Live in the Philippines

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My Week in Bataan

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The Day Was Wednesday, 12 January 2011 here in Dinalupihan, Barangay Roosevelt, in the Republic of the Philippines. It’s a cool early morning, the time is 5: am and I’m sitting at my Puter looking at a blank screen, without a clue as to what will be my subject I’m going to write about this week on LIP. Normally by this time of the week I’d be done, but this week I’m blank, I got nothing, zip, nada, zilch.

The reason is quite simple, not much has transpired this week. So since it was a boring week I feel it’s only fair that I pass it on to LIP. After all it’s called “Live in the Philippines” and sometimes it is mundane and uneventful, so here it is, My Week in Review…

Last Wednesday I met up with my friend Tommy at the Wild Orchard Resort on Baloy beach for lunch with our wives, Mayang (mine) and Loleth (his) the food there is great, as it is a fairly high end resort and they take great care in customer satisfaction. We ate and talked and joked for an hour or so, paid the bill and adjourned to their beach bar across the street. The bar is completely open and faces Subic Bay. The breeze was cool and relaxing and we decided on cocktails instead of our normal beers. The ladies had their Mango Shakes as they were the designated drivers. The service is very good, and believe it or not the price is reasonable. Sometimes having a well stocked bar with more than 2 pounds of ice for the entire day is worth a little extra.

About 5: pm (17:00) the ladies decided they had experienced enough fun for one day, and took their husbands home. Up until bedtime the rest of the day was uneventful.

Thursday morning I arose early (normal time 3:30 am (03:30 or Oh dark thirty Navy time) went on line and did my FaceBook choirs and read my e-mails and hung around on LIP and made a comment or two. Enjoyed my two cups of Maxwell House coffee, (yes brewed in my Mr. Coffee Machine) ate a toasted bagel with cream cheese, and went off line an hour later. I went outside to visit my dogs and spend some time with the now thriving new Koi. Eight o’clock I was summoned to breakfast of pancakes, two eggs and bacon, my version of a Denny’s Grand Slam. Then back outside, to finish my daily duties and wait for Wolf Blitzer on CNN. (He’s pithier than Mr. Bill O’ on Fox). Now it’s “me” time, stick a USB in my stereo, play some Country Music and read a novel for a couple of hours, take a short nap, wake up to have a snack and a cold beer, more country music. Supper, then watch a little tube, then more reading, then asleep by 10: pm (22:00)

Friday: Repeat (With minor variations.)

Saturday: Spend time with family members (This is also done on other days, but I’m describing this week.)

Sunday: Go out for breakfast at Tom Dryden’s Restaurant (Cinnamon French Toast with bacon), and then shopping on Subic Freeport.

Monday: Repeat Thursday (Maybe it just seems the same)

Tuesday: Repeat Monday (It was the same)

Wednesday 12 January 201, a full day today, go to the immigration office in Olongapo City and stand in line to pay my yearly head tax, get a haircut and mustache trim at the “Crew cut” Barber shop, in the Barrio. Pick up my mail, then meet up with friends and wives at the Sit-N’-Bull, Restaurant/Bar to have a meatloaf and gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans lunch, the ladies will partake of the wonderful selection of Filipino food on the menu, then the ladies will depart to the Beauty Parlor, whilst we manly men will remain and consume ice cold beverages, and tell outrageous lies to each other. These are stories that will captivate and astound you, stories of manly men, and life on the open sea, and tales of Blue Water Sailors and the places they’ve been. (The non-sailors are allowed to listen in at the next table and dream. Change one Mode faction 2 to the above plan; I blew off Immigration as the line was so very long and I feel it will require a full day. Extra benefit to that was now I’ll have a story for next week’s LIP. Ya see how it works?

So in conclusion, I hope this will explain why I had nothing to write about this week. If you shun me in the future because of this, I will fully understand. That is but a small sample of my life in the Republic of the Philippines. Hey, you know what? I wouldn’t trade a minute of it, even to see a monkey on a surf board.

Stay tuned for next week’s “Head Tax” saga.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Well Paul you do more than I do here in the Philippines. I have to go in for my head count soon. My first time for that. The Davao office seems like a OK place for expats. They treat you nice. Smile when they take your money. To cut costs they have shut off the aircon. Sigh. It is just a short trip across the street to the mall and a piece of apple pie. Life is good.

