- Don't be shocked...

Swimming in the Water Paradise Resort pools

This post is particularly for my American friends who might visit the Philippines.

When you visit the Philippines, don’t be shocked if it seems hot any hour of the day or night. I remember the first time I arrived in Manila at almost midnight and walked out of the air conditioned airport. The heat (it wasn’t that hot) hit me in the face and said, “Welcome to the Philippines.”

Don’t be shocked if someone you don’t know smiles at you and greets you as if he knows you. Just a few days ago I was walking through a public market in another town, and a man I had never seen before walked up to me and shook my hand and said, “Welcome to Jagna. Thank you for visiting us.”

Don’t be shocked if someone you don’t know asks you where you’re from and engages you in conversation. They are a friendly people, especially away from cities and tourist areas.

Don’t be shocked if you see a man urinating beside the road, out of town, in the city, or anywhere. It’s common here.

Don’t be shocked if you see someone point… with their lips.

Don’t be shocked if you see an incredible sunset, or sunrise over the water. There’s a slower pace of life here, plenty of time to enjoy the sunsets.

Don’t be shocked if you see the most devastating poverty you have ever seen.

Don’t be shocked if you see an elaborate and elegant mansion right next to where humble and impoverished people live.

Don’t be shocked if someone you don’t know offers to help you if you have a need.

Don’t be shocked if you see someone eat with their fingers, even in some restaurants. If you go to a restaurant and there is a large sink in the dining area for hand washing, you'll know it is acceptable to eat using your fingers instead of silverware. 

Eating with fingers is traditional

Don’t be shocked if you see dogs, lots of stray dogs.

Don’t be shocked if you see a dog with pink skin.

Don’t be shocked if you see people selling food (fruits and vegetables, prepared food, snacks) beside the road.

Don’t be shocked if everyone stops whatever they are doing, in a store, in the mall, on board a ship, for a prayer over the intercom.

Don’t be shocked if you see people obviously living in poverty and with no money, yet they are happy.

Don’t be shocked if it appears that nobody on the road is following any traffic rules.

Sin-Sin Water -- it's the Best!

Don’t be shocked if someone greets a foreigner, “Hey, Joe!”

Don’t be shocked if you see children in a public place swimming completely naked.

Don’t be shocked if some people wear jackets and coats when the temperature is in the mid 80’s because they’re “cold”.

Tough luck, Mr. Lutz!

Don’t be shocked if a car or a truck or a tricycle does a U-turn or a Y-turn on a busy 2 or 4 lane street or highway blocking all lanes of traffic.

Don’t be shocked if drivers pass slower drivers with on-coming traffic. The on-coming traffic has to move over to the right or slow down to avoid a collision.

Don’t be shocked if a beautiful lady walks past in a miniskirt, high heels, and full makeup, and speaks with a deep voice. We were at Alona Beach recently at night, and two groups of from six to eight ladies passed us dressed up as though they were going to a nightclub. I asked Lyn how many of them did she think were ladyboys. Sometimes it is almost impossible to tell. She said, “Every one of them.” (By the way, what’s the difference between a chickboy and a ladyboy? A chickboy is a guy who tries to sleep with as many women as possible, and a ladyboy is a transvestite or transsexual.)

Advertisement for Vice Ganda, one of the most famous ladyboys in the Philippines.

Alona Beach at night

Don’t be shocked when you come here if Filipinos think that you are rich because of your skin color. It’s the Filipino mentality that all foreigners are wealthy.

Don’t be shocked if a meeting is scheduled to start at a particular time, but it starts a half hour or an hour and a half late. Community is important here; being on time is not.