PHILIPPINES 2009 - A SAUCY TRIP REPORT

PART 2

23-5-2009 Saturday

“No more sleeps – were going today. By tonight I will be munching on Jollibee in Manila.”

Arben and my dear little neice Tin Tin!

Ana-just shakes here head, none of this being particularly exciting. She just wants to see her parents, as for Jollibee, rides on jeepneys etc, well she has done it most of her life and really does not care for any of it. Actually my obsession with such is regarded as some kind of deformity.

Ning stands beside the former Italian ship that was purchased by the

Manila Hotel in order to expand their rooms.

I am told it is now up for sale.

The dock directly behind her is where the first ever PANAM water plane from the USA to the Philippines docked after landing in Manila Bay!

If it wasn’t for her family living here, I may never have even made the first trip way back in 99, let alone the three trips since.

Possibly the most fun part of the trip over was the immense secrecy. Nobody knew about it, certainly none of her family in the Philippines. They did know I was thinking about coming over and there was some shades of suspicion when they were asked to go to Mabini Mansion to pick someone up, however it was never considered that Ana would be accompanying me.

All Pinays are cute, with a few very hideous exceptions around our area, and this cousin (I think) was no exception. Also very good to talk to.

Despite what I considered an early arrival at the airport, our arses hit the ground at the sight of a massive queue all-waiting to be served. The usual loud chatter echoed around the surrounding area, and I was left to endure the inane ranting of some elderly Aussie guy who’s favourite topic was plane crashes.

What is it with people choosing moments of plane travel to discuss our possible doom should all screw up and our next land destination arriving sooner than expected. Honestly people, shut **** up!

The Family - Well part of it anyway.

Thankfully a couple of post flight Tanduays made the check in process far less stressful than is usually the case and soon enough we were in the departure lounge receiving the great news that our plane will be an hour late due to electrical problems………

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!

Short of ‘the wings fell off’, I can’t think of much else I wish to hear about a jet I am about to hop on board. Heck, I mean electrical is pretty much everything on an Airbus, indeed nearly all aircraft.

Sadly the multi billion dollar making Macquarie Bank were unable to afford to install more than three free internet stations in the lounge or, as it transpired, to supply keyboards with letters that are still visible. Still I managed to fumble my way through a email or two on one that became available moments before we had to board.

The last event of any interest before our departure from the hollow excuse of a country was a Singapore Airlines paging for a ‘Mr Cock Soon Tan’ which had more than a few of the toilet users in a frenzy of laughter.

Filo flowers!

Finally we are able to seat our butts within the aircraft, RP-3337 for the dribbly plane gunzels, and prepare ourselves for the exciting moment of departure and subsequent brain numbing eight-hour ‘cattle class’ journey ahead.

After surveying the area for items to pinch, ahhmmmm, souvenirS for preservation, its time to pull out a foamer magazine to pass the time until the Tanduay and food comes on tap. Last trip they never gave me any, first selling me it was to early, then to late. Bloody kuriput (tight-arse) airline staff, its not as if they were paying for it out of their wages.

Lunch was an awesome caldarita dish, washed down with a Tanduay than the extremely maganda (beautiful) Stephanie eventually brought for me.

Following lunch the stewardesses all seemed to go into hiding, either sick of whinging customers, or having a nookie down in the galley. I suppose most of the guys were picturing the later while, sadly, the former is more likely true.

With only two hours to go and only one Tanduay (a awesome Filipino rum, they seem to spell it rhum, for the uninitiated) closer to paying off the airfare, I find myself heading to the galley in search of life.

Here I found one of the male flight attendants busying himself with whatever they do in the galley. Putting on my most pathetic Aussie face, I beg him for some of that wonderful Tanduay product.

A lovely guy, obviously still not destroyed by western culture, he enquires about how many I want. Upon saying one, he returns with “two it is”. Then he asks how many are with me, when I again respond with just my wife and I, suddenly I get “OK four drinks it is”.

Obviously being a nice guy, he half fills each of the four glasses with thew quality rum and then fills the balance with coke (cola, not the powdery drug stuff) and sends me on my way with a smile.

This made them exceedingly strong for my mild tastes and I found myself requesting more cola from the female attendants in an effort to sneakily water it down.

Ultimately I can’t remember much more of the flight, other than getting a few souvenirs, one even paid for, and hobbling off the plane and into excessive heat.

RP-3335 and an unidentified PAL B747 were also in the NAIA terminal.

Our society meets up with some 'Philippine National Railway' managers at Tayuman.

So far, through our charity raising efforts in Australia, we have been able to achieve much.

Soon enough we were collecting our endless piles of crap that was cast up[on us by relatives, a tradition that any guy married to a Filipina will be able to identify with. YES admit it, you know what I am talking about, I bet you a both nodding and shaking your head while reading this.

A pre-arranged shuttle was there to take us to Mabini Mansion for two nights. Usually members of Ning’s family would be there eagerly awaiting our arrival, and subsequent presents, but as this was all a big surprise we were having to fend for ourselves.

Mabini Mansion is a nice little air-conditioned oasis on busy Mabini Street in Ermita, situated very close to Rizal Park, Rizal Monument and a heap of beggars and girlies looking for some sort of fun.

