My ship was pulling into Singapore in 1995; I was due to rotate off and go on two months vacation back in the Philippines. My tickets were booked and my stateroom was empty, when I received a phone call from the Chief Mate requesting I come and see him.
As I entered his office I noticed my fellow worker Ernie was there with a long sad face. The Mate asked me if Ernie could take my relief and would I wait and take his in 9 days time. “Why would I want to do that?” I asked?. Then Ernie said this daughter was graduating from school and if he did not fly home the next day, he would miss it. Seeing the validity of his request I thought more about it, thinking I should do my co-worker and shipmate a good turn. I asked if it was High School or College that she was graduating from. To which he replied; “Kindergarten”, the Chief Mate looked at me and thanked me for my time, and told me to enjoy my trip home tomorrow.
That was my introduction to the Pinoy’s way of viewing graduation. My two girls already knew that I would not be at any of their graduations unless it was High School or College, as the rest is a simple promotion. BTW I did attend both of those graduations!
But I’m home now forever, but the rules stay the same, I’ll attend when it means something. My niece Shay-shay, was graduating the other from the sixth grade and starting 1st year high school next term, that means something. Shay has always been special to me, as she was born right after I retired and when I can’t remember how long ago that was, I just ask her age and I know. Her mother is Clara, Mayang’s (My Wife) twin sister.
Of course I will be there, she’s my buddy, and the assistant “Coco the Flying Labrador walker on other than school days. We took her shopping for new shoes and an outfit to wear and yet not be seen, under her graduation robes.
My memory flashed back (No chemicals were involved) to the day that our daughter Ymir Thea graduated from College where I was told to be there at 15:00 in the afternoon, and waited until 21:00 in the evening until the Bishop of Eba decided he would join in the fun. It concluded at 01:30 in the wee hours and I went home.
Article continues below images. Click on the picture for a larger view.
But this one was scheduled for 15:00 in the afternoon and I showed up at 18:00 as it was just starting. Your thinking I m pretty smart? Hell no, but I was smart enough to give Shay a cell phone for her last birthday and she texted to me when it was starting.
I looked at the crowd of graduating students and was shocked that the girls were only twelve years old! Plus I’ll wager that 90% had a cell phone in their hand, and all were texting as the procession moved forward towards the sitting area, by the stage.
Now the speeches commenced, anybody who was running for office, or had ran for office in the past were lined up on the dais with sheet(S) of notes in their hot little hands, and were rambling on an on. One guy even gave his speech in English, it afforded a lot of texting time to the kids.
I’m snapping pictures as fast as I can, and was planning my escape; I knew that Shay would understand, and then there she was standing beside me with a big smile, as her and her school friend had snuck out to take a break. Leaving her mother Clara stuck on the other side of the crowd not knowing her daughter was even gone. I for sure will not be the one to tell her, Shay and I are buddies!
A while later I snapped the obligatory pictures of Shay and her mother walking up to the stage to receive the Diploma. Well, not so much a diploma but a rolled up piece of paper wrapped in a red ribbon.
I also noticed a professional Photog guy, the same one you see at every wedding here in the Philippines. Then I thunk to myself, I can buy copies of his pictures and sent a text to Shay telling her that I wanted to buy the Photog guys pictures. (I could have been home an hour ago having a cool one if I’d known he was showing up)
Thinking it was over I started to leave, and then outside I found Shay again with her classmate buying snacks. I gave her a kiss and told her I’d see her later at the house. I was wrong, as the politicians, stated talking again, and no one got out of there before 22:00 later that night. Why on God’s Green Earth did those people stay to hear that tripe?
So to my fellow travelers here in the Philippines, if you are invited to attend a Graduation here, arrive very late and you’ll find that you are really on time. Bring your car even if you live close, as car trunks will hold your cooler filled with iced down adult beverages’ which I failed to do. I’m quite ashamed of my lack of remembering my own rule. It will never happen again!
Lack of foresight Paul, ….could be a sign of ….how long ago did you retire? 😉
Randy;
12 Years ago, at age 53 and two pensions, then my Social Security kicked in so I can afford more beer! Next time there will be a cooler with me.
