TBK asks- "What is different about the Philippines?"

 

Back in November 2016 when I lived in Bahrain I had the above article published in "Bahrain this month" with a tongue n cheek look at the differences between the UK and Bahrain.

Source: https://issuu.com/redhousemarketing/docs/btm_november_2016/559 accessed 26.01.23)

As I have nearly been living in the Philippines I thought it was time to take a light hearted look at the differences between life in Palawan and the rest of the world!

Let us start with Language

Philippinos are very proud of the fact that English is widely spoken here. In reality they speak American. Let me give you some examples:

English               American

Coriander            Cillantro

Aubergine            Eggplant

Green pepper       Capsicum

Courgette            Zucchini

Driving

I thought driving in Bahrain was bad but it has nothing on Palawan

If you drive down the main road from Puerto Princesa to El Nido ( 5 hrs drive) you will encounter slow moving and overloaded Trikes ( which are actually banned on this road on Puerto but like much else here there is no enforcement!)

Students ride overloaded tricycles on their way to Maligaya Elementary and High School in Fairview, Quezon City on Tuesday. 

The LTFRB wants to ban the use of tricycles as a school service as it is deemed unsafe for students. According to an MMDA report, 3,655 tricycle accidents were  recorded in Metro Manila in 2018.

Motorcyclists are often under age and rarely wear helmets ( they will carry them in case they suspect there are Crocodiles ( Traffic enforcers ) about. In one recent case an over zealous crocodile pulled over a delivery driver on a bike as his passenger dis not have a helmet. They later found out the passenger was a Mannequin!

The dustmen ( another Americanism as they call them trash carts here) wear tsinellas ( flip flops) and ride on the back of the vehicles- outlawed in Europe

                      An overloaded trike in El Nido, Palawan

Motorbikes here can easily take a family of 6- father driving with two kids in front, one at the back and the wife holding the baby.

The traffic enforcers here dance as they control the traffic- click on the link if you do not believe me:

Dancing traffic enforcers in Palawan

Cooking/ Food/ shopping

In Palawan most kids are bought up on a diet of rice ( with everything , three meals a day) and chicken, pork and fish. Coconuts ( Buko) and Buko pie, Buko juice are very popular, also melon pineapple and Bananas, which are all grown here. They rarely eat salad, Lamb, Beef or "imported" fruit like strawberries. 

           TBK preparing Manok adobo at Barotuan on vacation before I moved here

Much cooking is done over an open fire ( particularly in the provinces) and fridges are small. Because the Philippine salary is low ( 9,000 peso a month- £133) most foods are sold in individual sachets . People just buy what they need for the next couple of days.

You can even buy milky coffee or 3 in one ( sugar, milk and coffee) in a sachet

The coffee here is also powdered not like the granulated red mug Nescafe in a jar I was used to in the UK or Bahrain

Even in Big cities ( like Puerto Princesa , the capital of Palawan , where I live) there are only a few large shopping malls ( NCC, Robinsons, SM) and most shopping is done online through Lazada and Shoppe , or at the local Sari Sari store where items are sold individually with the price written on them ( e.g. Red onion , 8 pesos)

The only big chain restaurant here is Jolibee, then there is a McDonalds in El Nido and one in Puerto Princesa ( 24 hour) and we just had the first KFC open in Palawan in Puerto. There are no Starbucks or Costa Coffee. 

Schools

I remember , after a vacation here a few years back , telling the kids opposite me in Bahrain how lucky they were to be collected by van and taken to and from school. Here the kids walk, sometimes with mum or dad or grandma if they are elementary kids but more often with an older brother or sister, or in a small group. As they get older they may cycle or go on a moped, trike or multi cab/ jeepney. The school hours are longer here with some kids starting at 6 am , and PE is mandatory , even at University. They also have scouts and guides at school and for the older kids ROTC.( Reserve Officers Training Corps) 

                 Joven had to shave and have his hair cut for his first day of ROTC

When the schools returned to F2F ( Face to Face tuition) after COV19 they split them into two groups, one lot doing 6 am to 12 noon and the older ones 12 noon to 8 pm. The University students often have classes at the weekend and , one think that really amazed me, is they have to wear Uniform to go to University  which depends on their course . 

  Noel and Frythy in their PNS Uniform- where they are in the Senior Hight school

                 Kit in his Criminology Uniform ( Palawan State University)

                 Jhoanna and a friend at Palawan State University ( HRM)

When I was at University we wore jeans and tee shirts and many of the Public schools ( high school equivalent) allowed the kids to wear the same. All the kids wear ID badges and have to clock in and out and the schools ( and shopping malls) are manned by armed security with bag searches on the way in mandatory.

The weather

Having lived in the Middle East for the previous 12 years the biggest shock to my system was the weather here!

"Bahrain is an arid country with mild, pleasant winters, and summers that are very hot and humid. ( currently about 22 degrees but goes up to 40 degrees or more in the summer

Bahrain's weather is similar  to the other Gulf countries, unbearable in the summer and moderate in the winter. The Gulf region is known for being hot, it is after all a desert climate and Bahrain is no different. There are no definite seasons in Bahrain and temperatures vary from mild to hot."

Source: https://www.expatwoman.com/bahrain/guide/weather-in-bahrain ( accessed 26.1.22)

By contrast in Palawan its between 27 and 30 degrees currently ( 26.1.23 ) with 76% humidity. We have rain most days currently which often turns heavy with thunderstorms, high winds and the occasional typhoon.

Palawan has the tropical rainforest climate prevailing with temperatures as high as 33 degrees in the summer

Palawan has two distinct seasons each year, a dry season from December to May, and a rainy season from the month of June up to November.

Festivals and Fiestas

Another welcome change was the number of festivals, public holidays, non working days and Fiestas here ( and I thought we had a lot of Holidays in Bahrain!) 

"The Philippines has the longest Christmas Season anywhere in the world and guests can start experiencing it starting every September up to the first week of January. The usually serene streets are brighter because of the lighted Christmas lanterns hanging from lamp posts. Residences are also adorned with Christmas decorations and lighted with Christmas lights during the night. There are also local delicacies like bibingka (a type of rice cake) that are only served during the Christmas Season."

Source: https://www.elnidoparadise.com/when-best-time-to-come-palawan/ ( accessed 26.1.23)

You can read more about Fiestas in Palawan here:

https://thebritishkabayan.blogspot.com/2023/01/tbk-travels-to-barutaan-fiesta.html

The scenery

Ok , I saved the best to last! Again remember I lived in a small dessert island for 12 years before moving here and the only nice beaches were man made at the countries resort hotels and you had to pay to use them. Bahrain was flat , 22 km long, and had little green vegetation apart from around the Royal Palaces!

Imagine my joy at discovering at least 10 white sand beaches , mainly deserted, like this one at Tagkawayan, about a 40 minute drive from where I live! They are all free ( although at Nactoban you have to pay for parking , at Tagkawayan you pay to use the picnic tables and at Nacpan you pay to use the sunbeds and umbrellas!).

The roads are a joy to travel on and as you cross the mountains which run down the spine of Palawan you get spectacular views and everything is so GREEN! Sadly there are no camels here but we have Caribou, Goats, Cows, dogs, cats and snakes, crocodiles, and a few birds. 

That's all for now- but if you have any questions or want me to cover anything else please let me know. You can contact me on thebritishkabayan@gmail.com

 

Bahrain receives little precipitation. The average annual rainfall is 172 millimeters (6.8 in), usually confined to the winter months. No permanent rivers or streams exist on any of the islands.

Typically it will rain heavily for 4 or 5 days a year.