Since moving to our new house. Bob and I and the kids like to hang out at our porch and the front yard. Luckily we have bigger front yard now and the kids can play basketball, badminton, tumbalata, or just riding bikes. A few days ago while Bob and I were sitting on our porch with the kids and nieces, somebody outside our gate yelled something when seeing us. Bob and I just didn’t hear what the people were saying. I just heard our kids told them we are not interested. Just looking at their hands they were selling something. I don’t usually entertain sellers that much especially it was family time for us.

Bob asked our niece Glenda what was that person saying, Glenda said that they are selling toothpaste, mouthwash and other stuff. I told Bob that we don’t need anything anyway so we don’t entertain them. Bob said he wanted to see what they have, because we need toothpaste at the bathroom in his office anyway. We will take a look and see if we like what they are selling. I told the kids then to call up those sales people and let them come in inside the gate, we want to see what they have.

They were selling colgate products

So we let those ladies sit with us at the porch. We could tell that they are sweating. So Bob then offered them if they wanted to have drinks? The younger lady said no thanks, its okay. But the older lady said that yes we are going to take you up for those drinks. The older lady that wanted to have drinks looks like she was really tired. Bob then told the kids to get some drinks for the ladies. I asked them if they have been walking for a long time, they said yes we’ve been going house to house since this morning here in Matina. I told both of them you guys really have a good stamina to do all the walking and carrying all your stuff  and also under the hot sun. They both gave me a smile. While talking to them a little while, our helper went outside and told me that our merienda (they were cooking banana cut in half and fry them) were ready already. So both Bob and I told our helper to bring out extra food and plate for the sales ladies outside. They were really shocked that we offered. I’m glad we did though, just looking at their plates afterwards they must really be hungry, they ate all the banana we brought out for them.

Bananas are a common Filipino snack

Anyway, they showed us what they were selling. It was toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and soap. A lot of them they combined the products in package like a small tube of toothpaste a toothbrush and a small bottle of mouthwash for 75 pesos. The big mouthwash half a liter for 250pesos. We wanted to buy toothpaste but they are out of the big tube of toothpaste, all they have was a combo the 75pesos. So I just bought the mouthwash then. While they’re eating I was asking them how would they get paid. They told us that they were paid 15 percent of all the items they would sell. The owner of the product will not give them money for food and fair. So I asked them for that day how much did they sold so far? They said that they sold 1500 pesos each. So they got like 225pesos each for their share. I asked them if it were enough earnings for the day since they have to buy their food and they have to pay for there fair? They said sometimes their earnings were lucking for the food and the fair. I asked them do you think its worth it? They said if they sold a lot then it will be worth the while, but sometimes they also lost some money for food and fair. I told them you have to be good in talking to really earn big time. I told them to not be so shy and really talk to people so that they can sell the products that they have. I said just try to convince people to buy your product. They seem happy after they left at our house, I guess with full stomach and lighter load to carry.

If you see people like that in your neighborhood try to see their product it might be worth buying and your helping them at the same time. Try to be cautious too some are rip offs. Use your instincts!!!

Cheers!

We’ve been living back here for 12 years now. Have been traveling before all over Mindanao and other parts of the country. We noticed before that Davao has the worst taxis that I knew. If you guys travel here in Davao City, you will remember some of the old and junkie looking taxis we have here in the city before. But you just have to ride on it because we just have no choices unless you have your own vehicle. I remembered the taxi driver would say that sorry ma’am just go to the other side to enter or get out because the handle just fell off. Most of the taxis at that time were all surplus from Korea or Japan. Lots of it they converted from the right side driving to the left. Some of it the wiring’s were visible.

New Davao Taxis

One time I was riding the taxi with a friend that came here for a visit. Man, she was so scared to enter the taxi seeing how bad looking it was inside. My friend said wow, I’ve never been to this kind of taxi before and its pretty filthy. She had no choice but to ride in it, unless we would walk from the house to SM. I could tell the relief on her face when we got to our destination. But at that time we also had some descent taxi though, but it’s just limited (just few were running).

