Rumors In Cebu
About a year ago, we heard that Paul, an acquaintance of mine had been killed on Bantayan Island. We asked around and quickly found out it was a different Paul than was being discussed here in Bogo City. We told our 
neighbors that and figured it would stop.
A couple of months ago, they once again were talking about Paul being dead. I just chuckled and mentioned to Jessie, it must be more fun to tell it as if it was “our Paul.” Then a week or so later, our landlady also told us Paul was dead and Jessie told her it was a different Paul.
Small towns and rumors go together like white and sugar. 
most of the time, in small towns there is some truth to a rumor. I guess this one has some truth in it too. There was a Paul that died on Bantayan Island in a jail there but it wasn’t the Paul that people in Bogo City know.
It all reminds me of the Beatles Album where the four Beatles are crossing the road and Paul seems out of place due to his dress. Soon after that, there was a buzz in many part of the world and especially in the USA that Paul, Paul McCartney was dead. It was probably planned and it gave them lots of free publicity. Some said there was backward masking on the album that repeated “Paul is Dead.” I suspect that was entirely rumor. The Beatles kept this rumor going for quite a while by placing various “clues” on their albums.
This all is amusing to me. I wonder if Paul knows he’s dead. He and I don’t get along so I don’t know.. This story is not about him, its about the rumor mill in the Philippines.
Its not a bad thing, at least not to me. People gossip and they gossip every where. Small towns are much worse because of “the everyone knows everyone syndrome” Someone once asked Jessie (my girlfriend) if I was Paul’s little brother. Which Jessie found amusing since I’m close to 10 years older than Paul.
There is no telling what they say about me here. It would be interesting to know Perhaps its all good. Its not much fun to gossip about the good things people do..
Still I prefer the small town than the big city. I can walk the streets here with much more confidence than I can in Cebu City. I able to get most of the things here in Bogo that I want but do generally go to the city once a month for those things we can’t get here.
Popularity: 8%
so true! In a small city everyone knows everyone and people can’t stop talking about other people. Sometimes this is so frustrating and annoying.
You know what I say? “lets give them something to talke about.”
I’m dead? Well, I hope someone remembers to bury me.
Paul, now living in Carcar, Cebu.
Rusty,
I think discussing rumors & gossip is a form of recreation in many neighborhoods and barrios. One of the most popular segments of local TV & radio shows is the
“Chika Minute” and I have seen people literally stop what they are doing in order to prevent missing any of that segment!
Rusty,
I think discussing rumors & gossip is a form of recreation in many neighborhoods and barrios. One of the most popular segments of local TV & radio shows is the
“Chika Minute” and I have seen people literally stop what they are doing in order to hear or see every moment of that segment!
I’m not familiar with “Chika Minute” is it a gossip section?
Gossip is pretty much the universal past time.
I think it is human nature to be against something in a gathering. If you’re for something, you risk others saying your wrong, or worse.
Its easy to put down something that someone else likes. But if you put something down, people are much more likely to agree with you. Now why is that? I don’t know.
Look at the expat gatherings, so often negative towards the Philippines, same thing is going on there.
I remember lots of gossip in the USA. Gossip even gets a mention in the bible.
Filipino seem to really like a good sad story that ends happy too, just look at Cinema 21.
Filipino, especially Filipina stop everything their doing often for that channel. 
I pick on my GF when she watches it. I tell her “I bet I know how its going to end.” LOL
Yes, its the “gossip” minute. My wife tells me the word (cause I can’t find it in any of our Tagolog-English dictionaries) might be Visayan or Cebuano slang.
And your right, all the movies and shows are the drama, crying, and happy ending script. A good Filipino actress
MUST be able to “cry on demand” I guess– Many actors too!
Jessie, my gf, gets a little irritated with me when I Say “I bet I know how its going to end.” LOL
Now she wants another T for the living room where there is no aircon and probably wont ever been as the ceilings are too high.
Hey Rusty, How”s it going there in Bogo. Yeah, I might be coming there soon. I’m sure if I do then I’ll see you there. Take care, Jerry Smith
Let me know, I’ll met up wit you if I can.