No I’m not talking about back on the Olde Sod where you’re from; I’m talking about right here on the more than 7,000 Islands known as the Archipelagos of the Philippines. Here on Luzon in my section of Bataan, the rainy season is ending and the Christmas Season is starting. I know that technically it started the first of September, and I’ve been hearing Christmas Music in the malls and the decorations are mostly up. But it officially starts for me when Mayang changes the curtains and living room seat covers to her Christmas set and that takes place after All Saints Day the first week of November, and then Thanksgiving last week, which I enjoyed, even though I had to cook.
The decorations are slowly coming out and checked to see which will be used this year and which will be replaced and as always new ones will be added. A while back I mentioned in my article “Can You Hear Me” about her Reindeer or Santa Display needed to be replaced, well it was taken to “A Guy” and will blink its lights upon my roof for one more year. I did so want that new Ford Ranger.
Do you think I’m exempt from my part of the transition into Christmas? Yea not so… the rainy season has once more left mold on the walls and non grasses sections of our yard, I’m tasked yearly with the job of power washing it all away.
True I could hire a hard working young person to do this for me, but this is been my job for over 15 years and for some odd reason, I enjoy doing it, albeit the vibrating hand at the end of spraying is not conducive to holding a cold SMB, without the world believing I suffer from an alcoholic induced case of delirium tremors. Oh hell I can’t hear them talk about me anyway.
I like being the planner of my day; but Mayang is the real planner, but she allows me to think that I have a say so as to how it plays out. I schedule the spraying in the early morning for an hour or two, to allow the “DT’s” to subside prior to my afternoon SMB time, it only took me one day to figure that out.
Mayang has her own high capacity USB with 300 Christmas albums (Tagalog and English) on it, but the deal is, as long as I’m working on the power washing project it will not be played, I’m on the computer now, three guesses as to what I’m listening to?
For 10 months a year my wife is a fiscal conservative but in November and December she will spend money like a drunken US Congressman. But I’m wise enough to understand that the Christmas season has special meaning to her, and I’ll be damned if I’ll get in her way. This time of year belongs to her, and each and every year I’ll come up with the money so she can enjoy it. I’ll even come up with the extra money for our outrageous light bill caused by the Christmas decorations.
Then the trips to the Mall’s will begin, I’ll be forced to attend on the “Away Trips” but the home games (Local Malls) they’ll let me slide, Oh how much I love our new mall on Subic Free Port, you’ll just never understand. I have been dropped at Texas Joe’s to imbibe in a cocktail or two while they shop. Manna from heaven is the new Harbor Point Mall in my life, less trips to San Fernando Pampanga. Oh did I mention that right across Shit-river (Hey I didn’t name it) there is the Olongapo City, SM Mall, oh joy!!!
Back to the power washing, please note the special protective gear I’m wearing to protect myself from those mold spores that are flying in every direction. The folks at OHSA would be so proud of me and wish they could levy a few fines on me, but here in the Philippines we are allowed to be responsible for our own actions. Albeit the steel toed flip flops would be nice as that steam of pressurized water can hurt if you’re dumb enough to hit your foot, which I did years ago and quickly made up my mind to never do that again. 25 square meters to go, that’s all it would be the last day of mold busting and I’m done until next year, but oh no that just won’t happen because I’m all set up, water is flowing pressure is rising, the electric motor in my Makita power washer stars smoking. I’m done, put a folk in it done. So after the weed whacker last month I’m off to find a new “Electric Motor “GUY” Mr. Nikola Tesla what have I done to offend you? Life will move forward.
One of the main things I love about Christmas here in the Philippines is that yes it has been commercialized but not to the extent that the reason for the day has been forgotten. Plus it is and will always be referred to as Christmas and if you really don’t want my money, put a sign in the window that says Merry Xmas, or the Holiday Season and watch me pass your store by. They have the right to refer to it anyway they want, and I have the right to vote down their “PC” attitude with my Peso’s.
May I wish each and all of our LiP readers a most “Merry Christmas” to you and your family. Please have a safe and happy time.
Paul do you have a card from the operators union to operate that machine? You are looking good on the power washer. One good thing about being dropped off at TJ’s during the shopping spree is the shopping time more than likely gets cut down in order for Mayang to make sure you don’t over inebriate and and become too friendly with the Texas Joe Staff. Keep living the good life shipmate.
Loren;
I’m a card carrying member of the power washers Union local (Purok) 4, which also exempted me from having to sign up for ObamaCare, the only good thing about union membership.
