Chilling in the Philippines--The 3 B's

March 16, 2014

Good day everybody!

When I was still in the US, awaiting our journey to the Philippines, I did some reading. I read that the 3 major sports and past times on the islands was basketball, boxing and billiards.  The 3 B's.  #4 is probably cockfighting.  Now cockfighting, when on tv, makes my stomach turn. I can't do it. But the 3 B's, yes. It was my goal to take all 3 in actively and although it took 6 months, I have done it.

Boxing--

As I wrote about in an earlier blog, Boxing is huge here. The joke is.. "traffic is heavy in Manila, except when Manny Pacquiao fights." We accomplished the goal of taking in boxing by going to Manny's last fight.  It was in a movie theatre. Fun times.  He fights again next month, not sure if Suzy will join me this time...

Billiards--

I was able to try my hand in billiards.  I like Pool, but am not a shark.  Suzy and I liked going to Big Dogs or shooting pool with friends back home, but generally I play about once or twice a year.  Here in Eastwood city, there is a great bowling alley in the 4th floor of the mall.  Half of the complex is dedicated to bowling, the other half billiards.  Billiards here is a little different from the aspect that a staff member racks and also helps out. As with Bowling, the guy sets up everything. He asked if he could assist with me putting on my shoes. I am used to being in America and when I lose, I rack... no. Here there is a guy who does that.  I went with a local manager of a Mexican Restaurant and we were able to play 6 or 7 games in an hour. Cost was low for an hour of billiards and it was fun.  We made plans to do that more often and although we haven't yet, I am sure we will be back.  If nothing else I hope to bowl every couple weeks.  I bowled a 168 and 136 the last time out, which is good for me since I also do not bowl a lot.

Basketball--

Hoops is my favorite of these 3 back home.  Suzy and I miss not going to Iowa Energy games back home.  Ive been lucky to experience basketball in a few ways.  San Mig is the local team I have identified with as the team I will follow. It now helps that since I made that proclamation when arriving, that I have become friends with a few of their players.  I also have made friends with a couple others who live in our building and play for other teams. They are all great guys and quite personable. it's fun to watch them on TV then see them later out and about. The games in person are great. They are so Live.  Fans are loud, and knowledgeable.  Its fun to see.  2 weeks ago, I took experiencing basketball to a new level.  The guys at Fridays invited me to run with them in a weekly Tuesday night game.

The court is just outside Eastwood. It is an outdoor, covered court.  I play on the side of the servers or front of the house against the cooks or back of the house. 20 years ago, I used to play with the old guys at noon at the Newton YMCA and sunday nights in the summer with my friends at Aurora Park.  Before that was Basketball fun with my friends at Augustana.  Well this is 20 years later. My knees are 20 years older and I am 20 years heavier.  I will tell you though, it is fun getting back out.  I do not have the range as I once did, but I can still bury the 3 (especially when unguarded).  Well in two weeks of games, we haven't won yet with my help, but there is always next week.

One unique aspect to the court is Mosquitoes, they are thick. We have a cheering section, but a bug bomb is necessary for the bleachers.  An item that comes in handy here is a bug zapper that is shaped like a tennis racquet. Maybe I should invest in one of those. I can practice tennis and kill skeeters. At least while running up and down the court the mosquitoes aren't an issue. I would hate posting up and then having to deal with a swarm of bugs chomping on me. The bugs might just become a 4th B.

Following the game, we go and enjoy local food. Last Tuesday, I tried Chicken Butt and Chicken feet.  next Tuesday, who knows.

Take care of yourself everyone,

Prayers to those aboard the missing Malaysian Airlines jet--

Chuck

Chilling in the Philippines -- OOPS Part 2

March 16, 2014

Hi everyone!  Hope you had a great Ides of March.  St. Patrick's Day is not celebrated here in the Philippines so please have a shamrock shake for me and some green beer.

Well the saga of my lost passport is over.  It has been found... and only mere inches from where it should be.  Now I am just waiting on the US Embassy to tell me what to do.  Their phone banks are down and they do not return emails, even though they say they reply in 1-3 business days.

Basically, I put the passport on TOP of where it was supposed to go instead of in its respective drawer. Items from Suzy's job got piled on top and it was "lost".  Good think is that I have it.  It is found.  It is not like the stolen passports that are being mentioned with the lost Malaysian airliner.

So a breath of relief for us... although it was a $150 misplacement.

Have a good day everyone and take care of yourselves!

Chuck