From the Midwest redneck author of "The Rooster Crows at 4am!," "Lizard Poop!," and "The Philippines Expat Advisor"
Rain Man in the Philippines
I'm a rain man in the Philippines. The monsoon season is providing us with an ample supply of water to wash with and to drink. Our neighbor, Jesus, who delivers drinking water throughout our subdivison, is probably going broke.
Before our nieces and nephew moved in with us in our home outside of Iloilo City, we only had to purchase two refills a week for my asawa and myself at a cost of P50. Before the rains hits, we were buying water every other day. That's about an extra P100 or so a week, 400 a month. An additional ten bucks added to the budget.
Now ten dollars might not seem like that big a deal. Isn't that the price of one cigarette in the States now? But when you're on a fixed income as we are, those extra pesos can make a difference. 400 pesos can buy 13 bottles of San Miguel Pale Pilsen at the UR Zone. Or four cans of Spam.
In the first photo I'm collecting rain water off the tarp we use to shield our hot laundry lady on wash day. Misa Campo, shown in the next photo, is NOT, unfortunately, our laundry helper. Our wash person is not nearly as attractive and likes to spit a lot. I'm glad she works outside.
We use that tarp water for our drinking water. I used to boil it in the hot water kettle we use for our morning and coffee but don't do that any longer. I tested some of the water myself after straining any visible impurities, and I'm still alive. I slipped it into the big water jugs from Jesus when nobody was looking. Everyone is still in good health.
We have other collections points from the roof of our home where we collect rainwater for flushing our toilets and for our showers. With four extra people now living with us, those rain showers provide us with some extra water.
I started collecting the water in that small water container shown in the first photo that I bought at the SM Hypermarket in Iloilo for P99. Two Filipinas that passed my cart remarked that it was cute. But since my asawa was in another part of the store, there is a possibility they were talking about me instead.
I transfer the collected tarp water to the container shown below that we get from Jesus. Had a good rain this last Friday, and refilled all of our containers. We haven't had to purchase any tubig from Jesus at all last week.
Friday's afternoon rain was so intense that we were able to all shampoo and take showers outside (with our clothes on.) Since we don't have any running water in our subdivision outside of Iloilo City on Friday (or Sunday, Monday and Wednesday) it was very refreshing to have a cold rain shower. It is surprising what you can adapt to, even if you're an old geezer of 60 like me.
My asawa started taking dippers of water and splashing our twin nieces with them. I followed suit. My niece April caught me right in the face with a huge scoopful of water. I deserved it. The neighbors probably thought we were loco loco. We didn't care. We were having some good clean fun. Remember, "it's more fun in the Philippines!"
The Author, Dave DeWall, is NOT the cause of the break-up between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. To his knowledge he has never met Ms. Holmes and probably never will. His publicist wanted to nip this vicious rumor in the bud before it became viral on the Internet.
That is one of the things I miss and love about the Philippines Dave, the ability to use initiative and overcome small problems with solutions we in the west would consider crazy (or beneath our dignity, thank goodness I don’t have much of that anymore lol). Can’t tell from your photo, but in the field we would stretch a poncho (big piece of plastic like you using) horizontal about 3 feet above the ground, poke a hole in the center, put a rock or something to weigh the center down. Man you could go into the water business (for a little while anyway lol). Starting the countdown can’t wait.
Literal “rain” showers. Dave just inspired the thought of building an elevated collection tank attached to the house with an external shower head. We will have room in our side yard patio area to do this and will allow me to rinse off between SMB’s whenever I so choose. Thanks Dave!
I’ts going to be More Fun in the Philippines…I know it will! 
That poncho idea is a good one, Scott h. The current tarp is going to be replaced soon, but I could use it for the water catcher you described. Thanks for the tip. But you’re right. You learn to adapt and be far more resourceful than ever. And dignity? I pee outside in broad daylight. Lost that a long time ago.
You’re getting closer and closer with each passing day, Scott. Good luck on the move.
That’s a good tip for our new home, Randy. Thanks, I’ll have to incorporate that idea.
