Sabong.

From time to time you’ll hear someone use cockfighting and the Philippines in the same sentence. Also known as Sabong, it’s just another sporting event with one unique quality. Before the match you have a sporting venue complete with bleachers, grandstand, scoreboard, concession stand, turnstyle and ticket window. You have spectators and a ring (think [...]

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Jeepneys

A jeepney is the omni-present, privately-owned form of “public” transportation here in the Islands. They are modeled after old, American WWII personnel transports. The chasis are typically constructed of stainless steel and decorated according to the tastes of the owner. According to my cousin’s husband, a jeepney owner, there is space for forty people in [...]

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Language

I was talking to my cousin who is a school teacher here in Libmanan. She says that only English and Tagalog are taught in the schools. This is an effort to introduce Tagalog as the “official” dialect/language of the Philippines. Historically, the great number of dialects spoken in the Islands has been [...]

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You’d have never believed it…

Imagine this. Take a pallette (aka skid) from a warehouse. Attach wheel assemblies to the bottom at each corner so that when you’re done you can rest the thing securely on railroad tracks. Now to the top attach two park benches found at any outdoor park in Chicago. For that true Filipino flare load 14-16 [...]

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