The stores here open a little late. I'm at this shopping mall now at nine and the doors are still closed. They do close late-ish though, so I suppose it even out (although last night it looked as if they were closing at 9pm or so). There are scores of people waiting to go in. I'm not sure if they're workers or shoppers. It is a Saturday, so it's probably the latter. It's interesting to note what people do while they're waiting. Over here there's simply a lot of... well, waiting. Looking around, looking to the left, looking to the right. People spotting, I guess. Some are chatting to one another, but most look pretty bored.

I'm surprised that they're not SMSing one another or something. Handphones are plentiful here. The other day I saw somebody SMSing with both thumbs with unbelievable dexterity and speed. About as impressive as me being able to type this and look around at the same time.

You'd be surprised at how many people here in the Philipines hold both political office and are entertainers at the same time. I'm sure it's not a pre-requisite or anything, but there are so many of them that the local press has been running a mini debate on whether politicians should be allowed to perform entertainment shows on TV. The law clearly states in some cases "no", but this hasn't stopped some people.

I suppose, if they wanted to, they could always make use of the karaoke king vending machines about town. They're like mini recording booths. You go in, pick a song and then croon away. What you sing ends up on CD, with a picture of you on the cover. And, yes, people outside can hear you sing as you are doing so. There was a queue of about three or four people when I saw it at lunchtime.