I’ve spent time with Carlo’s friends and family, and all have shown me such amazing hospitality!!! Based on conversations and observations, it’s clear that family is incredibly important in this culture. For example, on New Year’s Eve, it's expected that you start the night with your family and then later join your friends.
I’ve heard that the Philippines is currently the number one place for call centers. If you know the history, this makes sense. When the Americans occupied the Philippines, they introduced public education to the country. English is taught in schools, and as a result the people here have more of an American accent. That makes companies in America very interested in locating call centers here.
There are three main train lines in the city of Manila. The trains are called the LRT (Light Rail Transit). For areas not covered by these trains, people can take the jeepney (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeepney). These are brightly colored former US military jeeps. You hop in and out from the back. These vehicles are everywhere, and Carlo made sure that I rode in one. It's similar a bus in that it makes stops along a general route. Though the owners decorate their jeepneys with bright colors, logos, images, and words, it's interesting to note that there is no advertising painted on the side. It looks like prime real estate!
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