Oh and like we would have a chance with any of the Cowgirls at Texas Joe’s, in our dreams ole’ timer. BTW how are you feeling Shipmate, drop me an E-mail and let me know.
Typhoon Ruby or what ever they are calling it today will hit Olongapo tonight (Monday 8 Dec as a signal 2.
There will be flooding in town again, I hope Tommy has both his trucks on high ground this year No doubt my generator will be humming along tonight.
Stay well my friend.
Paul,
Anne put up the decorations in the beginning of Oct. Well, with the incoming typhoon we decided to take down all the outside ones as they would probably be laying all over the street. With the large amounts of rain expected, i’m glad we are on high ground like you. We are looking forward to seeing you guys on Saturday and showing him what TJ’s is all about.
Paul,
The him is John Reyes, had a brain fart lol
Randy;
I knew that. (lol) see you there.
HA HA You and I know we don’t have a chance with cow girls but the wives aren’t as sure and we could find ourselves hog tied if their imaginations get too far out of control. And dreams are good. Good one about your union, cracked me up.
Loren;
Hmmmm, Bubba Burger, SMB’s and Cowgirls…The way to die with a smile on our face.
Loren,
Hope you are feeling better. Was hoping we could see you when we visit Paul on Saturday.
Thanks Papa Duck. I am in good health, just short a little colon. Sure hate to miss the good time you guys will be having at Texas Joe’s but plan to be there next fall. I would go there now, as I feel fine, but my doctor insists I have 3 followup checkups to make sure I am as good as I feel. Try to Stay dry through the storm.
Loren – how did you like that stuff you had to drink before a colonoscopy? LOL I’m due for endoscopy when I return from vacation as a precaution because my recent colonoscopy showed diverticula in the colon. I’m fine otherwise. Stay healthy, my friend! I wish you can be at TJ on Saturday so that I can meet you in person, too.
The worst part of the colonscopy is probably the preparation. The citrus drink was not to bad . The powder is pretty much tasteless and a little gritty. Instructions say to mix with 32 oz of Gatorade and drink down in a certain amount of time and then no eating. Gatoradehas a lot of carbs and if I take in carbs I become hungray enough to eat the south end out of a westbound skunk so I just blended mine in water.
Merry Christmas Paul and Lip readers! TJ’s is the perfect husband day care center so that The wife and her entourage Can enjoy care free shopping with out the Constant “Do we really need that?” quips from Hubby. I can think of another really good spot but I am sure shopping time would be substantially reduced as would hubby’s boat drinks since I know that Mayang has seen the Blue rock girl and would be as nervous ans a chicken in a den of foxes.
Joe;
A merry Christmas to you and yours, The Harbor Point mall has a Irish Pub in the back on the River Walk, but I’ve found that sitting there the ladies will show up with packages to leave in my care while they sally forth to buy more. T.J’s requires them to drive to find me. And now there is a new place across the street a bar call the Scuba Shop right on the beach. It’s okay.
Yes There is a definete different feeling here about Xmas and what it stands for..Makes me remember when Grandma was still alive and the grand Ol days of our Xmas past….
Lenny;
Since you twice referred to it as Xmas, does that mean that your Christmas was cancelled? (LOL)
Sharp mind Hahaha
Paul –
Texas Joe’s is being bandied about a lot on here, what’s the draw? Is it really the ribs? No, wait, don’t tell me. I’ll find out myself in just 5 more days. LOL
John;
And the ribs are good too.
Paul – I was only kidding about the ribs. I know you guys don’t go to Texas Joe’s just for the ribs. :LOL
John;
Hmmmm Cowgirls too.
Oy Veh Paul! sure glad you are having sooooo much fun in “Paradise”. I think I’ve changed my mind and stay single, at least until my brain is so foggy where I don’t give a damn anymore which probably will be within a year after I arrive there, LMAO
Have a great X-Mas, YES! X! lost it about a hundred years ago! hahahaha!
Heinz;
The only time X is okay with me is in EX wife, now that made me very very happy. (lol) Christmas always seems to be fun around my house as the family does enjoy it so much. Merry Christmas to you and you..
Thanks for the reminder Paul, time once again to take the Christmas 45’s out of the box and give them a few spins for the season. I realize you are a long way from Oshaville but what do you do to recycle the water from the pressure washer after it becomes contaminated with the washed away molds LOL. Best wishes to you and your family for the Christmas Season. The decorations in your pics look very nice.
Bob;(NY)
I collect all the water in plastic bags and take it to the proper drop off location. Naw it runs out my storm drain to the street just like everyone else’s wash water on laundry day.
