Yesterday, when Feyma wrote about The Good Old Days, it was an article that I really enjoyed, and also made me think.
What did I think about? Well, I thought about the simple life. I also thought a lot about my wife and the kind of life she has seen, and how that affects who she is.
Sometimes, when Feyma talks about her childhood, it really enlightens me about who she really is, and how her life was so different than mine. Reading some of what she had to say yesterday in her article made me wonder… was Feyma’s life a lot like the life of my parents? The answer that I have come to when I ask myself that question is that Feyma’s childhood life was probably more similar to the life that my grandparents lived than how my parents lived.
Can you imagine going from what Feyma saw in her childhood compared to the life that she is living now? What a vast change! I know that in my case, although I’m older than Feyma (only by 7 years, though), my childhood life was nothing like what Feyma experienced growing up in the Philippines. As she described, some (perhaps most) of her friends did not even have running water, and had to carry water back on the way home from school.
When Feyma talked about using a charcoal fired iron to iron clothes, it made me think back, but not nearly so far! In fact, I only thought back about a decade when it came to the charcoal iron. A decade? Yes. Remember all of the Y2K fears back at the turn of the century. Everybody was scared that computers would choke on the new decade and basically shut down the modern world that we know. I can remember talking with a fellow back in 1999 or so, and he was talking about buying thousands of those charcoal irons here in the Philippines (yes, they are still being used in the Provinces), and making a big profit when Y2K wiped out electricity! I got a laugh when he explained his idea to me, but my laugh is even bigger now in hindsight.
But, seriously, whenever I hear Feyma talking about her childhood days and hearing about some of the things she has seen in her life. It makes me thankful for the life that I lived, but in a strange way it also makes me a bit jealous that I did not see the vast changes in life that Feyma did. I often wish that Feyma would open up a bit more about this part of her childhood and share it with our kids, because I am sure that it is something that would interest them greatly. Oh yes, the old stories of parents walking 5 miles (uphill each way) to go back and forth from school do come to mind, but in Feyma’s case, this is really fully true.
I have been to Patag, Sarangani, where Feyma grew up. As you saw, I shot the video in Feyma’s article. You know what? In many ways, life has not changed all that much. They still have kariton and use a carabao to pull the cart around. They still grow coconuts, make copra and live a simple life. Probably the biggest change out there, though, is that they have reliable (most of the time) electricity, and that has changed life greatly. Most people have water, but not all. So, life is improving, but in many ways the people out there are still left behind in many ways. They can travel a bit to go to the City and when they do that, they can see all of the modern conveniences. They can communicate with the world via the Internet. Oh, that reminds me of another great change that they have seen there. The cellphone. What do you think has changed life the most for people deep in the provinces? The Cellphone? Electricity? Water?
You know, from a large majority of foreigners like me who have moved to the Philippines, or plan to do so, one of the reasons that I hear is that they want the simple life. Yet, here I am living in one of the most populated cities in the Philippines. Not so simple, know what I mean. But, could I really handle living out deep in the provinces living a really simple life? Probably not. The peace and quiet would probably drive me crazy! I suspect it is the same for us all. Yes, I would like to embark on a simpler life than I am currently living, but not to the extreme that Feyma witnessed in her childhood. I doubt she would want to return to that either, though.
How about you?
I hope that you have the real deal now hahah
Terrific article Bob. While the true definition of the simple life might not apply to the larger Philippines cities I still find the simple life more in Manila than I do in Vancouver, Washington.
Even in the bigger Philippine cities my friends and I find the simple life….but it is hard to explain exactly what I mean. Things in the Philippines just seem less complicated to me and I am willing to live a “simpler” life there. Gosh, it is hard for me to explain!!! LOL.
I am much more willing to go without things in the Philippines that seem so important to people here in the United States. You know, nice cars, big houses, big screen HD TV’s, things like that. When in the Philippines I could care less about any of that. Even though I love Manila, I even think life there for me is so much more simple than my life in America.
As for the really simply life you find in the provinces, NO, I could not live like that for more than a couple of weeks…but I know of plenty that do.
I am convinced that if some of the guys that complain so much about the Philippines returned to the United States they would so much more appreciate their lives in the Philippines. When a small town guy like me thinks even Manila is a lot more simple than Vancouver, Wa. then there must be something said for the Philippines and a much more simple life.
I will say WE have to be careful of the definition of simple. People need to make sure they understand that simple means not having a lot of the luxuries they are used to…be we all know that MOST Filipinos have a much HARDER life than most Americans.
Thanks, Todd, I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Those guys who complain all the time about life in the Philippines? I have seen some of them when they move back – they complain about life in the States, and romanticize about living in the Philippines. They aren’t happy in either place!
Bob
I think those people are just all around miserable people. They won’t be happy no matter where they live. I like the simple life, but not so far out in the provinces where your really isolated and don’t have access to shopping/restaurants within a reasonable driving distance. Good post Bob. Have a nice day!
