Life in the Philippines - Journal 28

Life in the Philippines –

December to February 2019

Mary, Aliyah and I enjoyed our break in Cagayan De Oro tremendously, despite some issues with our accommodation at the Mulberry Park Hotel. It was just a perfect opportunity for the three of us to be completely self-indulgent and enjoy our own company without any obligation to visit relatives or friends. We shopped a lot buying each other presents to be opened on Christmas Day, something that hasn’t happened for many years, toured the various malls and just did things that family’s do together. It was a wonderful way to end the year.

Christmas Day we enjoyed Christmas dinner together, originally to be in a diner of our choosing, thwarted by a lack of places open unsurprisingly. We settled for an excellent American imported rib-eye steak, fries, green salad and several glasses of wine with mango crepes to follow in one of the Mulberry Park Business Suite Hotel restaurants. Re-conceiving afterwards in the reception and bar area to enjoy the resonances of a talented blues band.

Boxing Day, the 26th December, a taxi, organised some days previously, took us back to Gingoog City. A little extravagant, but probably necessary with all of the many items that we’d purchased over the previous few days along with our pre-existing luggage to deal with. We’d decided that bus travel was out, probably overcrowded and with standing room only for several hours. We were also worried about running the gauntlet at the bus terminal; to many willing and wandering hands all trying to help and distract you at the same time. It’s also difficult to keep track of everything stored in the underneath hold whilst you’re sitting inside the bus, and we’d purchased some valuable and bulky items.

The course back through the mountains was far more interesting and quicker, shaving 1½ hour’s off of the coastal road, the intended bus route. We were, however, stopped at several checkpoints manned by military police charged with monitoring and arresting movement of subversives such as the NPA, National People’s Army, and ISIS, causing us only a minimal delay.

With elections due across the Philippines in May, for ministerial seats, life can be a little fraught and unpredictable here. The UK and Australian governments have already listed Mindanao as a no-go area, posting an amber warning to would be tourists, restricting any travel to the province. Radicals use it as an opportunity to express frustration at the present political situation, endeavouring to disrupt the status quo and often turning to violence. It’s a moment in the calendar where individuals of a political persuasion, those of high status and, to a lesser degree, foreigners need to be on their guard.

It was only last year that the island of Mindanao was under martial law as the battle against ISIS raged in the cities of Marawi and Zamboanga, some distance to the west and south of GC. There’s still a police and mobile army presence across the island and the Philippines in place today.

Anyway, the taxi driver expressed real concern when we stopped for lunch at a restaurant, 38 kilometres shy of GC, known as the Euro Cuisine (run and owned by an Italian and his Filipino wife). He felt that rogue soldiers, probably operated the penultimate military checkpoint that we passed through earlier. There’ve been reports of Filipino’s being kidnap recently and held for ransom, or to aggressively influence an electoral outcome. He felt their demeanour, age and poor physically condition betrayed them as fakes. Anyway, he said he would take an alternate route back to CDO.

One of the reasons we made our way back home so quickly after Christmas, Mary had several small orders and a large event on the 30th December to attended to, we’d also arranged for our friends Graham and Maria to come round to us for a late diner on the 31st December to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

I guess one of the most disappointing things about living in the Philippines is the poor Internet connection, which proved a real problem both over the Christmas and the New Year period. We had hoped that we could communicate with all to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year, but not to be.

On another point of interest, problems continue to grow across the island of Mindanao, both throughout January and the early part of February. There have been a series of terrorist’s acts perpetrated mainly in the Marawi area and Cotabato City; about 347 kilometres southwest of Gingoog City, by a splinter group of ISIS called Abu Sayyaf. I think it means, “leaderless”.

On the 29th January, a bomb went off at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel early Sunday morning as people were about to hear mass, followed by another blast in the churches parking lot as soldiers responded to the first explosion. According to reports, 27 people were killed in the attack and more than 80 injured.

Unfortunately, I wish I could say that its been an isolated incident, but it hasn't. There have been dozens of similar explosions mainly around polling stations, intended to disrupt the election process. Many have been killed or seriously injured.

It's such a shame when a small percentage of the 20% of Muslim's that reside in Mindanao feel they can terrorise and bully the populace into submission. Clearly it isn't about religion; many scholars and Muslim peers have denounced the atrocities as a flagrant act of betrayal of the Islamic teachings. It's about power, control and material wealth from a small and twisted minority.

The UK government has now increased the travel warning to red in the affected areas and amber in our region. So far we have seen little to concern us and feel safe enough, so don't worry.  

The house construction continues unabated, despite a slight concern as the tremors of an earthquake shook the town of GC the evening of the 8th February. The epicentre some 234 kilometres north east of us just off the coast of Suirago, registered as a 5.9 on the Richter scale. It appears, after the event, that Suirago and Gingoog City were affected most by the sudden movement of the tectonic plates.

The first thing Mary did the following morning was to call our foreman to make sure the house was unaffected and still standing. Ye of little faith!!

I’ve posted a number of photo’s that will in part explain where we are. Second floor construction is now almost completed, just the dividing wall between the third bedroom and shower room to be constructed and the parapet wall round the balcony. The alloy supports for the roof are currently being installed, and the walls rendered, both external and internally.

