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Filipino Thailand: My Pinoy Life in Bangkok
Photos courtesy of Tourism Thailand Org (www.tourismthailand.org)
I have been a Filipino in Bangkok since 2006, although I first visited the country in 1981 as a child. I remember going to the Grand Palace, and to two nearby temples that have the Emerald Buddha and the Reclining Buddha. I also remember that it was very hot, and there was a lot of traffic in Bangkok. My life went through a phase of change. I had been teaching for about 15 years at the University of the Philippines but felt I needed to do development work. At the same time, I was being recruited by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center for my background in governance. I also got engaged, and as my fiancé was Dutch we thought it would be good for us to start our married life in a third country, not the Philippines, not the Netherlands.
I work in an international organization that helps (mainly) governments to be better prepared for disasters, and reduce the possibility of disasters by improving governments’ abilities to regulate risky behavior, and improve government planning and decision making so that these do not inadvertently add to risks. Over time, my field of work has evolved into capacity building in urban climate resilience. There are quite a few people working in disaster risk management and development, usually found in the United Nations offices or in international NGOs. However, most of the Filipinos I’ve met here are teachers who can teach their subject matter in English. I think that a second big group are musicians who work in hotels and resorts in the different tourist destinations. Filipinos usually meet each other at Sunday Mass or at the Philippine Embassy who has a lot of activities and events intended for the overseas Filipinos here. I once gave a short lecture at an Embassy event on disaster preparedness for overseas Filipinos.
I work in Bangkok, but live in a suburb just north of Bangkok province. We don’t have a car because we don’t need one. I take a taxi to get to a van stop, take a van into Bangkok and get off at the northernmost station of the BTS, which is the elevated train system. I then take the train to go to work, or to go anywhere in Bangkok because the traffic in the city is worse than Manila. If I leave early enough I can be at work or at home in 30 to 40 minutes.
My home—to-work route takes about 20 km of travel. We choose to live in a suburb because for the same price of a tiny studio apartment with a tiny kitchen, we are renting a house with three big bedrooms, a decent kitchen, several bathrooms, and a large garden area. Like many Thai families, my husband plants all kinds of fruit trees and some vegetables, and when we have a harvest of bananas or chilies we also share these with friends and colleagues. Living in Bangkok itself would mean paying twice as much just to get a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen. But it also means that one is close to the night clubs, plays, opera, and restaurants of almost every cuisine in the world.
The best places for shopping are on the sidewalks, where I’ve literally seen everything but the kitchen sink! Sidewalk vending is supposed to be illegal, but the city authorities are unable to prevent it (or maybe resist it is a better phrase). It’s convenient because it’s right outside the place of work. It’s exciting because the stalls move around the city on a daily basis, and their wares change with the fashions. So except for Monday, a truce day when vendors agree not to work, I take time to go hunting along the sidewalk for a bargain stingray leather wallet. Tourists go to Chatuchak weekend market, but locals go to the sidewalk.
I would recommend seeing the Grand Palace and the nearby Wats (temples), ride a tuktuk (tricycle), go shopping at Chatuchak for cheap souvenirs and at Pratunam for electronics and MBK for clothes, and if one is so inclined to get tattooed at Khao San Road, and go jogging at the Imperial Queen’s Park or Chatuchak Park. Bangkok is really pretty at night time so take a dinner boat ride down the Chao Phraya, feast on a sumptuous Thai buffet, watch traditional dances from all around the country, and listening to a band that is most likely comprised of Filipino musicians.
Finally, the “where not to go” is also important as Thailand is beset by political issues fairly often. Since I’ve moved here in 2006 I’ve witnessed a coup d’etat against one Prime Minister and several violent protests. However, the protests are usually contained to specific areas; currently people are in Lumpini Park, the Government Complex and at the U.N. Building, so visitors should listen to the advice of locals about where they must not go.
I haven’t learned to eat chili or very spicy food, but I have learned to drink kalamansi or orange juice with ice and salt instead of sugar. I’ve learned how to greet with the head bowed over clasped hands (wai), and not to use body language so much as most Thai people keep their heads, shoulders and arms very still. I’ve also learned how to eat the young shoots of the acacia tree (cha om) which is served as an omelet. I’ve also learned to eat a lot of fruit, which are usually remarkable sweet, juicy and cheap in Thailand. As a Filipino in Bangkok – or maybe all over the world, be ready to talk about Manny Pacquiao! Of course he’s my friend, he’s my neighbor in Manila.
– My Pinoy Life In: Bangkok, Thailand
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May 12, 2015
To whom this may concern:
Hello, kamusta po? Hope you are doing well.
A newly-formed organization is inviting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)/professionals to join! The group is ©FILIPINO INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONALS (FIP). FIP’s main goal is to unite and connect Filipino migrant workers on a global scale.
The website is http://www.filipinoip.org. Membership is 100% FREE (no catch, no gimmicks), and signing up is easy! Watch this YouTube video from Victor Cabiles (FIP Founder): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92pNkOnTYs8
FIP is OPEN to other nationalities/citizens who are supportive of the group’s goal.
Hope you will join, and start business and social networking internationally!
Maraming salamat po!
Victor D. Cabiles (Founder, Pennsylvania, USA)
[email protected]