Complete Filipino Guidelines to Having Picnics in the River

Summer here in the Philippines has officially started, and it's one of the most awaited time among the young ones and the young once.

One thing why kids love summer is because they have all the time to enjoy the water. It may be on the beach, in the pool, in the river, or even in a basin full of water.  So if you're planning to go swimming after the lockdown, here are some things you need to remember before packing those stuff and plunging into the water.

Photo by Beautiful Ifugao

Photo by Jerry Enrico Puddunan

What to Bring

1.  Foods and Drinks

 It's either you cook the food at home or bring your cooking utensils and let the adults cook while the kids enjoy the water.  The best viand to bring (according to my hungry tummy) is tinolang native chicken.  Don't also forget the chicha corn (with vinegar), fruits (mango and watermelon are the best), drinks (soft and hard), and sawsawan (for the grilled tilapia or bangus) and the star of the show, siling labuyo.  I don't know, but every time we have a picnic in the river, I forgot I'm on a diet😀😀😀.

You may also want to cook your own puto cheese and adobong manok.  

2.  Cooking Utensils

Do you plan to tell stories while waiting for the food to be cooked?  Well, don't forget to bring the following:

• Pans (kaldero at palayok)
• Ladles (sandok)
• Griller (sosyal!)
• Knives
• Chopping board

Be sure you have the necessary ingredients like ginger, onion, and salt.  Also, bring water for cooking.  The most important thing to remember so you can prepare food is a match or lighter (unless you're trained to make fire out of stones or block of woods).

3.  Eating Utensils

For those who don't want to bring heavy stuff during picnics, you may opt to use paper plates and disposable spoons, forks, and cups.  Bring enough eating utensils because you don't want to be taking turns in eating, especially if the food is calling everyone's growling stomach.  

4.  Extra clothes

The most tragic thing that will happen to you is when you forgot to bring extra clothes, and you'll be left under the shade, watching everyone enjoying the cold water.  Include in your backpack a towel, too.

5.  Sunblock

Photo by Maureen Lorenza Puhi

If you have susceptible skin and have the budget, go for sunscreen.  Apply it liberally on your face and body even before going out of your house.  

6.  Personal Hygiene Kit

Don't forget to bring shampoo, bath soap, and your own comb😉.

7.  Camera

Well, gone were the days when only the rich can capture great bonding moments.  Now, keeping memories and sharing them is just a click away.  Make sure you're smartphone is charged the night before so that you can take lots of selfies, doufies, groufies, slow-mo, jump shot, etc. 

Tip:  One basic rule in photography is the rule of thirds.  Divide your image into three columns and three rows, that would make 9 boxes, and put your subject (the most important) to where the lines intersect.  

Photo by Claire Lynette Alejo

8.  Garbage Bag

Yes, you need to bring at least one or anything to put your trash into before leaving the area.  You may also use the garbage bag for wet clothes.

9.  Goggles and Flotation Devices

If you're like me, who's not an expert swimmer, bring life jackets or any floating device.  Have you ever tried using these to float?

• Tightly close gallon
• Bamboo (about 2 meters, with nodes still intact)
• Log
• Tube (from your old tires)
• Ball
• Life jackets

Kids love goggles, so don't forget to bring one or two if you have.

10.  Portable Speakers

Filipinos love singing on any occasion, so why not bring your own version of videoke in the river.  Others rent a videoke and use car batteries to power it up; others bring a handy speaker for the videoke app installed in their mobile devices.  For other music lovers, playing music from their phones is already enough.

Trivia:  The world's first karaoke machine, the Juke-8, was built by a Japanese inventor and musician Daisuke Inoue in 1971.  But it is Filipino inventor Roberto del Rosario who holds the machine's patent.  He developed the Karaoke Sing-Along System in 1975.  (source)

Picnic Etiquettes

1.  Sharing is caring.  I know it's hard to resist the native chicken, but don't forget you got companions who feel the same, too.  Share what you have, but not your personal towel and comb.

Photo by Claire Lynette Alejo

2.  Observe decency.  You're not in Boracay, so don't go around wearing just a string.  Most Filipinos still value decency in public places.  

3.  Clean as you go.  Abide by the mountaineers' creed:  Take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time, leave nothing but footprints.  Don't leave your trash because it will always find its way back to you, maybe not in front of your doorsteps but on your dining table.

4.  Enjoy.  Picnic time is Filipino bonding time.  Share stories.  Laugh. Sing. Swim. Eat.  Dive.  The important thing is, don't go home without unwinding and de-stressing yourself.

Photo by Marivic Anabeiza

Warning:  You don't have something to grab onto when you're drowning, so be extra cautious.

5.  Drink moderately.  Filipinos love drinking sprees with lots of singing and storytelling.  However, bear in mind that you don't wanna be singing "Show me the way to go home" at the end of the day, so drink moderately.

I know the river, the beach or the pool is calling you this summer.  Let's all pray that this COVID-19 pandemic will be over soon so that everybody will be happy!  Comment below what do you miss most about picnics in the river, and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE.

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