We Call It A Skylab, Because...

Bobong, our motorcycle dude.

Like a Filipino town name, the etymological origins of the skylab (a motorcycle with a plank to accommodate a life-threatening amount of passengers) are numerous. My sister-in-law, who grew up in Mindanao, says that it is a contraction of "sakay, lab" ("ride, love"), a driver's holler to potential female passengers.

Some rubber strips to secure baggage...

Others say it is named after the Skylab satellite that fell to the earth during the 70s. And so on, and so forth.

... or squish it, as they did our vegetables.

Unfortunately, the most boring explanation is usually true. In this case, the Skylab was a brand of tuk-tuk from northern Thailand. The local incarnation has neither the roof nor the paltry safety features of the Thai version, but is fun. Take a cue: more terrain-versatile, cheap, modifiable (according to load) vehicles are in order.

The ride.

A skylab, not quite fully loaded yet.

Urban Headpack Potential Evidence

Fake LV doormats and whatnot in Paranaque.

Crates of unidentifiable merchandise in Divisoria.

Don't say I didn't tip you off about headpacks. The method is indeed more physically efficient, but still socially awkward-- I carried 12 kilos of coffee on my head last month, and didn't break a sweat (but drew a lot of stares).

Coconut Merienda

A sheath style that seems to be popular in Ilocos.

The sweetest coconut ever.

Entertaining is easy with coconut trees and large knives. Coconut meat for eating, coconut water for drinking.

A Barber's Pangontra

This barber, who cuts hair inside a carwash, was from Samar and used to be a barber at the Hyatt. We got to talking about his rings. He wears them as pangontra or to protect him from evil spirits and kulam (curses).

One ring was crudely cast from bronze and purchased in Quiapo after he fell victim to a jealous neighbor's ill wishes (it's always about a jealous neighbor, I notice).

Apparently, bronze and gold can keep you protected. This was one of the reasons why old folks in Samar would put gold in their teeth.

 

Crate Bench

The physics all work out for this bench made of old fruit crate pallets. I had a little rest on it.

More crate reuse, as a crib and tables.

PS- I'm trying larger photos out.

Worn Armrests

New fabric on the armrests of a swivel chair, parked in Teka Market, Little India, where private space becomes public.

Bottle-Pole Improvisations

A Pop Cola bottle serves as a pole to wind a rope around, for securing an out-of-service rain-cover tarp.

Bike Attachments: Bamboo

Improvisations on bikes to accomodate extra baggage (people, merchandise, appliances to be sold at junk shops) are fairly common. This particular one is made of bamboo.

A Pedicab Of the Chinese Brave

Mr. Sam Fenix We Fight What You Fear Chinese Brave

Romance Novel Rental

Off Samar is a wonderful island called Biri.

While the rest of the Philippines has a materials glut (men on bicycles selling fake DVDs around residential areas), Biri seems to keep things to a minimum and in circulation.















Not far from the above sari-sari store / romance novel rental place was a pirated DVD rental shop. Films were rented out at 10 pesos (no due date was given). The usual modern million-dollar movies were present-- every X-Men movie, high school comedies, bachelor party comedies. I rented a Polanski film but never managed to watch it, as island electricity shuts off at midnight.

We were running late for our boat back and attempted to get our moto driver to return the film for us. Apparently, there were two shops on the island, which one was it? I described the way it had the films in their plastic cases, hanging on clothespins. The driver said "Ah", stopped his bike to ask another motorcycle driver (driving in the opposite direction), to return it for him, and tossed the DVD across the air.

The stuff of small islands.