Just as I was typing this column the prayer for my Mom’s death anniversary has been started. See here in the Philippines in the Catholic faith if someone dies there is a 9 days prayer going when the person died. Same thing going on during the first year anniversary of the death. There is a […]
What is a C.A.T.?
For high school in the Philippines almost all students will go through the CAT before graduating. You would probably wonder what is a CAT? CAT means Citizen Army Training. Just like the military. We have to go through the drill and formation. For most of the schools here private or public it’s really mandatory for […]
Public Bathrooms in the Philippines
First thing – a bathroom in the Philippines is usually called a CR, or Comfort Room. If you ask for the restroom or bathroom, a lot of people might not know what you are talking about. For our British visitors, the WC or Washing Closet (right?) will be unheard of! Just ask for the CR […]
What is your middle name?
My name is Robert Charles Martin. Robert is my first name, Charles is my middle name, and my last name is Martin. There are a few differences in the way names work here in the Philippines, though. Let’s have a look. First thing, what we call your “last name” is not called that here. They […]
A nude awakening
Did I type that right? A nude awakening? Isn’t the old saying supposed to be a “rude” awakening? Read on, and you decide. I live in a kind of mid-level neighborhood. Oh, it’s probably slightly upscale by Philippine standards, probably a little downscale by US standards. Most of the people who live in my neighborhood […]
Have you taken advantage?
As I have mentioned many, many times on this site and other places where I write, the Philippines, culturally, is a very different place compared to our homelands. I mean, if you are a westerner – American, European, Australian, etc., the Philippines is not the same as where you come from. So many things are […]