Isolated, frustrated, bored and homesick too, it what I heard from the Filipinos I talked to in the States, Robert, Filipino wives, single men, women married and single. I hear it over and over again. Certainly there were exceptions. And I know your wife ""adapted well,"" as many do. My point is they are away from their loved ones, their culture, often in numbing cold weather, locked away from not only their extended families and native language, but the warmth of the smiles, love and joys of living in the Philippines. I found in my travels and my relationships Filipinos over the year in the States, some good friends, some who I knew only slightly, that only reason most stayed was for money, jobs, to help their families. Foremost in their mind was a visit home where they wished they could stay. Some did get caught up in the culture they were in, US or other, and ""over adapted"" rejecting Filipino values and some even became ashamed of being Filipinos. Many in the Southwest suffered discrimination in the work place and social situations because they were foreigners or mistakenly ""Hispanic"" most often considered Mexican American Farm workers when in fact they were doctors, lawyers, CPA's, nurses and engineers, but like Mexicans, small with darker skin than the average White Anglo Saxon American Protestant (Male) WASP, my breed, who dominates the States to this day. (I say this, though I feel the WASP (Female) may have replaced the men now, and certainly get favorable treatment from the legal system in some states and some instances.) Some Filipinos swore they were never discriminated against, not an unusual perception, when there was no doubt they were. When people discriminate against you illegally, they do not tell you. I can tell you as a former Investigator for the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a former racist born in Mississippi, who worked in the area of civil rights, those who are discriminated against are the last ones to know, more often than not. (I am well aware that some discrimination is not illegal and is necessary, normal an certainly not immoral or counter productive. Please note I said ""illegal discrimination."" ) I lived with my Filipina wife in the States for eight years and Africa for almost three. She adapted very well. She was well educated, intelligent, a leader with excellent interpersonal skills with Filipinos and others. She was every thing from a prison guard at Lorton, Federal Penitentiary, where serious criminals were sent, to a successful stock broker in Washington D. C. She never complained about anything. She had Filipino friends, US friends and others. We always had visitors. She was miserably homesick for her mother and father and her siblings from day one. We finally go her brother over but the father died and the Mother did not want to come. I talked to many of her friends, often in their language, with her by my side often, about their feelings in the States. They liked the good pay and the good jobs. They missed their familial and their home. Most would have returned in a fraction of a heartbeat if it were not for the financial needs of their families. Almost every one was pathologically homesick though they rarely shared this deep pain with even their beloved foreign spouses.

Thank you for your post, Robert. I hope others who have had similar or vastly different experiences will pass them on. I those of you who have read my post know I feel that taking a Filipina/o to the States, or other ""paradise"" is not always such a big favor for them, but more often a mixed blessing at best. I am sure there are others who feel differently with good reason. We all speak from our own world views. Mine may be totally warped. But I report only what I hear an see, not speculation. And as I have said many times before, I generalize by necessity. As a psychologist, trained and experienced investigator, a deep interest and former teacher in cross cultural interaction, some skill in interpersonal relationships when I am wise enough and have the presence of mind to use them, I generally trust my assessments in this narrow area. I am sure others trust heir's, totally different than mine, with equally strong reasons and qualifications. I may very well be wrong. Those who disagree with me, may have far more insight and first hand knowledge, be correct where I have miscued. If so, please let me and the others on the list hear from you. It is Christmas Ever here. Ani's three younger sisters from Leyte are with us for the holiday season. I hope your holidays are a joy too, and that next year is a better one for us all, and our sometime teetering world.

To our giant extended family at Living in the Philippines: It is, or soon will be (depending on your time zone), Christmas Eve. A good time to thank everyone for stimulating dialogue and generously given advice. The spirit of goodwill and faith in humanity is alive in this list, with the tone set by its energetic creator, Don Herrington. Happy holidays and a prosperous new year to Don; to the other moderators, Billy Reese and Tom Glenn, and to all our members. And let's not forget another day worth celebrating next month. Jan. 14 is the first anniversary of LinP's launch. From nothing to 550 or so members in less than a year is a staggering accomplishment. Even more impressive, I think, is the cordiality we have maintained in the face of this growth. My new year's resolution: that we continue to add voices and inspire each other.

