5) The DOT photo contest - Funny ones

I (to use the already-official-in-Philippines verb) googled "its more pun in the philippines" and was pleasantly surprised by the results.

Here are the best that made me laugh. Do explore the credits - there are more laughs in some.

I have been on this (locally called Skylab! talk about puns!) in Mindanao. Ok for thrills, but unfortunately many people have to travel thus daily! Credit : The Telai show

Pick up lines.... This one had me in splits! Credit : watsrong blog

This one is sarcastically politically witty - based on the Corona trial - Its more fun in the Philippine senate. I especially like the " pg" ! Credit :  Lopez Gonzales

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White Christmas (Credit : Inside out blog)

A lechon goes planking (Credit - trend hunter)

Anatomy! This is something I have always have difficulty digesting, all pun intended. Pigs knuckles, tongues, and those big pieces of fat served with most dishes... and don't even get me started on balut! (Credit : Light speed chaser)

Social climbing - I think this is Mount Pulag  (Credit : Izismile) 

I like the tweeting one - the rest are serious. Credit : Tidbits

Credit : Spot - more photos there

I find the tarsier a good reason to visit Philippines - especially the Corella sanctuary at Bohol- Credit rappler

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And here are some which made a more serious statement - (Credit : Diversity Human)

A remnant of the colonial mentality - Skin whitening creams flood the supermarket shelves (it is next to impossible to get even a body soap which does not have skin whitening agents!) - here is why.

Sadly true - kids in the Philippines start drinking (and I don;'t mean milk!) early - probably because it is so common to see their elders drink beer and rum (Thank you, San Miguel and Tanduay!)

Yes - while it is odd that Filipinos will smile even in a storm, it is also perhaps sad and true that this smiling is the very reason why they survive it, but have the same problems year after year, without much changing from the government. To be hit by typhoons repeatedly is unavoidable, to have thousands die, year after year due to them is.

Filipinos will dance anywhere - even in jail! This alludes to the popular Michael Jackson dance at Cebu jail.

This - I put just for fun!

This may look fun to an onlooker, but is unfortunately true - especially in provinces like the Mountain province (Cordillera) and Palawan, where transport is among the worst even by Philippine standards

In places like El Nido (Palawan), I saw many jeeps liek these, in which people rode for hours. It is the pratique normale there. Sad. Credit : Ellen (she explains why she feels it is NOT fun )

 

May look funny, but again, this is how (Unfortunately) many people are forced to travel in the Philippines. The good part about smiling about such things is... that one survives. The bad part is that.. then, they do not change. Credit : watsrong blog

Not sure whether to smile or cry about this one - a popular scene in many populated towns in the Philippines (surprisingly you don't see this much in smaller villages) - Unemployed men playing cards and drinking - in the afternoon! Credit : Chef Pablo

And here is the original Swiss advertisement from which DOT's tagline appears to have been copied. But the Phil DOT advert definitely looks better and different to me - especially the DOT movie.

4) UV Express - Let's go home

UV Express - a popular franchisee for local transport minivans in Philippines, is itself a play on words for "Uwi na" (Tagalog for Let's go home!)

The name UV express is a play on words for Uwi na (literally let us go home)

Q : What did the minivan say to the Victory liner bus? Ans: UV ... UV

3) The Filipino Is Worth Dining For

The late Aquino said "The Filipoino is worth dying for"(or words to that effect). A restaurant in Manila gave this quote a punny turn.

The Filipino is worth dining for

This is a pun on  a popular quote said by Benigno Ninoy S. Aquino (a contender to the Filipino dictator, Ferdinand Marcos). Sadly, Ninoy was shot dead on the tarmac, in 1983 just as he was disembarking the airplane while returning from exile. His wife, and later his son became presidents of the country.

The original quote (actually he did not say this verbatim, but that is a minor technicality)

2) Yellow Pedicab Pizza

USA : Yellow cab?
Philippines : Hindi, you Yellowcab, me Yellow Pedicab!

You have heard of Yellow cab pizza - the chain of pizza outlets - right? (Well - if you are from a city in U.S.A or Philippines, you must have)

This inventive hawker found a rather punny way of naming himself - you guessed it - Yellow Pedicab pizza!

Punny Yellow Pedicab Pizza - Manila

Above image seen on Carlos Celdran's facebook page . Below image purely my creation.

1) Deplorable English, Witty puns

Philippines, as I discovered, is filled with puns.

Philippines is a punny country.

And this was a pleasant surprise to me. Why? Well, for starts, this was quiet unexpected. Yes, I know, that is what surprises are supposed to be... but this was unexpectedly surprising! Let me explain...

English, as spoken in the Philippines, is, in one word, deplorable (I was aiming for non-existent, but deplorable is close enough!). Tenses go for a six, so do articles  (as in  "I go C.R"), as for genders, let us just say, they are as mixed as the genders actually are.

Filipinos feel believe that they speak good excellent English

So he becomes she (both - literally as well as literary)

Genders aquire new meaning in Filipino English

On the other hand, the puns that one comes across, are witty, and most unexpected. Half the time, I am not even sure that the owner of the establishment that sports the punny name is even aware of it's meaning, leave alone the pun.

Having said that, they always bring a smile - and hence, I have decided to dedicate this blog to the puns I encounter in this odd country. Feel free to add to them, by dropping a comment.