I was standing on my roof surveying all that I can see when I noticed that the Sari-sari across the street was not open anymore. Then it occurred to me that I couldn’t remember when I last saw it open. Bankruptcy would normally be my first guess. I was soon joined by Mayang as she joined me on the roof. And I foolishly pointed out my observation to her and asked the why of it. Then a quick thought jumped to the front of my brain: “PAUL REMEMBER, Curiosity killed the cat”
People I should know better, if you really don’t want to know the answer, never ask the damn question. But I already had.
(First: All names have been changed to protect the guilty.)
It appears that Roberto’s wife was the one to be the one that ran that store. Roberto the wife and three small children live with Roberto’s sister and brother-in-law in the very small house across the street. Well it seems Roberto has gone to Dubai in the UAE to better provide for his ever growing family, and someday be able to own his own house. (I can respect the man for that.).
Roberto’s wife (According to rumor) is prone to disappearing for a few days at a time. And as a man I’ll tell you she will never win the local Mrs. Barangay Beauty contest but when she does disappear her three small children remain in place at the old homestead in the care of whoever is there. (I shook my head with a look of disapproval and made that tusk-tusk sound that is required in times like this) They called Manila to her mother’s house but the mother will cover for her and say she is there but at the market, when in fact she is in the wind. (No regard for the three grandchildren?) Or the same at a Cousins house in Pampanga. But if the truth be known she was really in Olongapo City at a gentleman’s house. How this tidbit of information was discovered I was not informed but in stories such as this I shook my head, with a look of distain as it is my duty in times like this…
Then I find out while standing on my roof patio, that there is more to the story. It is turning into a TeleNovela and I find myself being drawn it to the plot twists and the convoluted story line. But there is more!
Roberto (Remember him, the cuckold guy in Dubai) He found out what was going on and was burning up the satellites talking to his sister every day. I push the pause button and wander off to get a beer, but am drawn back to the ongoing saga unfolding in front of me. “As the Jeepney Turns” “The Young and the Useless” ‘Sari-sari Intrigue” Dear lord I’m addicted! I must know how the story turns out.
Roberto’s sister, her husband and various other family members, assault the house of ill repute in Olongapo City to confront the wayward spouse. This part of the story became sketchy, with a lot of blank spots, making me angry that I was not invited to the party. There was no violence as far as I know, albeit the Tagalog was reported to hit ear shattering decibels, but I have no proof, this is all conjecture, as told by one party to another party and so on. Some valuable facts could have been lost in the retelling.
The ending as I know it. Wayward wife no longer lives on our mountain; she now has her children back with her. The husband Roberto is still an OFW, all the worldly possessions are held for Roberto’s return, the Sari-sari is double padlocked and all items are going out of date. Peace and tranquility is now restored but with far less people sharing the small domicile across the street and the story is rehashed every night during the Purok Gossip Hour.
I still go out onto the roof patio with a cold beer and wonder the next time how I could have better rephrased the original question. I came up with: Mahal, with that Sari-sari closed, where can I buy those little 6oz bottles of Coke that I like? Because that was what I was really wondering when this story started.
As with all stories or soap operas the person comes out of the coma, or was found floating on an iceberg. She (Wayward wife) hath returned. All is forgiven and back to normal and now I’m informed that the couple were never married in the first place.. I’m back on the roof with cold beer thinking; “Damn I love a happy ending.”
Hi Paul. I have a question for you which is nothing to do withe actual article! I’m wondering about your flat roof. I’m about to build a new house, and I want a flat concrete roof. As I’m sure you know Filipinos don’t like change! Most contractors seem scared about the prospect of doing a flat roof. “They are troublesome, and always leak”. I’m just wondering if you have had any problems with yours?
Hi Paul,
Jerry Springer, Philippines style, LoL.
If there are two things I know about the PH;
1) Nothing goes unseen.
2) Filipinas are the worlds biggest gossipers.
🙂
Chas;
The bamboo (Or Coconut) telegraph is the living proof that nothing goes unseen. Before cell phones, I could leave a bar, grab a trike and when I arrived home my wife already knew who I was talking to and what bar I was in.
