Your neighbours in the Philippines

Perhaps i have been lucky in the three different houses that i have lived. The first house was on a new sub division in Cagayan de oro.

The neighbours were friendly and had invites to bbq etc. I also invited my neighbours in return.

The second house was on an older sub division in CDO also. The neighbours were friendly and the local sari sari stores always chatty. Again invites to birthday party etc were offered.

The third house i live currently and final move. It is on a modern sub division. Again i'm blessed with good neighbours who extend their welcome for any celebrations. Appear at the gate with fruit or foods they have just cooked. We both help each other if assistance is required. I feel happy and secure and give thanks for the people around me.

Interesting question for me, we are in a subdivision not so new existing from 2010 but only two houses and one is basically abandoned so it's only us, no neighbours.

So I have built a play park, swings, see-saw, climbing ropes, games, volleyball quart and badminton just for the kids in our Barangay as they are living on the street and have nowhere to play to get healthy exercise instead of getting involved in the wrong things.

I have additionally got myself grass cutters, trimmers etc and keeping the area cleaned and trimmed even the entrance I have painted etc.

So no invites but the kids are having fun and I was able to get them to not throw garbage as it is a pet hate of me, especially plastic. We now and then offer them ice cream, we bought the sport equipment and made some kids responsible for the kit, just to bring in the sense of responsibility, accountability and possible leadership.

We are having fun and enjoying the life at the moment.

@aklokow

Superb, you will succeed.

Well done.

Cheers, Steve.

Ive been living here in a condo for about two months.   i think my neighbors are all local and probably the area as well. The nearby mall is large, always lots of people and all have raven hair.  I would say my neighbors keep to themselves and are very quiet and  reserved.  My impression is I would need to make first contact and contribute more to the conversation in order to keep it going.   I also don't think they would be comfortable with the initial contact unless i was with someone they already know. 

I was recently joking with my friend about how this place has some of the qualities of an apocalypse movie for me.   Buildings and streets in disrepair, the smell of mold and decay, thousands of zombie people walking  slowly, aimlessly through the mall and me walking around looking for food hoping to one day find another living human being.

Not one of your neighbors, nor mine, or anybody's for that matter, especially the sometimes needed plumber or electrician owns a single ratchet or socket, nor open end or box wrench. But they all have oversized crescent wrenches!

The only reason my hand tools didn't come with me is because of weight. I sometimes question my thinking.

Larry Fisher said. . . . Not one of your neighbors, nor mine, or anybody's for that matter, especially the sometimes needed plumber or electrician owns a single ratchet or socket, nor open end or box wrench. But they all have oversized crescent wrenches!
The only reason my hand tools didn't come with me is because of weight. I sometimes question my thinking.

***************************************

Before moving here in 2018 I lived in an age restricted apartment complex (Las Vegas). Prior to that I lived in a rented house in Pittsburgh and had basic hand tools. As I did minor repairs without burning the ears off of the landlord. (Helps keeping the rent increases low when renewing the lease.)

.

Well anyways in Las Vegas the management was very good, just an email to them and maintenance would fix the problem the next day, so I only needed simple hand tools. I think the biggest tool I brought to the Philippines was a small cordless drill.

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Now living in a house, I bought on Shopee a set of hand tools very cheap. Repairs I could have done 10 years ago I wouldn't attempt now, just too old and want to avoid injury. (no chairs, ladders or repairs that require me being on hands and knees) For repairs we use local handymen. Just yesterday the bidet hose needed replacement. I could not vision myself on the floor in a very tight place. I gave our handyman P300 and some canned goods and he was thankful.

.

For easier repairs I have two adult stepsons living with us, they take care of most repairs.
   

   

I used to have a 5 foot long, Snap-On tool box (pre divorce 1997) filled to the brim. We're installing a new pump and water storage to increase our water pressure. Watching the plumber use a big ass crescent wrench on little ass nuts just makes me bonkers. lol

Now I'm shopping Lazada thinking about a wrench set and socket set for future. But I have zero clue what brands are better quality. Based on prices, there's some wrench sets out there I expect would break in half if you dropped them.

    Ive been living here in a condo for about two months.   i think my neighbors are all local and probably the area as well. The nearby mall is large, always lots of people and all have raven hair.  I would say my neighbors keep to themselves and are very quiet and  reserved.  My impression is I would need to make first contact and contribute more to the conversation in order to keep it going.   I also don't think they would be comfortable with the initial contact unless i was with someone they already know.  I was recently joking with my friend about how this place has some of the qualities of an apocalypse movie for me.   Buildings and streets in disrepair, the smell of mold and decay, thousands of zombie people walking  slowly, aimlessly through the mall and me walking around looking for food hoping to one day find another living human being.-@stevenrussellwork

I enjoyed a wry smile reading your post Steven. I could have written it myself after my first visit to the country in 2001.

