My Philippine Vacation

[KnI]

Earlier this year my wife, daughter and I took a six week trip to the Philippines. It was an excellent trip and the most rainwear I ever saw while there. Spent nine months there on vacations since 2002. Anyway, to the good stuff. First story. My wife and I decided to take a van trip to the next big city to her which is about a 90 minute ride away. We had a good day. I bought three ponchos that bikers/scooters wear. They were made by Spartan and are a thick yet soft vinyl. One in yellow, one in emerald green and one in blue, all transparent. I didn't get the clear/white and I regret it now. I had some fun digging through a rack of close to 200 raincoats/rainsuits and ponchos to find what I bought. Anyway, when finally had to get going and we took a jeepney back to the van terminal. Just before we got there it started to rain lightly. We waited about ten minutes for the van to fill up and it still continued to rain lightly. About ten minutes after the van left for home, the skies opened up. At times the road was white from the huge drops and splashing they made. At other times the road was all water, but what was really nice was the amount of rainwear I saw. I didn't even start counting for almost half the trip everytime I saw someone either on the side of the road or riding a bike, but when I did, it was close to 50 sightings. Mostly bikes I saw, but there were a few people walking on the side of the road. A very nice but scary van ride.

Story two. We went to the birthday party of my wives friend while there. She is also married to an American guy like myself, so we went out of the house where there was actually a nice breeze. The house was VERY close to the road. There was an overhang that we stood under while it rained. We drank a few beers and I watched again countless people riding by decked out in rainwear. One guy on a bike stopped right in front of us to talk to someone. He had on a see through yellow rainsuit. The jacket part was on backwards and buttoned all the way up. Its actually common there but it seemed to me that he would of needed help to button it up all the way. I watched them till it got to dark to see. By that time I was a little drunk and my wife didn't want to leave cause it was raining to hard out. I was very quick to let her know if front of everyone that she wouldn't have to worry about the rain if she wore a raincoat.

Story three. I went to the dentist there for a cleaning/check up. My wife was busy preparing for something so left me there. When I was done, they tried to call her to come pick me up but they couldn't get in touch with her. I eventually told the dentist that I didn't need help going home that I had coins and could go fetch a tricy all by myself to get back home. But what was really nice was the waiting out by the front window. Again, it was a rainy day. I watched again probably close to fifty people walk and ride by on bikes all decked out in rainwear. That's probably the only time I haven't minded waiting for me wife!!!

Story four. My wife and I walked to the nearest place where she lives that we know has rainwear. There is a square rack with both hanging rainwear and rainwear on a shelf above the hanging rack. Two sides are kids rainwear, OR smaller adult woman. The other two sides were for adults. We bought two raincoat for me, One in yellow and one in blue, both hip length and both transparent. More than a hundred raincoats hanging there and also a lot of rainboots/wellies and a bunch of umbrellas.

Story five. Went back to the mall where we had to take the van too. I bought two more knee lenght Spartan raincoats. Since the price wasn't on the package the woman behind the counter had to take it out of the package and unfold it until she found it. Always nice to me watching women handle my rainwear. Especially nice is when you go to the mall and you're looking for the rainwear so you go up to a store employee. Since she doesn't know, she kind of looks to someone and asks rather loudly where the raincoats are.

I know there's one story I am forgetting right now and when I remember I will add it. We had three close typhoon scares which was quite fine with me cause it meant rain and wind which means rainwear being worn, not to mention cooler temps.

[KnI]

Just remembered. After three days straight of heavy rain, while waiting in the front seat of the van to take us to the nearby city, three different people were walking down the street selling rainsuits. They were green or blue or red and had a nice sheen to them. In the Philippines you will see almost anything being sold on the street but this is the first time I ever saw this. One guy saw me looking at him a little to long and started to come back towards me until I looked the other way. I really cant wait to go back one day.

[Fender]

Thanks that you told us from your vacations knl that all sounds so very good.one day i will also travel there i have friends in iligan city.the only problem is the expensive flight

[neil]

Great story!
I've never been to the Philippeans,but have seen similar sights in other parts of SE Asia.
Unfortunately the local rainwear is designed for local sized people.
I never found anything remotely big enough for me.

[rainfash]

Dear KnI,

is most of the pvc rainwear shiny or matt ? Do the people wear shiny vinyl raincoats ?
Or just the matt vinyl raincoats ? Any see-through or glass-clear raincoats ?

[KnI]

Thanks Fender, I hope you eventually make it there. I'm sure you will have an awesome time.
Neil, I know what you mean about the sizes. I can fit into them but just a bit tight. I wish they had one size bigger!!!
Rainfash, There is no shiny rainwear that I have seen. It's either matte or transparent. Depending which brand you buy, either Spartan or Hercules, the Spartan brand has a little bit of a sheen to it. Both are very nice and soft feeling. Mason and ShinyHenry and one other member of the forum could comment on this also. (dont remember his name) It is quality stuff though. I dont know any pictures online that I could share, I wish I did. Hopefully one of them could help.