If you’ve been following along with my articles this week, you know that I am writing about things I have learned since living in the Philippines. Today, being Friday, will be my last article in the series. There are so many things I could write about today, because I have literally learned thousands of things in my near-decade here. However, this being Holy Week, it is appropriate that I tie in my topic of tropical learning with Holy Week too.
When I first moved to the Philippines in 2000, the first time that Easter came along, I was in for a shock. At that time, for virtually the entire week General Santos City, where I lived at the time, was like a ghost town. Businesses were closed, the streets were empty (not even a jeepney running), even the television was filled with a blank screen all week long. If you didn’t stock up on groceries ahead of time, you’d be hungry by Saturday, no doubt.
Today, (Maundy Thursday as I write this), Feyma and I went out for a drive. I took my video camera with me, because I wanted to shoot some video of how much like a ghost town Davao was today. You know what, though? I was surprised. While it was not business as usual in Davao today, it was close to a normal business day! A lot of the smaller stores were closed, but the larger stores, including the malls were open normal hours today! The public markets were open. The hardware stores were open. Restaurants were open. Frankly, I was shocked, as was Feyma.
In addition to learning about Holy Week since moving here, as the years pass by, I am learning just how quickly Philippine society is changing. This is like a different country since 9 years ago when I moved here. Not only are things like Holy Week becoming a lot different, but just about everything in the society is changing. And, it’s changing rapidly.
Sometimes I wonder what the Philippines would have been like if I had moved here 20 years ahead of when I actually did move here. I remember the first time I visited the Philippines. That was in 1990. The changes that happened in the 90’s are astonishing to me. In General Santos City, in 1990, you could not dial a phone call outside the country. One day per week, you could go to the telephone company office and make an overseas call there. Now, you can use your cellular phone to call any phone number in the world. You can send an MMS video message worldwide, and you can do it 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Back in 1990, a lot of the roads around GenSan were dirt roads, or very bad paved roads. Now, many of the roads around the City are super quality. Oh my, how things have progressed in the past 20 years.
Whenever I learn how things are here in the Philippines, all I have to do is wait a few years and they will change more. Not all of the changes are for the good, mind you. Progress brings with it complications. Some things happen for the best, and bring convenience. However, many of the things that I came here to escape seem to be following me here. What will life be like here in another decade or two? Certainly, some things will be better, some things will be worse. One thing that is for sure is that things will be different.
As I think about it, and I have written here before, much of Filipino culture seems to be fading too. People watch international TV. They see how things are done in developed countries. Many people think that if things are done a certain way in the States, that means it is better. I’m here to say that it ain’t necessarily so. If everything that happened in the States was better than the Philippines, then there wouldn’t be many people reading this website and dreaming of moving to the Philippines.
That’s another thing that I’ve learned in my time here. The USA is not always right, and it’s not always the best. Most Americans think that the world revolves around the USA, and it simply is not so. Hey, I love America, I am an American, but being away from the country makes you realize that the world does not revolve around the USA. You can take that to the bank, and don’t forget it, because if you intend to live abroad like I do, then you need to realize that there is more to the world than what the USA does or says. That doesn’t mean that the USA is bad, just that it is not as important as you may think it is.
So, in the past 9 years, I have learned a lot. I’ve grown in many ways. I’ve matured. I’ve become more of a world citizen than I was before. I think that I’m a better person than I was a decade ago, and a more well rounded person. I wonder what I’ll be like a decade from now, and what new things I’ll learn by then. The biggest key is to be open to learning, keep an open mind, and accept new things. I hope I can continue to do that, and even improve on doing so.
Hi LJ – Problem is that when things here change to be “like the USA” people here think that is better. For those of us who came from there, we know that such changes might be OK, but only end up leading to a more complicated lifestyle, and a rat race. That makes it worse, but once you make the changes, it is often too late to put the genie back in the bottle!
Good call Bob .. Things are changing faster then you think ..the world is getting smaller all the time ..just wait until the next 10 years go by what then.. all good I hope …Phil n Jess
Hi Phil – It is hard to even consider what will come in the next decade… things change way too fast!
Hey Bob ..Beam me up ..
Hi Phil – We need more power, Scotty!
It is unfortunate that all the changes in the Phils can't all be for the better. That is just the way of progress I suppose. Gotta take the good with the bad. I wonder if tourism in the Phils will ever take off like it has any other places in the world.
Although the world doesn't revolve around the USA, it sure has a major influence on the rest of the world especially the Phils as far as pop culture goes. Reminds me of a quote I read a few months back. "When the USA sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold." This current economic crisis proves that point.
