Filipino Turning to Ice?
I’ve been out since early afternoon, its now 7pm and I’ve been watching Filipino and especially Filipina bundle up and shake with the chills of 25C or about 77F degree temperatures.
The winds are blowing pretty hard, especially on the bay making it feel cooler than it is. Jessie had her sweater and was trembling with cold. I saw 
pinoy with their hoods over their heads and their arms across their chest. The pinay were trembling with cold. Now me, I was in heaven. As were all the other white guys I saw. The Filipino though, they are just not use to this. One would think that there was an inch of snow on the ground in Jackson, Ms. from their reactions.
I found it pretty amusing, as I’m usually the one burning up. Jessie just said “cold in here, cold out there, cold every where.” Hmmm, my face is burning but overall it has been nice for me.
According to Philippine web sites, there are only two seasons in the Philippines. We are in the cooler season now but it is still the rainy season, according to most. Seems everyone I ask has a different time frame as to when the dry season ends and the wet season begins so I wont even try. I’ve about given up on that. I think it depends on where you are and I can’t find anything on the official Philippine weather site.
I sure wish the temperatures would be like this year round but they wont be. Though it is cooler here than Memphis, the sun is more direct and the humidity is much higher. Still, it doesn’t feel as hot here as it did back in Memphis to me. The sun seems to burn more though.
Jessie and I met Ilyn and her friend Divine in the part we invited them both to BBQ but Divine had to go home to feed her child. Divine speaks English though she had some problems with my strong southern accent. Ilyn understands more than she likes to let on but she’s shy and just giggles. Most Filipina are very shy.
I had another wonderful day living in the Philippines. Started to go to a basketball game but changed my mind, in part because the battery in my camera died so I decided I had enough for one day. I am a bit tired.
Tagged with: Filipina • Living In The Phlippines • Philippine Weather • Philippines
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I told you it was winter. April and May are the hot months. Cools sown a little from June on because of the rain.
I know what you told me but the Filipino told me there is no winter and after Googling it, I confirmed that.
To say there is a winter here is just inaccurate. The Filipino do recognize Summer around he months you mentioned but that varies.
In 2008, it did heat up during March and stayed that way until the middle of January. I thought it would be cooler in the rainy season which is officially June to October. We had an un-usually dry rainy season this year though. So I probably experienced higher temperatures than normal. With only one year here, I might not have a clear picture yet. Based on what both expat and Filipino tell me, it was not a typical year.
You can call it winter if you like, probably many expats do. I hear expats say things like “they are Filipino, what do they know.” And I’m like you’ve got to be kidding me.
Google Philippine seasons.
Here in Northern Indiana, it is currently minus 2 degrees farenheit. It is supposed to warm up to 6 tomarrow. My Bukidnon wife of 10 years and I are DONE with this place! See you in the Philippines before our next winter.
LOL I love it Robert. My X had an online affair with a guy from Indiana so I helped her make it an in person affair. She hates the cold. She grew up in Canada. I think she’s still there, don’t know. Was two years ago, maybe three. Gloating? Me? Yep. LOL
We are having a cold spell too, the high tomorrow will be only 75F LOL With high winds, the Filipino are freezing. LOL
Hi Rusty,
I called my Mom & sister there in the PHilippines last weekend. I mentioned to them that I will send a door-to-door package to them soon. My sister was saying: “please send me some jacket”, and I said: “What jacket? your’e in the Philippines”. They go: “It’s very cold here now!”. hahaha I told them by the time the package arrives, summer heat will be saying hello.
I remember when I was there, the weatherman would call the January cold weather, The Siberian Cold due to the jet stream pushing the cold front from Siberia. And yes, at that time, I felt it was very cold! Now looking back, that was probably just spring breeze here in Cali.
Well, enjoy the 77F while it last. Be ready for April and May heat.
Yea, last year the Apiral and May heat didn’t leave until December. We didn’t have much of a rainy season.
Okay so we have north eastern monsoon now or wends blowing from the north. What I’ve seen it’s blowing more west than east though.
And yes, if you used USPS and Phil Post it could be months before they get the package.
And yes this is defiantly not cold. Though Jessie just said “its cold in here.” LOL Don’t have the aircon on….. She’s so use to blaming me for being cold she forgets I didn’t have any thing to do with this one. I know I’m so wonderful it is easy to get me mixed up with God but I have to remind her I’m not quite that good.
