Letter from Manila - Santol - of course!

[georgeb]

Washed the '38 this morning down the Pit of Hell.

I use plain water and leather on one panel at time. If it gets too dirty and needs a proper doing, I take it to the car wash first. But this was basically just rinsing dust off. So no six buckets of soapy water, no hosepipe running for half an hour.

A security guard came up to me as I was finishing up and told me that although washing the car was no problem, "you must not get water on the floor"

I looked pointedly at another five or six vehicles washed by their drivers earlier, all sat in little puddles just like mine. Then I looked down at the positive lake (no exaggeration) of engine oil deposited by my car park next door neighbour. Then I looked at the security guard.

I said nothing.

The guard walked away.

Who dreams these mindless "rules" up?

"Today, the Senate passed a law forbidding any typhoons from approaching the Philippines" Senator Canute told our reporter.

[varelse]

I hope you get footage of however they plan to enforce that one.

[georgeb]

Jun 4, 2016 4:00:10 GMT varelse said:

I hope you get footage of however they plan to enforce that one.

And talking of enforcing...

There's already a curfew on minors between 10pm and 4am started this week. And Du30's not president yet.

Yesterday, over a 100 were arrested on Quezon City, around 10km from here, for drinking in public, being shirtless and drug offences.

His latest speech on Saturday...

...Duterte also urged common citizens to police their own neighbourhoods, and that they should directly arrest criminals.

"Feel free to call us, or do it yourself if you have a gun," urged the president-elect. "I support you."

Duterte explained that common citizen who arrest criminals should bring suspects to a police stations. However, if a suspect resists, the arresting citizen can use deadly force.

"In an arrest you have to overcome the resistance of a criminal. And if he (the suspect) resists you can kill him," Duterte clarified.

The fun starts.

[henry's Revenge]

Kinda sounds like the pond will be left with one really big fat fish in it with justice like that

[dodgerover]

Sounds a good time to be selling guns and ammo, a sideline for the water shop perhaps?

When you said your other half arranged the money matters in the local fashion I take it that didn't mean paying that nice old lady in the square to make all the people asking for money go away?

[georgeb]

Jun 5, 2016 16:51:41 GMT @nyphur said:

Spotted this on Sky News today which led me to catch up on the thread, but I was too late as ever...

news.sky.com/story/1707247/kill-drug-dealers-and-get-medal-filipinos-told

"He said a drug dealer who resisted arrest and threatened someone with a gun or knife could be killed with impunity.

"Shoot him and I'll give you a medal," he added."

Aye, it's going to be fun after July 1

Jun 5, 2016 17:45:56 GMT henry's Revenge said:

Kinda sounds like the pond will be left with one really big fat fish in it with justice like that

And here's the man himslef on the subject...

"On a previous occasion Duterte, a lawyer, pledged to kill 100,000 criminals and dump so many in Manila Bay that the "fish will grow fat" from feeding on them."

Jun 5, 2016 18:59:14 GMT dodgerover said:

Sounds a good time to be selling guns and ammo, a sideline for the water shop perhaps?

I'll mention it to Madam but she's a little anti-gun just at the moment!

Jun 5, 2016 18:59:14 GMT dodgerover said:

When you said your other half arranged the money matters in the local fashion I take it that didn't mean paying that nice old lady in the square to make all the people asking for money go away?

Funnily enough, I hardly ever get bothered there. I think she's warned them off so she knows I've got some money to buy her local kids basketball team their kit each year!

[georgeb]

Yes, the Philippines is a land of contrasts.

For example, we have a church encouraging procreation to fuel population growth whilst at the same time about to have a president who wants to make significant inroads into that number, but none is more stark than when it comes to banking.

Back in 2013, I opened an account with Asia United Bank, not because they were the best or the biggest, but because they would accept a signed and notarised lease document as proof of address.

And here lies the first contrast. All the others (including HSBC with whom I already had two account overseas) wanted a government issued identification, namely my Alien Registration Card which you can't get until after four months in country. The biggest irony being that the address on that is the one that you provide to immigration, with nothing to support it. Worthless then? Probably, but it’s the RULE.

