“Roxas City Bloodletting Snags 113”. In the Philippines, a place I’ve called home for almost eight years, I still find myself amused by the differences in terminology that I’m accustomed to.
Drunken Tanods
When I first saw the term “bloodletting” in an online news article, I believed the story would be another case of some drunken tanod (watchman) who had consumed too much Red Horse.
Invariably, the rowdy reveler had stabbed or decapitated his drinking buddies, relatives, or pet goat. Or all three scenarios could apply, if the offender washed down the Red Horse with a cheap bottle of Tanduay Rhum.
If I had a peso for every story that I’ve read which involved Red Horse-fueled fisticuffs, I’d have enough money to build that wall in the States that President Trump wants Mexico to pay for.
(OK, so I might be exaggerating. But I bet I’d have enough to buy a case of…well…Red Horse.)
Bloodletting Attracts 133 Donors
According to the Panay News, 133 people donated during a mass bloodletting that information officers organized in a Roxas City mall.
Yep, donating blood in the Philippines is referred to as “bloodletting”.
Government office heads, students, police officers, soldiers, disaster response volunteers, and mall-goers were among those that donated blood.
The “bloodletting” was for a good cause; it was to ensure a sufficient supply of blood at the Philippine Red Cross’ blood bank.
Red Cross’ Capiz chapter registered the donors.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Capiz Association of Government Public Information Officers, Inc. (Cagpio) organized the “bloodletting” on March 30.
“Schemes”, Another Favorite
The Philippines also has a propensity to refer to any plans as a “scheme”. Now back in Central Illinois, my old “stomping grounds”, a “scheme” had negative connotations. Not so in the Philippines, Pilgrim.
I “Googled” the following search phrase: “government scheme reduce traffic metro manila”.
Here’s one of the sample headlines that came up among the 12,300 hits: Gov’t defers modified odd-even scheme . The article is referring to the number-coding plan for vehicles that’s in effect for EDSA in Metro Manila which is used to help reduce daily traffic.
So if you’re an expat or expat wannabe reading the daily news from the Philippines, be prepared for a lot of “bloodletting”’ and “schemes”. But don’t be too concerned, just sit back and open a cold bottle of Red Horse or San Miguel Pale Pilsen. But don’t overdo it. Too much of the stuff could lead to some unwanted “bloodletting.”
