Fear Not!

When I moved to the Philippines, I was warned by many to be careful. High crime rate, horrible traffic, natural disasters and people carrying guns were the worries of many. I was advised not to walk on the streets on my own in the dark. Not to travel to the southern islands, especially during the rainy season. And not to provoke any arguments with the locals, since they "shoot first, ask second".

True enough, one can't ignore all those potential hazards and dangers here. The crime rate is very high. Shootings, often seeming very random, happen on regular intervals. All the Philippines airlines are on the blacklist of the EU due to the unsafe aviation. Typhoons are typical during the rainy season and earthquakes are not at all uncommon. Landslides, floods and collapsing of buildings are typical consequences. The 22 active volcanoes add to the excitement.

Have I felt threatened? No.Should I? Frankly, I don't know. I don't travel to the most southern islands where kidnappings are common. I don't visit the neighborhoods (alone at least) known to be unsafe. I wouldn't wear excessive, expensive jewelry even if I owned any...And since I don't drive here, it's not likely for me to get into a situation that could provoke disagreements. (People tend to get pissed off if there is a car crash).

I guess I could be a bit more careful when crossing the streets though. But oh well, the traffic jams have the positive outcome that no one can drive very fast!

Admittedly the country gets it share of natural disasters. Poverty and inequality lead to high crime rates and Abu Sayyaf and other separatist movements in the southern provinces add to that.

Still I am of the opinion that Philippines are relatively safe to live and to travel in. Should one be observant of the hazards? Of course - but that's the same everywhere! There is no place absolutely safe. Life can't, or shouldn't, be lived in constant fear. Life should be enjoyed. As should the Philippines.

Random Manila

It's a strange place this Manila. Random. I've been trying to figure it out for 4 months now and still the only word coming up to my mind is that, random.

The city that once used to be the pearl of Asia, now looks like nothing has happened to it since the 1970s. It's not beautiful, it's not architecturally interesting, it's not even ugly enough to be fascinating. It's an enormous collection of random buildings and highways. If it wasn't for the Manila bay and for the old Manila with it's ruins and old Spanish "left over" houses, it would be hard to understand the city actually does have a long history.

Interestingly enough, it's not only the outlook of the city that doesn't seem to have changed since decades. The English language sounds rather unique in it's old fashioned way too. And with that I'm not referring to "Taglish" (Tagalog+English) which means using the most suitable words from each language. Filipinos in general speak really good English, but on their own terms. Their vocabulary and sense of grammar ought to be appreciated as their own.

Take it but make it your own. Maybe that could describe the Filipino culture. As with the English language, the same is with their religious views. They are devoted Catholics but only in what suits them the best. God's blessings can be seen everywhere and churches fill up quickly. Yet I'm not sure whether the Vatican would agree on the exceptional moral values regarding especially the different types of prostitution. Under which I include selling sex only as well as selling sex as part of a bigger package. Or can someone honestly say they believe that the pretty young uneducated girls from the provinces have truly fallen in love with the wealthy fat sweaty old men of their grandfather's age? Didn't think so.

Well but that's another story.

What Manila as a city lacks, the people offer all the more. They are lovely and lively. They are open and not afraid to say or do what they feel like saying or doing. Like women coming to me to compliment my beautiful short blond hair. Or giving their sympathy when they here I'm as old as I am and yet still not married.

They can be serious and humorous at the same time. By the entrance of most buildings there is a sign stating that one should deposit their firearms before entering. The guards search the bags with the help of a drum stick. Making it look like that was the most meaningful job in the world, although it's unclear to me what they expect to find in the bags during the half a second they have look inside. Maybe they rely on the terrifying effect of the guards standing outside, with their big machine gun look a likes. The bigger the gun, the friendlier the guard though, at least towards me. It's absurd how all the guards and police officers always smile at me and wish me a good morning or afternoon, mam. Absurd and random.

Life in Manila is filled with many absurd moments that make me smile. The decorations on jeepneys. What names the jeepneys have been given to. Men lifting their shirts up to their armpits, proudly pushing their stomach out. Traffic controllers moving like Michael Jackson. People waiting for the elevator so close to the door their nose is touching it. It's entertaining to observe the everyday life in Manila.

Manila is a place where it's crucial to enjoy the little things. It's by no means an obviously attractive city. It doesn't have much to offer if compared with other cities of it's size. Yet still life in Manila can be amazing and rewarding - if you can see the random little things.

It's Cold in the Philippines!

What do Finns ask the first thing they go to a restaurant in the Philippines? For the air-con to be switched off. Because it's always creeping cold inside! The reaction of the Filipinos, who were born and raised in the hot and humid country? Shocked. Or they take it as a joke. And won't turn the blowing artificial coldness down but keep on enjoying the breeze.

It amazes us Finns here how cold it is inside. In the offices, taxis, restaurants, cinemas - the air con is working full time.

When I complain about being cold (a lot) people always wonder how that can be since I come from a cold country. Shouldn't I be used to that? My question is, shouldn't the Filipinos then be used to the hotness? It doesn't work like that. Finns want to avoid being cold since we've got enough of that. Filipinos are sick and tired of being hot all the time, therefore praising the cool breeze.

We want what we don't have. We are fascinated about what we can't have. Air con can create an artificial coldness and heaters an artificial tropic. I'd prefer it warm. Naturally.