Makati City, Philippines

[slang]

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

I'm glad I wasn't sick for the short time I was there.

And you're not expecting me to ask for more details?

You were probably not all rolling in the grass and climbing the banana trees, chasing the lemurs through the jungle, wading through crystal clear streams, and drinking alcoholic beverages to capacity either.....were you?

[SparkStalker]

Originally Posted by slang

And you're not expecting me to ask for more details?

Actually there aren't too many. My wife went on a business trip over there last year, and I went along for the (long-ass, cramped plane) ride.

You were probably not all rolling in the grass and climbing the banana trees, chasing the lemurs through the jungle, wading through crystal clear streams, and drinking alcoholic beverages to capacity either.....were you?

Unfortunately, because of the nature of the call centers over there, and the development team being over here, she still worked EST. So I got to see a lot of overnight Filipino TV while waiting for her to get back to the hotel. We had a couple of days at the end of the trip where we got to explore some (down to Intramuros and around Metro Manila one day, and out to Tagaytay and Lake Taal the next), but we were so beat by the overnight schedule that we didn't have the energy to do everything we wanted.

And on another note, I noticed when we were walking around in Glorietta and the Landmark, that some stores had employees hovering right over us. Not watching from a distance, but brazenly just standing next to us and following us wherever we went. Have you experienced this, or did I just look like a shady character to them?

[slang]

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

And on another note, I noticed when we were walking around in Glorietta and the Landmark, that some stores had employees hovering right over us. Not watching from a distance, but brazenly just standing next to us and following us wherever we went. Have you experienced this, or did I just look like a shady character to them?

I know so very little about you but I'm guessing that they're curious and or wanting to practice their English OR that they just want to have sex with you but were too shy to ask.

I'm a white man, 6-2 260 and I'm friendly to the locals. My wife's a local here and most of the people that I am with are pinoys.

If there was a young uniformed man following me in the Glorietta mall carrying an M4 and not smiling, I'd be nervous. Anything short of that I personally would just start talking to them.

Pinoys love foreigners and they love Americans the best. Assuming that YOU are not carrying an M4 around with you, they're most likely just wanting to speak to you.

Unless of course they say that aweful phrase...."you buy now"

[SparkStalker]

Originally Posted by slang

I know so very little about you but I'm guessing that they're curious and or wanting to practice their English OR that they just want to have sex with you but were too shy to ask.

I hope that wasn't it...it was always guys.

I'm a white man, 6-2 260 and I'm friendly to the locals. My wife's a local here and most of the people that I am with are pinoys.

If there was a young uniformed man following me in the Glorietta mall carrying an M4 and not smiling, I'd be nervous. Anything short of that I personally would just start talking to them.

Pinoys love foreigners and they love Americans the best. Assuming that YOU are not carrying an M4 around with you, they're most likely just wanting to speak to you.

Unless of course they say that aweful phrase...."you buy now"

It could very well have been. It was just a bit off-putting...and when I did speak to them, they seemed really nervous. I'm not a big guy by any means, so I doubt it was my intimidating physical presence. :p

Originally Posted by slang

Was the overall experience positive?

It was an interesting place. I probably would have enjoyed it more had it been at a different time in life. But unfortunately, it came up shortly after my mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. That really put a damper on my excitement to be there.

I've heard that the call centers here are a great deal for the locals here and the clients. We have someone working in one and is quite happy. Win win situations are so rare nowdays it's a good thing to see.

It's definitely good for the people there. Apparently, a degree is required to work in the call centers that my wife visited. It's a strange thought...over here, the call centers are usually staffed by the people not quite cut out for higher education.

[slang]

Before I reply I'd like to say thanks for you quick responses. I'm very curious about your trip here and to hear about specific experiences.

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

I hope that wasn't it...it was always guys.

Well, there is an unusually large community of gays there but it sounds like that was not the case for you.

The Tagalog word for gay is "ba-ding" and they always try to catch my attention. Most likely just because I'm a foreigner, American, and they assume that my opinion of gays is better than the locals.

In any case, they fling their hair, batt their eyes and even take their tops down a bit. The gay men here seem to have quite large breasts medically, I'm assuming.

We've got a few in the family here. It's a very interesting community, I'll say that.

No Zippy, I'm not a switch hitter.

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

It could very well have been. It was just a bit off-putting...and when I did speak to them, they seemed really nervous. I'm not a big guy by any means, so I doubt it was my intimidating physical presence.

Ok, this is making more sense to me. If you came here without any family or friends that are pinoy, no natives walking with you, they are cautious but friendly.

Many of the first conversations that I had with people in this neighborhood were very cautious. There is a strong colonial mentality here and they are overall a bit passive.

Most have been verbally abused or embarassed by some foreigner at one time or another. Let's face it, their country is not nearly as developed as western countries. They feel that with new foreigners.

Another point is that they generally understand much more English than they can speak. Most are aware of their accent.

Many had thanked me in our second and third meeting for not being rude or making fun of them for living here in this culture. That many of the normal things for them everyday are somehow unacceptable by the Americans.

I've found this to be true with other Americans visiting the native areas. It's much different here in many ways. Some of those ways are scary.

So, back to your experience, I can imagine them wanting to be friendly to you, to maybe learn from you and to make a new friend. At the same time they might be nervous because you have no direct connection, say your wife growing up in the Phils, so you might have a bad impression of them for the condition of the country compared to the US.

Please understand me....all non-white Americans, if you are white in the Phils, you are a priviledged minority.

That's not to say that all other variations of Americans are not appreciated there but the whites have privilidge.

