yvette vaeriano asked:


The Influenza A (H1N1) virus started in Mexico. Then the virus spread all over Africa, china, and even in America. On may 21, 2009 the virus entered in the Philippines.  The first case in the Philippines is from a young Filipina who got the influenza while she was in the united states of America. Health secretary Francisco Duque said that the girl is now in stable condition and she is quarantine for the safeties of the public. In the following days, many cases followed when two infected Taiwanese women attended a wedding in Zambales. On may 21, 2009 department of health (DOH) secretary Francisco Duque confirmed the said cases in the Philippines.

As a progress, on June 22, 2009 news came out about the 49-year-old lady who died because of influenza A (H1N1) the DOH assured the public that the said lady did not die because of Influenza A (H1N1) but due to heart attack. The lady is a regular employee of the house of representatives. for safety reasons they suspend the legislature for 5 days.

Almost half of the part of the Philippines were said to be affected due to Influenza A (H1N1). Another case was confirmed in metro, manila when a 50-year-old patient who arrived in the Philippines from united states. On may 20, 2009 he showed the symptoms of the Influenza A (H1N1) including having a high fever. Immediately he was diagnose having the virus and quarantine in the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in manila.

On June 8, 2009 the De La Salle University-Manila confirmed a case of Influenza A (H1N1). One of their foreign students diagnosed to have the virus. The University suspend their classes starting from June 4, 2009 up to June 15, 2009 almost 10 days to quarantine the University. The University is diagnosed to have the first case virus in Metro, Manila. The University recorded the most numbers of confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in Metro, Manila.

As the Progress of the virus many cases confirmed from different Schools and Universities all over the Philippines. The Department of Education assures the public that the opening of the classes was moved to June 15, 2009 for the safety of the students as well as the teachers. Luckily, the virus Influenza A (H1N1) entered the Philippines is mild and curable. As of now only few of dead cases are recorded.

Ivi asked:


I received a copy of ‘The Philippines Through the Eyes of a Foreigner’ through an email last June 2007. Why did I not react then? First, I did not have my own blog yet. Second, and more importantly, I did not see the need to do so as it was one man’s sentiment and there was some truth to it. So why am I reacting now? Well, yesterday as I was sorting out my email I chance upon the letter again and then later on as I was doing some research on Filipino culture I chance upon the same essay. This time though, I was surprised to see a lot of reactions from my kababayans, ranging from defensive to violent rections. Why be so harsh on the guy when he is merely voicing out his sentiments as he is entitled to in the first place.

Although there are some truths in his essay, there are also some overstatements.

Let me start with the sad truths:

1. Yes, it is true that we do have streets lined with street people, beggars and squatters.

But, let me remind you that those people did not dominate our sidestreets overnight.

Once upon a time, those people used to live happily in the rural areas. Then one day, a politician named Mr. Trapo arrives in a shiny limo and promises them the sun, the moon and the stars. But there is a catch, they have to go to his town to help him win elections by becoming ‘flying voters’. They were pledged mammoth promises, given a few measly bucks and picked up by huge Sarao jeepneys bound for Zion. After Mr. Trapo wins his election, he leaves all the necessitous folk behind. With their families still with them, hungry, broke and exhausted, where do they go now? With very little money left from Mr. Trapo, they begin building shanties along the sidestreets. And the rest as they say is history……..

2. Yes, it is true that our roads are cursed with pollution and our public utility vehicles are in disreputable states of repair. Yes, we have streets full of potholes and unrepaired streets.

Then one day, after Mr. Trapo is sworn into office, he becomes Congressman Trapo. He decrees that the roads be repaired and lined with asphalt. Since he has the power to pick the contractor, he selects the one who offers him the most proceeds. And because the contractor has to give a huge chunk of his earnings to Congressman Trapo, he figures that to earn more he could probably gain more by using substandard materials. That explains the potholes.

