Cebu Journal (pg. 4)
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February 6, 2005: I have now started the fourth week of my visit to Cebu. So, I might as well start a page 4 of my journal. I didn't get a chance to write yesterday. We left early to go "Island Hopping" (click here for more on that) and returned around 6:30 PM. I came to the room, got showered, went down to eat, came back to the room and commenced to watch a movie on HBO. I had hoped to watch a couple of flicks, but, I fell asleep. I was absolutely zonked. But, it was a great day.
Today, after sleeping in, I have pretty much taken it easy. My muscles are sore and stiff from yesterday. So, I am working on my pictures from yesterday's Island Hopping. I am also working on some others pictures.
Before heading back home yesterday, we made a quick stop in Lapu-Lapu to visit a guitar "factory". Well, it wasn't really a factory per se. It was more like a guitar assembly in open buildings in the back courtyard of a house. What was funnier was that there were also a number of "fighting cocks" chained to posts in the courtyard. Interestingly, they raise cocks and build guitars all in the same place. (Click here for a quick slide show on the guitars and cocks). The guitar making was interesting. They had wood from the Philippines as well as wood from Hawaii and other places. Some of the instruments made included ukuleles that had coconut shell backs, some of the guitars were inlaid with shells. But, they were pretty expensive. Some of them were nearly $800 U.S. Even the cheaper ones were offered at more than $100. So, we didn't get any. Below are a couple of photos that I took there of the craftsmen.
February 7, 2005: Still really busy with work, but I had a few tidbits to drop in today.
Curtis and I rode a cab over to the SM Mall, the other large mall in Cebu, for dinner tonight. On the way we were talking to the driver who was fairly friendly. He made an interesting comment. He said that people in the Philippines don't worry about birth control so there are lots of people. He then said, "we don't do family planning; we do family planting." I just thought that was both hilarious and sadly true. So ironic that a country with so much poverty and over-population doesn't work harder at population control. Perhaps some of these stems from the Catholic background of 97% of the population.
Another interesting observation here: There are very few vending machines here. The building I am in has 18 floors. There is only one vending machine that I can find and it is on my floor...it is a Nestles coffee machine. At least it has hot chocolate and Milo. But, nothing cold.
Yesterday, as I sat in the hotel lobby waiting for Curtis, I had the opportunity to see something which I think is really culturally driven. There were three families with children in the lobby. Some of the children were three and four years old. As the families gathered in the lobby, obviously waiting for others, the children, six or seven of them, were running loose laughing and yelling, climbing the stairs, swerving to miss other guests, etc. The hotel clerks at the desk, the baggage boys, the security guards and others were all oblivious to this. As a parent and as an American, I sat there wondering how the parents could just let their children do this in a lobby where Japanese businessmen, American and European tourists and Filipino restaurant guests were all walking by, and in some cases swerving to keep from stepping on one of the children. But, I sat there for 15 minutes quietly observing this "hotel playground". As I sat there the tempo increased, the energy of the kids increased and the noise level increased. Yet, all of the parents and the hotel employees were totally oblivious. None of this bothered me really. But, it was certainly an interesting thing to watch.
Another tidbit: Taxi drivers here do not carry receipts. Ask for one and they say they don't do them. Keep that in mind if you need a receipt.
My Jeepney page talks in detail about Jeepneys and how they are used for transport around here. But, conspicuously missing are city buses. There are none. The Jeepneys serve that purpose. There are, however, big buses, many painted just like the Jeepneys. I have not gotten too many examples of these since they don't wander around town too much. Most of the buses are used to transport people to the Northern Provinces here on Cebu Island. They typically have windows, but it appears that they are all open. Many of these buses are as packed as the Jeepneys on weekends. Here are a couple of photos of the buses.
As my time in Cebu winds down, I feel that there are tidbits of info and pictures that still need to be shared. Over the next couple of days I will probably be dropping in some of these items.