John;
The slab roof requires a real engineer, because of its weight. I still have an open concept living/dining room and kitchen without floor to ceiling posts, but with beams hidden in the overhead. Two rubber moister dams, water proof cement and the MOST important, is a cement pumper truck so that each pour is one consistent flow. Moisture dam again, and pour again. Ensure that you have drains lining both sides to disperse the rain off the roof and since 1999, not a leak has occurred. Then sit on your patio at night and look at the beautiful Filipino sky and toast it with your beverage of choice.
Love the stories here, I find they are like movies, lots of action with little logic but many assumed secrets. lol
Luke;
I really try not to avail myself of the drama, but once in a while I step right into it. There will be a time when I figure it out.
Paul, why not buy those little 6oz bottles of Coke that you like from the local wholesaler? Find out who, get his cell#, and txt for minimum delivery whenever you’re close to out-of-stock. Pay less and rarely wonder wonder where to find the next full bottle.
Ed;
That is so logical that it could take the adventure out of living here. But that is a good idea.
Paul, the ‘size’ of your possible “wholesaler” might provide plenty additional drama and fodder for subsequent articles. His delivery “truck” may well be a borrowed tricycle on some certain days that he might operate, for as long as he may survive.
(all quite possibly in the same context as your original thread article)
ED;
As a matter of fact he does use a cargo (Pig Hauler) Trike. I just forgot he does sodas. (To my family in Boston, if I wrote tonic instead of soda they’d not understand) But I’ve only dealt with him when he was delivering beer..
Hi Paul, I think the world runs on gossip it’s very commen here like anywhere in the world,
I got asked by this attractive girl how many wives have I got just the one i said
LoL ,like my wife said they will talk about you even more if you’re a foreigner
I love living in the philippines. Derek in rainy pasig.
Derek;
Be careful that was a trick question. (lol) The gossip club meets on the street at sunset while the kids are playing tag.
My wife is a Philippines national. We got there kids. Presently we are not staying in Philippines. Five years ago we started business in philippines and its running good. The ownership is in the name of my wife. Presently its run by my wife’s sister. We are in process to settle down now in Philippines in near future. My question is how I can help my wife legally to run it once I am in Philippines. What permissions I need from departments to actively participate in the work. Visa will not be an issue. Do I need work permit? Do I need some sort of permission to work along my wife?
Get yourself a 13-something permanent VISA (immigrant status). I understand that permits you to legally work in the Philippines.
in practical terms, why don’t you just quietly help your wife so that no one will care, and avoid all the legalities.
If that’s not sufficient, then you should be talking to an attorney.
Amarjeet Singh Sirah;
I know of 8 to 10 foreigners who run bars that are under their wife’s name so what would be the problem with a Sari-sari.? That is all I know about that.
Sometimes there are things that are better left unsaid, or, in this case, unasked.
Back when I was still working for the government, the official OPM (civil service) policy regarding the duration of lunch break for all federal employees was 30 minutes. But every federal worker within and outside the Washington Capital beltway knew no one, and I mean NO ONE, takes half an hour for lunch, except maybe the newbie who was hired just yesterday, or someone trying to impress the boss.
Every government employee, from the lowly GS-1 mail clerk all the way up to the office of the POTUS, takes one hour, sometimes more, for lunch. This is the unofficial, unwritten rule of the lunch game. This extended lunch period often includes a pre-lunch martini or two for some hard working executives, or a post-lunch walk in the park by the rank and file in order to fully digest the meal before they go back to work. No one in the office bats an eye, or looks at his watch, when an employee returns to his desk more than an hour after he’d left for lunch. It’s business as usual.
But, if an employee ever makes the mistake of asking his supervisor how long he has for lunch, he is putting that supervisor on the spot. That supervisor has no choice but to parrot the official OPM policy. He will tell the employee that lunch break is half an hour.
John;
On Military Sealift Command ships we are civil service merchant seaman. Because we work and live onboard we receive one hour for each of the three meals. So lunch is 1200-1300, but by tradition we knock off work at 11:30 for the lunch hour. If for any reason we are required to work during any meal we received 2 hours overtime (Penalty Meal), we had a newbie put in for a penalty meal because the third mate needed him to open a work space to inspect. He caused a stir because it was at 11:45 and technically the meal hour didn’t start for 15 more minutes. We (Crewmembers, pulled the young person aside and schooled him on our OPM and how it worked.
PAUL Chismoso ka….!
Sincerely,
GSCS(SW) Sal Evan
Evening Paul.
Had all my email address wiped out please send me yours.
