Podcast: John & Steve
I love this country and I also introduced my friend STEVE a few years ago to the wonder and the beauty of this country, and as expected he has taken it to his heart now and wants to move here too, this despite some of the credit crunch problems affecting the UK..
The following conversation between myself and Steve about what he loves and misses, but also what he maybe does not miss too.
Lets talk Supermarkets and TV and the passion for the people of the Philippines.
The house is always the problem. I t is a problem here also. The price on homes here has gone way down. Part of my retirment money also. I just hope it takes a turn for the better in the next four years. Also the stock market is on a wild ride at this point. Double ouch!!! I have not won the lottery yet.
Welcome to the Philippines, Steve. You’ve made the right choice and hopefully,
there is always something to do when you actually settle down for good. We know
that there is no perfection in life, nor the other extreme, hence, balance is something you could eventually enjoy. Take care and enjoy the moment. Life is
too short . There’s more to life than being lonely. No doubt, you’ll never be lonely
out there, if you’re prepared to spread your wings, which, incidentally, you’ve already done. \I, too, would love to go home to the Philippines, this time, for good. I’ve been in Spain for 28 years. Europe is tired and wanting and in fact, we’ve stopped going to the UK since it only breaks the wallet. Good luck and have a
wonderful stay there.
Looking forward to when Steve goes back to the Philippines! Thanks to you, John, I’ve made dear and good friends in Davao.
Well done John, your attempts to goad some decent answers out of your mate did fail miserably, did your mate work for London Borough of Tower Hamlets as a community cohesion officer, because he talks and answers just like one of them, get him to listen to John Gaunt 10.00am UK time every morning Monday to Friday on Talksport online.
“ITS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE MADE GUV !”
Your mate’s political correct answers barely scratch the surface, he would have been better telling it as it is, however on the whole the podcast was enjoyable.
I dunno, it’s nice and honest enough I thought.
I have some gay friends (1 who is a very close friend) in Australia; I think they would feel similar about things here.
A conversation with my wife about Gay culture here (bakla); ” I am from a town of 28,000 in Oz, the same size as this town,there are about 6 obviously out gay men in the place, Ive been here a month and you have introduced me to 10 or more; how many gay men (lady boys, bakla) are there here in this town?” ” What? Only 6? here there are hundreds at least more than 100 really obvious Lady boy and some of them are so beautiful! More beautiful than the girls!”
This is coming from a girl who has attended church all her life and totally straight, she has many gay friends. We discuss gay marriage and she is supportive of it, against the wishes of her pastor; because she knows these people as real people with real feelings and loves them.
To me as a straight male; the bakla culture here is a beautiful expression of gayness, shows what a tolerant society this really is; as well as a real eye opener I hope my gay friends will come to experience here.
Good on you John, keep promoting this beautiful country to all you can and developing the podcast media!
Don
Maybe we just throw the keys in lol
Roy
I will try to get him drunk next tim then BBC will mean British Boozey Chat
Hill
Balance of life is the most important thing for sure.
Migs
Come back to Davao soon
Pete
Jon Gaunt I miss him on my radio, Syeve was not going to be tripped by my questions was he?
Chris
For those that want to hear Steve talk about gay issues there is a podcast from him on my own website
http://www.gayinthephilippines.com
Hi John and Steve, while listening the podcast I only can say: Miss you guys… And STEVE, welcome home back in the Philippines as soon as possible. Take good care…
….and WHATS WRONG WITH AMERICAN TV??????? STILL A BIT MAD ABOUT THAT TEA PARTY WE HAD EH MATE???!!!! LOL NICE POD CAST JOHN….
The RP is the pinnacle of customer service…where else do I have to remind myself to request my dinner check immediatly AFTER I order in order to have it on my table before I leave !!!
Roy – why would I want to bitch out?
Hill – thank you very much for your words, they are very nice and welcoming and I appreciate it. I am happy with the choices I have made and I look forward to settling in Davao when my house in the UK is finally sold.
Migs – I miss you, you are a special friend, one of many that I am making there in the Philippines, cant wait to be back.
Pete – Why do you consider my answers are not decent enough? Is it because I am not bitching and slagging people off? Well my replies were honest and how I feel, so thats just how it is. Its a good job we are not all the same. And as for political correctness? That really made me laugh. You obviously dont know me at all.
Klaus – I miss you all and cant wait to see you all again soon.
Brian – where do I begin???? hahahahahaa
Klaus
No need to miss me my friend I live next door to you lol
Brian
Myself and Bob had a lively conversation about the difference between British and American Tv and I really think its what you get used to, but no doubt the blockbusters like 24,BOSTON LEGALTHE WEST WING and more are fantastic well written and acted TV.
Regarding the bill at restaurants..I agree but what about when you order and wait 30 mins to be told NOT AVAILABLE!!!
Steve
That’s it!!! Now you are provocative in writing and a mild Lamb on the podcast lol
Hi Steve! Why would you want to bitch out? I don’t know. Maybe you find that the tea they serve you is “ghastly”?
Kidding aside, I appreciate the fact that you gloss over the minor irritations you encounter there. Welcome to the Philippines. People there have a tendency to move at a glacial pace. Perhaps they think that that thrills the foreigners. 
BTW, Brian I used to do that too..I ask for the bill as soon as the waiter took my order.
