From my RedDoorz Hotel in Talisay, Cebu, I was hopeful in achieving some relaxation.

Alas, wherever I was, it seemed, rapacious women would find me; as time spent online was minimal, approaches in this regard wasn’t so much an issue – it was everywhere else – innocently chatting to a Filipino lady while waiting for the bus, or on the bus, or at the 7/11, at the traffic lights, waiting to cross the road, or just walking down the road; it usually would only take a moment before I detected dollar-signs in her eyes (different from a look of happiness or cheer; more sinister, calculating) coupled with an unusual amount of Filipino disingenuousness and ‘forwardness’.

To an untrained male observer, sure, this interaction between myself and a beautiful (chubby/fat) Filipino lady might seem innocuous, even alluring but, here’s the thing, this kind of feminine farce is far from an isolated incident and, while willing they may appear, willing they most certainly are not; you may think, sure, give her some money, she’ll loosen up – no – give her some money to ‘loosen her up’, she’ll just want more money and still, you’ll get nothing. No joy, no reward, no woman; nothing. Maybe some frustration. Certainly nothing positive. Women I’ve met in Philippines are takers (not all Filipino people); zero want to give back (sorry, not all, jut most, many) but all seem to expect to receive from the White man.

Few days later, tired of Talisay but having reserved that hotel until the end of the month, leaving my suitcase and other items in my room, I flew out to San Francisco, Philippines. San Francisco was the most undeveloped town I’d seen in Philippines, yet with the most expensive hotel I had encountered (along with another attempted taxi scam from the bus then later some light White Man Taxation); then I was quickly found by a lady. I was ravenous so offered to take her out for a meal (I had in mind the pleasant street-food restaurant where I had breakfasted; having earlier inquired at the adjacent street-food joint to find identical food at double the price – just for a White man), she accepted and insisted on bringing her family (typical in Philippines); two hours and around 2000 Pesos later, she and her 10-person cohort had enjoyed a first-class meal at a Western restaurant (at her insistence). Deciding I wanted to spend the day at a San Fran beach, 10 of us climbed into a ‘jeepney’ (small bus/truck) and travelled 45 minutes to the beach. Jeepney fare for everyone, another 1000P. Beach food/drink/incidentals, another 1000P. Beach reservation/umbrella, 350P – although that somehow blew out to another 1000, but I was too tired at this point to care. Painfully aware I was still liable for the 1000P return trip – the last 1000 in my wallet (I had foolishly imagined a ‘day at the beach’ would be inexpensive so had only brought 5000 Pesos – basic monthly salary in Philippines is only 10,000 – but, of course, Filipino ladies can make anything costly).

I found myself reminiscing about my ‘1000 Peso a day’ Butuan lady; by comparison, she was a cheap date, although maybe I needed to play a longer game with this San Fran lady – maybe once she saw how much I was willing to spend on her she would lift her game…

I glanced at the recipient of my goodwill, having not received a smile in my direction, emanated warmth, even gratitude, all day. She forced a weak smile this time.

…Hm. It didn’t look auspicious; not a gamble I was willing to take.

Her family was great, we had a lot of fun and chatted throughout day; the object of the occasion, though, even as darkness fell, didn’t appear to care at all – in fact, it seemed, the more money I spent on her and her family, while the family seemed to love me, the more she avoided me.

I went back to my hotel that night and back to Talisay the next day.

Most Filipino folk claim to be devout Catholics; for many women, this apparently means ‘no sex before marriage’. Indeed, most young Filipino women will claim to be virginal; most are not. From what I understand, most Filipino boys will have had their way with most Filipino women (in Philippines, most girls become ‘women’ frightfully young) before they reach 16 (sometimes years younger than that) – irrespective most of these women will maintain ‘virginity’ until marriage. (Incidentally, up until a few years ago, like much of Asia, the Philippines age of consent was just 13 years old; in a quest to decrease the rate of teenage pregnancy, however, the age was raised. The efficacy of this shift is questionable.) Filipino families, devout Catholics who lie and cheat like it’s Gospel; yeah, most of Philippines’ so-called devout Catholics (‘Not all Filipino people’) are raging Hypocrites (‘Sorry, not all, just most, many’).

What would God do – would He lie and cheat His way through life? Well, no, according to the Bible, in fact, He would have been more likely to offer up some virgins to be raped by angry townsfolk and/or family members (seriously, read the Old Testament, it’s horrific) https://www.gotquestions.org/Lots-daughters.html  while keeping some other virgins pure to later entertain Himself and his Prophets, but that’s a story for another day.

Article by Tim Walker

Edited by Hippo Crit Ocale

Photography by Gad Butherers