We had earlier arranged for my lovely cousin Annabelle to go to the hotel, under the pretext of meeting my friend Bill who had something to give her. She turned up about 30 minutes after we had checked in and after the surprise and subsequent cuddles, where else would we go but Jollibee for an Aloha burger, cardboard flavoured fries and the first of many cokes that arrived with ice, despite requesting none.

A big had been completed and soon it was time to head back to Mabini Mansion where the A/C had been cranked up and start snoring till morning.

Found this cat at Tayuman yard and, well, I just couldn't resist.

~~ PHILIPPINES 2009 ~~

Coming Soon - 25 Days Of Trip In A Photographic Report!

Photo: Top of condo on the corner of United Nations and Mabini in Ermita!

Howdee viewers, got back from our surprise trip to the Philippine yesterday.
Despite fighting the endless urge to go back and nearly giving in to the growing tide of futile worthlessness that comes with being back in Australia, I am going to endeavour to do an extended trip report on the holiday and where we got to.
Cheap airfares, only $645, lead us to a last minute decision to book the trip and rack royally off from Australian shores and do many of the things
I have wanted to do for so long.
While the main reason for the trip was family and society based,
I found a whole lot more.
I was again able to re-experience the 'REAL' Filipino, the reason they mean so much to me. I was able to revive my decaying interest in the country through the efforts of now deceased scum in our local community and, best of all, I made a huge number of great new friends there.
Join me in coming weeks as I cover the trip, what we did and share photos taken during it.
A great time was had, as is usually the case, and my enthusiasm not dampened despite the best efforts of 'Philippine Airlines' and cowboy
security guards.

MABUHAY

Happy 111th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

Photo: Ning and I are introduced to the famous Mr Jollibee at Evers Commonwealth.

Better than Mr Jollibee, this is my beautiful little niece Christine (or Tin-Tin).
Philippine Airline regulations on your bringing anything back would have mean't plans to come back with Tin-Tin were doomed to failure at the start.
I really miss this wonderful little girl and have godparent dreams.

Another Philippine Selection!

Hi all,
Been a bit slack with the posts of late. Extended work hours, lack of sleep and just the usual bollocks of day to day life has been getting in the way of internet time.
Indeed, as I type this I am half asleep, scrounging around a totally fried brain looking for something witty to say. Alas nothing but tribble is coming through in the thought patterns, so if you wanted something intelligent to read, then perhaps you have come to the wrong place.
As always, in an effort to look like I have made a great effort, I attach a number of random photos from the Philippines last year. They mostly show members of the family, people who I think were members of family and others who likely weren't anything to do with the family but were out to score some pera (money that is).



Possibly the only negative thing I can say about the Philippines is the lack of family members that are willing to talk to me. It makes being at home uncomfortable to say the least, evening are especially dreaded.
The last trip was turning out to be another one of those until my niece Aireen (above) turned up from Roxas City.
Aireen is an example of real Philippine beauty, though she would deny it, and she can sing fantastically at karaoke.
The biggest plus was that she was always wanting to talk. Wow and did we talk, even ghost stories till well after midnight. :-) She turned a lonely Quezon City stay into something far more enjoyable.
If only customs would have let me bring her back - I am sure she would have fit inside the suitcase. :-)
Salamat Aireen.


Must be something about the Roxas City part of the family, never have I found so many family members actually wanting to make the effort to speak. It justifies the asawa's decision to purchase land down in that beautiful city.
Part of the Roxas family is Christine (purple-far side of table) who, like Aireen, instantly talked to me and made me feel more at home. Indeed the whole family here lead to quite some debate as the asawa wanted to push on, but I just wanted to stay.
I suppose it needs to be said, I mean you guys were already thinking it, but wow they breed them maganda in Roxas! :-)
Thanks to Christine, Cisa and all the gang down at Roxas. I certainly miss you and will be back there ASAP.
The one in the red is our cousin Annabelle. Now if you want to negotiate a bargain, or wish to avoid being ripped off on transport, then Annabelle is the one to have with you. She takes no %^$# from anyone and stands up too people better than anyone I know.



Always wanted to get up close to a caraboa for a look. Ning's family has one (perhaps more - who knows) at Lantangan. Poor creature looks less than happy in its new position as a fun park ride :-)
Still it has to be better than plowing rice fields all day and it did get to chew grass through the whole ordeal.


OK, now I have to admit I have no idea who these people are. Almost sure the shot was taken on Jintatolo but it was more likely I wanted the shot for the hornbag in the orange than to get any real shot of a family member I needed to remember.
Hmmmm yeah, probably was because of her. She certainly is quite the hornbag.
Anyway who knows, perhaps someone can identify them for me. In the meantime feel free to just admire that little orange top.

Well thats it from Down Under tonight. My head is about to hit the keyboard and thats without going anywhere near the Tanduay tonight.
If any of the QC/Roxas family wish to email some latest photos for inclusion please feel free to do so.

Night

BIRTHDAY GIRL HERSELF!

The maganda Sheila during her recent birthday over in Quezon City.