Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

In the west we lead busy lives so queuing in line is a disruption, here it passes the time of day as they actually talk to each other in the line.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

I never really queue when paying my electric bill. I just take my dog with me who is quite a good crotch sniffer and am always waved through the queue quite quickly one place at a time until I reach the front.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

I do not have to queue, I Go straight to the managers office. We have on grid solar power system so we export elecric to the grid. The electric company does not have the software program to ajust the bills so it is done manually. It takes about another month for the local office to get the bill so we are always a month behind.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Whilst on the subject of elecric supplies I have been listening to the Philippine News and by all account it is informing that there could be many more brown outs ( Luzon) due to high useage and the generating system unable to produce a sufficient supply. The odd brown out is livable but continuous disruptiion could be a real headache. When there is a brown out the biggest inconvienience to us is no internet and no water pressure due to the electric pump being unable to work. The brown outs we suffer are always in the daytime, because we do not use aircon during the day its not a problem, however if the brown outs occurred at night we would struggle to sleep as we use aircon at night.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

We have had constant brownouts for the last 12 years. For things like a few lights, WiFi, PC or TV etc get an inverter and run it off the car battery or a spare car battery and a trickle charge solar cell, normally gives about 6 hours use, or if it going to be a long one just restart the car every 3 hours. It even runs my water booster pump for a short period.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

I have just bought a bottle of citric drink. It is a slightly cloudy clear liquid named Pocari Sweat. Not exactly an inviting name.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

It's the go to after a bout of the runs.
There's a sports shoe shop in the vista mall Balanga called athletes foot.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

It is originally from Japan, hence the somewhat awkward name. It is an iso-tonic drink, meaning that it is intended to replenish salt, minerals and such after sweating. However, as with all soft drinks, has a lot of sugar been added.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Not so much an oddity here but would be elsewhere in the world

Contractor for DPWH damaged a National Grid submarine power cable - in the real world the contractor would have to pay for the repair, but not here. Here to cover the cost of the damage the electric companies will be increasing the customer power costs by upto 15% until December when they say the repair, that would normally take less than 2 days to be completed, will be finished.

A couple of weeks ago Panay Water came out with a brilliant statement that 'Heavy rains have caused water shortage'. They then followed that up a while later blaming the customers for the cloudy water coming out of their taps.

The problem here is that no one questions it.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

We noticed an anomaly here with our electricity bill many years ago. Upon enquiring, we were informed that the additional amount was to cover the cost of electricity stolen from the local grid. So, rather than the company (or shareholders) having to forfeit the loss, they just deduct it from the honest households that do pay. As you say, no one here bothers to question it.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

I can't understand why they do it. Friends 20+ yo kids went for their covid injections ( Pfizer ), after their injection they had to read a DOH list of do's and don't's, 1st line was do not eat prawns, lobster or other shellfish after vaccination, a quick check on Pfizer web site identified avoid excessive alcohol and smoking after vaccination, no other dietary restrictions, quick check on a few national health systems had the same advise. Why do they make up such stupid lies here?

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Just like the wearing of face shields. The only place in the world. Is it effective?

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Yes the Philippines is "The only Country in the World". That denies vaccinations to people with high blood pressure, in the rest of the world they are shoved to the front of the queue. Requires face shields for the general public ( supposedly less than 1% effective and even less when worn on top of head ). Requires plastic shields between motorbike rider & pillion, which according to the law could only be husband and wife, never found the design for the one they must have between them in bed at night though. But despite all these extra requirements they have come bottom in a world ranking on recovery post covid ranking.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

You have to wonder why. It's not as if the Philippines are lacking people with enough expertise to make sound, science-based decisions, so why the rogue statements like 'no shellfish' and the silly policies such as the windshield? It just doesn't make sense.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

It must only be something to do with money, the motorbike windshields were fabricated by a company with family links to a politician, face shields have been linked to 'my BFF' of the president and I can only assume that someone in the DOH owns a chicken or pork farm looking for increased sales due to restrictions on seafood consumption.

I would dispute your statement that they have sufficient science based expertise here after reviewing a friend's son's science module where the answers given in the back by the department of education were 52% wrong.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Ah, good old fashioned corruption. It's all over the world isn't it, the only difference is the lengths taken to hide it (or not!).

That's a worry about the DOE giving incorrect answers to test questions.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

I've been looking at a year 11 Maths text book recently. So far all answers have been correct, but back in my day only half the problems had answers given. In this book they are all given, only they are a few pages after the end of the section and they are upside down!

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Why does the Philippines have quite a number of silly policies? Saw another one locally here recently when they sprayed the smaller roads against covid. Like the face shield as you don't hear of it being done in other countries and they even did it on a day when it was clear they would soon be rained heavily on, which they were.
I think silly policies are endemic to developing countries, whereas in the developed world they can have them but they usually don't persist.
In the face shield example they went from something you should use in crowded hospitals and other public spaces to public transport and much less crowded indoor and open areas. Even to builders outside. Put through an IATF meeting last year without much thought when they were looking desperately to restrict transmission. Maybe some members had links to importing companies, yes.
At present the policy on wear is supposedly being discussed in government but it's a few weeks now since the President's latest announcement. Last year he said you only needed them in hospital, then rapidly changed his mind. Like those supermarket ads in the UK "Every little bit helps", he said even if it adds a little extra protection it is worth while! He is not a deep thinker and his attention is elsewhere as he ends his 6 years. This time a representative wrote to him making the argument of cost to give him a get out and save his face. They're not expensive. So once the chief executive here gets involved science, or the lack of it, doesn't count.
As he has been defending a company recently about face shield purchases I think you won't hear much more about it. The face shield rule requirement will persist into next year, though maybe not enforced so strictly. Then a new President will make an announcement.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

