I took another trip recently, and I really enjoyed it. I didn’t go anywhere fancy, nothing that I could write a travelogue about. But, I went somewhere that had a lot of meaning for me.
I visited a little barrio called Patag, which is in Malapatan, Sarangani Province. I have been to Malapatan before, but Patag is a remote barrio in the hills, which is actually pretty far from the Poblacion (town center). Why does it hold meaning for me? Well, Patag is the place where Feyma grew up when she was a kid. She was actually born right there in Patag, at her parent’s house and lived there until she finished elementary school, at which time the family moved to General Santos City.
These days, with the good roads that abound, General Santos City is only about 20 to 30 minutes drive from Patag, but back then I suspect that it was at least a half-day journey. As I said, there is a good highway from General Santos City to Lun Padido, which is the Barangay along the highway that is closest to Patag. From there, it is dirt roads the rest of the way. Unfortunately, along the quickest route to Patag from the highway, there is a bridge which is damaged, and cannot be passed by a car. Since I was driving, this meant that I had to take an alternate route, with a bit of a rough road (we actually got stuck in the mud three times!).
It all started out on a Saturday morning very early, when Feyma and the kids took off to go visit her family in Patag. The kids were wanting to spend some time on the farm anyway for a sort of mini-vacation, so this was a good opportunity. My oldest son, Chris, had already been at the farm in Patag for over a month, and he was ready to come home, so this trip served the purpose of letting the other kids visit the farm, for Feyma to visit her family, and for them to bring Chris home. I was supposed to spend the weekend by myself in Davao. On Sunday morning, though, I was feeling kind of lonesome in the empty house, so I decided to take a trip myself. I called and invited my friend, John Grant, and he accompanied me for the journey.
I had never been to Patag before. In the past, Feyma and her family had always cautioned me that Patag was way too dangerous for me to go there. The area is 50% Muslim after all. Well, I always wanted to go, but I honored their wishes. Since that time, I have been virtually everywhere else in Mindanao, though, and some of the places I visited really were dangerous, so I felt like I could handle a visit to Patag without too much problem.
When I arrived in Patag, I was really welcomed by the people there. I felt like I was the returning hero from the area or something! It was kind of a strange feeling, but I liked it too. I got to look around Feyma’s place there, and even see the house that Feyma lived in when she was a baby. Now, that was quite interesting! I toured around town, just walking around talking to the local people. It was a lot of fun! Seeing the places that Feyma had talked about for so many years was really educational for me, and I enjoyed it a lot.
While I was in Patag, the family there was busy, working on the harvesting of the coconuts, processing of copra from the coconuts and such. I even helped a little bit in processing the coconuts, just to get the experience. It was fun and educational for me. I enjoyed watching my kids ride in a cart pulled by a Carabao too, which they thoroughly enjoyed.
What a great trip we had to Patag. I intend to go back again too! Feyma has some land there, which she inherited, and we are even thinking of building a little rest house there!
Who knows, maybe I’ll just become a farmer!
Hi Bob,Farmer Bob sounds a cool name 😆 Chas.
Hi Chas – Ha ha… Another new identity! Might be fun…. but then again….. it sounds like work to me, and I couldn't possibly do that! 😯
Hi Bob – a provincial lifestyle can't be beat – way better than being an urbanite! A little while longer, and I'll be enjoying that more relaxed life in the province. 😆
Hi Paul – Even though I only spent one day in Patag, I sure did enjoy my time there. The people were so friendly, and easy going. I agree with you, life in the provinces is really special.
"In the past, Feyma and her family had always cautioned me that Patag was way too dangerous for me to go there."
Bob, if you come to Boston, I'll have a list of areas that are too dangerous for you to travel in (I'm not kidding).
Bob
For me the first week in the province would be a fun adventure but I am afraid after a month I would be crying for a hot shower and the convenience of a Joliebee.
Did you get your DSL up yet?
hello bob
i have been to malativus a province of panabo.i also recieved a huge welcome there.i guess blonde hair blue eyed foreigner is rare in that area.all welcomed and came to meet me.ahhh finally i know how it feels to be brad pit,hehehe kidding.i tryed to tell them im just a common man.but it was really awsome because i love the filipinos.as you i feel its a little remote for me.thanks bob
Hi Thomas Shawn – I have no doubt on that one! 😆
Hi Larry – I am like you. I could put a rest house there, but after a week or so, I'd be ready to get back to civilization. When I'm burned out again, I'd go back for more rest, though! 😆
As I reported on my comments to yesterday's column, PLDT is now saying it could be weeks before I get my DSL back. I have, though, gotten a Smart Bro wireless Internet account which is filling in for me at this time. It's working quite well, I'd say.
Hi Ron – Thanks for telling your story. Your times around Panabo sound like fun!
Bob,
Sounds like a great and interesting trip, but if you had a carabao..you would have not got stuck in the mud three times….and save gas…lol.
I really can't wait to be able to meet the people there like that, Rose has told me that when I come to Maasin, that I will be treated like a "celebrity" there, her words not mine. I thought that was kind of interesting and I am sure it will be very flattering, she said especially from the children there. Since they don't see many foreigners there. She say there are some, but they are not all too friendly…not sure why that is.
I also would find it interesting to see how they process the coconuts as well. So much to learn once I get over there, and this site really helps.
Thanks for sharing your experiences there in the Philippines, it really helps a future Philippine "resident".
