relief

Relief comes in many forms.

This did not help me at all.  

 

Well!  THAT'S a relief.  I was wondering.  

Some people find relief at the mall (Terese....).  I don't like the mall, not even in Iloilo, but we went anyway.  The white man in yellow is not mine.  Never seen him before. 

Looks just like any mall any place, except white was the minority, and black a rarity.

Not the mall - but love the happy man.

Our boys find relief in the water.

#1 and #2 made me feel better.  Thank goodness for the sidenotes, or we'd be overflowing and starving.  #5 was good because I only had to watch the boys when they were technically swimming, which is not very often.

 

This is more my idea of relief.  More on this later...

It seems like our vacation goes on and on.  We did do lots while on break.  In a land where everything is different from my normal I take oodles of pictures. 

oddities, or odd ditties

Things in the country are different, but so are things in the city.  I can't really say that anyplace here fits my normal.

I try to adjust but the reality is that I can't.  It would take years of living here to acclimate,  or is it assimilate?  Either way it's not happening.  I am not here to make like a Filipino, neither am I here to change people.  I just want to help.

The cultural differences are drastic between the North American volunteers and the Filipino population we serve.  The top two priorities in social situations here are:
1.  look good at all costs
2. keep the peace even if it means lying

Number one is tough because I see people who can't feed their kids spending money so that their hungry kids look good.  At school a ridiculous amount of money is spent on appearance over the meat and potatoes of a school - training and curriculum.

Number two is just frustrating, and sometimes it hurts.  We get lied to all the time.  It is not seen as lying by the person doing the 'talking', it is their way of keeping the peace.   It is common knowledge that most Filipinos will tell you what they think you want to here.  And very few will admit to not knowing an answer.... If you are lost and ask for directions they will give you directions, Good Luck!

That all being said, or written, I love these people.  I don't want that to sound belittling.  I really love the Filipino population as a whole.  As a nation they are ranked high on the scale of happiness, that is an actual statistic, my Man told me and he is right most of the time.    This is an amazingly beautiful land.  If you ever have the chance to come to the Philippines, do it.  But come with an open mind, come with a heart ready to love the people and their land.  I hate seeing mean, rude tourists everyday.  I see so many tourists who don't smile, don't say "thank you", don't take 5 minutes to play ball with the beach kids.

So many times I find myself thinking "only in the Philippines!"  For example only in the Philippines would you find a pet shop on the sidewalk.

Fish, birds, guinea pigs, mice, rats, puppies....

It was hot and loud, with car exhaust blowing on the animals.  Heartbreaking.

Lots of animals, very little space.  The saddest critters were the puppies; some of their cages were too short for the pups to even stand up in.  These two white puppies next to the white mice where the most pitiful in the bunch.  I would have taken them home if I could have. 

At times it is hard to reconcile my love for people with what I see them doing.   I need to keep in perspective that jobs are in short supply; it is hard to feed your family here for 80% of the population.

random

Since returning from Panay we have all been taking turns getting sick; so nice to take turns.  And not just the Kropps, other families are getting in on the fun.  It has been a bummer. 

So, not a lot of writing gumption, but here are some random trip pics.

As I was taking this picture a man walked up and said "it's a cat".  I realize that many tourists give the smart ones a bad reputation, but jeez.  

My man is a kid magnet!

Hen on a rope.  She did not look happy.  Glad she was on a rope.

Bacon.  I love bacon.  I also love pigs, but I've reconciled this somehow in my head so that I can still eat bacon.  Demented.  Anyway, I wanted to eat at this place but didn't get to.  Sure looks yummy!

Girls and puppies, how does one resist?  So cute. 

This one is for all my tobacco dependent friends and loved ones.  

Gladys was my grandmother's name.

While on Guimaras we got lost.  In the jungle, with about 13 children.

This puppy did not know the way, but he was fiercely protecting his patch of the woods. 

The carabao was non- communicative, or sleepy.

This lady wanted to help, she wanted to know the way so she picked a direction and sent us on, it was not the right way.

This kid had no clue.

Go left!  or right!  just go, the sky is falling!

At last someone knew the way and he willingly led us to our destination - laughing the whole time. 

Catholicism and bury patches

Catholicism  is the main religion here.  Now some people would say, yeah Christian right?  Not so much.  Some Catholics do know and follow the Bible, some pray to God, not to a saint who can't actually answer prayers....but for the most part Catholicism and being a Christ follower are not the same thing. 

