Confessions of a Suki

dunkin-donuts
“The coffee will be ready in five minutes,” said the young woman behind the counter. I suppose there’s nothing too surprising about a Dunkin Donuts cashier making such a statement. What may surprise you is the fact that I had not ordered anything when she gave me the status of the coffee. From the moment she saw me walk in, she was pretty sure that I would order the “two doughnuts and a coffee” combo.

This kind of thing happens to me all the time at SM Manila (the mall located close to my apartment) and other places. I still remember a humorous question asked by one of my volunteer missionaries last year: “Do people always know what you want before you say anything?” This particular question came when I walked into a campus administration office and they automatically led me to the person I needed to talk with. I guess it did seem that people often knew what (or who) I wanted as soon as I entered the room.

This would be a good time to introduce my foreign readers to a new Tagalog word: suki. This word means “loyal customer,” which is exactly what I’ve become at many places here. I guess being a foreigner makes it that much easier for folks to remember me and my preferences. Perhaps I also get extra “suki points” for making small talk with the cashiers and servers.

Being a suki does have advantages that I’ve exploited from time to time. A few weeks ago I kept running into long lines at places where I regularly order food. Each time my order went ahead of some of the other customers–I assume they had not yet reached suki status. No one complained as far as I know–maybe the Filipinos intuitively knew what was going on.

Five Years in the Philippines!!

Today, July 11th, marks my fifth year in the Philippines! I am so blessed that God has called me hear and allowed me to serve Him.

Thanks to all of you who have made these five years so special! Special thanks to my ministry teammates and my churchmates–you guys are my family here in Manila. Thanks also to all of you students who have allowed me to be a part of your lives.

We celebrated this anniversary by conducting two True Love Waits seminars at Universidad de Manila. Today’s seminars were conducted for those majoring in Education (the picture above is a student asking me a question during the Q/A portion of the seminar). Thanks to those who arranged and attended the seminar!