I agree, Papa Duck. I really have no time for the complainers!
Not sure I know what you mean, Brent.. real deal?
Hi Bob;
Residing on this mountain in Bataan, has hearkened me back to being a small child in the late 40’s and watching my later in life best friend’s dad delivering ice every day to cool our non-electric ice box. As a matter of fact I still once in awhile refer to the ref, as the ice box. Coal was delivered all winter and we had to shovel it from the bin to the furnace to heat the house. The 50’s when we got our first TV with 2 channels and it came on at 16:00 every day. So up here on the mountain albeit is not even close to my childhood, but still far from you guys that live in good size towns. I thought back to the early 50’s and realized that some off my neighbors are still not caught up to even back then. I write about what it’s like here in Purok 4, and I still wouldn’t trade my simpler life here for any of the ultra modern items they can offer me back in the states. No matter where you live, there is a price you pay, either way.
You are so right on that last statement, Paul. Life is full of trade-offs, no matter where you live. You give up conveniences for a simple life, or you give up the simplicity to gain conveniences. It’s not perfect whichever path you choose!
oh the iron, I hope you all saved up and got a new one LOL
Exactly the same story here Bob, My wife lived that way exactly, when she tells me stories of her childhood , theres always a smile on her face.. I truly believe the simple life, made her the woman she is today, because there is no way in hell, if she grew up in a urban city somewhere , she would be the same girl she is today.. And like your wife, after being here with me for 5 years, I can see some of my urbanization rubbing off on her, I try to be careful thou, I really don’t want….. too much………. change in her…….Don’t want to lose the girl I fell in love with…(Know what I mean?) Take Care God Bless you and your family….Happy Easter
Hi Lenny – Be careful, your wife has probably become more urbanized than you think she has. I know it happened to Feyma. Also, just the other day, a young lady who used to work for us came to visit after living in the States for 4 years. It’s like she was unaware of a lot of the things that she was so used to just a short time ago! Amazing.
i remember having those in our house when a kid, used to set them on the wood stove that we cooked on… life was more simple, but much harder! for example no walking up to the oven and turning it on… one had to get the wood start a fire and wait for it to get ready… yes much simpler, but hard along with it, did not have to worry about your kids going out to play thats for sure!
Nice article Bob, what a stark contrast to upbringing in the USA, almost like a different universe, I never knew a coal fired iron even existed!! What a marvel it would be to bring back someone like Ben Franklin and see him witness the modern day life. !!
I never thought of it like that, brian… and I don’t mean it in a mean spirited way, but for somebody like Feyma or somebody else who grew up in the province, it must be like bringing Ben Franklin into the modern society. It’s so amazing!
Hi Bob – Yes you have given lots to think about. But living ‘deep in the province’ as you put it what has brough about the greatest change. I would say based on my 30 years of visiting the town we now live in would be the Cell Phone. The reason I mention this is the vast number who own one and the ease of which people stay in touch with each other. The town has always had electricity apart from brown outs but nowadays no telephone landline as when it was damaged back in the 90’s it was never replaced. With regular well as regular as everyone else power has brought the internet to the town as well as Satalite TV so if you can afford it more than two chanels to watch.
Water while available to most households in the town unlike before when you went to a stand pipe or the river to fetch water is not always readily available ‘deep in the province’ or communications due to the lack of signal masts and some barrios still don’t have electricity.
So for some people life has not really changed that much, they still today live the simple life compared to others.
Regards.
Jim.
You are right Jim. In fact, with the right cellphone (a smart phone) you can get the Internet and every other form of communication right there in your hand. It must look like some kind of alien intelligence to somebody who is from the province and never saw such an item before.
Ha ha.. OK, got it. Truth is… I’ve never had a charcoal iron before! 😉
Ha ha.. I hear you Richard! Simpler is not always easier! 🙂
Oh wow we havethem here in the old mountial homes and up at historical places, but yea i have seen those as well as the ones you just put into the fire and then pull out, but better have good gloves. lol
hey, your about my age… really, how about cooking with a wood oven ?
I’ve seen them before, Brent… just never owned one before! 🙂
Hi Richard – I’m 49. Never cooked in a wood oven either… of course, I’ve cooked on wood fire when camping and that kind of thing.
LOL this is starting to sound like we came over on a covered wagon LOL
i remember on the farm when we got our first microwave oven, that we had to turn off the lights to use it because we had only one outlet in the kitchen and it would blow the fuse if anything was on… LOL
I had a close relationship with my great-grandmother, she died before I turned 23 in 1985. She was born in 1899, her family moved by wagon when she was a little girl from rural Arkansas to the TX panhandle. Was that an upgrade, not sure LOL
She’s the reason my mother’s family moved to CA in the ’40s and I’m happy she was fortunate enough to be financially comfortable in her later years. Hers was the ONLY house I knew of that had, let alone ran, central air conditioning in the beach cities of L.A. (side note, I had never lived in a house with AC until I moved to Philippines in ’97).
