It was a warm Wednesday morning last week, I was basking in the glory of accomplishing so much the week before (Paul’s Very Taxing Week) that I thought I could try to relive those heady times and do some more things this week’
I took two pair of glasses and was going to the Vision Center at the mall and upgrade my spectacles. Both my regular and my reading glasses were out of date and I needed a refraction to update my prescription.
(BAD JOKE TIME) A man fell into a glass grinding machine and made a spectacle of himself. Permission to groan has been granted.
On the way down the hill to town I noted my air con was not blowing very cold air, so since Mayang had driven the New Ole Honda the last few times she might be able to shed some light on the situation. No she just nodded and agreed, so I took it a step further and asked if it was like this the last time she drove the car? It was, she agreed and instead of delving further into it I returned her nod and said; “Oh”
Modifications one and first change to my plan. I’ll stop by Marks AirCon shop and have him fix the problem. So instead of driving to the Barrio I’ll ride the blue Jeepney there, as I needed to mail this “Where in the hell do you live?” paper that the Social Security Administration sends me every few months. This particular time I had three of their forms stuffed into one envelope (Saving Postage) and trying to annoy them. It wasn’t a wasted trip because I had a nice French toast breakfast at Sit-N’-Bulls that is sure to cheer me up.
Mark called the car was not ready yet, but he relayed technical information to me on what was required to fix it. So, I made interested grunts into the phone thinking, “Call me when it’s done.”
Jeepney ride back to the Subic Freeport gate and a five minute walk to the mall.
On the way we hear our named being called from a passing car and it was our darling daughter YoHanna May, requesting Mayang (Her Mother) call her. (Always better if we pay for the call.) Why we are in a Jeepney, where are we going, is lunch involved? We explained the reasons, plus we were almost at the Freeport no food was involved so off she went.
Buying glasses in the Philippines is truly an enlightening experience. The Optometrist puts me behind a strange machine and I look at a dirt road and a colorful balloon floating above it. I have no idea why but the Lady Doctor seemed to be satisfied with the results’ next I’m moved into an exam room to look through the giant glasses at the big letter E and a bunch of blurry stuff below it. Can you read the bottom line? Sweetheart if I could, do you think I’d even be here today?
Testing done on my regular vision glasses, many changes in my vision, it seems I’m almost blind in one eye and I don’t see that well with the other and don’t really care with either. Which is fairly normal for me and no shock to at all? I’ve been wearing glasses since I was two years old.
I was told that it would be PNP 18,578.00 for a pair of super dupper frames and lenses, so while still smiling I said; “You didn’t listen to me when I came in I just want basic single vision glasses to wear around the house, as I already own two $800.00 sets of the Super Dupper glasses that I wear when I go out” Yes I received the shrug but without the accompanying head scratch.
The Revised price of the glasses was PNP 4,800.00.
The reading glasses were such a slight change she told me to keep my pair until I broke them. Phone call from Mark, the car is blowing cold air once more.
On the way out I pass by Handy City Hardware and ended up buying a new Power Washer for the house, plus hoses’ and fittings to make it hook up to the faucet with no extra effort from me. I will always take a pass on anything requiring extra effort.
Can you guess what I’ll be writing about next week?
After paying for my purchase it dawned on me that my car was far, far away, and the stuff I’d bought, I’d have to hump through town on a Jeepney. No No that will not happen, there must be a better way! A young employee intervenes and suggested that we leave my stuff there and go get my car, and when I returned he’d load it in to the car for me. I’m tipping this Youngman!
The New Ole’ Honda was waiting and was very cool inside, I paid a modest price for the repair and now Mayang and I while both smiling we tipped the guys that did the work and drove in cool comfort back to the mall.
The young man who waited on me at Handy City Hardware, loaded out treasures into the trunk of the Honda, and polity refused the PNP 100.00 tip I tried to give him. Hmmm were we on CCTV? So I explained I found the money on the ground, and would he please turn it in to the Lost & Found section of the mall for me. A wink and a nod later we were off on our way to Casa Mayang on a mountain top in Bataan.