So, I cant imagine them keeping an eye on your for fear of you stealing something or the like. Curiosity most likely IMO.

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

It was an interesting place. I probably would have enjoyed it more had it been at a different time in life. But unfortunately, it came up shortly after my mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. That really put a damper on my excitement to be there.

I'm so sorry to hear that. In that same situation my excitement would be gone as well.

My mother passed very slowly years ago with various cancers. It was the most difficult emotional event in my life.

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

It's definitely good for the people there. Apparently, a degree is required to work in the call centers that my wife visited. It's a strange thought...over here, the call centers are usually staffed by the people not quite cut out for higher education.

We have nieces and nephews that work in them. They love it and although they have bachelor degrees or above it's a very viable option here for a career. Not at all like the US.

There are two very important factors to being employed there. Their job is to offer technical assistance for a variety of IT and engineering type tasks, so having a tech degree is a must. The other must is the use and understanding of the English language.

Yes, it is true, in the US if you have hit bottom, you're only option might be a call center job.

In those cases though, the position is just as a salesperson on the phone. The call centers here in the Phils are often tech assistance centers to be more accurate.

There are tons of ads in the papers here that if you can pass the English test ( I think it's called the TOFEL) then you can get a position selling on the phone.

I wouldnt encourage any of our family here to do that. Those people have done nothing but irritate me over the years. They bring very little value to the world IMO.

For those that have English skills though, I suppose it's better than what life has to offer here.

[slang]

Goat: ba-aa-aa. I'm tito's goat, you can't eat me.

Slang: Mother effer. I wonder what tito wants for this talking goat?

[slang]

Have a minute to spare? Take a walk with me into this bakery. It's a Goldilocks. I'll spot you some pesos. Take a look ( and smell ) what they have to offer.

This is the upscale bakery here. Their foods are fresh and actually have a sell date.

[SparkStalker]

Originally Posted by slang

Before I reply I'd like to say thanks for you quick responses. I'm very curious about your trip here and to hear about specific experiences.

Not a problem...sorry I had to drop out yesterday...they expect me to occasionally work:p

Well, there is an unusually large community of gays there but it sounds like that was not the case for you.

The Tagalog word for gay is "ba-ding" and they always try to catch my attention. Most likely just because I'm a foreigner, American, and they assume that my opinion of gays is better than the locals.

In any case, they fling their hair, batt their eyes and even take their tops down a bit. The gay men here seem to have quite large breasts medically, I'm assuming.

We've got a few in the family here. It's a very interesting community, I'll say that.

No Zippy, I'm not a switch hitter.

We did run into quite a few, but they didn't seem to interested in me. I keep telling myself that it's because my wife was always with me...
And she said that a number of the guys in the call centers were giving her fashion and make-up tips...

Ok, this is making more sense to me. If you came here without any family or friends that are pinoy, no natives walking with you, they are cautious but friendly.

So, back to your experience, I can imagine them wanting to be friendly to you, to maybe learn from you and to make a new friend. At the same time they might be nervous because you have no direct connection, say your wife growing up in the Phils, so you might have a bad impression of them for the condition of the country compared to the US.

So, I cant imagine them keeping an eye on your for fear of you stealing something or the like. Curiosity most likely IMO.

OK, that is a bit assuring. Honestly, it felt like they were just waiting for me to do a grab and dash...not that I would've been able to even if I wanted to...I'm not much for warm, humid environments.

I'm so sorry to hear that. In that same situation my excitement would be gone as well.
My mother passed very slowly years ago with various cancers. It was the most difficult emotional event in my life.

Thanks...and my condolences to you. It's a horrible thing to go through. I hated every moment of getting on that plane. Worse yet, my wife and I weren't even seated together. Since she was traveling for business, she got world business class. I was in the sardine section. I still give her hell about it.

We have nieces and nephews that work in them. They love it and although they have bachelor degrees or above it's a very viable option here for a career. Not at all like the US.

There are two very important factors to being employed there. Their job is to offer technical assistance for a variety of IT and engineering type tasks, so having a tech degree is a must. The other must is the use and understanding of the English language.

Yes, it is true, in the US if you have hit bottom, you're only option might be a call center job.

In those cases though, the position is just as a salesperson on the phone. The call centers here in the Phils are often tech assistance centers to be more accurate.

There are tons of ads in the papers here that if you can pass the English test ( I think it's called the TOFEL) then you can get a position selling on the phone.

I wouldnt encourage any of our family here to do that. Those people have done nothing but irritate me over the years. They bring very little value to the world IMO.

For those that have English skills though, I suppose it's better than what life has to offer here.

The ones my wife visited were collection centers for a credit card company...she said that all the associates she worked with spoke almost flawless English...so much so that over the phone, you wouldn't be able to tell that they weren't native English speakers.

And if you don't mind, I may go through and pick out a few photos I took while we were there to post...

[slang]

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

And if you don't mind, I may go through and pick out a few photos I took while we were there to post...

That would be fantastic.

If you have specific questions about something that you saw there but didnt have the time to investigate, we may be able to supply more info and/or photos.

I'm curious to see what other people find interesting here in Manila. Sure, there are more than a few tourist areas and attractions but seeing other peoples' photos is surely interesting.

For the photo sizing, I use 610 x 460. That's not law here but it would keep the images consistent if you are able to resize without major hassles.

[slang]

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

Unfortunately, because of the nature of the call centers over there, and the development team being over here, she still worked EST.

Was the overall experience positive? I've heard that the call centers here are a great deal for the locals here and the clients.

We have someone working in one and is quite happy. Win win situations are so rare nowdays it's a good thing to see.