I second you. I have lived on Saipan for five years, before that two years in American Samoa and a year in South Africa. I thought I missed Atlanta, Georgia and the mainland US. I visited the States for two weeks last year (Longmont, Colorado and Washington DC) The time there felt miserable, unfriendly people was the biggest problem. Saipan is so different, (I believe Guam is the same although it may be too Americanized already, that's my feelings when I visit there). Whenever I visit the Philippines, I don't want to leave. You can't compare the personal wamth and the hospitality with anything anywhere else in the world. Happy Holidays!

There are ways that your kids can go HOME and be helpful. I'm not sure if Peace Corps is till in Nicaragua. If it is they could seek to join it, to provide service back home. There are many groups that are working part time in Nicaragua. I believe Habitat for Humanity has continual builds there. Your daughter(s) could join a build going from a week to a longer period of time. There are continual church projects there. A friend of mine runs a home for pregnant women, and has done this for at least 20 years and I am sure would welcome volunteers. Perhaps your girls could go for a summer. They would need to get a church to underwrite their expenses, but many churches are friendly towards overseas development. I don't think Kitty has extra money. A good friend of mine was a teacher in the Philippines. She came here as an older woman, but always felt guilty that she left the Philippines without fully giving of her excellent skills. She came here as a scholar. When she retired a few years ago she went back and worked as a teacher volunteer for a year, in a teachers college, and then in schools. Her kids and friends covered her expenses and she loved it. She also got rid of her guilt feelings. She's always been tied into service to the Philippines but that was a concrete way she could express it.

It is all done by e-mail, not message board. In the Philippines is it 50 minutes before Christmas now. The cherry bombs are screaming, the roman candles light there air and the firecrackers are popping rapidly. The girls, Ani's sisters our helpers and a couple three of my good friends, two Filipinos and an and an American are downstairs. Everyone but the men are in the small kitchen cooking pancit (Filipino ""long life"" noodles.) The excitement and laughter is a joy to behold, though my eyes are almost shut, and my head droops as I type. I shall return as someone once said as soon as I sent this. There is no snow at 74 degrees F. But there is Christmas in the air. May God, your gods and mine and everyone else's, bless you all as they have me.

You missed the post from the member who was removed. He mentioned Tuberan as a place. Using the sign in name he did was a mistake, Yahoo's he feels and he did not intend to use it. He has canceled all acounts, is setting up a new one and will rejoin us and be careful this time an at the same time hope Yahoo is too. If punishment were in order, and we don't do that, he is embarrased enough to have already had his. I don't know where Tuberan is. But it sounds like potatoe country. :) I am sure someone, maybe the former member, will post and let us know.

Merry Christmas to one and all in this valuable forum. Don H. did the world a great service by creating the group, and I'm sure all of us appreciate his and others hard work. Thanks. Sorry I haven't had time to be more active as a participant in this forum. 2001 was devoted to keeping the alligators below neck level and building a foundation for (hopefully) major breakthroughs in my erstwhile career in the corridors of Asian business. I continue to generate those ""Pearls"" (38 to date) at a pace of about one-a-month, despite the fact it's never paid a centavo. However, it does reach a pretty wide audience now and leads to interesting emails from around the globe and, amazingly, even to an occasional consulting lead. Thanks to those of you who have visited the column. Please feel free to send me any concepts or ideas for fresh Pearls next year. I really enjoy creating the more literary ones (like ""Eva from Cebu,"" ""Leaving on a Jet Plane,"" ""Left by the Boat""), which also tend to be the tearjerkers and ones that (hopefully) make deserving people feel guilty :) However, inspiration is not always easy to come by when you're working your ass off to survive as independent consultant in Manila, supporting a huge brood, so any suggestions or thoughts would be welcomed. Best to all, Maligayang Pasko!

