PROMDI
FROM DAVAO TO MANILA
by Giovanni Maligro
promdi
/prăm•dÄ/
1. informal, derogatory
An unsophisticated person who hails from a rural area and tries his/her luck in the big city
2. old-fashioned
When I was little, I had always wondered how the term “promdi” was coined. Having watched a number of Tagalog films, I somehow knew it means “probinsyano.” only in recent years, when I started working in manila, did I realize it’s the truncation of the phrase “from the province” pronounced in a thick regional accent.
Politically, there are 12 metropolitan areas in the Philippines, under which are 33 highly urbanized cities. I am from Davao city. But by some unwritten standard, anywhere outside metro manila is considered a province. “Eh di wow.”
When I started making friends here, some of them jested silly remarks or questions like “Ang alam ko kasi, dun galling mga katulong.” and “Muslim ka ba? Di ba magulo dun?” among others. Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do. Being a good sport that I am, I politely answered every friggin’ time and took the opportunity to educate them.
I’d normally tell people to see Davao for themselves so that I don’t sound like I’m gloating. Davao is rather laidback but has access to latest technology [yes, we have electric power there!]. Traffic is not bad—like we’re lightyears apart. Food and agricultural products are incredibly cheap that we have perpetual supply. If watching a movie would cost you php 250 here, you’d pay around php 150 there. No, that’s not a typo. Davao is very clean, the sun literally reflects on the streets that are free of eye sores. I’m tempted to go on all day, but allow me just one more point. I feel a complacent safety roaming around the city even in wee hours. And that’s because the citizens there actively cooperate and contribute to keep it that way.
Pardon our ignorance, too. We also have misconceptions about manila. I had one thing in my mind when I was headed for the megapolis. “This is it, sin city. I’m putting myself to an ultimate test of survival.” Manila is an irony of thriving slums, skyscrapers competing for the heavens, and entangled highways. Yet, she has a Goth charm. She’s your bad girl, you know darn well she’ll break your heart, but you insist for a piece of her. Er…not exactly all that, or maybe I just haven’t come across one from such echelon.
A panoramic view of Manila Bay. Photo taken by Peter Novacco (polymu.com).
In my quest for the true Manileño experience, I realized everybody seems to come from elsewhere. Most trace their roots from Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Bicol, and to my surprise, a whole lot are from Visayas and Mindanao. Hey, that’s practically the entire Philippines already! *shakes head* Anyhow, it’s an interesting demographics. Manileños come through as carefree people. In their very core, they’re really simple people who manage to laugh at small things. They can put on sophisticated OOTDs [outfit of the day] but dig for good finds in “tiangge” and “divi”. They love good food, are game for parties, and long for out-of-town escapes. I think that’s pretty normal, typically Filipino actually.
My misadventures have unraveled a new spectrum before me. A dear friend once said, “If you live in manila long enough, you earn certain carats.” Whatever that means, nyahaha! So yeah, I’ve picked up the accent, gotten used to the hustle, and put up with life’s inconveniences. You just get acclimatized to the environment you’re in. Does it really change you to the very core? Well, everybody’s experience will always be unique. Since i’ve been working here five years running, I have come to an important decision of investing on a property and staying here indefinitely.
Legally speaking, I’m promdi no more ;-)