The boarding
routine at the O'hare Airport bound for Detroit went well, after a
realtively smooth security check at the gate. But not with the U.S.
custom officer who asked a few questions about how much cash was I
bringing out of the country. He said he should open my carry-ons:
a bag pack and toiletry purse. I heard something like $10k allowable
in cash. The customer officer started taking out all belongings; opened
all the envelops that my relatives had requested me to bring; counted
all the cash I had - obviously he found much less than the $10k after
a thorough check. I asked him what made him randomly picked me for
a routine check - I did not look like a "loaded" balikbayan
by any strecth of the imagination! He stared at me and smiled. I went
my way into the plane happy with the thought that for the first time
in my life, I was mistaken for a rich man.
+++++++++++++
When Gina Francisco of the Chicago Department of Tourism office called
me a week before my departure inquiring about my flight number and
time of arrival in 'Pinas, it did occur to me that it was a
usual way for a WOW volunteer to provide such information for records
purposes. I was wrong. After the immigration check, the intercom at
the airport broadcasted my name twice to proceed to the Philippine
toursim booth. I was met by a charming young Pinay and leied me a
sampaguita! Then, on top of that was a VIP card which qualified me
on discount coupons to airlines, restaurants, resort areas, entertainment
media - and many many more! Sec. Gordon might be doing something right
in attracting tourists in 'Pinas.
+++++++++
This business of owning a cell phone in 'Pinas can be exciting
and habit forming. Day one of my arrival, I bought a Nokia 3310 (the
most popular brand and model here) and joined the millions of Pinoys
whose penchant on the cell phone is beyond expectations. Although
I have a cellphone in the States, owing one here has its share of
little discoveries. For instance, my nephew's 4th grader taught me
the basics of texting. He's an expert although he doesn't own one!
but it seems to me - thanks to jet lag - I got carried away practicing
texting by sending any cell phone number I saved...Countless times
I got a reply requesting me who I was. There were on two occasions
when I sent a text to the wrong recipient!
++++++++++++
Nick Joaquin, a Philippine national artist wrote in one of his incisive
essays, the Filipino's predilection for "smallness." He
cited for instance the "tingi." I learned its full
meaning this morning when I volunteered to watch my nephew's cute
sari-sari store in his neighborhood. The store's inventory runs: a
stick of Marlboro, 20 centavos; a bulb of onion, one peso; a packet
of hair gel, P13; detergents, P7 - practically all the store exhibited
stock items were in small paper bags or plastic. But save the fifth
of gin, rhum or whiskey! Anyway, in an hour I grossed P250.00
+++++++++++++
A visit to 'Pinas is incomplete without browsing the Filipiniana
section at the National Book Store. I was looking for Pete Lacaba's
"Kung Baga Sa Bigas." Luckily, there were enough copies
in a shelf and I proceeded to the cashier a few feet from where I
was. "Sarado na po." said the clerk. Nonchalantly
I went to the other counter and after a wait of something like twenty
minutes, "sarado na po" ...The third time was even
longer. "sarado na po" again, my luck! I left pete's
book on the counter and left.:-(
doc simp
sm mall, 5/13/2003
