Things You Need To Know…

…About the Philippines!

 

 

Roosters are kept on leashes for the most part. Goats, however, are left to roam the streets freely.
The children’s home has a duck, who does not like it when you quack at him.

You can find Starbucks and just about anything else you need at Tay Tay Mall.

There aren’t many supermarkets, but there are hypermarkets.

Roosters do not just crow at sunrise, they crow at all times of day and even once night has fallen.

The Philippines quite possibly has the best mangoes and pineapples in the world.

When you go to the mall you are often greeted with, “Happy afternoon, ma’am/sir.” I would much rather have a happy afternoon than simply a good afternoon.

Filipinos love basketball.  And they have drums at their games.  Fastest way to get PUMPED UP!

If you ask someone how t hey are doing, 9 times out of 10 they will say, “Fine.” Sometimes, though, they’ll say “Mabutay”, which also means fine, but it sounds way better than fine.

Filipinos love Celine Dion.

Filipinos love videoke.

Filipinos love to sing Celine Dion at videoke.

There is a fast food chain called “Jollibee” and the mascot is creepier than Ronald McDonald. Believe it.

They call washrooms “comfort rooms” and if you want to use one you better have your own TP handy. And you better not flush that TP, it goes in the trash.

There are over 18 million orphans scattered over the Philippines 1,000+ islands.

Most schools don’t have electricity or proper plumbing.

Hospitals are unbelievably crowded and in a condition that would make most of us back home cringe.

There is literally poverty around every corner.

The “neighborhoods” people live in are in conditions that most of us wouldn’t want to go to the bathroom in.

 

There are tycoons who keep the poor impoverished because of their greed. There are babies crying for their mothers, children aching for a home, fathers holding their heads in their hands wondering how to feed their family, there are mothers with broken hearts from watching their children become just another statistic. There are Americans and Europeans who keep the sex trade up and running because of their terrifying lust, and because of them there are children who learn how to sell more than just newspapers. 

 

Then there is you and I.

Pieces of the puzzle, answers to prayers, hands and feet ordained to be here, destined to see more than what our eyes can show us, meant to know more than words can tell us.

 

What else do you need to know about the Philippines?

It is not the only country crying out for wholeness. On Friday my team and I leave for Kampong Thom, Cambodia. Please pray for safety and strength. Let God open our eyes, use our hands, and move in our hearts.