Frank
Will do Sir Frank!!!
Interesting story as always Paul.
As I recall from past articles, your wife has wanted to open her own Sari-Sari store. With the disappearance now of the one across the street, I see an impending need for a new one to open, perhaps on your side of the street. Just think, then you can get all the little 6oz bottles of Coke you want, maybe even at cost.
As an added benefit, think of all the writing material having your very own Sari-Sari store would create. Sounds as though the time is right , take the plunge ,Paul.
Bill S.
Sharpen that stick and plunge it into my right eye. Since Philippine law requires there be a Sari-sari every other house, and the people beside me have one I’m not eligible. (lol)
Paul, I fail to understand the problem. The same Philippine law you cite also permits anyone regardless of “legal title” to insert a new :”house:” between competing sari-sari’s. Di ba?
Thus, construct a new “house” and a new “sari-sari”. walang problema, ha
ED;
The law is confusing. Now we know that is no big surprise, but the all day incessant “Knock-knock” and listening to a small child deciding what type of snack he wants to spent his/her peso on, is not who I’d spend my time. Or hearing the sad stories as to why if you give them a hamburger today they will gladly pay you next Tuesday. (Popeye Reference)
Hi Paul,
I can relate. There is the point where you know the “story” is coming. I wrote this for such occasions:
Ten Commandments
I. Thou shall listen to thy wife’s story.
II. Thou shall show great interest.
III. Thou shall realize thy question was not as important as thy wife’s tale.
IV. Thou shall not ask thy wife to get to the point.
V. Thou shall not show displeasure that thy wife did not answer your original question.
VI. Thou shall not interrupt thy wife’s story.
VII. Thou shall not question the relevance of thy wife’s story.
VIII. Thou shall receive tampo time if thou does not comply with these commandments.
IX. Thou shall learn what tampo is if thou does not know.
X. Thou shall thank thy wife for her entertaining and informative story.
What do you think? Are we on the same page? I enjoyed the article!
The most important missing trailer ….
Thou must engage brain to discount what wife said totally contrary to reality.
Yes that’s not nice-cushy-feel-good but it is most significant for survival.
ED:
I have a strong feeling your wife doesn’t read Lip. (LOL) But I admire the way you said it.
By the way……………..Jay is looking for a lawyer and a bodyguard!
Hi AJ UK,
I think your comment would be better directed toward Ed. I am good no need for a lawyer and I already have a bodyguard. My wife is my bodyguard especially when we visit the Philippines. She protects me from ………..I think you know and as John Reyes said on a different topic something are best left unsaid or written.
Oops! too fast with the scrolling!
Jay;
I posted this on Face Book yesterday
What is really funny to my Brother Dan is when women give their partners the “Silent Treatment” (tampo) and really think it’s a punishment.
But if you have written the rules down, you will live long and proper. Good rules to follow.
Hi Paul,
Tampo has lost some of its power over me in that the first couple of times I did not realize that it was temporary. I have discovered through experience that the silent/sulking last a day or at worst three and then things improve. I have also come to realize that there is absolutely nothing I can do to end or lessen it so I don’t try to hard. It is an experience I have not gotten recently.
My wife kind of gives me a nonverbal warning when I foolishly break one of the commandments. She stops talking raises both hands with palms out up by her head to signal the foul I have committed and gives me a look that leaves no doubt trouble is coming. At this I apologize and assure her that she has my full attention.
I actually have gained a greater understanding of the story as opposed to the short answer I am seeking. My wife grew up in a family where the only commodity they had in abundance was time. Telling interesting stories is appreciated in such an environment.
Jay;
I had four brothers, and we talked only when necessary, as men will. Mayang grew up with 6 sisters and two brothers, and the two men said they seldom got a word in.
During our first altercation years ago my wife raised her voice and I went silent. In any argument the person who loses their “Cool” loses the encounter This has worked in my behalf even on ship’s dealing with crew members.
Well…….. Never ask a question that you don’t really want to know the answer to. But, how do you know whether or not you want to know unless you ask the question? Life is full of dilemmas.
Take care,
Pete
Pete:
Live is a series of “Catch 22 situations” which explains why the Samarians made the first beer 10,000 years ago to make life easier to deal with.
Master Paul.
Sir Frank still waiting for your e mail address please send.
Ta.
Frank;
I’ll do it again, my friend.