I think you will find the answers to all, or most of the above is the value of the ''back handers'' expect more and more of the same as we get closer to the elections, be they national or local, even at micro level.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

It just absolves the company for having to do anything to resolve the problems, any loss due to incompetence, inactivity, lack of maintenance or corruption etc. is just passed onto the customer, so why would they bother to fix anything.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

PAGASA seems to have a warped outlook on how the months of the year work. Looking for the coldest time of year in Philippines, PAGASA state "Based on the average of all weather stations in the Philippines, excluding Baguio, the mean annual temperature is 26.6o C. The coolest months fall in January with a mean temperature of 25.5oC" I was just wondering how many months are there in January here.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

So yesterday El Presidente says face shields no longer required. Widely reported last night in Daily Inquirer, PhilStar CNN , Manila Times etc.. so I enter SM Makati this morning without shield happy as life is now more normal.
Two guards tell me to put my shield on and basically physically tried to stop me entering. I asked if they were aware of the Presidents ruling and that their refusal to let me in was totally wrong. The older security fellow told me " we are still awaiting official orders from the boss."..
I suggested they read the news ( showed them a screenshot of President saying Face shields no longer required )" and if their boss had a problem, he should contact Malacanyang
They went to delay someone else with no shield, at which point I walked in to continue my business. Yet they were harassing every Filipino and making them wear their shields... sometimes Filipinos are extremely ( too ) passive when confronted by a person in uniform.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Isn't that El Presidente has instilled in the population for the last five and a half years?

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

He deliberately put the new face shield policy out late evening yesterday to miss the evening news so it was bound to be poorly applied. His last few months will be spent on campaigning so we will see him taking even longer on decision making.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

In the presidents directive for no face shields required in areas with alert level 1, 2 & 3 a bit further down the document it says "LGUs shall have the discretion to mandate the use of face shields" , glad that cleared things up.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Ah that will be the 13 th month:tape:

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Big queues at the atm's yesterday, at least the one's with cash. We worked out that it must be 13th month. Bet it will all be gone before the end of the week.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

I hear what you are saying.... but the guards are only doing their job as instructed. I personally wouldn't bother with that hassle.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Perhaps where you live you dont and havent had to face Face Shield Nazis......in Makati they are/were everywhere.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Face Shield Nazis are doing their best to reduce the problem of trying to find an environmentally friendly method of disposing of discarded face shields.
This nonsense only prevails in the Land of 7,000 Islands, and a few more if you are inclined to be pedantic.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

But wait.. theres a small ray of hope


https://nolisoli.ph/97659/face-shiel..._medium=direct

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Certainly wouldn't call them Nazis.... but just ordinary people trying to do their job as instructed.

I went to my supermarket the day after I posted and face shields were no longer required. About time too. Almost every one in the store had face shields before but perched on top of their heads. I think the Philippines were just about the only country in the world to come up with this idiotic idea. Same as pillion rider shields.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

P11 you are quite right. Someone very high up has made a lot of money from these idiotic scams.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Here's a good oddity you may want to take afvantage of.

We were in Market Place (supermarket) recently getting some essential supplies in for the festive season (wine and spirits!). Looking at the gin they had a one litre bottle of Tanqueray Malacca Gin for Php 1579, there was also 75cl bottle of Tanqeray at php 750. Shelf below there were bags with a bottle of each for Php 1270, ie Php 309 cheaper than a one litre of the Malacca.

When we asked the staff how this works they just said it was a special offer, several bags into the trolley and made sure the price was the same when scanned at the till. Now have enough Gin to keep us going for a fair few months.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

You were lucky, I saw a special offer on the crisps that I like that were marked at P120 each or two for P250.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

I like to drink calamansi concentrate, diluted obviously, and at the local supermarket it's cheaper to buy multiple 500ml bottles than the bigger 750ml bottles. The other thing to watch is the buy one take one. It's seldom two for the price of one but the take one is often some small item taped to the side.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Slightly off the topic, but I used to put that diluted concentrate, either calamansi or more often dalandan, in a big mug of tea in the morning. But it came to be expensive, scarce and is a bit messy. So now use local honey with juice from lemons....from the market as they are exepensive in the supermarket.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

We bought a 1.4 litres bottle of lemon juice from SnR yesterday for 219 pesos. Just add honey but the honey is quite expensive and most honey here is fake honey

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Yes, there's some really pricey local and imported honey on sale here. Don't know about that fake honey claim. But SM have one or two cheap brands for cooking use and I find them good for mixing in diluted juice. Not thick and not too sweet.
Yes, you can buy bottles of juice but you can't beat the clean taste you get from the fruit. Slice in a jug and add hot water repeatedly until it loses taste.

PS I find that the cheap honey I am using is actually "honey flavoured syrup". Apart from being cheaper I suppose it makes it flow easily for cooking. Anyway I would guess those concentrates also have syrup. Doesn't worry me.

Re: Oddities in the Philippines
 

Pure honey so much healthier than sugar. Just look at the overweight middle class under 18's here.