What should every white tourist know when visiting the Philippines?

 

By Allana Alberto

Blogger, Web Developer, Writer & a Dreamer from Philippines

I have a lifestyle and travel blog - The Geekly Gal

A lot of Filipinos can speak English but that doesn't mean that there won't be misunderstandings and miscommunications. Some of us have an accent and the way we use English is different from what Northern American uses. So don't get confused with our English. Our own version is called Filipino English. Look it up. Haha.

White people attract a lot of attention. Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of them staring at you. But don’t worry white people are treated well here. We are very friendly and generous. But some people will try to take advantage of you.

Filipinos can be a bit of a racist. Even to their own kind.

If you are walking with your Filipina girlfriend, get ready for judgments. Just ignore them. They are probably just jealous.

If you are a single white male, then a lot of exotic Filipinas will do what it takes just to have you (As their boyfriend/future husbands to breed hybrid babies that they can boast to their neighbors or as a ticket to get out of the country). But not all Filipinas are like that. There are a few of them who are smart, independent, educated and successful.

Small minded Filipinos has the mentality Foreigner=Rich. Stay away from these kind of people.

Taxis tend to overcharge foreigners. Use the grab app instead.

Don’t drink tap water.

Bring your own toilet paper, a lot of bathroom stalls don’t have them.

If you have a backpack, don’t put it in your back especially if you are walking in crowded areas. You do not want to lose your valuables. Also do not bring out your phone so much, be alert and try to see if somebody is trying to pickpocket you.

It’s better to ask security guards for directions if you are lost.

Please say “Salamat po” it’s basically Thank you. Saying “Po” is a sign of respect especially for the elders. We also appreciate it when foreigners try to speak our language.

Don’t ever do drugs. Please. Not in this country. Not even weed unless you wanna get shot. JK but still don’t do drugs here.

100°F (37°c) is normal here. Stay hydrated.

Beers are cheap!

WHEN OUR LIFE BECOMES SENSELESS

My column in Mindanao Daily News and BusinessWeek Mindanao

OPINION

By KLAUS DÖRING

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"In this world there are only two tragedies," said Oscar Wilde. "one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it." This paradoxical proverb has often proved true.

Many people think that if they only had more money they would be happy. Howard Hughes was the world's richest man when he was only 45 years old. Twenty years later, at sixty five, he still had all his money but was probably the world's most miserable man. He had retreated from society, living in small dark rooms in different hotels and keeping all the sun out. He was dirty , his beard grew down to his waist, and his hair fell down his back. His fingernails were two inches long. His huge body had shrunk to nothing.

In today's pandemic times many people are also asking themselves about the meaning of life. I don't need to go into that any further here. Everyone knows. Everyone may experience it themselves or find it in their families and surroundings. Yes, the pandemic is far from over, even if there are the first openings and loosenings here and there.

"What is the point of life?" people are asking. You work hard, and many times someone else gets the credit. You struggle to be good, and evil people take advantage of you. You are in a great situation and accumulate money, and it just goes to spoiled fellow men and women. You seek pleasure, but it turns sour on you. And everyone - rich or poor, good or evil, meets the same end. We all die.

I found Ecclesiastes in my bible. A book for our time. Ecclesiastes strikes a responsive chord. No century has seen so much progress, and yet such despair. What is the purpose of life anyway? Is there any ultimate meaning? I even asked myself all these questions, since some people around me passed away during the last weeks.

A key phrase in this book, "under the sun", describes the world lived on one level, apart from God and without any belief in the afterlife. If you live on that level, you may well conclude that life is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes attracts extreme reactions. Novelist Thomas Wolfe said of it, "Ecclesiastes is the greatest single piece of writing I have ever known, and the wisdom expressed in it the most lasting and profound."

It's really true. Please check it out and try to read it. And find out for yourself if life really seems so meaningless!
 

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .

When driven by unbelief and hatred

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

          YES, when one is driven by unbelief and hatred, he is likely

to fall into self-contradictions. This was illustrated in that gospel

episode where some of the crowd reacted to Christ’s driving away a

demon from a possessed person in this way: “By the power of Beelzebul,

the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” (Lk 11,15)

          Of course, Christ immediately corrected them by saying,

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house

will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how

will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I

drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom

do your own people drive them out?”

          Clearly, when one is driven by unbelief and hatred, his

reasoning can go off the rails, even the simplest of logic is thrown

out. We need to do everything to always strengthen our belief in God,

the very cause, origin and pattern of unity amid the vast and

increasing diversity and variety of elements we can have in this

world.

          Nowadays, we are seeing the intriguing phenomena of

asserting what is right and moral as wrong and immoral, and

vice-versa. What is clearly an expression of true freedom is now

called slavery, and vice-versa. What should clearly be considered as

taboo is now regarded as a human right. The forms of

self-contradictions go on and on.

          To correct this situation or, at least, to deal properly

with it, we need to take care and strengthen our belief and our

charity. We cannot take this duty for granted, especially now when the

world is sinking in confusion and error as it distances itself farther

from God.

            In many places in the world today, people are now

legalizing and inculturating outright immoralities and perversions,

rationalizing them as part of their human rights, their freedom, or as

a gesture of tolerance on a multiplicity of preferences, etc.

            This is a big challenge for all Christian believers who

want to be all-the-way consistent with their faith and with humanity

itself, for the issues at hand are not just a matter of a particular

religion but rather that of our common humanity.

            And the Christian faith is not meant only for a few. It is

for all, though it obviously is not meant to be imposed on everyone.

It has to be accepted knowingly, freely, lovingly, that is, with

charity.

          Instead of responding to evil with evil, hatred with hatred,

we should rather respond to evil with good, hatred with love. That way

we turn things around, rather than plunge into the spiral of evil and

hatred.

          This was specifically articulated by St. Paul in his Letter

to the Romans where he said: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be

careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is

possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do

not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for

it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On

the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty,

give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning

coals on his head.” (Rom 12,17-20)

          We have to try our best to erase whatever disbelief, doubt

or skepticism we can have as we consider this teaching, since most

likely, our first and spontaneous reaction to it would precisely be

those reactions.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com