It's not more fun in the Philippines...Sometimes #3

I saw the sign

Or should I say we don't see the signs. I am talking about street signs.

Try for instance walking at Session Rd. Notice the pedestrian crossing in front of MacDonald's. The sign is very visible and clearly shows stop for pedestrians to cross and yet you see men and women crossing.

This, however, do not only pertain to pedestrians because even some motorists ignores it. At times just because it is green, they go for it even if they are already blocking the intersection. Problem is, when the traffic did not move, then the intersection is already blocked hence other motorists that needs to cross the road are stock even when it is already green for them. At times, motorists stop at the pedestrian lane with other cars following very close behind it. How on earth then can people cross when the very area afforded for them to walk is occupied by cars? People then have to navigate and squeeze in between cars not to mention between each other. Imagine if you are carrying big heavy bags or your own toddler.

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It's not more fun in the Philippines...
It's not more fun in the Philippines...Sometimes #2

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It's not more fun in the Philippines...Sometimes #2

Where have all the money gone?

Sometimes one literally asks this question on certain occassions.

Scene 1: You ride a taxi, your  bill is P90.00 you give the driver P500.00 and you will get the reaction: "Naku! Wala ho ba kayong mass maliit diyan? Kakalabas ko pa lang  boss, wala pang pambarya." (Don't you have a smaller bill sir/ma'am? You're my first client and so I don't have any yet for a change.)

Scene 2: You are going to the airport or from the airport, the bill is P250.00, you give P500.00 and almost by default the driver tells you "Sir wala pa po akong panukli diyan." That is it, driver does not even bother to make an effort to remedy the situation. Because you don't want to be delayed or are too tired from a two day journey home, you give in and forget your change.

Scene 3: In each morning that God has made, don't and I mean DO NOT even try to give a big bill to a jeepney driver for your fare if you don't want the start of your day ruined. Like the taxi drivers they also don't have change. And they will get real mad when you hand them P100.00 and up. You will surely hear a mouthful.

I don't get it. They are in the business that is expected that they will be giving back change. Aren't they supposed to be prepared for such an evetuality already? Why on earth that these drivers/operators don't prepare for it? Even big provincial busses have the same problem. You give them a thousand pesos and when they don't have change will tell you (in a tone as if it was your fault) that you will get your change at the next stop over. At the next stop over, the "kundoktor" will only give your change as the bus is leaving. If that is the only money you got, then you won't be able to buy any food or even go to the public toilet. As to why, click here to find out.

An exception is scene 2 where this is more or less a racket.

Even supermarkets and big hardware stores have this kind of problem. Some of them would politely ask, "Would it be ok if we are short of 25 centavos (P0.25)?" Others simply say "Sorry sir/ma'am naubusan po kami ng bienchingko (P0.25)." If there are 500 customers that has been said these lines that already amount to P125.00! That's plain robbery and they are doing it with a smile.

Again, where have all the money gone? Has it been blown away by the typhoons that comes our way each year or has it been washed out by the floods? Has any of this happened that we don't have enough for a change?

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

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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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