Congressman Trapo runs for the Senate and wins. Senator Trapo is now even more jaded by all his power. He does not care (or he has been bribed enough) to overlook that the other government subsidiaries are allowing bus comapnies to import buses that are really old and dilapidated. So that explains the disintegrating vehicles and the pollution that comes with it.

3. Yes, it is true that our educational system allows children to attend schools without desks or books to accommodate them. Yes, it also true that teachers, even college professors, are paid salaries so disgracefully low that it’s a wonder that anyone would want to go into the teaching profession in the first place.

Senator Trapo has his share of the The Pork Barrel, A.K.A. Pork, Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). These are funds given to both members of the Senate and Congress, these are discretionary in nature so it is up to Senator Trapo to identify the projects that will be funded from these funds. Senators get P 200 million each while the congressmen are allotted about P 70 million each. To have something to show for, Senator Trapo builds small waiting sheds with a huge picture of his face and his name in large fonts to advertise what he has done. He forgets about the public schools that cannot accommodate half the school’s population. Senator Trapo also needs more funds to help him in his re-election bid. He forgets about the teachers who, aside from a meager salary, work long, grueling hours.

There are a lot of Mr. Trapos all around us. He could very well be holding office at your Barangay Hall, the City Hall, the House of Representatives, the Senate, maybe even in Malacañang. Who knows?

There is no ending to my fairy (goblin) tale. The rest is up to you.

As for the overstatements, here’s my take on that:

1. Filipinos do not worship, almost slavishly, everything foreign. Foreigners are not looked up to and idolized.

Filipinos are essentially warm, nurturing, and tolerant to a fault.

Do not mistake Filipino hospitality for worship. Having said that, it is but natural for Filipinos, even Asians in particular to be generous givers. Luxury goods, more often than not, imported brands flatter not just the giver but the receiver as well. Isn’t that what it’s about, status quo?

Case in point, last week my husband & I were in Greenhills for an errand. In case you don’t know, it is a shopping mecca for everything faked or copied. We traverse the tiangges as I wanted to do some research on the demographics of people who patronize fakes. Surprise, surprise. In one corner, we saw 2 Americans (males) searching for an ‘authentic looking fake’ briefcase. We walk some more and more and we see 3 foriegners (they sounded British but I wasn’t sure) looking for ‘authentic looking fake’ Mont Blanc pen. We walk a bit more and we see 2 foreigners (males) looking for ‘authentic looking fake’ Louis Vuitton bags for their girlfriends. Is that what character is to you? I’m not even making this up.

Allow me to spill another anecdote. A few months ago I was at Louis Vuitton in Greenbelt waiting for my purchase to be wrapped when I was approached by a man in his 60′s (about my Dad’s age) asking my impression on 4 LV bags laid out in front of him. He said he was having a hard time deciding which one to pick as an anniversary present for his wife and the SA(sales associate) wasn’t much help. I gladly oblige. Mind you, he was Filipino, very simply and unostentastiously dressed. He didn’t look like a fashion victim nor did he look uber rich. Maybe just like the rest of us, he appreciates a little luxury. Don’t you think?

Even in HongKong, walk around and you’ll see about 60% of the locals are carrying LV bags. Real ones, I’m sure. We went to all 3 stores and all of them were packed. In one store, we had to wait in a long queue just to get in. You wouldn’t call them slaves to foreigners, would you?

2. Filipinos are not itching to leave the country.

It’s just that sometimes, for some people, there seems to be no other choice.

Do you think our OFWs would still leave the country if they were given the same rate here as they are given abroad? Domestic helpers abroad are paid more than thrice over than what our teachers are paid here.

In the United States for instance, the minimum wage (average) is about $6.00 an hour. Did you know that that same amount is the minimum wage here BUT for a full day’s labor? I **** it when I hear foreigners say, ‘Oh, the gasoline prices here are the same as in the US’ or whatever country. No matter how the numbers match, it’s still not the same. No matter how our government rubs all sorts of figures on our faces, they mean nothing. Absolutely nothing. Why? Because we, the Filipinos, feel nothing. The government has nothing to offer. The jobs they claim to have are mediocre compared to what we as parents have to pay for in tuition fees. What jobs await U.P., Ateneo and La Salle graduates? Jobs at call centers?

