I just returned from the Philippine island of Samar, the town (or Baranguay) of Marabut. What a trip! I will NEVER again take for granted the pleasure and privilege of having indoor plumbing.
The Filipino people are incredibly warm, hard-working, and kind, but they live in desperately poor conditions. The family I stayed with was one of the richest in the community but they lacked a shower and and toilet tank (no seat/tank). They did have an indoor water valve supplied by a plastic water tank they refilled five times a day by buckets (30 to fill). To flush the toilet, you fill a bucket inside and pour it manually into the bowl. To shower, you use a scoop and pour it over your head. Thankfully, it’s so hot there that the cold water isn’t really cold.
After a day of that, I decided I should attempt to improve the situation. Believe it or not, they have Home Depot in the Philippines. (I have pictures, which I’ll post later if anyone wants to see what HD looks like in southeast Asia….) I initially installed the toilet with the idea of having a fillvalve over the toilet instead of filling through the toilet valve due to lack of pressure from the tank, but this problem was solved by building a support and raising the tank up ten feet. To combat the difficulty in filling the raised water tank, we ran 1 1/2 plastic piping from the well’s water pump, so instead of carrying buckets, you just pump the water (five times a day!)
I have pictures of the experience which makes me value America more than I ever have before. The physical landscape of the islands is breathtaking. The people are fascinated by westerners, and I got an idea of what it’s like to be famous. (I LOVE my anonymity and will never take that for granted again either; being ogled by EVERYONE everywhere you go gets old; I suppose celebrities can deal with it because they’re rich.)
I wish I could find a way to get their workers over here too. I’ll post pictures of the woodworking they’ve done, which is unbelievable considering the conditions.
I’ll attempt to post more later, but I just got back and am on a twelve hour time shift…..
Sidenote: Filipina’s are some of the world’s most beautiful women. They also seem to think that America is the greatest thing ever, including a fascination with Western men. So, my advice to any carpenter/contractor/builder who wants a beautiful, loving, APPRECIATIVE wife: Go to the Philippines. (My girlfriend is half Filipino, but unfortunately, she’s from here, so she got the whole Feminist thing down pat—too late for me, but if she ever dumps me, I know where I’m going….;)
Replies
Thanks for sharing. Pix will be fun. Useful to get an up close and personal perspective on how other people live around the world. Makes one a bit less xenophobic to walk a mile in their shoes.
APPRECIATIVE
sometimes this word does not apply to US women
Depends on the woman.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
I admire anyone who goes to another country to try to assist them.
I'd definitely be intersted to see any pics you have. Especially of the Philippino women. (-:
Great post! Definitely add the pix.
Filipina's are some of the world's most beautiful women. They also seem to think that America is the greatest thing ever, including a fascination with Western men.
I agree with your estimation about the women being beautiful; I'd expand the statement to include oriental women in general. But do be aware that a great deal of that 'fascination with Western men' is not based on the fabled size of our 'equipment' or any other phsycial or intellectual attribute we possess, but on what might genteely be termed 'The Green Card Factor'....
My first wife, lo these thirty years ago, was from Thailand, and it was she who warned me about this. She said the best way to find out if a woman was interested in you or in your signature on her INS application form was to tell her you'd declared bankruptcy once and were therefore ineligable to sponsor her for immigration to the US. She was a lot more cold-hearted about her countrywomen than I ever would have been....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
I agree with your estimation about the women being beautiful; I'd expand the statement to include oriental women in general
DW is half Japanese. Other half is West Viginian.
My mother had reservations about "mixed relationships", but after nearly 21 years I still haven't figured out which half she was concerned about <g>.
Dave
Clearly the WV half.I went to grad school in Athens, OH (SE corner) very close to WV. Lots of border type of jokes where either Ohioans or West Virginians where the brunt of the joke.The one that I remember was 'What is a WV Tornado? - An 1995 Olds with mud flaps on the front wheelss'. For those that don't remember the Olds Tornado was one of the first mainstream production US front wheel drive.
Sorry -Board policy is that I don't download pics that big unless they're of Pamela Anderson.
(-:
You asked for it...and it's only 28kb, too!
I gotta feeling this thread is gonna wind up in the Woodshed....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Damn, she looks just like my Phillipina girlfriend in Olongapo City (Subic Bay). She hasn't changed a bit since '71. - lol
Damn, she looks just like my Phillipina girlfriend in Olongapo City (Subic Bay). She hasn't changed a bit since '71. - lol
View Image
Huh? Miss Clairol/Subic Bay?
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
I'll bet that many of the Viet Nam vets will "get it" - lol.
Okay, I'll have to trust you on that....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Any chance of making those pics about 1/10 or 1/20 that size? I'm way out here on a phone line...
Here's the pictures reposted smaller...
Edited 5/22/2005 2:30 pm ET by Jack
Is Michelle's head permenantly leaning to the side like that ???(-:
I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows. [Janette Barber]
Must be an Asian thing?
“[Deleted]”
Hi, thank you for sharing your warm experience! I bet you miss visiting the chocolate hills in the Bohol province. It is said that there are at least 1,260 hills, but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers. They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season therefore they are called chocolate hills. The people are very warm and welcoming and treat foreigners as Hollywood stars wanting to invite them and make selfies too. anyone who visits the country, do visit the chocolate hills to witness the magnificence!,, https://famewide.com/