Anyway, account duly opened so I could provide my new landlord with 12 post-dated cheques for the rent, which is the approved manner here.

There’s nothing special about the account, I get a cheque book, ATM/Debit card and full internet banking facilities. The only thing I can’t do yet are international transfers but no issue, I use my Hong Kong account for those. All this means that since December 2013, I have not visited a branch, happily undertaking all transactions on-line. And here’s the second contrast. Despite all the bells a whistles, you are also provided with a pass book for your account. Remember this.

So yesterday, I threw Pup 1 in the car heading for our daily Poo in the Park and pulled in at my local branch of AUB at nine thirty, parking in some shade directly outside the door and leaving all the windows down so I didn’t come back to a roast dog although at that time, the temperature was just winding up, not full volume.

With a cheery, "I'll be back in five minutes" I enter the bank, all sleek with blond wood and chrome and wander over to a little machine, enter my account number and tell it what transaction I want to do. It then gives you a queuing number – “Please wait until you are called”. I am the only other customer and there are six tellers, all staring intently at their computer monitors.

After ten minutes, with no discernible communication, the other customer walks up to the counter and does whatever he was there to do. He leaves. Nothing.

Five minutes later, I think nothing ventured and walk up to the same young lady. She starts to undertake my transaction. She asks for my pass book. Much tapping of keys ensues, followed by frowning and she then wanders off to consult a colleague.

Fifteen minutes go by, and the bank is now starting to fill up. None of the other tellers are remotely interested. She returns to the counter. I have a sneaking suspicion as to what is about to happen.

Yes, she has to print off every single transaction for two and a half years into the passbook. Or, to be more precise, the five passbooks, four of them now full, that I brought home with me.



I joke that the last time I had an account with a passbook, I was about 12 with a Post Office Giro account my mother opened for me. She doesn’t see the significance.

I left an hour later, the bank was rammed, five tellers were still on Facebook and the poor pup had decided Poo in the Car was his only option.

A land of contrasts indeed.

[Sweetpea]

That's brilliant.
Your car, on the other hand, seems to be doomed. First of all I leave a virtual Durian wrapped in leaves on the back seat and now your baby hound has a very real dump in it on a hot day. It's going to smell worse than the loos at my work.

[georgeb]

Jun 9, 2016 23:12:26 GMT Sweetpea said:

That's brilliant.
Your car, on the other hand, seems to be doomed. First of all I leave a virtual Durian wrapped in leaves on the back seat and now your baby hound has a very real dump in it on a hot day. It's going to smell worse than the loos at my work.

Y'see that was another contrast I forgot to mention.

I left the car all smelling of leather and stuff to came back and find it wasn't!

Following a trip to school this morning to get some new sew-on badges for my Bottle Openers blouses, I had a good hour with leather and carpet cleaner. She smells a lot better now but we'll see when it's been parked in the sun for half an hour whilst we have today's (non-distractional) Poo in the Park.

If the park is actually open. It's Independence Day on Sunday, when we mark the fact that the Spanish finally left in 1898. Admittedly, they were immediately replaced by the Americans who hung on until 1946 (if you don't count the bit where they were kicked out by the Japanese) so not really independent for very long. But let us not have the facts get in the way, it now means we can have an Independence Day on June 12 and a Republic Day which celebrates actual independence on July 4.

Anyway, the upshot is that Rizal Park, which Pup 1 kindy graces with his offerings, is the centre of the country's joyous festivities, with marches, fly pasts and all sorts of martial stuff, so they build stuff for the celebrations and may, or may not, have closed the park. We'll see.

Outside of the Great and the Good, the general population don't really give a stuff and will celebrate, in true Philippine style, by spending the day up a shopping mall. 

[adam73bgt]

Just seen this appear in the 'trending' news stories on Facebook



Are they taking bets there on if he'll make it to/how long he'll last in office?

[georgeb]

The drug guys had offered PHP20m for anyone taking out Duterte and his new police chief.

Seems no-one wanted to play, so it's been upped to PHP50m, around GBP750,000.

Du30 and his mate are boasting about it.

Good 'ere, innit?

[Sweetpea]

So, thinking this story through...

