Comments Posted By Drain Snake
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I remember the “crying Indian” commercial very well and it was incredibly effective, perhaps the best US public service announcement ever made. (He wasn’t even a real Indian, but that’s another story.)
As Philippine culture tends to be both star-struck and faddish, just imagine how effective a combined effort by local celebrities and government could be in stamping out littering by publicly proclaiming it ignorant, uncool, and something to be ashamed of. It really wouldn’t take much. Except, of course, competent leadership and commitment to national wellbeing beyond shallow pride.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 12/April/2024 @ 9:05 am
About the litter thing. I’ve thought about this a bit and had plenty of discussions. It may be due to a combination of factors:
1. Many people have a country-living mindset not fully transitioned to life in communities with ready access to consumer goods. Mango pits and banana leaves tossed on the ground are naturally eliminated. Plastic wrappers and disposable diapers, not so much.
2. Incompetent government that in 2024 still can’t figure out the utility of public trash receptacles. It’s just mind boggling.
3. Grinding poverty makes many people far more focused on immediate personal and family needs than on the environment or esthetics. Better to blow up coral reefs with dynamite and scoop up lots of fish today than consider that there will be no more fish there tomorrow.
4. There’s a pronounced cultural predisposition to care only for immediate family and its property and fuck everyone else. Notice how some folks keep spotless households but think nothing of tossing trash in the street.
5. A legacy of having had colonial rulers, religious indoctrination, feudal government, and sugar plantation bosses is that the concept of personal responsibility is hard for many to grapple with, similar to the way it is in many an American housing project where most residents exist on debilitating welfare checks and too many aspire to little more unless it can be stolen or otherwise quickly and illegally obtained.
6. Petty snobbery of the well-to-do or newly middle class makes litter a problem for some barely paid janitor-type to worry about.
7. Extreme class stratification allows the truly rich to live in splendor and simply avoid the larger reality of filth and degradation.
8. Societal immaturity has left many folks with an adolescent mindset that prevents them from understanding the concept of shared existence and public spaces.
Yes, these are sweeping generalizations and stereotypes, but they’re not entirely unfounded.
A few brief observations: When the Americans ran the bases, thousands of Filipino workers were there every day but litter was very rare because standards were enforced. As soon as you crossed the Shit River bridge, it often seemed that someone threw a magic switch that let standards and expectations plummet, although Olongapo was still in some ways much cleaner and better-disciplined than plenty of other places. Amazingly, I’ve seen filthy barrio plazas and vacant patches scrubbed clean and decorated for religious celebrations, only to turn immediately back into absolute shit pits after they return to secular public spaces.I could go on. It’s probably best for mental health to just accept that you can’t change this stuff except in your immediate circle and maybe by setting an example. But yes, in such a beautiful country the lack of respect for the environment and the low expectations can be simply heartbreaking.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 12/April/2024 @ 5:21 am
The “giant lanterns” are the traditional Philippine parol Christmas lanterns/decorations for which San Fernando is well known.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 04/April/2024 @ 6:09 am
It’s been brewing for quite some time and everyone better watch their step.
I’ve been seeing some of that “West Philippine Sea is ours” propaganda around and it really doesn’t help, especially since it seems to imply that the entire South China Sea/West Philippine Sea is somebody’s. That’s never been the case, and it sure isn’t now, although the Philippines does have a clear claim to Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone rights extending into portions of the disputed area.
This whole thing really sticks in my craw since I was around when the Philippines created its own national defense mess by trying to extract unreasonable compensation for continued US rights to Subic Bay by trotting out the usual adolescent nationalist bluster and instead wrecked the whole arrangement and watched the US sail away in ‘92.
China’s been more aggressive ever since, and a certain recent former local president’s laughable butt-kissing safaris to China sure didn’t help.
So here we are, with China constantly and quite literally testing the waters and Uncle Kano trying to clean up the self-inflicted wounds amid a new and quite different spasm of nationalist bluster.
But hey, there’s still a shitty little “hands that freed the nation” monument beside the bay in front of the former US HQ.
Some folks never did get that “be careful what you wish for” memo.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 27/March/2024 @ 7:53 am
“I called him over to ask what was up with the music selection. He said that’s what the dancers want to hear. And I responded, but what about the customers? He just shrugged. He did put a different song on, but a few minutes later, I saw a dancer change it back.”
Classic. That’s basically a parable of the Philippines in general.
The story could continue: And then the bar went out of business and the dancers cursed the selfish foreigners for not supporting them. It was obviously all their fault.
It still kinda amazes me that anyone would invest in a bar and then utterly fail to provide the most fundamental employee training or competent management. Yet we’ve all seen this rerun so many times…. Yep, so easy to just change the channel. Or shut it off and take a hike.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 23/March/2024 @ 6:34 am
No matter how hard I push the envelope…
Bravo for refusing to be scammed. I really hate that shit. Skin tax too. You try to be fair and even generous but some greedy fuckers just can’t resist a short-term money grab. Glad this one ended up with nothing. Abruptly getting out of a cab is not losing your temper. And you didn’t owe him shit. Stick to your guns.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 16/March/2024 @ 8:44 am
Seems to me that BarCelona has developed something of a reputation for slow and indifferent service, which you have remarked on in the past. That will kill a bar faster than a few stairs, especially in an area that is dependent in part on regulars and that has some competition. Management must stay on top of things and quickly remedy deficiencies.
