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We're the lucky ones
I don't understand why some people complain about being the in the Philippines and how most of them want to get out. I admit, there are times when I just want to up and leave as well, seeing how stupid some of our government leaders are but it's done in fits of frustration. To tell you the truth, I think we've got it going for anyone who would love to work and be nice to each other here in the Philippines.
David loves it here. He loves the fact that cigarettes cost 35 pesos and vodka is 65 pesos (thank you The Bar!). He loves that beer is 35 pesos and that you can get it by the liter. He loves the weather and the fact that we only have two seasons (to which we complain about incessantly). He loves the people. Because no matter how many arrogant and evil taxi drivers are out there, there are still some who are nice and polite and honest. He loves the giggling salesladies that try to talk to him in Tagalog and ask if he has a brother.
I love the fact that I can still knock on my neighbor's door and ask if I can borrow a cup of sugar. I love the fact that during parties, we share what we have with our neighbors - pancit, cake, barbeque, and lumpia. I love that we can share what we have without having to ask for anything in return. We immediately clutch our hearts when we see a little kid lost in the mall and then we take them to the security office and make sure that they at least find their parents or companions. We drop everything for a friend and we never ask for anything in return because knowing that we've helped someone is enough for us. Call it arrogance but we're built better than any other kind of people out there. Our women know how to take care of their families and their husbands (with the exception of some - again, this is just a general observation. Unless the man is douchebag then we try to eradicate them from our lives as soon as we can.)
Remember the legend of how humans came to be? Where God was a baker and he was baking the human race; he took the first batch out too soon and the result was a race that was too white. He took the next batch out too late and the result was a race that was burnt (again, no disrespect to our African-American brothers out there. Its just our cultural legend) and he took one out a bit too early and got the yellow race and then the last batch was cooked just right and they were a beautiful golden brown - The Filipinos.
Then this piece of advertising catches my eye and I realize that we truly are the lucky ones. In the US, they're selling the makahiya plant for $19.99. That's almost one thousand pesos.
We have been trying to cut it down and kill this weed that has been plaguing our gardens. (On a personal note, my kids wanted to have one so we went out this morning foraging for one and we got some. So suck that $19.99)
And then, I see another advert for Pangasinan Sea Salt that they're selling for $5.99 for 4 oz. FOUR OUNCES! I get this for only 25 pesos! It's insane!
Then there's the pako plant (fiddlehead fern) that we find everywhere but is selling for $19.99 per pound! A thousand pesos per pound?!?! Are you insane?! We use the mature plant for decorations on bouquets and the young tips for food. This tastes amazing with bagoong. Yum...
So, I don't understand how people can complain about living in the Philippines. We have a wonderful night life, amazing beaches, great weather, wonderful people and a plethora of possibilities. As the elders would say "As long as you're not lazy, you can do something and be someone". Filipinos are kind, hospitable and hard-working. We're creative and inventive and we try to make do with what we have.
Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy. Taas noo tayo kahit ang ilong natin ay pango.
David loves it here. He loves the fact that cigarettes cost 35 pesos and vodka is 65 pesos (thank you The Bar!). He loves that beer is 35 pesos and that you can get it by the liter. He loves the weather and the fact that we only have two seasons (to which we complain about incessantly). He loves the people. Because no matter how many arrogant and evil taxi drivers are out there, there are still some who are nice and polite and honest. He loves the giggling salesladies that try to talk to him in Tagalog and ask if he has a brother.
I love the fact that I can still knock on my neighbor's door and ask if I can borrow a cup of sugar. I love the fact that during parties, we share what we have with our neighbors - pancit, cake, barbeque, and lumpia. I love that we can share what we have without having to ask for anything in return. We immediately clutch our hearts when we see a little kid lost in the mall and then we take them to the security office and make sure that they at least find their parents or companions. We drop everything for a friend and we never ask for anything in return because knowing that we've helped someone is enough for us. Call it arrogance but we're built better than any other kind of people out there. Our women know how to take care of their families and their husbands (with the exception of some - again, this is just a general observation. Unless the man is douchebag then we try to eradicate them from our lives as soon as we can.)
Remember the legend of how humans came to be? Where God was a baker and he was baking the human race; he took the first batch out too soon and the result was a race that was too white. He took the next batch out too late and the result was a race that was burnt (again, no disrespect to our African-American brothers out there. Its just our cultural legend) and he took one out a bit too early and got the yellow race and then the last batch was cooked just right and they were a beautiful golden brown - The Filipinos.
Then this piece of advertising catches my eye and I realize that we truly are the lucky ones. In the US, they're selling the makahiya plant for $19.99. That's almost one thousand pesos.
And then, I see another advert for Pangasinan Sea Salt that they're selling for $5.99 for 4 oz. FOUR OUNCES! I get this for only 25 pesos! It's insane!
Then there's the pako plant (fiddlehead fern) that we find everywhere but is selling for $19.99 per pound! A thousand pesos per pound?!?! Are you insane?! We use the mature plant for decorations on bouquets and the young tips for food. This tastes amazing with bagoong. Yum...So, I don't understand how people can complain about living in the Philippines. We have a wonderful night life, amazing beaches, great weather, wonderful people and a plethora of possibilities. As the elders would say "As long as you're not lazy, you can do something and be someone". Filipinos are kind, hospitable and hard-working. We're creative and inventive and we try to make do with what we have.
Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy. Taas noo tayo kahit ang ilong natin ay pango.
