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Post by darthdract on Sept 12, 2012 2:44:44 GMT 8
I love Filipinos more than I can say. Hi Bob that's very nice thats very sweet. But why is your Fiance's Daughter not allowed to speak tagalog at school? I hope you don't mind me asking. I am thinking about that Ferris wheel at SM mall of Asia, but one thing I have noticed is it moves very slow, And my problem recently is what if I need to go to the wash room. One more thing, I went to that Mall last week and saw Mountains across the Bay I know that would be Mt.Marivelles from Bataan and I think I saw the Island of Corregidor as well is Corregidor Visible from MOA? or am I just seeing things Its a very clear afternoon. Cheers Hi Okla, I do appreciate that you think of it that way. I read it some where that during the Kabanatuan raid the Filipino Guerrillas said to them they are not rescuing Allied Soldiers it is much deeper than that to them they are like rescuing one of their own. I also read accounts of an American G.I recounting his ordeal during the Death March he said that some Locals gave him some food and that the Filipino Women cried when they saw the Cattle cars past by full of half dead American soldiers. You will never see an inter Racial Unity like that. And what about the American internees at UST. After they where freed they help some filipinos that were bombed accros the street, There are even pictures of that circulating in the internet. Where you can see an Internee pushing a cart with an injured Filipino civilian on top. Its one of those pictures that makes me have faith in Humanity again. |
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Post by sherwino on Sept 12, 2012 7:56:30 GMT 8
Hey, Bob. You really become an adopted son of Bataan. You did mention the Bataan towns in proper order. You must've fallen in love with Bataan.  |
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Post by Bob Hudson on Sept 12, 2012 15:09:57 GMT 8
Darth, The schools here on Bataan begin teaching English from the start. They realize that English is the international language of business and at least try to give their students an advantage. My fiancees daughter has the advantage of having an American at home. She and I speak in the evenings and hers English skills have sharpened since I arrived here seven months ago. By the 4th grade, teachers are instructed to force the children to communicate in English. My future step daughter has already been chosen by her school to represent them in a district English writing competition. I think it's a good tactic and gives local students an advantage over schools that do not teach English at an early age.
I haven't had the pleasure of riding the giant Ferris wheel behind the mall. It does move rather slow but might it seem so because of its size? Look at the Jets landing at the airport. Do you often wonder what keeps them aloft because of how slow they seem to travel? I haven't clue what one would do if nature calls. Especially if it's the rear kind of screaming squirts.
If you are looking straight across the Bay, the southern most mountain discernible will be Mt. Mariveles, directly behind Limay. Just to the north of Mt. Mariveles would be Mt. Samat then Mt. Natib. None of them being a mountain that a climber would brag of climbing. Few even try because, believe it or not, there are bandits in them thar hills! They come down at times and steal cattle, chickens and pigs. The local National Police are constantly going on raids up the mountains but they never find anyone, just freshly abandoned camps. Those bandits know the hills well.
As far as Corregidor, I have no idea. When I went to Corregidor last year, it took a while on the Ferry before I could see it. Can't help you there. It could have been a bad air day last November. I'm sure there's a possibility that Corregidor is visible from Manila on a clear day. Perhaps someone else can answer that for you. I have never seen it from Roxas Blvd but then I don't think I was looking to see it. Come to Bataan sometime and I'll give you a tour. You'll have the pleasure of riding in my trike, which is all I have. I had it built taller and wider than most trikes because at 5'10", I can't fit in any others around here. Send me a private message or an email which can be found on my profile.
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Post by Bob Hudson on Sept 12, 2012 15:42:10 GMT 8
Sherwino, Yes I have fallen in love with Bataan and its people and culture. Some things I will never adjust to. I don't like eating anything that's looking at me...well...one exception..so my fiancee removes the head of anything she cooks. I don't care for shrimp paste and I can't eat rice with every meal. I can't drink or shower with my mouth open because the water is not treated here. We have bottled water delivered, about five bottles every ten to twelve days, more in the warmer months.
As far as showers, I have become accustomed to the cold water. When I first arrived, I screamed when I got in but now I just whimper a little. My testicles still climb up next to my kidneys and it takes me 15 minutes to coax them back down afterwards. My clothes never seem to get dry here even after hanging on the clothes line for 2 or 3 days and when they are folded and not worn soon, one must unfold them and air them out or mold and mildew forms because of the high humidity.