Merry Christmas, Pete & everyone! We're greatly relieved here on having avoided typhoon Faxei, couldn't believe it yesterday when reading the SunStar that they were expecting it in Cebu! I do find Saipan a bit friendlier than Guam, I'd guess because the Filipinos there are mostly OCW's and still fully identify with home, while here many haven't visited the RP since they immigrated. Suplado, I guess. Sorry, States, we voted with our feet, and we won't be back. I've only visited Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands, but no comparison with the Marianas Islands, this is the most comfortable for us. Just a hop, skip & jump to the Philippines (Yap, Palau, Manila). Now if Cebu Pacific starts the direct flights they've promised, we'll no longer have to endure the Manila shuffle. But only a couple of trips more until we're buying one-way tickets.

I first visited Davao this past April to visi my first ""penpal"", who has sice married a fellow Filipino (we were true penpals, saying up front that we were friends). I loved it there! I had been to Manila, Cebu (spent 60 days there in 2000-2001), Laoag, Sinait, Vigan, Baguio and San Carlos on Negros; I thought Cebu was my favorite place til saw the others. Davao would be mysecond choice to live, only because I know so many people in Cebu. But it is my fiance's choice over Cebu (she's Ilocano), since her prime competetion was from Cebu and I think she's still a little jealous. I'll make a decision tomorrow (Christmas Day) on heading back to the Phils on the 5th or 6th of Jan and departing on the 31st; Ligaya is having some difficulties with the visa process, getting police clearances from Singapore and HK, plus I owe some paperwork also. It's a little more expensive than FEDEX to deliver papers in person, but a lot more fun. We may spend a couple of days in Mnl (will try Townhouse Hotel maybe) then WG&A to Davao for 4 or 5 days, then fly to Cebu for 4 days before heading to Mnl and Laoag (by bus, uggg, 12 hours!). For someone who hasn't decided to travel yet, I've made quite a few plans, hehehe. If I do get to Cebu (Ligaya again), I'll look you up Do. This is a budget rip but my one splurge will be 4 nights at the Marriot. And Oh Georg! at 3 PM for coffee and sightseeing. I think I've bought 1 of everything Kamaru has to offer except back packs, so I'll have to head there also.

I will be arriving in Davao on Friday 21st. I'll be there until the 28th and then back there on the 7th January. I've never seen a volcano in near proximity to a city before and I'm looking forward to seeing that. You make Davao sound great I'm looking forward to seeing as much as I can. My filipina and I have the long term aim of settling there and rasing a family.

You missed the post from the member who was removed. He mentioned Tuberan as a place. Using the sign in name he did was a mistake, Yahoo's he feels and he did not intend to use it. He has canceled all acounts, is setting up a new one and will rejoin us and be careful this time an at the same time hope Yahoo is too. If punishment were in order, and we don't do that, he is embarrased enough to have already had his. I don't know where Tuberan is. But it sounds like potatoe country. :) I am sure someone, maybe the former member, will post and let us know.