Thank you! That was cute and very informative!!!! Loved the pictures, too!
David;
These are things I wish I knew about 20 years ago. Shay is a very sweet young lady, and has been a joy in my life. I like it now because she’s at my house almost everyday during the school break. Funny thing about her, as a Pinay she doesn’t like fish, oh how will she survive?
Thanks Paul, that was some excellent info that I will keep tucked away for when it is my turn. By the way, I hated fish until I tried sushi. Now, I can’t get enough.
David;
I’m with you on sushi, why does it taste so good? If my mother had fixed that instead of halibut!
Paul, I think that the key about fish, especially for those that don’t particular like it, is to serve it in a way so that it doesn’t taste fishy or like it can smell when it has been sitting out for a while on a hot day. Marinating the fish in soy, rice wine, and a little sugar (Japanese Mirin sauce) can transform a fishy fish into something entirely different. Sushi is great because the fish has to be cold and fresh before it has had a chance to heat up to room temperature. There are some fish used for sushi that is still fishy and it takes time to acquire a liking for such fish. I would have Shay start with some fresh Tuna marinated like the above and then cooked on the barbecue over some wood charcoal. Trust me, she’ll love it!
You folks are funny. lol. You like fish that doesn’t taste or smell like fish. hahahahaha. I always get a kick out it when people say I don’t like fish that smells fishy. I sure hope it doesn’t taste fishy. Sorry I just don’t get it. Oh well to each there own. hahahaha. I have a neighbor that I gave some 70% dark chocolate to the other day, he and his asawa didn’t like it because it was too much chocolate. Huh ? They like the sugar packed stuff I guess. Geez why would I want chocolate that tastes like chocolate anyhow ?
Well, a little catsup works great on fish or chocolate. lol
Try mackeral sashimi if you can find it. Let me know what you think.
I have been dining on sushi and sashimi for years. It’s really about presentation, and it’so healthy for you. Be sure to have some miso soup if they have it. Yummy.
Let’s see , what was the topic again ? Somehow we went from graduation to sashimi. Something very fishy going on here.
Charlie;
Who would want Chocolate to taste like chocolate? I found that I prefer the chocolate I grew up with in the USA, and do not like European chocolate as it’s overpowering to me. That is not saying it’s bad, it’s just not for me. The same goes with fish, there are types of fish I like and then there is fish I don’t like, but once more that’s just me. I love steak, but I don’t care for porterhouse steak, is that odd? Well I’m odd and that’s life. Quite a world we all live in, isn’t it?
David;
She’s 12 years old and she’ll grow out of it when she’s ready. I eat what I want and let the rest of the world do the same. (lol)
Amen Paul!
Another entertaining and informative story Paul. I enjoyed it; keep up the excellent retired job you are doing for Bob’s readers. Could it be done without SMBs?
Loren;
Without SMB’s? Yes as long as there is Superior Rum and a dash of coke!
Aren’t you forgetting the “Captain”?
Jun;
The Captain is saved for special celebrations as it sells here for 18 to 26 dollars a liter, and you thought gas was high!
Paul: Congrats to her! Your story about the relief is funny… My sea captain neighbor / friend a few months ago was onboard his OSV, waiting on deck as his relief was flying in. As the chopper landed on the deck, the relief captain got his arm caught on a safety tether while exiting the chopper, dislocating and breaking his arm (After some 60 hours journey from the Faroe Islands to the ship). My neighbor ended up working a second eight-week tour. He loved the overtime, but was really ready for a few pilsens by the time he finally got home (The ship is 100% dry).
John;
My relief has shown up late a few times, $50.00 per day extra until they show up, it just puts you in a higher tax bracket.
Paul: Off topic, but… Didn’t think of it until now, but I had to visit one of the shipyards in Bataan last week. I should have rang you up and we could have gone to lunch.
John;
Next time, I’d enjoy that!
