archive of June, 2008
My head feels as if it’s stuffed with putty, and it aches. My throat is sore. I’ve been getting worse for days. My body aches. I’m achy and fatigued. So I think that I’m fighting an infection. I could have gone to a pharmacy – or gone to a physician for PhP 200 then to a pharmacy. Oh, well. »→
On the days that you can’t see a new weblog post we may be lacking electricity and/or DSL internet access in our flat in Tuding. Sometimes we go to internet cafés downtown, in Baguio City. Yesterday we had another blackout.
When we moved to Tuding we heard that although Baguio City has blackouts and brownouts, particularly during the rainy season, they’re rare in Tuding because our electricity comes from another source (hydroelectric, according to Dominic). Well, we have 1-4 blackouts per week, from 10 seconds to two-and-a-half days. »→
Today Pat and I finished installing the water barrel and plumbing for a shower. We got rained-on while working on this. The rain had abated by the time we finished, when I would’ve liked to see the barrel fill. But I’ve heard that the rainy season begins this month. »→
Warm thanks to my parents and to JoAnn P. for depositing donations for the A-V-C-A family’s poverty relief. The monies donated will pay for the kids’ inoculations, asthma medicines, a water tank and chicken feed. »→
Well, I took Rose from Baguio Gold to Precious Jewels Learning Center (K- grade 3) to meet her teacher, Joy and to retrieve her new uniforms. But we couldn’t get the jumpers. Typical. Rose can wear her plain clothes tomorrow, along with other pupils whose uniforms aren’t ready.
Afterward, Nick, Pat and I rode a jeepney into Baguio City so that we could shop for supplies. Almost every day I buy something. In Florida, going to a nearby Wal-Mart several times per week by car for quick forays wasn’t inconvenient. Here, taking a jeepney to the city and walking about searching for merchandise is not convenient. »→
This morning I got up and watched the IndyCar race in Fort Worth Texas on ESPN. It began at 8:30 Saturday evening there and 9:30 a.m. Sunday here. While I watched the broadcast, Nick walked up to Monterrazas Village to visit Dominic and me.
I asked why he didn’t ride his bicycle while I thought that perhaps pedaling uphill is too difficult, even in low gear. Nick said that Andy had deflated the rear tire on the rough, rocky road of Baguio Gold. Okay; a replacement inner tube will cost only 60 pesos. »→
I just realized that Dominic and I have been in the Philippines -and in Benguet Province- for three months. What a dizzying three months it’s been. Real culture shock for Dominic and cultural ‘acclimatization’ for both of us. »→
Since my sister inquired, I’ll tell you:
Precious Jewels Learning Center in Tuding (Kindergarten – Grade 3) charges 12,500 pesos for the 2008-2009 school year;
PhP 10,000 tuition ($234.57) plus 2,500 pesos for miscellaneous fees ($58.64)
That’s 41% of annual college tuition here, for Kindergarten, from 8 to 11 a.m. »→
This morning Nick came uphill to Monterrazas Village with his bicycle. He wasn’t astride it, as the front tire was deflated. I’d told him days ago that we’d replace the inner tube or patch it. Since then I’d bought a new tube and tools and an air pump. I’d also bought flat washers, lock washers, grease for the seat post and a quick-release for the seat post. Nick and his brother Andy, who share the bike, are different heights. »→
On Sunday afternoon, Dominic and I heard that Rose wouldn’t be going to Kindergarten at Baguio Gold Elementary School. I asked why, and I heard that BGES doesn’t offer a Kindergarten class. In the past it had tutors, but the last tutor has quit.
Monday afternoon I asked Mack to look into this when he returned to Baguio Gold from Baguio City, where we had gone for his new student seminar at City High. »→
At 43.891 Philippine pesos per U.S. dollar on June 4, some fuel prices in Baguio City are:
$4.06 per gallon of diesel fuel
$4.71 per gallon for ‘Silver’ Caltex petrol
$4.78 per gallon ‘Gold’ Caltex petrol
$4.56 for lowest-octane petrol
My quest to find a blue barrel has ended, because I found Baguio City Pet Supply on Magsaysay Avenue, which does not sell pet supplies any longer but focuses on reselling used, plastic 55-gallon drums which had held soap and other industrial products. I picked one which had held Unilever soap. »→
At 43.699 Philippine pesos per U.S. dollar on June 3, here are a few Baguio City fuel prices: »→
Monday morning: The neighbors below/behind us got new dogs (livestock, I guess). So the yapping dogs kept me awake last night and the roosters and dogs woke me too early this morning. At 6:38 a.m. I sit here bleary-eyed and heavy-headed, awaiting Mack and his grandmother. Mack wants me to accompany them to Baguio City National High School for new student orientation so that I will pay any fees that the school may charge today. I’d rather give to them a 500 peso bill and go back to sleep.
(Dominic) I promised the kids that I would take them to the mall (SM City Baguio). Of course the entire place is full of overpriced crap and full of people stupid enough to pay, including me.
After giving the kids a lecture that they should not shop in places like this, we started shopping. Actually, we went to eat in Pizza Hut. What a joke. I spent 20 bucks feeding a teenager, two little kids and myself!