I know I never write about important geopolitical topics or step by step instructions on how to do things, I prefer to write about the mundane day to day things that are unique to living here in the Philippines, true they could happen in Podunk or any other town on earth, but never with the same results or the humor that that occurs here and only here. Keep smiling or head to the airport, as this is where we live (Or will soon), and it doesn’t get any better than living with the tropical sun and gracious hosts who have welcomed us to their country..
And don’t forget those fine, gracious hosts at the Immigration office.
Mike;
They were forgotten the second I walked out their door with my Head Tax Receipt in my hand walking over to have my first of many ice cold SMB’s.
I am somewhat surprised at the cost of eyeglasses there. Two years ago I paid $15.00 for a pair of off-the-shelf reading glasses in Legazpi, which is the going rate at the grocery/drug stores here in Nevada. Then this month, in Reno, I just went through the whole rigmarole of acquiring a set of bifocals, totaling out to $450.00. It seems there is no benefit, in this situation at least, to wait until we’re there in the R.P.
Since the cost of other medical care is so much cheaper there, compared to the U.S., it just makes me ask “Why?”.
Mike;
I went to the Vision Works in Guam a couple of years ago and ordered a pair of eye glasses the frames Medal with Memory you can twist them into a ball and they snap back. Progressive bifocals with no line that turn into sunglasses outside (Only during the day thank God!) Plus because of the strength of my prescription they took a week to make and were shipped to the Philippines by UPS. For a total of over $ 800.00. So I know what you’re talking about. Here the refraction and a nice set of frames and lenses for just over $100.00. See me smile!
Thats why I like reading your articles Paul, because you just write about everyday things and happenings there in the Philippines, and add some humor to it. I always look forward to Sundays, cause I know I will get to read a good story of whats happened in the past week to you.
I look forward to your upcoming tails of owning a new power washer in the PI.
Hi Bill;
Thank you for reading my missives, I wondered if anyone did. (I know Bob Martin does to see if I slipped in any off color comments) (LOL) What I recommend to all of us who live here and the folks who plan on joining us in the future when they e-mail me and ask what they should bring with them from their home country, I always start off with “Bring your sense of HUMOR” and you’ll be here forever.” The Pinoy’s always laugh the hardest because when I point out a common occurrence they say to me; “My God Paul, that’s right!” I was talking to a Welshman a couple of days ago and he pointed out some things that American’s do that strike him as funny. When I thought about it I said; “Damn you’re right!” It was all said in fun and I laughed the hardest.
Without humor we are doomed!
Great read , I too bought a pair of those ” twist into an shape frames ” with the ability to snap back into shape also with the sun reaction lenses ……i was so pleased with them and they became quite a party trick down the local bar …….maybe too much , after 4 days use I lost them.
Les;
Thank you, as that made me laugh. My first pair I owned I bought them in Japan. And was out in town acting as a Cultural Ambassador for the United States, Oh dark thirty I was coming up the A-Com ladder on my ship, when I stumbled and off my face plummeted my new glasses towards the pier. Oh I thought they’ll survive that no problem. Then they bounced off a bollard did a three point back flip and splashed in to the bay. But as I watched them I smiled and told the guy on watch and said; “Well they didn’t break.”
Hi Paul,
Another Great mundane “day-to-day” post. Every day is a great day in our little paradise, right. I have been here just shy of 19 years. Still, a newbie!
Lets get back to the BI Post from last week:
I went to report in last Wednesday. Nobody there but two crazy, yelling Korean women. Nothing new for me as I have worked in Korea before.
I talked to the Head Guy and he let me in on a secret. He told me they have an “internal rating system” on foreigners. at the bottom of the rating list is foreigners with facial hair (especially long mustaches), wearer of eyeglasses, and consumes vast quantities of SM Beer. At the top of the list is no facial hair,and non-consumers of any type of alcohol. I fit the latter group so I was in and out in 12 minutes and 34 seconds. Ring a bell ;-))
Seriously, the head guy did tell me that the reason for all the paperwork (and it will continue year-to-year) is the fact that foreigners (he mention Indians ((from India)) are listing phoney addresses. He told me that the local BI Agents are required to go in the early morning hours (before office hours) to physically check suspicious addresses. He told me that he, personally, had found three phoney addresses that morning. He, also, told me that they have very little problem with the married Americans who have been long-term residents and they feel sorry for the hassle that we have to go through. I had my paperwork filled out correctly, they had their BI lawyer there who did the notary on the paperwork, took the fingerprints and also did the photos. All in all, it took exactly 12 minutes and 34 seconds from the time I enter until I left. No problem.
