Iloilo, Philippines - January 27, 2006
Another day in Iloilo. I have to record this part, as this is the second time its happened. But last night, we went to buy some soap in the supermarket. Suddenly on the loud speakers came a godly voice sounding like God. Suddenly a Catholic prayer was being read over the loudspeakers. The entire supermarket went quiet and people bowed their heads in prayer. The other time this happened was while in a large ferry boat before taking off. It really made me realize how religious of a country the Philippines is here.
Another thought that that came to me is how similar it is to Thailand, except its Buddhism everywhere there. Here there are tons of little shrines to saints and catholic replicas that the West long forgot about. Even the Dinagyang Festival here in Iloilo is in part to worship a Catholic saint of some time, and there are catholic masses throughout the festival. Its implemented right in the middle somewhere. Made me think of Buddhist Thailand which would do similar things, but all with Buddhism references - which westerners find so much more exotic. Who really decides what is exotic and unique or not thought?
A couple days ago while talking to the German woman, she was saying how she didn't find the Philippines exotic enough and they lost most of their culture. What does it mean? Thailand got Buddhism from elsewhere, and the Philippines have Catholicism culture from somewhere and added it in. As Western societies become so far removed from religion altogether, it actually does feel exotic that all of these many Catholic saints and statues and prayers and such actually have such incredible awe and meaning to Filipino people. Its somewhat very exotic in itself.
In the evening last night, we went out to a restaurant with three live female singers on a stage. Another typical thing to see in the Philippines. Although they were actually singing to karaoke tracts, their voices and stage presense was real and had great effect to watch. I was thinking how this too is typical Philippines. People singing and dancing and performing music wherever they can. It made me think back to my ten months in South America and how much I really enjoyed a country like Brazil in particular. But here I am in the Philippines, and its essentially the same thing with live music and musicians everywhere with that latin temperament. The only difference is I have a nice Asian angle to it all here and its all in English. Even better.
Also made me think to the German woman who was saying how Latin America is more interesting because of the indigenous culture. I admit that was equally interesting to me at the time. But maybe I'm getting older, but now I feel more like I'm more interested in what appeals to me the most (English, music, etc.) than finding cultures the most different from me as possible. Or its possible that because South Korea itself is so vastly different from everywhere else, that being a seemingly more familiar place like the Philippines really appeals to me these days.
More on the Philippines..
January 29, 2006
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