Hey Bob, Well I hope the Philippines don't adopt too many American ways. I want to move there to get away from the "good ole USA". I hope the Philippines learns from the mistakes of the U.S. and don't repeat them. Just adopt some good things and leave the rest. This country is not the same as what I grew up in so I don't have as much love for it as when I served in the Navy. So leaving it is not much trouble for me.
Travel broadens the mind they say, and with all the filipinos abroad its inevitable that change would take place. OFW,s returning home have seen another side of life and are forever changed by it, you,ll never accept a dirt road after driving on a freeway. Change is always a mixed bag, whats good for some is the end for others, physical change is usually positive, attitude change rarely is. Seeing a pinoy kid dressing and acting like an LA gagsta both angers and saddens me . As a luddite woodworker i,ve abandoned power tools and am attempting to work with old methods, which makes no sense in this day and age,and while i,m not about to burn down the factorys I must say i hate seeing change for changes sake and the old ways die out. Thats just me of course.
hi bob,
I left the country in 1990 and came back after five years, The changes i've seen is so huge that when i went to a mall alone, i almost got myself lost, many buildings, new shopping malls etc., i only stayed there for 1 month, then my next visit was after 6 years, this time, the town where i grew up, i can barely recognize it, there are many new faces in my neighborhood whom i really don't know, many buildings are popping out like mushroom, the pollution is very visible during the day, it is 10x noisier, people are busier than ever. And I start to realized that the town where i grew up is no longer a peaceful place where you can relax, and am starting to miss the old town, i still remember when i was a teenager we used to play "patintero" on the street just outside of the house at night, very few vehicle passes in that street, but nowadays, you can hear noise from different kind of vehicles even in the wee hours.
what scares me the most is the progress is too fast and philippine is losing the peaceful life once we had, the culture is starting to deteriorate, crime increases at an alarming rate. all i can do now is just accept the reality of modern world, globalization etc..etc.. I just hope that progress will lead to a better life for the next generation children.
Kamusta ka Bob,
Great article Bob, and you said "The biggest key is to be open to learning, keep an open mind, and accept new things". This is the key to it all Bob, and I consider myself a good American, and I am very proud of this country and its history. But, I also, want to experience different things in this life of ours, and actually think it will do me some good.
Salamat kaayo,
Danny
Hello again,
Happy Holy Week to all out there, my Rose is on her journey as we speak, her family and friends will be walking up the mountain there in Maasin, to the shrine and chapel at the top. She is taking pictures..so hopefully if she gets some good ones, I will post some in my photo gallery for all to see.
Take care everyone,
Danny
Hi David J – I'm afraid that "being like the USA" is important to many people here, and that makes me think that in 50 more years things will be hectic here, just like the States. Well, I just hope that I don't see that, to it's fullest extent during my lifetime!
I agree that travel broadens a person's thinking. That can be a bad thing, although it is usually good. I'm like you…. when I see a group of kids listening to gangsta rap and such… well, it makes me sick to see that here.
Bob,
I too was out on Thursday driving around. I got hungry and drove towards Ecoland. To my surprise SM Mall was closed.
I ended up at McDonald's.
Hi dans – I hear you, and I believe every word you say, because I have seen the same things. For me, it's a sad thing to see too.
Hi Danny – I think that traveling and seeing different ways of life is good for everybody. It opens you up to different ways of living and thinking, which is always a good thing, I think.
Hi Bruce – I didn't make it over toward SM, but I did see that G Mall and Victoria Plaza were both open, which surprised me.
Change for change sake is not always good. When I first went to the pi it was as if I had gone to another world. Now I can pick up a cell phone and call anyone in the us. They might not like the time of day but it is all live. They love the McD in Tacloban but it was not a happy day for me when I saw that they put it in a place that blocked the view of the bay. One persons progress is anothers persons plastic society. I just hope some of the poverty is replaced at the same time. Happy Easter to you and your family.
Hi don m. – Happy Easter to you as well, I hope you have a great holiday. Yes, I agree that change for change sake is not a good thing. Progress is not always moving ahead!
Here in Cavite where I live now almost all the establishments are close today. I miss Davao during Holy Week. We only stayed in our home listening dramatization the life of Jesus over the radio… My mom even told me not to take a bath during Good Friday. 😉
Hi Bob – Change is the only constant! 😉
Hi Philmor – Yep, most of those old traditions are fading. I always wondered…. what is the reasoning why you aren't supposed to take a bath on Good Friday? Surely, Jesus doesn't want you to stink! 😯
Hi Paul – What about death and taxes? 😆
Hi Bob – They certainly may be! 😆
Hi, Bob!
