Articles in Philippines
Fire Sweeps Through Neighborhood in Cebu City
A fire broke out on Tuesday evening (March 18, 2014) in a tightly-packed residential area in Barangay Lorega in Cebu City in the Philippines. According to newspaper reports, 500 homes were destroyed, leaving as many as 7,000 people homeless. Not surprisingly, despite staying just a few blocks from this area, I was completely unaware of the calamity until a couple of days later. Disasters seem …
Double Vision and a Trip to the Hospital
Seemingly out of nowhere, I’ve started to have trouble with my eyes. It was probably a gradual process that I just didn’t notice, but it doesn’t feel that way. It feels like I woke up one morning and suddenly couldn’t see very well. The problem was mainly in my left eye, where I was experiencing double vision or ghost images. It was pretty bad and …
Thoughts from a 7-11 in Cebu
It’s 7 in the morning and I’m sitting at one of many neighborhood 7-11’s in Cebu City. It’s like I’m back in Taiwan. But not really. In fact, being at a 7-11 tends to heighten some local characteristics, as I can compare it to the 7-11s in Taiwan. As you can probably guess, in every comparison, the Filipino version comes up short.
My biggest complaint (as …
A Neighborhood in Downtown Cebu
This morning, I came into the 7-11 to find the place almost completely empty. Unfortunately, there were four customers in line at the counter – worse, they were 4 senior citizen customers! Oh, man, did the 7-11 clerks take a long time to finish dealing with them. They used not only ID to get the senior citizen discount but also some special 7-11 discount card. …
A New Internet Cafe in Cebu
There is a crazy homeless dude outside the 7-11 window this morning. He’s got dirty rasta-style locks of hair going down to his waist. Black skin from the layers of dirt. Wearing one flip-flop on his right foot. Holding two flip-flops in his hands. I haven’t seen this guy too often. I saw him yesterday, and he nearly ran right into me. That’s one thing …
Jeepney Workers and Beggars
6:10 a.m. 7-11 in Cebu
Got an awesome night of sleep last night. I woke up fully refreshed and feeling great, but I still have ghost images in my left eye. Who knows? It might be a permanent part of my life now. It doesn’t affect distance vision all that much. A very annoying side-effect is that my prescription glasses are now all wonky for my …
Early Morning Thoughts Over Coffee
Thursday August 14, 2014
6:30 a.m.
Not much going on at the 7-11 this morning. When I came in, all the chairs and benches were still up on the table. I had to clear my own table first and I learned how heavy these friggin’ chairs are. They’re made of square steel tubes welded together. Built to last. The music is blasting like a night club. I’ve …
Pop Culture Thoughts
Friday August 15, 2014
7-11 Cebu
Not much on my mind first thing this morning. Jeepneys are going by and filling up with customers. I can’t say with any confidence who all these people are and where they are going. Many are students. That is clear. Others are going to work, but I have no idea what kind of work. It’s not like Bay Street in Toronto …