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Local Etiquette and Traditions: How Not to Offend People in General Santos (A DIY Busker’s Guide)

@Luna Sterling2/14/2026blog

so if you’re new here and just slapped down PHP 15k for a month’s rent because some landlord in a jeepney didn’t tell you ‘this is code red at 7pm’-welcome to General Santos. i’m not here to crush your vibe, but i am here to tell you not to touch the balut vendor’s hat. literally. it’s not a souvenir, it’s a curse. okay?

let’s start with the basics. general santos is safe? hell yeah. unless you’re carrying monopoly money or arguing with a cicada about who owns the street. that’s when it escalates. safety’s not a big thing here unless you’re flashing bling or refusing to tip for horneado. tip 10-15% for service, and you’re golden. unless you’re in a pabor - that’s when you’re basically a grad student at a buffet. pabor? sweet, we’ll get there.

*adolebookers in general santos are like cats in a blender. they’ll try to fit into every space, especially if you’re driving a rustbucket from quezon. rent’s cheaper than manila, but if you’re not staying long, don’t even bother. prices jump 300% the second you say ‘i’m going home in six months.’ listen, that’s human nature. but seriously, if you’re a student or a freelancer on a budget, just rent a backyard. cheaper than a sofa-bed.

job market? yeah, it’s booming. not in ‘we’re all entrepreneurs’ tech-bro speak. real talk? tourism, seafood processing, and agriculture are king. if you’re fluent in cebuano, you’ll land a job at a fish market faster than you can say ‘baludhiao.’ if not? congrats, you’re a laborer in a log factory. not a criticism, just data. and yes, i’ve seen people quit jobs to hawk sugarcane juices on a corner. i’m not judging. survival is love.

now, weather. it’s not ‘tropical’ drama, it’s existential. 90% humidity all year, but with this weird cycle where it rains for three days then forgets you exist. neighbors will check your ac heater like you’re a foreigner who stole their mangoes. ‘why’s your window open?’ they’ll ask, not realizing you’re just trying to escape the smell of jicama and desperation.

here’s the thing about locals: they’re great, but they have rules. you don’t haggle at the public market unless you’re a jew. no one’s buying your ‘friendly bargaining’ vibe. they’ll just stare at you like you’ve offered them a live octopus as payment. sorry. on the flip side, if you’re invited to a housewarming, bring snacks. not snacks, food. leave the snacks for the tristate. locals will ask why you brought caramel macchiato when they’re eating tuyo. you answer that by admitting you’re a lost cause.

oh, and the busk? you’ll see diy buskers everywhere. that’s me. maybe. i play broken kazoo covers next to a guy selling recyclable phone chargers. one time, a tourist asked me to play ‘happy birthday’ for his grandma. i told him i don’t know the melody. he then handed me a bar of soap and said, ‘you’ll learn.’ or maybe he was just sad. i don’t know. locals gossip in a way that makes you question your life choices. one old woman swore the man who sold you balut is the same guy who killed her cousin in ‘09. she won’t say if this is true. she’ll just hand you a tamale and say, ‘don’t die near him.’

ghosting at the gas station: if you’re filling up at the pump and the attendant我看见you’re not filipino, they’ll overcharge you. not maliciously, just… algorithmic. ‘neither hand, neither language, more money.’ evil, but fair. tip the guy 20 pesos. they’ll remember. remember that.

for the data-loving: cost of living is cheap before you realize it’s not. rent as mentioned, PHP 10k-15k for a basic space. food? a plate of lechon longanisa is PHP 150. but if you splurge on squid, it’s PHP 400 and you’ll hate yourself. data from mastering general santos reddit (link: reddit.com/r/GSingapore) confirms this. yeah, i made that up. drive safe.

overheard gossip: ‘the vloggers from quezon are trying to take over the miami street market.’ i didn’t confirm it, but i almost panicked when i saw a van with ‘ask sufi’ logo near a fry stalls. also, someone warned me about the church piano. they say the priest’s nephew plays it every sunday and he’s very* into hip hop. i haven’t verified this. but if you go, don’t bring headphones. he’ll play ‘dstaaten’ at 6am. you’ll regret it.

photos you need to see: [unsplash image 1] (link) - that’s the market where you’ll learn not to haggle. [unsplash image 2] (link) - same lesson. [unsplash image 3] (link) - if you’re losing money at the kazoos, keep walking.

external links: tripadvisor reviews for general santos (link: tripadvisor.com), yelp experiences (link: yelp.com), local subreddit (link: reddit.com/r/GSang), and if you’re brave, a rigger’s board (link: rigger.com/gsnews) - be warned, it’s 80% nudes and 20% practical advice.

also, the next time someone tells you general santos is ‘off the grid,’ tell them to look at their map. we’re 6.12, 125.17. it’s not a secret city, it’s just… quietly chaotic. accidentally roasted at a fiesta? great. it’s part of the tour.

oh, and the neighbor who plays loud music? she’s not mad. she’s just trying to make the seedlings grow. tell her i said thanks. tell her i’ll bring snacks next time. weird flex? maybe. survival tactic? probably.

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About the author: Luna Sterling

Writer, thinker, and occasional over-thinker.

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