More on.... "Differences" in Culture

A quick update first on Linda's last election blog..... today.... June 9th..... almost a full month after the election.... the new President was officially declared. This process included one of the candidates refusing to concede even though he was millions behind. This brings to mind an image of a man sitting in a huge hall for a month after everyone went home and got on with their lives. It also brings forward the question of "what on earth they have been doing since then?". The new President "Noy Noy" is ready to go....most of the buzz has been devoted to his smoking (a devoted heavy smoker that has responded to the World Health Organization (WHO) "Why would I stop smoking?"). It will be interesting to see how the security detail protects Noy Noy during his many smoke breaks as the Government buildings have all been declared "smoke-free". We will see if this happens....

We thought we would share some "differences" in our cultures, the way the world around us is perceived, and a few humourous observations.

• Roosters (I can't have an update without a rooster comment)
  I actually watched a show on TV that was called "Top Rooster Breeders".... it was not in English but it was a fascinating view into rooster world. So many types and such rich information. I could not sleep as I was so amped up after the show.
• Ivory Soap
  Linda bought some Ivory Soap, which we were thrilled to find. Upon closer inspection we realized the packaging was in French and English.... and was packaged in Mississauga. Seems crazy that our soap was shipped over 10,000 kms just for us.
• Different Phrases and Grammar
  There appears to be a general acceptance that if you add "est" to any word it is deemed to be okay. This even appears in major advertising campaigns. A good example is one of the major Cell Phone companies that advertise "Nationwidest" and "Broadbandest".... really?
• Health
  There is a commercial on TV that warns of "High Blood".... this makes me chuckle everytime I hear it as it is said in a low foreboding voice. There are endless commercials that advertise the benefits of Absorbic Acid.... I had no clue this was everything from a miracle cure to a way to get your kids to do better in school. Green Tea is also a cure all for such issues as "carb overloading", "work overload" and "one too many". Pond's Cream seems to rule the "Skin Whitening" market (yes, there is a full range of creams and pills to make your skin whiter). This is targeted to all ages from teens and above... a little creepy actually as the Philippine people are really a very nice colour as they are.
• Activities
  The people of the Philippines all recognize the activity of "Malling". When I first heard this phrase I actually thought they were talking about someone being beaten.... no this is referring to going to the mall and spending the day. I suppose the Canadian culture does the same to avoid the cold... when you live in a country where Air Conditioning (known here as "Air Con") where temperatures are often 36 Celsius (48 with humidity).... a little Malling feels pretty good.
• Restaurant Etiquette
  When you eat with a Filipino person it is generally assumed that everything on the table is shared. Many of the restaurants do serve the food this way. My absolute favorite is something called a "Boodle". This is a large square wooden tray (roughly 3ft x 3ft) that is covered in banana leaves. In the centre is a big pile of rice which is surrounded by different fish, pork, beef, and chicken dishes. The people around the table simply take what they like and eat it in their little corner of the banana leaf.... a lot of fun. Other differences are that no one ever asks how your meal is (I think this would be seen as a rude interruption). They will never ask if you want your bill or bring your bill unless you ask for it (a lesson learned early on in our life here). And they will rarely clear the dishes until you have left.

Happy Birthday Brenda !!