788 replies to this topic

[Rossco]

There is nothing quite like a Welsh Banker.....

Apologies to the Welsh.

[Macman]

I guess the fact that I haven't really had anything to post for a while means that I'm settling in pretty well. There are still things that drive me a little nuts, but for the most part I seem to be adjusting without too many hitches. I don't know if this is typical of SE Asia or even of the rest of The Philippines, but there is no way of knowing what the hell is playing on TV. There is no station with a guide, no magazine, no listing in the newspapers (national or local), and not even a station or program guide on the website of the cable provider. It's a trivial thing, but just one of the many little burrs under my saddle that make me miss home. Fortunately, my relationship with Angel is growing stronger every day, and that makes up for all the silly inconveniences. We're invited to a birthday bash at a resort here on Friday night. It's the birthday of one of my golfing buddies. He's yet to meet Angel, but certainly knows about her, so I'm glad that the acceptance of her continues. There will be many wives there, so we'll see how that goes.

On a more serious note, one of my playing partners is undergoing open-heart surgery today. Before I met him, he was described as "royalty" to me. He's considered that because he can trace his family directly to Spain. He and his family pretty much own everything in this town, as well as having holdings in Cebu. He hasn't played with us for about 3 weeks, but didn't mention anything about his health problems. Every time we sent him a text asking if he'd be playing the next day, he'd just say that he was still in Cebu. Yesterday, right before Angel and I left for church, I received a forwarded text message from his sister, informing us of the operation, and requesting our prayers. The priest also announced the need for prayers for him at mass. Live every day like it's your last, guys.

Macman

[thailover57]

Mac,

Glad to hear that everything is going smoothly for you. (I figured no news was good news - ever the optimist.) Sorry to hear about your friend. Hope it all goes well and hope the birthday party solidifies your acceptance there.

[Macman]

Thanks, TL. As for the acceptance, it sometimes amazes me that LBs here are discriminated against in some aspects of life, and yet in some ways are very much accepted. The other day Angel went to pay our electric bill. The power office was very crowded, so she went to the Bank of Commerce, where we both opened an account recently, to pay the bill. While in the bank, the skies opened and it started pouring. The new accounts officer, a very nice woman, spotted Angel, and told her to come sit at her desk until the rain subsided. They chatted for a while, and the officer complimented her on her looks, telling her how pretty she is. There was no reason to do so, but I know it made Angel feel very good about herself. I've noticed other people treating her that way too. Perhaps if she were very flamboyant or over-the-top, it would be a different story, but I'm happy for her.

No word on my golfing buddy yet.

Macman

[Legend]

nice update again mac,
i know the filipino,s in the uk still make a point of going to church.
i am curious, was that something you did in the states also, or is it something you have started since moving.?
bit of a day out, put a shirt on etc.......

[Macman]

Anthony, I got away from it in the States, but actually enjoy going to church with Angel. Unlike the States (at least as far as Roman Catholics go), the church is filled with people of all ages and both genders; teenagers, little kids, families, men, women, old, middle aged, etc. In the U.S. (again with R.C.s),you don't see a lot of guys or teenagers. It's kind of an innocence that I haven't experienced in many, many years. It's also very much a family day. I'm glad you mentioned it, Ant, because I forgot to say something about church yesterday. Throughout the entire mass, there were 2 dogs roaming up and down the aisles. They didn't bother anyone, and nobody paid any attention to them. Maybe that's a common thing in SE Asia, but it was sure a first for me.

Still no word on my golfing buddy. No news is good news?

Macman

[Macman]

Well, typical mix-up and miscommunication occurred concerning the birthday party. When my buddy invited me on Monday, I didn't realize that I wouldn't be seeing him until the night of the party (Friday). He was going to Cebu to try and visit our friend in the hospital. He hadn't specifically said to bring someone with me (he's never met Angel), but I figured I would check that later. Since he wasn't around I asked my other 2 golfing buddies. One of them couldn't go to the party because he would be attending his college reunion that night, and the other guy is a widower,so neither was concerned with whether or not it was a couples-type party. Both were under the impression that it was going to be a golfing buddy affair, and thus a guys only situation.

