Monday, During the Barangay elections, 11:30 in the morning, my power shuts off, after eight days of power outages I’m not surprised, so I did my Zombie walk to the back, flipped a couple of switches, set my “Power is On” alarm, fired up the Honda and was back in the house, all in less than three minutes.
At 15:00 that afternoon, my nephew, asked me why I was running the generator? “Tito, there is no brownout today”. Go to the back again, check the alarm, yup, its set, all seems right, off the generator, reverse switch flipping. Wala, no power! Hmmm, that was quite perplexing, and well beyond my pay grade. Down the road I go to find, my “Electric Guy”, as Dennis has helped me with all form of items that spark in the night.
With his trusty Wiggins, Dennis told me it was my meter, he smiled and said he could jury rig it until Penelco fixed it the next day. Can you guess what I opted for?
09:30 Tuesday morning, three guys from Penelco are at my door, up their ladder, much discussing going on, then I’m informed that the meter is fine, but the box that holds it was corroded beyond repair and was causing it to short out. All this was due to the heavy driving rain, we’d put up with for the last week or so.
Out comes the new heavy duty meter box, wires are trimmed, screws are turned, and manly grunting sounds are emitted. 10:15, all is electrically well at Casa de Mayang.
Out comes cold sodas and snacks, and the joking commences. Then the oddest thing happened, one of the gentleman who lost the race for Barangay Kaptain stopped by to thank us for our support even though he didn’t win, I thought, “What a class act, he is!”
Recommenced joking, when a parade comes up the hill with music blaring and people waving, it was our new Kaptain “Boy Antonio” thanking everyone for our support, and shaking all our hands. The stainless dump truck was not with them, just stuck in traffic. I’ll never understand calling a man Boy, call me “Boy”, I’ll give you 50 cents, and then dare you to take it back.
I turned to the Penelco guys and asked them, “Guys, with, such a close election, why is it no one voted for the loser?” Boy Antonio must have won by a landslide. That brought down the group with laughter. They all agreed, that after an election anyone asked, will say he voted for the winner. (Americans do the same thing with sporting events?)
Well with all such things, they must end, and the guys had more calls they had to respond to. My wife asked me, after the guys left, “Is there anyone you won’t joke and talk with?” My answer, “Mahal, I don’t know, as I’ve just not met everyone yet!”
The next day Zaldy, my “metal guy” dropped by and caged that new beast, for reason that are beyond me people steal electric meters, a couple of years ago they stole my water meter, the new one is caged.
So my life has returned to normal once more, or at least until the next brownout, then we’ll be back to full normal. I’ll miss the very loud election trucks and the roar of my generator early in the morning.
This proves that you don’t have to rant and rave when things get messed up, why waste your time, you can still enjoy living here, by smiling and keeping a level head. Be friendly and polite, and you’ll discover that most people want to help you, if you only, give them the chance?
BTW: My blood pressure remained at a constant, 80 over 120. Mayang; “Is the beer cold yet?”
You see? That is why the gods delayed my arrival, so I’d miss the noisy campaigning!
I’ve never understood the “Boy” thing, either. It seems like just the other day I was sitting across from “‘Bad Boy’ somebody or other”, listening as he explained why I was better off selling him my jeepney business, than continuing to compete with him. Made perfect sense, too! Meanwhile, about that time, Bad Boy (Robin) Padilla had been caught with a SUV full of guns, and in other news, “Bad Boy”, Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan had given up life on the run for political aspirations.(Proving that principles don’t feed an empty stomach, I suppose.)
Ah, yes, my power box on the Tag property(Samal), sitting out in the open. There’s something I hadn’t thought about worrying over…
Mike;
Mike if your power box is out in the open, than plan on a new pole also. After all it’s a package deal. The Philippines thrives on competition, they prove this with Sari-sari’s, what other reason would stores providing the same product be lined up together. As with Manila, if you want flowers, there is one street and that’s all they sell, the same with auto parts, vulcanizers ect. The jeepney business? Since here in Olongapo there is one every two and one half seconds, I get on the one with the best music blaring or the most horses on the hood.
…blood pressure has an inverse relationship with temperature……120/80 beer cold…..160/100 beer warm ….300/200 no beer ..stroke …no beer at store !
Brian;
You restoreth my faith in beer, (Not that I’ve ever really lost it) and it’s healing powers!
Brian;
I did transpose my blood pressure, it’s 120 over 80, my wife just broght me a coffee with a bagel and cream cheese, there goes my blood pressure again. (but the bagel is whole wheat)
hahahahaha whole wheat makes the bagel with cream cheeze ok?
Dan;
Kinda’ like a Double Wopper and a diet soda don’t cha think? (lol)
Ah the joys of third world living where if it can be stolen it will be stolen.
Tony;
I have a box of chrome air caps for my wheels on my car. For if I park it, they will be gone when I return. The thing that runs me up a wall, is they only take one???