To strive for something better is no shortcoming on our part. We will always strive for the best, not just for ourselves, but for our families and our nation.

The government claims that it is helping boost tourism in our country. How exactly?

When we went to Bangkok just a few weeks ago, I wanted to visit Siam Paragon. We could’ve walked as the mall was only about 5 kilometers from our hotel, I merely wanted to ride a tuk tuk so we hail one to take us there. Since the cab and tuk tuk drivers there understood very little English I brought a map, a picture of the mall and a copy of the exact address. About 15 minutes and many kilometers later, still no mall in sight. He brings us to a jewelry store, when we asked why, he said that he’s bringing us there at no extra charge to us. It’s just that everytime they bring in tourists, they get a coupon for free LPG (their petrol) from the government. We aren’t under any obligation to buy, just come in for a visit. He then takes us to another shop (and thus my asthma was triggered by the stench of LPG). We ended up buying some goodies as he says he will get a small commission if we do so (yes, we were that gullible, but to us it was being helpful). Even during the temple tour, the tour guide told us that it was compulsory for them to bring tourists to particular spots. That is because their government encourages exactly that. Do you think the tricycle drivers here would get an incentive if they bring you to Luneta? I don’t think so.

But what about tourism in the Philippines. My husband & I were surprised to see on a cable channel that some of our museums are still open. Note that it was on a cable channel and not even a local channel. Up until that moment we thought all our museums have closed down. Is that the government’s definiton of ‘boosting’ tourism?

We are a free country. We are free people. We are entitled to our own opinion. In the same way that each of us is free to voice that opinion. If you’d want to block or edit everything negative you hear just to make it favorable to you, won’t that be the start of censorship?

The reason behind my poking fun at Filipino drivers (in my blog) isn’t to insult, ridicule or degrade them but maybe, just maybe with those little insights I could reach out to someone to do something about it, be it by doing better at it (it is a skill after all) or by at least implementing the laws that are there for a reason.

Hats off to Mr. Barth Suretsky. I do believe that it was in his best intention to put a little perspective into our culture and I take no offense whatsoever. I thank him for taking the time to analyze the things that somehow puzzle me as well.

To all foreigners, always remember this, we Filipinos have managed to unseat 2 presidents in the last 2 decades. It is my belief that we can do so again. It’s just that at this point, there is no one person who could penetrate the system and not be spoiled by it. It will take time, discipline, and the will to change in each of us. Like I said, probably not in my lifetime. But soon, I hope.

I am a Filipino and I am proud to be one. I love my country and it is here that I will spend my old age until the rest of my days.

I hope you can say the same for yourselves.

Peter Finch asked:


A Filipina in her early twenties, clad in a tight-fitting pair of jeans, a body-hugging shirt walks on a busy street in the Philippines. She attracts attention not only because of her looks but because she is holding hands with a foreigner who is old enough to be her grandfather.

Two blocks away, a woman in her late forties is hanging on to the arm of a 65-year old foreigner. Both women will be marrying their boyfriends soon and each had her own reasons. Every year more Filipina ladies are leaving the country each year to marry a foreigner. Here are some of the common reasons for these marriages:

The search for greener pastures.

It is undeniable that a big percentage of the Filipina girls who marry foreigners look at their husbands as a “visa” for them to go find better opportunities abroad. Filipina ladies have a mission to support their family as soon as they are able to, like help send younger siblings to school or take over the responsibility as the head of the family.

Travel and adventure

A foreigner husband is a ticket to exciting worlds beyond the desolate place she may have grown up in. She looks at him as the realization of her childhood dreams of traveling to far places.

