When i first came to the Philippines I really didn’t venture to much into the Barangay or neighborhoods, mostly just visiting the major landmarks maybe the beach and pretty much stayed in the bigger cities.
But, now that I am a resident here the whole meaning of living in the Philippines is different. The sights, smells, and sounds: I guess you can equate it to living in the countryside without leaving the city. What I mean is when I listen to my surroundings I hear roosters crowing, pigs grunting and squealing, and of course motorcycles and cars zooming the streets along with the daily vendors walking or riding up and down the streets ringing a bell, playing ice cream truck music, or just yelling out their wares!
It really isn’t bothersome to me actually i kinda like it. Now, as most of you that know who I am know that I am in fact mobility impaired and use a wheelchair for mobility most of the time I also have an electric scooter that I brought from the states that made a huge hit with the valet’s that assist the wheelchair users at the airport. I was taken by surprise at the reaction I got from them as I took it for granted it being an everyday site as it is in the States. But as the theme goes, you definitely aren’t in Kansas anymore.
So as I roam the neighborhood that I live in traffic actually stops! Its been many times I’ll go to the convenience store up the street to get some sugar or bread etc. and the tricycle drivers look turn away look again then just stop right there in the street to gaze in wide wonder at the Kano on the strange electric bike, I often wave and they continue on but it seems no matter where I go in my city here, my method of mobility is always a conversation starter from how does it work to how much did it cost.
There is actually a fairly large population of expats that live here in Tagum but they are mostly concentrated in a single subdivision that is gated and caters to the working professionals mostly doctors lawyers teachers and retired expats. Me and my wife chose to live in a middle class neighborhood if there is such a thing here and live the traditional Filipino lifestyle. I live here in a two bedroom house with a single CR with my wife Riza and two of her younger sisters and a younger brother that all came to live with us from the Compostela Valley Province so that they can attend a better high school and help with the daily household chores.
As of yet we don’t have our own means of transportation which is really different for me coming from the States where your vehicle basically is an extension of who you are, but we are contemplating purchasing a tricycle so i can tinker and modify it to my ability to use. I think it will be a fun project. There’s a auto repair shop just around the corner from our house that has from what I am accustomed very primitive tool collection, but I know for a few peso’s and maybe a few San Miguels they will be more than a little helpful in assisting me to accomplish my project.
So, stay tuned to learn more about my adjustment to living in the Philippines as I wheel my way through southern Mindanao.
About Tommy
Hi Tommy
I just want to say BRAVO to you. I cant help but admire your way of thinking to make life easier for you. As you say you are in a different country, and the needs provided for people with disabilties is far less then the USA. In the years I been in and out of the Philippines I have not met any one from the US there or seen to that matter with a disabilty thre. I will take time to see you. until then be safe.
Kenney
Hi Tommy,
Nice story, I like it when I here that a person with a disability don,t let it get them down, Good on you man!
All the best to you,
Chris!
Hi Tommy, It sounds like you’re adapting well in your new place. I think that Philipinos are more accepting of people with disabilities as being more like everybody else but with differences.
Adapting the tricycle sounds like a fun project. With your background with race cars and such, I predict that the repair shop near you might become your regular hangout! I hope you’re very happy and healthy in your new place for many years to come. queenie
It’s amazing what the will of a human being can accomplish. High five to you, and yours Tommy……..i2f
Hi Tommy,.great article!
I was in Tagum City 3 years ago for about 6 weeks,I loved it there,I thought the people there for the most part were really cool.
I look forward to visiting Tagum again in the future.
I hope you can get your mods done to your new future trike,.would like to see it when I come back to Tagum.
I am also looking into moving to Philippines sometime in the future,not sure if it will be Tagum,or closer to Davao.
My G/F is from Carmen,but now works in Davao,.so will see how things pan out.
Randy S
Hi Tommy
I wonder if your ” audience ” may be just as interested in the Kano as in his means of transportation. On my visits there, I too, noticed many tools, equipment etc. that in some cases have long been discarded from here or otherwise put to rest. For me it was a gratifying experience to see that some of these things are still in use and what skilled workers can do with them. It seems a blend of the old and the more recent as opposed to completely discarding things of the past which is most oftn the case here each time something new comes along. It is nice to see some of the real repair shops there.
Tommy
Very nice.
Tommy. Loved this blog entry. Thanks for writing. Your lifestyle with the 2BR and extended family helping out in return for getting access to schools is certainly recognizable for me. I hope Jenny and I can visit with you and Riza in Tagum sometime when we’re there.
Hey Tommy – Enjoy your life there in Tagum. It sounds like you are getting a little taste of life in the Philippines!