Nice article, Paul. Never attended a school graduation in the Philippines. My wife hails from Balanga, Bataan, but is now settled in the UK with our 3 daughters, while I pay the bills here in the Middle East. There’s no such thing as a school graduation in the UK, but I’ll be there when my daughters graduate from university.
Mark;
Balanga Bataan is still there, I know because I’ve been there and saw it myself. (lol) I’m in total agreement with you about attending graduations, in the States we graduate from High School and college and are promoted in between. I wanted to go as I paid for it!
Congratulations to Shay-shay on her graduation. The description of graduation in The Philippines in your humorous writing style Paul does add to the entertainment value of reading about it. On my first visit I had an invitation to attend a graduation ceremony at MSU-IIT in Iligan City the day after my arrival. The airline lost all of my luggage ( it showed up 3 or 4 days later ) and the only clothes I had were what I left home with a couple of days before. I could have attended the graduation but I opted to buy some clothes instead. Your description of late starting times makes me realize now, that I most likely could have bought some clothes and attended the graduation as I think it was supposed to start at 10 AM and maybe it did not start til past noon.
Bob;
You could have picked out an entire wardrobe, had a nice lunch, and visited some friends and still would have been on time. (Did I mention having a few beers at lunch?)
One of the things I’ve gotten used to living here is the absence of time and it’s regulation. I see people wearing watches but more as a fashion statement than a tool of measurement. I’ve joined them except I gave away my Rado watch the day I retired.
Graduation in the Philippines is just as much about the acchievment of the family as it is about the student.Mama and Papa glow with pride as their child recieves their diploma.All that sacrafice and worry have paid off,Its good that they get their day to relax and bask in the glory.
Once my daughter was forgotten and left at school after closing time.Responsability for picking her up was given to her Aunt.Due to a series of missunderstandings the Aunt arrived home without my daughter.We flew into a panic drove to the school only to find my daughter sitting with the Security guard.
We got a frosty reception from the eight year old and that night she came to argue with us.I will allways remember she said How could you forget yor child and If I had a cellphone that would not happen. Very next day we all went to the mall and bought shiny new cellphones for the whole famiy
Corjo:
Her Aunt is now the hero, as she caused everyone to receive a new cellphone! My oldest daughter Hanna has never been on time for anything in her life, and her daughter has figured it out along with me. She’s staying overnight at my house, in the morning we are going to walk my dog Coco, My granddaughter told me her mother would be here to pick her up at 08:00, at ten till 08:00 we’ll smile at each other and go on our dog walking adventure. Time flies!
Wonderful article Paul. I look forward to my nieces and nephews graduation on the island. Not as many politicians so the speeches will be shorter, lol.
Mark G.
Mark;
“Not as many politicians so the speeches will be shorter, lol”. The LOL summed up that statement to a tee.It can’t be helped, politicians talk while the crowd is texting, it’s the way of the Islands!
Graduation from any class was an event for me & my family, especially for the nuns!!!
Mike;
When I moved into public school after 6th grade, Saint Ann’s School and the Mother Superior held a party that never ended.
Hi Paul,
Interesting graduation info. Looks like I made the right decision a couple of weeks ago. Our favorite niece had her high school graduation. I almost went. I sort of went, but when we pulled up in front of the school the “boom” box music was so loud it rattled the car. I said no way am I staying here. Noise is not my thing. So we dropped off the neice and another aunt and grandmother and home we went. We hear we didn’t miss much. I just don’t get the boom box noise thing at a graduation in the middle of the afternoon. I won’t even shop at a store if I can’t hear myself think. Is it just me or is the noise in some stores annoying to others ?
Have a fantastic day.
Charlie;
Oh for sure it’s not just you, I love country music but I’ll leave if it’s too loud. I’ve got off Jeepneys for the same reason. I was lucky that my niece’s school couldn’t afford the sound system and it was very enjoyable to my ears, which are ruined after all those years on a ship.