Anyway, her early years are probably a closer match – I often imagine the amount of change she saw in her life. She never saw cell phones or the internet, but landlines, TV, electricity, indoor plumbing…
Hi Gary – I had a great grandma that I had a similar relationship with. To be honest, I don’t remember what year she was born, but I think it must have been in the 19th Century too. The changes she saw in her lifetime must have been huge! Of course, we have seen a lot of changes too, but we started out in a much more modern society than are great grandparents did!
indeed we’ve seen huge changes, and the rate of change is increasing. One difference though is that they saw the development of the basic infrastructure. And their early life was really at the beginning of the rapid explosion of tech changes. I also think that because of mass communication, we often start thinking about many of the changes on the horizen long before they are available. But then maybe we just take things for granted after we’ve had them for a few years and don’t typically think about life beforehand – like typing this comment on my phone at the coffee shop 😉
Hi Gary – I agree fully. These days, we know more change is coming so fast, and it’s probably the only way we can keep up with it… by anticipating it beforehand! 😆
For sure, Brent!
Yeah, I also remember when we got our first microwave, Richard! That was really something! It was in the late 70’s or early 80’s as I recall.
Hi Bob, Although the cell phone is huge, I think that electricity and the popularity of television is a big “window on the world” that brings other areas of the Philippines and the world closer to those in the province.
For me, I see combining some modern conveniences, but still adding some of the more basic styles of living is a discipline that can be very satisfying if living in the rural province.
Although we have a gasul stove/oven we also use an electric hotplate at times. We also built a “dirty kitchen” as part of our house. Not having a “dirty kitchen” would deprive us of the real flavor of many native dishes, but also participating in the rythme of how life still exists in the rural provinces. Cooking over charcoal takes patience and skill…not easily learned by us uninitiated! It’s fascinating to observe and participate in though..
I do have an electric iron though, but without steam. 🙂
Hello Queeniebee – Long time no see, thanks for visiting. I hope you are doing well. I think you are right that electricity is probably the most important of the “new” things that have come to the Provinces over the years, as electricity makes all of the other things possible.
Goodnight Jim Boy….. Goodnight Granpa…… HAHAHAHAHA
welcome to the Waltons Hour
Ha ha.. I thought that was John Boy? 😉
well i gave you the pihilppines version
speaking of the waltons, i remember our first tv, the screen was 6 inches and black and white with a black bar most of the time rolling on the screen… we used aluminum foil and a coke hanger for reception…
coat hanger that is
Great Article, Great insight.
My asawa and I will be retiring to Paranaque in 2012 to the house she inherited and I have just now found your blog. I really appreciate all the good articles and I for one am looking forward to the “simple life”
For me and from my visits over the years I look forward to getting up in the mornings, strolling down to the cathedral, buying my newspaper, suantering to the pelenki and buying the morning mango and pan de sal for breakfast. Sitting with my wife over breakfast and the paper in our garden. What few folk in the states realize is that when you really want to shop there is always Shoe Mart. All the comforts of home, Philippine style with a good portion of the states thrown in.
Looking forward to your posts and others comments
Hi Scott – Welcome to LiP! I’m glad you found my site, and hope you will be a regular visitor! It sounds like you’ve got your own version of a simple life all planned out! Good luck with your move next year!
in many ways thats what i like about the philippines… with family being so important
anyone remember what a “partyline” was…?
I sure remember those Party Lines, and the selective and polarized ringing that went with them. I think our ring when I was a kid was one long and two shorts. I still have, like and use phones like we had back then but I was glad to see the party line go away.
I was lucky, we never had a party line!
Ha ha… I remember the old aluminum foil and coat hanger days, Richard. And, yeah, I sure know what a party line was… a shared telephone line among neighbors.
Bob;
Do you realize that if electricity were never discovered, we’d have to watch television by candle light? (lol)
😆 I never considered that, Paul!
Bob;
Just a little insight as to as to how my thought process works, or sometimes doesn’t work.
Paul – It’s simply brilliant. I can’t imagine how a person could come up with such insights! 😯
This joke made my day, Paul! 🙂
HD TV with candlelight (lol)!