The schedule of construction throughout the remaining month of February and March;

·        Rendering - Both the initial rough coat and dyed finishing coat, internal and external 

·        Build the external shower room

·        Complete the roof installation to include guttering and down pipes

·        Fit a false ceiling to the second floor

·        Make and finish the balcony surround

·        Make and fit the balustrade to the galleried landing and stairs

·        Make and fit bars to the ground floor windows

·        Install the pylon for the electric over head cable

·        Fit fly screens to all windows and doors

·        Complete the electrics, to include external lighting

·        Complete the boundary wall and install the gates

·        Fit the toilet accessories to the two shower rooms

·        Concrete the drive and rear path

·        Complete the installation of the kitchen

·        Install tiles to the floors and shower rooms

·      Make and install the doors, external an internal (Mahogany and Nara (a far superior hardwood) have already been purchased)

I’m also presently reconstructing a wooden summerhouse that’ll be used as storage and work area for Gry’s business, whilst we renovate and extend the small store in front that will eventually act as a showroom.

Mary’s been relatively busy with some small events throughout January and early February, however, with Valentine’s Day only a few day’s away there is lots to do preparing varied merchandise, both to be delivered, sold from a stall and at a school event to be held on the 14th February. Mary and I will be delivering whilst one of the sisters will man the stall and Mary’s mother will aid Aliyah at her school.

I did mention that we were thinking of holidaying in Europe throughout May 2019. I’m not sure that that will happen now for two reasons, we’re in the process of buying a car and with the construction costs escalating and the build at a critical finishing stage we need to be available 7 days a week. We’ve also had a problem with materials wandering off site and we’re about to purchase costly items, such as tiles, windows, sanitary ware, etc., so we need to be here. I’ll probably fly back to the UK later in the year, alone.

Aliyah continues to do well at school, although we haven’t completely decided whether we’ll leave her where she is at Marion Business School. They continue to disappoint with poor organisation, lack of information and my over riding concern a comparatively short school day, 2 hours, along with a lack of proper facilities. A computer room, lab, playing fields and a language laboratory, for example. Her English has improved tremendously, even if the word order is interesting at times, often with an over use of adjectives and an exaggerated English accent to boot.

Not much more to tell really, other than we pick up a second hand car this week. It’s been a long and torturous route arriving at this point for lots of reasons. Trying to figure out the right vehicle to buy for one.

We looked at motorbikes, but not practical or safe for three people, especial allowing for the atrocious driving skills, or lack of, here! A Baja, a three wheeled 198cc affair, imported and ‘A’ typical of the Indian continent; safe, reliable, nippy and able to accommodate four to five people, but little room for luggage. And I’m thinking of the need to transport Mary’s props for her business interest. A thing called a ‘Chariot’. Spliced together motorbike and truck effectively, imported from China. Plenty of room for the driver, passengers in the back and cargo, but vastly under powered and a complicated drive train, liable to break down; so I’m told. The most popular form of transport here is a multi cab, however, the front cab is small and my knees keep bashing the underside of the dash board when I change gear an there’s only two seats in front; allowing for Aliyah’s age she’d have to sit in the back, untethered and possibly un-supervised, the plus side, there’s plenty of carrying capacity.

Finally, we’ve settled on a Kia 4 x 2, 2L diesel engine Sportage. Diesel’s about 43 Pesos a litre here, that’s about 64 pence in UK money. Its cheap, its in fairly good condition, there’s a capacity to carry 5 people in comfort, the boots a decent size and with a roof rack on top, plenty of carrying capacity. The most important thing for me is Aliyah can be transported safely. I’m sure we’ll have to throw some cash at it at some point, however, the mechanic that looked at it wanted to buy it, so a reasonable endorsement.

One last point, buying a car, is so much of ‘a shot in the dark’ here! You can’t do any sort of an online check to ascertain the history, value or anything else useful. Cars rarely have a service book, or one that’s up to date. They don’t have an annual MOT and the general safety conditions applicable in the UK are simply unheard of here. The only saving grace is that all cars registered each year are immediately insured, part of the annual registration premium. The only problem, well over 20% of vehicles on the road aren’t legal, there not safe, the owner doesn’t have a driving licence or a combination of all three!!

A few last updates, before I load the photos and make the blog available to all. Mary’s had a bumper February, earning 34,000 pesos gross thus far, so clearly there’s real potential in her business. She was to busy making and delivering Valentine orders to set up a display at Aliyah’s school and the promised stall outside our place of residence, so still untapped potential. With better preparation and planning next year, we ought to exceed this years turnover.

The car that we purchased, as I thought, will need further investment, like two new tyres, tracking and wheel balancing, new washer pump, replacement door handle, replacement master arm control and a few other things, but that’s fine. It drives well, stops well and on the whole seems solid enough.

Finally, as we're nearing completion of our house, it feels that things could work out here after all. I can’t say it’s been easy and perhaps I’ve been more concerned about lots of things than most. Quality of workmanship, gaining value for money, getting the right advice, exceeding the budget set, concern about the location of the house, escalating issues that seem to prevail in Mindanao, whether Mary, Aliyah and I will be okay and if we’ll be hit by some spurious fine or tax from the government just because the property is funded by a foreigner. The concern I think is well founded, after all its listed as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. On that point we’ll have to wait and see!!

Attached are some recent photos. Mary and I had an early start Sunday to inflate some balloons in a place called Duka Bay. It's just along the beach, probably 15 kilometers from where we live.  

Today the 25th February, the roofers are on site installing the aluminium corrugated sections, nine meters in length and about a meter and a half wide. I can't help but worry about the guys doing it, perched 25 foot or more above the ground level with absolutely no safety equipment in sight, apart from the standard flip-flops to protect their feet!!!!!

That’s it for now. Keep well, keep happy and stay safe. Lots of love from Mary, Aliyah and me.