LOL
Hit Rusty, Well, as they say, “enjoy while supplies last” In my opinion May is the toughest month in Cebu. It gets really hot but it’s the dust that kicks up that can really be hard on your breathing. It’s really easy to catch a case of bronchitis. Although I do love Flores de Mayo in may…
Sorry, that’s Hi Rusty
Maybe you are right the first time.
Well though nearer to the equator the Philippines are still in the northern Hemosphere. The coldest winter months are uaually Jan and Feb. Now for the Philppines the weather remains mild due to being in the tropics and is further regulated by the warm ocean water that surrounds it.
In the northern areas of Luzon and in the mountains you will notice it more because the temprature drop is more, but what you are experiencing is their winter. Granted for most of us 75 degrees isn’t like winter weather we are used to. Fortunately for most of us that’s as cold as it gets so plants don’t die and the ground isn’t covered in snow.
Wow, I must have fallen to sleep at the keyboard my my last reply isn’t here.
I got up early then back to sleep. One walk without sunscreen is enough to take me out for two days.
I couldn’t stay awake. I may wait till the sun goes down to walk today. Solve that problem.
Or perhaps the site marked my comment as spam. I guess I should check before replying again.
Queen,
I don’t expect it to last but I can wish. If it does last, massive climate change is in our midst now.
There is a cold front that seems to have just stalled right on top of us. Hopefully it will stay there and yes, I’m enjoying while I can, saving money while I can with the aircon off.
Tom, when Filipino call it winter, I will too. This is my home now and I wish to be as much Filipino as my kano skin will allow. If you want to call it winter, be my guest. I would agree with you, but then we’d both be wrong.
Why you people do not join the world and start talking Celsius? Farenhaid is the staff of Imperial England and Queen Victoria, This is 21 century!!!
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius and boils at 100 degrees Celsius, its simple and easy to get the feel of it.
Tom, here is the definition of winter:
Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. Calculated astronomically, it begins on the solstice and ends on the equinox
The key is TEMPERATE ZONES. The Philippines is entirely in the Tropics of Cancer and thus not in the temperate zone.
That’s super not true…..(about winter)
I’m a Filipino and we really don’t experience winter
It’s just now that we feel so cold and I got to know the reason why….I need it tomorrow
Please help me
Joyce, help you with what?
I really wonder why do the Philippines don’t have winter
China, nice to have you drop by!
Some people think of December and January as Philippine winter but its not accurate to do so. The Filipino don’t so I don’t. I’m trying to live as much like they.
China, are you Filipino?
Because it’s in the tropics! Well, not the winter one would experience in the northern hemisphere anyway.
This brings to mind a long time ago when I was still a little girl in PI. Someone (maybe a politician or radio personality?) suggested Philippines should become the US’ 51st state. Apparently there was an old lady from Cavite interviewed on TV what she thought of the idea. She said “that will be good because then we will have dollars”. She then asked the reporter, “does that mean we will have snow also?”. LOL!
oh, the simplicity of innocence.
I probably would have thought she was being sarcastic. No? guess not.
She probably realized later how off the wall that was.
Yeah, your going to import snow from the US but how would it not melt firat?
I think she was really serious. You’re talking about an old village woman. I think to her mind, America meant dollars, and if we’re gonna become an American state, then we’re going to have snow! Simple.
Well, I guess the likes of her might have seen some American movies set in winter. Imagine Rusty, if that had gone ahead, US expats won’t have to exit, and you won’t need a visa, and you won’t have the worries of deportation.
I also couldn’t afford to live here.
Look at Hawaii for example.
That is true. American Samoa was a US protectorate. Are they still?
My Phil history is not that good. Was PI ever an American colony or a Protectorate? Had PI been a protectorate of the US, US expats might have been able to come and go much easier than the present system. But of course the US will always get accused of exploitation. Look at what happened when you only had the base there, and it was only a base!
Life would be easier if the base was still here. Sad that it is not. I’ve read about the protest that caused the American’s to close the base. The US was closing lots off base at that time so I’m sure we were happy to do so. The people came to resent it though. I can’t see how its departure was a good thing for the Philippines.
It is hard to find out much about Philippine history.
I don’t remember what it was called but the US did have some kind of formal control over the Philippines. I think that ended in the 40′s if I remember correctly. We had something to do with putting Marcos in power. We have quite a dark history with helping people to power that then used the position to help themselves rather than the country they represent.
Hawaii is probably a better example. It became a state in the late 50′s and it is thriving and a place almost all Americans wish to visit or live. and it is extremely expensive there.