I have stated this before but whenever I land in the Philippines its almost like I've arrived on a film set. A bit like Jim Carrey in the Truman Show.

Contrary to peoples perceptions Filipinos can be 'skin deep' in their attitudes to foreigners. They suffer a lack of confidence and unless they have worked abroad their lack of education is without doubt manifested in their behaviour. This is one of the reasons why they have an inability to think for themselves. A homogenous society with the 'group think' mind set illustrated especially in the large impersonal shopping malls that pervade the big cities. People walking around like robotic zombies in a sci-fi movie. I think the worst experience I ever had was when I visited the enormous Mall of Asia in Pasay. Utterly depressing.

Its important therefore to make expat friends here but the right sort of friends in order to maintain your sanity. Worth checking out( if you haven't already) the 'Old Dog New Tricks' videos by Paul in Dumaguete which will give you some reference points.

@Lotus Eater

Succinct and accurate. No need for me to add. Well spoken.

Cheers, Steve.

        Ive been living here in a condo for about two months.   i think my neighbors are all local and probably the area as well. The nearby mall is large, always lots of people and all have raven hair.  I would say my neighbors keep to themselves and are very quiet and  reserved.  My impression is I would need to make first contact and contribute more to the conversation in order to keep it going.   I also don't think they would be comfortable with the initial contact unless i was with someone they already know.  I was recently joking with my friend about how this place has some of the qualities of an apocalypse movie for me.   Buildings and streets in disrepair, the smell of mold and decay, thousands of zombie people walking  slowly, aimlessly through the mall and me walking around looking for food hoping to one day find another living human being.-@stevenrussellwork

I suppouse because of wrong location.

Contrary to peoples perceptions Filipinos can be 'skin deep' in their attitudes to foreigners. They suffer a lack of confidence and unless they have worked abroad their lack of education is without doubt manifested in their behaviour.

    -@Lotus Eater

I have never had problem to become friend with all I have wanted to become friend with (Except a few of the interesting women

Even having "My personal news service" of Filipinos from different backgrounds telling me things just because they want to communicate with me. I have never paid any of them anything.  (Except I paid the antibiotics when a toddler boy was very ill and the relatives didnt have anything left to sell nor any more they could borrow from.) Most are from provinces though.

This is one of the reasons why they have an inability to think for themselves.

    -@Lotus Eater

They think but many think so they screw up 

I blame the church sabotaging logic thinking.

And "lose face" culture make they want to make other when geting work instructions to show they can themselves, specialy if told to by a foreigner.

That problem can be reduced sometimes if make it as a discussion before "deciding" so they get involved in it. Some find the good solutions by themselves (giving them some thinking adjusting hints if needed.)

E g one managed to solve a some complicated math test by that.

Often its the poor LOW educated "street smart" who think best by themselves, while many with higher exams have made me make the expression

"High education cant cure stupidity" 

"Lose face" culture mess up extra by they think asking is a sign of stupidity "lose face" if they ask.

An ex complained I asked to much, but she stoped complaining when I told I know so much because I ask so much 

A homogenous society with the 'group think' mind set illustrated especially in the large impersonal shopping malls that pervade the big cities. People walking around like robotic zombies in a sci-fi movie. I think the worst experience I ever had was when I visited the enormous Mall of Asia in Pasay. Utterly depressing.   -@Lotus Eater

Its like that in "western" cities too 

Thats a reason to chose rural/small towns.

Its important therefore to make expat friends here but the right sort of friends in order to maintain your sanity. Worth checking out( if you haven't already) the 'Old Dog New Tricks' videos by Paul in Dumaguete which will give you some reference points.    -@Lotus Eater

How come you are such a crap person then? 

There are intestesting expats, but few percent. I dont want to socialise with "bar people" in my home country neither and in Phils and Thailand they are a much higher percentage.

@Cheryl

Thank you this respected

i have stayed in Philippines [Pagadian city-for two months found the people very friendly but a language problem ''TRUE''...

this Language is named Visian -Where i do weant to learn to speak Visian i cannot find the visian alphabet [like the used Alphabet in England UK..

Please '''any ideas on learning new Language ?..

Respectfully

mum.zy1

    @CherylThank you this respectedi have stayed in Philippines [Pagadian city-for two months found the people very friendly but a language problem ''TRUE''...this Language is named Visian -Where i do weant to learn to speak Visian i cannot find the visian alphabet [like the used Alphabet in England UK.. Please '''any ideas on learning new Language ?..Respectfully

The main dialect spoken in the Visayas is Cebuano. There are slight variations on the islands but everybody in this region 7 can understand the language of Cebu.  LEARN101 has a cool website (free) that will get you started at http colon slash slash learn101 dot org slash cebuano dot php

mum.zy1        -@mumzy1

@Larry Fisher

I've seen that too..  Like a roofer that showed up with no ladder.