Just call at 255 5047 or 253 9903. I am going to your site now to look at the pics. I hope I find prominent link to ""Living in th e Philippines,"" there. If not, I know you are in the process making it. :) I am going to make some uncalled comments, Chip, not just for you, but others who may be similarly situated. In the Family code it is very specifically spelled out that it is in the husband's domain to determine the place of residence in the Philippines. It is his ""responsibility, his duty."" You can bend to a Filipina's desires. But you may find yourself bending again and again. If you chose to live in Davao, I would make it clear that you are not ""doing it for her,"" but that you are doing it for yourself and her, yourself first. You are expected to make those kind of decisions. And if you don't, you are perceived by some, maybe even your wife, as weak. What wife wants a weak husband? You can quickly become ""under the saya,"" meaning under the skirts, like a shy child hiding under his mother's skirt, I believe is how it goes. For sure it means henpecked in English. If so, Filipinos may not respect you, including your wife. Guys come over here, meet their honey ko and say ""Where would you like to eat tonight or what."" To some, most I feel, you are showing your cultural insanity. Why would a man abdicate his rights to chose, to make a decision, to lead and instead put the burden for a possible bad choice on a woman, often a girl, much younger and inexperienced than him. And as far as eating goes. You like O Gorg! and I do too. But if you want to please your wife, *you* decide to get rice and fish and a place similar to that she is used too. If she went to O Georg! type places before she met you, it cool to take here to those places. So many guys take girls to places where they are very uncomfortable. They are not used to being waited on and spending big money for food, starred at and such. Barbecue on a stick on the street can be fun. McDonalds and Jollibee are good alternatives. They impress, but not overwhelmed. I know if you offer to take a girl to McDonalds in the States, you might as well offer the sewer. This is not the States. McDo is in and considered expensive though it has the lowest prices of any McDo in any country in the world. Again, I generalize. Your girl may be the five star hotel type and not appreciate anything less. Most are terrified though they will tell you they are not, I find, when I question. When the truth some out, they would much prefer a place like home, where they can relax. Most ""homes"" are not elegant as you well know. First and foremost, of course, have a wonderful time. With love, everything will work out. But some common sense and cultural understanding can make it happen quicker. I look forward to meeting you, Chip. Have a good trip.

Well, Eda and I finished the California Style Simbang Gabi last night. Saw many friends that we only see once a year traveling to the various churches and enjoying the foods and festivities afterwards. Eda calls Los Angeles ""just an extension of the Philippines"". Eda talked with her family this morning (midnight Christmas Eve there) and feels at peace this evening. She is playing her hand made guitar we brought back from Cebu and is softly singing Visayan songs. Sometimes her homesickness overwhelms her but she is a determined, spiritual woman. All is well in our home. Merry Christmas to all.

Please send me the link and I will include it. I appreciate your suggestions and explanations of the cultural differences and will put them into practice. When we were in HK, Ligaya liked Arby's best for their rice with mushroom gravy and also the chicken; she also liked DeliFrance and we met her friends there every trip. A funny story. we went to Victoria Peak for sightseeing. They had a 2 storey restaurant there, we sit down, I look at the menu, it was USD$15 (I think) for an Angus Burger and USD$10 for oyster stew. I say Ligaya's eyes as she read the menu (she was a DH making about HK3,700/month). I asked her what she was having and she said, whatever you have, hon. She could not finish the burger but took half home with her and ate it that night at her employers for a snack. We still kid about our $500 (HK) lunch. The other thing was souvenirs were relatively cheap there and I was leaving in a few days, so I was buying left and right, but it dawned on me that I HAD NO BAGS: I turnd and looked and Ligaya was holding everything! I kidded her that I was going to test her capacity and keep buying til she could carry no more! I did help carry the load, but when with Ligaya and her friends from Ilocos, the ladies would not let me carry any bags, they did it all. And I liked being treated that way, still do.

I don't know where Tuberan is. But it sounds like potatoe country. I am going to say it before someone else does. Dan Quale was my spelling teacher. I ask you to be kind enough to please count my keystrokes rather than my spelling errors. Do please forgive me in my haste for writing in Mississippi phonetics, my natural style, and ignoring my spelling checker or letting it run unsupervised all to often. I have a lot of mail to get out. Those of you who write me off line know I have other correspondence some even more demanding than the list to accomplish. The list is a joy. Maybe I am too relaxed about my spelling and grammar. It is not out of disrespect for you are the list, but because you are all such good, forgiving people I feel relaxed with you. I once said I was going to do better. I tried. I am not going to promise that again lest I fail once more.