Ha ha… the Philippine version, Brent, would be old Dong Boy! 😉
The Good Old Days, reminded me alot of how i grew up on the farm for a long time we had no phone, as a kid i woke up at 3:30am went out to milked the cows, after went to school, back out to milked the cows and around 10:00pm eat dinner and watch “heres johnny”… the good thing about the good old days was that family was very close
Hi Richard – it seems we have lost so much of the life we had back in the day, don’t you think?
yes very much so… !!!
i can relate to feyma’s childhood, though weird but I prefer to live a life like that. I grew up in davao city but whenever my grandmother (mom’s side) picked up me & my siblings to spend the entire summer in their place it excites us for we had this chance to ride again in a motor driven boat (their only means of transpo) for 4 hrs to reach the place, swam in the river (our version of pool) w/ our cousins till our skin gets dark, collect the ba-o’s after copra for charcoal & sell it to our lola at a higher price, ride in a carabao driven kareton to reach in another barangay, and my fave night time wherein only gasera or petromax illuminates ur place! Not to mention the fridge that was being fueled by kerosene to gave us iced colas & keep our baon hotdogs fresh w/c of course purchased b4 leaving the city & a tv set connected to a car battery to keep us updated w/ our fave tv shows or whenever we wanted to watch fairytales in betamax tape! And I thanked my parents for letting us experience such.
Hi Neggie – Thanks for sharing your experiences from childhood. It’s nice to hear. Our kids always enjoy when we let them go to the farm too and they can experience the simple life!
welcome Bob! It really made me smile everytime I flashback.
I can imagine why, Neggie…. it’s a nice time of life!
and helps a lot for our happy old age. Wish u & ur wife a happy old age!
wife
Wow thats really good my friend!!! Me im not longing for that because im already on it since birth!!!!! what im longing for is the real love & a real person….jejeje
A Blessed Holy Week to u my friend & ur family!!!!!
I also enjoy reading Fema articles, she was a way capturing your attension, I am glad that
are one of the lucky ones who married a women that did not change, who still has a heart for
helping the poor,with good family values, my wife is the same, she still helps the unfortinate
when she can, living in the province is a simple life when I am there, but I still like my satalite
and computer, so I guess I have the best of both worlds.
Thanks James… hope you are doing well.
And you too, Neggie!
Hi Zarlyn – You know the old adage… the grass is greener on the other side! I think it applies here. Blessed Holy Week to you also! Take care.
Bob,
I can understand the life experience of Feyma growing up. It was hard but very sweet, I can’t trade what I had been through as a Filipino…it made me what I am now. I am appreciative for every litlle thing that come my way. I have lived in the USA for 3 decades and was able to adapt well with the way of life here. I noticed that people who has not experienced a hard life has difficulty tolerating imperfection, hardship, patience for fellow men and survival when life is going tough. Children who are born in a rich country including my child has missed the basic way of survival. They thought that money sometimes grows in trees and expect for parents to give them anything that they will demand for. They have difficulty appreciating the things that their parents had done for them. When I was growing up, my first thought was, how will I repay my parents for all the nice things they had done for me and how would I make their life better when they get old. These explains why we Filipinos always look back from where they came from and always extend their hands to help those who don’t have in the family. These explains why we have big,big, big boxes of pasalubongs lined up in every airport all over the world when we go home.These explains why we send money back home every month. Honestly, this type of mentality imbedded in our brains is sometimes tiring and irritating……but, we can’t help it. I am happy as long as I can afford it. Of course my immediate family ( husband and child) will come first.
Back to what I said above about survival, I have story to share to you. First of all, I want to tell you I am married to an American fellow.We lived in the country that time. One day, in the middle of the winter, our water line broke. We did not have a way of taking a hot shower in early morning to get ready to work. I can tell that he was worried about it. I told him not to worry….this is not a problem. I started to collect all our big buckets and went to the main spicket of water and start to gather water . I placed them in the bathroom. That morning I woke up a little early to boil some water. I mixed this hot water to the water I had in the buckets. We use that “tabo” system to take a bath..We were able to take a bath that way till our water line was fixed.Since that time, everytime the same situation came up, we were not worried. If it would have been somebody else, they will miss work or has to stay in the motel to avail with conveniences of their hot water. This is just one of the many situation that my suvival skills had helped me in my daily life in the first world when modern technology fails. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to express my opinion and reading my sentimental speech.
Hi Dine – Thank you for your interesting comment. I enjoyed reading it, and it made me think even further about the life that you and also my wife led as a child. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with us.
the iron,wow i remember using one its too heavy and smoking charcoal in it but the result was fab no one bet the old ways…
Bob;
Sometimes simpler is better when it brings you peace of mind and the family closer.
When the Western world is going to fast with all these gizmos and gadgets, fast pace lifestyles,
selfgradification at any cost and quick money. It’s tume to take two steps back and punt.
For my asawa and me it’s punt time. Living overseas for ten years then coming to the states to raise our kids we really never adapted to the speed and fast pace of the US.
What we want is a simple lifestyle with simple pleasures and the ability to live within our means. Of coarse we still will have a few conviences but limited. We were raised in the 50’s and 60’s when life in the US and the Philippines was simpler. My asawa’s more simpler than mine by a long shot ,but simpler as compared to todays world.
It’s like yous said in this fantastic article Craving for a simple life.
