Filipino Family Life and Culture, an American Expat’s Immersed Perspective on The Philippines

Many electrical poles are being replaced throughout Cagayan today, so Marissa and I, along with some other family members, sought refuge at one of the local hotels that has their own generator, and we could wait out the brownout in the comfort of the air-conditioned room, or sit in the shady breeze between the bay and the swimming pool.

The food is good and my wireless internet WeRoam connection signal is strong.

After Marissa and I got married, we lived in hotels for nearly 3 months as we honeymooned around The Philippines.

Harbor Lights instills that honeymoon feeling, but this time we have a baby with us. Seeking air-conditioned shelter was more for Marissa’s and Race’s comfort that just my own. I would have been happy to have spent the afternoon on my Honda 2007 XRM, driving in the countryside, but Race’s face was flushed in the heat and I thought it better to keep him comfortable.

I took a short video of a crab digging his home on the beach, and some guys dragging some bamboo along the beach.  It’s not a real exciting video, but it’s only 3 MB, so why not watch it?

Catholic christening of Race, and the reception that followed, photo gallery.

I am not a catholic, having been raised Methodist, a protestant, but having married a catholic Filipina, and having decided to live for at least the next few years in The Philippines, and raise my son as a filipino, to inoculate in him the values of this culture, it is only fitting that he be christened a catholic.

We christened my son as a Catholic on Sunday, May 25, 2008, at the St. Agustine’s Catholic Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City.

The reception was held at the Oro de Tropical Resort, which is a new resort in Cagayan de Oro.

It is still under construction, but has a magnificent swimming pool.

Ninangs (God Mothers) are: Kathlyn Gorospe, Angelu Bandera, Cheny Pallugna, Irene Udasco, Lia Fernando, Michelle Valles, Sorraine Guilingging, Maria Teresa Sarraga, Maria Luz Trampe, and Winnie Amores.

Ninongs (God Fathers) are: Gus Rodano, Joe Pallugna, Kumar Jainani, Milky Castaneres, Gilbert Miranda, Stephan York Valles, Reniel Penados, Elmer Taboada, Jeedo Aquino, Rex Cortez and Alex Tabuan, Jr.

There were some important people that wanted to be Ninang or Ninong to my son, but I left the choice up to my wife. Hopefully, they’ll all be accommodated when we have our next child.

Prior the Race’s christening we took him to Agfa Photo Studio in Divisoria for some professionally done photos.

When Marissa went to have the christening invitations made, the counter person asked her where she got the photo of the baby angel, did she get the photo from Google Images?

Agfa Studio Photo Gallery 

Please, let us bow or heads or simply close our eyes and allow the presence of the Lord to be with each and every one of us.

We are all of this Earth and to the Earth we will all return. During our brief stay upon this beautiful planet that is the Lord’s creation some people wander aimlessly, some people do more, and some, like us, Rotarians, do much more, we make a difference, between what is or was, and what can be.

In Genesis Chapter 1, Verse 26 it says: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth,

This verse has long been used to justify man’s utter domination over nature, but I would like to suggest, and I pray, that the Lord’s giving dominion of the Earth to mankind is not for mankind to be a ruthless exploiting tyrant, crushing and subjugating Nature to man’s will, but rather to be the Lord’s caretaker, responsible managers of this tiny planet and of all living things that the Lord placed here and entrusted with us, including not only our fellow man, but all the lowly animals and plants that share this planet with us.

Even a bird will keep its nest clean, but mankind is wrecking God’s creation, that which the Lord has entrusted to us. As Rotarians, let us recognize that we are leaders in this stewardship of the Earth, care-takers of the Earth, each and every one of us, we provide guidance and set good examples to our community.

Our responsibilities are never ending and always with us. It is neither simple nor easy to be a good Rotarian.

We thank thee Lord for thou bountiful gifts, and we go forth as your good and trusted stewards. Let us do no harm, but only good for thee.

Amen

Papa entered a greased pig contest last week and won. Ten men were in the contest and they were all blindfolded. The pig was greased to make him hard to catch.

This is a hybrid pig. A normal piglet (”bactin” in Visayan) this size would be worth 500 pesos (about $11.00 USD), but this one, because he will grow very fast is worth 3000 pesos.

Champion Greased Pig Winner Mario “Papa” Valles, Sr., with his champion “helper” wife Vivencia “Mama” Valles, above.

I asked Papa how he came to win the pig.  The answer was simple, he just listened to his wife.  There was a crowd and everybody was yelling, but he was able to make out his wife’s voice, telling him the pig was behind him, so just did an about face, reached down and grabbed the pig. Champions, both.