Paul
I guess one is all the needed hahaha
Randy;
Your right, after a month or so they’ll have a set.
Paul T – funny! What Tony said is so true. Made me smile here. Imagine, they’d even steal car plate cover. And if you’re not looking around and you leave your clothes hanging to dry, they would steal that too. He he.
Paul Thompson, Sugar
Not only in the philippines. Here in florida i got my water meter taken for the copper because of the high price of copper. Its really a bad problem now. The drug addicts sell it for drugs. They will do anything to get copper, even go into cell towers.
Randy;
Zaldy, my “Metal Guy” could cage your new meter for you, or a cute little Pit Bull chained to it, might also work. (lol)
Paul,
Maybe the caged meter is better,as i am sure some would try to steal the Pit Bull,lol.
They would probably feed it drugged meat first though.
regards,Chas.
Chas;
I play the odds with my 18 dogs, hopefully a couple won’t be hungry. Just my luck it’ll be the small ones. (lol)
I wouldn’t worry much with your pack,i believe most filipinos are wary of dogs,coz of rabies,and even more scared of large dogs.
I have an expat friend who has 2 Dobermans,when he walks them on a lead in his barangay,everyone gives him a very wide berth,lol.
Chas;
Your right about that!
Sugar;
The best one I had was 2 months ago, while washing my car in the driveway with the gate open, someone stole my spare tank of gas (LPG) for the stove. LPG stored in the back now! But then I was never robbed by a rich man, cheated by, but not robbed!
Paul
I hope you have your beer refrigerator under lock and key, specially when washing the car.
I think I saw the title of a book that was called “Philippines The Land of Theives”
Neal;
My dog named Moto-San, sits by the beer ref, when suspicious people are in the area.
Neal – when my sis went to LA, she bought sees candies, as she put the bag on the side for few seconds, somebody stole it. So I guess there are thieve everywhere. 🙂
Paul T- There are so many ‘only in the Philippines’ stories. Yours is so true. Just hope that when Manny P fights Margarito.. there will be no brownout.. he he. There seems to be brownout in your area whenever special event happens. Thank God generators, eh. 🙂
Sugar;
I’ve already paid for the Pay-per-View for the fight on the 14th, as I have the only satellite dish in my purok, the Mindanao Bob Deluxe BBQ grill will be smokin’, the beer will be well chilled and the family and neighbors will commence the party. We do this for every Manny fight. Brownouts won’t slow us down, but hard rain could. And the noise level will be 120 decibels in my house during the action. BTW the kids will empty the bottom draw of the beer ref, as I keep it full of candy for them. Manny needs a new belt!
Paul T.
Wish I was in the Philippines for the fight. I would just love the partying that goes on. I really like your Mindanao Bob Grill. I can just taste the Chicken/Pork BBQ alon with a cold Red Horse. Life is good. Well drink a few for me and go Manny! Take care brother
Randy;
It will be a fun day for the fight, it normally is, I’ll definitely have a few for you an I’ll make my Son-in-law drink the Red Horse. The grill will see a lot of animal’s sacrificed for the enjoyment of us human carnivores. (that just sounds so wrong, yet tastes so good) Enjoy the fight also!
Congrats to the San Francisco Giants for winning the 2010 World Series. Texas Rangers put up a good fight but this is just not their year. Maybe next year. We’ll see.
Jun;
I’ll freely admit the Giants just flat out played better ball. My best to them on a great win.
Hi Paul,
If I can ask what did it run you for your generator there? I’m trying to figure out if bringing one over would be better than buying one there. I’m a fan of the Honda diesels; quiet and powerful but not sure diesel will be readily available on ‘my’ island. Is yours gas or diesel? What manufacturer? What led you to choose the one you have now? Sorry for the inquisition just another of those things I need to address someday. Thanks.
Mark;
Never a problem to answer a valid question, it’s kind of what we’re here for.
Brand is a Honda, fuel is Gas. Why did I get a Honda? Simple, service reps already here in the R.P.
They are available Nation Wide (go on line Honda of the Philippines). But if you ship one in, you’ll pay shipping plus customs, and that is way more than buying it here. Your welcome and I hope this helped.
There are pros & cons to having a generator, The Pro. Electricity. The Con. No electricity.(lol)
Paul on the island 6 hours of electricity a day, whether you need it or not! Tough to keep the beer cold…
I live in the country and power outages happen here to so to the tractor and genorator we go .Southern Illinois or there it is all the same to me you need power to keep the beer cold. I like the millers genuen draft, good old mgd. I hope you have a good time on the 14th I will be watching and having a beer that day to.
Eric;
Last week I was in a store on Subic Freeport, and I bought four 6packs of MGD, Miller Lite, Coors, and of course Bud. I’ve been enjoying them all, but decided I really do like SMB the best. But the others were all good just the same. The point I arrived at is, “Damn I like Beer!” So pop that top, break out the munchies, and enjoy that fight!