You'll probably be surprised with the answer! According to an historical literature I've read, actually, the "custom" of not taking a bath on Good Fridays especially beyond 3:00 pm (as this was the time Jesus Christ died on the cross, according to Catholic belief) was not originally a Filipino custom but actually a directive imposed during the colonial times by the Spaniards and in particular, the Spanish friars, who as we know, were very powerful and influential during those times in Philippine history. They noticed that the Filipino natives were frequently taking a bath especially alongside the 'batis' or streams or brooks (who could blame them?, it's a tropical, hot country anyway?) even on days meant to be solemn ('Holy Week') and the Spanish authorities (and clergy) were said to have disliked this habit by Filipinos. And so, they imposed the belief among Filipinos that taking a bath on Good Friday is considered immoral.
I used to follow that custom myself when I was a young child as a result of my folks' beliefs. But of course I don't follow that custom anymore, as I know already it has no genuine religious basis anyway. Nevertheless, I still believe this week (particularly Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) is that time of the year really meant to be solemn and an opportunity to meditate and reflect on the sacrifices made by our Saviour.
Happy Easter in advance! 🙂
hi bob – The debt that all men to pay.. lol!
Growing up in the Philippines during the 60s and 70s I remmember the Holy Week was no fun. Meaning no TV, No meat, Sometimes No electricity (Brown outs). The whole week was dedicated to prayers.
Bob
Very interesting and depressing article at the same time,im not sure if I like it or Im pissed off at you for writing it. You are putting a bit of a damper on my ambitions on returning to RP to live.
BUT judging by the way the US Government/Local Governments are running things here "I shall return" to the RP.
Hi JR – Nice to hear from you today, happy Easter. Really, I never heard of that custom about not taking a bath during Holy Week! Well, I heard of it from Feyma and others, but I mean, I never heard of it happening in any other country before. I wonder why the Spanish did not like seeing Filipinos taking a bath? It all seems kind of strange to me, although of course I know it is true.
Hi dans – I suppose it must be! 😯
Hi bobby – Oh my, how things have changed over the years.
Hi Neal – Not sure why you would be angry at me. I wrote nothing but what I feel is true. It's not my fault if things change in ways that we don't necessarily care for.
Bob
You have to brush on that sense of humor.
Angry perhaps at the way the RP is changing and I don't want to accept it. Hows that better.
Hi Neal – Sorry, I didn't realize you were joking… didn't see a 😆 or anything like that. Seriously, though, what I wrote is the truth, and if I wrote something more to the liking of people like you and I, then you probably would be upset with me when you come here and found that I was not being honest. Unfortunately, the Philippines is changing rapidly. It's a totally different place from where I moved to just 9 years ago.
Hello, again, Bob!
This is an article I found about that custom:
"This enduring Filipino folk belief is rooted in an extreme form of religious indoctrination imposed by the Spanish friars of old, who considered the native custom of bathing daily rather odd. They ordered the indios to forsake bathing on Fridays, especially Good Fridays, as an act of PENITENCE, otherwise a terrible illness will afflict them."
-From Bong Barrameda's Pinoy Trivia V. 4 Anvil Publishing, Inc. Pasig City, Philippines
Or I can draw another theory, it's probably because simply the Spaniards themselves did not have the habit of taking a bath daily, and so they simply wanted the Filipino folks to do the same and so they imposed this as a religious belief.
Anyway, I think 'Holy Week' is really the "Holy Days" of all holidays-supposedly awfully quite in the neighborhood-and I'm just here at home. Except for last year, for the first time, I was in the office because of some urgent requests from our clients in Japan. (This incident is very rare, fortunately for me). I remember, as a kid, during this time I used to watch a lot of "SuperBook" and "Flying House" animated series on TV, which I enjoyed anyway! And there were candle processions and 'Cenaculos' (Street play of Christ carrying the cross, and I still like the poetic narrations by the characters!)-Filipino customs and traditions, albeit religious and foreign in origin-that don't deserve to pass away and indeed made their mark into Filipino culture.
Hi JR – Gee, if the Friars didn't like Filipinos taking baths, it seems like they would have told them to just stop taking a bath, not just for Good Friday. I suppose we will never really know the whole story, but it just seems a strange custom to me! 😀
Yes, so many of those customs are fading, and although I find many of those customs quite unusual, it is still sad to see them fade. Also, it is a sign of the changing of society in general when such firmly held beliefs fade, certainly much of the rest of the culture is fading too.
