For years, I would try to speak to Filipinos in English, because that was the only language that I knew. I mean, English is a “second official language” of the Philippines, and almost all Filipinos can speak English, right? Funny thing was, though, that many times I found it difficult to have a meaningful conversation […]
What is your middle name?
My name is Robert Charles Martin. Robert is my first name, Charles is my middle name, and my last name is Martin. There are a few differences in the way names work here in the Philippines, though. Let’s have a look. First thing, what we call your “last name” is not called that here. They […]
A nude awakening
Did I type that right? A nude awakening? Isn’t the old saying supposed to be a “rude” awakening? Read on, and you decide. I live in a kind of mid-level neighborhood. Oh, it’s probably slightly upscale by Philippine standards, probably a little downscale by US standards. Most of the people who live in my neighborhood […]
Banking at the ATM
How to get your hands on your money is always a topic that draws a lot of discussion on this site and other Philippine related websites. If you are keeping your bank in the USA, or whatever your country of origin is (something that I recommend as a good idea), then you need to figure […]
A bad habit to get into
In anybody’s life they go through good times and bad times. Good things happen to them, and bad things happen too. It’s just human nature. No life is perfect. Probably, if everything were perfect, we might be bored with life. One thing about it, though, if you have the right outlook, you will take all […]
Have you taken advantage?
As I have mentioned many, many times on this site and other places where I write, the Philippines, culturally, is a very different place compared to our homelands. I mean, if you are a westerner – American, European, Australian, etc., the Philippines is not the same as where you come from. So many things are […]