Hi Bruce – I believe that each way of life has advantages. The simpler life has the advantages of less stress, and possibly an enjoyment of a more easy lifestyle. The more complicated fast paced life that most of us live has advantages too. The old adage about the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence seems to apply on all sides here!
Good luck to you, Bruce… I hope we both achieve the lifestyle that we are looking, or craving for.
Bob;
It’s a all in what people want and are use to. People need a balance of each item or trait they find important in order satify their lifestyle.
Her’s a new twist to the old adage. The grass is always greener on the otherside until you find out it’s nothing more but painted concrete. Want is not always a need.
I’m sure we’ll both find our niche probable sooner than latter.
Bob;
Your absolutly right we must find that balance between the old and the new and find the right combination to suit our lifestyle.
Hows this fora twist on the old adage. The grass is always greener on the other side until you find out it’s nothing more than painted concrete. A want is not necessary a need.
Have a Happy and Holy Easter.
How about this, Bruce – the grass is always greener until you find out that it’s astroturf! 😆
That too!! 🙂
I think I’ll have a cold one when I get home. Too much brain output for one night getting off shift in a few.
Ha ha… I hear you, my friend!
Hi Lunisel – Yes, I’ve seen people use the charcoal iron, and you’re right, the results are great! Those were the days!
The monotony of life is driving me ill!!!!! I am tired of doing the same thing over and over just because I want to have all the conveniences in life. Don’t this drive you banana? Sometimes I just want to go to the mountains and don’t have to worry about keeping up with the fast pace. I think Samal is just fine with me. Right now I am here in the hospital just got done with my AM rounds, at 7am I’ll go home , eat breakfast, then go to bed…then back to work….over and over and over….I have been doing tis for 30 years. Sounds like a broken record. T o break the monotony…we will be going back to Davao this May 27th. Hope that we can join you there. I told my hubby to visit you in your Web. I really enjoy your group. Seems like you have a very good group of people… sometimes some makes me irritated but majority of your contributors are just funny.
Hi Dine – Yes indeed. For some reason, over the past few days, I have been feeling the same as you – tired of the same routine day in and day out. Being self employed, I tend to work 7 days per week, and every day seems about the same for me. Going to the mountains or Samal is something that I also need badly!
When you are in Davao, give me a shout! My cell number is 0915-216-0300. Feyma and I would be happy to get together with you and your husband.
Thanks Bob. We surely call you. What pasalubong can I bring you. Just e mail me Ok? My husband would love to have somebody to talk to there. He wants to retire there.Can’t wait.
Hi Dine – You really don’t have to bring me anything… but if you want to, you could bring some beef jerky, it’s one of my favorites, and I can’t get it here! 😉 Thanks. I’d be happy to spend some time with your husband and answer any questions he has about retiring here.
Thanks my friend Bob, yes your right but i still ddn’t see it right now….jejeje
@Reading the story of Neggie it makes me cry i do relate on her experienced in life coz my experienced was worst from it. We are very poor family my father was a very hardworking farmer a responsible & loving father but sadly he died when i was 4 yrs old,a group of men shot him on our farm in the middle of the night. Im the youngest of the family i hav 6sister & 1bro. We grow up struggling to live sometimes we dont have food to eat, sometimes we only eat a boiled banana, boiled sweet potato & boiled “gabi” were sitting down the floor share the small amount of food sometimes my mother will cried while we r eating & telling us “that if ur father was still alive will not experience like this we can eat a good food 3xday. Im pitty for my mother i dont let her see im crying.
We sell vegetables & fruits in the market 3am & we comeback home at 6-to7 am & then we go to school wer so tired & sleepy. We dont experience having a new clothes, shoes & bags coz we cant afford it, all we have are all used from our cousins the will give us their old stuff
Zarlyn
I’m so so sorry to hear about your father. It’s really sad. But i think everything will work out fine for you because you have a good positive attitude about life and you are a great mother. Hope you had a wonderful Easter. Take care and be safe.
sometimes i go to school that my stomach is empty i will just drink water, my mother will said to me not to go in school if we dont have food but i dont want to be absent in school. i will just sit in my chair during lunch time i will study & sleep. My teacher noticed & ask me why i ddnt eat i told everything so she help me evry lunch i will go w/her in their house helping her cleaning then we will eat together. We only have before was electricty we dont have any appliances sometimes at night we will watch TV on the neigbhor but they r naughty sometimes if they hear that we r coming the will close their door so we will just go home n sleep. We used a banana leaves as our luncbox.
Im very independent person i wanted to finished my studies so that i can help my family so i started to work in the city as a housemaid when im 13 yrs old im a self supporting student until i finished in college. My friend Bob i hav lots of extreme experiences growing up in a simple life motivates me to be strong & keep on going even sometimes i want to give up but looking my small kids makes me eager to work hard im a single parent i want to give my kids a good future i dont want them to experience what i experience b4 even if its too painfull for me being far from them i just sacrifice myself so that i can support them for their needs i know someday the will understand me why i ddnt taking care of them now while the r small. I hope & pray also i can handle all the trials in my life i know n understand now that everythings happened for a reason….i already accept the life that i have now n forgive all the peoples who hurt my family..being in a simple life wasn’t easy but for me its full of love & a lot of fun jejejeje “My friend Bob Thanks for sharing with us this it really touched my heart & i cnt stop crying jejeje God Bless u too my friend!!!