Status elevation

As ironic as it seems, majority of the Filipino women prefers American love stories over Philippine films and they get all dreamy eyed and instantly fall in love when they see a caucasian man.

Age factor

While a woman in her late thirties is considered in the prime of life in other countries, it is not the case for a Filipina because when she is past 30 and is still unmarried, eyebrows will start to rise and her chances of getting married starts to get slim and meeting a foreigner for a prospective husband online is one of her few choices. Usually, a Filipina marries in her late teens or early 20s and should already have a child in college by the time she is 40 years old.

Failed marriages

Failure in her marriage could also push Filipina ladies to look to foreigners for a second chance. Some of these Filipina ladies are unwed mothers, while others are victims of abusive husbands, forced to do menial jobs for a meager pay just to support her children.

Average looks

An average looking Filipina (meaning not the beauty queen material) may feel she does not have to go to lengths and pay huge amounts to augment her physical features to attract a foreign husband-to-be.

True Love

You may find it hard to believe this but despite the perception that the Filipina is taking a risk marrying a person with a different set of values with a different cultural background, love could be the reason why she will marry a foreigner.

A. Hathaway asked:


Where to go when you need Answers

The Philippines has been, and continues to be, a major exporter of brides. What drives this exportation of women is not exactly known, but clearly the corruption, poverty and limited amount of opportunity in the Philippines is a factor. The supply and demand continue to be strong, with the women choosing men in Western Europe, the United States, Australia and Canada. With this international match making, has come some problems.

International marriages and relationships begun on the Internet have contributed to a sharp rise in fraud cases and relationship scams. In addition to the unknown factor of getting to know a Filipina on the Internet, the fact is that the Philippine culture is one where many things are for sale, including love. That is to say in a poor country like the Philippines, opportunity and money talks. The problem for the Western men in the United States, Canada and Western Europe is how to know if it’s love or money talking. To be sure, in most cases, it pays to hire a PI.

Whether you’re looking for a background check to confirm her story, or if you suspect infidelity and require surveillance for clear evidence, we recommend hiring a reputable firm like Wymoo International. Wymoo and its subsidiary, Philippine PI, have offices in Manila and Cebu with years of experience assisting clients in uncovering the truth. You can view their commercial at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkopyZK3P1o. Depending on your specific needs, you might need surveillance on the subject or a comprehensive background check to verify claims of education, employment, marital status, address, etc.

Surveillance and professional investigations can be somewhat costly. However, not knowing the truth about a relationship in the Philippines can be even more expensive. Find out the truth by contacting a professional. In the Philippines, a land of fraud and scams, one cannot afford to simply hope for the best.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway Copyright

© 2005-2007 Wymoo International, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Filipina Kisses asked:


Do you want to date a Filipina Cebuana from Cebu, Philippines? If your Filipina girl lives in Cebu Island, one of the Visayas Islands, then your Filipina woman is a Cebuana.

“Cebuanas” is a term used for Filipina girls and Filipina women who grew up and recognize Cebu as their province. While “Bisaya” is a general term used for people living in most of the other Visayas islands and in Mindanao Island.

Cebu is one of the provinces of the Philippines. Cebu Island is a typical tropical island with narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus, and coastal plains. Cebuano is the native language spoken by the inhabitants of Cebu, Bohol, eastern part of Negros island, western parts of Leyte and Biliran islands, and southern third of Masbate island. It is also spoken in a few towns and islands in Samar. Cebuano has the most number of native speakers than Tagalog. In Bohol Island, the people are Boholanos and the local language is Bol-anon.

The language spoken throughout the most of Mindanao Island is known as Bisaya. Bisaya language is very similar to Cebuano language and is spoken by many people in Mindanao Island.

There are many beautiful Filipina women, calling themselves as “Cebuanas” living in Cebu. So, how do you court a Filipina Cebuana woman? There are many different ways of course, and Filipina Cebuanas are no different from other Filipina women. They want to be wooed and courted with gifts and loving phrases.

