Comments Posted By Drain Snake
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I just had to. Cheers!
» Posted By Drain Snake On 31/May/2026 @ 5:19 pm
Ernest. Not “earnest.” Although he sometimes was. Nit picked.
Ernest was a name, but it was also a way of looking at a good horse or a clean river and not lying about either. He drank his whiskey neat because water only diluted the truth, and he wrote his sentences lean because fat was a coward’s luxury. He knew the critics laughed at the pun, calling him both Ernest by birth and earnest by trade, but they were men who fought with ink while he fought with verbs. It was a heavy thing, carrying a name that demanded you mean every damn word you said, but the sun rose anyway, and a man did his work.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 31/May/2026 @ 10:07 am
No tarsiers? You gotta see one at least once if you go all the way to Bohol. In those crappy little road-side zoos with some sad monkeys and a couple birds.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 17/May/2026 @ 4:23 am
Ironically, a ride the same distance in a much-less comfortable tricycle would have set you back three times as much. Ask me how I know….
For excursions, you might consider dolphin watching (more like dolphin chasing). You’re sure to be approached (pestered) repeatedly by touts, unless all the dolphins have been chased away. Panglao has changed quite a bit in a very short time.
Cheers
» Posted By Drain Snake On 14/May/2026 @ 9:02 am
Bantay Bayan to Barrio Barretto
Good on ya.
I hope the new gals stay fit and healthy and don’t succumb to the same Jollibee plague as so many others…. They tend to be like flowers that bloom beautifully but then quickly wilt in the unfamiliar climate….
Cheers.» Posted By Drain Snake On 26/April/2026 @ 3:26 pm
I’m not familiar with “the province of Mindinao.” Can you point me in the right direction?
Perhaps you meant “from the province (in the generic sense), on Mindanao (a large island to the far south).
Grammer an’ spellin’ be yo’ frens an shit.
Cheers!
» Posted By Drain Snake On 26/April/2026 @ 1:22 pm
By the way, it’s pretty amazing that you noticed that grave on Araw ng Kagitingan, the day designated to commemorate the Fall of Bataan. Good on you!
» Posted By Drain Snake On 10/April/2026 @ 10:38 am
Maybe Felipa was his wife (24-years younger, been known to happen. Ahem) and the other two were their kids.
Sure wish I knew the story. At any rate, I’ll raise a glass to him on April 11, and a few more throughout the week in remembrance of all Death March victims.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 10/April/2026 @ 9:59 am
Note that the non-Filipino-sounding man you mentioned died in mid-April, 1942. That’s precisely the time of the Bataan Death March. Lest we forget.
He would have been 65 years old then, a bit long in the tooth for a soldier, even a senior officer. But of course numerous civilians, American and Filipino, were also butchered in that awful ordeal.
He would have been 21 when Dewey and co. blasted the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay back in 1898, and American colonization soon followed. So perhaps he was a sundowner from the early days of empire who fell in love and decided to stay, then paid the ultimate price. It really makes one wonder….
» Posted By Drain Snake On 09/April/2026 @ 6:25 pm
Funny, to this day I occasionally blurt out “Danger, Will Robinson!” — especially when a ladyboy starts hitting on a drunk buddy.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 06/April/2026 @ 9:53 am
“instead of apologizing, the waitress made some rude comment that Swan should sit elsewhere.”
Classic. Some just don’t get the whole “we need customers in order to pay staff” thing…
» Posted By Drain Snake On 28/February/2026 @ 5:01 pm
For future taxi disputes, you might consider telling the driver that you’ll pay the fare demanded but report the fare and his number to SBMA to check whether the fare was correct.
Whether you actually follow up is discretionary.
But the driver may: (1) decide to charge you the proper fare; (2) think twice about overcharging the next guy; or (3) at least lose a little sleep worrying whether you snitched.
Probably none of the above, but it feels a little better.The crazy thing is that I usually would tip more than the quoted rip-off fare, but once they pull that shit they get no tip at all. Some catch on. Most never do.
It’s always been one of the most disappointing things about the Philippines: many people would rather rip you off quickly for peanuts than profit far more in the long run by being fair and mutually respectful.
It’s a legacy of dealing with sailors on brief liberty calls. And lots of other shit…
» Posted By Drain Snake On 21/February/2026 @ 2:07 pm
I literally watched them lower the flag at Subic in ‘92 after the clumsy attempt to squeeze more pera left “nationalist” senator blowhards painted into a corner of their own making. Go there now and see the silly “hands that freed the nation” monument.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 15/February/2026 @ 4:25 pm
Cambodia’s experience with dogmatic ideological extremism and blind allegiance enforced by terror should be a required subject in high schools the world over. Seriously. There are so many lessons there.
On to the bad grammar minefield.
Kevin spotted some good ones but I was more troubled by “the depths of inhumanity perpetuated to achieve political goals.”Perhaps you meant “perpetrated?” But even that sounds weird. How does one perpetrate a depth? I’m not quite sure how to phrase it better. The depths of inhumanity to which political ideologues have sunk to assume power and enforce social control?
Your use of the phrase “depths of inhumanity” certainly evokes the sheer evil that Cambodia endured. Sadly, I’m not sure much of the world is aware of it anymore.
Recommended reading: The lost executioner, by Nic Dunlop.
Cheers.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 13/December/2025 @ 3:08 pm
Rockwell is very nice but it’s ridiculous that there is no map or directory anywhere so it can be pretty hard to find what you’re looking for.
