I think sharing a few photos and captions never hurt anyone
Here are the dancers that entertained for my reception when I arrived in the ARMM region.
The floor area is about 3 times larger that what you can see in the photos as there was seating for approx 200 persons.
This hall is in a relatives \'backyard\'/\'compound\' and several floors/stories tall - some people have HUGE properties there !
We stayed in a small guest room. Which happened to be larger than many homes in this country (referring to my friends who live in Manila).
Several times a day servants would bring us these huge trays loaded with food. It was amazing. I requested Coke as their only source of water was from the family well. After several days the family DEMANDED I try the well water. I was 100% shocked not to become ill from drinking it and took a flask of it back to Manila with me hidden in a baby bottle.
I had their local well water tested when I returned to Manila - IT TESTED MORE PURE THAN THE DISTILLED WATER I NORMALLY USED TO FEED MY BABY !!! Home delivered water was 5ppm while the pure well water registered only 2ppm (parts per MILLION of total dissolved solids) WOW ! For comparison TAP WATER in Manila is over 300ppm on this same test - lower number = more pure water!
Some of the 200 or so guests at my reception
This was my favorite food tray - notice the bowl to the right is empty - that was because it was my favorite beef - tastes like smoked pot roast covered in smoked coconut shavings. Curry rice was teh centerpiece with boiled eggs skewered into the center. NOTE: ARMM members traditionally eat with no utensils. Not even a spoon. The brass \'tea kettle\' is used to wash your hands before eating - and you are required to eat with only your right hand - as that hand is reserved for eating, holding religious books and off limits to other personal hygene activites you have during your life. Wash BEFORE eating, during eating and AFTER eating. ARMM members also traditionally bathe 5 times daily. SO there is a lot of washing going on there.
Every family that is financially able to has their very own mosque on their property with full staff. There are no need for alarm clocks here as the call to prayer marks the time 5x daily and starts at around 4am and is broadcast on loudspeakers - which happened to be about 10 meters from my guestroom window
There are jeeps there as well - just like others places in the philippines - however due to their traditional belief that no images of any spiritual or divine being be portrayed - you find most jeeps covered in video game logos - as gaming is very popular in the ARMM region (pop-music Icon logos are rarely found also - just like you see very few jeeps in Manila with Tanduay or Condom logos - while you will may find 1 or 2 - its just not too proper of a logo... )
This is a house built by relatives over 400 years ago. Yes - it is OVER 400 years old and the same family has lived there for 4 centuries. With their own rules, laws and policy... understanding that we can begin to see why such areas prefer to keep their own views/laws instead of adopting the current ones that came to power genrations after they were already established here.
It looks like an old house UNTIL you examine it closely. It looks as if the posts were carved from living trees on the spot without even being uprooted. Quite sturdy too - withstanding 4 centuries of weather.
Several families have their \'family mosque\' overlooking THE nice lake (the name of these people translates to english as THE PEOPLE OF THE LAKE)... rather relaxing if I might add - to meditate with a cool breeze blowing and the sound of fresh water
A busy street at the MSU (Mindanao State University) campus. We see a girl in this photo with her head uncovered, however her head covering is still on her shoulders. That is passable - as if a man in manila walked down the street with his polyester shirt unbottoned just a few buttons down... looked at the same way...
University staff
Hardest place in the world to take photos... family elders cautioned me to never be seen with a camera in public. (how many photos have YOU personally seen taken of the ARMM region civilians??) Reaction to cameras is pictured below IF THEY ARE POLITE. SO that was the first and LAST time I let my camera go anywhere near people outside of the immediate family.
At the end of my stay there - people warmed up
Note - I counted a total of ONE BANK when I was there. I am sure that adds to their distrust of cameras. People there simply do not trust banks (and for good reason) - chances are all of their families monies are hidden somewhere - and a camera is probably a sign that someone is out to find their money... Were not talking small fries either - Im talking millions in Euros or USD. When that massacare suspect family was raided they found millions upon millions of pesos... That is 100% normal when all family keep their money hidden on their own property. Which also gives need for private/family security. A relative spent 80 million pesos during his last elections. Most of that was from his own pocket. And people question why politicians drive with blacked out vehicle windows and an entourage of armed guards.
The only problem is that your Competition probably also spent 80 million peso and the loser does not get ANY of that money back.... what would you do to make sure you win
- But politics is not for me at all... due to many factors.
We have many expats retiring here with peanuts who also make sure they have guns in the house for protection... How many guns would you need if you had a few million USD buried in that house of yours folks
Then how many family members do you have to house in order to keep your things secured from \'outsiders\'
Little by little - we can begin to see the big picture.. does not take a rocket scientist.
Nevertheless it is still high noon in the OK corral
