My surprise find in a Philippines supermarket

She made an unexpected discovery out the back of an unassuming supermarket in the Philippines. It lead to a truly memorable New Year’s Eve.

Resort life is lovely, but sometimes you need a little action. Picture: Rebecca Andrews.

It was 1130am and already my third visit to his supermarket that morning – my sixth in two days.

While hanging in the hammock at my fancy island hotel, I’d seen a temple-like structure above the palm trees, and walked along the beach to discover more – but this supermarket blocked the way to its entrance. Which was fine by me because Ricki the owner was cool.

“Resort life is boring, man.” I was standing in an aisle that had body soap, Coke, iPhone chargers and souvenirs of The Pope (note: I loved his category system). “What do you guys do for fun?” I was hoping for walking tracks or hidden caves.

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The supermarket was the unassuming little red hut on the left. Picture: Rebecca Andrews

“We sing” he said proudly. “Filipinos love videoke, every family has a machine. We are serious about it.” Having done a million karaoke sessions at home in private rooms with glitter mics and mirror balls, I knew how serious karaoke could be.

“Come and see” he led me down The Pope aisle, through the back door, past the family kitchen and into the backyard to the temple. But instead of an alter I found a stage. With gold columns holding up a peaked roof 5 metres above an audience pit (with seats), in front of a screen the size of a cinema. Lights were rigged all around and the sound system was big enough for a festival stage.

The locals invited the visiting Aussies back for a karaoke session. Picture: Rebecca Andrews.

“Is this a TV set? Do you film Filipino Idol here?” He shook his head “It is for my family. You’re welcome to join us. Come for New Year’s Eve: bring your sister.”

That eve, Natalie and I headed down the supermarket aisles, excited to discover what a Filipino New Years on a pimped out stage would be like. We discovered it goes off.

Everyone from his grandmother to his baby cousins were belting out bangers, people were pouring over song books and dancing along to the performances. When they saw us everyone stopped to welcome “the Australians” with huge smiles and waves. We felt like stars. Ricki proudly showed us to the banquet: BBQ pork, chicken, fruit, salads, veggies and rice, and poured us a LOT of moonshine (zero taste, 200 per cent effect).

Thank goodness this hammock existed to recover in. Picture: Rebecca Andrews.

We put our song choices in (avoided all Frank Sinatra – trust me, you want to hit this link to find out why) and when my turn came, it felt like the final round of Idol: the lights flashed, crowd went wild, and the sound system had me sounding like Jessica Mauboy.

Nat and I stayed well after midnight, outlasting half the fam, who each came and hugged us goodbye.

Filipinos consider New Year’s more special than Christmas Day, and Ricki’s invitation was a huge honour. He welcomed my sister and I, two strangers from a hotel down the beach, into his community and family – the hospitality we received was humbling.

We continued to visit his supermarket on Siquijor Island every day. We’d chat, play with the kids, hang with his family / our new friends, and … slink out the back to drop some more bangers on his stage.

Guys, the sound system was everything.

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Originally published as My surprise find in a Philippines supermarket