Thanks and take care,
Danny 🙂
Hi Danny – stay tuned because next week I'll be showing some video from my trip to Patag, including some video of yours truly doing some work on the coconut processing! 😯
For Danny…. I visited my fiancee's province three times during the last 8 months. She said that I would be treated like a "celebrity" also… Which, in a strange sort of way, I was. In her hometown, Abulug (Far North Luzon), they also get very few foreigners there, except for the occasional visiting priest to the parish, and no-one has married a foreigner. I was stared at a whole bunch! But, you will get used to it. Believe me… She and I are the talk of the town, both good and bad. People have very little recreation there, so gossip is rampant. The kids were very funny… I wore a pair of shorts and they were literally fascinated by my white, hairy legs. They kept running up behind me and touching my legs before running away. When I got a haircut there last weekend, there were about 10 people at the "barbershop" standing in the doorway watching them cut my hair. Not unfriendly, but just curious, I suppose.
Should be interesting since our wedding will be there… an original small, unobtrusive affair has grown considerably from all the neigbors asking my future M-I-L if they can come. They want to see the local girl marry the foreigner! Looks like another pig or two may have a real bad day before the reception!
Hi John Miele – Interesting story. If you can get by with killing only 2 pigs you are getting away cheap! We killed at least a half dozen for our wedding reception, as I recall! 😆
Hi Bob,Do you feel there is any need to get shots before living in the Philippines.Did you receive any shots before moving there.If so can I get them In the Philippines.Thanks again.Jim.
Hi Jim – I personally feel that no shots are necessary if you come to visit or live here. Of course, shots like tetanus and such that are just the normal routine should be up to date, but that applies anywhere, not just for coming to the Philippines.
Hi Bob ..that was cool going to your wifes hometown..I would like to go my wifes place but like u said it has been a bad area to go [rebels there ] so I've been told ..and it is a 3 hour walk from the road .my wife wants us to be married spiritually by the tribe ,sounds like fun .maybe the next time I will visit her tribe in the mountains ..should be a great learning experience..hummm stuck in the mud ..been there done that in the states hee hee . Phil R.
PS. smart bro wireless , does it cost alot , per month ????
Hi Phil R. – Interesting! So, when you mentioned your wife's tribe, you mean that she is a lumad (tribal, indigenous person) of some sort? I didn't know about that, and I find that fascinating.
Smart Bro, in my opinion is very cheap. I have unlimited use for P999 per month.
Hi John Miele,
Thanks for the response John, now are you going to stay in the Philippines or come back to the USA to live. Just curious, trying to learn as much as I can from those that are actually planning on living there.
Wow, Bob is right….I am looking at, at least 6 pigs for our wedding reception there, everybody and there mother wants to come to wedding…lol. Which is fine with me…more the merrier.
Thanks so much,
Danny
Hi Danny – Oh boy… you are going to keep up with my 6 pigs, huh? Hey, I might have to show up and crash your reception… the food sounds good already! 😆
Hi Danny… We just relocated here last month from Abu Dhabi. My company gave me an option to relocate anywhere I wished in Asia and we decided to come back to the Philippines so that Rebecca could start a business (Prawn farm) in her province (Cagayan, north of Tugueggarao). So, we are here for the long haul, but, because my work requires 250+ days of travel per year, we need to live in Manila since that is realistically the only place with enough infrastructure for me to do my job. Needless to say, Bob's blog has been very helpful and I can tell you, don't underestimate how difficult it will be on your wife to return here. Becky has been through the whole range of emotions since arriving… Happy to be home, but she is not the same naive girl who left so long ago. Stresses that you, as an outsider, would never expect will come at you from all directions.
That being said, this has been a marvelous experience and I am starting to think of this as home. As an aside, we have been told by mama that we need to consider a cow for the reception instead of all those pigs… I am thinking of a "Texas style" oil barrel smoker and some barbecue…Just need to get the stuff for a good dry rub. I think I'll have my father send some mesquite or hickory chips our way… Funny, but I never thought of Pancit and limpia as BBQ accompaniments…
Hi John Miele – That kind of a BBQ for your reception would be unique and be memorable, I think! Good luck to you, I hope that it works out for the very best!
Hi Bob! Great to know that finally you've started venturing into places you wouldn't have dared before here in Soccsksargen. Go farther inland Bob! More adventures are waiting for you. 😀
And by the way, you must have meant MALAPATAN and not MALIPATAN, if it's the municipality you're talking about.
Hi Feyma!
Hi bariles – Thanks for the correction on the spelling, I'll fix that.
Oh, I've been venturing out for years, and all over Mindanao, not just in Socsksargen. You can bet that I'll always have more adventures come up. Speaking of which, don't miss reading my column tomorrow for something that I think is quite interesting! 😀
Bob,
Hi Bob, you would definitely not have to crash our wedding, you and Feyma and family will definitely have an invitation to Maasin City for it, with no doubt. I am sure you can make it an interesting video blog for an article traveling to Southern Leyte area from Davao, and besides you are a great photographer, so I won't need to hire a professional one…lol..just kidding. It all should be very interesting to see once it is all done. You know Rose hasn't asked very much from me only 3 things (so far), 1. Love her forever, 2. Children, 3. A Very nice wedding for her, "elegant wedding" as she put it. So that is what I will do for her.
Adiós para ahora,
Danny
Hi Danny – I'm not sure that we could make it that far north, but keep us informed, and we will see if it is possible! 😎
Hi Bob,
Just saw the video prior to reading your article. What a great experience for you and your kids. You mentioned that you had a job offer 😀 but I seem to remember Feyma mentioning in her story that the locals got about 100 pesos for 1000 pieces. judging from what I saw on that video, you're going to need a bit more practice or your monthly stipend is going to be about 100 pesos. 😆
Hi Trevor D – Some of you guys are coming down on me pretty hard about my copra processing abilities! I thought that I was already a pro! 😆 I think some of you are just jealous of my skills!!
hi Bob- 😆 Just kidding my friend. Looked like you were having a great time.
Cheers
Hi Trevor D – Ha ha.. I am the one who was kidding! I am pretty sure that I won't make it as a worker on that job! 😆