The Municipality of Tuburan is located in the northern part of Cebu Province and is approximately 96.7 kms from Cebu City. It is bounded on the North by the Municipality of Tabuelan; on the South by the Municipality of Asturias; on the East by the Municipalities of Sogod and Catmon; and on the West by Tanon Strait

I'm a little late in contributing to this interesting thread, but I think my wife of 19 years, Joy, coped with the RP-to-U.S. migration remarkably well. She had to deal with bone-chilling Midwestern winter weather (the moment she stepped off the plane!) and the dramatic difference in culture. And then came the really hellish part: Her moves were far from over. The U.S. is a place where people keep their bags backed. Long- distance career moves are common, especially in the newspaper business, which I was insane enough to get into. Within seven months of Joy's arrival, we moved from Dayton, Ohio to St. Louis. A little over a year after that we moved again -- to New York City. Now that's culture shock. Through the early years, contact with other Filipinos was welcome medicine for Joy. We made some great friends in the early years in Dayton and St. Louis. In fact, years later, we found it intriguing that Filipinos were more tightly knit in cities that had relatively few of them than they were in Southern California, where we eventually settled. Some other coping mechanisms: Many of Joy's relatives and friends live in the U.S., and her mother has lived with us for several years (her father died many years ago). Southern California, despite the quirk mentioned above, has a huge Filipino population, shops and restaurants that reflect that mass, a great climate, and multicultural tolerance. Joy never talks about being homesick, although I can't be sure it doesn't bother her, given Filipinos' habit of suppressing inner feelings. We have talked about living in the RP part-time when we reach retirement age, but Joy isn't obsessed with the possibility. In fact, I mention it more often than she does. I would put Joy in the category of well-adjusted U.S. immigrant. When I was courting her almost 20 years ago in Manila, I thought she had the drive, intelligence and strength of character to make the move, and that's probably the biggest reason I asked her to marry me. For once in my life, I guessed right. But I'm just as certain that many Filipinos have great difficulty coping. In fact, Joy's father was one. He was sent to Washington, D.C., on a government assignment in the 1960s -- and hated the culture change and weather so much that he begged to be brought home early. I think he would be proud of his daughter.

I was very busy, so I've not found the time to wish to everyone a Mery Xmas... But I want to wish you a Happy New Year, hopping 2002 will bring peace and happiness on the world and in your home.

Dear friends, This is/has been one the most interesting series of posts for me. Here in the UK my experiences have shown that Filipinas who have found employment in small town situations seem to settle more quickly,make friends with local people etc.Those who have had their main period in London have tended to stay in an almost pure Filipino social circle and IMHO have found it harder to adapt.The pressures of working in London (many have at least two jobs) has sometimes led to petty jealousies and untypical inter-Filipino strife. Similarly,from the many posts it seems that the majority of expats in the RP are happier living outside the big cities. One of my friends,who lives in one of the fortified enclaves in MM is still struggling to adapt,he still tries to keep up with those expats who are employed on contract by foreign companies.He is still telling me that he needs an income of £2 000 ($ 2 800 ) per month to live! God bless you all,

i just tried to call alove one and it took me 2hrs to get through, and that was at 2am u.s. time, and even then i lost the call. and tried again for about 30 min. but finley got what i called for, a sweet voice on the other end. marry christmas to all. in the u.s. and in the p.i.

surrealism: noun a movement in art and literature, begun in France around 1919, that sought to resolve the contradictory conditions of dream and reality into an absolute reality by various techniques, thus escaping the dominance of reason and conscious control. Since she may not answer you being with her children on Christmas, I will. The above is from Microsoft Bookshelf. I think she means when roaming around in Manila it is like a dream, like you are there but you are not. Salvador Dali is I guess, the most well known surrealist painter, though maybe not the best. You should type his name in your browser and take a look at some of his wild stuff, the kind of impossible stuff you would only see in dreams, yet not misty, fleeting, but clear, sharp: real. This is as I understand it.