    73.
    Gary

    • Gary;
      The Head Tax, should put the government over the top this year in revenues collected. I feel I could get away with out paying it, as most large corporations don’t pay anything such as taxes, unless the money that’s paid to members of the government count?

      • Paul T.

        What a hard life you have, no relaxation time at all. All i can say is keep doing those liquid curls. Paul it won’t be long before spring training starts and you can watch baseball on TV to occupy your very busy schedule. Well the Tampa Rays have been almost completely dismantled. The will have a completely new bullpen. I guess they may back to losing again. Are you saying theres corruption in the government!

        • Randy;
          With the decimation of the Rays, Boston might get to the playoff’s this year. As much as I love Baseball, the Islands have found a way to semi-spoil it. Regular games come on early in the morning, causing my wife to frown when I pop that first top.
          Corruption in a government? Does Baseball use a ball and a bat?

  2. Hi Paul,

    I don’t know how you manage such a grueling pace. WTH is a facebook choir? Do you guys sing online? I’m sure it is as entertaining as videoke. HaHa! I tell people that videoke is like sex….You don’t have to be good at either to enjoy. I know you probably meant facebook chore but I had to tease you. My days are somewhat similar except my coy pond has 5000 tilapia and my landscaping duties involve a handtractor (monster rototiller), manure, and vegetables. I do have a group of guys that I ride motorcycles with to places of interest so it’s not all work and no play for me. We are on our last building project so maybe after a few weeks life will slow down again. I hope you do not feel any jealousy when I mention that my yearly immigration process took a full ten minutes. It sounds like life is good for both of us so we must savor every moment. I hope you weren’t a Patriots fan because my favorite team the Jets sent them home today in the playoffs. It’s still early so maybe a couple more San Migs before bedtime is in order.

    • Tom;
      Okay Mr. spelling police Chore not Choir. BUT it’s Koi not coy. LOL, that’s a push! Tilapia is what I wanted but was overruled by my House Commander. Retired and still taking orders.
      Paying Head Tax here in Luzon is never quick due to the high population of foreign devils that live here. If my line was only ten minutes than I might not be eating Bagels and cream cheese in the morning. Wait, that’s another push. Life moves with the speed of cold sludge here sometimes, especialy when waiting in line. Finish up those projects and have a beer. When I rode scoots in the states our rule was one beer per wheel, do fly wheels count?

  3. Senior;
    You better slow down!! You move any faster you’ll break a sweat.
    I don’t know if I read this right? You said that there non-saloirs in the Subic Area.
    And they were listening to your sea stories and wondering if you were Dirk Pitt and your buddies were part of the NUMA agency. WOW I love to feed sandcrabs bull$***.
    Hey Paul I got a challenge for you. Find a remote control Helo attach a basket under it and conduct SMB unloads with it at you next outing. Heck you were a supply guy once upon a time. Show them sandcrabs how it was done!!!
    If you can’t find one let me know and I’ll bring one in Oct. 🙂

    • Mike;
      Remote Helios are here by the millions. I was a supply guy, not an airedale, anyway remember the trouble I had with the R/C Boat? Get here quick shipmate, I need a beer!

      • Senior;
        True you weren’t a airdale, nor were you a quartemaster either. But you did have the clipboard that showed 1 pallet, check 2 pallets, check 3 pallets check. Just replace that with 1 SMB check, 2 SMB check 3 SMB check. And see how many you can ferry over to the table before the go astray or crash and burn. Bet you can do at least 10 flights!! 🙂
        Remember Dirk Pitt could do anything, so I believe with a little bit of work (well maybe alot of work) we could be just like him and show them sandcrabs who has the superior intellect.

        • Mike;
          But, I was a Coxswain my first two years in the Navy; I piloted the 40 foot UB’s and the Old’ Mans Gig. Even when I was transferred to supply, the Captain kept me as his Gig coxswain. My Dad taught me well in Boston Harbor and Cape Cod Bay.

          • Senior;
            Awe! But can you pilot a bonca boat while downing SMB’s. I will buy one and will need an expert pilot to manuver it around the bay. Remember I’m an old BT have hammer will fix it or replace it. Seaman ship skills not required in my rate.