So, we are all prepared for the event next year…or maybe it will all change again. No matter what it will take a lot more than that to get one hair on my head (I think that is really all that is left up there) ruffled. Have a great week and I will see you soon on campus!
Jack;
Kor-e-arn-os as my wife calls them are like Japanese with a poor attitude, I did two, six month in the shipyards in Korea. There were a few at the BI voicing their opinion on the new Head Tax procedures, but the loudest were the Pinoy’s who had returned home carrying their “Blue Passports”.
I didn’t see any Boon-By’s from India (Again my wife’s term) I believe they were at the Sari-sari’s collecting the Five-Six interest. But like what you said, once the paperworks were filled out and notarized I was out of there like my tail was on fire. And the reward beers sure tasted good.
I almost spewed my coffee when i read that article… I can relate to the “Super Duper Glasses” comment.
Its simply amazing to me what they charge for a piece of bent plastic they call frames in their shops. I realize i was in the wrong line of business all these years!
And don’t get me going on kids shoes!
Rick;
And I so much wanted to discuss kid’s shoes this morning! (lol)
A few of the things I’ve wondered about is; why if I need a prescription to buy glasses is it not covered by Obamacare or any really good health insurance?
Second if I must pay for them and they are a form of a medical aid, why are they not tax deductible? The government requires me to have them to drive a car.
Oh so true! Its like business. If it involves gaining revenues.. no problem!
If it incurs expense, like providing a tangible item such as glasses, big problem!
Rick;
I guess it was too much to ask for; a new vacation is planned so fuel up the fleet of jets. The revenues has to be collected and used for something.
I remember seeing this on “60 Minutes”
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sticker-shock-why-are-glasses-so-expensive-07-10-2012/4/
Why are glasses so expensive?
… one company controls a big chunk of the business… Luxottica…
… We have Prada. We have Chanel. We have Dolce Gabbana. We have Versace. We have Burberry. We have Ralph Lauren. We have Tiffany. We have Bulgari…
…Which is all the more surprising since Luxottica not only bought Ray-Ban, they also bought LensCrafters, the largest eyewear retail chain in North America. So now they make ’em and they sell ’em. It’s great for business, but is it great for the consumer? I asked LensCrafters’ president Mark Weikel…
… We stopped selling sunglasses from Ray-Ban for more or less a year…
… Twenty-nine dollars at the drug store, at a gas station, and you took them off the market…
… We refurbished everything. And made them upscale: today those $29 pairs can cost 150 and more, and Ray-Ban is the top-selling sunglass brand in the world.
Gary;
Ray-Ban’s were the favorite in the Navy, we even issued them. I was wearing an expensive pair that I paid over $100.00 for and my son in the Army said; “Wow Dad they are so cool.” So I bought another pair the next day…
I still wonder why they (Prescription Glasses) are not treated as a medical device instead of a commercial item.
Hi Paul ,, I also love your (mundane day to day topics) ,, makes me smile ,,, Looking forward to next week ,,,, 🙂 ,,, Russ
Russell;
Thank you for your comment, I hope I don’t disappoint next week!
Great story, is it customary for people to refuse gifts?
Philip;
Some stores have a strict “NO TIPPING” rule, but for the most part you may. As a matter of fact I stopped by yesterday to tell the Manger of the store just how helpful those employees were to me.(I was in the mall to pick up my new glasses)
In one of your recent articles Paul about your Globe Tattoo becoming non-functional, just by coincidence the following day I lost my Cable broadband internet and my back-up DSL most likely due to the weather here. One day it was an unseasonably 65 Deg F. with heavy rain and then 6 hours later plumeting to just under Zero Deg F. I looked at my Globe Tattoo but of course I am well out of range for that here LOL. At least this time of the year I don’t have to worry about the Air Con in my car, I just hope it keeps blowing Hot Air out of the dashboard vents.
Thanks for another good read, a great way to start out the week.
Bob NY;
My car doesn’t have a heater at all, so blowing warm air is never good. I drove to town using the 2-60 Air Con, two windows down and driving 60 KPH.
