Regular visitors of any of my websites will see me called “Mindanao Bob” and if they don’t know the story of the name, they may wonder where it came from. Do you know? If not, I plan to explain a little bit about that today.
As I recall, I believe that I first got that moniker in November or possibly December 2006, so it is 2 years old now. I was at NCCC Mall in Davao City one day and had a haircut at Big Tom’s Barbershop there. After my haircut, I was walking around the mall doing a little window shopping, and after I had walked all through the mall, I was ready to go home, so I started walking toward the exit. Before I made it to the exit, though, somebody came running up from behind me and sort of jumped in front of me. Honestly, it scared me a little bit, because I was not expecting anybody to jump in front of me like that. The guy said “Are you Bob?” “Well, yes,” I responded. The man kind of looked at me and paused, then asked further, “Mindanao Bob?” I said, “Well, I guess so.” And a new nickname was born!
After about 30 seconds, a lady came running and the fellow exclaimed to her, “Yeah, it’s him!” Hmm… I was feeling kind of strange, and not sure what was going on. The fellow introduced himself as Scott, and explained to me that he and his wife were regular readers of this site and also my Mindanao Blog (now relaunched as Mindanao Magazine) and it was because of my Mindanao website that Scott came up with the name “Mindanao Bob.”
I had never thought of such a name before, but upon reflection it seemed to kind of fit, because I have had a sort of love affair with Mindanao for many years now. I fell in love with Mindanao before I even set foot on the Island, in 1990. When I was flying over Mindanao to land for the first time in General Santos City, just looking at the scenery, the lay of the land, I felt a special feeling in my heart, and it has only grown over the years. So, to me, it was kind of a special thing to be called “Mindanao Bob” for the first time. After that, I told the story a few times, and people picked up on the name, and it stuck.
Now, there is another thing that kind of ties in with this. My haircut. I never had really short hair until we moved to Davao. Even when we lived in General Santos, I had longer hair. Not too long, but much longer than now. When we moved to Davao, just a couple weeks after arriving, I decided I was going to get a really short haircut. I told Feyma, and she was not too fond of the idea. But, I wanted to do it. Ever since then, I have had the haircut, which I call the “Mindanao Bob Haircut” these days. My main reason for having extremely short hair is that it is comfortable, and it is also cooler. The weather can be quite hot here, as we all know, and having such short hair helps keep me feeling cooler, I find.
I get teased by people about my hair being so short, but it’s OK. The main people that tease me are my kids. I still tease them, when they are going for a haircut, I always ask, “are you going to get a Mindanao Bob cut?” They laugh at me on the way out the door. I especially like to tease my daughter, Jean, about this, and she gets a kick out of it. A while back, Migs wrote an article saying that he gets a “Dos” cut, meaning that the barber uses the “number two” setting on the clippers, which regulates the length of the hair. Well, for any of you who want to get a “Mindanao Bob cut,” I go with a “Dos” or number 2 on the top, and number 1 on the sides! Go for it, you won’t regret it!
So, anyway, this is the story of the name “Mindanao Bob” and I’d like to offer my thanks to Scott, if he is still reading, for pinning this moniker on me! Thanks also to Macky, a regular reader and commenter, who drew my “Mindanao Bob” caricature that you see often on my sites. That caricature that Macky drew for me is part of the whole “Mindanao Bob” character these days! Thanks again, guys.
Hi Bob
I like your nick name it "fits"
Also i like your haircut, i usually get a number 2 all round but lately i have been on number 1 all round, it scares the children sometimes "whats happened to tito rick's hair" etc, but i like it…its cool, like you say Bob.
Hi Bob
Could this be just a teaser for a new book? It could be called "The Adventures of Mindanao Bob."
Hi rick b- Thanks, Rick. I like the name too, because I feel that it fits me well. Wow, you've changed over to a number 1 guy now? I didn't notice your hair was shorter last time I saw you! You know, about a year ago, I tried a number 1 cut myself. It scared me, not just the kids! 😯
That was just too short for me! 😆
Hi Dan Mihaliak- Hmm…. not a bad idea! 😆 Problem is… I've already shared most of my adventures on my sites! 😯
and Mindanao Feyma ? 😆
Hi Tommy- 😆 Nope, nobody calls Feyma "Mindanao Feyma" – some people call her "Famous Feyma" though! 😉
Bob I've always wondered how you got that name. I sort of figured you gave it to yourself as a way to promote your blog. I've been reading your blog for a long long time. It's a cool story.
Mindanao is a beautiful Island I've said that Bukidnon is definately the fingerprint of god. It's magnificent. Davao is cool too.
Don
Is it OK if I mention I knew you before you became famous? LOL
Hi Don- Yeah, I think it is a cool story too. I never thought of such a name until Scott used it that day in the mall, but I liked it!