Now this IS surreal Driving along the quiet beach road, palm trees swaying in the breeze, blue sky on a beautiful warm tropical day around 4 PM. Switch on the car radio and hear some good '60s music then a traffic advisory "" Good Morning, it's now 8 AM. The early morning fog has cleared and the drizzle may turn to snow by this afternoon. There has been an accident near Marble Arch and all traffic heading towards Oxford Street from Hyde Park is being diverted to . . ."" What was that? Sultan Bolkia (or his son?) likes London's ""Capital FM"" Radio Station so much that it goes to Brunei live by satellite link and is re- boadcast there (on 2 separate FM bands and on 2 AM bands, no less). The above scene is a good example of surreal. You're sitting in an air conditioned car, so you don't feel the heat or the warm breeze outside (you could be in London or anywhere with that kind of temperature). Then the radio ""tells"" your ears that you're in London, your eyes tell you that you're next to a tropical beach, your skin feels the cool air and doesn't know whether to believe your eyes or your ears. Surreal: A dream like scene or object.

Hello all, Merry Christmas Tuburan is approximately a 3 or 4 hour ride by bus from Cebu City terminal,, Tuburan is south of Cebu City. My wife is from Obo, Dalaguete Cebu. Does anyone know the place

"Fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition of subject matter", is the phrase I like best in describing surrealism. I think Ron W's description of his drive in Brunei is a very good example of the point I was trying to make. I do believe that I was in the throes of "culture shock" when I made my grumbling remarks about Manila. That is my story and I am sticking to it. I do find my take on the entire world is quite a bit lighter after spending the day enjoying Christmas with my children and husband. It is hard to keep a sad thought in my head after seeing the joy on their faces. What a gift to spend Christmas together as a family. I think we are going to take advantage of the time difference and try to call the extended families in the morning, I suspect that patience will be a key to success.

Yes, I know of Dalaguete. I've never been there but one of my friends was a conductor on the bus run from Cebu City to Dalaguete for several years. I intend to visit some friends in Boljoon next trip, which itself is further south and about 2 1/2 hours from the city. Tuburan is on the West coast of Cebu, about 2 hours on the newly completed road from Cebu City. It's actually northwest of the City, north of Toledo, Balamban and Asturias. I haven't been that far up ether, only as far as Asturias.

Trust me, most of us are, it's just that we don't know it, if we are lucky. I added the link Don, from my site to Living in the Philippines. Has anyone taken WG&A Ferry from Mnl to Davao or Cebu? I'm thinking of taking it one way to Davao if I travel next week, figure it's a nice way to spend a couple of days (suite room) as long as there are no typhoons. I hear Cebu was getting one today, is that true Don? I know Ligaya is a little (OK, a lot iffy) about visiting Cebu, since that is where her competetion was. I would like to visit the family in Cebu if we travel there, probably alone, but Ligaya is welcome to come (I would go alone only because she is hesitant). OK Don, your comments/advice would be appreciated on this. I have a lot of other friends in Cebu that I would like to catch up with (expats and Filipinos) and would like to meet you also Don. I have your contact info and will give you a few days notice. I just have to make up my mind to travel. My temporary job ended Sunday, all set for $$ for a while but no prospects right now, a strong maybe for a contract at ATT in March. The rationale I'm trying to adopt is that now I have time and $$ but in March maybe no time to travel due to contract or less $$ due to no contract. Oh well, somehow it all works out. I do miss Ligaya and the Phils, I hope to get to Pagudpud in northern Luzon this trip, after a week or so in Mindanao and Visayas.

My ate told me on my last trip there that, on her 3 properties (house and lots) that she paid about 100 dollars a year for all three combined. She lives in Butuan city, so the tax rate would appear to be low by our standards in the states. I pay $2400 a year for a measly 1/4 acre.

Dear Friends, If you are not interested in Philippine politics, delete now. For those who are I share a post I think I just made on an Philippine Daily Inquirer Discussion List, ""What Do You Think of the Performance of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. As a foreigner I hesitated to post. I noticed after following the post for some time, it is hot and heavy, and foreigner are not always welcome when they disagree with someone who may not care for foreigners too much anyway. If you said ""God is good."" on this forum, you will get an argument. If anyone thinks Filipinos are not articulate, this forum and others sponsored by Inq7.net will quickly dispel that notion. Some of the post are in Tagalog, some in English, some Taglish. The Tagalog would not be hard to understand except for the idioms and slang. Maybe I should not have posted, especially because I don't have the answers. But fools rush in.

