Tiny but warm, and WEIRD!!!

UPDATED!

The last time I was in Guam was 10 years ago when APO did a show with Ariel Rivera. This time around, we performed with Rachel Alejandro and Nanette Inventor under the Kumustahan banner at the University Of Guam gym last Friday. It was a great show. It will take a while for me to forget how the auditorium reverberated with the thunderous sound of a packed crowd stomping their feet as their way of asking us back. Unbelievable and wonderful.

Guam has changed a lot. Somehow, it looked more rustic then. I could not even recall having visited any big shopping areas at that time. Nowadays, there are many malls to choose from and new things to do. The Filipino presence seems more obvious now. Listening to the radio, one would think that you were in the Manila. The ads are in Tagalog and the songs are mostly Filipino pop.


I hooked up with an old classmate Pyng Urbano who taught me a few photoshop tricks and who gave us the picture above. Pyng and Myrna, thanks for taking the time to be with us and for the wonderful pasalubong you gave us.

Saipan was pleasant. It is a tiny speck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and is part of the Marianas Islands. While it is a US territory, it has its own immigration and an independent government. Life in Saipan is laid-back and very rustic. At times, I felt I was in Laguna or some other Philippine province. Except for a few hotels, there are not too many tall buildings. Half of the population are Filipinos. One is close to the ocean everywhere. Throw in a TFC cable subscription one can actually feel like you never left the Philippines.


There is Filipino hospitality everywhere. The cleaning ladies on the 8th floor left me boxes of chocolates in gratitude for my posing for pictures with them. I was quite touched. Everywhere, from the time you land at the airport to the time you leave, our kababayans are ready to assist you. Our show went quite well last Saturday evening. We had the biggest concert crowd ever in Saipan with 3,000 people.


I will be back to visit Guam and Saipan again one of these days. I need more time to relish the sights and sounds. While they are tiny places compared to, say, Sydney or even Manila, two days was still just too short to really enjoy them.


Here’s something weird that my balikbayan niece Cristina Tangonan saw at 168 Department store, that big discount store downtown filled with super cheap goods from China. I am totally baffled by what’s written on the clothes! I never imagined I would ever read this on underwear. Ano to? Pangpa-guilty? Someone said it’s some form of chastity undies. Ha ha.

Do they actually understand what’s witten on this? Will someone give English lessons to the manufacturer of this one?

The world is an interesting place, I tell you!

.

18 thoughts on “Tiny but warm, and WEIRD!!!”

  1. Hi, apojim!

    Nice pics, especially the last one =). There’s an unlimited tips and tricks for Photoshop. I still opt for unedited P&S ones, though; I’m too lazy too explore the software. lol

    Btw, I’d like to ask permission to link you up to my “new” blog.

    Thanks.

  2. Di ba yang Guam at Marianas noong panahon ng Kastila kasama sa kolonya ng Espanya sa Pilipinas. Diyan ipinatatapon ang mga rebolusyonaryo na lumalaban sa awtoridad ng mga kastila sa Pilipinas.
    There is also a school of thoughts na ang original settler ng Marianas Island mga Chamoros ay nagmula sa Pilipinas. Bukod pa sa napakaraming migranteng pinoy ang tumungo diyan noong panahon ng mga amerikano kaya siguro malakas ang impluwensiya ng ating kultura sa mga kapuluang iyan.
    Ang first official game nga ng PBA this season diyan gagawin sa Guam, Red Bull Versus Alaska.

  3. Hi! I got here through Ala’s blog. I don’t know her personally, but I know some people who know some people who knows her. The Friendster thing. 😛

    Anyway, I’d just like to comment on your comments (eh?) on Guam and Saipan…my dad works in Saipan and he goes to Guam occasionally and I’d have to agree how peaceful it is. 🙂 Saipan is like a province and our last visit there is the most relaxing time I’ve ever had. 🙂 Plus the number of all Pinoys there make it feel a lot like being at home. I wouldn’t mind going back there again. 🙂

  4. in this world, expect the unexpected, great pictures! hehe! btw sir Jim, congrats from the last APO Experience concert, thank you for the great songs, looking forward for the next one. also, is it possible to get the email add of Sir Buboy, here’s my email add: jetlack@gmail.com, thanks.