It's true about Bukidnon, its a beautiful place. For beauty and solitude, there are two places in Mindanao that really touch my heart – Bukidnon and Tawi Tawi. Both are equally beautiful, but in different ways. It's a shame that few people get to visit Tawi Tawi.
Hi Ray- Absolutely! I have known Ray for maybe almost 15 years now. We met online, but got the chance to meet in person while I was still in the States. Since moving to the Philippines I've had a chance to see Ray 3 or 4 times as well.
Yes, I still read your column every morning. It was a pleasure to christen you …
It was the proudest day in my life when I took you in my arms, walked to the font, sprinkled the holy water on your forehead and whispered the words " I christen thee Mindanao Bob " 🙂
Regards,
Scott
Hi Bob – as you know, I'm glad you liked the sketch. It remember having fun putting that together.
Yikes, you're mindanao mag site looks great. i had not visited it for quite sometime now. I'm glad you put a link on your post. congrats.
i've been going "dos" since the mid-90's. I'm sure you've notice a number of guys my age who sport the same haircut there. If I ever go 2&1 on the sides, I'll call it the mindanao bob too 🙂
though recently, i'm trying to see how long i can go with my hair (we'll see how long before I go back to old form).
i don't know if anyone can relate to this. but i find that moving to a new exotic country has given me an idea to start out with a new identity. I've even gone by my formal name here (Mariano) because Filipino names tend to fit into the Latin American areas easily.
I can picture a lot of expats there enjoying the idea of starting out with a clean slate.
Hi Scott- Glad to know that you are still on board. I want to get together for coffee soon. Are you in the city on any regular schedule?
Hi macky- Or should I call you Mariano now? 😆 I agree that when you start a new life in a different country, it is a perfect chance to change yourself in a positive way, to "re-brand" yourself to some extent. It is liberating in many ways.
Give the number 1 a try on the sided, Macky! You won't regret it! 😉
Kamusta Bob,
Wow, all these years I have been getting a "Mindanao Bob" haircut and didn't know it, so the next time I go to get it cut…and they ask what I want or how I want it….I will just say "Give me a Mindanao Bob por favor"….lol. I am sure my Puerto Rican barbers will "truley" look at me with amazement and say "yo no se" des "Mindanao Bob cut"…but will be interesting to see there faces…lol. Hey, that's what I get for still living in South Florida…and not Southern Leyte ….yet!!
Another great story Bob,
daghang salamat, ang inyong higala,
Danny
Hi Danny- See, that Mindanao Bob haircut is so popular and famous that the barbers know how to cut it even if they never heard of it! Amazing!
Wow, I didn't know that about your hair, Bob. I'll get myself a Mindanao Bob cut, too – unless the British forbid it. It's too hot in the Philippines besides.
Thanks for sharing the story. Cheers to Mindanao Bob!
Hi Migs- 😆 You are in Davao right now, right? We can always go for a haircut together! 😉
Bob,
Don't think I would like a "Mindanao Bob Cut". I'm more of an uno. I use the number one or no guard at all. In the military I cut my hair once a week w/ out a guard and on deployments (if I had time) I used a Bic on it daily. Now that's a hair cut. ha-ha… Guess I will have to coin the Kuya Mike Cut now.
Hi Mike K.- or should I call you Kuya Mike? nah… I'm older than you are after all. I think you should start calling me Manong Bob! 😯
That Kuya Mike cut sounds pretty good, though….
hey Bob
you look a lot better with short hair, nice and clean looking gent. always enjoy reading your blog. wonderful site. thanks
Hi Emmanuel- Thanks for your vote of confidence! I will pass your great words on to Feyma, as she still asks me from time to time to grow my hair longer again! 😯
Thanks for visiting my site!
nice cut Bob….kinda like mine the way it is…..seems i always get my own "space" on the subway!!
Hi brian- Ha ha…. funny…. you might get your own car on the subway, Brian! 😯
NAAH NOT MINDANAO BOB. I PREFARE SIR ROBERT. IF YOU GROW YOUR HAIR LONG YOU CAN BE JUST LIKE ME . THE LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL. BUT AGREE A OCOMBO OF A NO1 AND A NO 2 MAKE THE IDEAL CUT FOR DAVAO.
Hi FRANK FEALEY- I wouldn't want to compete with the long haired lover from Liverpool! You've got all the credibility on that one, Frank!
Maayong Buntag Manong Bob,
Ha-ha I don't think I could call you Manong Bob… I guess I've been around the slightly lazy tongued Philippino's to long. How about just Nong???
I tell all the people I deal with call me Mike not Sir. They improvise and call me Sir Mike. That's when Kuya Mike comes into play.