Here are some Filipina dating phrases in the Cebuano language. You can use it to court the Filipina Cebuana woman who lives in Cebu, Philippines!

These Filipina dating phrases are the same phrases you can also use to court Filipina Bisaya women living in most of Mindanao, particularly in Northern Mindanao, Central Mindanao and Southern Mindanao. You can find many beautiful Filipina Bisaya women from Mindanao who are beautiful, educated, and much more old fashioned in their ways than the Filipina Cebuana women who mostly grew up in the city of Cebu.

1) I like you – “Gusto ka nako”

2) I like you very much – “Nakagusto jud ko sa imo”

3) I have a crush on you – “Naka-crush ko sa imo”

4) Take care – “Pag-amping”

5) You take care – “Mag-amping ka ha”

6) I think about you – “Nag-hunahuna ko sa imo”

7) I think about you all the time – “Pirme ko gahunahuna sa imo”

I dream about you – “Nagdamgo ko sa imo”

9) I miss you – “Miss nako ka”

10) I miss you very much – “Miss na miss jud nako ka”

11) I am in love you – “Gihigugma ko ikaw”

12) You are the only one I love – “Ikaw lang ang akong gihigugma”

13) I love you – “Nahigugma ko nimo”

14) I love you very much – “Gugmahan kaayo ko nimo”

15) I want to marry you – “Gusto nako ka pakaslan”

The Cebuano language or Bisaya language can have many other versions and different arrangements of the words used, but the meaning is the same. Each version depends on the situation of the moment the endearment is spoken. Meet Cebuanas from Cebu Island, register in www.FilipinaKisses.com.

Peter Lisdorf asked:


r friend just headed home from a trip to Manila, Philippines and he said he met his Filipina life partner there. Maybe you have read some articles stating how fantastic a Philippine lover is and how she will make sure to satisfy you in every manner possible. Or maybe your co-worker in the business office got married to a Philippine lady and he always has tasty lunches. May be you specifically like the taste of that Chicken “Apretada” he once let you get a taste. In any case, you are really certain that the best wife in this world for you is a Philippine woman.

But problem is, you have absolutely no idea how to dating a quality Filipina woman. It’s in reality quite easy to meet a nice Filipina lady. Getting her to go out with you and getting her to like you is an entirely different issue, so long as you avoid the following three mistakes.

Mistake Number 1: Lurching the night bars for Filipina women

Nightspots may be the central point of the single scene in the US but if you are looking for a possible wife or someone who you want to have a long lasting relationship with, then it’s wise to skip the Philippine night bars. Ladies who visit these bars are usually young people that just desire to have a whale of a time and if they will give you their number, they are most likely looking for casual encounters. That is not to say that any Filipina ladies who frequent bars are bad news, however, it’s more often than not. Philippine girls know that night clubs are just spots to amuse in, they are truly not places where you are able to find true love.

Mistake Number 2: Ignoring special Filipina dating sites

This may be your gravest mistake ever. The most successful way to get in contact with quality Filipina women is by trying out Internet dating sites. In this manner you are able to communicate with them, you are able to chat them up and ask them about themselves without having to fly off to another continent. Besides, dating online sites are not sites for “Mail Order Brides”. Reliable online dating sites will give you the chance to get in contact and mingle with thousands of real Filipina ladies looking for the same thing as you are. You will be surprised how many beautiful Filipina ladies searching for western men you are able to contact after signing up.

Mistake Number 3: Not to remember the time difference.

Remember, you live in another part of the world. The difference between Philippines and Eastern Standard Time is eight hours. In any case, if you are arranging an “online meeting” with a possible Filipina girl who fits the profile you are seeking, it is a good idea to set a time that is good for her. This will let her know that you like her and you appreciate her hours of sleeping over yours.

These are just several advice to help you get in contact with a nice Philippine girl. To improve your dating experience, try to learn their language and learning up on the Filipino culture so you are able to get in contact with your Philippine dream partner easier.