The Philipines: No one leaves the Philippines unchanged (age, '07)
In february '07, I was sent to the Philippines to work on our recently delivered A320 simulator, inside a drab building on the grounds of Clark Airbase , vacated by the USAF back in the '90s. The 'base' now business park is serviced by folks of the adjacent town of Angeles. Dotting the hills surrounding the base are countless houses and apartement blocks invaded by vegetation, the asphalt access roads almost completely covered - ghost towns. Surreal - why the Pilipinos have not moved in is probably due to land ownership and politics; in a poor country, it's insane not to have let them have them.
The Philippinos are quick with a smile, friendly and endearing. The weather is warm and lovely, green lush hills and large expansive trees quiet the soul; this place is as good as it gets, despite the mess and chaos. A golf course is stitched to the simulator building grounds - sadly none of us are into golf! I've had the pleasure to try my riding skills on a motocross and scooter - a riot, but oh so dangerous.
Northwest Airlines flight 71 from Detroit to Nagoya, onward to Manila. Above in Detroit, surrounded by a force field, below high above Alaska in a 5 hour sunset as we chased the sun around the globe.
The view out my Best Western room for a layover in Manila, awaiting a taxi ride up to Clark some 2 hours north.
My first ever ride on a powered cycle. A blast - I was exhausted in this picture, and my helmet kept swinging back in the wind at 70 kph. The guys called this one the banana.
Wallace & Grommit in full form for a publicity shot - Wallace realizes he left the Gorgonzola in the oven whilst Grommit enjoys the wind in his face - if only his big flappy ears weren't inside his helmet.
Your average downtown Angeles traffic, 24/7.
Your average available ladies, 24/7.
Your average after bar drive back to the Holiday Inn.
Your average Jeepney , falling into a time warp.
Your not so average 'integration specialist' fashion at the simulator installation - Wallace accidentally got in the picture.
The average pay of the Pilipinos, whether a driver or bar girl, is some 25 times less than western minimum wage. Yet, fuel is comparable per litre to Canada, a flight between islands is 40 days worth of salary, a two day vacation for two at the famed Borocay island is half a years pay, the holiday Inn room rate a month's worth, all of these inaccessible to most Pilipinos whilst they handle our money as clerks and such. There is no unemployment insurance or welfare as in Canada: our welfare recipients are richer than most Pilipinos - yet they smile, they're happy beyond my own countrymen. Rampant corruption in government and business exacerbates the inequalities, and the presence of only a few westerners leads to ridiculous social situation - for instance, 21 year old females join bars to dance, serve drinks and when asked to leave with the much older customer, provide services for up to 24 hours for but 25$ Canadian (2007). The bars have often 10 girls for every patron - they're encouraged to become so, as the extra monies is sent homeward. Best yet is if they're hitched up with the older foreigners as Western Union cash is sure to flow large and fast for years. These beautiful friendly women are a dream come through that westerners could never have back home.
The best we could do for the Pilipinos & Pilipinas is to leave them alone to deal with their government. No one leaves the Philippines unchanged - I came knowing what it was, confirming so, and leaving with a heavy heart for many complex reasons, not least of which is the damage our presence is effecting on them. I write this from the luxurious comfort and peace of my living room, having left the Philippines, its chaos and dreams, and a part of me, behind; we turn our back on her - reluctantly. Would I have been better off never having discovered her?
Another very busy street.
Typical overloaded transportation - mind you, I've seen this in Turkey, Morocco, China - with chickens, desks, whole families, on bikes, motor bikes, cars, you name it.
Wallace and I travelled from Angeles to the western coast city of Subic for two days of R&R in a resort. The bay water was not very inviting, and the supposedly healthy coral we were brought to for snorkeling wasn't with but 10 unremarkable fish in 30 minutes. Fortunately the hammocks and pool were spot on. Getting there and back was an adventure as we weaved along busy roads for 3 hours - there are few highways in the Philippines. I got to be a pro, following Wallace's 25 years of two wheeled experience. A rear flat tire on my scooter lead to an interesting delay as a bare foot man changed it at his road side house whilst the chickens pecked about and his naked 4 year old ran about. 30 minutes of labour, 30 pesos or 75 cents Canadian!
Wallace hanging some air time.
Road side tire repair among chickens and running tots.
Grommit and Wallace in a boat, before they got to see the missing coral and a dozen fish - grommit as a German farmer.
Aaaaaaahhhhh - the Subic hammock retreat.
Hyatt room view - hey, I live for panoramas!
...and for those who like Golf, 18 holes 20 seconds away from the simulator building! On the left in the panorama below - use your scroll bar.