I remembered like around 7 years ago the city had a big conference and the invited guests were from all over the world. Being the taxis were not looking good and look so old, the city rented a bunch of taxis from Cagayan de Oro just to cater to those guests. Started at the time the city maintained quite well on the cleanliness here.  I mean even the Bankerohan Market at that time was really cleaned. People that I met and knew at that time were really impressed.  They started planting bunch of flowers on the pathway in between the main road. They still are good until now. And improving some other areas too with nice planter boxes.

New Mabuhay Black Taxi

Over the past 3 to 4 years the taxi situation is improving here. The city told the owners of the taxis that all non air-conditioning taxis will be eliminated. They want all air conditioned taxis running around the city. The Mabuhay and Holiday already had units that’s going around the city. Finally in a year or 2 after the city told them all the non-air taxis were gone. That’s when the Blue taxis were born, they really are nice and clean looking taxis. Then another one the Orange taxis were here now too.  Another company owned a taxi. It’s white taxi and they had plenty of them. They had there hub near the San Rafael area. Some were even parking at the shoulder of the highway. I think they are still building for a bigger hub. A month or 2 ago Bob was telling me about a Black taxi, that they will be coming here to Davao city. That they are going to be a nice and good looking taxi.   Finally yesterday I saw one passing by when I was waiting for a jeepney. I was shocked, it really is looking neat and nice. I haven’t ridden to one of them yet. I will try to ride one of this day and tell you guys what I think.

Been shocked to some of the taxis that I’ve been riding here. They even have TV inside the taxi. Only bad thing the driver was just showing boxing game inside. Ha ha ha, I was thinking of home and garden show. lol. Kidding aside the taxis here now really look good and clean. I’m so happy for that, and you don’t have to fight now to get a taxi. We have plenty now going around the city. Now I can say that taxis here can compare to the taxis of the other cities in the Philippines. We even have a few SUV’s type kind of taxis.

Feel free to share what you think. Have a good and enjoyable visit here in the Philippines!

Mabuhay!

Hi Readers,

I got a note the other day from another LiP reader  Although she has been living abroad for some time, she had questions regarding some of her nieces who are still living in the Philippines.  It seems like her life in a different culture has sort of “broadened her horizon,” she fears that her nieces are not open to such experiences in their own lives, and because of that, she is wondering what she should do.

See what you think by reading her note to me, below:

Dear Feyma, Kumusta? I am writing you asking some opinion from you.

I am a Filipina living here in Canada. Married for over 20 years now. I would say that I am happy with my life here in Canada with the man I love. Been going home to the Philippines when I have time and money. I have grown up kids now also.

I am thinking of going back there to the Philippines to live part time, when its winter time here.

I have some nieces there in the Philippines. Few of them are still single. I asked them during one of my visits if they will be interested to marry a foreigner. Shocking to know that few of them would not consider marrying a foreigner. They said that they just don’t think that they can adjust with the other culture that well. They said it is hard to adjust living with the person with the same culture how much more with the other culture. They said it is no way they can adopt to it.

Now how would I convince them that living with different culture is not that bad as what they think? They know that I am successful with my married life. They know  in every married life also is not perfect, I am one of them. We have our shares of marital problems. But not to the extent that we are hurting each other physically or emotionally.

Anyway, I was just wanting to ask you and write to you about this.  Not really a problem for me what my nieces want and do in their lives. I am just interested on what you think so that I would know how to answer them that it’s not too convincing or not too against our own culture too. Believed me I am really also a believer of our culture. I am not who I am today if not for my parents who molds me with our Filipino culture.

I said too much. Thank you for reading my email. Keep up the good work. You and your husband really loved the Philippines. I hope we settle there soon. I am hoping to see you and your family. Thank you! Lydia

What are my nieces thinking?

To you Lydia,

Thank you so much for writing. I really appreciate your email to me. Really with regards to your nieces, it is not really a big of a deal. If they think its not for them to be married to a foreigner then you can’t really force them. Maybe in time they will really realize that no matter who they are married to they have to adjust big time. I am not going to deny that marrying someone from different culture needs more adjustment. But really learning each others cultures are more fun though. Just like learning how to deal with the accent. Just one example, the way we Filipinos pronounce the words, our hubby thinks its so cute and sexy. And the way round.

