Hashing in Subic Bay

[Jim]

I had never heard about “hashing” until I moved to the Philippines but it’s supposed to be worldwide. It’s basically people who get together to run/jog/walk often in a scenic location and then have a party later. I was attracted to the exercise aspect but a friend correctly described hash as “drinkers with a running problem”

Jessa and I have been on two hashes. Two weeks ago it was pouring so the hash was a walk through some back streets of town with umbrellas and a party at a local bar, unlimited beer or soft drinks and a meal. Last week (pictures) we took a Jeepnay an hour north of Subic to a beautiful spot near San Antonio. It included a short walk in the woods, 1 km of beach (walking in sand is a killer), 1.5 km of country streets, 1.5 km through the woods and another km of beach.

At was supposed to be a reunion of sorts and many ex members who lived near San Antonio attended. There were 64 people there about 20 of them ladies. One key question that is always asked about Colombia is the percentage of successful relationships. Well there is only anecdotal evidence when talking about the Philippines or Colombia but I will tell you this is an event which would challenge many relationships. The women are forced to exercise, listen to foul language which is even offensive to me (it’s part of the ritual) ad watch their men drink heavily while they have a beer or two or soft drinks.

I saw twenty women obviously in love with their man, hugging, kissing beaming. Some men were youngish looking and it good shape and some were fat and hard to look at. They all had women who appeared to adore them. This is the Philippines and why men love it here.

For the hash, I jog every morning since the drinking and the exercise offset each other. I really like the people there and it gives me knowledge of Subic Bay I couldn’t get without the people there.

[John Wayne]

One of your BEST posts.....I don´t like it...I love it......

[Ciza29]

Thanks Jim,
I had never heard of Hashing either. It is cool to learn new stuff. Are the Filipinas as against exercise as the Thai women?

[Jim]

The predominant hashers are western men and their filipina partners but I have personally NEVER seen a Philipino jogging since I got here. Many of my neighbors think I'm mentally retarded.

One of the biggest health issues here is the large percentage of MEN who smoke. A pack of Marlboros costs under $1. US cigarette companies can't grow their market in the US due to the effective education of people of it's dangers and the high cost. So just like they used to manipulate nicotene levels to increase the likelihood of adiction, they are targeting third world countries.

Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg recently pledged to fund efforts to counteract this and the targeted the much larger China and India. The Phils with "only" 80 million people didn't make the cut. I would say I see little evidence that anyone here cares much about their health. Artificial sweetners are about as easy to find as arsenic. If you buy "iced tea" in a restaurant or fast food, it is always sugered to make it almost as bad as coke. Fatty meats predominate although there is lots of fish here. Most foods are fried.

My joke with Jessa (I'm 61 and she's 23) is that I want her to cook me healthy foods so I live another 30 years. At the same time, she needs to eat like she always has, completely unhealthy so she'll die when I die and won't have to live without me. I'll be 91 and she'll be 53.

[John Wayne]

That is what my wife wants Jim, to die when I die....

I seriously doubt it will happen, but I guess as in a terribale christmas gift...It´s the thought that counts.......