I went up to the Barangay Plaza one night a couple of weeks ago to watch my brother-in-law’s (Jhun) basketball team play for the senior’s Championship.
They won and we were all proud of them.
The Barangay Kaptain sat me at a table with him courtside, and we joked and enjoyed the game. I asked my wife why I was being treated so special. She smiled and told me; “Because Mahal you are the team sponsor.” And it happened like this. They came knocking on the gate for donations a couple of months ago; my wife came in and asked me if it was alright to help out?
This usually meant a couple of hundred Pesos. Nay, not this time, because to date they had only collected eight hundred pesos toward the five thousand peso goal, she gave them the difference. Making me the team sponsor of the “Thompson Happy Together” Team by default; I had nothing to do with the picking of the name, or any knowledge that there was a team for that matter. (That kinda sounds like Agent Jim Phelps on “Mission Imposable”.)
Back to the game, I asked why they had no matching uniforms with the teams name on them. The response was “Not in Stock” at the tailor shop, but next week they’ll be ready. I’ll remind you that this was the championship game, meaning it was also the end of the season. The summer season would start in a few months. I just scratched my head, which I do a lot lately.
One week later, I’m back to the Barangay Plaza for our festival and basketball awards ceremonies. There is my team, standing tall and proud each with his trophy, but still no uniforms. The following day there is going to be a parade, with our senior’s team in the lead right behind the six piece marching band. Do I need to say it? Well I will, still no uniforms.
But here is the real question; “Does anyone really care?” No we really don’t, but, the following day the guys showed up to show me the uniforms, still in the box from the tailor shop, where they will remain until the start of the Summer League, it just does make sense now, doesn’t it?
When I say that you can’t make these stories up, I mean it with every fiber in my body. The cost to live here is quite reasonable, but the price to live here could well be your sanity, but never one’s sense of humor. I am at the point where I just don’t worry about it or anything anymore. In the grand scheme of life, I’ve learned to sweat the stuff you can control, and the rest is like water off a ducks butt, just let it happen.
I think I’ll buy a whistle to use during the Summer League Games.
If it was Baseball I’d play, better yet, Softball would be good at my age.
Might be wise to buy a whistle now Paul, if you wait til the start of the season it might be a ” No Stock ” item.
Bob;
You do understand, I’ll get it this week if it’s in stock.
Paul;
That is the true meaning of Bahala Na! You are such a pillar in the community over there. Hope I can live up to measure of expectations that you have set for us.
Oh have they told you that you already sponsored them for the Summer League too!
Hope you get a Tee Shirt form your team. 🙂
Paul Thompson
Bruce is right you are the pillar of the community. It will be to tough live up to the expectations of expats. Its really nice that you sponsored the basketball team, really for a small amount compared to what it would cost in the US. Good article brother
Bruce – Good to see you
Randy- Glad to see you survived the Holidays.
Randy;
I’m receiving accolades that I just don’t deserve, I had no idea I was such a good guy until my wife informed me. The team knew before I did. Is that the mushroom syndrome?
Senior:
We both have been married to our Ladies for a long time. I wonder how many times we sponsored a capital investment without our signitures ever touching the paper. I’ll guess we’ll never know. So I agree with the philosophyof just relax and go with the flow.
Remember Don’t Worry be Happy You could be working 40+hrs a week. 🙂
Mike, (Man formerly known as Bruce);
Pillar of what? I have no idea of what I’m holding up. I did get the first shirt out of the box, and Mayang decided it fit her better. (It was way too small).
I do go with the flow, picture a guy whitewater rafting on the Snack river with no means of controlling the boat. Welcome to the PHI, PH, RP, oh hell it’s the PI.
Senior;
Of course it’s the Mushroom effect wives always like to make their husbands look good it’s sort of bragging rights for them. Even though you have no idea what what the hell you did.
Isn’t it true husbands are always the last to know. That’s the way it usually goes in my house. I just can’t imagine what’s going to happen when we get there for good. I’m going to have to take pointers from you and counseling from San Miguel.
See you in Oct 🙂
Mike;
Last to know, sometimes I never know, which can be a good thing.
“Counseling from San Miguel”, now that was funny, I’m still laughing snorting coffee through my nose. Thanks for that!
When you move here it will be fishing in the morning, and beer in the afternoon. I think that’s a good thing. You’ll find out what you need to know, when you need to know it. That’s what Mayang does for me, everyday.
I’ll play to just let me get my mitt, and sanity is so over rated these days really. Paul I’m sure if you ask once they team will pose for a picture in there new jersy’s. They might even stand next to your new fish in there cleaned pond. Happy new year and God Bless you and your faimly Paul
Eric;
I used to be good at first base, now I play “Left Out”. I need a pinch everything when I play now. Oh I’ll get that picture someday, if it not out of stock by then. Best of the year to you and yours!
Hi Paul – So you have been caught as well, one born every day. Several years ago and I was just here on holiday and just like you I was trapped into being a sponsor as well.
