A few years ago my friend was moving from one house he owned here on Luzon to another. It went smoothly until at the end we’re looking at his 1957 Chevy which the body is on blocks and the frame and running gear is separated. The frame is easy; we push it like it was a completed car. But the body was a horse of a different color. We Kano’s drank beer and came up with many different plans. The Pinoy’s working with us got tired of the talking and disappeared. Twenty minutes later they were back in force with ten extra guys and a few pieces of bamboo. Within a few minutes the body of the Chevy was in the air and moving down the road. We blocked traffic, and had every person on the street watching because it had now turned into a “Happening” Other guys just joined in to help and relieve us older beer soaked Kanos.
For a long time after, any time we’d be in the area the guys would laugh and talk about the day we carried the Chevy for over a mile. The amazing part was after the car was in place at the new house, the joking really started; the SMB’s and Red Horse flowed like… Well; “BEER” the food was prepared and the rest of the move was postponed until another day, let the party begin Do you see how flexible we can be here in the Philippines?
So it’s now 7 years in the future, it’s the first week of December 2011. And now I can proclaim to the world that I have seen it all. I was standing on our roof patio when I looked down and noticed that the Nipa hut that had been sitting there for the past three years was gone. The first thing that came to mind was the rooster thieves, and they had graduated to “Grand Theft Nipa?” Then I heard a commotion at the front of my house and spied the missing Nipa Hut resting there with about 30 of my neighbors milling about. I dashed to get my camera and ran to the front and out to the street. The Nipa was on the move again, but only in twenty foot intervals before it was set down while the Nipa Team rested. A cry rang out and it leaped forward twenty more feet and a rest was called.
Again a traffic jam ensued. Trikes were backed up and could not get by. But all was peaceful and many jokes were told. I asked where the LTO Tags were and that it had no tail lights. (I never said they were good jokes) Twenty feet, rest and another twenty feet, rest. Now we are at its finish line (We can only hope) it final resting place, at my friend Gary’s house.
Poor planning raised its ugly head and it was found to be too large to enter through the gate. Since it was a bamboo fence, a section was removed and the Nipa Moving Mission was now completed.
I’m heading back to my house when I notice my niece Shay-Shay was beside me. I remembered it was Bonifacio Day so she had no school. Mayang and Claira (Her Mom) were in town, but I knew what she wanted without her having to explain it to me. Cartoon Network and Oreo’s and milk. I seeded the living room TV to her and went outside to read my book. It’s one of those little things she likes, control of the TV without brothers and sisters ordering her around, I had four brothers and knew how she felt. She twelve now and she’ll become a teenager next year, and things will change. I’ll miss her!
That day I witnessed a testament to the good neighbor theory; the way everyone jumped in to help Gary move his Nipa up the road, that kind of helpful spirit is very common here, and is just one more tic on my “Like It Here” list, to why I live here.
A follow-up on last week’s rooster robberies, although no preps were apprehended, and the culprits’ remain unknown, the crime wave is now abated and peace has been restored.
We can only pray that Do Dong does not fall in love again.
Paul
Great article on how to get things done the Filipino way.
And it was done without Permits,Zoning Boards, Zoning Variances, extra police traffic details. You know all the crap that it takes to get things done here in the good old USA.
You had better shake the dust off the Louisville Slugger to keep the boys away from your Niece. And start putting a few bucks away each month from your Beer money so you can fund her “16 Roses or Debyu” Party what ever they call it there on the mountain.
Neal;
Here they just do it without all that bureaucratic rigmarole I used to have to put up with. I’ve learned alot by living here.
As to Shay-Shay, like all the girls I’ve helped raise, they know how life should be, and not one has ran off with a trike driver to live in poverty. But you’re right she is going to be a beautiful young lady, and hanging around her favorite uncle she now speaks very good English, uses my computer and loves American snacks. Your suppose to spoil girls aren’t you?
Hey Paul,
A moveable Nipa hut, is that the pinoy version of a mobile home? Do they have Nipa courts where they park these all together so the typhoon can hit them all at once?
Hudson;
I didn’t think about the wobble box idea, a set of wheels on it and there you go. Or mount it to the back of an old pickup truck like a camper. Business opportunities abound here in the Philippines.
