My trip summed up in one entry

I promised I would write more about my vacation when I had pictures. Come to find out, there isn't much more! Oh well. I've borrowed some from the internet to aid in illustration.
Why was this my best vacation to the Philippines? Well, there are a few factors. First, I've learned what to expect. For instance, after three visits, I knew that there might be some bucket showers, "different" toilet facilities and potentially lots of 'skeeters. And there's that teeny tiny fact that a few of my relatives may call me fat. Let's steer away for a minute about how that can really ruin a trip.
I have ranted and raved to my mom about how being called fat is mean, hurtful and just plain rude. She knows and has actually defended me when I've been so floored by an insult that I forgot to reply. No, it wasn't all of my relatives, maybe four or five at most (I have a LOT of relatives so that's barely any.) But it only takes one insult to negate the 10 compliments you received prior. And even though my mom defends me, she has tried to persuade me that it's a cultural difference, and that to my relatives in PI, it isn't an insult, just a comment. Like saying, "You have a booger in your nose." Well, sad to say (or not), I'm Americanized. It. Is. Not. The. Same. It was such a relief to not have to deal with that crap from anyone this time around.

Another plus was that, for the most part, our living accommodations were nice. We had a couple of sketchy places but overall the places we stayed in, especially my cousins, were very comfortable. And guess what? Barely any mosquitos. Thanks be! While I don't recommend this resort for overnight trips, it is a great place to go for a day trip:

Dhio Endheka Resort

I also spoke up to my mom prior to this vacation and let her know that I wanted to do fun stuff. In- and outdoors. Maybe it's because I've held steadfast about not visiting for five years but my mom heard me. That's probably why I got to go swimming with whale sharks, hiking, parasailing, island-hopping, sailboating and stay at a resort island.
You may wonder why I would have to tell my mom this. After all, I said I was pushing 30, right? If you're Filipino, you can skip this paragraph. If you're not, here's the answer: I am at the mercy of my mom and dad when I go to the Philippines. They speak the language, they are the closest to our relatives, they know the country. I wouldn't even know how to book a hotel or plane ticket while in the Philippines. Scratch that. I do but I wouldn't know how to do it without getting ripped off. It would also be a lot harder to know what kind of tourist-y activities were available. And worthwhile. Not to mention, when in the Philippines, you are with your family all the live long day. This place is the epitome of the word, "family." I was with them the entire time. That means sleeping in the same room, sharing a bathroom, and basically going everywhere together. My parents were my roommates for a week and a half. (The only reason it wasn't for all two weeks is because I spend four days with The Man.) Remember when I addressed this very subject? HA! Not a chance. Sure, the hotel rooms are inexpensive. But then I would be the spoiled American cousin! How's that? Well, when I stayed at my cousin's house, she put the three of us in one room. Even though there were seven bedrooms, she put us in one. And it made perfect sense. It was the only other bedroom with air-conditioning. In that sweltering heat, I was more than happy to share with my parents. Maybe it's because I don't live with them anymore but we didn't kill each other! In fact, other than my dad giving me his cold, we all got along just fine. When we stayed at a resort, the three of us stayed in one room again. Why? Because my cousins and their kids, all sixteen of them, shared two rooms with no air-conditioning. How could I dare ask to be in my own room? No, my relatives aren't poor but they couldn't see wasting money on additional rooms when eight to a room was snug but doable?
So, besides doing outdoor stuff, I got to do all the pampering I wanted. It was Spa Heaven for me! Whether it be right or wrong, the American dollar goes very far in the Philippines. In two weeks, I had one hot stone massage, three regular massages, three spa manicures and pedicures, my hair trimmed, and permed my eyelashes. In addition, I paid for my mom's two massages, her facial and a mani/pedi for Mother's Day. All of these treatments, collectively, cost about $200. Seriously. For instance, when I got my lashes permed at a posh salon, it cost $6. And y'all know how much I love pedicures/manicures. I had them 2x a week!
The best part of my trip was that I got to know my cousins, nieces and nephews a lot better. I adore them! Sure, I talk about the few tactless ones but overall I have really wonderful relatives. Family that are selfless - they made sure that someone picked us at the airport (several times), secured our accommodations, helped us with transportation, negotiated our trips for us, and checked in on us almost daily after work. A lot of them bent over backwards helping us plan our trips and making sure we had a good time. My cousins showed me around, made sure that I got to see the shopping areas, parks, hang outs and dance clubs. Since most of my cousins are in their late 30s/early 40s, I know they were only doing the latter because they thought I would enjoy it :)
Five years is a long time to not visit. Many of my nieces and nephews have grown up so fast. I saw my relatives and I realized how important it was for me to stay connected to my dad's family. While many of them are doing well for themselves, almost all of them aren't able to come to the U.S. If I don't make the effort to stay connected, it won't happen. I respect that some people don't want to go to the Philippines. It can be rough and one hellish experience just like any other vacation. But I've been blessed to have a wonderful time. There's talk about a reunion next year. If so, I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Me with my nieces (and one baby nephew held by my cousin.)

