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Arrival in Tanjay City

Posted on October 18, 2009 by Ching under Family, Travel.

We only spent a couple of nights in Bohol. The first night at Alona Tropical in Panglao Island and then we moved to Chriscent Ville Hotel which is in Tagbilaran City, just a few minutes from the fast ferry pier. The accommodations were modest (as can be expected based on the room rates), but the service at Chriscent Ville was fantastic. Since we were busy sightseeing on Sunday, the concierge actually bought our Ocean Jet tickets for us and had them ready when we arrived back at the hotel that evening. Besides that, Chriscent Ville had free wireless internet so we were able to check email and upload some pictures over breakfast the next day. The hotel also arranged for a complimentary transfer to the pier. The location of the hotel isn’t great, the rooms were dated, and there is no view, but the customer service made up for everything.

We left Tagbilaran early on Monday morning and arrived in Tanjay around noon. We went straight to mom and dad’s house in Opao to drop off our bags and then went to Scooby’s for lunch. After a quickie lunch, we went to visit our family in Tabuc.

Opao and Tabuc are both in Tanjay. Opao, where dad is from, is located in town or lungsod; while Tabuc, where mom is from, is across the river. Incidentally, tabuk means to cross. LOL.

This is my grandfather. His name is Jose, but we call him Papang Joe. He is much thinner now than when I last saw him over a decade ago.

Papang Joe speaks English really well. I had hoped that he would be able to converse with Brian, but his hearing had deteriorated so much that he can barely hear anymore. Bungol na.

It had been almost twelve years since I had been back. I was so overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing everyone, specially seeing Papang Joe so old and frail. He is 86 now. I also felt somewhat guilty for not being around all these years. I think Tito Ope cried a little bit, too.

Brian saw I was crying and asked why. After I explained it to him, he asked me why I wasn’t over there talking to my grandfather. “He can’t hear me,” I replied and we both laughed. LOL.

This is a photo of me with my grandmother. Her name is Maria, but we call her Mama Iyay or Yayicks. 🙂

I felt guilty for my last words to Mama on our last visit in 1998. It was during the month of July and we stayed for a month at that time. However, after two weeks I was ready to leave because I was so tired of the heat. We stayed at Mama Iyay and Papang Joe’s house and they have no AC.

I was young and impulsive and I had told her that I hated it there and I would never return. “Dili na ka mo balik?” she asked. I told her, rather insensitively, I’d probably return if someone died. It made her cry. I had no idea then, but I understand now how much that hurt her.

Having lost both of my paternal grandparents this year (Mama Priscilla in March and Papa Osing in August) and not seeing them at all in the years leading up to their passing, I know now how much it means to Mama Iyay to be able to see us. I want to visit as much as I can because Mama Iyay and Papang Joe are getting older each day. I don’t want to have the same regrets. Boy, I’m getting sentimental in my old age.

We did visit the cemetery where Mamang and Papang are but visiting graves is not the same as visiting the living, who are able to hug and hold you and look at you with joy in their eyes. Though, I must say, Papang Joe didn’t recognize me at first. It wasn’t until our second visit to Tabuc that he realized who I was. LOL.

Parting this time wasn’t as doleful because I knew that we’d return in a couple of years. That is a promise I intend to keep.

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Vacation Mixbook

Posted on October 18, 2009 by Ching under Family, Travel.

I hope you like the photos. Enjoy!

P.S. If you can’t see them, you’re probably viewing this post from Facebook or a news reader. Click here to see the original post so you can see the Mixbook preview.

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Creature Comforts

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Brian under Family, Life, Travel.

I have been in the Philippines for a week now and I have come to realize that there are certain creature comforts that you come to miss when visiting a counrty like this. In America we take so much for granted and you don’t realize how good you have it until it’s gone.

The first thing I missed was AC. In America we are so used to having AC where ever we go, the mall, the doctor, our work, our home even our cars. Here AC is not a given, it’s a luxury. Only those that can afford such comforts have them. Most businesses have them but some, like the street vendors, are just open to the air and can not afford or do not want such comforts (for practical reasons).

The next thing I missed was hot water and good water pressure. These things we definately take for granted in the US. Everywhere you go you have hot water, you are raised to believe that you need hot water to eliminate the germs when washing your hands, body, dishes and clothes. Here not very many people have hot water in their homes, for that matter not very many businesses have hot water. It just does not occur to them to have hot water, it’s so hot here no one would dare to take a hot shower. I tried to take a hot shower the first time I came across hot water and it about killed me. My body temp was already so high from the heat, I just escallated it when I took the shower. It’s amazing how good a cold shower is when you are in a climate with 100+ temp and 90% humidity. Water pressure here is very low. Everywhere you go, it’s the same. It’s just the way it is.

