25 Days in the Philippines

What you expect when you go and visit the Philippines in the month of august:

1. Rain or typhoons

Just when we arrived the 2nd of August it was wet, wet, wet. But we reach to see the Mall of Asia and the Baywalk before the heavy rains and flooding in other areas . On the 3rd day it was still raining so we can not visit Fort Santiago and Intramuros which I really like to show my husband because one of my biggest project was a San Juan de Letran College Dormitory just beside the wall near the Starbucks and some restaurants.

We decided to go my home province Panngasinan on the 3rd day since we already give up our house in Manila and most of my family is there.  But 4 hours travel time became eternity because of RAIN and FLOODs and a lot of potholes in the roads that leads to our province. We even have to turn  back because there was a flood in Sta Barbara and find a road which happens to be thru Mapandan and navigate thru series of floods another which delayed for another 2 hours.

We lived near the beach and I was dreaming of going there everyday but because of heavy rainfalls and flooding the water is not that clean. But we’re able to enjoy the beach at least twice when the sun showed up but it was really fun because it rained and we still stayed in the water despite the heavy rains. The picture on the left was taken when a typhoon was about to come. Actually we planned to go to HUndred Islands but there’s a typhoon so we end up in Bonuan Beach. The beach is almost empty except for some fisherman who tried to catch some fish and some few people who just went sight seing. So we have the whole beach for ourselves and my boys really enjoyed it seeing waves for the first time in their lives. But after an hour in the water then the typhoon came with very heavy rain showers that it really hurts when it hits your back so we decided to go home.

2. Traffic and chaos

I can not understand the danes when they complain for the slightest traffic buildup just wait until you see the Manila streets. It was my husband’s first trip outside of Europe so it kind of shock what he had seen in the streets. We stayed in Paranaque/Las Piñas area and fromthe airport to Sucat Road it was traffic and chaos because of heavy rains. I don’t know why there are stops lights but not working, some places where they U turn are allowed but without proper warnings, people crossing the streets under the pedestrians lane, unruly drivers especially jeepney drivers, tricycle and pedicabs (bicycle with sidecar) in the main roads, trucks without lights etc. While in the province dogs, cows, goats, carabao (water bufalo), children are the additional road hazards because they stay or play in the middle of the road and sometimes even if you blow the horn they will not moved. I was just laughing while the hubby was complaining it but later on I think he got used to it.

3. Hot & Humid

Even though it rains a lot it was still so hot and humid that you almost have to bring your own electric fan. When you sweat heavily and your back became wet and go back inside a air conditioned mall or car makes you sick unfortunately I did get sick at the end of our vacation. I realized that I like the cold weather than hot because you can control it by wearing the right clothes when it’s hot even if you are naked still it’s hot.

4. Mosquitos & Ants

We brought some mosquito repellant form Sweden which was so effective but how about the ants which it’s so rampant during the wet or rainy season. If I leave any candies or chocolates in my bag just an hour it will be full of ants not just ordinary ones but RED ANTS and I hate to be bitten by them. Actually my son and I were their favorite victims I don’t know maybe our blood taste better. There’s piece of advice my aunt’s husband who is also a dane who visited the Philippines many times”Just keep you feet up so they will not bite or climb you legs” but how about when they invade you bed. AHHH. We just sprayed with insect repellant but I hate to spray because It’s poisonous since we have amall babies and I’m allergic and ashmatic.

But for there is a saying in danish if I can remember it right: East, West The Home is best. Meaning that even you’ve been to the best places in the world Home is still the best and that’s the Philippines. In spite of chaos, bad weather, ants, mosquitoes, typhoons, traffic, karaokes and sometimes irrational people I was still glad and call it my home. I was happy to see my old folks, my relatives, some of my friends familiar places and the craziness.

After 6 years of absence I can say that it changed a lot; children became teenager, my relatives became older, new malls, everything is more expensive etc., but I can say that my homesickness is somehow cured when I saw and experienced my I was missing all along.

I hope in 2 years time we gonna visit the Philippines and hope it will be longer and deeper pockets and of course maybe in dry and colder seasons.