It seems to me everyone would like to have the perfect president, someone who will solve all the problems immediately, problems that took years to create and I feel will take years to resolve, if they ever can be. Many also want a statesperson who would not be concerned about a coming election, one who has a perfect family, god like, in my opinion a desirable quality, but unrealistic and unobtainable. As far as I know, most presidents are human. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may be the best thing that ever happened to this country. But, she may not be able to keep the ship from sinking deeper into the mire and muck of corruption it was up to her neck in when she took over. So maybe it is best to get rid of her and get another. I wonder just who here, or in any country, would make the perfect president. And, if so, why would they want the job? I don't think there is such a magician. And if you found one, you still have a congress, a supreme court, civil servants, government contract holders, many of whom are deeply entrenched in the culture of corruption, graft and bribery. That culture has been rampant for years, not only in the Philippines but in every developing country in the world, and certainly in developed countries too, though often better hidden. I have really enjoyed your post and have learned much from each side and the many views presented. There are some very intelligent people here, some overheated, but most reasonable. I do think many expect too much too quickly. I know we would all like the wand to be waved, honesty wade it, self-interest be deserted and for the rich to really be interested in lifting the poor from poverty. But then there may be no more P1,500 a month maids, P5,000 a month drivers to ""sir"" you and ""boys"" to do the dirty work for a pittance. Some revel in the company of low price prostitutes that sell themselves for rice for their families. I don't think people in power like to give up cheap labor. I don't think that is going to happen without a violent struggle between the rich and poor. The poor are well trained and helpless to do much but plea for the help that is not coming. So the wealthy will probably retain control for years to come as the poor continue to become even more malnourished and dependent. There are too many people interested in maintaining the status quo for much to happen. There are, like in every government, special interest groups with opposing agendas. When you please one, you are at odds with others. Politics, they say is the art of compromise. I believe it may at times, require not only compromise, but great skill in formulating an executing programs, especially hard to do in a bankrupt country divided culturally, politically, philosophically and geographical for years, ravaged by natural disasters, having to compete with the million pound commercial giant, China, at the very doorstep of the country, now in the WTO. And of course the Philippines is still losing too much of its cream to other countries where the pay is better. It may require divine intervention to overcome the vast problems the people of this country and the leaders with good intentions, though there may be few, are facing. I do not see success on the horizon. I see more bickering and ""mine is better then yours, you are wrong, I am right, my people are honest and have all the answers while yours are thieves, corrupt and ignorant."" The lack of harmony among the electorate is evident from this forum. And those here, even if some are government employees using the government's computer, a violation implied by some to be a mortal sin, while private companies holding government contracts and others steal millions, are not reflective of Juan Del La Cruz. If this group obviously more concerned and aware than the average man or woman on the street and certainly in the province where there are no internet connections no time for deep thinking, only about rice today, can't agree, work in harmony and respect with what they are lucky to have, a reasonably competent and honest leader, GMA, as leaders go, even talk of beheading her, then what can we expect from Juan? I found the post on beheading the president not only frightening and repulsive but sickening, reflective mental illness. Inciting to harm the president, certainly beheading, is a capital crime even if the person is guilty of a crime that warrants the death penalty. And that is for a judge and jury to decide not some individual. How sad such anger and illness dwells in the hearts and minds of some. Thank you for your valuable time. I will sit back and wait for the fur to fly. I will read your post and hope I understand just how terribly wrong and ignorant I am by those who know how lame my position is. But I also respectfully ask for the unsubscribe procedure. I have tried to do in several times in the past without success. My unsubscribing will only be temporary. I will come back on when I can have time to deal with the large volume of posts, because I do enjoy the forum. But I am as dumbfounded by the unsubscribe procedures as I am by the challenge of bring the Philippines from the depths of disaster to the status of world power in a year. Merry Christmas! God bless each and every one of you. And may your new year be wonderful and filled with joy.

Fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition of subject matter"", is the phrase I like best in describing surrealism. Excellent, Karika. I might suggest ""Fantastic, 'Vivid' imagery and incongruous. . ."" If one has ever stumbled on LSD, or silly mushrooms, they will understand the feeling, the art and the concept, though that experience is not necessary. I think Ron W's description of his drive in Brunei is a very good example of the point I was trying to make. Indeed and cleverly. I do believe that I was in the throes of ""culture shock"" when I made my grumbling remarks about Manila. That is my story and I am sticking to it. I do find my take on the entire world is quite a bit lighter after spending the day enjoying Christmas with my children and husband. It is hard to keep a sad thought in my head after seeing the joy on their faces. What a gift to spend Christmas together as a family. I think we are going to take advantage of the time difference and try to call the extended families in the morning, I suspect that patience will be a key to success. If there is a key you will find it if you don't have it already. You have the stuff.

I just have to make up my mind to travel. My temporary job ended Sunday, all set for $$ for a while but no prospects right now, a strong maybe for a contract at ATT in March. The rationale I'm trying to adopt is that now I have time and $$ but in March maybe no time to travel due to contract or less $$ due to no contract. Oh well, somehow it all works out. I do miss Ligaya and the Phils, I hope to get to Pagudpud in northern Luzon this trip, after a week or so in Mindanao and Visayas.

for you to bind your head and tongue with the rules and strictures of grammar and the pedantry of spelling would be the moral equivalent of the practice of binding a childs feet to make them beautiful. Take the wrappings off and view the warped results. No! Unbound, unfettered, your utterances can dance lightly by our consciousness, just hinting at their purport. It's the tease, the barely apprehended as though seen through a gauze darkly, that evokes the ancient birth of the mother of us all, LANGUAGE. Besides, I figure if I can understand you, no problema. Please bear my love to your family, brotherthomas

Dear Dave and friends, The forum and others can be accessed at www.inq7.net . It was Inquirer.net, but so many people typed in "".com"" Instead of "".net."" they changed it. I have not seen my post pop up yet. I hear there is a moderator, but from the posts on it, like ""The President should be beheaded. . ."" I don't think there is one. So I doubt the moderator stopped my post. If I can find it I will repost. Much more controversial things are going through. Most of the people on the forum seem to be of sound mind, very bright, but to many seem to be demanding total recovery of the economy, total elimination of corruption and other unlikely events no later that the last day of the first year of President's term or ouster. They accuse her of being a slave to the military, stuffing her own pockets, lying to the people, and other high crimes and treason without any proof whatsoever that I can see. There are some defenders, but few and less vocal. If you lurk on the list you may see a side of the Filipino you have not seen before, conflict and name calling, something I have never seen in public unaccompanied by retaliation, including death. Maybe it is the nature of the Net. Maybe it is because she has the former president, President Estrada in jail and his son too. Maybe it is because she is nipping at the heels of the well shod former first lady Imelda Marcos. Maybe it is because her people are pressing investigations against former Philippine National Police Director, now new senator, Senator Pacifico Lascon, reputed to be an extension of the Chinese Triad and the Philippine's premier drug lord. Who knows? The form will send you copies of posts. But it is a bit high traffic and you may, like me, have trouble unsubscribing if you let them. And there may be too much Tagalog for you taste. But I do find it interesting. When they start chewing me up should my post make it to the board, please tell them I am an lunatic and not to kill me.

I have been researching life in LaUnion for a couple of years. My wife and I are retiring in that area in 2 more years. I have a lot of information.. and I have a couple of questions that seem difficult to answer. Contact me on drmike.orv@verizon.net if you want to talk about it. My question for anyone with information? My wife and children are naturalized. If we immigrate as balykbayan, what will be my status? If she were not naturalized i.e., she held Philipine citizenship, my status upon immigration would be ""resident.""