On a lighter note, Pinoys have been bathing for years

[iangrar]

Felix Laureano is a Spaniard who travelled the Philippine Islands towards the end of the 19th.  He took photographs of the Indios and gave commentary on his photos.  One of these photos is entitled "En el bano" with the following praise (if not critique) on the early Pinoy's love for bathing:

"In no country is the bath used with so much frequency

Comments

Hmmm ...

[ccunnings]

The last time I walked in a downpour was when I met up my friend Eileen in UP Diliman after so many years. I guess it was in mid 90s. I had to wrap my pager with a plastic bag to make sure that it won't get wet.

The beauty of that walk in the rain was that--a taxi driver took us for a ride going through the exit of Commonwealth avenue. When we were about to pay him, he declined and said--"It is all right. I really made you ride because I saw you drenched."

There are still good Samaritans these days. ;-)

Re: Hmmm ...

[iangrar]

A cab driver for a good Samaritan, wow, that is indeed raaare.

Re: Hmmm ...

[ccunnings]

Yes! God sends angels. ;-)

[aimful_wanderer]

interestingly, it's not just about bathing. while i was at ogilvy here, the head of ogilvy south india & i had a conversation about this. he had worked on P&G and such brands over the course of his career and their view was that the Philippines was a hygeine-obsessed country.

that's why products like hand sanitizers and oil face-papers thrive. you'd be hard pressed to find such things elsewhere. there isn't even rubbing alcohol here (which i use on my hands after every smoke...)

people always ask me with such interest what it is im spraying on my hands. kalowka. aliw actually. i also don't think any other people understand the concept of how attractive being "mabango" is... =D

[iangrar]

Hahaha! May nagbabasa pa pala ng blog ko dito sa LJ...

Thanks Bhav for the commentary. Coming from an "in-India" perspective, shows how some practices are peculiar to Filipinos.

And yes, mabango people are very sexy...