Hi, Bob!
Ha! ha! Yes, this custom is rather strange, even for a local Pinoy like myself. But I used to do it for many years during my childhood until early teens when I first knew it was unfounded even on terms of religion, would you believe?! Ha! ha! It was a welcome "rapid change" if you ask me. (This custom was even included in the "Ripley's Believe or Not!" collection of strange customs.) Well, you know, the Spanish friars always wanted to impose their ideas on the 'Indios' through indoctrination-even unfounded beliefs.
Yes, so much has changed in our Philippine society, which have both positive and negative aspects as you pointed out. I only hope that the changes bring progress and prosperity without eroding the rich and uniquely remarkable Filipino values that should be presevered by future generations (Values like the 'Mano Po', 'Bayanihan', some degree of faith and devotion, and a lot more.). I have been to Japan for quite some time and you can see how most of the youth there are so obsessed with certain pop culture that is very much peculiar to their native (and also unique) Japanese society. Talk about "Turning Un-Japanese."
Hi again JR – You are active on the net tonight! 😀 I guess the whole world is changing, a few people like us long for the more traditional values and customs. We are a dying breed, I suppose. I guess the younger people always accept change more than the older do.
well the world may not revolve around america but it looks to america for guidence and example and i know for a fact lots of filipinos depend on there relatives living abroad and a big portion of them living in the usa on sending them money to help them live ! every filipino i know in my town send money back to there familys to live on.and i remember being in the philippines exchanging my dollars for pesos there was a long line of filipinos exchanging money! so you can say anything you want but without america the philippines would be in even worse shape if america wasnt around!god bless the usa!!!!
Hi mike – That is mostly true, but it is also important to remember that only a very small percentage of OFW's work in the US. Most are in other places like the Middle East, Taiwan, Singapore and such. What I was saying about the USA was not necessarily in relation to the Philippines, but that many Americans know little about the world beyond the borders of the USA, and when you go live abroad you learn that there is a whole world out there that doesn't rely on what the US says or does. I am talking about the USA and how it is thought of by Americans abroad.
Hi Bob
I hope there will always be places in the Philippines such as my wife's small town in Pangasinan where they don't even have running water yet. Although some people would say this is awful I say running water just starts a slide until in the end you have huge skyscrapers. For me it is a place where I can escape from the hustle and bustle of Manila for a few days. The USa does have a big infleunce on the world but I shudder to think what if the world were infleuenced by some of the other powerful countries.
Hi Bob –
Death: Never occurs in the same way nor in the same time. As to exactly what happens, no one has come back to tell us. 😉
Taxes: This is an easy one – they're always changing: going up in most cases! 😆
Believe the quote reflects or should reflect that death & taxes are a certainty (not a constant). 🙂
Hi Dan – Happy Easter to you. The place where we own land on Samal Island has no water – yet. It is supposed to be coming soon, but not right now. Yeah, you are probably right in your thinking about that! 😀
Hi Paul – Yeah, I thought of that even before typing my reply, but a certainty and a constant… pretty closely related! 😆
Hi again, Bob!
Ha! ha! Yes, it's one of those rare occasions when I could speak up my mind a lot, and I really appreciate the welcoming atmosphere! (I just finished taking a refreshing evening bath, by the way!) 😀 I have an appointment tomorrow morning to meet some friends even though it's Black Saturday.
The observance of holidays such as this week is fast changing in the Philippines and is indeed one of those rapid changes. Case in point: I am hooked on the Net and reading your blog instead of reading the "Pasyon"! ha! ha! (Really, no pun intended!) And yes, many young people nowadays hit the beaches instead of participating in some religious activities. Well, unless the Philippines is a secluded country like North Korea or Burma, changes will always be rapid in our country and keep assimilating new ideas and cultural norms; we just hope for the best!
I hope you and your family enjoy your egg-hunting on Easter! (I think it's a welcome tradition from America!)
Mabuhay! 🙂
Hi JR – Yes, a lot of beach resorts and such get filled up over holy week, no doubt. For us, we are going up to Buda, on the Davao-Bukidnon border to spend Easter Sunday with Father Franco, a friend who is an Italian Priest who has been in the Philippines for 40+ years. He invited us for a special Easter lunch with a few friends. It should be an enjoyable Sunday.
Hey Mike, just because Filipinos are exchanging US dollars at the money exchange that doesn't mean that those came from the US alone. I think that is very naive assumption to make. That said, if it were true, so what? Those dollars sent to the Philippines were earned fair & square in the US. We did not get them from Americans out of charity. We do your work for you, you have to pay us, it's as simple as that, NSA.
