A week or so ago, the power company repair crew came by to repair the lines. A few days before that, Jessie and I noticed that the electrical lines were glowing red in a few places after a rain. Our neighbors had reported power fluctuations, bringing the repair crew out for a look.
Bogo City Repair Crew with Ladder on Motorcycle.
The picture above says a lot more than may first be obvious. The repair crew doesn’t have a fancy truck. Their ladder is made out of bamboo.
People often talk about the Philippines being laid back, well here you go, here it is in action. Its not just the lack of suit and tie for bankers but it runs much deeper than that.
Repaiging Power Lines In Bogo City
It takes steady nerves to go up a pole using a wobbly ladder made of bamboo. His assistant helps but the ladder still rocks a bit and sometimes it seems the assistant gets distracted. I might have to find me a new assistant! People of the Philippines are quite good at making do with what they have and making it work just fine.
Tagged with: Living in Cebu
Filed under: Bogo City
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The photo of the arrival of the repair crew is PRICELESS!
Thanks, I like it too. Really gets across how different the Philippines are for those living in the USA and probably many other places in the world.
I almost didn’t get that pic, they nearly got away before I snapped it.
Yeah! A few years ago I snapped a photo of 2 cops in Manila,in Uniform, changing a flat tire on their Police car with a few civilians standing around watching them.
I thought that was Nothing you would ever see in the US. (I’m going thru my old negs. trying to find a copy of the photo)
Yes, that would not be something you’d see in the US.
They put them on so tight there, I can’t get the flat tire off. 🙂
Hi Rusty. I am a power lineman of 30+yrs. Canada & U.S. & nop I never seen anything like that before. I see a few safety issues. LOL. Guy
Yeah, I think the picture of the ladder on the bike captures so well the casual and enterprising way of the Filipino. They do come around with a bucket truck when they work on the larger lines on the street.
Do you usually bond on to these smaller lines that go inside or cut the the power? Those lines were live!
Yes, the Filipinos are by and large great improvisers. In Cebu we had a handyman we called on for everything to do with repairs to the house. He did everything: carpentry, plumbing, tiling, welding – all cheerfully and cheaply. That is one of the main things I miss here. A plumber here has to be paid a king’s ransom for any job he undertakes and you will be lucky to get him at a time that suits you rather than him.
We have a handy man very much like that. He is also our reflexologist. I wish I could call him over now as my legs are hurting and a session would really help with that.
Yes he too is very busy at times. If there is a large construction project nearby he seems to always getting called up to work on that.