For instance, I have mentioned the tricycles and there are some photos if these in the slideshows. But, the feeling of these modes of transport is really expressed in a couple of photos below:
In the photo on the left there is a long line of tricycles. The same is on the left side of the photo, though not obvious. As we progressed down this road, on the way to Mactan for the island hopping trip there were what seemed like dozens and dozens of these lining up to the right of the van. They crowd inside these, sometimes with as many as six or seven people. Some will even ride "side-saddle", as the person in the photo on the right.
Driving through the small barangays (towns) there is always life on the side of the road. People walking along the road frequenting the many food stands, shops and otherwise. I tried to capture some of this roadside lie in the following two photos, one of a roast chicken stand and the other of a barbershop:
And finally, for the day, my last picture, indicative of the many transport workers. Waiting, always waiting, for a fare......
February 10, 2005: Well, its here...my last full day in Cebu. In many ways it is a relief. I am weary and homesick. I miss my family. But, by the same token, I am saddened to leave here. The people at Lexmark Cebu have been great. I have made some good friends and I feel fortunate that I will still be able to work with them long distance.
As I walked out of the hotel this morning I realized that this would be the last time I say Maayong Buntag (good morning) to most of these people. They all know be name now. I have been in the Marriott a long time. It has become my comfort zone, my place to escape. Yet, it has also been my place for reflection. I have had some lonely times. But, I have also had some joyful times. I have been blessed to see a lot of Cebu. I have been able to bask in the culture, the history, the sights, the smells. The Cebuanos are a kind, friendly gracious people. Even those with relatively no money and living a life of daily struggle seem willing to reach out and be friendly.
It seems that for the last few days the security guards no longer follow me to the hotel. Security at the hotel treats me like a resident and not a guest any longer. Even the Marriott's housekeeping has grown lax--three times I have returned in the evening and there were no bath towels. I have to call every time for laundry bags as they are not left in the room. Yes, its as though I have become a fixture here. The girls in the upstairs lounge don't ask me if I want coffee in the morning anymore, since they know I don't drink it. Its always just Maayong Buntag Mr. Kravetz. The desk clerks know my voice and my jokes. But tonight will be the last night with the low, lumpy bed and flat pillows. It will be the last night I share my room with CNN International and AXN-Asia (which carries Alias and Amazing Race, my two favorite shows).
It is always a strange feeling to be excited to leave...anxious to get away from a place...yet have the sadness in your heart that you are leaving a place you have grown to love and appreciate. Its bittersweet I guess. Nevertheless, it will be nice to be with my lovely wife and friend again. It will be a joy to see my children again. It will be comforting to lay in my big COMFY bed with my favorite FLUFFY pillows. I look forward to sitting in my cozy office at Lexmark again.
I have been changed by this visit. Change is good. I have gained a deeper appreciation for what I have at home...both the physical items like a nice house and cars, etc., but also for a loving family and wonderful friends. You don't really know how good things are until you are away from them for an extended period. I sincerely feel empathy for all of the soldiers in Iraq. My lot is so much better than theirs...I don't have bullets flying over my head. Indeed, the Lord has blessed me and my family dearly.
In 21 hours I will be boarding the van at the hotel to head to the airport. As each hour passes I will be saying my goodbyes to the people I have worked with for the last month. The smiling faces will soon fade to memories...good memories...happy memories. I honor these hard working people here. They have been an inspiration to me. I have learned a lot from them. They probably don't know that. I came as the instructor, but many times as I was taught by them. They have been patient with me. They now say "that's a Kravetz joke" when someone says a stupid joke....just like home!! I have to put this here-- :-) . The other day in a conversation one of the team leads here cracked a "Kravetz joke", indeed, he was repeating something he had learned from me two weeks earlier. It was funny!! It will be sad to me to say goodbye. I don't know if I will ever see most of these people again. I don't know if I will have the pleasure of visiting again....I hope I do, but one never knows what the future has in store.
Its been a good time.