Well, I finally decided to meet my steady’s family. It was last June, to start my three week vacation in PI. I had my steady, “Sheryl”, to get the tickets for me. I had already the flight numbers but my internet prices were almost double what she was able to get them for in AC from Beeline travel in Kokomoz. She had everything arranged, hotel, return flight, taxies, ect.

I landed in Manila from Las Vegas without a problem. Met up with Sheryl and took the cab to the domestic airport. The only thing on my mind at this point was getting my first SM beer. Ok, not the first thing, but trust when I say I was taken care of a little bit earlier. We finally found the beer and I got an average massage while we waited for two hours. The flight was quick and unremarkable, except they give you five times the amount of snacks than I ever seen before.

Finally land in Bacolod City. I was laughing out loud as I have never seen a commercial airport this small. The baggage claim was outside! It was so crowded there. Wall to wall (what walls?) people. Sheryl was busy interviewing taxi drivers while I waited for our luggage. She found a guy with a nice conversion minivan and he said the price was up to her. We were staying at the Sugarland Hotel just down the street. Ended up giving him 300p and got his card.

Well after Curious’s messages that he could not set me up with his girl, I decided to make my own plans. I had been chatting on the net with a 24 year old virgin that lives in a neighboring city. Joyz is a wonderful woman. I chatted with her for months before this, web cam meetings, phone calls, and some texting. She is one of the most intelligent girls I’ve conversed with. I told her my plans and she agreed to meet us at the hotel.

We arrive at the hotel. Our room wasn’t ready at the time, so they let us have another smaller room in the mean time. We did it like bunnies and cleaned up. Just as I got finished with the four beers that were sent up when our room was ready. I did a quick look at the room. Hmmm, two hours, yes you can tell mongering1 was here. lol

We settled into our actual room. Not a bad place. It rated four stars on the web, I rate I equal to two and a half stars US. Nice décor, roomy, good staff, but still dingy. The CR was OK, but not clean as you find in US. I always wonder if they even have Ajax in PI.

It was mid afternoon when Joyz showed up. She didn’t have a bag with her! I had explained to Sheryl that Joyz was a good chat buddy of mine and left it at this. Well we ate supper and I requested Joyz to go get an overnight bag and stay with us until I leave. She agreed. Sheryl and I took a taxi to her mom’s house.

I was wondering why everyone kept their chicken coops so close to the road, I couldn’t see any houses. Come to find out I was looking at the houses! I have never been to a location like this in my life. No running water or electric. I was a little shell shocked to say the least. I am very humble and did not let my first opinions known.

Sheryl introduced me to her family. Mom, two teenage sisters, twin teenage brothers, and her ten year old sister. The girls were shy at first, but the boys wanted to show me around. I told them to take me to a store that sells candy. Well the only store within walking distance was a window of someone’s house. I said that this will not do. So I gather up all the kids into a huge trike and off to the grocery store we go.

I told them to get anything they wanted. They had to be prodded a lot by me. I told them to spread out and get some stuff, I didn’t want to be out too much after dark here with the mosquitoes. I monitored the things they were throwing in the cart. The older girls all bought some hygiene products as well as some normal girl type stuff, like pony tail holders ect. They all were getting the basic staples, canned meats, rice, dry milk, and so on. I asked when we went down the snack isle if they even liked cookies. The little one grabbed a small package of chocolate chip cookies. I put it back and grabbed two big boxes. This got them going. Next five minutes and the cart finally filled. The trike held it all. I was amazed. Seven people and a full cart of groceries.

When we get to the house all the kids promptly put things away. The second eldest sister opened a jar of mayonnaise and a loaf of bread. She started making half sandwiches. People started showing up from every direction. She fed them all. Of course when she made the first one she offered to me, but I was stuffed from eating only a couple hours before. I had to remind them about the ice cream. There were about a dozen or so more kids there at the time. The second eldest made the announcement of ice cream and all the kids left running. Hmmm, I was confused again. Well, a few minutes later they all came back, along with some new ones, all carrying a small cup or bowl and a spoon. The whole episode was very amusing and I hope I am writing this well enough for you to understand the mixture of emotions running through me. I felt very good about my self. I didn’t feel as though I had to do anything for this. In other words, I felt genuine hospitality for all of them.

When the ice cream finished I said we had to get going. We took a trike down to the main road and waited for a jeepney. It took us to the hotel. Joyz was waiting in the lobby with her bag in hand. Now I had not slept for well over 36 hours at this point. The internet service was down in the hotel, so we get a taxi to the internet café and then out to eat. We called it an early night and got to bed. All three of us naked in the bed. I fell asleep immediately.

The next day we call the taxi driver that took us from the airport. We struck a deal, 2,000p for as long as we need him that day and evening, he would pay the gas. All three of us head for Sheryl’s mom’s house. When we showed up all the kids were still in school. I was not happy with this . When told they would be home in an hour or so I said we will go pick them up. We took the van to the school. It was an L shaped building. Most of the classrooms did not have doors or windows, just huge openings in the wall. The staff did not mind at all that I was there. We peeked into the kids classes, but did not interrupt them. Shortly school was dismissed and we drove back home. I wanted to get something to eat, but Sheryl explained that they need to change out of their uniforms.

Back at the house the kids gave us another tour of the neighborhood. Went down a very steep and long hill where there was the neighborhood well. A bit further and we were at the river. I could have waded across parts of it, I think.