Forgive my negligence

I arrived home last Friday around 11pm and could not sleep for two days - I was up for 48 hours. (Props to Tater for taping Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Lost. Gave me something to do to pass the time.) Finally, I slept 12 hours on Monday. Unfortunately, I woke up 2am today and have been awake since.

Jeg lag is a bitch.

I had a blast with my family in the Philippines. This was the best vacation I've had there so far. (It probably helped that no one called me fat. In fact, they said I looked like I lost weight. Don't think it's really true, though - I am five years older and I think my face just lost some baby fat.) I was able to do a lot of fun stuff, hang out with my very cool cousins, nieces and nephews, and actually relax.

Here are some pictures until I get it together and am able to write a decent entry:









These pictures were taken on the resort island of Boracay. This is when I love 35mm film more than digital pics. Sometimes digital is too clear. Had these pictures been taken with a digital camera, you would see the beads of perspiration on all of us. Boracay was BY FAR hotter than any of the other places I visited while in the Philippines. Hot damn, seriously.

OK, now THIS is the coolest thing I've done so far

I got to snorkel in the ocean above this ...



A whale shark! Never heard of it? Neither had I! I actually saw three different ones, the biggest was as large as an SUV.

It was really, really cool.

Hot, hot, hot!!

I've stolen some precious moments on my cousin's computer so I won't have to go to an internet cafe.

Obviously, I'm hot. No seriously, I'm burning up. I've had to wear summer dresses (they are actually called "dusters" and equivelant to "muumuus." But if it causes me not to sweat like a freakin' pig, I'm going to wear it.) No make up, no hair do ... it's actually quite freeing.

If I weren't so freakin' hot.

Some of the "resorts" and "hotels" have been questionable. Ants and overall cleanliness have been some issues. By far, my favorite place to stay is at my cousin's. She has a showerhead, air conditioning and an internet connection. Her house is better than some resorts. Yes sister, I've had to take some bucket showers.

The coolest thing I've done so far ... I went exercising with my cousin 5:00 this morning. I can't help it - even though I go to bed late, I still wake up really early. In any case, I'm glad b/c I need to exercise! Nothing but fried food the past few days and I can't be possibly sweating it off.

Anyhow, my cousin is a POWERHOUSE. She walks this hill every day and I asked if I could join her. So today, we walked/hiked up this hill (no, not the volcano, the hill in front of it.)

OK, so in comparison to Mt. Mayon, one of the wonders of the world, this hill doesn't look impressive. But believe me, in the heat and humidity which is there even at 5:00am(!!!) it's a doozie. Lignon Hill is steep and a popular hiking trail. Once at the top (which you can't see in this picture) you get a beautiful view of Mt. Mayon, the city, and the ocean. It's beautiful ... I saw the sun rise and a city wake up. I kid you not ... I think I heard every rooster crow. Instead of dogs barking, it sounded like every house had a rooster. It was a trip.

The best part of the hike was going down. Not just for the obvious reason, though! On the way down, my cousin stopped at a makeshift stand and asked me if I wanted buko (coconut) juice. Standing in our New Balance sneakers, we waited as the elderly lady took her bolo knife (it looks like a machete) and hacked two coconuts until there was a flat service with a tiny hole. She stuck straws in the holes and gave them to us. How cool is that? Instead of drinking boring old Gatorade, I was drinking buko juice straight from a coconut.