Hi Bob, it does make sense that the Friars would prohibit bathing during Good Fridays. Bathing, like eating if done in groups promotes conviviality & perhaps gluttony, in the case of eating. Therefore, all forms of activities that may lead to physical pleasure are inconsistent to the season of Lent. Taking a shower is really impt for Filipinos especially that Lent falls on the hottest months of the year. I know you'll find it ridiculous this but there was a time that I see my younger aunts sneak their shower away from my Lola's eyes.
Sacrifices meant giving up the one thing that gives you pleasure. I know of a person who for 40 days did not read the newspaper. Maybe I should stop commenting here in the observance of Good Friday? 🙂 I did that alraedy w/ my Facebook.
Hi, Bob!
And I'll bet it will indeed be a very pleasant Sunday for you and the rest of the company! Please give my regards to Father Franco, too! 😀
so where did american money originate from poland. and most of the people sending the money back from america are filipinas who married american men.i would venture to say the minority of people who send money back are here on a work visa and most of them are woman also school teachers ,nurses. i wouldnt go so far as calling it charity but i would classify it as a hand out and desperatly needed and dont forget these woman already have a family with a husband and children in america and most are american citizens already,but they still send extra money to there relative in the philippines .and as far as they are working for me they are working first and formost for themselves! like i said god bless america.
Bob… I wrote a second note to you yesterday, I think, but can't seem to find it or your reply. Can you help locate it for me and perhaps e-mail it to me? It was about marriage laws and other relocation Q's I had.
Thanks, Bob. Great job, and everyone appreciates your help!
Bruce
and to add to it most of these filipinas build better houses for there parents and you really dont think there american husbands didnt help out financialy in almost every case directly or in directly. lets face it americans have been helping the philippine people out for over a one hundred years first we helped you out by getting rid of the spaniards and if it wasnt for america filipinos would be speaking japanese right now!god bless america!!!
Hello Bob.
I am so glad I found Josey that come from and still has old customs and tradition. Had she not we probably would not be together. I can still remember those from here. Progress is definitely not always good. You know when I was there in Davao one thing I noticed was the lack of graffiti on every wall available. Oh I saw soon eventually but not every where. The USA has has been an influence on so much of rest of world and so much much here is not good anymore. For instance when I was young if you honked your horn to the car in front of you it only meant hi I would like to pass. Now it is illegal to even honk your honk your horn unless you can prove it is emergency. I really hope that the Philippines do not use too much of this USA Ideals.
Hi roy – I understand that the Catholic Church promotes sacrifice during then lenten season, however, as far as I know there are no such instructions in the Bible. That's a whole different discussion, though, I suppose.
Hi JR – Will do! I hope you have some nice activity planned for Sunday too!
Hi Paul – 😀
Hi mike – Most of your points are right on. That means nothing against Filipinos, though.
Hi Bruce – I never got any such e-mail. Not sure where you sent it to… but not to me! 😀
Hi mike – Better go back and check your history… the Filipinos already had the Spaniards on the move out of the country before the Americans came along. USA came in at the very last minute and took advantage of the situation.
Hi Andy – Sorry, my friend, but there is a ton of graffiti around Davao these days, you must have overlooked it. It is something that upsets me a lot when I see it.
Bob wrote
You can say that again. For me their is one certain issue in the US that trumps all the negatives in the Philippines. That's Child Protective Services or Family Services etc… depending what they call in any specific state.
I have seen so much suffering because of nosy people butting into other peoples families. In my own family My nephew was forced away form my brother and his girl friend. The excuse they gave was a dirty house. My brothers girlfriend died and he is still fighting the mess. From the best I can tell with what I know, it looks like the grandmother on the other side of the family wanted custody of the boy just for money she could get. We are reasonably sure she is a sociopath and only wants money.
I have heard of all kinds of excuses for taking children from their parents even not having running water in the house. Or other things they couldn't afford that many if not most of the world would call luxuries.
The truth is unless you have money to hire good lawyers you can lose your children simply because the Childrens Services agent doesn't like you or your politics. Statistics prove that the majority of children taken from their parents and put in foster homes are molested. Even with good lawyers it can take months or even years to get children back.
And after they take your children away even on trumped up charges they make you pay for it taking the money form your paycheck and their is often little you can do! If you try to keep from paying they will put you in jail.
I and many others are firmly convinced that more children are worse off for having laws to take children from their parents than if they never did anything. Sure when it first started they probably did some good. But then they needed an excuse for having those jobs so they hunt up even nonexistent problems or just try to push their political agenda.