Also its more fun teaching each other the superstitious and beliefs of every culture. My gosh, when I was telling Bob before all the beliefs we have in our culture. He had to scratch his head and just said wow. You know that we have gazillions beliefs here in the Philippines and it also all depends on what province you are from. And telling those beliefs to my kids, ha ha ha, its another story to tell. They were laughing hard to some of them.

Really your nieces will learn more now. They can go on-line and search what they are afraid of though. With the net everything is more open. Now they can just observe the person when they are chatting live on the net. Unlike us before that we have to rely on the mail for our questions to be answered. Remember  its post office mail, it takes forever to get to us.  Just don’t worry about your nieces, if it’s not meant for them to be married to a foreigner then it will not happen. If they want to be married to Filipinos its okay too. That might be good for them, so that no regrets when time of problems later.

Just enjoy your visit with your family.

Hope to see you here in Davao too when you retire. Good luck to your plan on that.

Feyma

To our LIP Readers: I am also asking you guys if you encounter similar situation with Lydia and her nieces. Feel free to share here with us. I will really appreciate any stories or inputs you might have. Thank you again you guys in advance.

Mabuhay!

I wrote an article two weeks ago about these kids that came to our house. They live not too far from us. They just came by our house to asked to see if they could get some empty bottles from our garbage can. But my kids can’t resist on giving them food. My kids can tell that these kids have not eaten their breakfast yet. So they let them in and let them eat.

My kids and Arnie and Irish have been friends ever since. We kind of liked those girls too. They are well behave even with the life they have. I’m sure they were really having a hard time going around the neighborhood with empty stomachs. My kids invited them to come to the house everyday, that’s before the school started. But when the school started they’ve  been coming here during weekends. My kids still continue on gathering all our empty bottles here at our house for them. Whenever they come here to our house Bob and I also spend time with them outside on our porch talking. Mostly after lunch. That’s also almost always the time that the ice cream man passes by our neighborhood. Not always we would buy ice cream. But with the girls at our house we gotta have that ice cream guy stop at our house. If you could see the faces of those girls when seeing the ice cream guy at our driveway “its totally priceless.” They really could not stop smiling. Even the ever reserved Arnie starts to talk and smiling.

Article continues below pictures.  Click on the picture to see a larger view.

Last weekend the girls swung by at the house. We were with them at the porch. Bob was asking them if they had breakfast already. The little one said no and Arnie said yes. We knew that they did not have breakfast yet. We noticed that something was wrong with Arnie. My niece Bebe asked her what’s bothering her because she seems so quiet and not at ease. Bob was also asking her if there is something wrong, she said no, but I told Bob somethings off with her. Since our people were still preparing our breakfast, Bob told Jared to get some crackers and drink and to gave to them. Irish really did attack the crackers. While Arnie was just playing with it and just not in the mood to eat. Bob then asked Arnie what’s wrong? You are not hungry? Irish might eat that crackers of yours. She then gave a smile and said sje really had a bad toothache. Just then we realized that’s why shes quiet. I asked her when that toothache started, she said since yesterday. We all look in pain too for her. Bob asked if she could take some medication? You know the bigger kind, if she gag or something. She said she can take medication with no problem. Bob then asked me to called up our dentist that we know, and asked  if it’s okay for Arnie to take the medication that we knew for toothache. When I called the dentist up, I told her whats going on. She said to bring the kids there and she will fix their teeth for free. I said then I will get a hold of the parents first before giving her medication or bringing her to the dentist. She said okay then and just let her know when we bring the kids to her office.

We sent my niece Glenda to the parents house to get a hold of the father of those kids so that we could get some consent from him for the kids to be brought to the dentist and the kids taking some tooth medication.  Glenda went to the house of those kids and found out the dad was not home. He was going around somewhere gathering empty bottles too. The kids are not sure where. Arnie told us that she knows where her mother works and she could guide us to go there. That’s what we did. We did find the mom and we let her sign some papers stating that she allowed us to take the kids to the dentist and that the kids can take some tooth medication.

