There is a strange thing that happens here in the Philippines that can only be compared to Florida and it’s called “The Snowbird Syndrome” This is where a group of human beings live in a part of the world that has that thing called winter. And that winter thingy causes them to abandon their regular home and fly to the Philippines to find warmth and sunshine. I’m not saying they should be spurned or punished for only spending part of the year here, as that would be wide of the mark, I’m saying that they enter into our lives for a few months and then fly away.
This season in my purok the Kano population was well over the allowed limit. This season Don Cook and his wife Teody flew in first, they have a house right up the street from me about a 5 minute walk away. They hail from San Diego CA. where Don retired after his career in the US Navy.
Shortly after Carlos Schofield and His Wife Juliette arrived shortly after and they hail from Haywood CA. and Oregon. Carlos was a WW II Merchant Seaman and continued sailing after his two year tour of duty in the US Army during the Korean War. Their house is a five minute walk down my street.
Next came Bob Kunkel and his wife joined us from Missouri Bob is a former Marine who had been stationed in Subic many years ago, Now his house is on the way to Carlos’ house about 4 minutes away from mine. Bob was only here for a couple of weeks so we didn’t see very much of him this year.
So the gang is all here, Don Bullock who lives kitty corner from my house but resides fulltime here and Tommy Heath and his wife Lolet who lives in Olongapo down the hill from us, who is also a Merchant Seaman (1st Engineer) was in from sea and on Vacation for a few months. Then there is Rolly Lopez a retired member of the US Navy who returned to his home country to live out his days in paradise.
We like to get together and go to dinner at our favorite Mongolian BBQ joint down in the Barrio. Plus lunches at Texas Joe’s on Subic Freeport. Did I forget to mention roving cocktail parties all within walking distance of our homes.
But with all things they must come to a close, last Wednesday night we all met at Carlos’ house to say adieu, farewell and adios as he must return to California on last Friday. We assembled on his second floor patio where there is always a cool breeze and a very pleasant atmosphere plus no mosquitos due to the elevation and wind.
Since we are all Rum drinkers (Except Don Bullock who prefers beer) I brought a bottle of Angostura (1824) Trinidad & Tobago 12 yr old Rum that was Given to me a week earlier by my LiP buddy from South Africa Frank who was in to visit for a couple of days. We found the bottle was corked and sealed in wax so this must be top shelf rum, and it was. Need I say that it didn’t last long and we had plenty of Tanduay Superior 12 yr to transition to.
The food was great, the company even better and a good time was held by all, now to explain to the folks who never served in the USMC or Navy the Hail & Farewell is a time honored tradition where you gather to meet new arrivals and send off old friends. A drink could be involved in both cases.
Next month we’ll have to do it all over again, as Don Cook is going home and Tommy has to fly back to his ship. But have no fear for good news is in the air, Loren Pogue and his wife are flying in from Colorado and the good times will start once more.
Hi Paul, its such a chaw all this entertaining and having fun isnt it. LOL
John;
Sometimes you just have to sacrifice for the good of the group! (lol)
Personally speaking,I don’t find this strange,at all.The older I get,the more I dislike the winter months.However,being a 6th generation Wisconsinite,my roots run deep and there are too many things that I enjoy here,for me to leave permanently.
Jerald;
I’m no scientist, but if everyone who lives in the cold climate were to move south I think the uneven distribution of weight would knock the planet off its axis and cause us to spin off and be burned up by the sun.
I could not get out of New England fast enough to suit me, I discovered that the closer you lived to the Equator the warmer it was. But my four brothers will never leave Massachusetts for any reason.
Paul,
I don’t get much opportunity for Hail and Farewells here in my region but remember them well and sorely miss them. Perhaps we can do some online version so I can get involved, at least until my fingers start stumbling .
Joe;
Except for Tommy who I used to sail with, all the other folks I’ve met, here in the Philippines over the last few years, during their yearly visits. They are a great group of people who are fun to share good times with. I choose this area to live as I knew they would have the items I want and need, and shipmates that I’ve sailed with over the years to keep company with. The folks I mentioned above are new friends that I’ve come to enjoy and I like having them in my life. Never a dull time in Dinalupihan Bataan!
i am from kansas, would leave in in a heart beat if i could, an sta
Dale;
I spent a week in Hutchison Kansas in the eighties and the thing I remember most was that the view out of the windshield was the same as the rearview mirror.(Just joking I had a great time there.) But to be fair to Kansas my opinion is skewed because of a woman I’d met in California and drove there so she could spend a month, But I kept going until Florida where I loaded my car on a ship and flew to Puerto Rico, Via con Dios nice Kansas lady, Hola San Juan!