Here in the Philippines most people north of Mindanao consider themselves Catholic.  The religion has mixed in with animism, and mysticism, alcoholism (not really, but it is very high here as in most poor parts of the world).  Many people refer to an almanac that then tells them what day to do certain things, when it will be auspicious to move for example.  Many people have fat little cat like statues they pray to and light candles around.  Feminine boys and men are honored and it seems that almost every family has at least one cross gender, gay boy/man.  The Saints are everywhere and worshiped like gods.  Mindanao and parts south are mainly Muslim.  Boracay is sort of in the mid land and has everything religion wise. 

Anyway, that all is kind of side bar.

While in Iloilo I wanted to visit the old churches built by the Spanish when they ruled in the 1800s.  We only made it to one church, Molo Church built in 1831.

Wow and wow!  It is a very beautiful church.  I appreciate the loveliness, even while I don't totally understand the extravagance.  After Jesus came the Bible no longer refers to the church as a place, the Church is the people, there is no more reference made to the building of churches.  I don't know the theology behind the Catholic building of expensive, huge churches, but they sure are awesome.  

These guys look like they'd be tons of fun!  

I do love how many Catholics serve, some in service their whole lives.  There are many inspiring Catholics, and many saints among them.  

I googled about this martyr to the faith.  His story of great dedication to our God is touching.

In addition to churches I am fascinated with cemeteries, otherwise know as bury patches.  Space is limited in the cities, so being buried is expensive here just like it is in the States. 

If you die poor you get a concrete box. 

If you have money then you get something much nicer than a concrete box. 

In many cemeteries here the poor only get that box for 5 years, for a fee; they rent it so to speak.  Now at the end of the 5 years another rent payment is due.  If your family is on even harder times, or has moved, or is dead, or perhaps sends the money but the payment is 'lost', then your bones are removed and a new dead person gets your box.  Of course the wealthy buy a plot and don't have to worry about rent. 

In Manila there are cemeteries where the poor actually live.  They have removed the bones is the boxes and sleep in the little tombs.  How awful is that?  Some have moved into mausoleums that have been in their family, they share space with the caskets of dead relatives. 

In the Manila North Cemetery it is estimated that 10,000 people live with the dead.  Google it.  That's just one of the many cemeteries. 


(not my pic, found on google)

As bad as living in a cemetery may sound....it is far better than other places.  At least the tombs are dry. 

Night Life

While in Iloilo we went dancing!  I am not a dancer....but it's not likely I will ever see most of these people again, right?

Ethan is a dancer - he is so brave and fun to watch!  Check out his shirt; it's of a pig being roasted, what is called lechon here.  

Dance lessons Ethan style.   This was in a bar, at about 10:00 at night.  Shannon talked the workers into letting us in with our under aged kids, just for a dance or two.  We stayed a long time.....but I think everyone had fun.

My what a big margarita that is!  It was the only thing good at this Filipino Mexican restaurant.  They were out of chicken.   Isn't this a fine picture of my handsome man and myself?  He has lost 34 pounds.  I may have said that already...but I'm very proud of him.

Someone in our group encouraged us all to dance with the promise that we'll never see these people again.  How foolish she felt when a few days later on Guimaras Island these same folks from Korea showed up!  

I love this picture of Shannon dancing!  

Before we got the kids all on the dance floor they were RELUCTANT.  Eventually they all danced, with the promise that : we'll never see these people again!  Some of the boys will need counseling.

Only in the Philippines can you get a 'massage' at the same place you bowl.  Yikes!  And it's named for St. Elizabeth.   That is just funny.

Are those what I think they are?  Yep, bowling balls Filipino style.  No holes, sorta like bocce balls.

 No shoes, of course.  I love the floor.  Certainly did not have to worry about Biz bouncing the ball down the alley; it was already full of dents.

Nothing was electronic here.  There were guys back behind the screen who would set up the pins, and roll your ball back to you.  I am pretty sure that within 10 minutes of the large crowd of black and white people showing up to bowl there were at least 30 Filipinos back there.  

We were on a small island called Guimaras when word of a cyclone turned typhoon came and we thought we best get off said tiny island and go back to the city of Iloilo.  Once back to the city it was dark, rainy, windy, and there were few options for accomodation.  We ended up at the MO2 resort, spending more than we liked, but wow -it was so fun!!  Super nice rooms, big comfy comforters, super hot water, room service - totally like a high end resort anywhere in the world.  And the pool was great.  This is the pool at night, during typhoon alert, of course the boys were all swimming!

This pic should be before the other.  On Guimaras we stayed at a little resort place that had pool tables for rent - this was Christmas Eve!  We played pool and listened to the most American Music we could find on our ipads.