Chris

@stevenrussellwork

I've been lucky. I met a Grab driver on day 2 of being in Davao. He is now my good friend. He introduced me to many people, including the owner of the house that I rent... Before that, he suggested a change of hotels and I met a wonderful young Filipino at the new hotel.  We are now very together.

I owe my happiness to my Grab driver friend.

Chris

    @Larry Fisher
I've seen that too..  Like a roofer that showed up with no ladder.

Chris
   

    -@chughes6302

Homeowner is responsible to make sure he can get up on the roof. Maybe you buy bamboo and he makes a ladder.

Yep agree, see it all the time here. Mind you the professionals like the solar company had all the tools and equipment, Cignal TV the original installers never had a ladder or drills and arrived on motorbikes.

My electrician god love him turns up here on his tricycle with a bag of tools and meters and we supply all else.... including my input but an electrician @ P700 per day I'm not complaining.

The cabinet makers had all their own gear including the apparent CEO (lady) sitting in a chair all day watching them and conducting business on the phone.

The glass company and I'm talking 12mm glass, Sir do you have? Can we borrow? 2 sets of fixed tempered glass windows so far were wrongly measured, the 2 security screen doors were fitted with cheap pad bolts instead of the discussed (with the owner) 3 way locks off 1 door handle, yes sir we can do that and they installed a 50 peso pad bolt. Sir do you have any spare black silicone?

The first door company sacked. the second door company fantastic but we will see if the come back and adjust a few things. I understand my workers on wages use our gear and we supervise supplies as they can't but contractors on a fixed price?

As for neighbours we are cordial but keep our distance.

LOL, my Saturday morning whing.

Cheers, Steve.

    Yep agree, see it all the time here. Mind you the professionals like the solar company had all the tools and equipment, Cignal TV the original installers never had a ladder or drills and arrived on motorbikes.
My electrician god love him turns up here on his tricycle with a bag of tools and meters and we supply all else.... including my input but an electrician @ P700 per day I'm not complaining.
The cabinet makers had all their own gear including the apparent CEO (lady) sitting in a chair all day watching them and conducting business on the phone.

The glass company and I'm talking 12mm glass, Sir do you have? Can we borrow? 2 sets of fixed tempered glass windows so far were wrongly measured, the 2 security screen doors were fitted with cheap pad bolts instead of the discussed (with the owner) 3 way locks off 1 door handle, yes sir we can do that and they installed a 50 peso pad bolt. Sir do you have any spare black silicone?

The first door company sacked. the second door company fantastic but we will see if the come back and adjust a few things. I understand my workers on wages use our gear and we supervise supplies as they can't but contractors on a fixed price?

As for neighbours we are cordial but keep our distance.

LOL, my Saturday morning whing.

Cheers, Steve.
   

    -@bigpearl

So, what did the Cignal installers do? Make their own cheap temporary ladder? Here we have a ladder brought here on the container from the US but we have another place in Siquijor with no ladder. Our electrician, to whom I am ninong does borrow my drill, no problem, but workers who did our home extension also borrowed it and now I have very few drill bits left. I remember buying several, they were on the receipts but I think they must have kept them. Maybe next time I tell them to bring their own bits? Carbide tip for cement are expensive. For cutting the grass, did buy a regular lawnmower so my brother in law could mow. But more often than not, he is not here so we hire somebody to do it who charges 1500 pesos whether he uses my lawnmower or cuts the grass with a trimmer like he used to do. Same price but faster with the lawnmower. In the future I may tell him to just use his trimmer to avoid wear and on the mower; after all, I am paying about the same as I paid in the US where I had a bigger lawn. I think if I were not a foreigner the charge would be no more than a day's wage of 350-600 php. LOL have a good Saturday, what remains of it.

LOL, frustrating at best Dan. Day off tomorrow.

The electrician, Eddy there are 5 ceiling fans to install, you ok with that? Yes done plenty. 4 hours later 1 fan installed with my guidence as well the elactrician has one of my labourers waiting on him. For me as a dumb plumber is max 1 and a half hours, done plenty by myself.

Here no method nor process to complete a job.

As for ladders we also put an 18ft extension ladder and 2 x 6ft extension ladders in the container for the move, thanks be the lord if there is one.

Cheers, Steve.

You wouldn't want to have Anthony Laurence as your neighbor in the Philippines.

@Jackson4

Who is Anthony Lawrence? Please excuse my ignorance.

Cheers, Steve.

    @Jackson4 Who is Anthony Lawrence? Please excuse my ignorance.Cheers, Steve.        -@bigpearl

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said an American national was permanently banned from entering the Philippines after showing “rude conduct” and putting “false and profane information” in the eTravel system.

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Ah, remember. More fool him, never mess with immi.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.