  5. Hi Paul

    You are living the retirement I planned, but I hope mine will not be so fast paced! I hope to slow down and smell the roses. March 21 will be 6 years and counting towards my bar stool in Subic. I think I will skip the Koi though. I couldn’t stand the pressure.

  6. Hi Paul – Seems you had a very busy week doing non busy things! 🙂 It’s kinda like me on a weekend… Mundane and uneventful.. need someone/thing to spice up life! He he. Anyway you said you visited the barber, here’s a question…uhm, he he.. it’s about your moustache? I’m sure you’ve answered a lot of times but.. you ever consider to shave the whole thing? Or is that your mojo? Ha ha. Have a happy eventful good week!

    • Sugar;
      Shave the stache? I won a thousand dollars once by shaving it off, as the crew on one ship didn’t believe I could grow it back in six weeks, BTW; Thank the stars, I can!

  9. Paul lol

    look lik eu are do as i did say siting back and ahving a good time good to see mate i have never been up the that part off the phill as Subic Bay yet i have been all mos there but not yet my be this time when i come over will go up there for a look with my wife joy this time will be my 5 trip over there and if all works out be my last time a si wont to live there mate full time so all the best mate and keep up the good work on lip…….peter martin tassie

    • Peter;
      I hope you get up from Oz as soon as you can. The main reason I live so close to Subic Freeport is the food selection is so good, Aussie, European and American brands of food are here in vast quantities. I like some of the food here but 3 times a day for the rest of my life, I just don’t think so. I have Kano friends who live up North Luzon and 95% make a trip here to stock up. We even get folks from Manila who do the same. So come up and have a look, hell, I’ll even buy you a beer or two.

  10. Hey Paul,
    Ok, I confess, Im ignorant of this head tax…tell me more

    Ok, next time your telling stories, here’s one. Three blondes are walking in the woods…

  11. gday paul,sounds like you have a greta life boring as it may be ,i thought an old salt like yourself would have looked into perhaps building yourelf a boat or somthing , i have always said to the wife that if we retire to samal i would like to get a small boat like the banka boats so as i can just go out and get on the water for a while ,i am not into golf which so many seem to be (most boring game i have ever played) glad to hear the koi are still alive and thriiveing i must say those wiskers do need a trim youl be stepping on em soon sailor ,anyway all the best and i hope your life gets some more excitment in it (lucky bugger)
    chris

    • Hi Chris;
      Growing up using my dad’s many small craft, then I had my own sailing pram when I was a teenager, then 35 years out on blue water. There is really nothing I want less than a boat. But I agree they are fun, and I know you’ll enjoy it.
      Years ago I tried Golf, and found it wanting. It’s a game, and a game should be fun. The people I saw on the course were too serious and up-tight. But the 19th Hole was fun.

      • Hee Paul… golf is fun if you can hit, sink a birdie! Octagenarian (if they still can play) golfers are the serious and uptight ones. He he he. Oh just indulge me. I’m thick face and crushing on 3 professional golfers! Yayz!

        Have fun in Bataan, Paul! Eat, drink and be merry always!

  12. Paul you just make me jealous i am planning to visit olongapo approx 28/29 March with my family for a few days thought we could pull the tops off a few brown bottles while the girls have their mango shakes. Interested at my expense of course.

  13. I shall return and live your lives one day! But for now I have to work so hard to get there! The more I read about your lives here rather there in Philippines the more I’m thinking it’s a great place to be! Many of us have this impression that the quicker you can get out of there the better – then return back for holidays and that.

    The more I read about the stories here in LIP, the more I feel like going back!

    • JC;
      Please come here and enjoy your life, but not mine, as I still need it for awhile longer. (LOL) But I understand what you mean, with a smile and the right attitude, this place callrd the Philippines can be wonderful. But you know that already. I know Bob Martin will be pleased that his web-site is helping you make your plans for the future.

  14. Hi Paul; I just trimmed my fingernails while thinking of what to write as a comment. Today my wife and I will go to a medical lab to have some blood drawn for lab tests. We have to fast for 12 hours before this is done. I’m getting hungary and thirsty. I am diabetic and wonder how much metformin costs there. Here in Indianapolis, my current Medicare insurance has me pay a co-pay of $13.75 for a 90 days supply. I think that if I drank that much SMB I would have blood sugar counts that would kill me.