Back at the house. The taxi driver was doing some odd chores around the house. He mended some siding on a wall to the house, helped clean the pig sty, and fixed a bench in the front yard. I told everyone that I was getting very hungry. They all got ready to go and we loaded into the van. Mom and Auntie came along, to total there was eleven of us. I told the driver to take us someplace nice. His first stop was at a cafeteria type set up with no aircon. I told him that this was unacceptable. He then took us to a nice restaurant that had aircon and all indoor seating. The staff put some tables together and we all took our seats. As expected, the driver sat down with us, right across from me. We all ordered and when I finished mine, well before anyone, I ordered again. Total for this bill was well under 2,000p.

Before the trip, Sheryl was telling me about how bad she felt since she had promised the boys a new bike for their birthday that just passed. Earlier this year, the family suffered the loss of her younger brother to cancer. This was just before I first met her. I said, “Let’s go shopping”. We first went to the mall. It was a big mall with an arcade upstairs. I bought 1,000p in tokens and we all played around for a couple hours. The adult women mainly did the karaoke machines while was dragged back and forth to watch and or play games with the little ones. I told the girls to get something if they wanted. We browsed a few shops and came back empty.

I told the driver to find us a bike shop. Ended up getting the boys a bike, mom said no to a bike each, so they got one to share. 1,300p only for a decent bike. The girls still had nothing from me as far as a present. Sheryl told me the girls were in need of new rubber shoes. So we go to a huge department store and the girls took off shopping, leaving us guys and the youngest girl in the van to wait. Well I took the little girl into the store. (At one point in the mall, I saw her picking through some dolls. Her mom told her no at that time so I didn’t say any thing. ) I found the toy section and told her to pick out a doll. She got nice one and would not even look at anything else. By the way, she was sitting next to me the whole time in the van. Yes, she had my heart all the way. Reminded me very much of my daughter, only better behaved!

Back at the house now. Told the driver to go get 4 cases of beer. He came back with the beer and a big bag of ice. He found a large washtub and filled it with beer and ice. He sat there for the rest of the evening opening the beers and disposing of the empties. As I figured, a dozen or so locals came by. Music was playing and it was just getting dark. They had one small light bulb hanging over the table outside powered by a car battery. (I forgot to see how they recharge it). We all partied, I got a little buzz going and was dancing with the old ladies. The kids were playing and it was very festive to say the least. A lady carrying a large plastic pale had all the kids running to her with their small cups and bowls. She was selling a soybean mixture that was very sweet. I figured this to be the provinces’ version of the ice cream man. After the beer had finished, we said our good byes and told the driver to take up partying.

The driver took us to the main entertainment area. I know that most of you want the information on the bar scene. Well I can sum it up. The bars that offer mongering type entertainment were horrible. The girls were not attractive at all. The lady drink prices I was quoted ran from 300p-600p. I didn’t get good vibes about extras so I didn’t even try. Since I was together with two girls already I didn’t get much attention in the regular bars. We still had a great time. Actually had fun in the karaoke bars. We spent a couple hours in one, the driver ordered food consistent with my intake. We called it a night sometime around 1am. I would not recommend Bacolod City as a mongering destination, although I didn’t give it much of a chance. I’m sure I would not have went home alone, but have the feeling I would end up disappointed in the end.

Back in the hotel. Since I plan on sharing this with a few people that I don’t usually do, I will just say, I did not fall asleep immediately and Joyz lost something special that night.

The next day was spent with the family, driver included until time to go to the airport. I had a wonderful time. I only saw a few other foreigners the whole time. Everyone I met was very polite. I was the center of attention most of the time, but felt comfortable. I’m sorry to you reading this that I didn’t get out and explore more of the city. I have heard of many sites to see, but I just didn’t feel like doing them. I get so lazy when I vacation nowadays.

Bud

Reminds me a lot of partying with my ex and her family in the slums of Bangkok. I have read a lot of stories about guys going with their girl to the provinces in the PI and in Thailand and it sounds like her family is a class act. If it was Isaan, the family would of asked when you were going to marry the girl and would have asked for 10,000 baht and a car. They didn't try to fleece you at all and you reciprocated with generosity...good for you and I'm glad I got the chance to meet you. 2,000 pesos was way too much to give the taxi driver but it sounds like he became your assistant as well, which makes up for it....he knew you paid him too much but showed his appreciation tenfold. You have a cool, mellow disposition and some foreigners will mistake this for weakness....glad they didn't. Oh yeah...welcome to the Cherry Buster's Club. Was this the same trip that I talked to you on the phone at the airport?

It was the same trip!

Thanks for the kind words. I would like to add that it wasn't just her family that were a class act. All the neighbors were very nice and never asked for anything. I was constantly being offered something or other the entire time. Joyz even paid the tab a lot of times when I was in the CR, wich I spent a lot of time in!. I thought Sheryl was paying!

BTW, that was not my first cherry, actually it is PI #3. First one was a girl that thought she lost her cherry a week before, and the second one was so she could make more money.

I have to add one more happining to my report. When we were checked in and waiting for our flight from Bacolod City, I had to take a dump in the worst way. I went in the CR and no toilet paper! OK, not unusual for PI. I had Sheryl ask the staff there for something suitable. NOTHING! I was in a little pain and had her leave the airport to go down the streat and buy a roll of toilet paper. Yes, I knew better, but just this one time...
Bud