It’s Hash Monday and that means I’ll be hitting the trail in a couple of hours and hitting the bottle shortly thereafter. So if I am going to post something here today I’d best do it now.
I wrapped up my lockdown Sunday with the movie Pay it Forward. It had been quite some time since I’d last seen it and with my Biden-like memory it seemed almost new to me again. For example, I’d forgotten that it was filmed in Las Vegas. Anyway, I had downloaded the film a few weeks ago in anticipation of sharing it with my friend Jhen on the occasion of my presenting her with a new laptop. Instead, she took the gift and fled. She did thank me profusely later and I saw that she recently posted a clip from the movie on her Facebook page, so at least she understands the concept of paying it forward. I hope she will.
When I went upstairs to my bedroom and was closing the sliding window in preparation for going to bed, I somehow managed to squash my thumb between the window and the jamb. Hurt like a motherfucker! This morning I have a big black bruise under the thumbnail. And no, the several beers I enjoyed with the movie had nothing to do with the accident. I’m almost sure of it.
In my morning internet explorations, I came across this clip of conjoined twins who recently were hired as a schoolteacher.
And while we are in the realm of YouTube, I’ll share a video from a Filipina vlogger who attempts to answer the question “Does your Filipina REALLY love you?” She is actually a little irritating to watch (at least to me, your mileage may vary) but she makes some points that are consistent with my own observations since I began visiting the Philippines. I’m going to be doing a post soon on the whole concept of “transactional relationships” and this video might provide you some useful background information for that discussion.
That’s all I’ve got for now.
“Transactional relationships.”
I guess that phrase really sank in, didn’t it.
And then you’ve got “9 Ways to Spot a Scammer in the Philippines.”
Lotsa’ scammers out there. And I gotta say… this seems like a really cynical series of videos. There’s another one with a title like, “Should You Take Your Filipina Back to the West?” The phrase “your Filipina” sounds almost like “your dog.” Ugh. “Now that you’ve acquired your spanking-new Filipina, how do you feed and water her?”
It’s sad enough when men treat women as objects. It’s arguably worse when women themselves buy into that worldview.
Wow. I’ve watched the above-embedded video. “Cynical” is the polite way to put it.
Yes, I’ve been stewing over the concept of transactional relationships ever since you mentioned it. I’ll have something to say about it soon.
Relationships in the Philippines, at least the ones with foreigners, are different than anything I’ve ever seen or previously experienced. What you perceive as cynical is pretty much just the on the ground reality here. And yes, the scams go hand in hand with that. To be fair, the foreign men use and abuse pretty much as much as the Filipinas do. The trick is to find the elusive good girl. Hmm, that does sound pretty cynical I suppose.
On the plus side, I was practically invisible to Korean women once I hit 60. But here in the PI “age is just a number” and the fishing pond is well-stocked with sexy young women looking for a guy just like me! Oops! I guess I just did that objectify thing too! Honestly though, I think it was just Pea the vlogger’s speaking style more than anything else. I won’t be surprised if she doesn’t come out with a video “Should I let my foreigner go out alone at night?”. It’s another topic but hoo boy, Filipinas take the jealousy thing to a whole other level. Once they think they’ve captured you they aren’t about to let you escape into another woman’s arms.
Lots to consider, but I’m also seriously looking at staying alone as a viable option.