Paul,
As always a great article to read. I enjoy every time I get to read them. It sounds like you all had a good time, and will continue to do so as long as there is good company around.
I’m looking forward to good times there too. It’s nice to read about the happiness of you all there, as it does at times, become difficult to remember my glorious visit to Paradise.
We can’t wait to get there and back in the warmth!!
The warmth of both the company, and the sunshine. 🙂
Scott;
That’s a nice outlook
Scott;
I’m glad you enjoyed it, the Philippines is made up of so many simple pleasures, and good company happens to be one of them.
One cannot be wind surfing and sightseeing every day, or in my case, wind surfing any day. I’d rather be under the mango tree with my R2D2 Android book reader thingy than most other things, enjoying myself, and a couple of times a week with friends. That to me is the good life!
Wind surfing is not my thing either but fishing is. the problem is I can’t find a rod and reel, tackle and I don’t have a boat…. YET! But if i ever find a rod and reel and tackle I might build a boat later this year!
Joe;
Pantabagan Lake which is a 3 hours drive from Clark. Free Port Zone here on Luzon was stocked with Large Mouth Bass 40 plus years ago by the US Government, after the military left it was forgotten, now it’s a tourist destination. Fishing equipment is readily available in Manila and my area. So whatever large city near you will have it. A boat? This is the Philippines, have a Banka made the way you want it.
Scott;
That is a nice sentiment!
I often think about my vacations in The Philippines when I am shoveling and clearing the snow off of my car. So many of my Filipino friends there wish they could experience what snow is all about. Anyone care to trade LOL.
Bob;
Folks that see snow in pictures or movies and TV have no concept of what true snow is really like. You’re shoveling it, trying to walk through it, and worst driving in it. My wife often says it must be so beautiful to see it as it’s falling, and I explain that watching a coconut fall from its tree is a thing of beauty to me.
It’s 25 degrees Fahrenheit but feels like 10 degrees. Snow is blowing and the wind is howling like a banshee outside as I write. I’m thinking I’m in Salaza, Palauig, Zambales, stripped to the waist and sitting under the mango tree like you, Paul, reading the Philippine Daily Inquirer to psych myself up as I wheel the trash tote down the driveway glistening with ice here on Fenwick Island, Delaware. LOL
Hello John;
It’s 82 degrees Fahrenheit here in Bataan/Zambales today and it feels like heaven. (lol) Someone else took out the trash for me, as I sat under the mango reading a Vince Flynn novel. Oh there was ice in my cocktail.
Glad to hear the 12 year Angusturis went down well.
Frank;
We loved it, wish you could have been there with us. Thank’s again it was great!
Paul
Paul,
I’m so looking forward to visiting and spending time with friends over there. Can’t wait to start enjoying life instead of working all the time. 5 1/2 months can’t come fast enough. Take care and stay safe.
PapaDuck;
I can’t disagree with you there; work is just another four letter word that ends in “K”.
I am in the Angustura distillary on 6 March you wont me to be cheeky and try for another bottle?
Frank;
Hell you already know my answer to that! (lol)
I may be more of a gooney bird than a snow bird. It is almost springtime in the rockies, after one of the coldest winters in recent history, and my wife and I landed in Manila last night. Oh well, better late than never.
Loren;
Your here?, And my phone hasn’t rung yet? Tommy and I will be at TJ’s for lunch today, come on down.
Shipmate Paul,
Just read this article, with the pics and I must say I’m almost sick with envy :). Came into work this a.m., oh sorry bad choices of words (work). But it’s 32 frigging degrees and snowing here in Oklahoma City. Maybe with the expected gov shutdown on March 1st, due to lacks of gov ATM funds to keep going I may retire (2nd time) even sooner than expected and pack my sea bag along with the asawa’s 10 bags and pull up stakes here. The pics just flooded my absent minded brain with great memories of times that only one who has experienced life there would truly appreciate. Keep up your amazing work…oops sorry, i mean great life adventures.
John D
John;
Well shipmate when it stops being fun, then you know it’s time to set sail. Most of the time my life is simple and kinda dull, but after working all those years, I find that simple and dull is fun. As I’m writing this I’m thinking that today I have to meet a couple of friends for lunch, not that big a deal but something I look forward to. It’s a bit chilly today but still shorts weather. I am down to 4 pair of long pants and can really see the need for all that many. I hope you can find your way here soon, the water is fine.