These are small nuisances that I can adapt to but I keep thinking about what a Marine once told me. He said "it isn't the 40 lb pack on your back that wears you down, it the grain of sand in your boot". We shall see. Rosalie and I are going down to Mariveles this week end. We plan on leaving early. If you're free perhaps we can meet. I haven't forgotten your offer to help maintain the Death March Markers. After negotiating with the American Chamber of Commerce and FAME for four months,we negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding between us last Wednesday and they have given me the authority and responsibility to maintain and care for the Death March Markers between Mariveles and Balanga and Bagac and Pilar. This past Sunday, Rosalie and I took a trip to Bagac to inspect the Death March Markers. They are in pitiful shape. Those nearest Bagac as far as I can ascertain, have not been touched in years. I was disappointed to say the least. They are going to require a lot of work. What I wouldn't give for a gas powered high pressure washer with a sizable water tank. They are covered in Algae, mold, mildew and God knows what else. Some have been struck by vehicles and have chunks missing from them. Some are being reclaimed by the jungle. Still. it will be a labor of love. Thinking of the pain those men felt who made that March, feeds my reverence for them.
Do you still have my cell #? Perhaps you are working Saturday? I seem to remember that you work six days a week. We could meet at Jollibee! I've never been west of the KM00 park.
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Post by sherwino on Sept 13, 2012 7:48:34 GMT 8
Bob, I'm trying to negotiate my freedom this weekend. My wife's urging me to go home to her province to celebrate someone's 50th birthday and I'm having second thought. If I will win, I would let you know asap. What are your plans in going to Mariveles?
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Post by sherwino on Sept 13, 2012 8:07:23 GMT 8
Bob, the mountains of Bataan are safe for hiking. I have climb Mt. Mariveles several times. Almost all that you will meet along the trails are polite. "Sir, good morning, sir!" is what you'll often hear. Maybe those "bandits" were just small-time thieves which now are almost everywhere in our province because of poverty. Even my pet dog was dog-napped. But my sisters were brave enough to storm the house of that crook to take my dog back. The coward was nowhere to be found. But organized rebellion is now unheard in most part of Bataan. But I'm unsure on the northernmost part adjacent to the other provinces. |
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Post by sherwino on Sept 13, 2012 8:12:27 GMT 8
Darth, if you will recall Jose Rizal's writings, he did mention seeing Corregidor from Manila. And Metro Manila is very visible from Mariveles on clear days. I also recall that from UP observatory you can see Mount Samat. |
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Post by Bob Hudson on Sept 13, 2012 8:24:55 GMT 8
Sherwino. I had to revamp my plans to arrive in Mariveles early. Forgot that I had to interview a 94 year old woman in Lamao at 10am who was a nurses aide in a jungle aide station on Bataan during the war. It may be noon before we get there. You should be able to spot an older American guy with a good looking Filipino woman easily. I have your cell # in mt phone. Let me know if you'll be available.
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Post by darthdract on Sept 13, 2012 20:14:47 GMT 8
Hi Bob and Sherwin,
Sherwin I think I saw corregidor from Mall of Asia,
oh Bob about that tour in your Trike that would be cool I am also planning to go back to Corregidor NextYear I will send you an Email or PM when I am ready. thanks for inviting in the tour. I really hope we don't encounter some NPAs in the hike trail I don't want to be involved in the 2nd Battle of Bataan.
As for Roxas BLVD. Lately it seems the government has a hardtime fixing the damage left by the previous Typhoons even the Sun Cruises Docks is Damage. Cheers
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Post by Bob Hudson on Sept 14, 2012 4:03:10 GMT 8
Sherwino believes the area of Mt. Mariveles is safe from harm for he has climbed it several times without incident. My future brother in law lives approx. 1/3 of the way up the eastern slope of Mt. Mariveles and wouldn't dare go to the top. He has heard stories from people who live higher up and the local PNP are always launching operations from Limay to go up and put an end to thieves. I don't think they are NPA but a nuisance nonetheless. Twice in the last six weeks, my future brother in law has killed two rather large pythons which ventured onto his property, most likely because he raises fighting cocks. He knows when he hears a ruckus from his cocks, something is amiss. I'm told there are Cobras around but no one I have spoken to has personally seen one. I believe these are the type that spit their venom in your eyes but can bite as well. It is supposed to kill you within 30 minutes. (Makes me wish I hadn't had lasik eye surgery eight years ago). Sherwino probably knows better than I. I have only seen one snake since I arrived here. I ran over it on my trike and didn't have the compassion to go back and check it out.
I'll wait to hear from you.
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