Then their is the damage to the parents to consider too.
If they ever get that kind of 'progress' in the Philippines I will move again you can be sure!
My mother can whine all she wants when I tell her about problems in the Philippines and how she would never want to live in a place like that. But I for one would never want to raise children in the US. That's not even mentioning what most American children end up like after going through American schools.
Sorry for the rant but we just got back from getting my nephew for his 'allowed' visit to his father.
Hi John H – Yes, for certain, a lot of States in the USA are quite overbearing when it comes to family issues like that. It seems to me that it started getting bad in the early 90's, maybe in the 80's.
When Chris, our oldest son was about 2 years old, he burned himself by leaning against a hot wood stove in our house. We immediately took him to the doctor, because the burn was a bad one. The doctor treated him, and everything was fine, although he still has a scar from that, some 15 years later. After that incident, though, any time that we had to take our son for medical attention of any kind, unless we were going to our family doctor, the medical staff always called the authorities to report "possible abuse" – in each incident, our family doctor cleared it all up with no further problems. Thing is – stuff like that happens, and it doesn't always mean that the parents do it or did it on purpose. So, I fully agree that these things go way too far.
I can't be sure, but the way that the Philippine family structure is, I can't see anything like this happening in the Philippines, at least within my lifetime. It would be shocking to me if the government got involved in child rearing like that here.
I remember you mentioning that when we met. Didn't want to mention your own experience since its really up to you.
Sometimes all it takes is a lie form someone wanting to harm the family and your guilty until proven innocent. And you have no idea who your accuser is to figure out why it happened.
Hi John H – That is very true.
Hi Mike, 🙂 Reading your comments, I am not surprised that you think that all the US dollars that enter the Phil are monies earned in the US soil. & you maintain most of those dollars are sent by Filipinas married to american men. This is a sweeping claim. Do you have statistics for that?
First, it admits of high number of mixed marriages between Filipinas & American. & second, it also admits that American men do understand and support this unique Filipino concept of helping the families.
If those Filipino school teachers, nurses etc. elect to send their dollars to the Phil instead of spending it on brunches, that is certainly their prerogative. But please do not go on saying "It's because of my country that you have those almighty dollars". Because as I've pointed out, those Filipinos worked for their money. The US govt did not give it for charity. If you earn your money by work, you can dispose your money however you want it.
BTW, I won't comment further on how you put WW II into perspective. Where would we be w/o the Americans? We might be speaking "Japanese?" How about speaking "Mexican?". 🙂
Just for a minute and for the sake of argument let's put the situation the other way around, what if the philippines is the rich and powerful country and united states is the poor country, then american would come to philippines in search of work? what would you feel if i would tell you the things you just said?
there are approximately over 2 millions filipino working or living in the states, i would say around 20~30% or maybe less are married to americans, and out of that figure how many filipinas actually sending money to their relatives back home? and how much money do they send every month (and that is if they send regularly every month), there are approximately over 11 millions OFW across the globe, I am working and living abroad for the past 18 years and i am not in the states, I earn dollar and i send dollar back home, does that mean the mighty dollar i sent came from the U.S. of A.? it so happened that the global currency is measured in dollar but it doesn't mean the money of all OFW's are all came from the mighty U.S. of A. (actually, because of the global crisis brought by the united states, there's an ongoing debate whether to continue to use the u.s dollar or change it with another currency such as the euro as a form of global currency, china is now moving to use the euro.)
I've heard numerous times from an americans saying statements like "if it wasn't for the american the french would be speaking german, Or, if it wasn't for the american you would be speaking japanese" I feel that this kind of statement is very Arrogant, especially if the person who is saying it *does not have any clue about the history"
war is a money making for whoever started it, making a profit from the destruction and misery of one country, you know that, i know that and god knows how many more knows it.
hi bob,
I don't think that the philippines would follow such law similar to the states, it would be hard to break the family structure and culture of the philippines, besides, even if the philippine would push for such law, you would expect filipinos going to street and protest it, and as you know, politician would side to those who would oppose it as they are scared of losing the votes, no to mention the budget it needed to support such law.
Hi dans – Yeah, I also seriously doubt that the Philippines would ever go in that direction. If they did, there would certainly be an uproar.
Happy Easter Bob ..Phil n Jess
Hi Phil – Thank you, and Happy Easter to you as well!
Happy Easter to you Sir BoB and to all your faithful readers.
Since I have been in the Pines I have seen many changes in our physical surroundings. Heaps of new buldings and modern stores opening up and staying open during the holy week. I also noticed the younger generation getting hooked on many American trends like the pop culture and even the way they dress and colour their hair is different.
