The oldest joke I know about living here that even the Filipino will howl laughing at is; “What is the capacity of a Trike, Jeepney or a bus in the Philippines? The answer is always: “Isa Pa” or in English, one more. When you go home to where you grew up this joke will bomb […]
This Is New
In 1965 my first Navy ship sailed from Florida to Europe or the Mediterranean to be more precise. I was 18 years old at the time my first trip out of the good old USofA. It was all new and wondrous to a young kid from the Dorchester section of Boston. Our first Port o […]
The Great Divide
As in our and maybe your purok and following generations old Sari-sari guidelines are still adhered to, there is an unwritten rule that there must be a Sari-sari store no further than 50 meters from the next one, they can be nearer if need be but a person should never be required to walk more […]
Living Somewhere Else
But in my country… how many times have we all heard that phrase uttered by Westerners, which would normally be pertaining to a legal dispute of some sort here in the Philippines? And believe me I was guilty of the same narrow minded thinking years ago. The phrase “When will they ever learn” from the […]
My Rant
On Facebook last week I posted this: It was a clear morning in 1995 my ship had just left Hong Kong two days before, and today we were heading into Manila Bay. I stopped by the galley to get a coffee and went to my sea and anchor detail on the ship’s bridge. I said […]
Merry Christmas
And here in the Philippines we are allowed to say that without the fear of punishment or condemnation from the easily offended “PC” crowd. Not that I ever paid them any mind, except I will enter no store that does not have Merry Christmas in the window. It was explained to me in the 1980’s […]