It was the Basketball tournament for the annual fiesta and I was conned into being the principal sponsor for my brother in laws team. Well like your team they won as well and to this day the trophy sits on my mother in laws china cabinet as a reminder of my stupidity. If it had been a football (soccer) team it would not have been so bad but Basketball I hate the bloody game.
One lesson I did learn was not to go to the Philippines during the town fiesta ever again hahaha!
Regards.
Jim.
Jim;
Believe me this was not my first rodeo, I done this sponsor thingy a few times in the past. It’s like hitting yourself repeatedly on the head with a baseball, it will only feel good when you stop. But remember one important thing; Your mother-in-law, loves that trophy, and you were part of the reason she has it. (Glass half full)
BTW: Baseball is only bloody when there’s a donnybrook on the field. (lol)
Can NBA franchise ownership be far behind!
Tony;
PBA is in the cards, but only if you have a product you want to advertise. Like (Smart) Talk & Text team, or my favorite “San Miguel Beer” team.
Sorry San Mig is taken!
Tony;
That’s true, mostly by me!
Hi Paul T: My late father called these surprises as “By The Way Events”. He had a great sense of humour, just like you. He lived to be 84 (even though he smoked). So your outlook of “not sweating the small stuff” will do very well in the Philippines. Have a great year.
Roselyn;
“By The Way Events” that’s is classic. I agree if I can’t control it, it’s not my problem. Although sometimes the aftermath could be. Your Father sounded like a very wise man indeed.
Hi Paul.
I am really scared now. If an expert like you is running into a story like that, what’s happened to a newbie like me?? Hehehe. I know already one thing. If a man is together with a Filipina, his live is full of surprises. What’s next? 🙂
best regards
Holger
Ohh. I forgot one thing. Around 4 foot snow in front of our house. Hope our weather is not coming to you guys in the PI/RP/PH. 🙁
Holger;
You brought up this strange thing called snow, and people store it in front of their house? Is snow similar to an abandoned Jeepney?
Holger;
Be afraid sir, be very afraid! (lol) You are so right with you statement about loving a Filipina, there will be no boring days. Remember we were all newbies once, and we all learned the same way. But, it is sure worth it!
Paul,
I thought it would be nice to have something to remember our time in Baybay, Leyte before Juramie came to the USA. We decided to order basketball jerseys with Baybay written on them for us and family that lived in Baybay. Juramie placed the order in plenty of time to get the jerseys before the trip to get her. When I got to Leyte, there were no jerseys. I just chalked up the experience as a life lesson expecting nothing for the investments. Juramie told the owner of the shop about the missed deadline and we got a phone call that the jerseys were on the way to Ormoc and expect them around 9 PM. The actual arrival time was 11 PM. The next day we left Ormoc for her home in Tagbubunga dressed in the basketball uniforms. They were a big hit at a small birthday party at the beach in Tagbubunga later that day. We were playing “Hep Hep Horay” and the crowd was chatting “Team Baybay”. Team Baybay lost Hep Hep Horay that day. I was the last member of Team Baybay and lost when I went Horay instead of Hep Hep. You can’t put a price on the memories from that day.
By the way, I learned something new. There is a coma between Baybay City. The jerseys have “Baybay, City” written on them.
Jack;
A great story and a good memory for you and the family. That pretty much what it’s all about isn’t it? I love writing about my simple life here in the PH,PHI,RP or PI its wonderful no matter what the abbreviation turns out to be. BTW: Spelling means very little, the gesture means so much more.
uhm…. I feel you! It is so frustrating at times. But you know what? I may leave overseas now, but i’m dealing with a Filipino at the moment and we are trying to set some little business up and though this is not related really to your topic…. it reminded me of how frustrating it is…. we have things to do and part of my share of the work load is to complete a design work this week.. and they will send me the information I need… .. but x time/day.. but you know what??? they would either send half of it.. or none.. and yes.. we no longer live in Philippines!!!
JC;
I know very much what your saying, but sadly there is no way you can change it. Which unbelievably gladdens my heart, if one decides to live here, than it’s us that must make the change. Remember it’s their house and we’re just the visitors.
My days of wanting things done yesterday are long done, it can be a wonderful feeling here when something you want comes to pass after waiting, I find I appreciate it so much more. But then that’s why I never got into business here, I already knew how it would be, as living ten years in Puerto Rico had taught me so very well. I’m sorry it frustrated you so much, get the book by Herman Wouk – “Don’t Stop The Carnival” and see how the main character Norman dealt with it. Good luck to you sir, I hope all turned out well for you.
Hi guys.
You got problems with your orders in the Philippines?? I am here in Canada. Driving a big truck. Booking an appointment to change my batteries and for service on the 23rd. The shop in Canada got it in the 29th of December. They promised to get it in on the 23rd. (they hat the key already on the 23rd.) On the 29th they told me: “Now it’s already the 29th. We have it now in the yard. But I don’t thing so that we work on it this year!” Grrrrr I got it back last weekend. 15 days no earnings. Platinum-service they call that. So for me has a always 110% correct German, I am already in “pre-Philippine-training”. 🙁 And the service was booked in the first week of November……..
