The language
The official language of the philippines is tagalog (or pilipino), after that it's english. However there are 87 (roughly) other languages spoken here. My family are from Pampanga so speak Kapampangan. Everyone in the Philippines speaks tagalog and most will speak another language that's local to them and lots also speak English (which is great for us). Even then, you'll discover that numbers might be spoken in english, tagalog and spanish all in one sentence! Prices and Time tend to be in spanish and then tagalog will be used when you want to say 2 of those etc. It's hard to keep up!
I am really embarrassed I can't speak either tagalog and kapampangan but I do understand lots. I have tried a couple of times to ask for water in a restaurant and failed because I was using the wrong dialect! So even though I understand lots, I can't actually tell which language it is.
The people
People here are great (and yes, I am being biased because I'm from here!). They'll welcome you with open arms and feed you loads (just because your 3rd cousin half removed is also their 2nd cousin). Cousins are everywhere! But it's great, v. friendly here. Also, people here work damn hard! My uncle Narsing works shifts, one wk it'll be 2-10pm, the next will be 6-2pm and then next will be 10-6am. It's especially mad because he works 7 day weeks. Lots of people open up sari sari stores where they'll sell anything from ice to shampoo, bubblegum to batteries - all from their house. When I was doing my hike in the rice terraces, my guide asked me whatI did for a job and when I explained how I worked 5 days a week he thought it was brilliant - I'd have more time to get another job! Lots more filipinos travel abroad to work, often leaving families behind just so they can get a decent wage to be able to send their kids off to school. Nobody thinks much about how much holiday they'll get when looking for a job!
It's incredible how lucky we've felt having had the opportunities to do everything we have done and being on this trip.
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