Why do Filipinos speak such good English? One word….. 'Karaoke'
Yep, there is a Karaoke machine in every town, village, bar, café, and eatery in the entire country. The Filipinos love those very sweet love songs. And get this… when they start singing, the dogs and roosters join in for the melody. Right now I'm in a tiny fishing village and it's just after sunset. Everyone has gathered around the one and only eatery in town, and are right now listening to "Bryan Adams - Straight From The Heart". The singer is actually not bad, but the chorus of howling dogs in the background is pretty comical. It really is a blast, and has to put a smile on your face.
I just spent 5 days on a tiny island in the Visayas called Apo Island. It is only 3 km around, and is inhabited by some of the loveliest and friendliest people on earth. After only a couple days everyone greeted me with "Good morning David", or "Good evening David, how are you today?". The people are so nice, and the kids are a blast… gathering around me and proudly escorting me to their school, where I got a tour by the Principal. There is limited electricity (6 to 9pm only), and no fresh water on the island(rainwater only). No computers, no internet. The school relies on a tiny, little library, and some very dedicated teachers. The kids are very polite and well behaved. They start classes at 7am, and take the middle of the day off to help their family with household chores and fishing. They return to class in the evening until the electricity goes out. It's really a magical little island, and yes, they really love their Karaoke.
I came to Apo Island for the snorkeling and underwater life, but the memories that will stick with me are briefly getting to know some very friendly island people. And yes, somehow Karaoke has taken on a new meaning for me. Weird eh?
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