Hi Paul
I wasn’t long in Philippines when some local lads decided to play a joke on a friend of theirs. While this friend was sleeping off the result of one too many SM’s, they decided to move his location, hut and all (it was only a 1 room set up). So a crowd of them carried his hut (him asleep inside) to a totally different location. Can you imagine his suprise when he woke up. Seemingly this kind of thing used to happen more in days gone by. (not too often these days though). I’m glad my place is anchored.
Jack
Jack;
Thank you for sharing that, it’s quite funny and sounds like it would be a fun thing to do. Now I’m wondering if anyone was asleep in Gary’s hut!
Paul,
All it takes is some SMB and anything can be accomplished. Seeing that Nipa Hut being carried down the road is priceless. Would have loved to see the 57′ Chevy Body moving down the road. Like the old saying goes, “only in the Philippines”. It looks like Shay Shay will be a real heartbreaker soon. Enjoy your time with her and love her before the boys get her. My G/F’s niece who lives with her is eight, but is really becoming a pretty little girl. She can’t wait to see her future Tito. Thanks so much for another humorous article. They seem to brighten up my Monday’s.
Papa Duck;
Moving the Chevy is legend here in the Subic area. I only wish one of us drunks had been smart enought to take pictures. Little girls grow up too fast as it is, I’ve lived here on the mountain for a long time, and those spindly legged little girls running barefoot and playing in front of my house are all lovely young ladies now.
Hi Paul;
A funny article, and it brought to mind a prank that was played on a girl at a church function one evening, when I was young. She had a small car, it might have been something like a Volkswagen beetle or something of similar size. While she was inside the church some boys picked up the car and placed it beteween two trees, that happened to be bumper to bumper apart. It later had to be carried out again since there wasn’t room for her to drive it out.
Larry;
Now you’ve got me thinking we should have done that to Tommy’s Chevy, but after all he was supplying the beer!
Good story Paul and yes. you are to spoil the girls.
JCook;
I thought that was the rule! And a good rule at that. (lol)
Paul,
The moving of nipa house is a trademark of flipino’s “camaraderie” or also known as the “Bayanihan”. in most filipino literature books and in some paintings, you’ll see photo of people “moving the nipa house” to emphasize the meaning of “bayanihan” and filipinos knows it when they see one.
Dans;
Thank you for that piece of knowledge, that a great thing to know and understand. I’ll now add “bayanihan” to my list of things I’ve experienced here.
Hi Paul,
You just experienced what we call as ” bayanihan” like what dans has said. I live and work in Manila but I hail from Mariveles, Bataan and come home often to see my folks. My fondness memory of bayanihan is after any storm where you see neighbors help put back tin roofs,rebuild homes, clean the yards as well as the streets.I haven’t seen that for years especially in Manila, heck I barely know the name of the next door neighbor in my apartment building.
By the way you guys are doing a great job with this site.Kudos to Bob for starting it up. I stumbled upon this on the web looking for a venue for an event in Davao, but we opted for Cebu. I am a 34 year old “urbanized” provincial girl enduring the city life in Manila as the need to feed is much more stronger than savoring provincial life. I also lived a wonderful 3 years in Olongapo City until I moved here. I may have worked with the same Japanese electronic company your daughter worked for.
Also,I was once charmed by a ” Kano” from Bellingham Washington that lasted 5 years of online love. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite worked out a happy ending but I could relate to all the things you guys post in here due to some of our conversations.
Keep it up and I’m so enjoying all your posts. Especially the ones were you speak of your fondness for your wife, daughters, son-in-law ( not too many pinoy males would admit to that) and your darling angel Ling-ling ( your like my dad who’s gogo-gaga over his Apos. He usually has on his tirade once i am around, of when I’m procreating to add up to the flock).
Speb Freespiritme;
I’ve lived in cities and found them lacking in the day to day interactions that make life fun. I’ll take my dog Coco the Flying Labrador walking every morning and I meet new people everyday and talk to them about life in the bondok. Coco has a fan club of the young kids and now that they know her, they all want to touch her to show their friends how brave they are.
Ymir Thea (Yhen) will be coming home in February, with her husband and our soon to be born grandson. So I’m looking forward to that.
I understand your dad, but I always knew that when my girls were ready, I receive grandchildren. I stopped sailing on ship’s and left a very good job to be at home and spend time with my family before it was too late and I missed all the good things in life. Watching Ling-Ling from her first day here on Earth to now has been the most important part of my life. Enjoy your Christmas Vacation and your time at home with your family!