Hi Zarlyn – I’m sorry to hear of the death of your father when you were so young. That must have been very hard on you, I’m sure. It sounds like a rough life that you lived. I sincerely hope that your extreme childhood helped mold you into a stronger and better person today. God bless you.
hi bob,
zarlyn’s experiences remind me of manny pacquiao’s growing up years, which he wrote about in his recent autobiography. very inspiring!
with God, nothing is impossible.
cheers,
Yep, and I am sure there are thousands of such stories….
There are many things in The Philippines that are remeniscent of days gone by, some good and some that would try the patience of many of us. It is all a matter of finding the proper balance of each that can make someone enjoy it.
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE AT ” LIP “
Happy Easter to you, Bob!
Zarylyn Alegado,
Life is not all perfect! I understand you really had a very difficult life…very hard that it sometimes made you question if you were in hell. But, I would say this , some people still had it even harder than you. Even in the first world countries some people had experienced another type and degree of hardship…..emotional, physical and psychological difficulties. You after all had it made, why? you made that experiences worked to your advantages. It made you work harder and able pull your self out of the deep whole. You are after all a winner. Some people in the first world can’t pull out of it. Money made them a slave…they are on drugs, in depression and miss what life is all about. Some rich people might have all the riches in the world, but still not contented…they sometimes kill themselves because they don’t have anything else to do. Your can only share your experiences with your children and hoping that they will not experienced the things you had mentioned….really, I would prefer for a human being to experience some type of hardship so that they will learn how to value life better and be able to appreciate other people around them and all the little things that God has created on earth that sometimes we often ignore. You are not alone ….You are blessed. Mabuhay to you!
Zarylyn,
Just remember you’re not alone ive’d been there and done that and probably worst than you before i reached where i am now ( those difficulties keep reminding me to strived harder), just keep focusing to reach your goal and at the end you will find yourself more stronger and in a better situation to materialized your dream. Don’t give up!!!.
Yeah my wifes parents still use one of these now…it works good to.
Still use a charcoal iron, you mean, Randal? Happy Easter, BTW.
Thanks my friend Bob! Yes your right my extreme childhood experience helped me mold to be more stronger person now. For how many years im struggling to cope to death of my father im one who most affected in our family b’coz im the smallest one when he died it tooks 27 yrs to accept everythings that happened on us now i’ve learned to forgive those people who killed him, but sometime my friend Bob when i go home i will see those people makes my blood boiled to the extreme i wanted to make a revenge but my mother told me that we just let God judge everything that they’ve done to us. Now my friend i just keep myself busy so that i cant remember my past b’coz if im alone i will remember everthing & i will cried, we suffered & struggled to live b’coz of the evil persons who killed my father. Now i accept that he’s gone so that he will have peace wherever he is right now & he knows that we love him so mch…even if i ddn’t experience hes loved & cared for…
Thanks my friend Bob & have a Happy Easter Sunday to u & your Family…Godbless!
Hello Zarlyn.
I am sorry that your family had to experience this kind of life. For me I can say that I had a dad. But he was an alcoholic and didn’t care. My mother had to clean in the city offices so money is there to pay the rent. In the morning we kids had to get up by ourselves – mother was to tiered, dad already in the factory. Sometimes we didn’t had jelly to put on the bread – so we used sugar. In the late afternoon, my mother asked me to search for my dad in the bars. I hated it very much. Because most of the time my dad soiled himself. NOT a nice thing to get seen with my dad on the street than. When I refused to pick him up, my mother said: “What? Do you like that your mother has to pick him up and must be ashamed in front of our neighbors?” So I picked him up again, again and again. Clothes? I got my older brothers ones.