OK, got to go. My three nephews are being so patient by not swarming me around the computer but I can tell it's getting to them.

I'm leaving on a jet plane ...

Well, The Man left first. I took him to the airport last night.

I leave this weekend. I have my work cut out for me before I go. On top of my 8 to 5 work, of course.

Haven't packed. Check.

Haven't finished cleaning my house before I go on vacation. Check.

Haven't run all my errands. Check.

Oh yahhhhhhh.

I'm not too worried, though. Despite all my unfinished business, the anxiety of meeting The Man's extended family or whatever wonderful comments some of my tactless relatives may have for me, I'm excited to go to see my extended family. I'm thrilled to be going to a resort and try out snorkeling, cave exploring, and hopefully, parasailing!


The motherland may be a third world country but hey, look at what it has to offer ...

Speaking of mistaken ethnic identity ...

At my new job, I work with someone who graduated from the same university. He was also a big part of the Filipino organization that I briefly interacted with when I participated in its Pilipino Culture Night aka PCN.

Yes, California is so packed full of Filipinos that we have clubs at almost every college and university. A "PCN" is a huge yearly event when the club showcases traditional and modern dances, cha-cha, and some acting. You don't have to be Filipino to participate but most are, by default. Almost every club has a PCN. Scary, ain't it? ;)

Of course, we exchange names to see who we both know. Never mind that there are over 28,000 students. We stick to the Filipino organization people b/c we figure we would have a better chance. Surprisingly, or not so if you're Filipino, we knew a few of the same people.
Later in the day, my coworker (we'll call him PB for "Pinoy Boy") says to me fron his desk, "Guess who I just talked to on the phone?"
"Who?"
"Bing. Do you remember him?"
"The one with the hair?" Gesturing as if I have a big afro. PB nods to confirm my guess. "I loved his big hair!" I did. I didn't know an Asian guy could have a stick straight afro. But he did. I was always impressed when I saw it.
"I'm going to call him back and see if he remembers you!" says PB.
"Mmm, maybe not. But you can try."
I hear PB on the phone, "Hey. I have a new coworker who used to go to State. Do you know a girl named Lulu?"
Listens.
"Well, she was in a PCN a couple years back. You know, Lulu." insists PB.
Now I'm just thinking, Bing has no idea who PB is talking about.
PB smiles, "Yup! That's her! OK, well, I'll call you later. Bye!"
He turns to me and says, "He remember you! He paused when I said your name. Then Bing asked, "Is she the one that's Filipino but doesn't look it?" and I said, "Yes!""

I had told PB earlier that day that when I auditioned for PCN, I didn't know a soul because I wasn't active in the Filipino club. Of course, everyone else knew each other. But after a few months, I got to know some people.
After one of our rehearsals, a guy asked me, "So, what made you decide to join PCN?"
I replied, "I was in a PCN at my old college and I wanted to be in one here before I graduated."
Guy then said, "Oh that's cool. Are you also active in La Raza?"
Me, with a blank expression, "Huh?"
Guy, looking a little confused, "Aren't you Mexican?"
Me, now thinking he's special, "If I was Mexican, why would I join a Filipino cultural event?"
Guy now a little indignant, "I thought you just appreciated other cultures."

I guess that could have been true :)

Filipino reference of the day #2

(This was actually a few days ago but it's new to you, right?)

I was listening to my favorite morning show, Fernando in the Morning. Dat Phan, a Vietnamese comedian, was on the show to promote his comedy tour. A lot of his jokes are Asian-oriented (Hehehe. I said "Asian" and "Orient" in the same sentence. I've just been kicked out of the club.) The two DJs, Fernando and Greg, asked Dat why some Asian ethnicities seem favored over others. They gave an example of when they asked one of their Asian coworkers if he was Korean and the guy yelled, "I'm Chinese, not Korean!" Fernando said, "It was like we called him a horrible name or something." Dat Phan responded that it has a lot to do with people always grouping Asian cultures together and not bothering to know the difference.

