I am "Promdi" and I'm Proud of it!

"Promdi" is a tagalog word that means "person from the province".

Nowadays, so many people are living in the city of Manila from their respective provinces to seek or find their luck. It is undeniable that it is much harder to earn money in the provinces compared to cities like Manila. Therefore, many are obsessed with going out to take risks and find their destiny in Manila or neighboring cities.

I grew up in the province of Oriental Mindoro but when I started College, we have to move here in Cavite as my parents needed to work both to supply our daily needs and me and my sibling's studies.

My Struggles and Challenges

As a Commuter

I am not used to travelling via vehicle cause way back in our province, I barely ride a vehicle and when I say vehicle, it means tricycle. Jeepneys are very rare in our province.

My first few months of commute to and from the school are always a struggle for me. I felt dizzy and always wanted to vomit while I'm inside the jeepney.

I don't know how to use pedestrian lane.

I am not familiar with the traffic lights and how to use it, cause I do not see any of it when I was in our province.

I am too shy to ask other passengers to hand my fare to the driver so I always make sure to sit right behind him.

Language

There are certain language that I know in our native tagalog but others can't understand it even though to my knowledge, it is also a tagalog word.

For example:

• mabanas (also known as maalinsangan)

• sintoris (also known as dalandan)

• kalamunding (also known as kalamansi )

• istep-in (also known as tsinelas)

• lukban (also known as suha) , and there's many more.

Accent

Since accent in our province is far way more different that the accent here in the city, I keep on trying to get used to accents here. But sometimes, I still pronounce it with "Bisaya" accent accidentally.

Here some of the example:

• letter "F" that becomes letter "P" when pronounced and vice versa - "plawer" instead of "flower".

• letter "V" that becomes letter "B" when pronounced and vice versa - "seben" instead of "seven"

• letter "e" that becomes "i" when pronounced and vice versa - "sex" instead of "six".

• letter o that becomes u when pronounced and vice versa - "omowi" instead of "umuwi"

Ordering food in the resto

In my first few months here in the city, I honestly don't know how to order food in a restaurants, or in any fast foods. So, I always have to copy my friend's order cause I am not familiar at all on the food that's listed in the menu.

Riding in an elevator or in an escalator

I struggled to ride an escalator and even more the elevator during my first few months of staying here in the city. I would rather look for stairs rather than taking the escalator or elevator ride.

Branded Products

I don't have any idea before on the brand of any products. Like for example, in pants, or any clothes. There is one brand I ever know before - the ballpen brand (Panda and Pilot). Aside from that? I don't care at all :).

Don't know how to operate computer

During my early year in my college, I still can recall clearly. During our computer subject, when our teacher asked us to turn on the PC, I have to ask my seatmate's assistance as I don't have any idea what to press.

When I type letters, I only use two fingers (one at a time). An index finger from my left hand and index finger from my right hand. So just imagine how long I am able to complete a word.

Why I am not ashamed to be a Promdi?

I ought to say that despite of many challenges and struggles for being a Promdi, I still managed to survive and overcome most of them. And that's one that I'm proud of!.

Aside from that, I am proud and not ashamed that I am a "Promdi" because:

I am a certified multilingual

Multilingual means able to speak and understand more than two languages. 

Aside from the universal language (English) which I currently use in my writing, I also know how to speak "tagalog Mindoro", "tagalog Manila", and "bisaya Mindoro". I also know how to speak "Romblomanon". It is the native language of Romblon.

Hence, I consider it as an advantage amongst other who only knows how to speak "tagalog" and "english". I can easily mingle with other promdi guys who speaks other languages that I also speak.

I have a guaranteed province to visit

I once asked my colleague before "saan ang probinsya mo?" and then he responded"wala eh, tubong Maynila ang mga magulang ko". I felt a little sad for him. Why? Cause he doesn't have a single province to visit where the lodging is free at all. Having a province or being a promdi makes a guarantee that you have atleast 1 province where your visit is free of charge - no service charge at all (except the fare of course).

Survival mode

We can adapt easily to our environment. We're not afraid to sank in the mud or dirt.

In terms of food, person like me who grew up in the province can eat any edible plants available in the surroundings.

I hope you have enjoyed reading. See you again on my next articles.