Most people have big tanks to feed their homes. These tanks are fed by the city water. There are no pressure pumps or anything like that, just a trickle of water that barely can get you wet when you shower. If you want anything stronger then you get a bucket and a dipper and pour it over your head and body.

The next thing I missed was communication, both verbal and technological. In America we all speak the same language and anyone else has to suffer through it or keep to circles that speak their language. Here I am the outsider and everyone speaks a different language (sometime 2 or 3) around me and I am lost. Most of the time I just sit and smile.

I see this alot in America and I now understand and empathize with them. I know enough of the language to follow along in a conversation but only between two people. In large groups or if they are spaeking more than one dialect at a time (which is most of the time) I am lost. I am sure that this is how most foreigners feel as well. They don’t have a firm grasp of our language and we talk fast for them and they cannot follow, so they sit and smile and say nothing.

On the technological front of communication, I miss my cell phone. This is a luxury in the states but we have all become so accustomed to having it. I have found myself a few times looking for my phone to update my Twitter only to immediately realize that I don’t have it.

They have cell phones here (more than in the States) and they use them frequently. However, I did not bring one and would have had to buy a local phone and SIM card if I had chosen to; or I could have brought my Nokia which is a world phone and unlocked, and put a prepaid SIM in it.

The next thing I missed was television and internet. They have it here and it’s Americian cable even; but at my in-laws house, they have not updated and added these comforts yet. Maybe in the next trip. We have internet here as well but we cannot visit a lot of the sites I like back home. No Hulu, no Netflix, no Playlist.com or Pandora. These are all blocked to foreign countries because of license agreements.

The last thing I miss and probably one of the most important one is a microwave. Oh, they have them here as well, just not as common as you would think. Most everyone just cooks enought for the day and there is no left over. They either give it to neighbors, the elderly or the animals. But we have had some left overs because of the party we had and there was no microwave, so I had to suffer through cold food. Just another thing we take for granted.

All of this has made me realize a few things though, we have a lot of comforts at home and we are blind to other places that may be less fortunate. Some people choose to live this way and will never change. Some long for the ways of America and will do anything to get there and at least have an opportunity to obtain these comforts and a chance at a better life.

Before this trip I considered retiring to the Philippines and thought that it would make my dollar go further. Since my visit, both my wife and I have decided that it’s not worth it. We are not concerned about the comforts so much as the lack of medical care and the increasing heat. We figure that by the time we retire, global warming will make most equatorial location almost unlivable.

All-in-all it’s been an eye opening adventure so far. I have another week to go and I may experience some more that will open my eyes to even more new and wonderful things. I can tell you this though, I am not looking at the conveniences I have the same way ever again.

(Side note: Here you don’t have dogs barking throughout the day and night in your neighbor’s back yard. Instead, it’s roosters! God I hate the sound of roosters. Especially at 5:00 am.)

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I’m Held Hostage

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Ching under Family, Travel.

I’m held hostage in the house with three very boring people because it won’t stop raining (okay, so they are boring regardless of the weather but I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt). Ganahan unta mi (ako ra diay kay Brian just wants to relax kuno) manuroy, pero dili mi ka suroy kay mag sigi ra man ug ulan.

The weather has already ruined our plan to go dolphin-watching in Bais yesterday. We are supposed to have a family party today and then go to Park Cafe at the town plaza for some dancing. If it doesn’t quit raining, things might not go quite as well. 🙁

Anyway, this weather is making me long for Alona Beach in Panglao Island (in Bohol province) and the wonderful weather we had while we were there.

Here are some pictures:

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Tita Susan and Manong Carlito

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Ching under Family, Travel.

This is a photo of Tita Susan and her husband Manong Carlito taken at Alona Palm Beach Resort, one of the nicer resorts along Alona Beach in Panglao Island. We had dinner at Alona Palm on the eve of our arrival in Bohol because they are located next to Alona Tropical Resort, where we spent the night.

Tita Susan is the daughter of one of Papang Joe’s siblings. She is one of mom’s more successful cousins. Her chicharon, Susan’s Chicharon, is famous throughout the region. I think it is the best chicharon ever. At least, it is way better than the manufactured kind that you get in US supermarkets.

She actually showed us where they make their chicharon. Brian asked me why I did not take pictures. I told him that I did not want other people to take advantage of the information and then set up a business to compete with Tita Susan. I want her to continue to be the best chicharon supplier in the Bohol and surrounding area.