Security Theater

I know people complain about it in the States (I know because I'm one of them) . TSA confiscating explosive liquids over a certain volume. HS arbitrarily raising the terror alert. There are an increasing number of examples. But here, security theater is an art form.
There are two things you must understand:
1) In the Philippines security guards have fancy uniforms and badges that read "Philippine National Guard". I'm not sure but I think it's a company that named themselves that (or at least something similar enough to the real thing). Shear marketing genius!
2) The security guards most important tool is the log book. It doesn't matter what happens as long as it has been logged, timestamped, and signed.

Today I was carrying a $13,000 power supply out of the facility to do an outdoor test. I was stopped by a security guard
- "Excuse me sir, what is that?"
- "A power supply."
-"Okay, can you sign sir?"
And I swear the log book had dutifully markde and timestamped the following with a space following for my signiature:
7/11 14:38 Matthieu Reich leaves with power supply
Never mind that the power supply costs a fortune. Never mind that I could have gone anywhere with that power supply. Never mind that the power supply could just be the casing and inside are 14 karat gold bars I'm stealing (and yes, we do have some in stock as any good solar company should).

The interesting part is that this is not the story of just one security guard, there is an entire industry here built around providing in-security!

Mall security is a blast! You walk through a metal detector in a tin foil hat without a peep.
7/07 12:04 Unknown white guy walked into mall. I did not search his bag because he was white. My metal detecting baton didn't beep as I swiped it up and down as he walked past. Not sure if the batteries are working because he was carrying 3-4 coins, a large metal Leatherman, and a bag with several metal buckles.

Each time we leave the facility, the security guards at the gate open the trunk of the car, look in, close the trunk, and wave us through. You can bet that it was logged each time.
7/09 17:42 Matthieu Reich leaves the facility. In the trunk of the car was one bag (contents unknown because it's not my job to open bags). In the passenger seat was a laptop bag (again contents unknown). I hope there was nothing in either bag that he is stealing for industrial espionage, to sell on the black market, or to decorate his apartment.

Each time we get to the staff house a security guard opens the gate and waves us through. But I'm sure if we got robbed, the thief would get equal treatment: logged, timestamped and signed.
7/13 23:52 Unknown man in black jumpsuit and ski mask slips into downstairs window. Same man leaves 2 minutes later with TV in hand.

The crazy thing is that the lack of proper security guards doesn't make me feel unsafe in this country.* Quite the opposite!** It's as if the criminals are given no challenge so there is no incentive to pull of daring heists culminating in heart pounding freeway chases.

* How's that for a triple negative?
** Sweet! A quadruple negative!

Just when this place couldn't get any stranger

1) They have neon pink dragonflies. They look like suspended drops of Hawaiian Punch soda flying around. I tried to get photographic evidence of the encounter but the dragonfly decided to make a game of flying into focus, pausing long enough for the camera auto focus to grind into place, then zip out of view. What this means is that I won't be sharing my dozen pictures of grass or twigs with you.

2) Everyone wants to be whiter! They sell soap that bleaches your skin whiter, a drink that makes you grow 3 inches, clothes that only white people wear, and houses that turn their occupants magically into wealthy, white folk. How many morality tales revolve around the theme "Be careful what you wish for"? Being white in the Philippines is terrible: everyone stares at you, you get sunburned walking to the car, you're sent to the 5XL rack to look for clothes to fit, and your house falls down because it was built on reclaimed land.

3) It rains twice daily like clockwork. You'd think the rain would keep the temperature down, but that would be too normal. The friction and impact of rain striking the pavement seems to warm up the atmosphere. It's that or the 20 cars idling in the parking lot with the AC blasting.

4) Believe it or not, my glasses fog up every time I get out of a car or leave a building.

At least this place keeps me on my toes!

I made this shirt nearly 1000 days ago and today is its day!


Sadly no one is here to see it,
Happy 777 Day!

Landed

Well it's been forever since my last (and first) post here. That shouldn't actually surprise anyone, me least of all. A shift in the intension of the blog may increase my posting regularity, so I'll change this to a travel log / work log.

Here's my itinerary for the next months:
July 5th - July 19th: Manila, Philippines for work
July 20th - July 28th: Tortola, British Virgin Ilses for vacation
Aug 2nd - Aug 31st: Manila, Philippines for work


When we landed this morning the captain said over the PA:
"This is your captain speaking: you have just witnessed another perfect landing! The local time in Manila is 4am and the temperature is 31C with 88% humidity"
Between this and the last trip I managed to forget what effect that heat has, especially once you take that first step out of the airport.
Here is one in a long string of pictures that doesn't quite do the reality justice:
The afternoon storm just broke somewhere over our heads and the immense sound of the rain drowns out everything. Just rain mind you, not thunder... yet. I'm beginning to imagine a 747 hovering over the house because nothing else compares.

Hopefully I'll keep the updates coming. My main worry is the fact that I'll be working quite a bit and will have little time to do anything worth posting.