Yet, to stop these changes is like shutting down the internet to keep the libraries open. Everything has it's time.
I just hope the good old fashioned Philippina stays around for another generation at least.
Hello Boss – Yep. You know, I forgot completely about the hair coloring. That is something that I hate to see!
Hi Bob,
Just to support Mike's statement above about the Philippines being dependent on the U.S. economic well-being.
Overall, if my calculation is right Filipino immigrants is next only to Mexico in number in U.S. immigrant employment.
In all categories of occupation the Philippines is top ten. In nursing and accontancy it is number one by a humumgous wide margin to the number two.
The Philippines' brain-drain is real indeed!!!
The link below is the headline in the New York Times right now.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/07/us/…
I was planning a trip to the Phils to visit My fiancee. I explaned to my fiancee that my trip had to wait until I can make arrangements here in California for my 15 yo daughter to be taken care of so she wont miss school etc. My fiancce said, just leave her there she's old enough. I had to explain to my fiancee that things are different here. 15 yo may be ok to leave alone in the Phils, but here it's called child abandonment. Also, if she misses school for any reason other than medical, its truancy, even with a note from the parent. I think we need to learn a few things from the philippine culture here in California.
Hi Dr. Long – Yeah, I never said that the Philippines doesn't benefit by employment offered in the USA, indeed it does. Basically what I said is that there are a lot of things in the world other than what the USA does or says.
Hi Hudson – In addition – you are never truly alone here. Yeah, if the mom or dad goes on a trip, there are still lots of aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. to watch the kid. That is a big difference here compared to the USA.
i have nothing against filipinos i love filipino people i am married to one! but for roy just to let you know mexicans speak spanish not mexican!they speak many local dialects mixed with native indian language but the official language is spanish.and every filipina i know is married to an american and i know about 100 couples litterally and thats just in my city of charlotte nc and my wife has cousins in a few other major citys and states in america and all of them and there friends are married to americans there are literaly maybe a million such marriages of american men to filipinas in america.
Hi mike – Ha ha… Roy was being sarcastic in response to some of the things said in the thread… Roy is a smart guy, you can be sure he knows what language they speak in Mexico! 😯
if there sending home dollars , they where printed in america originaly correct so no matter how you look at it america is to thank! i dont care where they are working if your paid in us dollars then theres a link to america .its like you guys will except the us currency but you want to disrespect the usa and not give them credit !
Mike – My goodness… can you move on to some other discussion? This is getting old. Nobody on this site has "disrespected the USA" as you say.
facts are facts and if america didnt go to europe in ww2 everyone would of been speaking german! and if mc carthur didnt return filipinos would be speaking japenese remember theres alot of spanish in tagalog and cebuano now at present and the spanish left 100 yrs ago! you dont think filipinos would be speaking japanese your naive, go talk to an older filipino who was alive during ww2 and ask them about what they experienced .i have my father in law both his parents where murdered by the japanese he remebers theamericans and he told me that we where like heros to the filipinos . i think younger filipinos dont know there history well enough!!!
Mike – I am asking you to drop the subject, please. You've said your peace, and there is no reason to continue this.
Hi Mike, thanks for you attemt to enlighten me. You oviously missed my humor. I just made a parallel joke over "Filipinos speaking Japanese" as you've said with my Filipinos speaking Mexican. There's parallelism to it but if you missed it..sorry. But don't worry I also kmow that Brazilians do not speak Brazilians..as well as Americans speaking American. The fact that you are married with a Filipina makes the the dynamics of your marriage interesting as it puts into question how much of your idealogoy comes into play with your marriage. Every time you remind her how much should the Filipinos be gratitude to the US, I wonder how she feels abou this.
Finally, your insistence that all US $ coming to the Phil have the America to thank for only demostrates how you much you understand what money is actually.
Hi bob,
I don't intend to flame the topic, I just wanted to clarify few things about the mechanics of sending remittances using "U.S. dollars" as a form of currency, this would at least help other readers who are ignorant about it.
Mike thinks that we are actually sending u.s. dollar (printed in the states) to the philippines, which is wrong.
OFW do not literally send the U.S dollar back home with the exception of OFW in the states, we are paid in local currency of the host country. no OFW in italy are paid in U.S dollar, or an OFW in hong-kong or an OFW in the middle-east,
as I mentioned earlier, there are approximately 11 millions OFW around the globe and appriximately 2 millions are in the states, that leaves 9 million OFW who are earning their money in local currency of their host country.
so how do we use U.S Dollars?