Philippines Rule No. Two (right after Don’t Be A Sucker): Constant Vigilance Or It Goes To Shit Fast.» Posted By Drain Snake On 24/February/2024 @ 6:07 am
Under the bleachers, by Seymour Butz.
Rusty Bedsprings, by I. P. KnightlyThat’s all I can remember from third grade. 🤣
» Posted By Drain Snake On 21/February/2024 @ 4:31 am
Fresh fruits and vegetables, and plenty of water. Less salt, processed meats, etc.
Sexercise!» Posted By Drain Snake On 11/February/2024 @ 10:00 am
Gandalf ditched the hobbits, pawned the ring, and flew to Manila to wield his magic staff.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 05/February/2024 @ 9:01 am
“I have no idea why she wanted to see me again…”
I’ll take a wild guess here: Pera!
Predict a tale of woe.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 03/February/2024 @ 6:18 am
PH is the wrong place to be without sufficient funds, plans, or a well-grounded sense of reality and perspective.
The days when you could find work on a tramp steamer bound for the next unspoiled tropical paradise-just-waiting-for-you and live off free fish and mangoes with a dusky and insatiable bare-breasted princess in a grass skirt are long gone.
In fact, that was always just a lonely sailor’s dream.
Don’t fall asleep on the beach or the monkeys will steal your sunglasses and your last beer. And in this case, maybe also leave you with a sore rump.
“You know how to whistle, don’t you Steve? You just put your lips together and…blow.”
To Have and Have Not
» Posted By Drain Snake On 01/February/2024 @ 10:25 am
Common fucking sense is often lacking in the Philippines (and plenty of other places, increasingly the US). I get less tolerant every year.
There are only three reasons to ever go to McDonkey’s: real coffee, air con, and CR.
Oh, ok, maybe ice cream once in a while. And sometimes the employees are cute.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 17/January/2024 @ 5:22 am
Bah-RAHN-guy.
Pretty sure that fuel came from Hawaii, where the Navy was forced to start shutting down massive underground storage tanks at Red Hill (near Pearl Harbor) after high-profile leaks and spills contaminated a major drinking water aquifer, sickened many military families, and outraged locals.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 15/January/2024 @ 12:50 pm
In certain circles, Wiener Schnitzel Is sometimes also another slang term for ladyboy. As in, “I don’t know, bro, that one might be a Wiener Schnitzel. Better ask mama to clarify.”
» Posted By Drain Snake On 14/January/2024 @ 7:45 am
Just wait until you truly experience the dreaded Filipina “tampo.”
I too abhor drama and have contemplated making a t-shirt that says “Bawal dito ang tampo” — Tampo is forbidden here.
If you know, you know. Or you will….
» Posted By Drain Snake On 15/December/2023 @ 4:44 am
Best wishes.
Carry on.» Posted By Drain Snake On 10/December/2023 @ 9:24 am
One of the enduring facets of life in the Philippines: three uninspired people are typically employed to do the work of one competent person, yet so many obvious minor problems remain constantly ignored.
If nobody in a position of authority specifically instructs a subordinate to fix a problem, and surplus employees are not encouraged to think and reason and take appropriate action, problems generally win.
The mind boggles…
» Posted By Drain Snake On 05/December/2023 @ 5:04 am
Good job.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 26/November/2023 @ 6:54 am
One day at a time.
Take it easy.
Cheers» Posted By Drain Snake On 19/November/2023 @ 3:07 pm
One day at a time.
Cheers» Posted By Drain Snake On 13/November/2023 @ 12:05 pm
You’re correct, of course. But only in the hypothetical sense.
You’ve been in-country long enough to understand that WHAT happened is not so important as WHO it happened to.
Snotty rich kid sticks hand through fence to taunt angry dog and gets nipped = kid’s parents hound kano dog owner for payment regardless of fault.
Remember, you’re “only a renter” and a foreigner. Your rights here come with a double asterisk.
Just saying…» Posted By Drain Snake On 13/November/2023 @ 11:54 am
Mount Arayat. Colorful history of rebels, bandits, etc.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 07/November/2023 @ 2:27 pm
Are you traveling solo to AC?
Because one does not visit AC without getting laid. It just isn’t done. It’s in the Constitution. Or something.Just kidding. Mostly.
Have fun!
» Posted By Drain Snake On 05/November/2023 @ 10:19 am
Bali Hai used to be a good hangout bar in that area.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 29/October/2023 @ 10:38 am
Ask Swan or another acquaintance about Marimar, a very popular soap opera series from years ago that was shot in that area and had the islands as a backdrop and part of the story. As these things go, it was actually kind of fun, or at least tolerable compared to most other local TV fare.
Cheers!» Posted By Drain Snake On 16/October/2023 @ 6:51 am
In the meantime, you might try the ol’ Ace Bandage, those clothe things you wrap around a knee like a mummy.
And stop feeding the hippos!
Just kidding. Your pera, your choice.
» Posted By Drain Snake On 10/October/2023 @ 4:16 am
Something great is coming your way
In other news:
It’s being reported that Biden’s dog has now been banished from the White House due to unauthorized chomping.
Just sayin’…» Posted By Drain Snake On 06/October/2023 @ 1:45 pm
Something tells me the chick from Harley’s will be contacting you again when the coast is clear (and the money runs out)…
» Posted By Drain Snake On 06/October/2023 @ 4:31 am
«« Back To Stats PageWell, one big difference is that you’re now paying the rent. But beyond that…
Your time. Your pera. Your choice.
Cheers!» Posted By Drain Snake On 05/October/2023 @ 10:48 am