Hi Chris! Thank you for pointing out an aspect of Philippine culture ( or is it pop culture?) that many foreigners may find odd–the openness of homosexuality in the country. I am a Filipino myself and I am still fascinated over this. Of course, I am proud too of my straight friends who embraced their gay friends to the fullest.
Greetings from Spain! Hope you’re not yet tired of me. Anyway, regarding the
discussion of the difference between US-produced TV and UK-produced TV:
The Brits are good at making documentaries and fly-in-the-wall docs, whereas
the Americans are good at producing sit-coms and serious drama, thrillers. The Brits and the Americans complement each other in that regard.Cheers, guys.
Chat next time…hasta luego.
Roy
Sexuality in the Philippines is a huge subject..maybe an article on that in the future.
Hill
I have to agree with you on that.
Nice Podcast . There are a lot of more frustrating things about this country.
Btw I really enjoy the part when John asked about the television , and steve is right fortunately we have the technology now to watch everything we want , beacause really the filipino tv is really really bad in someway. But very good in some other way .
Did you notice that they hardly talk about international issues ? Like wars and financial crisis ?
Probably this is why the malls are always so full of people they don’t know about the global financial crisis.
It’s incredible how people can make a sound evaluation of the state of Philippine television without citing any facts, other than the statement ” filipino tv is really really bad in someway. But very good in some other way “. Wow, that’s really enlightening.
Reden, I am curious as to which standards do you use in decreeing that the Philippines suffers from bad television. If you are a foreigner here, do you use your country’s standards in evaluating Philippine TV?
I think it’s a good idea that Philippine TV does not dwell as much as you think they should over issues like the wars and financial crisis. Do you think their take on those issues will have a profound effect on the lives of their viewers who are largely Filipinos, BTW? It is hilarious to think that– according to you–Filipinos flock to the malls now because they do not care about the global financial crisis. As if malls suddenly enjoyed higher density of people coming in just because there had been too many house foreclosures in the US.
Reden, what is truly frustrating is when people come together and bash the Philippines in just about anything, its TV, the laws they make on the basis of mere impressions. Alright, I give it to them their right to complain, find fault about the Philippines. But they should know that their comments cannot destroy the very thing they complain about .
Reden
I sometimes become hooked on the soap here as I not understand what is being said but I always enjoy the “over acting” lol
Roy
A very passionate answer and its always difficult for me as a foreigner to talk about your countrys politics on a site like this, as to be honest as a guest I do not understand everything yet.
I suppose if I tried to learn more I could comment better, and as a man from Britain when I travel across the English Channel the laws change and I may not agree to them and understand them I will honour them as a visitor.
The thing to remember is that these comments are all opinion – it does not mean any single one is globally correct. Except mine of course !!
Hi Steve, …. yes SIR
Steve, i did not feel your answers are not decent mate, they are fine, but I felt you were guarded in your views, thats your privilidge you were the one on the podcast, as for me, I don’t know you, but based on your guarded answers, you answered neutrally, did you not agree ” of course one does not expect you to slag any one off, or bitch about anything, that would be easy to do, I merely thought you could make comparison’s about things that were in contrast in your life now compared to the UK, aftera ll John did ask you, and did prompt you, to make the comparison., no hard feelings, best wishes.
I would just like to explain somethings to anyone who is interested.
If people feel the need to criticise the above mentioned podcast and the contents in it, then of course feel free, that is your perogative. That is what this website is all about, airing views and opinions, sharing ideas, discussing differences etc etc. On that note, I would like to say that whatever I did happen to say or mention in the podcast was MY opinion and viewpoint. My ideas and opinions are not necessarily correct and I am not endorsing that they are. They are just my opinions and how I feel.
The podcast was unrehearsed and I had no time to think about the questions at all, so they were pretty much off the cuff. There was no time to get into anything political or to discuss the financial status of the country etc etc etc. We just talked about personal stuff. Nothing more, nothing less.
I guess everyone loves to be a critic.
Oh and if anyone was annoyed or put out by my comments about the American influence on filipino tv, then chill out please. Again, i was expressing just my own little opinion, and i did follow my comments up by saying, this is “tongue in cheek.” If you dont know what that means, then look it up.
Thank you.
Hi Steve- You said that people should chill out…. exactly, everybody should chill out. Present company included.
When you say “That is what this website is all about, airing views and opinions, sharing ideas, discussing differences” – that is not exactly correct. I invented the website, and I am pretty sure that I know what the site is all about. It is about the Philippines, and what it is like living in the Philippines for expats.
Steve, when was the last time that we had articles criticizing the UK? Answer – we don’t. Yes, I have gotten e-mails from people who were offended about what you said about the USA. I personally felt offended by it myself. OK, no big deal. Sometimes people get offended.
I don’t see the reason for this comment, because there really aren’t any people criticizing this podcast since last time you commented. Last time when you told us that you were the only person here who was “globally correct” there were two follow up comments – Klaus who simpy said “yes sir” and Pete, who supported you. So why the need to get critical again?
Indeed, Steve, chill out.
You are my friend Steve, you are a good person. But, on this one thing I felt offended by what you said. I am sure that I have said things before that didn’t sit well with you. No big deal, it happens. Let’s just chill out.
If necessary, I can close the comments on this article, and we can all put it behind us. I prefer not to do it that way, but will if we can’t all chill out.