Philippine Expectations
The other day, my wife Emy said something that I found a bit disturbing. Here we are, just days before returning home to Pasuquin, and her words shocked me like a tossed bucket of ice water. The final Balikbayan box has already started its journey home. Our bags have been packed and re-packed numerous times. We’ve received confirmation of our flight status and our strategies for handling carry-on baggage are set. All systems are “GO!” – and then, Sploosh!
Paraphrasing the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition:
Expectation: noun. 1. the act or state of expecting; anticipation. 2. something expected.
Why did I zero-in on the word expectation? Well, it’s part of what Emy said. We were discussing our upcoming adventure and all of the possibilities it held. Then, out of the blue, came, “Don’t have too high expectations; you may be disappointed.” Brrrr, I can still feel that icy sting.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any expectations for this adventure. They don’t seem too high to me, but maybe it’s time for a little reality check. Just as every dark cloud has a silver lining, so too some silver linings have big dark clouds covering them. Was I focusing too much on the shiny silver and ignoring the darkness it surrounded? I hope not.
Here are ten expectations I have – do you think they are too lofty?
- Enjoying much warmer weather year-round than any other location where I’ve lived (save Guam).
- Living a slower pace of life where one can enjoy (or hate) every minute of a day, separately.
- Seeing the many friends and relatives who I’ve missed since we last met.
- Receiving smiles each morning from people to whom I raise my eyebrows, upwardly nod and greet.
- Preventing a swindle attempt early enough to spare anyone’s embarrassment.
- Playing with my Australian Shepherd Barto, who I admit I’ve missed over the past seven months.
- Partaking of Mountain Province coffee, “Manila” cigars using Isabella tobacco, and San Miguel beer, all of which I enjoy.
- “Enjoying” a good typhoon every now and then and helping with clean-up activities in the barangay.
- Spending the morning browsing and bartering at the tienda (palengke) [market]* on market day.
- Looking into a couple of entrepreneurial endeavors – possibly using up some of my “spare time.”
* Where possible, I like to use Ilocano words. When I do, they’ll appear as Ilocano (Filipino) [English]. In this case, I use the word tienda (pronounced “chenda”) for market.
Now, in my humble opinion, if any of those expectations are too high, then I am definitely in for some sour experiences. (Ooo – that sting of the icy water, again!) I’m quite sure, however, that all are attainable and I’ll enjoy them all during our adventure. Additional expectations will pop up while I’m there, too. I try not to have expectations; I’d rather have pleasant or unpleasant experiences in real time and not happily or anxiously await something that may or may not happen.
How about you – Any lofty expectations about the Philippines?
paul
how many times have you been to the philippines and how long did you stay each time?
moving your whole life is like marrying someone. you really never know till you live together.
maria
Paul
I will be in Vigan next January and I might just swing by. There are quite a few expats living in Vigan area; I have a friend from Belgium who lives up your way.
Best
Jody
Paul:
Don’t confuse expectations with excitement… I agree with your wife that all may not be rosy. Kind of like when you were a kid, the excitement before Christmas day and the sort of let down that the excitement is over once the presents have been opened and the turkey has been eaten.
It helps greatly that you have visited many times, but as has been pointed out, living there is different. I am betting that getting used to the slow pace of life up there will be your biggest challenge. I’m certain you guys will be happy… Pasuguin is a really nice area.
As a side note: Becky and I just placed a deposit on 75m of beachfront in Abulug…from her mother’s back property line to the shore. They are surveying and doing a title search now (The sand dunes have moved since the original survey) We are going to start building a house there, where we will eventually divide our time between there and Manila (We will probably always need a place here for school for Juanito).
Hello Paul,
Like one great writer on LiP said,”you don’t know till you try it”, and “your greatest disapointment might be not knowing if you don’t try it”. I say go for it, and if you don’t like it there after awhile, the USA will still be there waiting for you, or some other destination.
Good luck, in your move Paul.
Salamat kaayo,
Danny
Hi Paul,
I got about 2 months before I leave to retire in the PI. I got lots expectations, but I am also a person who doesn’t live in a fansty world. No mater where you live there will good and bad. Such is the world we live in. But no matter what, I do know one thing Godd or bad, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, and so the Phillipines will by resting place good or bad.
Kenney
Although we have a nice house here in Florida. Imagine is what we call home. I cannot see many disappointments ahead, but if there were. We would just sail home, Imagine, to another destination.
I would think you have spent enough time in the Phils to have very few surprises left. BEST WISHES in your arrival going smoothly along with the rest of your lives……i2f…..John
Paul, your expectations are attainable. I bet however, during the hot and high humidity season particularly during the months of March, April and May, you probably wish you are here in US enjoying spring time. Good luck again in your new adventure and move!
hello, master chief paul. i salute your accomplishment and you have come a long way. living in the P.I. is always full of surprises. always expects the unexpected and let the journey begins. living in the philippines is a lot easier than being in the navy for 24 years but you don’t have to take my word for it cause i’m not as salty as you are. godspeed and fairwinds to you and emy.
Hi Emmanuel – Thanks for the kind words and wishes. Yes, expecting the unexpected is part of the “grand plan” for adventure.
I return the salute, but must admit that all of the salt has either brushed off or fallen off after 16 years of being a retired sailor. Now, if I could only finish cleaning up the salty language that’s muttered once in a while!
Paul,
My plan is to explore via Imagine. I will be welcoming those aboard that I have met here. Not much as pretty as a schooner with full sail, and her rail down a bit. Looking forward to meeting you in the future……i2f…..John
Hello Paul
I think a small vegtable garden would be great fun to have in your back yard.
Lets see if wine grapes will grow here?