Welcome to my world of ruined ears. My 4 years in the U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue blew out my hearing to only certain frequencies. Every letter in the alphabet is a different frequencie. I don’t hear the letters F, S, T, H, K, , nor clocks tick, no birdschirping, kids and womens voices are very difficult and so on. Any background noise at all and I might as well not be there. Too many hours with sirens blowing in my ears as I rode on the bow of the rescue boat with the siren right behind me, only 1-3 feet away, also had to have my head stuck right in roaring diesel engines, just one part of my job, line throwing guns, fog horns, and lots of other noises, no ear protection was even thought of in the early 60’s. I am not on any kind of military disability as they never gave me a discharge physical of any kind to it was a few years latter that I figured out I was having so many hearing issues and I had very thorough testing at 2 of the top testing centers in the U.S. one being at the Flint School For The Deaf. Nothing they can do, if people speak louder it just makes things worse because that is increasing all the frequencies. I do have digitally programmed hearing aides to only increase the individual frequencies in the amount I require but there was no guarantee, so I have $5000.00 worth out of my pocket of little tiny programmed things that don’t work. Oh well, it was a worth a try ? Or was it ? Maybe this is part of the reason I am very aggitated by loud noise, actually noise at all. Perhaps my ole brain is telling me to stay away from noise or I’ll have more damage. All I know is that noise can instantly raise my blood pressure, it just happens. Could I be allergic to noise ?
I can “hear” most conversation but I need to “watch” you talk. They told me my brain just taught itself to sort of lip read and I never knew it and that is why I didn’t know I had an issue back when. I cannot do it consiously, it just happens. Oh well, such is life. I am thankful I have ears and can hear most things. I do love brown-out though as everything gets so quiet, except the motors of course.
You don’t like porterhouse ? Whoa, send the to me ,O.K. ? Just the side that is the heart side. N.Y. Strips are my favorite but I haven’t seen anything down in this neck of the jungle worth buying yet. But with my new BBQ “One never knows do one”?
I am all for people eating what they want, it’s free world, I think ? It’d be awaful boring if everybody ate the same thing , liked the same thing, and so on. Four months of boot camp cured my taste buds of a lot of things. But to this day I will jot eat a mushroom ! Yikes, I am not eating fungus that grows in horse do do. lol
So now my favorite niece will be going to college now. Oh boy, another graduation to look forward to. She’s going to a agricultural college so hopefully they aren’t into boom boxes. ?????
I love your type of chocolate also, I know what you are talking about. I am for sure a chocloholic. Have to have some vises don’t we ?
I eat a lot of foods I don’t particularly like but they are healthy. And I know I’ll probably be the healthiest body in the the funeral home some day. lol But I still eat chili dogs, liempo, boko pie, chocolate ice cream, yummy ! and whatever in moderation.
Eat drink and do something with merry (Mary) for tomorrow we die, or something like that.
Time to weigh the anchor and get under way. Never could figure out why they had to keep weighing the anchor, did they think someone took part of it ? or does it loose/gain weigh down there ? lol
Have a fantastic day.
Hi Charlie;
Some of those mushrooms from under that horse Do-do are very popular and will make colors brighter. I’m with you with the loud noise and not wanting any part of it, my wife thinks I ignore her, when the truth is sometimes I do, but it’s mostly I can’t hear her. My favorite steak is the New York Steak, and we have a few great butcher shops here in the Subic area, I can even get London Broil and Conned Beef Brisket.
I was the mount captain on a 3″ 50 gun doing rapid fire anti-aircraft drills on my first ship, the rest of my hearing was down hill from there!
Paul,
Had a chuckle as usual with your article. Really a good looking young lady with her Tita/Tito. You better watch her in about 5 years, the guy’s will be beating down the door lol. Your right about the beer in the trunk, it will brighten up any event. Take care and have a nice day
PapaDuck;
She likes it at my house and I tell her all the time to wait for a good man, and that good men do not have to be poor or unemployed. She is a smart and strong young lady and I know she’ll do well in life.
She will bring her Tito a cold beverage on a warm day, she’ll do very well!
So the way I understand this is that Philippines time comes from graduations????
Barney;
I’d never thought of it that way, but you could be right!