Dave,
Dancing Naked in the Rain at Toms Farmhouse Sounded like a Great Idea to me, But the Girls Told Me That I Would End Up In The Psychiatric Ward. They Told Me To Dance Naked In the Shower or My Room ONLY !
Fearless Florida Frank
Glad you listened to them, Fearless Frank. You’ve just given me a visual that will stay with me most of the day. Hope things are going well for you. Hope to see you back in the Philippines again soon. Take care.
Scott, Dave
You will be living in Paranaque right? I will be living in Imus, Cavite. My g/f just sold her ancestral home in Batangas and bought a house in Cavite. Will be visiting there in October. Nice to have someone in the same area. Dave its good to save every peso possible for beer. When are you going to talk to your asawa about getting a prettier laundry lady lol. Remember her bolo is not there. Have a nice rainy day
I’m sure there are a lot of Filipinos still buying water even when it freely falls from the sky. I admire your ingenuity and sense of humor. That pancho idea is killer. Rain water could be used for almost everything in the house especially during rainy season.
I noticed a lot of similar opportunities when I was there back in April/May. I didn’t know they were rationing water in your neighborhood. They are not doing that in Villa Jaunita.
Good pictures.
Yup, I like that idea, too! Same setup, side patio…thanks!
I thought of dancing naked in the rice field with the girls, too; visions of my college days in the ’60′s. But, Filipinas aren’t quite that free, and, I gotta remember I’m not 18 and sexy anymore!
I think I may have to add Misa Campo to my “list”. Yeah, my wife and I have a list of 5 people that we would like to ….uhhhh ….. have a nice conversation with. Welcome aboard Misa! ….lol
Careful Ice Man, you might attract a lonely carabao or two!
Good to hear that your g/f was able to sell her house, PapaDuck. Look forward to meeting you. You’ve been around my website a long time making comments on a regular basis. I appreciate that.
Prettier laundry lady? Bolo or not, that’s one subject I better not bring up with the asawa, Papa D. She still has an ample supply of kitchen knives nearby.
You’re right, Randall. I told my asawa that we’re probably the only ones in our whole subdivision doing this. Many of the families here are supported by OFWs. I can hear their air cons still running when I do my morning walk. 99% of the people use the shuttle service for P7, young kids and able-bodied people. They don’t want to walk the 20 minutes or so it takes to get to our front gate. I can understand taking the shuttle when it’s raining, but in good weather?
I’m collecting water as we speak, been raining for the past hour. Scott h’s poncho idea is a good one. The problem is our water district, Randall. My other expat friends in Iloilo have water on a regular basis, to my knowledge. With Senator Manny Villar as the CEO of the parent company that owns our subdivision, you’d think he would have some pull and put some pressure on the water district. A man went around the other day with a petition to have our water service improved. I signed it, of course.
Sounds like a plan, Ice Man.
I would have to make sure I have some kind of outdoor shower curtain, Ice Man. I don’t want to get banned from our subdivision.
Meet Misa Campo, Paul? That’s a pretty good list you have there.
I’ll just wear some trunks, get wet, and air dry whilst I finish a cold one!
Get too hot…repeat!
Sounds like a good idea, Randy. That cold rain was really refreshing the other day.
I hope you are not planing to stay there very long or you might die of old age before getting water on regular bases. I have read where well to do housing units in Manila have been waiting for over 20 yrs for water, they are still buying water from trucks. Supposed to be in pissing contest with 2 water companys and assoc. of who is going to supply water from what I read. Only in the Philippines.
George, I’m sure not counting on getting water from the local water district. The plan is to have a well dug like we had in Guimaras when we have our new house built and have some large water storage tanks. Some other houses in our subdivision have such a set-up, and if we stay in this area, that’s the plan. My landlord’s plumber wanted to dig a well for P20,000 but the landlord wouldn’t go for it. Can’t blame him. We only have a one year lease. Going to review our options once that lease is up this October.
those walks you and your wife take will help keep both of you healthy and trim for each other. my husband and i run together and we enjoy the benefits of being active.
I’m too old to run, maria. It’s hard on my knees. Glad to hear that your husband and yourself run together. I feel much better after a walk. Today my asawa and I will do a little extra walking as we check out the Smallville complex in Iloilo to meet our friend Scott.