stuff on a bus for 7 hours in Makati, I went through a few.

4. The drug store has never heard of Chloraseptic Spray.

5. The people mention the stray dogs roaming around but forgot to say that they look like the dogs from Resident Evil. Lack of food and Nutrient.

6. My favorite! Going to the grocery store when there is a corn beef sale. You think traffic is bad in Manila!

7. The fact that I can drop my laundry off at the sari sari store, and grab and beer on my way home.. same store

8. the fact that there are less accidents in traffic than the states and we have tons of laws to abid by.

9. oh haha i totally forgot this one and it happens to me all the time. I use to live in Airport Road in Baclaran, and instead of the drinking girls coming to pull you into the club, it is the owl 90 year old ladies trying to flirt with you, trying to get you to come in.

10. Traveling on Burgos street in Makati, that even though I look 23, they still come up to me and try to sell me Viagra.

11. Oh, everytime that I went to the bathroom i basically had to go in naked or i would just sweat to death. clothes all nasty! No ventilation in he bathrooms. You would think that would be the first place.

12. When I was there, they knew I was american right off hand. I think it was the "i love american" tee shirt i was wearing that gave it away, but we never sat down to talk one another. I tried to talk to one and it seemed like i was inconveniencing him or something.

13. Being able to bring anything in the movie theater from outside source. Ha! Try to do that here in the states they will **** you out cause you didn't buy their over priced stale food.

14. even though I was staying in the house, i didn't sleep on a bed. I slept on this Bamboo looking folding chair that was brought from Bacolod. I forgot the name but pretty comfy.

15. I passed up going to SM Bacoor to see a chicken killed and bleed to death in front of my house door i was renting. Here in america, chicken is already sliced and packaged for us. We don't get to see the behind the scenes so its always nice to see something new

[Dan and Judy 614]

15. I passed up going to SM Bacoor to see a chicken killed and bleed to death in front of my house door i was renting. Here in america, chicken is already sliced and packaged for us. We don't get to see the behind the scenes so its always nice to see something new

When I opened my door and saw the dead doberman having his hair burned off with a blow torch I had to leave for the day.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

When I opened my door and saw the dead doberman having his hair burned off with a blow torch I had to leave for the day.

Aso ang masarap! You should have stayed around.

Edited February 3, 2012 by ☼

[Dan and Judy 614]

Aso ang masarap! You should have stayed around.

When I returned my GF was eating dog tacos. Dobermans are big so there was plenty to go around.

[rlogan 2,036]

6. That one guy saying no means no. I learn to say "umalis ka!" to the little boys when their hands out. I found it strange that they don't understand Tagalog from an american tongue .

The ones that really annoyed me would poke you incessantly in the back or sides while you were waiting at a pharmacy or something. I couldn't figure out what to do about them.

So one day, I poked one back. You should have seen his reaction. He was shocked. So I poked him again. He ran away. Works every time now.

[acuratlsd 11]

Yeah, I did the same thing. I would poke back at them and if it was the same kids from the day before. I would follow them down the street as they do us and I will poke at them and then have my hand out asking for money and just continue to follow him. I was there for 2 months. I had all the time in the world.

Funny thing is that it embarrasses them if you do that.