Questions?
Best regards
Holger;
You’ll take to life in the Philippines like a duck takes to water. What you just told us about is a tale of great customer service, as it relates here.
When I had a transmission go out, they wanted to remove my old one before they found the new one. My transmission was bad, but it still moved the car. I waited 30 days for the replacement to arrive. I’m glad I said no. Move here quick!
“The cost to live here is quite reasonable, but the price to live here could well be your sanity”
should be the name of your “Team”…that comment I will have painted on my forehead when I move thier !!! Priceless !
Brian;
I’ve learned very little of the language here, but I’ve studied the mannerisms. I use the head scratch a lot (affect a confused look while scratching) Pointing with my lips I brought with me from Puerto Rico. But know, the sanity thing, is very overrated. Just smile and enjoy, now that is “Priceless”
Loved it.
I don’t have much to add except I am shocked and awed whenever I ask a clerk for something and they DON’T say “wala” – usually with pursed lips, a sad expression, and a voice inflection of a funeral director (scratches head).
If you just expect it going in, it can really brighten the day when occasionally you hear “meron”.
Gary;
My first couple of years I thought wala accented with the pursed lips, meant; “Sir, it over there!” But alas I was wrong. But how many times have you been told “Out of stock” and found it anyway? No employee has any idea where a item is, including the one they are stocking on the shelve.
My biggest surprise, I was looking for a food scale at Gaisano department store, “wala sir”. About 10 minutes later while browsing around the store (actually Rose was browsing, I was holding assorted items and thinking how good that cold beer would taste when I got home), a different clerk who had overheard me ask for the scale approached us with a food scale that he located somewhere.
Gary;
That is what I would call a once in a lifetime happening. I just hope that clerk wasn’t kicked out of the Union for doing that!
“I had no idea I was such a good guy until my wife informed me.”
LOL!! Guy, you are one funny person. What you did was terrific, even though you didn’t know it!! LOL. God, that is funny!!!
I have no doubt you and your family are well loved there.
Really good story.
Todd;
That funny caused me a lot of grief in school, and my first 3 years in the Navy. I learned that not everyone enjoys my version of funny. But if I have caused you to smile, then I’ve done my good deed for the day. I really hope Saint Peter enjoys a good laugh.
Hey paul,
So, for php4,200, you’re in tight with the Barangay Kaptain. I think the wife has this all planned out.
Hudson;
Shamefully suckin’ up to the powers that be. Wait a minute; That reminds me of the Navy. And he is the new Barangay Kaptain, I wisely donated to the top 3 campaigns, the rest can lie and say they voted for him, but he knows I donated.
Hi there.
Wait until Paul is running for Barangay Captain and he doesn’t know it but everybody else dose! Hehehe
Holger
*Back from the fight against the snow in front of the house. And now. I don’t live far from the City. 1/2 mile. But the frigen snow blow is always pushing the snow in our driveway. My load was canceled today. January is still a month of surprises. 🙁
Holger;
They did ask my wife to run for Kaptain, she respectfully declined. Who needs that long line at your gate. I’d sooner have your snow there.
When the plow comes down your street, run out with hot chocolate for the driver, and then watch where he blows the snow.
Hi Paul.
The problem is. I am running with my truck Edmonton-Vancouver-Edmonton if it goes good in 2 days. My step son is 14. If I am not at home, nobody is looking in front of the house if it’s that cold. So my step son is sitting most of the time on the couch. If I am at home and I am asking him to shuffle snow he is always arguing a couple minutes, hours…..
So after 2 days on the road coming home my wife is driving over the mountains in front of our drive way and I can cut this mountain ice blocks in pieces. Going on the road again – coming home……..cutting ice blocks….. So it must be really nice in the PI at this time, if you know what I mean. 🙂
Holger;
It sound like dreaming about the Philippines helps to pass the time when on the road, Here’s hoping you get here soon. When you do I’ll drop by and help you shovel any sand that washes up close to your house. Price is one cold SMB.
I’ll say nothing about the kid on the couch, except that he’d do well here.
Hello Paul, Seems that we both had the same type of experience.I live in Baclayon, Bohol and was asked to also sponsor a basketball team. My team won the championship.
Hi Ralph;
When did you find out you were a team sponsor? Were you told prior to the championship game? (lol)
Hey,
I can’t find another way to message you, so I will give this a shot. I was stationed on San Clemente Island in 1981, or some time around then. I was an Independent Corpsman, and I knew a Paul Thompson, who would come by sick bay at night and we would make pop corn (a very special delicious way) and watch TV or shoot the breeze. Do you happen to be that guy?
Hey Sailor;
I’ll e-mail ya! Yup I’m that guilty guy. I can’t find Doug. Great to hear from you.
Hey Paul, maybe your “Happy Together” team can take on the Champions of Pita who I sponsored, the Purok 2 “Cowboys”!
Mike;
Unfair, unfair! Your young team against my over the hill seniors?