Greg asked, "What about Filipinos? They don't look like other Asians."

Fernando said, "Yah, they look like a little bit of this and a little bit of that."

Dat replied, "They're like Asian curry. A whole lot of different things, a whole lot of different spices."

Greg agreed, "Yes, and they're very delicious, too."

I have to agree - The Man is quite delicious:)

Filipino reference of the day

"I love Filipinos. They're Asian.

But they're not cocky about it."

Dammit, I love her character.

A classy joint

I will be the first to admit that my people - shot out to my Filipino homies - aren't known for having upscale restaurants. They are either a) Hole-in-the-wall or b) Fast food places (i.e. Goldilocks.) My Vietnamese, Hawaiian and Mexican friends can probably relate. It's not a diss ... it is what it is. And the "fusion" places don't count because that's just a bastardization of the culture's food. Yah, I said it.

The Man and I love Filipino food so we're always open to trying out new places. We're not big fans of the fast Filipino food but we're fine with hole-in-the-wall places as long as they're clean (we won't even go into places like Ling Nam's. For the few peeps that know what I'm talking about ... you KNOW what I mean.)

Surf & Turf recently recommended a new restaurant called Gerry's Grill. Last night, I decided to take The Man out. We rolled up to a place that looked nothing like a Filipino restaurant. It was ... pretty. The bar (yes, Lulu said there's a bar!) was mahogany and glass, there were three or four big screen plasma TVs, a waterfall at the entrance, and the color scheme was understated and coordinated. Now y'all, if there's one thing about Filipino restaurants it's that they love them some LOUD colors. Which don't always coordinate. Ooooo-weeee.


This isn't what the one in our area looks like (the picture wasn't great) but here are other locations so you can see what I mean.

The music was blaring (kinda clubbish) and it was definitely an afterwork place with a hearty drink menu. The Man enjoyed his San Miguel beer and I was smitten with the pretty and CLEAN bathrooms. Priorities, people, priorities. The waitstaff was a good mix of different ethnicities but I would be a liar if I said that the clientele was diverse. Only open a month, the place was packed with A LOT of Filipinos and a sprinkle of other ethnicities. The Man and I have a hunch that the Gerry's Grill advertised on the Philippine Channel. I'm just sayin'.

The food was a little too pricey but it was good. It wasn't the most delicious Filipino food we've ever had but the presentation was very nice. It would be a good place to take someone who has never had Filipino food and might find it intimidating.

Real Filipino restaurants don't care much, if at all, about presentation and the fish head (or pig head) will still be there, in tact. And that's OK. As someone who has grown up with Filipino food, that kind of stuff doesn't scare me. In fact, in my family, we say it isn't a huge to-do unless the lechon is present. And we mean a whole pig that's been roasted and isn't cut up until it's time to eat. Foreel.

So, what's the verdict? We would go there again if we were taking out people for a special occasion (visiting, never had Filipino food, drinks, etc.) If it's just us and want to eat, we'll go to another place. For the two of us, the bill came to $49.00 w/o tip. That's a little pricey for Filipino food. But it was a good experience and we were happy for our people for finally having an attractive restaurant.

I promised to explain

A follow up to my "Mabuhay y'all!" post.

1. "My hair is too long for bucket showers" - The bucket shower, better known as "Tabu"(sounds like "tah'-boh'") is where you use a large bucket and a smaller bucket to bathe. What you do is put hot water in the bucket, add the cold water until the temperature is right for you, and use the smaller bucket to scoop out the water and dump it on you to wet yourself / rinse off soap / rinse out shampoo. In my experience, hot water is not usually available. You would think that the humidity and heat would make a cold bucket shower refreshing. Unfortunately, it's more shocking to the body than anything else. Check out this blog if you need "tabu"clarification. (No affiliation with the writer, just thought it was a good explanation.)

If you've seen my head of [huge] hair, you know that it will take buckets and buckets (and more buckets) to wash my hair. I must shampoo twice and then condition. Since tabu showers cause lots of splashing, which leads to small and big pools of still water, the 'skeeters are almost always near by just waiting to use my body as a buffet table.