Always enjoy reading your post Paul. I would like to inquire some info from you on living in the Philippines as I am due to retire in about 30 months and ready to pop smoke from here. I have left a message on your FB but I dont beleive your usaing it much these days. Regardless if you would be so inclined, I have left my contact info there for you.
Thank you Sir
Chris;
Please try FB once more, believe me I’m there.
Maybe I am messaging you on an old FB account… The one I sent message to has an avatar of you enjoying a SM Pilsner… The last activity shwn is from April 20, 2014…. where you posted about the cow in a small Texas town that stopped giving milk… etc.
Paul is very active on Facebook, I don’t believe that he has more than one account. I wonder… are you friends with him on FB? If not, when you send a PM it ends up in the “Other” inbox instead of the regular inbox, and many people don’t know to check that “other” inbox. Just a suggestion…
Merry Christmas Paul and a Happy New Years. BTW: God bless also. I can say that here but not on many a sites due to PC.
Scott;
The PC Police with my permission may kiss my ass, see I can be a little “PC{” May the Lord bless you and your family with a wonderful Christmas this year.
You are a more energetic man than I Paul…. I would have have hired the young strong lad and got just as tired watching him work while I was drinking cold SMB’s 🙂
Oh Billy;
I’ve seen the pictures of you puttering around your darling wife’s garden, so don’t try to Bulla-bulla me. (LOL) The cold SMB is for when I’m done and feel like I’ve earned it. Have a great Christmas together did you get to the Zellwood Corn Festival this year?
haha… Can’t fool you my friend:) No Zellwood…. We grow the Silver Queen sweet corn here, although I have to say that this was not a good year for some reason.. But did get a few ears and done well with the red potatoes, white acre peas, squash and okra… Got a freezer full still , so good eating for the holidays and winter:)… Merry Christmas to you, Mayang and the family… My maganda asawa and I will see you in April, if ya gonna be around…..
Billy;
The Harvest is in, now time for the beer, when I lived in Florida I went to Zellwood every year, it’s better than Orlando for a fun weekend. without that damn mouse. April??? Of course I’ll be around, I just wish that Loren would be here too. .
It has been since the eary 90’s, but Zellwood was a good time and better than Orlando…. Figured Shamu would have ate that damn mouse by now and done us all a favor:):) Yea, will miss the “pogi Pouge” and his lovely wife, but he will be back at full force soon knowing Loren…. Yea, April is locked in at the same hotel for a week…. Will e-mail ya with the spec’s soon my friend:)
Billy;
We’ll lift a glass to the Pogi Pouge, and set a drink on the table for him. He said he might be here in the fall.
Actually, there is nothing PC about the use of “Xmas” or “Xtian.” The use of the X for Christ is from the Greek and is centuries old. Xmas has been in English dictionaries since at least 1800.
How do I know this? As my wife tells me, if the information is trivia and does not help me in my day to day life, then that’s the stuff I know. 🙂
Tom N;
The major religion in Greece is Greek Orthodox and they are welcome to call it X-Mas if they desire, but the 20 to 25 times I’ve visited there I never saw the term X-Mas used, and yes I spent a Christmas season in Athens. The term offends me s much as when they call a Christmas Tree a Holiday Tree. We all are different in our belief system; I just refuse to press mine on others and refuse to give in to Political Correctness. Other peoples religious holidays in no way offend me.
Paul, none of that’s an issue if you just move to where anything we’d call a “mall” larger than a handful of stores and a grocery/dept store that has a small fraction of what one normally wants to purchase. That reasonably requires the *annual* (meaning just *one* per year) overnight trip and hotel stay, best combined with the “annual reporting” trek to BI. Unless of course your wife will be happy getting up at 3am, and off to the terminal to wait interminably, then commuting for several hours, spend two hours in just one mall, then be sure to catch the last van home mid-afternoon, wait a few hours for it to actually hit the road at dusk, and arrive home an exhausted sardine by maybe 10 or 11pm. Strangely I consistently come down with the flu within 3 days to suffer the next month+ thereafter. I enjoy all that just oh so much; once a year is more than plenty!
Better, no mall, no problem. 🙂
Mostly we just buy what there is locally and ignore what’s not to be found.
ED;
When you went to school in Canada did you have to trudge through deep snow uphill to get to class and also uphill to get home? (lol) Myself I have no desire to live in Tooley Junction, and if you rent why not rent closer to an area that provided better services? If as you said you live two hours outside the city, why is it such an ordeal to get there, Manila is a long distance from my house and I can get there in four hours, not using my car but public transportation, and be home by 6 PM. Plus enjoy a cold SMB or two on the bus.
