‘Welcome to the Philippines, Mother Lily. Hope the rest of your stay in Manila will help you understand better the many Filipinos who seek you out in Bangkok!’
AND so it came to pass, after years of planning, that my dear friend Bubpha Thamwanish, aka Mother Lily, landed in Manila for her first visit.
Lily is a much-beloved tour guide based in Bangkok, a favorite of many Filipinos. I first met her when I was with The Coca-Cola Export Corporation as her company was handling our trips to the Thai capital where our regional office was headquartered. Even after leaving Coke, I still kept on contacting Lily, this time not for formal tours but for more friendly/family meet-ups — she will always ask if we wanted to bring home “Sampaloc,” which was candied in either a sweet or spicy way.
I even got her to help a tour group of Taguig officials led by Sen. Alan and Mayor Lani Cayetano way back in 2012 or 2013. They’ve become friends since then. Too bad schedules didn’t jive this time and Lily won’t be able to meet Sen. Alan, who she last saw as DFA secretary when he attended the funeral of the late King Rama IX.
The day she was leaving for Manila I boasted that she was going to experience our version of Suvarnabhumi Airport. She was excited. When I met her after her arrival, she knew what a joke I was pulling on her. No need to detail here what she has to say.
She’s been to Casa San Pablo and my house in Alaminos, Laguna. She’s been to Divisoria.
She’s tried to ask for a taste test of the fresh fruits being sold in an SM Supermarket, only to be told time and time again that it can’t be done and prices are not negotiable
While she politely says our food is “masalap” she almost always asks for more chili or chili flakes at least. It’s a given — we have a sweeter palate than the Thais. I am always aghast at how spicy she likes things to be.
She hopes to put up a tour business with a branch here in Manila. I think it’s a swell idea but I neither have time for it nor know nothing about it. I only know that Lily would be a good partner to work with.
Welcome to the Philippines, Mother Lily. Hope the rest of your stay in Manila will help you understand better the many Filipinos who seek you out in Bangkok!
(She is on Facebook by the way, for those interested in connecting with her for your Bangkok and beyond tour needs!)