Many if not most places in the Philippines have the typical American showers. But there are still a few places, even remote resorts, that haven't caught up to the craze called, "shower heads."

2. "I'm about 10-15 lbs too heavy for my relatives' comfort" - When I was 19 years old, I took a trip to the Philippines. I had a lot going on in my life at that time and wasn't dealing to well with it. I was about 12 lbs lighter and a size 2/3 from eating a lot less and taking up smoking. (Just so you get the picture, before I left for vacation, one of my college friends asked me if I was taking drugs because I had dropped so much weight.)

Upon my arrival, a relative said, "You look good! It's good to be curvy." An uncle told me later that my body was good for childbirthing and it's OK that I wasn't skinny.

Last time I went I was probably the size that I am now - 5/6. I was flat out called "fat." One of the more rude ones said, "You're so pretty but why are you so fat?" What am I supposed to say to that? I know, sounds terrible but my relatives* are so frank with each other that when I came back to the US, I was comfortable being "fat" and had made peace with it.


*Don't think that all my relatives are a$sholes. A few of them are too blunt but the rest of them are so sweet. They always ask when I'm going to visit and are super sweet to me when I finally get there. It's just two or three that need one of my Uggs up their a$s. The majority of my relatives are extremely hospitable and are very very loving. I can't wait to see them :)

I have to add that my parents and sister have never made me feel bad about my weight or even mention it in a negative way.

Mabuhay y'all!

It's true - I'm going to the Philippines!

Now, a few of you might think, "What's the big deal? You're Filipino. You should be going to your Motherland." Here's the thing - I am 100% American, too. The whole identity or labeling thing has the potential to be a whole other long a$$ entry but just know there is a difference between being Filipino and Filipino American. Obviously, I fall under the latter.

What does that mean? Well, you can't really generalize Filipino Americans (FA) either b/c we're all different. And just like the US, the Philippines has different regions and provinces so each FA could quite possibly have a very different background from the next. For instance, like a kid from Hollywood vs. a kid from the Bronx vs a kid from Waco. Different.

Here are some of my obstacles -
1. I am extremely uncomfortable in 90+ degree weather. Sleeping is damn near impossible.
2. I speak Filipino food only.
3. My hair is too long for bucket showers. Again, this would be a whole new blog entry but I'll get to it, I promise.
4. I'm about 10-15 lbs too heavy for my relatives' comfort (you bet your sweet a$s that's going to be another blog entry.)
5. I am irregular when I travel. This probably makes me the most sad. Not a damn thing to do with being FA, it just makes traveling difficult.

Despite these obstacles, I'm very excited to be going. I've been to the Philippines a few times and know how to make it fun. Trial and error right? Here are my plans for my vacation in a few months -
1. Two weeks max. A lot of people say that two weeks is too short. That I would need to stay at least three weeks to get my money's worth. Believe you me, two weeks is long enough for me to stay anywhere. Don't judge me! That's just how it is.
2. My own room. Heaven bless my parents. They are so sweet. But one hotel room is NOT big enough for me, my dad and AL. Not when I was 17, not when I was 21 and certainly not now. But since I'm gainfully employed, I can spring for my own room. This prevents a war being waged between AL and AL Junior. Yes, I absolutely admit that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
3. Spa-ing in a third world country. Don't know if it's a Filipino thing but AL has never been into spa treatments. I didn't really get into spas until the past year. Well, guess what?? The Philippines has many many resorts where people from Australia, America, Japan and Hawaii vacation (don't ask me, they just do.) It's still a tad pricey but less expensive than American spas. And they are top notch because of their clientele. That's right, BIG PIMPIN' on a small budget.

Well, I'm pretty sure this question is in vain b/c I know my peeps. Got any suggestions for my PI trip? I'm open to them.

Oh, did I mention that I will be meeting The Man's side of the family my second week? Please, enlighten me: Why are female relatives SO protective of their male family members? Brothers, uncles, cousins, nephews. I kid you not when I say I'm a little bit skahred to meet his family. I'll ask you to wish me luck when my vacation draws nearer.