10 Things I hate about the Philippines

**Kuya** · 02-15-2012, 06:04 AM

1. The Rain!

Right now as I type the rain is flooding the roads and garden and making a sound similar to bullets hitting the roof.

2. The Mosquitoes

I am like a human blood bank for these little devils. My bites are more visible and quite a few people have commented about those red lumps on my legs. Cannot wait to leave the provinces to leave these evil monsters behind.

3. Taxi/Trike drivers

These mad men of the road like to think a westerner is overflowing with money that they will easily hand over far beyond the expected fair rate and think it is a good deal.. Wrong! I am lucky that Joy's father owns a tricycle so most of the time he drives me from the city centre to the bush where Joy's family live. However, even on the odd occasion I must haggle for a price and sometimes the starting point is more than double what anyone else would pay.

4. Filipino TV

After watching "Budoy", most sane people wish bad things to happen to the title character. However, here in the Philippines this native Forrest Gump is admired the country over and makes appearances in SM Malls throughout the land. "Be Happy, Be Budoy!"..

5. Skin Whitening

Advertisements here tell how men prefer their women to have a nice white pale complexion. The large picture in the local Greenwich Pizza restaurant shows smiling happy white Filipino faces, yet all around there are brown faces on the patrons who eat there. SM malls have young women with white faces serve you, but their arms are brown! I hate how society here promotes a white complexion when we in the west promote a tanned complexion. Joy has beautiful skin as far as I am concerned, no need to bleach it with products designed for the late Michael Jackson.

6. Queue Busters

The concept of the Queue is an alien concept to many here in the Philippines. At the British Embassy a man who I guess was trying to get a work visa walked right in front of me even though I was right at the guards window and simply turned my back from the guard to get my passport off of Joy. These seconds of my back turned amounted to an invite to gently shove me out of the way. I have experienced this in Sari Sari stores as well, though sadly I am finding myself becoming more and more Pinoy like as I barge people out of my way if they are trying to Queue bust in front of me. A trait I will need to lose upon my return to the UK.

7. The Heat

Today it is hot, tomorrow it will be hot. And as I sleep tonight I will have a fan placed just a metre from my head... We Brits sure are a funny bunch..

8. Filipino Time

By this I do not mean the time being 8 hours ahead of the UK, but instead the time given by a Filipino to describe how long something will take. Such as "We will go to a cousins farm which is 5 minutes away", which then turns into an hour long drive in a Tricycle making for a ball dropping exercise in uncomfortable travel. Or the "I am on my way now", which means we are having a quick detour to a friends for a few drinks first, you will be okay to wait. Basically, if someone says that a place is five minutes away then expect a 45 minute drive, if they say it will be 15 minutes, get ready for 2 hours. If you hear someone say it will be a few hours drive, pack some food and make sure your seat is comfortable!!

9. Beggars

Outside most Jollybee's you will find children who will beg for food. Some are genuine and some have been sent out by their parents to earn money the only way they can. When driving in the busy streets of Manila, lock your cars as people will knock on the window for money and have been known to open unlocked car doors for that more personal begging opportunity.

10. Dusty Roads

Once out of the city the roads can become very dusty and the dust can be quite harmful to those of us not used to it. I now travel the roads with a mask over my face so that I don't suffer the same cough I had when I was here last time. A little investment would go a long way here...

**aposhark** · 02-15-2012, 08:49 AM

Buy some "Off" for the mosquitos asap Kuya.

Also get a mossie net to sleep under.

**Aromulus** · 02-15-2012, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Kuya

1. The Rain!

Right now as I type the rain is flooding the roads and garden and making a sound similar to bullets hitting the roof.

Simple... next time stay in a hotel........

2. The Mosquitoes

I am like a human blood bank for these little devils. My bites are more visible and quite a few people have commented about those red lumps on my legs. Cannot wait to leave the provinces to leave these evil monsters behind.

Prevention is better than cure... Use the various repellants available, and avoit the countryside..........

3. Taxi/Trike drivers

These mad men of the road like to think a westerner is overflowing with money that they will easily hand over far beyond the expected fair rate and think it is a good deal.. Wrong! I am lucky that Joy's father owns a tricycle so most of the time he drives me from the city centre to the bush where Joy's family live. However, even on the odd occasion I must haggle for a price and sometimes the starting point is more than double what anyone else would pay.

My pet hate too........... But her indoors soon made short shrift of would be con artists...

4. Filipino TV

After watching "Bodoy", most sane people wish bad things to happen to the title character. However, here in the Philippines this native Forrest Gump is admired the country over and makes appearances in SM Malls throughout the land. "Be Happy, Be Bodoy!"..

Only watched HBO on hotel satellite TV having to cope with pinoy adverts..........