We use the u.s. dollar as a measuring stick when sending money, when go to the bank we bring with us the local currency of the host country, and tell the bank teller that we want to send an amount of say $1000, the bank teller would then calculate the $1000 into the local currency, we then pay the bank with the local currency. remember, the u.s. dollar is just a measuring stick, there's NO PHYSICAL involvement of the u.s. dollar. our remittance will be sent to the philippine bank in form of $USD value, and as soon as the bank receives it, it will be converted into local currency. i.e. Peso.
so why do we do this? you might ask, why not send the local currency of the host country instead of u.s. dollar? the answer is value!.
I earn saudi riyals and it is pegged to 3.77 riyals per 1 dollar, while the dollar to peso varies from time to time depending on the strength of peso, the exchange rate of riyal to peso is around 11 pesos per 1 riyal,
so if i want to send $1,000 dollar to the philippines, I must pay the bank 3,770 riyals only (3.77 X 1000), and my family would receive 48,000 pesos or whatever the current exchange is, now, if i wanted to send same amount of 48,000 pesos (which is 1k dollar) using the local currency of the host country, then i must pay the bank 4,363 riyals (48,000 / 11).
Since $USD is the global currency it is easier for OFW to convert or know the value of their earnings, If a company in italy would hire me and offer me a salary of 120,000 lira a month for me that amount is huge but i don't have a clue of its value, but if they offer me 1k dollar, then i know exactly how much it translate into peso.
well roy all i know her family is very grateful for all the assistence and help we provide for them on a monthly sometimes weekly basis , from making repairs in there home to paying the various kids school and college tuition and repairing there vehicles paying for there medical care and medicine and doctor and hospital visits to adding more livestock to there farm we do it all. so yes my wife is very happy she married me as i am i married her!
What will the U.S. be like in ten years? Let me take out my ceystal ball and take a look.
Hmm…I see cars driving themselves thanks to initiatives like the DARPA Challenge.
I see robots (many fro Japan and Korea) performing most of the manual labor, reducing the need for OFWs.
I see WiFi everywhere.
More people working from home via virtual reality interfaces, in fact, lots of people just don't visit each other in person like they used to. Why bother when you can bring up a wall sized image of your loved ones and have lunch just like they were sitting at the same table.
I see computers without keyboards. Not needed now that computers understand the spoken word (regardless of language) as well as I do.
I see all of these things and much. What does that mean to countries like the Philippines? The gap between the haves and the have nots will become much greater. I'm not sure I'd call this progress but I believe it's inevitable.
Bob, the issue of forbidding a bath on Good Friday has some historical basis that dates back to the expulsion of the moriscos in 1609, more than a century after the conquest of the kingdom of Granada by the rulers of Castilla (Isabel I) and Aragon (Fernando II) in 1492, ending several centuries of Moorish domination of the Iberian peninsula which began in the summer of 711 when Tariq with 7000 Berbers landed on the Rock – Gebel (Mount) Tariq (Gibraltar).
The moriscos are descendants of the vanquished Muslim invaders who converted to Christianity when a royal edict was handed down and let them choose between conversion and exile. Since they had to pay to leave the country without their children, most of them chose to stay and convert to Christianity.
However, "after a cycle of death (bubonic plague -1598 to 1602), famine(1594) and bankruptcy of 1597, Felipe III decided in 1609 to expel the morisco communities. The reason was that the social fabric of the country was incapable of assimilating and unwilling to tolerate them. Forty years before, Felipe II had already made it clear the population of Muslim origin would have to abandon their religion, customs, attires and objects of prsonal ornament and 'above all, the most un-Christian, most peculiar oddity of taking a daily bath'". p.105, Traveller's History of Spain, Juan Lalaguna, 5th edition, Interlink Books.
Interestingly, the Jews were not spared by these social and racial conflicts when an Inquisition was set up in 1478, expelling all Jews who refused conversion. "The background to all these social conflicts was always bad harvest, acute food shortage and heavy taxation which could easily be made attributable to the presence of abnormal people in the body politics." p. 68
The large Muslim population was left largely undisturbed at the time because they lived mainly in small villages and present no threat to the established order.
I believe that Spain had changed a lot since those days, when taking a daily bath is frowned as most un-Christian and a most peculiar oddity. Viva Espana! Once you go, you know.
Hi David – I think that all of the changes you mention are inevitable. I think that a 10 year timetable is a little optimistic, though, in most cases. You are right, though, that all of these things are coming.
Hello DomAndres – Thank you for sharing that.