The party was being held in a nice restaurant on the bay. Angel came with me in a trike, and then returned to the city. When I got there, the celebrant said, "Oh, are you alone?" I explained what happened and he said I should call Angel, and tell her to turn around and come back. I told him that she wasn't dressed appropriately, and he said I should tell her to go home and change. By the time I got her, she was at her cousin's house and was going to have dinner there. When I went back inside, the host said, "Is your boyfriend coming?" I guess he's been filled in on the situation. Later, his wife said, "Why didn't you bring your wife?", so I guess she hasn't been made aware.

It was a great party. The food was the best I've had since arriving here. There was a bottle of wine and a bottle of some hard liquor on each table. There was a 3-piece band; a guy on keyboards and doing the harmonies, the owner of the place doing the vocals along with a very pretty woman vocalist. All the music was from the '50s and '60s (Sinatra, Mathis, etc.). After a slide-show dedicated to the birthday boy, there was dancing to both live and recorded music. Angel would have loved it.

I never cease to be amazed at how religious the Filipino people are. Before the party got started, a complete mass was said right there in the restaurant by my friend's parish priest, who was invited to the party. I know it sounds corny, but I found it very touching.

On a less sensitive note, we just heard that a guy that Angel knew was shot dead the other night. There goes my sense of security about this place. We haven't heard any details yet.

Oh, my friend in the hospital is doing okay, I guess. It was a by-pass surgery after a heart attack. He's not allowed visitors, so my buddy never did get to see him. They're afraid of infection because he's a diabetic and he's also a kidney-transplant survivor, so he's isolated for the time being.

Macman

[thailover57]

Good to hear from you again, Mac. From a birthday party to a shooting to your friend with a by-pass, diabetes and a kidney transplant - a lot going on. And a comment, your buddy's wife may know about Angel and just chose a politically correct choice. Unless her husband likes ladyboys and keeps it from her, he's probably shared the info with her. My two cents (and really not worth that much).

Continued good luck and fun.

[Macman]

Thanks, TL57. Your 2 cents is worth plenty, and I actually had the same thought about it. I'll find out in the morning when my friend picks me up for golf because Angel and I met him and his wife at church tonight. He usually goes to a different mass, so it was unusual. We didn't stay to chat because it was raining. I just introduced Angel to them. They were pleasant, but I couldn't make any deductions from it. I'm really curious to see if he brings it up tomorrow. He's a very quiet man, so he may not.

I now find out that the shooting death was the third in a week. It was deemed a robbery. The victim owned a business, and was known to carry large amounts of cash. He had no money on him when found. The first was a clerk in a small bakery who cried for help when the store was being robbed. The thief got 500 pesos, less than US $12. The other was believed to be gang related. In a city this size, that amount of killings is shocking. It would translate into 141 a week in New York City, or 7,332 in a year. In 2009, there were 466 murders in NYC. Actually, I'm distorting things because we don't average 3 a week here; this was an anomaly (I hope).

Macman

[thailover57]

Keep your head down and your radar up!

[Macman]

A few quick comments - I just got back from the immigration office in Tacloban after extending my visa and picking up my ACR card. At the office, while I was filling out some paperwork, one of the staff called out for Angel by saying, "Mrs. (my last name)". She then said that she remembered Angel because of her "endless legs". She also asked her if we had any children. I think you can imagine that all of this made Angel's day. She was also ecstatic because she was able to buy an Angry Birds stuffed animal while there .

While in the mall in Tacloban, I looked at a brand new Hyundai Tucson. It's a very nice vehicle, but here in the Philippines it costs 1,380,000 PHP, or about US$ 32,500. According to Edmunds, in New York, I can buy it for $19,045 before bargaining with the dealer (they have fixed list prices here, and you can only bargain for options).

On the way there in the van, I noticed 2 schools that had painted on their walls in big block letters, "This is a child-friendly school." As opposed to ... ?

Macman

[petesie]

The import duty on foreign built vehicles in LoS & PI is horrendous.

An average VW 1.4 Golf in the UK is circa 900bt, LoS 2.4 mil bt.

I know LoS build Nissan, Honda and Hyundai which brings most of them in at reasonable (to us) prices, not sure what happens in PI, surely they must build something?