Everybody loves mahjong

Yes, I know this is my third blog post today, but I actually have a little free time to write some of my thoughts down about the time I spent in the Philippines. Plus, I'm watching Inkigayo live right now. :) In no particular order:

1. Practically everyone in the Philippines is bilingual (Tagalog and English), even trilingual depending on where they live (for example, my mother's side can speak Ilocano because they originated from Ilocos).
2. The cities are crowded. Very crowded. Why? I think it is because the Philippines is a very Catholic country where practices such as abortion and birth control are not commonly used among young men and women (resulting in many babies).
3. Churches are the place to be on Sundays since Catholicism is so widely practiced. Filipinos especially love the saints and the Virgin Mary, as demonstrated by the many rosaries hanging off of jeepneys. A special note - Communion is absolutely crazy. People, regardless of where they are sitting, rush to the front in order to receive the Eucharist. It's wonderful that they are so excited, but it could be done in a slightly more orderly fashion.
4. Filipinos get around by jeepneys and tricycles. The traffic is absolutely horrendous. There are no stop lights and the traffic control guys all fail at directing traffic. As a result, roads become a free-for-all where cars stop, go, and turn as they please. It's survival of the fittest.
5. If you are rich you hire a driver to take you everywhere because of that very reason. If you have family in the U.S. who sends you money you can also probably afford to go shopping in the air-conditioned malls (crucial) and get facials and massages. The great divide between the rich and the poor is astonishing - slums and hotels are side-by-side and children sell flowers for food while others throw away leftover Jollibee sandwiches.
6. Virtually every fast food restaurant serves fried chicken (since chickens are plentiful) and/or spaghetti (which is slightly sweet and comes with hot dog pieces).
7. Filipinos place a great deal of emphasis on beauty - many beauty pageants are held every year and women are expected to conform to the standard of beauty. If you watch Filipino TV you can see a lot of commercials for skin whitening products (even for men) as well as makeup and hair and things of that nature.
8. Gay men, known as bakla, are accepted as a part of Filipino society and have carved a place for themselves as trendsetters and reliable companions for women with troubles. They, however, are still looked down upon by the people of this very religious country.
9. Women love matchmaking. If a friend of a friend has an unattached son and you so happen to have a daughter (I'm looking at you, Mom) they will inevitably find a way to make them meet (much to their amusement/annoyance).
10. K-pop has invaded the Philippines! I kept hearing the "Nobody" song (by the Wondergirls for those of you who don't know or care) play on the radio and even sung by a saleslady! There was even a documentary about fangirls who love TVXQ! and a special on Sandara Park of 2NE1.
11. Moments of complete silence are extremely rare. There is always something in the background, whether it be the chirping bugs or an old lady yelling at everyone to buy her fresh produce.
12. There are more salespeople than customers in the stores - labor is cheap and there are always people willing to work for the whatever money they can get. They are also very annoying because once you demonstrate the slightest interest in a product they will jump on you and follow you either until you buy the product or leave the store. The salesladies at the cashier staple your bag though, so that is a plus.
13. So many Filipinos leave the country in search of jobs abroad because they cannot earn enough money for a good education for their kids in the Philippines. It is more common nowadays for kids to be raised by helpers (women who live in the household and do the chores as well as care for the children) rather than their mothers because the moms are working abroad in order to send money home. However, the kids need their mothers in their lives, not just as a source of income!
14. Men whose wives are abroad but need female companionship have three options - they can properly care for their kids who also miss their mom, drown their sorrows in bottles of alcohol, or find a mistress. Unfortunately the last option is becoming more common because that is a way men demonstrate their 'machismo' or something akin to that.
15. Bring your own toilet paper! I found this out the awkward way.