Where is that thumbs up button when you need one? 😉
Bob, despite the amenity limitations in what passes for an interior provincial capital, I personally prefer the climate and all here such as it is, not to mention that the primary reason for moving here in the first place was to facilitate my wife being close to her family and our agricultural areas. It would be untenable for her to manage things from way far away, that’s why we moved here in the first place.
I may respond to various postings to let others know that indeed there are limitations and tradeoffs in making such choices in consideration. The solution is to just be patient, the missing amenities will come to us in due course.
FYI, Bob, I discovered that the “oregano” my bayaw (brother-in-law) provided and we transplanted is in fact instead the sage (herb) I’ve been struggling to find. Seems I have tons of it now growing in my own back yard! Now I know why it didn’t look like any oregano I’m accustomed to seeing, and why using it instead of real oregano produced strange-tasting results in tacos and soups. Now I know that “Filipino” for all herbs is “oregano”! Have sage, so a-sausage-making-we-will-go, trala trala. 🙂
Not sure what Oregano has to do with the travel time between Kidapawan and Davao, but no problem. I feel certain that you can buy Oregano at Gaisano Grand, no?
I have no problem with living in Kidapawan, you should live where it is best for you. But, Kidapawan is an easy drive to Davao, or Digos for that matter. Digos also has some great shopping opportunities.
Bob, forgive me if I mis-attributed, but I recall you had posted that sage is available by the ton in Davao. Since then, Guisano started stocking it, 300+pesos. I bought a supply, and then discovered I have it growing here and didn’t need to buy it.
On getting afield, I can only surmise that you’re suggesting the highway is now something people can just drive without stopping interminably every few km with the traffic buildup that causes. My experiences are that you don’t get far or fast at 20km/hr between lengthy stops in the omnipresent pavement destruction zones, all adding up to the significant hours unpleasantly sardined in a commuting van.
So, Bob, if my experiences up to Feb 2014 are now history, please just say so and I would be thankful to know that vast difference.
I traveled twice last week between Davao and Kidapawan. Not a single construction zone. At least now you know! 🙂
Thanks Bob, much appreciated. That would be a huge improvement and would explain the vast differences between my experiences prior to Feb and yours much more recently. Maybe I moved here at just the wrong time; seriously, with the highway so broken prior to your experiences now, I really did feel like I had moved to the middle of nowhere, though for reasons I mentioned earlier.
FYI, I heard yesterday that there’s now a plan to put an airport into Israel close to here.
Paul, I never wrote that I “live 2 hours outside the city” though I remember that someone else suggested that. The party who suggested it’s 2 hours from here to Davao should *try* it to see how inaccurate that in reality is. I actually live *in* the “city” such as it is and I accept its limitations. Actually getting from here to Davao is a completely different matter. Consistent with all my experiences from here, for fastest commuting, leave the house about 3am for the terminal, then sit and wait wait wait. Van will hit the road about 4:30 or 5am. Pass Digos after 2 hours, and then at best another 2+ hours depending on traffic and road destruction to somewhere in Davao such as BI. Add that up. Try it. That’s just reality. Two hours? In someones dreams maybe but not in the real world.
You mention Manila. I used to live in Cavite, and when we first moved there it was almost 4 hours, multiple very slow jeepnie rides. A few years later, it was only 40 minutes to get to Malate, presuming no traffic and maybe an hour (or 4, depending) to get home. You suggest you don’t have the Coastal Highway parking-lot and the Zapote-Aguinaldo mess to get through, you seem to be coming from the other much less congested side. Still, I didn’t mind the Manila commute, so much easier and faster and yes I often enjoyed a few cold brews in Malate, something I do miss.
As for our thoughts of moving … we still hope to buy or build a house, preferably somewhat before I die of extreme old age. My wife constantly complains about what we pay in rent compared to what we have for it, and the rent goes up every year. She mentioned an affordable sizable house suitable for our (not small!) family, in a great location that we could actually afford to buy, so that’s something to consider in a desirable remote area, which would actually put us _closer_ to Davao. Don’t know yet if it might pan out.
I spent two different days in Kidapawan last week. It took me 1 1/2 hours to travel to Kidapawan from Davao each time. Took me 1 1/2 hours to get back to Davao one time, took me 1 hour 45 minutes the other time because traffic was heavier.
Pass Digos after 2 hours? Digos is only about 30 minutes from Kidapawan? Are you riding Carabao? 😉 Digos to Davao is an hour ride, unless you get heavy traffic, in which case it can be up to an hour and a half.
