A tourist's guide to surviving the Asian love of karaoke

(I am so obviously wide awake in the wee hours of morning, it's not even funny).

I recently met this awesome American friend of a cousin-in-law (I'll wait while you catch up to the reference), first visit to the Philippines and about to spend a guaranteed amazing time skipping around the beautiful islands of the Philippines (this ad paid for by the Department of Tourism). He immediately impressed us by commuting everywhere within the first 10 hours of being here in the Philippines and by commuting, I mean this dude took jeepneys and LRTs from Makati to Intramuros and Quiapo. Even I, a born and bred Filipino, would highly recommend a taxi. But nooo, he wanted the authentic experience + the additional excitement of saying "para po" to stop the jeepneys.

While weeding through the many tips to traveling to the Philippines (and if you ever visit this awesome country of mine, hit me. Happy to help!), we got to the caveat that 1) Filipinos love karaoke. Like insane love. 2) be prepared that a LOT of bars would have karaoke. 3) be prepared to be in a rural province with a karaoke singer wailing off in the background (and with all the space of fields and barrios, sound carries. That singer is far, far away from you) at 2am in the morning. 4) the very cute quirky PHP 5/song karaoke machine relic will be around. 5) you will sing. You will say no. But you will sing. Against your better judgment, the advice of your wise old grandmother and the bitterness of your soul.

There's only 2 ways to go around it! Number one is super easy = drink. Liquid courage. I love me some karaoke (hello, I am a proud Pinoy) but I cannot do this sober. I would rather walk hard into a wall then do this without a drink in me.
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