Sure I liked to have a better family – a Millionaires family would be ok with me. 🙂
But it didn’t happened. I read books. My kind of vacations in a life where we did not have enough money for one proper birthday party. It shut not be one for me. But maybe a nice birthday party for my mother. But it never happens. My mother died when I was 15. I was 12 when she had to go in the hospital – cancer. So with 12, I had to take care about myself, my dad, cleaning the house, making my homework, going to school – a-n-d!!! steal money out of my dad’s wallet to save it for food we needed. If I didn’t take it out – it would be gone. One thing my mother taught me before she was gone. I had also to look after school to get a job by myself. No parent was on my side. Got my school report. Wrote a little resume. Got on the old bicycle – in the evening I had a job. I still remember how the owner and his wife were looking over my shoulder to search for my parents. It was an Audi-Volkswagen dealer and I applied for “a job”. “What do you like to do?” “Anything if you take me.” “Where are your parents?” “There are busy.” (Was not a lie. My dad was busy in the bars trying to defeat all the breweries in the world. Mother fighting for her life in the hospital.) “But the contract must be signed from your parents. You know that?” “Yes, sir!” — At home I signed it in my dad’s name. That is how I got my apprentice job. 🙁 One day my dad came home, looked at me and said: “Mhmmm… You are now 16. You are done already with school. What you are doing all day away?” “I got a job by Volkswagen Keller.” “Ohh you did?” “Yes.” Who got you the job and signed the apprentice contract?” “You did dad. Thanks for doing this for me.” He answered: “I did??? I guess than it is fine.” “Yes, dad!!” I had to talk to my dad. He never figured out that he never got me the job. On the funeral for my mother, my boss and his wife paid for a big wreath to put on my mothers grave. My dad worked over 30 years at this time for the same factory. He got nothing from his boss. My older brothers and sisters? Nothing! I worked only 6 month for my boss – I could not carry that big wreath. A ribbon on it said:”By mome. Your kids.” My dad was so proud. He told everybody that he got me the job and how nice my boss is. — He never ever meet him or phoned him. I was there for 3 years. No word from my dad how I am doing. Not even from my older brothers and sisters. No help at all. “What the hack you asking us? Get your feet on the ground. We have our own problems.” That was what I got after asking for help.
If I like to miss this life – not really. It made me who I am today. But still I think that someone mixed me up in the hospital on my birthday. I am sure! 😉
Take care Zarlyn. I have a lot of respect for woman like you. That’s why I am together with my Audrey. She is my soul-mate I searched my whole life for.
Happy Easter for you all at Lip!
Frohe Ostern Euch allen auf Lip!
The simple life – yes I would like it very much.
In my life it was always a first impression that gave me the knowledge – yes that is it.
If I have to think it over and over – it never worked out for me. Getting my first job – no time to thing about it. It worked out fine in my life. My first two marriages? I thought to many times about it – and it didn’t worked out very well. I saw Audrey at the mall – I didn’t thing a long time. I have known it at the first second. 🙂
When we were visiting the Philippines, I scared Audrey to death. “I would like to retire here. I like it.” –> “No way!”, was here answer. Switching from “you must have a cellphone” – company rule, to mechanics they don’t know to do if they can’t connect a computer to the truck. To many memory and chips, electronic and plastic on the trucks. Look at the jeepnys in the Philippines. Not even a odometer or signal lights on the dashboard. The mechanics taken a piece of iron to fix it. No computer. Because they know what they have to do. Ask in Canada how a part is working and you get the answer: ” I don’t know and I don’t care. If the computer tells me to change it, I change it. Is the truck still not working. I hook up the laptop again and switch the next part.” So I wished to have sometimes the simple life.
In the Philippines my brother in-law gave us his Jeep to drive around. The steering was worn out. Turning the steering wheel 90 degrees – showed no effect. So I drove to a shop. “No problem, sir. Pick it up in an our or wait.” It was done in no time – without a laptop.
And yes sure we have in Canada a nice big house. 55″ flat TV in the bonus room. 46″ in the living area. HD – up to date. A projector to watch in “Movie theater size” – projector is still in the box. Laptops, PC, cellphones – the malls in walking distance or the big one in 20 minutes drive time we are there. Switching with the simple life in the Philippines? Tomorrow if I could! Still working on Audrey – but don’t let her know! 🙂
Best regards
I hear you Holger… and I understand why you want to make the change! How does your wife feel about retiring here now? Has she changed her mind?
Thank you Zarlyn, and Happy Easter to you also.
Yes they are still in use on samal island , people just get some coals out of there outside kitchen and iron away ..its very effective…my grand mother in the states had one when i was small that was solid iron and she heated it on the stove…it worked well also…had a wood handle..like the ones here….Happy Easter Bob
Same thing here too, Randal. Some of Feyma’s relatives still use the old charcoal irons too!
I just read your whole list of comments , and I have chopped wood for a wood stove , oven combo…they didn,t call it fire wood they called it stove wood and you stored it in another place than the firewood. When i was small in rural Georgia my grandmothers house was without power, or running water and they used a outhouse with a sears and robucks catalogue for toilet tissue…I remember when she finally got power it was just a light hanging from the ceiling with a pull switch…what i hated there as a child was we all had to use the same bath water and i hated going to the outhouse after dark ha ha esp winter time…wow times have changed in some places
zarlyn & holger’s life stories– as different as east is from west– both make me ponder how i could’ve been more grateful, more appreciative, more aware of my parents’ sacrifices in their struggle to give their kids a better life. thanks for sharing, guys!