Moral of the story?  Pay attention and listen to your wife.

“Lechon” means roasted, and “baboy” is a pig, Tagalog.

Marissa bought the pig from some friends who live in Lumbia, near the Cagayan de Oro Airport. The price was 100 pesos per kilo, or 5500 pesos for the above pig, which was taken to my house live on Thursday, two days before he was prepared as the main course for the reception following my son’s christening.

Marissa is pointing to his ears. She is particularly fond of pig ears and is claiming them for herself.

Once the pig has his throat slit and is bled to death, then gutted, a pole is pushed in one end and out the other. Some kind of straw or grass is stuffed in his belly I suppose to help keep the carcass’s shape. The pig is then slowly turned over coals for a few hours.

The above is a basic setup for making a lechon baboy. Put the pig on the pole across the supports, above the coals and slowly hand-turn the pig on the pole. And presto…

That’s a lot of leftovers, even after more than 120 people had their way with him.

Oh, and Marissa did eat the pig’s ears.  “Very crunchy”, she said, smiling, “yummy”.

So, I have to give in.

Race is a good kid, he only cries when he is hungry…

Needs to be changed…

Or if he’s sleepy..

Of course, sometimes he can’t sleep because of all the distractions…

Sometimes the distractions come from Mama…

Sometimes the distractions are just toys, like super-sized milk bottles…

Sometimes it’s Mama that distracts him…

Sometimes he just distracts himself, we wonder what he thinks about…

Mama is the best distraction, and almost as cute as the baby…

He always poses cute for photos…

Of course, Mommy’s cuter..

goo goo gah gah…

Some parents are out of control…

But it might just be the cut baby’s fault..

He does look a lot like me, so gwapo kaayo…

Mama never takes a break..

Still, as tame he is today…this boy is destined to be a heart-breaker.

Here are some videos of Race, too. The lighting is pretty poor in most of them, but that’s pretty much because of the way Filipinos are. Just enough light to see is enough, anything more than that and you are wasting electricity and money. I can barely read in my own room, and have to supplement the ceiling light with a desk lamp and a bedside lamp, and even those are weak and cheap by Western standards.

Baby Race Video 1 (2.1 MB)

Baby Race Video 2 (1.0 MB)

Baby Race Video 3 (3.5 MB)

Baby Race Video 4 (1.3 MB)

Baby Race Video 5 (0.2 MB)

Baby Race Video 6 (2.2 MB)

Baby Race Video 7 (8.8 MB)

Baby Race Video 8 (0.8 MB)

Baby Race Video 9 (1.2 MB)

I recently got a demand notice from my brother to publish more photos of the child, my son, who I named after my brother and father. Here they are. He’s not a perfect kid, but as close to being so as they come. Photo gallery of Race Turner at 3 months.

Race got his last vaccination yesterday and only cried for a few moments, then began playing.  He masses 7.5 kilos or about 16.5 pounds at 3.5 months.  The pediatrician said that was the normal weight for a 5 month old.  He’s not necessarily fat, he’s just a big kid.

Playing with Race Video.

My cousins, Gilbert “Pampoy” Miranda and his wife Ann “Ann-Ann” Christy, celebrated the first birthday of their darling daughter, Mary Joselette “Buletlet” Miranda in style on April 9, 2008, at one of the Pearlmont Hotel’s several function/banquet rooms. (”Buletlet” means “cute” in Visayan.)

There was seating and food for 200 guests, and it looked like they did a pretty good job of estimating how many people would come, because it looked to me like there were right at a couple of hundred people in attendence.

Barney, and I Dora the Explorer were in attendance, as you can see above. (If that’s not a powerpuff girl, someone please correct me.) There were also dancers and a magician, and some other organized party makers that carried on for hours.

This is a photo of Buletlet all by her cute self.

Above is a photo of Buletlet with her maternal grandmother, auntie Ging-Ging, who is the aunt of Marissa, the sister of Marissa’s father.

12 MB Birthday Party Video Download.

Buletlet’s 1st Birthday Party Photo Gallery.

After attending the Iligan Eagles Club induction of new members on April 5, 2008, the following morning we went to Maria Christina Fall and Hydroelectric Plant.

It was really not anywhere near as impressive at Churchill Falls and Hydroelectric Plant, back in 1980, and which generates 5.5 GW. But getting to Churchill Falls is a pain in the ass. It is way out in the middle of nowhere, in the Labrador, Canada.

Maria Christana Falls & Hydroelectric plant in Iligan Photo Gallery.

Maria Chirstina Video

We were able to get a tour of the powerplant and see the turbines and the generators, but we were not allowed to take photos inside the plant itself.