    My wife’s retirement plans for us include living in Gamu, Isabela. It’s quite a drive from there to Subic. Pacita and I lived in Olonapo when we were first married 38 years ago, just outside the Kalaklan Gate ( I think that was the name). We watched the monkeys on the hill chuck stones out of the woods down at the gate guards. The road in front of our apartment led to Manila from Olongapo. Up the hill on base was base housing with officer’s houses. We sometimes ate a Papagayo’s restaurant, but most often we went to the Cork Room, where my wife had been the chief cook and bartender. I think those places are all gone now. I was a tech-rep for Magnavox at the time, and another of our company reps had an apartment on Ohio St. We worked on electronics at shops in Subic/Cubi and were also on call to go to the fleet when they called for help. I lived in the area for two years. We rented cars from Carlos Rodriguez who probably still lives on Ohio Street up the hill. I visited him there in Dec. 2008. We possibly will get to the PI again this comming summer time. I don’t know if we will get much time in Subic area though.

    During my Navy time I spent 2.5 years on the Ticonderoga, aircraft carrier as an electronic technician. I got my Vietnam ribbons and etc. while fixing radios. When we went ashore in Olongapo, the street was filled with sailors in white uniforms. For a trip back checik out the YouTube videos – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lbtu1OBLLg&feature=related
    It is restored from 8mm movies that one of the Ticonderoga sailors took in 1965.

    • Larry;
      Trimming the nails is a very important thing, albeit I don’t do it. A lady comes by once a week and I get a manicure. On nice days we sit under the mango tree. So mostly we sit under the mango.
      I got a smile about the sailors in their dress whites, as after one hour on Gordon Ave. they weren’t so white anymore. The Kalaklan gate has been closed all year while they rebuild the bridge. It will be completed sometime during my granddaughter’s lifetime, or maybe not.
      Papagayo’s is still doing well, some of the best Mexican food in the area, the other places you mentioned are long gone.
      So leave that beer alone and stay healthy, I’ll take care of that beer for you.

      • I think I got the wrong gate name. The one I had in mind was a back gate to officer’s housing, and the drive was curvy and up a hill into that area, through a woods. No bridge involved there.
        During our last visit there in Subic, we ate at the Sea Food by the Bay restaurant, and out of our group of 12 people, ( all Philipinos but me) no-one ordered sea food, mostly chicken pancit and rice. ??

        • Larry;
          The Kalataan gate going up the Zig-zag on the right, is the one I think.
          The Kalaklan gate is the one with the bridge out the back gate to the barrio.
          By-The-Sea is across the street from my Friend’s old Hotel/Restaurant called Dryden’s. Which has better Filipino food than By-The-Sea.

  15. Hey Paul, still sounds awesome!

    My funny little honey found ANOTHER house she wants to buy in Pita, that means selling the one we just bought in May!!

    See ya in August!

  16. Hi Paul,

    Been to the Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar in Bagac? You can slot this in your very busy schedule. They have places to sleep, eat, drink beer and even have karaoke for you. 🙂 You seem to be having a blast with your fun filled days in Bataan.

    Alex

    • Alex;
      Not been there yet, but my Daughter and her family has and brought me many pictures. We plan on a visit in a couple of months. Karaoke? Surely you jest!

  17. I got to work in rain yesterday it was 42 degrees,and dropped to upper 30’s. It is 22 today so I would trade you mundaes in a heart beat.I like your article it lets me feel like I am sitting on that beach with a cold beer and the sound of the ocean. Instead of waiting for the snow to fall ,just trying to not get sun burnned on your beach sounds nice. looking forward to your next adventure. look me up on facebook Paul have fun in that long line.

    • Eric;
      Rain? Like we don’t see that here? I’ll admit it is a lot warmer in the rain here, and bless the fact I’ll never, ever see snow again! Mundane is good.

  18. Well Paul, even your “boring” week sounds awfully good to me! And I think you could WRITE about paint drying and it would be funny.

    I really enjoy your articles and look forward to them every week.

    • Todd;
      I’ve cracked up a few times over paint drying, but that was before water based paint. But thank you for your kind words of support, and stay tuned, as I’ll keep trying to explain the Philippines accordine to Paul’s point of view.

  19. Brother,
    How are you? Retired (BMC) back in 2007 and visit P.I at least twice a year. Would love to stop by Subic Bay area and buy you a beer or two.