Pipay and her Palanquin

Manila is not a very friendly place for dogs.

No dog parks exist here. In fact it's against the law to have your dog out in public without a leash due to a national rabies control law. Many establishments don't allow dogs to enter. Many condominiums forbid dogs to live there.

I can't really blame them. The reason why this city is so dog-unfriendly is because of a lot of irresponsible dog owners.

I have seen dog owners who allow their pets to "go" in public places and not pick up after them. I have seen them just letting their dogs roam wild out in the street, to harass whomever passes. But mostly I believe this is because most dog owners aren't really aware of the responsibility that owning a dog really entails. They just think that they have a friendly animal that they feed, will come when called and stay out of sight when not needed. They are not aware that pets need companionship, proper nutrition, healthcare, exercise, stimulation... almost as much as a small child.

Fortunately things are getting better for dogs. With the advent of the internet and exposure to foreign dog care shows such as the Dog Whisperer, there's a growing awareness of the responsibilities that one has to a dog and increasing tolerance for dogs who have owners that are responsible enough to make sure that they aren't nuisances to other people. I'm actually quite grateful that this country's largest mall chain SM tolerates dogs inside their malls... provided they come in proper "packaging".

Hence my dog Pipay has her "palanquin"; a dog stroller. I actually bought her dog stroller for another reason, but inadvertently I realized that it had a side effect: it allowed us to get into shopping malls where normally dogs on leash are forbidden. I wonder if there's some kind of class thing going on because usually it's the well to do people that can afford a dog stroller, and it's usually those kinds of people who are aware of their social obligations when bringing their pet out in public.

In any case, despite the pet-unfriendly nature of the city, things are looking up. It definitely isn't up to first world standards but I think with time things will get there. In the meantime Pipay and I will just have to deal with the challenges of pet ownership in Manila.

Commuting

If only our trains looked like the Chicago ones...

When you say "Commuting" here in the Philippines, we don't mean hopping into a car and driving to work. We mean leaving your car behind and hopping into several forms of public transportation to get to work. Because cars are prohibitively expensive (in real terms, a decent mid-sized sedan costs 2 years of my salary to acquire) and parking an expensive pain in the posterior (when you can find parking at all!) I prefer to take public transportation.

When taking public transportation there are three considerations: Time, Comfort, Low Cost. and you can only pick two.

Time + Low Cost = The MRT3 - The cheapest and fastest way to get around Metro Manila. Unfortunately you will be packed into a car with the other human cattle and end up having to fight for your breathing space. Comfort is sacrificed.

Time + Comfort = Uber Black. - If you want to go around in a luxury car like some oligarch politician, you can hire a luxury sedan or SUV from Uber using it's premium Uber Black service. Thing is it's not cheap. Low Cost is sacrificed.

Comfort + Low Cost = Airconditioned Buses - If you can get the modern buses with wide seats, and are able to actually get seats. (In this country, buses are allowed to cram people into the aisle between seats.) you can actually get a comfortable, reasonably priced ride to the office. Thing is since Buses must pay a "boundary" (meaning if they net below a certain amount they get no salary) they must stop at each and every bus stop, and make improptu bus stops to herd as many people as possible into their buses to hit the boundary which means you'll get to your destination... eventually. Time is sacrificed.

This madhouse commuting system is compounded by the fact that our president initiated no public infrastructure projects for the first 4 years of his 6 year term, and is catching up by initiating them ALL AT ONCE.

Is it any wonder why lots of my countrymen dread the daily commute?

Humidity

Metro Manila is humid.

I fully did not appreciate how humid this city is until I lived in temperate climes for three of the four Seasons.

Because it is so humid, food spoils quickly when left out of the refrigerator. A cold drink is always wet with condensation. And clothes rake forever to dry.

Also because it is so humid you can smell all the rotting garbage that anyone leaves anywhere outside.
Also due to inadequate infrastructure, common folk like to pee on cement walls. There's a walled street adjacent to a Jeepney terminal that turns into a giant urinal in the morning. And if there's no shower to wash away the smell... It positively reeks to pass by.  I imagine that it's what a medieval city would've smelled like. Since plumbing was not a thing back then.

Still there are positive effects to the humidity. I never need moisturizer. My lips don't chafe. I sweat buckets when I exercise outside.
I take the humidity for granted. I've learned to accept it's omnipresence in the city. And generally don't mind it. After all if it really bothered me, well...  That's what the air conditioning is for.  :)

Relaunching!

I've tried to blog about stuff in the past, and failed miserably. Now, in aid of my writing habit formation, I'm going to blog again.

But unlike before where there'll be just fiction snippets. I'll add other things here too. Stuff that until recently, could only be seen on my Facebook feeds. So you'll see an eclectic range of topics here from politics to news to technology to fiction and general geekery.

The view outside my window. Yes, Manila traffic.

I'll post something every day, or at least try to. Welcome to the Beacon!