cheers,
Hi bob ,i can relate to this very easily as my wife tells me about her childhood ,as how poor her father was trying to support 3 daughters going to school all the time dying from cancer ,he was a humble but very respected carpenter in his province in the compestella valley ,it is hard for me to reate to sch poverty even though as a child we didnt have to much but in reallity much more than than she and her sisters had ,she would work after school to help and when she went through university she would work in the day and school herself at night also wilst trying to bring up a daughter ,i think this is why we try to help her aunty who was so pivotol in bringing her and the others up once her father passed away also looking after a newborn whilst she continued uni . She often says to me that she never wants her daughter (our daughter) to have the same life as she had ,and i think this is why she strives so hard to better herself ,at present she is doing a universitycourse to ecome a registered nurse and working full time ,i doubt if i would be ableto do this myslf ,she is one incredible woman and she is my wife.
chris
Hi Chris – How are you doing? I hope you are doing well. I think that childhood poverty is a big motivator to a person to ensure that their kids have a better life. It sounds like your wife really picked up on that, Chris!
Hi Bob – Question… Not sure if it relates to this good article. Hope you don’t mind. What’s the difference growing poor or being poor in the US than growing up being poor here in the country? I once saw a news feature about homeless Filipinos in the US. One said he’d rather be poor in the US than be poor and homeless here. The Filipino who was interviewed said he receives $200 and there’s food stamps.. something like that, that he can buy same food like the rest of the people there. Unlike here. I thought to myself, he can have good simple life here good life especially in the province. I feel sad for them. It’s like they’re proud to be homeless in the US.
Hi sugar – Perhaps the USA is the only country in the world where even the poor are rich! The poor have hi def TV sets, and cars. The government provides them with what they need. The Filipino you saw on TV was right – much better to be poor in the USA than in the Philippines!
Really appreacite this article Sir Bob, this reminds me of my childhood days too, back to my hometown. The Charcoal Iron used to be my best friend every sunday afternoon, ironing my high school uniform, sibling’s and father’s barong…this time just pluggin in flat iron for my kids’ uniform every early morning…(during school days)…
Hi Suzette – I’m glad you enjoyed the article. I hope you enjoyed some good memories from your younger days!
Hello everyone my name is Mari Lynn as can see and I want to share my expirience with you all about the charcoal iron as I know and loved it. We use dalmost everyday and some my auntie’s family would borrow it as well to do their clothes. If she did not return it right away then we were ordered by our parents to go after it and demand it back. That iron was like a today’s demand for the everyday cellphone or laptop. A number of these articles prior to mines are definately worth relating to. Thanks to all for bringing back the memories!
Thanks Bob great article,
I am curently miserable here in the states, I have a few years til I can leave there Philippines bound. I have lived in the province with my wife for a while when we were newly married (she is still there awaiting the visa process) and I tell you what… I love it!! I love the simplicity of it, we also did not have running water in the house, or plumbing even, and the electric was sporadic at most but I have never been more happy in my entire life as I am when I am there. We recently bought a house and I am happy to say that we also do not have running water or plumbing (yet) in that house either. I must say there is just something about taking a bath with a scoop and bucket that just is so much more refreshing and satisfying than a true shower as westerners know it. Not to mention the community and social interactions of our maraming kapitbahay. I hate how dependent we are here in the US. It is so bad our dependency that it is virtually impossible to live the type of simple life here in the US that I cherish and relish in, in the Philippines. I long for the day I retire and finally arrive to what I truely beleive is my “True Home” and the very simple living and way of life I have come to love. I love the Philippines, the Filipinos, and everything that goes with it.
Hi Chris – Thanks for your comment, I’m glad you enjoyed the article. What is holding you back and making you wait a “few years” before coming here, Chris? I hope you can work it out and follow your desire sooner than that.
Hi Bob,
I have read your article about simple living in the Philippines, I can relate to your article about simple living. 🙂 I am computer programmer who loves to enjoy life with simple stuff specially in the provinces, I worked as a full time I.T professional and doing a lot of other things (as a hobby) such as photography, amateur astronomy, martial arts, classical guitar and web development as a sideline :). I’ve seen how complicated life can be living in the city, I had a chance to go to the provinces of Masbate Ticao Island where my wife family lives, I love the nature, sea, foods and the simple lifestyle they had., I am building a small modern kubo house located near the sea shore with a farm that I can plant vegetables and fruit trees, I love to cook in using woods and use oil that is made of pure coconut oil. (Very delicious and all natural). I also experience fishing using small boats (bangka) to catch fish that we cook (Filipino Foods) :), we also go to the rice fields (bukid) to catch mud crab that is very delicious! You can see the terrain of the island is so beautiful whispering fresh air free charge. I go to the mountain inside the cave to see the beauty of nature., I love all this stuff compared to the city living where constant stress is always on the rise. I am writing this to share that we (human beings) are created to live with nature and experience the beauty of living a simple life.
Thanks!,
Vincent