BTW, that new Gaisano Grand Mall in Kidapawan is very nice! I liked it a lot.
Bob, are you telling me the omnipresent road-destruction is now over? All my trips since we moved here, from Kidapawan to Davao up to last Feb were exactly as I described. Riding the commuting van. Highway a total destruction zone with a few km of mostly broken cement between all the lengthy stops and resulting held-up traffic.
Let’s see how it is come Feb again, maybe you’re indicating I’ll have a pleasant surprise.
What!!!There is a mall in Kidapawan??? Then why bother to shop in Davao, and I thought you had it rough, Oh you rascal you’ve been funning’ me all this time.
Yes Paul, Guisano opened a micro not-so-Grand Mall a year and a half ago. There’s even a Chowking and a Greenwich open recently! Even a CDRking and a dozen other shops none of which accept creditcards. Ok, I know, CDRking is always cash anywhere. Now if only Gusiano would stock the other 75% of what I need to buy but hey, they actually have (gasp!) real orange juice now. Waiting eagerly for SM to break ground for a real mini-mall. Rumor has it … early 2014; well maybe some year soon now eh? malapit na. bukas na lang. hehehe.
McDo, KFC, Shakeys, ACE hdw, et al – annual Davao trip come Feb. 🙂
You are talking about nearly a year ago, Ed. Times change.
Bob, actually my commuting experiences between Kidapawan and Davao were from late 2011 to Feb 2014 and those weren’t exactly pleasant, had you experienced the same you might agree. Again, thanks for the update that Davao is now reasonably accessible.
I have traveled many dozens of times between Kidapawan and Davao, Ed. During the time that you are talking about there was a lot of road construction on that route, particularly between Digos and Davao. That is no longer the case, at least at this time.
Paul, I neglected to answer your question – when I went to school in Canada as a child, absolutely yes it was a trudge through snow in the winter, some uphill, some downhill, sometimes freezing sometimes just wet with freezing rain, icicle hanging from nose. I didn’t mind it a bit as a kid, though not so much as an adult. That’s why we had cars when we grew up, but that’s a whole different story and perspective.
ED;
In Boston I had to ride a trackless trolley then the Subway and walk up a steep hill to my school.
I hated winter as a kid, and nothing has changed. At age 18 I left and went in search of that equator thing I’d learned about in school.
Paul, as a kid we’d all eagerly await those days school was let out early for the blizzard and we’d have a wonderful time playing the snow drifts higher than our small stature on the way home to build snow forts and have snowball wars. Even better if school was closed for a couple of days.
But that was when I was a kid and frozen fingers and toes didn’t matter.
By my 40’s I managed to arrange half my teaching contracts to be in a warm place come winter, then come 50 someone caused me to locate the Philippines on the globe. Never looked back.
Paul, Just recently I was humorously reminded of your annual crusade against “holiday trees” and such. On another forum, several of us were describing our own Christmas traditions. It seems that one family has an actual bonified holiday tree in their living room.
The father of the brood was a notorious procrastinator. After one Christmas, he delayed taking down the tree so long that it was still up in the early spring. The wife threatened that if it was not down by Easter, she would decorate it again. The tree was not taken down, and the wife made good on her threat. She covered it with Easter decorations. According to the now grown children, the tree remains in the living room. It is decorated appropriately each season, and is referred to affectionately by the family as the holiday tree.
Take care,
Pete
Cute story Pete, though you’ve conjured the vision of long-dried bare branches redecorated according to season with long-composted needles around its base. In my childhood experience, coniferous trees start shedding their needles before you get them home from the tree lot and are really dry by New Years, even if you constantly hydrate them. That’s why communities started collecting dried-out trees (huge fire hazard) and marked the end-of-holidays with a huge community christmas-tree fire. Alternatively, if they have a *live* tree growing out of the floor in their living room and up through the roof, that’s perfect.
I notice that dried trees are the Pinoy standard, anything with branches can be decorated indefinitely, and if a stick doesn’t have branches there’s always smaller sticks and tape to facilitate. 🙂 If anything, Filipinos are very practical and sensible and if possible prefer some food for the table for “Media Noches” and “Noches Buena” vrs. expensive fake trees-from-the-mall.
Hello Ed. Pretty sure the tree in the story was/is an artificial one.
But, like you, I’m fond of the simple decorations found deep in the provinces. Whitewashed trees with home made ornaments, intricately woven palm fronds and such. My father-in Law presented us with a Christmas star he had made from wire coat hangers and colored tissue paper. It hung in our front window each Christmas for many years until it finally wore out.
Take care,
Pete