I Run 4 Me

Observations about the Philippines

Hey guys, so I have been in the Philippines for almost a week now and this post is just to note some things that I noticed about the Philippines that is a lot different from the States. I’ll add to it while I go

1. Roads have pretty much no infrastructure
2. There are some busy intersections without traffic lights or stop signs
3. MILF stands for Moro Islamic Liberation Front
4. Travel greater than 3 hours is not unusual
5. Bugs in the house don’t bother you much
6. Dogs are not seen as pets, but more they just keep to themselves as if they are part of the busy city. They know when to cross the road lol
7. Bathing in the beach is normal
8. Basketball is played with flip flops
9. It is normal to walk around with your shirt pulled up exposing your belly because of how hot it is
10. Overtaking cars on a one lane road is a necessary skill
11. Malls are built around supermarkets
12. Jeepney’s and tricycles are the most annoying things that share the road with cars
13. Goldilocks, Jollibee, and Max’s are delicious
14. China has a big problem with the Philippines apparently
15. Cell phones are reloaded with phone cards instead of having carriers
16. Boats take you from island to island, with your car
17. Bootleg movies (i.e. The Avengers) are played on the boat before they are even released on video, complete with Russian subtitles
18. There is a yellowish hue in the atmosphere for some reason
19. Meriendas (snack times) are very common
20. Cars with license plates ending with a certain number can only drive on certain days
21. Contrary to popular belief, it is safe to drink the water, just as long as it is purchased in bottles
22. Restaurants only serve coke and iced tea. Other beverages are to be purchased elsewhere
23. I do not feel safe running outside
24. I haven’t seen a gym since I’ve been here

All-in-all, the Philippines is a very different place than the US. These are all just things I have come to notice while touring in my first week. I am having a great time getting to know my relatives and seeing all what makes the Philippines unique. I think it is very cool getting to experience what my family grew up with and finally getting to know where I come from. I can talk about being Filipino all I want and make jokes and stuff, but it isn’t until I actually experience being in the Philippines that I can truly appreciate everything about me that is Filipino.