The real Philippines isn’t far. Just stroll down the hill toward the river and you’ll find it.» Posted By Drain Snake On 27/November/2025 @ 2:13 pm
Pretty sure you mean Siargao Island, not Surigao, which is a nearby city.
Happy trip! Looking forward to a trip report.
Cheers.» Posted By Drain Snake On 13/November/2025 @ 2:14 pm
And given the customer base in Barretto, at least during daylight and early evening, classic rock at reasonable volume really should be the standard at many, or even most, bars, with allowances made for variety and customer preference. Some staff just don’t get the whole “give the paying customers what they want, because you’re here to work and not to entertain yourself“ thing, and probably never will.
Cold beer (with no fucking ice!), good music, some snacks, AC or a good breeze, and friendly girls (even if they’re not stunners). It’s not a complicated formula.» Posted By Drain Snake On 11/October/2025 @ 5:47 pm
“the bartender showed up, greeting me as she walked by. And then the music changed back to crap and the volume increased. I paid my tab and left.”
Classic.
A smart bar owner might allow the only customer to select the music of his choice, within reason, until others arrive and express a different preference.
But that would make too much fucking sense…» Posted By Drain Snake On 11/October/2025 @ 2:15 pm
Very sweet message from Erica. Thanks for your assistance.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 08/October/2025 @ 6:21 pm
“I’m blessed that Swan doesn’t expect me to take care of the family. I give her a generous allowance that she is free to spend in whatever manner she chooses.”
Okay, I’ll be the asshole who states the obvious. If she’s passing some of your money along to family then you’re obviously fooling yourself. And you don’t even get to play White Knight.
Your pera, your choice.
Cheers.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 02/September/2025 @ 3:06 pm
Speaking of assholes, I just can’t resist being That Guy after reading “she compares an American Jollibee’s with the ones back home in the PI. I’m not a big fan of Jollibee’s….”
Round up the ‘Postrophe Posse!
» Posted By Drain Snake On 21/May/2025 @ 12:16 pm
“[N]o one could find the charger cord. I didn’t get pissed or anything, but it seemed like none of the staff gave a shit, they were too busy playing cards.”
And there you have it. Some folks will just forever remain unclear on the whole service-staff-is-employed-to-serve-customers concept…
» Posted By Drain Snake On 20/May/2025 @ 7:43 am
They voted Duterte in as mayor of Davao again, despite him being imprisoned overseas and awaiting trial for alleged Crimes Against Humanity, of which he frequently and publicly boasted, so there are some indicators of something…
» Posted By Drain Snake On 13/May/2025 @ 1:34 pm
Day drinker and sundowner bars should never play rap, period. Why is that hard to understand? Philippine mysteries…
» Posted By Drain Snake On 12/April/2025 @ 6:24 am
More military activity these days because annual Balikatan exercises involving 10,000 US troops begin later this month. Nothing more.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 09/April/2025 @ 6:23 pm
The F-16 video makes numerous false statements, such as that the US Air Force has deployed the jets and they have landed in the Philippines.
In reality, this is merely the approval of a potential sale of F-16s and related armament to the Philippine government at a later undetermined date. This is NOT a US deployment.
It’s still a pretty big deal, given the regional tensions, but the distinctions are quite significant.
A reminder to take internet shit from dubious sources with a big grain of salt.
Cheers.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 09/April/2025 @ 5:18 am
At least you remember the beauty pageant.
Gotta agree with the judges on 7.
Cheers.» Posted By Drain Snake On 08/April/2025 @ 4:41 am
I’m kind of enjoying the ridiculous spectacle of Duterte and his shameless minions playing the outrageously wronged victim card and crying about rights and due process.
But I’m kinda bummed that he’s the only one busted so far. The degree of complicity required to execute the bloodbath was pretty immense, and spanned so many levels.
I have little patience or sympathy for petty drug dealers or junkies, but far less for blatant demagogues, crooks, bullies, murderers, liars, and sell-outs in positions of great power.
Duterte had it coming—big time and for a long time. And he was no friend of Americans.
Lots of drama to come as his case drags on. Stock up on popcorn!
» Posted By Drain Snake On 05/April/2025 @ 7:30 am
Yes, I’m incredibly closed-minded when it comes to Trump, Musk, Democracy, Rule of Law, and Reality.
Cheers!
» Posted By Drain Snake On 02/April/2025 @ 2:41 am
«« Back To Stats PageWhile I don’t advocate vandalizing Telsas, even though the trucks look dumb, I can’t help but notice that your meme seems to be overlooking a few things, like the distinction between disliking shitty and ill-advised advertising for a mediocre beer that leaves plenty of alternative options and disliking sweeping illegal changes to wide swathes of government with direct impacts on thousands of actual people, not to mention important government policies, at the behest of an unelected foreign elitist with dubious priorities who happens to be the world’s richest man and is used to getting what he wants.
That’s called a flippant false equivalency, boys and girls.
Well, at least the Trump haters didn’t do something really heinous when he won like, I don’t know, storm the US capitol and assault numerous police officers while threatening to kill duly elected public officials.
But I get it. This stuff’s all just a big joke, and anyone who gets twisted about it must be a pussy Democrat or Antifa or lefty or whatever.
USA! USA!
» Posted By Drain Snake On 01/April/2025 @ 1:48 pm