It's not more fun in the Philippines...

My post title is in-accurate but it is more catchy so I used it.

The Philippines is a very good destination for vacation, relaxation and just having a good time. Being an archipelago, we have lots of beaches to choose from. The people are nice with a warm contagious smile. Lots of places to visit, from historical to places with stunning beauty. It is indeed more fun in the Philippines.

Thanks to the DOT's renewed campaign, the world is now seeing more of these beauty. Thanks, by the way to the Tourism department's successful "It's more fun in the Philippines".

There are however some things that puts a dampener to our more fun in the Philippines and so came the idea to make it's not more fun series. I will start with two.

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Visit us but toilets are not free
I do commend our entrepreneurial spirit but hasn't it gone too far in this case? I want to empty my bladder and I need to shell out six pesos (P6.00)? I mean, isn't this supposed to be a basic facility provided by the local government for its tourists? Local governments are already earning by the meer presence of a visitor. He gets hungry-he eats, he wants to go around-rides a taxi/jeep, he gets tired-checks in a hotel, likes our man in a barrel-buy several for souvenir and give away.

What's more, there are two different rates. One for "ihi" (to urinate) and another for "dumi" (to defecate). It's bad enough that tourists are being paid to use a toilet, now one has to make known just what exactly he/she did inside, ihi or dumi?

Take me to my doorstep
I too am guilty of these at times. We ride the jeepney or bus and then we wait until it is practically at our doorstep until we get off even if it has already previously stopped several meters away from ours (or our destination).

Even at the city center, we force the driver to stop at exactly where we want. The driver gives in and stops dead center on the street what with no available space to move his vehicle on the side as there are parked cars. If it stopped quiet a bit further, we make a fuss out of it.

We always gripe about how we are bulging on the sides, why not make use of the opportunity to burn that stored fat by walking that few meters.

A lyric to a popular song back in the '90s captured it perfectly:
"Kaharap ko sa dyip ang isang ale
Nagrorosaryo mata niya'y nakapikit
Pumara sa may kumbento
Sa babaan lang po sabi ng tsuper kase me naghuhuli
Mura pa rin nang mura ang ale"

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