~~ YEE GRAND OL TANDUAY ~~
TOUR

Howdee,
Sadly I don't have my tour report on me today, so I am going to skip ahead to the photos I had planned to show when we got to the Tanduay part of the trip.
We stopped in at the Tanduay factory while enroute to Lucena and had a great time checking out where our holy water comes from.

Thanks to the management and staff of Tanduay for allowing me a look through the plant of my favourite drop, it was the logical step after so many years collecting Tanduay souveniers.

Its enough to arouse a Tanduay collector.
In the main reception of the factory is tis display of all products made by Tanduay, including some superceeded labels which were all duly photographed (since I wasn't allowed to buy them) :-)

One had to excercise amazing personal restraint on entering the factory.

Final packing before sending off to a grateful nation!

Good little soldiers all in formation!
Today they were making the lovely Tanduay Dark.

It was about now I enquired how much it would cost to buy this machine :-)
I WANT ONE MUMMY - I WANT ONE MUMMY

Filling up the magic bottles!

This was he second, and more modern, production line. It uses a fraction of the employees to operate, so is vastly more eficient than the one above.
From memory today they were making ESQ.
Down the bottom the red crates mark the start of it all with thousands of empty bottles. It goes from here to the end of the factory and back to where the guys are standing, this being where it is finally packed.

Part of the big history display there.

No amount of bribing was going to secure me one of these babies.
The former Tanduay White labels.
I WANT - I WANT
Surprisingly, while I havecollected the newer White bottles,
I have not yet tried it :-)

Yep, they have their own fire truck (awesome little thing huh) and again, I wasn't allowed to bring it home with me.
NOT FAIR - NOT FAIR

Edward my tour guide and one of the nicest, most friendly guys you will ever meet.
This guy is an absolute credit to the company and make a tour I have long wanted to do, even more fantastic.

The Messiah - Lucio C. Tan.
Owner of Tanduay, and Philippine Airlines (another favourite) for that matter.
Thank you Mr Tan for supplying the planet with the worlds best tasting rum.

Of course another 60+ photos were taken during the visit but I only have so much space to put them on here.
Needless to say they will join my ever growing collection of Tanduay posters, bottles, banners, signs and other promotional items.

Again, the managers, staff and especially Edward, THANK YOU so much.
Makes me, and many other Aussie Tanduay fans, VERY proud to support your product.

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.

Our flight arrives an hour late from Melbourne!

PHILIPPINE 2009 – A SAUCY TRIP REPORT

PT1

I love this shot, I was standing on a flower box when this little boy

approached me from below.

Turned out to be the best shot I got on the brand new Canon EOD digital before it conked out.Bloody digital trash.....

It was one of those quick last minute decisions, a random look on travel.com.au revealed airfares at prices that really could not be ignored. We are not talking about one off those pathetic 10% off fares; this was $645, down from the usual costs that hover on the far side of a grand, which is Aussie for $1000.

Big buggars hey!

The next 24 hours were spent in negotiation with ‘She who must be obeyed’, seeking permission to book the fares and thus relieve ourselves of the misery, boredom and evil in our local community in Sydney town.

Ning donates to the local economy!

My reasons for so urgently wanting to return were two fold; of course there was the desire to meet the members of our railway society based in Manila. These guys were terrific and are doing a terrific job over there. I inspected their recently restored trackcar (BUDA car) that is now on display at Tutuban station, as well as the extended photo wall that joins it.

They have so many plans and I feel quite honoured to be a part of it, even though I am eight hours away. Despite the distance, it makes me proud to be able to help my second country, while so many who were born there and moved here, seem not to care less.

Every weekend a sea of hornbags converge on Rizal Park for excercise to loud rock music. It worth a visit, not only for the loud music, but also the great atmosphere.

The other reason I wished so much to return was to see Filipino people back home. It does not take a rocket scientist to know that I have been developing a big grudge towards them, thank mostly to the efforts of vermin in our local community.

This taxi caught me by surprise and I had to do a sprint to photograph it. Why the fuss? I mean these things are all over the place. A closer look will reveal the company name which is the same as my dear little estranged god-son.

Daily hurt, backstabbing and betrayal finally becomes too much and your own self-defence system soon has you putting up walls, becoming negative and ensures a growing dislike for everyone in that group of people.

The view from our room in Mabini Mansion, Ermita. The trees mark Rizal Park (sometimes called Luneta Park) and Manila Port in the background. Big building in the background is the Manila Hotel, formerly owned by the national railways.

Only returning to the Philippines, where people were still truly Filipino and not corrupted by Australian lifestyle, would solve this dilemma, would return me to where my mind once was, would remind me of why I fell in love with the country in the first place.

The old Fuji S5600 still manages to put out the odd ball tearer or two. These two eepneys are by far the best I have ever taken, especially in the area of lighting and colour. Taken on TM Kalaw in Ermita, I tried to find the maroon jeep again, with no success. Still, walang problema, this one is going up on the kitchen wall.

Despite the pain and negativity, I again found myself doing the usual anticipation things of counting days and marking activities as ‘the last time I will be doing this before I go away’. Even on the day, the anticipation had me egging Ana on to get to the airport as early as possible.
Much time was passed organising all the events I had planned and the people I had to meet.

Soon we would be at the airport...................................

Time to enjoy the holiday - a holiday that proved to be the turning point for me, the holiday that made the attitude changes I needed and to cast away the dead weight of unappreciative people back home.

As I type this I am half way through my holiday and I feel a huge weight lifted from my shoulders, with a positive outlook and plans to be rid of those who don't qualify in the friendship test as soon as I return.

Liberated? You yes, very much so. Things look so much brighter, many thanks to a ceremonial funeral yesterday for these past people in my life.

Rest in NO peace!

Balintawak and the new LRT1 to MRT3 loop closure project is in full swing.

~~ 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.