Hi Tommy
I bet you are going to make a very cool tricycle
When I was a kid me and my best friend where always building mini bikes and go karts.Than we use to buy these old 3 wheel mail karts for 25 bucks and we fixed them up,but our parents did’nt let us drive them out of the neighbor hood.
I was a softball guy for 20 years(than I was an umpire for 9 years)great game.
Hey Tommy,
Great article, and would love to see some pictures of your finished product.
I can see you “souping” up the local Jeepney’s soon….roll cages, tub jobs, etc….hey theres an idea….buy a big piece of land, and you can have your own quarter mile track…lol..or your own Moroso Park..lol and bring Drag, and stock car racing to the Philippines, and an occasional smash em up derbys. I know you remember those, not sure if they still do those or not..those were a lot of fun..back in the 70′s and early 80′s.
Keep up the great writing, and can’t wait to hear more about your new life there..take care.
Salamat kaayo,
Danny
Hi Tommy,
great article!
Would like to visit you and Riza in Tagum City sometime this year or early next year. Would like to meet with you; my hubby, also kano, who love to watch NASCAR race. Maybe you too have something in common when it comes to building anything that involves with engines.
Looking forward to tthe finish product of your trike!
Thanks to Bob for this site….
Hi Medora thank you ! just let us know we’d be glad to have a cup of coffee and talk NASCAR !
Hi Tommy,
Great article. I just live near Tagum (actually its an hour away).
I’ve put up a blog about tagum city I called it Crossing Tagum [tagumcity.wordpress.com] Hope you’ll have one as well.
Hope to meet you soon and have some more chit-chat about you living in Tagum city.
Hi Tommy, fantastic! would love to take your invite for a cup of coffee
…. please drop me an e-mail how I can reach you, hope you have my e-mail address. Thanks
You must be a real hit on the streets hee hee i can imagine you as I have seen those commercials where they do the round an round like a squair dance do you do that too ..( just joking Tom ) Phil n Jess
Hi Tommy you still live in Tagum?
Hi tommy you still living in Tagum?
Hi Kenney & Milyn and thnks for dropping in. Yea its a challenge but life is a challenge and i just don’t want to miss out on it due to a mobility impairment. thanks for your kind words and will certainly look for you
Hi Chris, yes when i was injured i met alot of people the gave up and decided to live the plant life and sit in the corner and get watered three times a day, i tried to persuede them that nothing changed just the way we do it ! One day i am hoping to talk you into taking me for a dive !
Hi Queeniebee ! I think you may be right, I think the Filipino’s here are probably some of the most non-judgemental people i have met. Haha yea i am a tinkerer and I often visit the guys down at the repair shop
Thanks John yes having the will is half the battle
Hi Randy and thank you. Yes the people here really are what makes this place what it is. I am looking forward to the right project and good luck to you and your friend, Davao is a wonderful place thats for sure.
Hi Bob New York, your right about that there is always the fascination with a kano in the PI, my mobility equipment just serves as n “ice breaker”. I noticed that too there are true craftsmen here that still chisel wood the old way instead of using a router, allot of hand tools are handmade. It does bring you back to a simpler time and i like it. thanks for your comment.
Thank You Robert G. I am glad you enjoyed it
Hi Nick and thank you, it really is what it is all about, having family around you. I hope you look us up too would love to have a visit !
Hi Bob I am enjoying it and quite frankly i really don’t know that i’d be here if it weren’t for your and Feyma’s assistance, thank you !
Hi Eric, Yea ya know when you start out just going to make a few adjustments to suit your needs and when its done its a custom one off jewel, haha, oh well. Wow very cool my brother played ball for a number of years with the Bolton Bombers and now is the president of the local youth camp. You really would be amazed at the talent of the wheelchair softball teams there are even a few disabled ex pro baseball players that can really hit the ball a country mile sitting down ! it really is a challenge ! We play 12″ slow pitch ASA.
Hi Danny ! haha yea Morosa East huh that would be a great tribute to Dick and Rob Moroso huh ! the drag race scene here is alive and kicking Danny ! some camaro’s even havent seen any nitro pro mods but there is a healthy contigent of import racing and some assorted US made iron running turbo’s and NOS. I think so much attention is focused on the blight this country faces in the poor area’s it is overlooked that there is a middle and upper class here that enjoy the same recreational outlets that are enjoyed all over the world now if i could ship one of our Allen Johnson 526 CI motors here hmmmmm
Hi Migs and thanks for stopping in. I do in fact read your blog, i even commented a time or two. I love your restaurant reviews you are responsible for introducing me to the secret garden ! thanks and would love to chat anytime.
HaHa Phil, more like George Costanza on Seinfeld