From the Midwest redneck author of "The Rooster Crows at 4am!," "Lizard Poop!," and "The Philippines Expat Advisor"
Cousin Edgar Dies in Motorcycle Accident Part One. My Wife Is Attacked at McDonald’s at SM City in Iloilo!
The Parola Dock in Iloilo! Teaching an Old Dog a New Trick!
Just when I was getting used to solo pump boat rides to the Ortiz dock in nearby Iloilo City, the typhoon season dictated a change of docks. Pump boats from the Jordan wharf in Guimaras now dock at the Parola wharf which is better suited and much safer for pump boats (and passengers!) as higher and choppier waves are now present in the Philippines.
I can tell you that the ride home last night was a wild one. The boat was constantly going up and down like a merry-go-round carousel. Good thing I don’t get seasick.
The Parola dock is further from Ortiz and makes it necessary for me to take two jeepney rides to SM City or the Atrium Mall. I have actually learned to transfer jeepneys after riding with my wife during our last two trips to Iloilo so she could teach me the ropes. One of the plentiful Parola jeepneys pulled up to the pump boat as we landed at the alternate dock site, and I boarded the vehicle and paid my seven peso fee with my usual “biyad do” (pay now.) Dropping off at the Public Market near Gaisano mall, I then take a jeepney marked “Lupuz” if I want to go the the Atrium or Merrymart.
If I want to go to SM City, I take a jeepney marked “SM City (duh!) , Mandurriao, Iloilo City Proper” Mandurriao is one of the six districts of Iloilo City. Just look for the SM City logo on the jeepney, easy to spot. There are many jeepneys going to SM City, so it doesn’t take long for one to show up at various areas marked in Iloilo for loading and unloading. Hand over another seven pesos to the driver (which I am told is the standard jeepney rate for rides inside Iloilo City proper), and you’re on your way.
One of the porters at Parola (who move over from the Ortiz dock area) advised me that the pump boats will not switch back to the Ortiz dock until October. I’ve been in the Philippines for a little over a year, but can’t remember when the switch was made last year. I’ll just have to adapt, and embrace the change. This old dog has managed to learn some new tricks!