I'm a drug lord, currently banged up for being jolly unpleasant. I want the president elect knocking off 'cos he's a pain in my butt. Do I...

1, Call in George, my most loyal soldier, and say "Quietly kill the president 'cos if you don't I'll have somebody quietly kill you." (Ruthless eh!?)

Or

2, Call in George and say "Put a big advert in the paper saying I'll pay lots of money to somebody who kills the president. They'll never trace it to me!"

I'd do the first one. which leads me to believe this is a story largely concocted by the politician and the policeman. And that would suggest that the drug lords are more trustworthy than the politicians.

Hmmm, same the world over.

[georgeb]

Jun 10, 2016 13:46:21 GMT Sweetpea said:

So, thinking this story through...

I'm a drug lord, currently banged up for being jolly unpleasant. I want the president elect knocking off 'cos he's a pain in my butt. Do I...

1, Call in George, my most loyal soldier, and say "Quietly kill the president 'cos if you don't I'll have somebody quietly kill you." (Ruthless eh!?)

Or

2, Call in George and say "Put a big advert in the paper saying I'll pay lots of money to somebody who kills the president. They'll never trace it to me!"

I'd do the first one. which leads me to believe this is a story largely concocted by the politician and the policeman. And that would suggest that the drug lords are more trustworthy than the politicians.

Hmmm, same the world over.

Actually James, although I understand your cynicism towards elected representatives, this one smacks of at least half a truth.

Y'see with the current administration, any convicted "drug lord" could be fairly sure of buying his way out after a token period of time, free to pick up where he left off. Under the incoming lot however, that is unlikely to be an option and any day now you are far more likely to find yourself on the wrong end of something terminal. Therefore this could just be concentrating minds a little at the moment.

If they succeed, then the VP takes over and as she's a clone of the current lot, the status quo would return, so they've nothing to lose really.

I'm guessing that several have sort of clubbed together, if you will, hence the public knowledge. That and nowt remains secret for long here anyway.

[Sweetpea]

Silly me. I was thinking that if they locked you up they kept you.

[Deleted]

So.
Ads in the paper offering to pay for termination.
Bays about to be full of bodies.
Fun place

Probably less corrupt than Europe

[georgeb]

And a very merry Independence Day to you all!



This year the theme will be "Kalayaan 2016: Pagkakaisa, Pag-aambagan, Pagsulong" so it should be good.

At around very nearly precisely 8am, the about to be ex-president will lay a wreath at Rizal Monument whilst the flag is being raised. There will then be a fly past of whatever relics they've managed to cobble together long enough to stay up for a few minutes. Actually that's not quite fair. They've been practising formation flying all week, sometimes with nine helicopters and others with seven, then nine again and I have to say, if having 9 choppers in loosely the same bit of sky can be classed as a formation, then they are getting pretty damn slick. And talking of slick, three of the 'copters are venerable Hueys, no doubt left to a grateful nation at the end of the Vietnam war. They may be old, but there always there!

They also picked up a couple of FA50's at some Korean boot-fair and one of them has been flying around as well. Well, I say flying, but despite hearing one on several occasions this week, I've never actually spotted it and am beginning to suspect that huge speakers have been set up around the city to boom out jet engine noises, like some huge surround sound system. "Look, our new fighter's so fast you can't even see it!" Let's find out at more or less exactly around 08:11-ish, or so. "Synchronise watches, it is now exactly...Before Lunch"

Anyway, in keeping with tradition, I shall be up Robinson's Mall whilst my two little Bottle Openers ram-raid National Book Store and stock up everything they need for their first day back at school tomorrow. No doubt that'll cost me lunch as well.

Any bets how long the school manages before the first unannounced half or full day closure? I reckon Wednesday, max.

Jun 11, 2016 11:46:20 GMT Sweetpea said:

Silly me. I was thinking that if they locked you up they kept you.

No, no, no, you only get locked up for good if you've no cash, or mates.

Jun 11, 2016 17:29:51 GMT @quickrack1 said:

So.
Ads in the paper offering to pay for termination.
Bays about to be full of bodies.
Fun place

Probably less corrupt than Europe

Yup, fun indeed.

Will it all end with impeachment, a coup, an assassination, or a ten year dictatorship? Who knows. 

