This week, I’ve learned that Filipinos celebrate…hard.  It was “World Teachers’ Day” on Friday but the celebration started on Wednesday for us with a school-wide party!  The kids organized activities and games to play with the teachers on Wednesday morning (unfortunately I missed it because Hunter and I had a courtesy call with the District Superintendent in Pili).  When we got back around 11am, the games were over and the kids had gone home, but my “Welcome Party” was just about to begin! My name was plastered all over the front wall of the pavilion and the teachers were all gathered together to celebrate.  

There were a bunch of speakers—including an impromptu speech by Hunter since one speaker was absent—and lots of “intermission numbers”.  The first was an exciting rendition of “Obladi Oblada Life Goes On” by the primary teachers, and later we were treated to a version of “Dancing Queen” by the secondary teachers.  

I gave a—very short—message of thanks and told all my co-workers how excited I am to work with them over the next few years.  After all the speakers it was time for “Part V” (as listed in the program): “LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH!”.  As usual, there was LOTS of food spread out over the back table for us to dig into.  Believe it or not, my favorite dish was snails!  There were a couple plates piled high with little shells covered in some kind of sauce and at the encouragement of my co-workers, I grabbed a spoonful.  They had to teach me how to eat them when we got back to the table and basically all you do it suck the little guy out!  It’s not just a casual suck, though, you have to put some umph into it, and then pull the rest out with your teeth!  For those of you who will visit me, you best be prepared to try it! J  

Chocolate rice!

Pancit!

Lunch was followed by the rest of the “Teachers’ Day” celebration: a 3 hour videoke session.  There was also a raffle and the crowning of the videoke champions for the day.

Friday was the main celebration of “World Teachers’ Day” where all the teachers from the entire province of Camarines Sur (at least a couple thousand) met in Naga at the Coliseum for an all-day event.  The program started at 8:15 with an hour long mass.  The rest of the morning was filled with guest speakers but don’t ask me what they talked about because the acoustics were horrible (couldn’t even tell what language they were speaking most of the time).  Hunter and I did our best to keep ourselves entertained and had a good laugh when everyone in the place pulled meriendas out of their bags almost exactly at 9:30am.  Another thing I’ve learned about Filipinos is that they do not take snacking lightly; it’s basically mandatory.  

With my co-workers at the World Teachers' Day Celebration

Me, Hunter, Sierra, & Daniel (other PCVs), Hunter's Principal, and my co-workers!

We wandered around SM (the mall) over our lunch break and did some power-shopping.  We also had a fun cultural experience in the bathroom.  Allow me to explain.

Public bathroom etiquette in the Philippines is drastically different from that in America.  In America (at least for the ladies), there is one line that people fall into to wait for their turn; that line usually forms at the entrance or at least a couple feet away from the first stall.  When a stall opens up, the person at the front of the line (who has been waiting the longest), goes for it.  Not here!  In the Filipinas’ public CR (comfort room aka bathroom), each stall has its own line.  The entire bathroom is filled with women, crammed in and right up against each stall.  You have to pick the right line!  It doesn’t matter if you were the first one in there waiting, if you get in the wrong line, you could be waiting for a long while.  I’ve tried my best to keep my opinions out of this blog and just present things as they are, but I have to make an exception for this: the Filipinas’ public CR experience is chaotic and stressful!  Luckily, Hunter and I were accompanied by 2 of my co-workers who helped us claim our stalls.  (P.S. No toilet paper, so bring your own.)

This picture doesn't really do it justice, so just use your imagination.

The rest of the afternoon was filled with performances by each of the districts’ teachers: mostly singing and dancing.