Going to Manila and Other Horrible Places, Pt. 2

Bustos, Bulacan, Filipinas


Topic: Vacation Trip

When my relatives arrive to pick me up from Manila, and take me to our ancestral town, they were all a little shocked to find out I’m here alone. No one said anything but they probably assumed I was a typical male tourist in Manila (i.e. whoring and ogling the sex shows). They probably wouldn’t have believed me if I told them that I hadn’t.

Filipinos are definitely a family-oriented people. Everywhere you go into the Philippines, you see families, and not your 2.4 kids American version either. All my relatives have at least 4 or more children. I remember hearing a theory that fewer children allow more quality time with them. It’s strange then how half the families in America are from broken homes.

Do you know what addiction Filipinos are truly susceptible to? It’s not the inexpensive beer or American culture, it’s air conditioning! How do a people that have lived in these islands for thousands of years suddenly aren’t able to stand the heat and humidity. I tell my relatives that I don’t like air conditioning and they politely turn off the wretched thing, then a few minutes later, they turn it back on because it’s hot. Oh Filipinas, so far from God and so close to durable goods.

My family in Bustos, Bulacan, is friendly, polite, and suffocating. I took a walk after lunch one day. A few minutes later they come chasing after me in a car to find out where I went. I tell them I just wanted to take a walk. My cousin tells me that we should get back. I become concerned and ask if it’s safe to walk here (i.e. will I get kidnap or mugged). He tells me, “No, it is very safe here.” Apparently leaving someone alone is a breach of hospitality to Filipinos, or at least to my family. That and nobody ever walk there if they don’t have to. It’s almost like being in LA.

The most amusing part of the visit was being taken to this fast-food chicken joint called Jolly Bee. We would drive past all these little open aired cantinas to get there. I asked my Tito (Uncle) Franco if these places where any good? He tells me “They’re terrific!” “Then why don’t we go to them?” I ask him. He has no response. The next day he takes me to Jolly Bee again.

So what’s so horrible about this town? Nothing, it’s no worse than any other town in the Philippines. The horrible part is that no one greets a stranger on the street. You nod or say “hi” and they look at you as if you’re about to sell something or kill them.

I admit it; I’m a bourgeoisie suburbanite that likes common courtesy. I understand that it’s a cultural difference and the Filipinos don’t want to get close to anyone outside of their family or friends. You have to help someone if you know him or her. In a poor country where you can barely feed your on family, you don’t want responsibility for someone else. Still, they could at least make a friendly gesture. Even the New Yorkers would nod back to you if you greeted them.