Yes indeed, Hawaii is very expensive. I do feel sad that the Phil. is still being referred to by Journalists here as “the basketcase of Asia”. I mean they use the same term on Zimbabwe and Phil is nowhere as bad as Zimbabwe! Just the other day at LIP, one of Bob’s bloggers said a burger in Zimbabwe would cost 60 billion Zimbabwe dollars! – and that’s if they can find meat!
When I was in New Guinea in the 90′s there was an American doctor working with us. We got talking about our (original) countries when he realized I was born in PI. He’s worked in PI as well. In his opinion, the US granted Phil. independence too soon. At the time, I argued with him that Phil. had been under Spanish control for 500 years. Surely that was enough? His reply was that, although Spain occupied Phil. for that long, they didn’t really teach the Filipinos how to be a nation. I was not very well versed with Phil. history, so I couldn’t argue with him otherwise. Would the US have done any better?
I remember reading somewhere that one of the earlier Phil. Presidents wanted Phil to be a US protectorate first. I must try and find that site.
I remembered reading about the demonstrations there to get the bases out. There was widespread beliefs that Marcos was being manipulated by the US in exchange for aid money which he apparently channeled to his pocket. I would like Phil to be as prosperous as Singapore one day, and hopefully it will be prosperous enough that other nationalities will stop referring to Fil. as “a nation of servants”. But I don’t think it will happen in my lifetime…..
State hood would certainly spur things along here. I can’t see the Filipino or the American being really keen on that idea. I think it would be beneficial for both except for the Al-qaeda presence in the south. That alone would make it impossible for the US to be willing to accept it.
There have been places to vote on it and turn it down that are much closer to the US.
I’m sure any link to the US would be beneficial in financial ways to the Philippines but if it had become a state, the culture would have been completely changed, especially in religious culture being a part of the law. The federal government has always used cash as a way to gain influence. That’s really all a country has to offer, that and protection.
People can like people for who they are, but countries don’t have that. The feds control a lot of what goes in states by providing money. Mississippi usually comes in last in financial measurements in t he US. The main reason for that is Mississippi would not accept Government funding until the 70′s! They wouldn’t allow the feds to have any power there. With American money comes American influence, no doubt about that.
You said something before about it easier to get into the country, its already pretty easy. The extensions are a pain and expensive but the country needs the cash. I’m glad to be here so you wont hear me complain too much.
I think there would definitely be a lot of opposition if statehood had been considered at all. On the other hand, if the govt’. would do a referendum (and I don’t think they would ever) what do you think the result would be? I think it would be a landslide YES! Do you agree?
Hard to say. Remember it was the people that threw out the base. One would think it would be a yes, probably strong opposition in some areas. I think the church would oppose it and that would cause many Filipino to oppose it. The church would have far less influence under a US rule. There would be no mention of parish churches on official websites. Cock fighting would come under fire. Too many cultural changes. Too many checks and balances in government, total change of banking laws. No it would never happen and I’m not at all sure it would be supported by the people.
How many people out of what 80 million Filipinos? I think it was more like the noisy educated minority who probably viewed America as still controlling the Philippines in many ways. They might have basis on that. I didn’t paid much attention at the time, I was already out of the country. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard that term “American imperialism”. If you ask the common people in the streets, the tricycle drivers, the farmers, the fishermen, do you think they would care whether bases are in Pi or not? I think that if you ask them if they would like to be the 51st state of the USA, you will probably get that same answer the old woman asked: “does this mean we are now going to have dollars?”. Right now, with Filipinos having to leave loved ones for years on end to work aborad, enduring heart breaks and homesickness, if you ask them would they like to be the 51st state? chances are the answer will be a resounding yes. Would patriotism feed your family and educate your children?
That farmer, fisherman, and tricycle driver most often follows the church. Moving the US in there would diminish its power. Which way do you think the church would go.
Most people in Manila support the reproductive act that is being considered but people out in the rural areas do not seem too. I heard one of the ministers near my home talking about how it would increase abortion….
It matters almost none at all what the Filipino’s first reaction would be. The Church will move to “educate” the people on its on view which MIGHT be distorted but there would be negatives. things acceptable under this culture are not acceptable under US law.
It doesn’t matter if it would benefit people, what matters if they believe it will and I’ll stick to what I said, most would not see it as beneficial once the powers that be “educate” the public.As you first said though, it will never happen. Well I would have said a black man wouldn’t be president of the USA in my lifetime not too long ago as well.
Yes, the church. I know I’m being simplistic here, but there is also a lot of truth in it when I say, that the church has a lot to answer for with Phil.’s social and economic problems at the moment. People go to church year after year in their lifetime, but I think a lot of them just die without even reading the bible! – if they had, they would find out this is not necessary.