Zero Deg F? Just what does that mean (?LOL)
Sorry Paul I hate to make this dig but your are starting to act like the members on DIA using photos that are 20 years out of date women included LOL. How about updating yours. There is a slight difference between the one you published today with your wife in the Man Cave place and the one you been using on the site with your articles LOL. I just couldn’t resist. I know, I know if you don’t have anything nice to say then…………
Corry;
That is her then and this is her now still hot in my eyes, But, I’m the only one getting younger. (LOL)
Your wife and mine have the same affliction.
Rick,
One I’m not complaining about.
hey was up paul, ive been thinking about moving to the phillipines but may i add im 21 and was wondering would it be safe for me to live there?
is there anything i should watch out for if i did decide to move.
i read alot of good things then i came across some bad things being a foreigner. any advice?
Christopher;
The only advice I can offer is to respect the people wherever you go in life, that in itself will keep anyone safe. I’ve been around the world a few times and have only felt unsafe a few times. But the Philippines was not one of those places.
Each time i fly back to the US, the gang culture, lowered intellect and downright rudeness i encounter in the “race to the bottom, make everything cheaper and dumb things down to the lowest common denominator society” that has been created in the US makes me sick, and nervous. Just flying a domestic airline makes me think someone is going to go postal at the drop of a hat.
I find it a lot safer here and if you get into trouble, 500 pesos will get you out of most jams, without someone breaking out a pistol to settle it haha
Great article. Loved it. Keep up the good work mate!
Victor:
I’ll promise to try!
Hi Paul – Good article – Price clarity is an important point in the Philippines. About 18,000 to about 4,000 is quite a difference. I understand the more expensive glasses are most probably worth it. If you don’t clarify price and specifics of requirements in the Philippines, then anything is possible.
Brenton;
Albeit I stated in advance what type of glasses I wanted and their use, I believe my Blue Eyes changed the conversation, but with a smile and politely explaining what I wanted brought it back on track. Sometimes you assume, and sometimes they assume. Which proves your very valid comment to be correct..
And yet another good one Paul. I really enjoy this type of article. A person can really get the feel of day to day life from your writing. Thanks a bunch.
Take care,
Pete
Cordillera Cowboy;
That has always been my way of pointing something out. Though it did drive the kids in the Navy who worked for me a little crazy! So thank you for getting it.
Hi Paul,
As always it gives smile on my face reading your article. I’m amazed how you manage to make us your readers laugh to your weekly articles. I particularly enjoyed your account about the eye test experience. Those you say “mundane things” you write about is as important or maybe more important than other articles here on LiP because it gives other would be expats true details of day to day life here in the Philippines. Getting info from your articles about true facts of life here would be more helpful to them, than if they rely on promotional gimmicks of Department Of Tourism. Plus they’d get the bonus of great read and free laughter. Let me guess what you’ll be writing next week. Will it be another day at Immigration Office or will it be about the old new Honda? Or maybe it will be about the confusion on which end of the hose is to connect to faucet and which is to connect to Power Washer, LOL just kidding. If all expats have the same positive attitude like you, then maybe no one would need a free ride to the airport. Cheers.
Louie;
I can only write about what I know or have experienced, I let my fellow writers do the research and hard work. If you think it’s funny it is only because I do too. The gift my mother passed on to me was the ability to see the funny side of any situation. Sometimes I’ll crack up watching the NEWS. The Filipino is blessed with an inventive mind, and can solve problems that we as visitors will never understand because we are from countries have so many petty rules to prevent us from the freedom they have. Look at a handmade ladder here and wonder; “Where are all the warning signs to protect them from themselves?” The fact is because of common sense they are not needed, I wish we had been not so well regulated.
Rick;
1982 was the last time I lived in the US I was in San Diego CA. I went back from Puerto Rico in 1989 for a couple of years and lived again in Florida, but 1993 I left again and was back for a month every year until 2000, from then to now I’ve not been in the US. I knew it was going the wrong direction when if you got drunk and wrecked you car you could sue the bartender for over serving you. When a people give up the right to be responsible for their own actions, I don’t want to be there anymore. I served our country for 22 years and am saddened by the state its citizens have let it become.