I always remember going to Boarding school, age 13, and seeing a boy get the slipper (tsinellas) on his PE shorts in front of the class. It was still legal in Private schools in the UK then (1973).
When I first came to Palwan in 2013 Drew told me about getting the belt ( sinturon) when he was aged 10 for coming home late from school covered in mud! Frythy told me about two 17-year-old boys who lived next door to him and were regularly caned ( Kawayan) by their mother when she came home from work to find them playing on their phones and had not cleaned the house or cooked dinner. Houses here in the provinces are close together and without glass windows or wooden doors so he said he could hear the sounds of the mother shouting and the boys screaming.
Back in 2019 then President Duterte vetoed a bill that would have prohibited Palo Sa Pwet (spank the bottom). Hardly surprising as he was a hard-liner President (and previously Mayor of Davao like his daughter Sara, now VP).
In an earlier blog about growing up in the Philippines in years gone by (Pinoy Nostalgia- Childhood Street Games I used this cartoon to illustrate what was likely to happen to you bk then if you were makulit (naughty)
Recently one of my house boys told me he had to do squats after leaving their Sari Sari (corner) store unattended to play volleyball. He also introduced me to another Pinoy punishment- Kurot- to pinch (usually the ears, or maybe the arm).
Matilda on her first day at School
When Rhoda and Matilda came to stay, they were telling me that Rodel (known by the kids as "Tito Ungoy" Uncle Monkey (for his ability to climb coconut trees) was very strict when they had their afternoon nap. Many kids here grew up being told that if they did not take a nap in the afternoon, they would not grow tall! I also saw aa picture of Lola (grandmother) and three small sleeping kids, and she is holding a long cane to hit anyone who does not sleep!
"Tatay, I am leaving home!"
The favourite story I heard was that often kids who had Palo in the Philippines would decide to run away from home. One wrote:
"He packed his things and put some of his clothes in a small bag and would say
that he is getting away to his family and will not go back"
When I asked them about it, they admitted they went and sat around the back of the house until they got cold, hungry and scared and ran back home!
" I'm Back! Is my dinner ready?"
The other day Chester, my 5-month-old puppy dog, who is very makulit- eating plastic, got told off when he came home. I saw him look at me and then he grabbed his toy bone and ran off, squeezing under the gate, crossing the rod and running down the muddy lane opposite our house, to play with his friends. Just like Noel, he came running back, covered in mud, at dinner time.
Wallis Tambo
Tsinellas
So far, I have resisted the temptation to use the array of implements for Palo used by Pinoy parents. This includes coat hangers, Wallis Tamboo (brush with a cane like handle), Kamay), Tsinellas (slippers or flip flops), Sinturon (belt) or Kawayan (cane). However, one of my ex-houseboys came close after his brother took a photo of him driving my car and posted it on Facebook. When I asked Jhoanna why Julios was so quiet the next time he worked for me she said he was scared that I would give him Kawayan!
Makulit Julios pretending to drive my car while I was in a shop
The good thing about the Philippines is they instill respect for their elders at an early age. Many of my friends' kids "Bless" me when we meet (kiss my hand and touch their forehead with it). One of my houseboys, Jovan, always calls me sir, and Jhoanna does my shopping nd delivers it every week. She nd Ely always wash up nd sweep and mop the floors when they visit- as they see it as their duty. All the school kids here wear uniforms and do PE and ROTC* or Scouts for the younger ones.
* "Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in the Philippines is one of three components of the National Service Training Program, the civic education and defense preparedness program for Filipino college students.[1] ROTC aims to provide military education and training for students to mobilize them for national defense preparedness.[2] Its specific objectives include preparation of college students for service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the event of an emergency and their training to become reservists and potential commissioned officers of the AFP."
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_Officers%27_Training_Corps_(Philippines) accessed 2.10.22
Strangely, as I write this, I just had a message from Jovan, who hd his hir cut short and shaved for his ROTC today, to say their ROTC today was cancelled last night!
When they returned to Face 2 Face teaching there were long queues at the hairdressers as short haircuts are mandatory, even for university students.
Luis haircut for online and F2F University classes!
3 of Maggie's Girls in Uniform at Badjao Seafront
So obviously discipline from an early age at home and school works well.
This one amused me!
So, remember kids, of all ages, turn up on time, work hard, look smart nd be mabait. Finally, do not think that when you leave school and take up paid employment that it gets any easier. Employers demand even more, because they are paying you to work!
Hello, I am The British Kabayan! Feel free to read my stories.
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