Malling in Manila

Tuesday, February 9th;

We had a really early morning Tuesday. We had arranged for Boy and his jeepney to arrive at 3:30 AM. That would get us to the airport by 4:45 in time for a 6:30 departure.
We were all ready and we loaded our luggage into the jeepney followed by ourselves. Riza and I are fine, Leroy barely fits but Dan can only sit up between beams and pipes so he will hit his head in every direction on the rough road. He spent the whole trip bent over his lap to keep his head low.

Gomay, an older gentleman who owns the rice field across the road, is waiting at the gate to join us on the jeepney. Rumour must have flown about the village last night to have someone else ready to go at this hour! He was welcome to ride as far as the highway at Mercia and it made his journey to go and butcher a pig much easier. As soon as we stopped to turn onto the highway he jumped nimbly to the ground. No charge to him since we had booked it for a flat fare.

There are no windows and doors on a jeepney and the wind is cool at this time of day. Riza and Leroy seem to be feeling the cold by the time we near the airport. Then we are stopped by a large army roadblock. They are looking for arms being brought in to disrupt the upcoming elections. Early as it is Dan is prepared to be humorous. I elbow him. Maybe this is not the time. But the machine gun toting soldier with limited English recognizes harmless when he sees it so he smiles, wishes us a good day and lets us pass.

Interestingly, we see a news report that there are groups of mercenaries being brought in from Mindanao to disrupt the elections. Groups of 30 are spread through the highlands in towns like Canlaon City. Will they be able to find and stop them? I am glad we will all be in Canada in May when the elections occur.

We are at the airport in plenty of time and fly on to Manila.

Riza’s cousin is there to meet us with her car and driver. That certainly makes early morning traffic in Manila easier. Dida directs the driver to take a less direct route home in an attempt to avoid the worst of the morning rush but it does not seem to be a successful evasion. EDSA Avenue is a parking lot. Pollution hangs over the city like a grey cloud.

Not having to drive, we are all sitting comfortably in the back seats of the van and can start visiting immediately. Riza and Leroy have lots of catching up to do. We are busy looking around us and asking questions about the very busy city we see.

Dida is Dorothy’s sister and there is a family resemblance both in looks and in entrepreneurial spirit. She runs a successful tailoring business in Manila. We arrive at her home and are served a welcome coffee and the fresh Pan de Sol Leroy has been talking about for days! Dida had picked them up fresh from around the corner and they are warm and delicious little buns. Leroy swears this particular bakery is the only one that can create them exactly right. I have only eaten one other version and so far he is right!

We are introduced to Dida’s son, Rainier. He has cerebral palsey so is limited in his movement but he has a sharp wit. He and Dan have a lot to say as they get to know each other.

One of the tailors is also there sewing as we visit. He takes time to measure all of us for new clothes. I order two pairs of dress pants and three pairs of capris. Imagine, pants that will actually fit! I can hardly wait! Dan is measured for one pair of dress pants and three lightweight summer shirts. Reza is getting three pairs of walking shorts. Leroy has some clothes already on order. I like this kind of shopping. We sip our coffee and eat our buns while looking over fabric swatches, make our choices and the finished clothes will be delivered to the us in four days at the Manila airport during our layover when we will be traveling back to Negros.

At noon, the driver takes us to our hotel in the Ortegas district and Dida goes back to work.
The Astoria Plaza Suites is just a big modern hotel. Like many timeshares the suites differ in design and upkeep. The first suite we see has all twin beds so we ask for another. The second has a very lived in look and the layout is fine for us but gives Leroy and Riza a second rate room. I am not really happy with it so I go to the desk to ask for the first one back. They were very understanding and pleasant. Because the first one was actually a smoking room and they realize we want non-smoking, they show us to a third suite. Two bedrooms both with ensuite, king sized beds, kitchen, living room, no smoking on the 23rd floor. Our room is ceiling to floor glass on two walls with a bird’s eye view out over the city.

Now we are settled. We have a light lunch in the dining room and head for the mall at Greenhills. This is another place Leroy has talked about. Much of it is little market stalls selling everything you can think of cheap. It is attached to a normal mall as well but it is the market that makes it different and interesting. The men go off to look at electronics and computers. Reza and I prowl in ladies wear and the garden area. Nothing we can’t live without but we enjoy looking! We meet up at a restaurant Leroy wants to show us and make up for the light lunch.

Then it is time to head back to the hotel. Our early start is taking its toll.

Wednesday is a day to take it easy and to go to the malls. This city is all about malls! My goal is a fabric shop at SM Mega Mall. Riza knows it as the place to go for trim so that is our first stop. I am looking for cord for Bag Ladies bags. There it is! Every colour imaginable. We choose about 20 colours and it takes three clerks 2 hours to measure them in 100 yard lots and wind them on new spools for us. It starts out with pools of colour on the floor but soon a system is in place and it all goes smoothly. Not only have I never seen the selection, it is less than 5 cents a yard! Now how do I get it home????

That’s my shopping done. We wander for a while but we have invited Dida and her family to dinner so we head home to organize. We calculate dinner for seven but Dida’s daughter brings her boyfriend to introduce to us all and there is the driver of course so it is a cheerful party for nine. We are short on dishes and cutlery but we make do with chop sticks and take out lids as extra plates. The Chinese food is very good and there is enough to go around. No one minds the “camp out” style. There is plenty of room for everyone to sit and visit so it becomes a very pleasant family evening. Both sides are interested in learning from the other. Leslie and her fellow both teach at the university. Going through school he was a tour guide in Manila and is very interested in the history of his country. He offered to be our guide next time we come so we will certainly leave time to see the real Manila with him - no more malls!

All too soon it is time to say good night. Our time here is almost over - we leave for Palawan tomorrow.