Anyway, we can trash this topic until the cows come home, and we will still differ. After reading your e-mail, I’m gald Phil. is independent and is trying to do its best for its people. At least it tries hard to keep the “worms” out. (read email!)
Worms destroy good fruit. In society “worms’ destroy people and culture by way of exploitation, corruption and greed.
Amen to that Christine.
But it doesn’t matter what should be. All that matters is what is.
Hmmm, my email makes you glad your not par tof the US? Am I that bad?
Thanks Jess – no it’s not you Rus, rather just imagine if PI is part of the US. “Worms” and the likes of him (ike that creature I mentioned in my email) can just come and go. At least as an independent (even if struggling) Philippines, if you mis-behave, then we can give you the boot!
What matters is what it is? But many Filipinos is trying to change “what it is now” because it’s not satisfactory.
Well if this was a US State whatever the worm is running from would just follow him here. He’s really not worth our concern or time. Consider the size of a worm’s brain.
I’m glad the Philippines is independent. Being an American, having different values taught to me since birth so of the things here don’t sit right with me but their not my things. I like the way the Philippines are so I don’t want to see it change..
I would like to see living conditions improve for the poor but they are improving and will get better. These things take time.
Needs to be a lot more infrastructure in place but the powers seem to understand that and are working on it.
My brother mentioned recently about some Phil. Politician who is trying to introduce a bill which would enable foreigners to own properties outright. He is not happy about it and neither am I. If that happens, Filipinos might as well all leave PI, because there would not be any land left for them. Bro says as it stands now, the Chinese are buying up mountain properties and farms and turning them into subdivisions with the help of a Filipino dummy partner. And the Westerners are buying up beach side properties and turning them into resorts. If the law passes, it will become anything goes for anyone with money. And we know where that could lead to. The Filipinos might not even have a cave to live on, because they would all belong to the Chinese. And they won’t even have a seaside hut to live on because it will belong to some “Kano”.
I don’t think a bill would accomplish that. I believe, though I could be mistaken that it would require a charter change. Lots of talk of that a few months ago. It is usually referred to as cha-cha.
I think the result would be a greatly improved standard of living for the Filipino.
Hawaii use to have such protections in its state constitution in the 80′s. I don’t think those kind of protections would be constitutional in the US. Again, I could be wrong. I don’t think it is still true in Hawaii and they seem to be doing just fine.
I could be wrong but I think the Filipino would have much improved housing as prices would sky rocket and the people selling that land would be Filipino.
That doesn’t mean I’m in favor of such a change. There are social implications as well as economic. I’m not concerned about buying land it Jessie’s name at all. I just don’t have thee cash to do it.
If people from other countries could buy land, it will make it much harder for me buy in Jessie’s name.
There is a home on Bantayan Island going for about 1 million peso. I’d buy that in a heart beat if I had the $100,000 needed. Well, I’d buy it for Jessie. Sure wish I was a rich man.
There are many other things that would need to change as well but I don’t believe it is appropriate under Philippine law to comment on those things.
It might improve the standard of living for Filipinos, but only in the short term. Once the land is gone, then it is gone forever. If there is so much demand for land, the common Filipino will not be able to afford it. Look at what happened in Mactan now? I’ve heard some foreigners not liking it so much because it had got so crowded. I think though, foreigners who marry a Filipina should be protected in some way, maybe let them own property, but with size limitations, and provided he had stayed married with her for a period of maybe 5 years. This would prevent “worm like” Kano from marrying a Filipina for convenience. Okay, you can argue that that is happening now anyway. But at least Phil. still have the luxury of deporting undesirable aliens.
Hmm, not much point in getting married if its inconvenient.
Pretty girls have been attracting mates since the caveman days. The women were more domestic and territorial while the men roamed the area looking for food and mischief and his wife kicked his butt. Then he did it again. Not much has really changed. 
I think you’re wrong about the effect of foreigners buying land would be. There is nothing to compare it too as even on Mactan there is no foreign ownership of property. When there is more development, people get paid more as the demand for services go up businesses have to pay more to get it.
I’m trying to figure out how to talk about something I see going on here. Its really obvious and its the very thing that makes it possible for me to have a better life here. Wages are too low. Those with money are able to take full advantage of that and they wish for wages to stay low.. Thus, the rich keep getting richer and the poor remain poor. Maybe Filipino should look a little closer to home to focus their problems on besides foreigners. I think the problem of the poor is close to home.
On the other side, these things take time. Democracy takes time. I like the way things are, that’s why I’m here.