5. Skin Whitening

Advertisements here tell how men prefer their women to have a nice white pale complexion. The large picture in the local Greenwich Pizza restaurant shows smiling happy white Filipino faces, yet all around there are brown faces on the patrons who eat there. SM malls have young women with white faces serve you, but their arms are brown! I hate how society here promotes a white complexion when we in the west promote a tanned complexion. Joy has beautiful skin as far as I am concerned, no need to bleach it with products designed for the late Michael Jackson.

None of that here............ My lot has more pressing uses for what little money they make...

6. Queue Busters

The concept of the Queue is an alien concept to many here in the Philippines. At the British Embassy a man who I guess was trying to get a work visa walked right in front of me even though I was right at the guards window and simply turned my back from the guard to get my passport off of Joy. These seconds of my back turned amounted to an invite to gently shove me out of the way. I have experienced this in Sari Sari stores as well, though sadly I am finding myself becoming more and more Pinoy like as I barge people out of my way if they are trying to Queue bust in front of me. A trait I will need to lose upon my return to the UK.

When in Rome............

7. The Heat

Today it is hot, tomorrow it will be hot. And as I sleep tonight I will have a fan placed just a metre from my head... We Brits sure are a funny bunch..

Grew up in similar heat in the summers, so haven't any problems apart from the first day of acclimatizatioon...

8. Filipino Time

By this I do not mean the time being 8 hours ahead of the UK, but instead the time given by a Filipino to describe how long something will take. Such as "We will go to a cousins farm which is 5 minutes away", which then turns into an hour long drive in a Tricycle making for a ball dropping exercise in uncomfortable travel. Or the "I am on my way now", which means we are having a quick detour to a friends for a few drinks first, you will be okay to wait. Basically, if someone says that a place is five minutes away then expect a 45 minute drive, if they say it will be 15 minutes, get ready for 2 hours. If you hear someone say it will be a few hours drive, pack some food and make sure your seat is comfortable!!

Simple.............. "If you are not there at 3/4/5/6 pm/am I eat/drink alone and leave"

9. Beggars

Outside most Jollybee's you will find children who will beg for food. Some are genuine and some have been sent out by their parents to earn money the only way they can. When driving in the busy streets of Manila, lock your cars as people will knock on the window for money and have been known to open unlocked car doors for that more personal begging opportunity.

10. Dusty Roads

Once out of the city the roads can become very dusty and the dust can be quite harmful to those of us not used to it. I now travel the roads with a mask over my face so that I don't suffer the same cough I had when I was here last time. A little investment would go a long way here...

Never encountered that, or maybe because I was smoking a lot at the time and didn't notice the dust...
But then again I never coughed apart when I have a cold...

And there you have it........

**walesrob** · 02-15-2012, 10:34 AM

How does everyone in the Philippines know my name is Joe and I come from America, I must be famous

**aposhark** · 02-15-2012, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by walesrob

How does everyone in the Philippines know my name is Joe and I come from America, I must be famous

No, I'm Joe.

They are just confusing you and me!
We should wear name tags

**Kuya** · 02-15-2012, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by aposhark

Buy some "Off" for the mosquitos asap Kuya.

Also get a mossie net to sleep under.

Got it today.. I don't get bitten at night when I sleep, only when I am here at Joys Grandmothers.

**aposhark** · 02-15-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Kuya

Got it today.. I don't get bitten at night when I sleep, only when I am here at Joys Grandmothers.

I always buy the green mossie coils that you can burn in the room also - they work a treat! They are very cheap also.

The coil burning under the bed and the mossie net is bliss.
"Off" for the days, especially on the ankles and legs where the little buggers bite without being seen and your stay will be calm.

**TheTeach** · 02-15-2012, 02:31 PM

A can of Baygon spray will kill most evil 'nasties' in the house/apartment. You can now buy water-based non-smelly stuff. Hanna sprays our apt. twice a day and we have less insects than I have in the UK.

Al.

**subseastu** · 02-15-2012, 04:12 PM

1. Agreed
2. Agreed
3. Agreed
4. Agreed
5.Agre............I think we can see where this is going!!

My biggest gripes out of your list are 4 and 5. The tv blows out there and I onlt tended to watch BBC news or HBO. We don't have cable yet in the province as I refuse to pay for it when we're not there for 11 months of the year, which the wife can't seem to understand!! Plus we don't have a tv ariel yet either which I think is a bit of good send as I'm not subjected to 3 channels of toss!! Basically at the moment we use the tv for dvds and films I've, ahem, found on the net.

The skin whitening thing really gets my goat as well. I've been on at the wife for years to pack in using those soaps etc but no joy yet.

**aposhark** · 02-15-2012, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by TheTeach

A can of Baygon spray will kill most evil 'nasties' in the house/apartment. You can now buy water-based non-smelly stuff. Hanna sprays our apt. twice a day and we have less insects than I have in the UK.

Al.

People used to have to spray Baygon then get out of the room quick - it wasn't too good for the lungs!
Does the new one allow people to stay indoors whilst it is being used Al?