Hi Paul
)
I’m only a few months behind you, therefore I’m interested in your adventurers and also your feelings.
I think you are making the right moves, there is nothing worse than lying on your death-bed saying ‘I wish I moved to the Philippines in 2009 when I was young
Even if things don’t work out, you are only an airplane ticket away, but I’m sure that’s not required.
Very good luck to you Paul & Emy. I wish you all the luck, sure you will enjoy life there.
Great article Paul. I look forward to following your adventures in the Philippines.
P.S. I’m not usre what you mean’t by “Preventing a swindle attempt early enough to spare anyone’s embarrassment.” Are you referring to the “kano tax”?
Paul,
Sweet Wine?
Is this good with spicy taco”s?
number 10 sounds a little unreasonable—bubba
Well, James, perhaps some would think so. I’ve seen success come to Filipinos and expats alike who just “did it” and didn’t give any consideration to their own doubts. Then again, I’ve seen failures, too. The biggest failures, however, were those who “coulda, shoulda, woulda” but didn’t do much more than analyze their potential failure. Self-fulfilling prophecies, each case.
Hi Maria – Over the past 20 years or so, we’ve visited “home” about every other year. Durations varied anywhere from two weeks to two months, depending on leave/vacation availability, $$$, etc.
I agree with you on moving being like marriage. But, the engagement period has been toooooooo long!
Hi Jody – I was surprised at the number of expats I’ve seen at McDoo’s in Laoag. A few are retired military, others are retired lakai (husbands).
Come on up if you have the time. We’ll be around most of the time – still no set plans of where and when we might take off for a day or two-day trip.
Always loved Vigan. Could spend a whole day in a calesa, roaming around!
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi John – I’m ready for the slower pace of life, again, as I’ve always enjoyed it when there. Yeah, there’s excitement in the air but mostly focused on leaving the States. I’ve lived in many places during my military career, and the slower paced locales were always my favorite (especially after knocking-off from work
).
We’ll be over for a little fishing and general beachcombing once you’ve got the house up. Speaking of shifting sand dunes, I hope that the latest tropical storm/typhoon (Ising/Molave) didn’t cause any damage there. Extreme northern Luzon was to get a lot more rain & winds this time – and we’re both in the extreme.
Hi Danny – Thanks for the encouragement. I find that the excitement wears off after 2-3 weeks, so I’m prepared for that. Baket ko (asawa ko – my wife) says that we’ll return and “visit” the USA during US summertime/Pasuquin rainy season, and like snowbirds, come back. I agreed to that because “some is better than none”!
Hi Kenney – Those last 2 months will seem like 2 years until you start your packing, etc.
I plan on taking life one day at a time, hoping for each to be the best, slow-paced day I could have while being prepared for each to be the worst.
You’re right, though: good or bad, there’s no place I’d rather be.
Hello Paul, as I read ur post, I wanted to ask you the question I always ask to non-Filipinos gung ho on moving to the Phil. I’m glad Maria already asked you that. It’s very crucial that you have actually travelled to the Phil. Now, you fairly have an idea what to expect. I think you’d be fine. Good luck Manong Paul!
Hi John – Thanks for the kind wishes. I’ll still be going with fingers crossed, though. One never knows what’s around the bend
I’ve always wanted to live aboard a nice, ocean-going sailboat (and sail, of course), but never had much of a chance other than doing a little crewing on a schooner. Lots of fun tied to lots of work!
Live for adventure!
Hi David – I grew up in an area of the USA where summer temperatures were in the 90s with humidities to match, so I love that weather. If I had only one expectation to achieve, it would be the weather related one!
Thanks for the kind wishes. Hopefully, our adventures will make their way to print here in LiP.
Thanks, Roy – as the saying goes, “A bad day in Ilocos Norte is better than a great day in the USA!”
Still, I’ll be on my guard for disappointments and try to turn them to my advantage.
Hi Erik – Believe wine grapes would grow, but already have sugar cane from which the fine wine called “basi” in the Ilocos Region is distilled. I always was one for tradition!
Hi Barry – I’ll try to hurry time along on this end – you’ll have to do the same on yours!
Yes, I know it’s the right decision. I’ve seen far too many “retirees” in wheel chairs or “death beds” with regrets.
Thanks for your kind wishes. Ours are with you and your move.
Hi David S. – I hope to have decades of adventures – just hope I can put them into words!
That swindle thing covers a whole lot of sins, be they pick-pocketing, shake-downs (gov’t and other), extended family with their heart set on becoming a full-time dependent, and yes, of course, the kano tax (or “puti tax” – white).
Saving embarrassment was the issue, though. Sometimes, if you don’t help a perp save face, you could lose a lot more than you face!
Hi Erik – Not really sweet, but flavorful with a kick. Basi is fermented with a number of “things” that provide it with a noticeable taste that takes all thoughts of sugar cane away!
Goes good with anything, including spicy tacos. Goes best with another!
AHH! Shipmate, I can remember on many ship’s both Navy and MSC, as Op’s were going on and things were changing faster than Cher on stage, the Captain/Master Shouting down and raising the stress level, “be flexible” and a few minutes later the word cames down to “Remain Fluid”. I turned to the Deck Officer and told him not to sweat, as I was “Gaseous”. So now retired and living in paradise, I’m so slowed down, that I’m Sludge!” Welcome Home Shipmate!
Thanks, shipmate. Sludge be a little faster and better directed than me! Not only stopping to smell the flowers, I’m having the gardener plant some for me (my planting them would quicken the pace just a little too much).
If you really want to get to the speed of Sludge, have the gardener plant the flowers by your chair and you watch them grow. SMB helps them grow stronger.