Similarities and Differences

Take a look at the city-scape in the picture above.  If you didn't know that it was the Makati district of Metro Manila, you could easily mistaken it for any major city in the US.  Modern, high rise buildings, brightly lit avenues and businesses . . . surely not a third-world country, where more than 60 percent of the population lives on less then two dollars a day.    I don't want to always focus on the problems and issues of the Philippines . . . there are many beautiful sights to behold, and I am anxious to see these in person, rather then through someone else's camera lens.

In my last article, I mentioned that the Philippines can be misleading, as it has many outwardly-appearing similarities to America.  For instance, the skyline above certainly looks modern . . . and it is -- but this is a very small section of the country.  For many, reality appears more like the scene below.

Housing can be quite misleading also.  For instance, look at the two photos below . . . both are very realistic scenes throughout the Philippines, reflecting the disparity between social classes.  The more modern-looking house on the left is not all that different in appearance than something you might find in the US.  The other house could perhaps be found in one of the more impoverished of back-woods communities of America, but in the Philippines, it is not an uncommon site.

When I was living in England, one of the things that I found most amusing was the British response to American fast food.  I remember in particular a time when a new chain was opening . . . it had a drive through service window . . . and the radio announcer had to explain how one would actually drive up to a window and order, pay for, and receive your meal without ever having left the comfort of  your car . . . a truly novel experience!  Well, in the Philippines I think they must be much more accepting of the fast food concept. One fast-food chain in particular . .  Jollibee . .  has gained such prominence that it has locations in the US, primarily in southern California.

I hope I have the opportunity to sample some of their food, just to see if it has any similarities to the American fast food fare.  The tricycles add a special "flavor" to the scene, along with the rain-drenched streets.  After living in the desert south-west for so many years, it will be an interesting change to be in the humid, tropical environs of the Philippines.

Another Americanism found in the Philippines deals with sports.  From what I've gathered, the most favorite athletic past time there would be basketball.  Take a look at the photo on the left below . . . again . . . one could easily assume that this was an American basketball arena -- but you would be wrong, as this is somewhere in the Philippines (maybe someone more familiar might be able to identify the actual venue).

It sounds like no matter where you go, there will be a basketball court with a small crowd of players enjoying a spirited game of "round-ball".

Well I hope this explains my comment the other day, that there is often some similarities between the US and the Philippines.  Certainly, the influences from being a US protectorate (I think that's the right phrase) for so many decades has made a definite mark on the culture of the Philippines. It will be interesting to put some personal experiences to this whole idea.  Hope I can share some of those experiences with others so that we might have some sense of the culture of the Philippines.

Until next time, "pag-ayo-ayo!"  (take care!)