I don't know about more, or less corrupt, but they certainly don't bother with all that veil of respectability malarkey so beloved in the West. So at least you know where you stand!

[georgeb]

Independence Day Pt.2

So, how did it all go then?

A bit haphazard really. The way it had gone in the previous week's practice was as follows:-

1) Two helicopters, in line astern, approach Rizal Park from the sea and fly along its length
2) They peel off to join up with the others
3) Flypast of (9 or 7, depending!) helicopters now running parallel to the coast
4) Sometimes a flight of 9 high winged, prop driven trainers has joined in, but that’s not been every time
5) Switch the speakers on and pretend there's a flyover of FA50. Go out with a bang!
6) No idea on the 21-gun salute, they only practiced it once, around three weeks ago
7) The end

So at 8am I am on the balcony, binoculars in hand ready for the big show. Over Manila North Port I can see the flight of helicopters circling in a holding pattern.

One large mug of tea later and I can still see the choppers going round and round.

I make another brew and start to wonder about helicopter flight endurance times.

Tea finished, our heroes continue on their orbital path.

Suddenly, a flash of silver! Yes, it’s the mythical FA50 roaring in from the sea. Two seconds and it’s gone. Why was he first this time rather than the finale though? Good question. I think that either the gallon of Caltex Gold they’d stuck in was running low or the string broke, putting him out of communication with the ground, so he rolled in on time. It wasn’t his fault no-one else had done their bit, was it?

This seemed to galvanise everyone into action, the choppers split and did their thing and the nine trainers flew over, now (sort of) trailing red, white and blue smoke, all very lovely.

And the 21-gun salute? Well, the naval vessel sitting just offshore remained resolutely silent. Must have used everything up the other week. We can only assume that the replacement ammunition that should have been marked, “Soon” wound up in the “Later” pile and is still on the way.


               Do the Red Arrows need to worry yet?

It was now 10am and time for a Sunday morning cold one.

Anyway, if Beijing was viewing, that’s what you’re going up against in the South China Sea, so just watch it!

Oh, and I was wrong on the school. They fooled everybody. The girls came home Monday night with a letter for me to sign. Amongst everything else, it said the school would be closed on the Friday. Great, I thought, they can't even manage one week. However, for reasons never disclosed, they changed their minds on Thursday and did open Friday! New one on me that.

[Frankenhealey]

Jun 20, 2016 2:11:51 GMT georgeb said:

Oh, and I was wrong on the school. They fooled everybody. The girls came home Monday night with a letter for me to sign. Amongst everything else, it said the school would be closed on the Friday. Great, I thought, they can't even manage one week. However, for reasons never disclosed, they changed their minds on Thursday and did open Friday! New one on me that.

George, they're reading your blog and know the grumpy White Man is on to them

[Deleted]

^^
...scared of Pull Max ....hehehe

[georgeb]

Jun 20, 2016 17:02:09 GMT Frankenhealey said:

George, they're reading your blog and know the grumpy White Man is on to them

If people actually took any notice, we'd be halfway through the port project by now!

Jun 20, 2016 17:57:33 GMT @johnnybravo said:

^^
...scared of Pull Max ....hehehe

Had to admit defeat. I'd hoped that one of the new barmaids they'd got was called Max, but no such luck and I wasn't prepared to risk elsewhere. I did consider going to the incomparable Ace Hardware - they of the tight trouser-ed sales girls - and asking if they had a Pullma Axe, but it had sort of gone off me by then and a beer was in order instead. Next time, next time.

You have to love it here, even the anti-crime lobby are getting worried;-

"The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on expressed alarm over the increase in the number of illegal drug suspects getting killed in police operations.
VACC board member and spokesperson Arsenio Evangelista told radio dzBB in an interview that the "substantial" number of drug suspects who have been killed in the past weeks is alarming.
Evangelista said that instead of killing lowly drug suspects, police operatives should try their best to keep their subjects alive and get information from them about drug syndicates."

I do like the bit about the police trying their 'best' to keep the suspects alive. "Oh, hard luck, never mind. Here, have another and see how you get on"

And Du30 doesn't even start for another 10 days!