Yeah, and I’ve heard the bull….t reasoning that males are designed to be bigamous to perpetuate the human race. What a load of codswallop! and the same for that so called Prophet (I should say profit!)
of a well known US religion who declared bigamy is acceptable in the eyes of God. Who’d want to be God these days? he gets blamed for everything!
You took it to something I didn’t even begin to say.
I commented on how it is and was, I made no comment on the right or wrong. Its not my place to decide what is right and wrong for someone else.
I was exaggerating I know. But it could happen it becomes law – maybe not in our lifetime. But I’ll be very surprised if this law get passed. I mean the peasant farmers can’t even get land ownership now despite reforms. Imagine if a law like this get passed. I think even if it gets passed, it will get watered down.
You talk about people getting paid more if there is development. Not so. It is the widespread availability of labour that drives wages down. If your uncle, cousin and brother won’t accept wages for a job, employers won’t worry about that. There’s always your neigbour’s uncles, sons, cousins who will.
It’s the stiff competition for the pleasure of cutting your hair, cooking your BBQ, making your shirts, that makes wages cheap. Next time you go to a restaurant, ask the Manager how quickly he can replace a cook, a waitress who resigns. Because there is no welfare system, people would rather accept low wages than go without.
Christine, it is the lack of demand that make it cheap to live her.
There is a lack of demand because people work for near nothing.
If there is less poverty, there will be more demand. Only when demand goes up will wages go up. That alone may not do it. In some places in the world, there are laws that help the lower income classes earn more but they have to be enforced too. Then and only then will wages go up in many parts of the world. Looking at only one aspect of it causes one to miss the big picture. Until people can afford to buy things, then the standard of living will rise. Demand begets demand. Pretty simple.
You often hear so much about supply side economics. You can have all the supply in the world but if there is no demand because there is a huge amount of people wondering how they will get their next meal, there will be no demand.
Like everything, there must be a balance and if not then the entire system will likely fall short.
Yep, I can get things cheap here, that’s why I’m here spending my money in the Philippines, doing my part to increase demand. To spend money in the Philippines which provides more money for those running businesses here which allows the owner to buy more things for theirself and thus increasing their standard of living. The owners purchase from the services I paid for, increases demand for the goods they buy. This is called the velocity of money. Money is created each time it is spent.
Rus, when you talk about “demand” I think you are using the USA as an example. Phil. again will deviate from the norm because of cultural differences. I think it will drive the brightest economist insane!
There is enough demand in the Phil., alright. Always have. But Filipinos liked US made products too much, so US products and services become in-demand (world-wide for that matter). Guess whose standard of living improves? – not the Pinoys.
Christine, there is no demand if there is no purhcase. Demand is not what you want, its what you consume. The idea of supply and demand is mostly independent of culture.
There is very little demand where there is poverty.
If companies could make money selling to Filipino in large numbers, then they will also produce here.
Why produce anything here, when so few can purchase it?’
This is pretty simple and there can be no demand where there is no money.
The US doesn’t even make many products any more. Its a service economy.
For example, there is a huge demand for beer here and the Philippines has one of the finest beers in the world.
The Phil. is big on consumption, so there’s your demand. Of course if you are talking about large scale demands such as the Chinese buying tons and tons of iron ore from Oz, well, PI hasn’t got that. If they have, that might really change things – will it? I have my doubt though. Chances are, if PI is lucky enough to have a huge oil deposit, it will be the multi-nationals that will grip it. There will be jobs for sure, and with that demand for other commodities. It’s the chicken and egg argument, I’m telling you. I guess we can argue about this till the moon turns purple. What’s say we agree to disagree – for now. I’ll buy you a carton of pizza when I have my holiday then we can continue debating this. Shame your readers/bloggers will miss out though!
My trip is getting closer. I’m trying to fill up a balikbayan box. I didn’t have this last year, don’t know why I have one this year? No one told me last year this is a musthave for those returning after a long time ….
One cannot consume which is one part of demand unless one has cash.
exactly what I said in the first place – there we go, chicken and egg again!
No, not chicken and egg, you refuse to accept that consumption is part of demand..
The only place in the Philippines that has winter is in Batanes Islands, north of Luzon island, and south of Taiwan.
Thanks Johann, do you know if it is within the Topic of Capricorn?
I’ve been doing research on Philippine weather and what I find form official government sites is not what many may expect.
Like everything else in the Philippines, on cannot apply what they know to the rest of the Philippines. Much of what is thought to be true of the Philippine enviroment really applies to Manila and the west coast of the country. I plan to write an article on it.