  5. hi! i remember when i went to guam last 2004. lots of filipinos there and some were working at the hotel where i stayed. very nice, they made me feel very at home. wish i could have seen your show.

  6. yes indeed, the world is full of hidden wonders…and i have to agree, someone must teach those chinese manufacturers some english. honestly minsan sayang yung clothes na mura and maganda pero sablay yung prints ;p

  7. Tito Jim,

    Nabanggit mo na rin lamang iyong TFC, kagabi sa Cinema One Global pinalabas iyong pelikulang Blue Jeans starring Alfie Anido (sln), Dina Bonnevie, Albert Martinez at siempre kayo ng APO.

    Inawit ninyo iyong tanyag na “Bridge over troubled waters”, “See me, feel me” at siempre ang sariling likhang “Batang-bata ka pa” at “Blue Jeans” the movie theme.

    Do you still remember your answer to one of the questions in your back(sak) subjects: “What is the largest organ in the human body?” 🙂

    And that mirror-on-toes antic was a riot! LMAO.

    “Binali mo ang shades ko! YSL pa naman iyon!” – Gerry (Dina) LOL!

    Kung type ninyo ng copy ng movie na ito, naisalin ko na sa DVD. Sabihin ninyo lang at padadalhan ko kayo.

    -Just JT of Dural

  8. indeed jim, the world is an interesting & exciting place!

    as always, with this post of yours, we see another side of this world of ours.. and it’s beautiful!

    keep ’em coming…

  9. Hey Jim,

    Great Concert, everybody enjoyed the night… i was able to catch you on Saipan LOL.

    I will email you some of the pictures i personally shoot…plus a picture gave to me my Lea! a waitress on the hotel where you have dinner BBQ after the concert…she wants to say Hi.

    regards,
    NZB

  10. Hey Jim,

    Great Concert, everybody enjoyed the night… i was able to catch you on Saipan LOL.

    I will email you some of the pictures i personally shoot…plus a picture gave to me my Lea! a waitress on the hotel where you have dine after the concert…she wants to say Hi.

    regards,
    Neo

  11. Welcome Back Jim and otsukaresama!

    A tiny speck but a crowd of 3,000? Nobody can stop the APO, the best crowd-drawer ever!

    Interesting photos Jim, i don’t think those are what guys give to their girlfriends though. 🙂

    ~sachiko~

  12. sachiko–that was a funny comment. ha ha

    kabayan–salamat. got the photos. Love saipan!

    paksit–salamat. keep visiting

    jt of dural–ha ha. Blue jeans is one of those movies that just keeps playing and playing. Makes me cringe somewhat but its fun. sige, give me a copy!

    hanne–funny english talaga.Actually there’s more. Will post more someday.

    noodle–nothing like Pinoy hospitality

    ewic–will pass your email to him

    paniii—nanbalaitaan nga namin yun. I hope it does not bget too ‘modern’ though.

    atoy–tama ka. diyan yata tinapon yung mga exiles natin.

    Tina–yes, Pinoys there are really friendly.

  13. love the pics!! makes me wanna go to Saipan. I was laughing at the “chastity undies”! I happened to come across your blog because I was looking at Apo’s website hoping to see an upcoming concert around January (kasi magbabalik bayan ako for Christmas — I’m live in NY). I was supposed to go to the concert you guys had at Atlantic City kaso lang my companions bailed out on me and I ran out of tickets! anyway I’ll keep watching out! I’m listening to the new CD of your songs and I love it!!(mga classmate ko sa UP fine arts yung mga kamikazee!) nakakamiss tuloy ang Pinas…looking forward to coming home!
    ~will be linking your blog (coolness kasi)~

  14. Truly interesting, Jim 🙂 I’ve never thought also such a reflective quotation can be read on an underwear.

    Meanwhile, I’m looking for other interesting things here in this small island of Singapore.

  15. thanks kuya Jim, hope to see you and the gang again here on Saipan. Oo nga napaka simple ng buhay dito sa guam at saipan…. parang small philippines with the $. hehehe.

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