Bang, Bang

This week I've uncovered some unique characteristics of Filipino culture.

The first one is that has to do with personal safety. Over the last week or so, I've had a loaded 9mm, a hand-size gun and a large rifle in my hands. Like most people, I'm deathly afraid of guns, but can't help being fascinated by them. I don't like them around me, but if a gun is in my hands it doesn't feel that bad. Almost everyone here carries a gun for protection they say. The police can be slow, and easily persauded to overlook the most petty crimes. With kidnappings common in the presence of Islamic extremists from Abu Sayaf, and poverty a definite problem, it doesn't seem like a bad idea, especially if one has to look after their own family. If you come to the Phillipines, I think its best back down from any serious arguements with the locals, unless you want to be brought home wounded, or worse in a body bag. I'm convinced they all have guns!

Secondly, Filipinos love to feed their guests. Yeah, I'm a first gen Filipino-Canadian, so I should know this right? Wrong-0. I've never seen experienced the constant barrage of food here in the Philippines. My uncle says it is part of the culture. Filipinos can't, and will not let their guests go hungry. I'm constantly fed at all hours of the day with fish, chicken, pork and rice. I'm going to need to go on a diet when I get back to Vancouver!

Lastly, with economy in the crapper, the Philippines sports the best malls I have ever seen in my life. Being a "mall-rat" seems to be a definite part of the culture, and mentality here. The malls are absolutely massive. One city in Manila, for instance, has super malls that contain 5 malls under one street block. I really don't know how some Filipinos afford shopping at the malls but they are always packed. Perhaps, everyone is just browsing.

Since I last wrote, I fired a .22 caliber rifle at a gasoline can, and have watched to two local basketball games. My nephew plays in a league, and we go out to watch him almost every night. Filipinos also love basketball. So much so, there is professional basketball league in the Philippines called the PBA. All the players in the league are Filipino and I'm told a small % of them can actually dunk. I know Filipinos can jump, but dunk I don't think so!

Today I visited a coconut plantation, and resort called Villa Escardero. Villa Escardero is the residence of one of the richest families in the Philippines. Descendants of the Spanish, the Escarderos' gathered a massive collection of artificats ranging from pottery to guns to religous (mostly Catholic) relics with their wealth in the 1930s. The current generation of Escardero have put their collection on display for everyone to admire. The villa also features a resort with a swimming pool, a pavilion that hosts traditional Filipino shows, and a restuarant at the foot of a man-made waterfall. Lunch is served at under the waterfall while the restuarant patrons wade through and sit on benches placed on water.

I leave the relatives for Legaspi next week. I'm going to search for the biggest fish in the world, the whale shark. Completely harmless to man, the whale shark grows to 18m and 34 tons. My goal is to jump into ocean, and swim with them. I can't wait!!! This is going to be unbelivable!