It was really nice of Dr. Lourdes to attend to the kids. As soon as she saw the kids at her office she immediately took care of them. The teeth of Arnie were really in bad shape. Because of the infection, Dr. Lourdes said that she will gave some medication first for the infection and Arnie will just come back in a few days for the extraction. while she took care for Irish’ teeth with filling. Irish teeth were not as bad at Arnie. Dr. Lourdes also gave some money for the girls for ice cream and their money for school (baon). Yesterday, we brought the girls back at Dr. Lourdes office. She took care of Arnie’s extraction and cleaned the teeth of Irish. We could tell that Arnie’s feeling better. She was really enjoyed playing at the house yesterday with our kids. My niece Bebe took care of cutting the hair of the girls and cleaning them. With the consent of the mother of course.

To you Dr. Lourdes, I can’t thank you enough. I am so grateful to you. You also had a big heart for the less fortunate people. Bless your heart. I’m pretty sure Arnie and Irish were so thankful that you gave them their happiness again. They are not  going to be in pain for a long time. Thanks to you.

A few LiP readers unexpectedly sent some money to help the girls after my last article. Thank you so much for your help. We really appreciated so much, and you can bet that Arnie and Irish do too!

Not really fun to be going to the mall at this time. Too many people shopping for school supplies. You will be there for the long haul. Some people from the province come here to buy the school supplies. Can’t blame them,with the economy right now, people are really hunting for a bargain.  I think if big families, better to be buying in the city to get the cheaper prices, especially if you shop at the bargain place like in Uyanguren here in Davao, it’s like the Divisoria in Manila.  You’ll find good price in those areas. Uyanguren also has an NCCC shopping center which famous for the shopping place for the sari-sari store owners. They also have good price/bargains there. Only downside – too many people. It will take you forever to get out from the counter.

Getting Ready for Registration

I do my shopping at the NCCC mall here in Matina, it’s just  walking distance from our house.  Much easier for me to shop there. Don’t have to fight the traffic. With our 5 kids in the house that need lots of school supplies. They also had good bargains there and they pretty much have all the kids school requirements and the uniforms. Shopping for 4 kids and my niece was really something else, let me tell you. My eyeballs almost popped-out with too many supplies to chose from and with so many people there shopping, it’s really exhausting. I bought school supplies after enrollment. Got to have the requirement list first from the school before buying, which they had a longer list. After paying for the school and the school supplies, wow my wallet was really damaged though. lol.

Me and Aaron

I think my kids they are not yet ready to be back to school, though. They still are in the vacation mode. But some have to get back now, school is starting. Well 2 of our kids in the house were back to school now. Two will be back next week and one college after that week. It’s going to be busy again here in the house every morning. As you know kids start school early morning here and end later in the day. Last year our youngest in the house starts her day in school like 6:30am for flag ceremony (so she had to leave the house by 6am to not be late) and she comes home like 5:30pm. She was so exhausted by the end of the day. We could tell that she’s not happy there. She’s now transferred to a different school. So far, so good for her.

We are excited for our 2 graduating  students right now (Aaron and Jean), both will be senior students this year. We were talking to both of them last night and told them to enjoy their last year in high school. I could tell they are both excited about being senior students this year. Jean is most excited too because they will have air-conditioning in their classroom now. Wow, it’s about time for them to have it. We are so proud of them, they’re both good kids. Jared is going to be 6th grade this year. Here in the Philippines, he should be graduating from grade school year. But with the 7th and 8th grade that they are adding, we are not sure if he is graduating this year. Will see what happen then. I don’t think all the schools have the curriculum and the facilities for the adding grade yet. I hope they are not making the kids have class under the tree though. It’s going to be uncomfortable for the kids.

Starting school here which means starting to be so traffic too in the city during morning and late afternoon. Kids have to be early then in getting up and getting ready for school, it’s going to be a challenge to wake up the kids in the morning. I’m not looking forward to it. Big sigh…

It’s more fun to live in the Philippines!!!!