Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Philippines	Interracial Marriage Challenges	QUOTE (Sheriff Uling @ Jul 29 2008, 01:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> p.s. I wish that this type of interaction and respect between people would have exited long ago such that I too could truly have a culture, language, and trackable lineage of my own. Amen, brother.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2008-07-29 15:08:00
Philippines	Interracial Marriage Challenges	The cultural and familial differences are something most couples international couples have to deal with. Just some examples for us - my wife thinks it's rude to answer with 'yeah' while I find it more friendly and less harsh sounding than 'yes.' But just in the year and a half that both my wife and stepson have lived here in the states, they have already grown accustomed to many of the nuances and differences. Ordering food at a restaurant or communication is still something that my wife has a little trouble....mainly just in her choice of words that often confuse the server just what it is she wants. Then she gets angry when they didn't prepare her order the way she asked. She doesn't complain to them though...just me. I think she's aware that she needs to learn American slang and the ways we talk. I think it's really beneficial also to embrace your spouses culture reciprocally - enjoy their foods and their customs.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2008-07-29 13:34:00
Philippines	STOP Listening to the advice/opinions of people	Friends and family are always generous about giving advice. Now whether that advice is helpful or not is another matter. Anyone going through immigration should take it seriously - to do the research or hire an immigration lawyer. If you're acting on just hearsay then you're setting yourself up to fail if by chance that advice was bad.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-18 17:06:00
Philippines	To all Vj Friends Merry Christmas	What a doll! Merry Christmas to you and your family!	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-24 07:10:00
Philippines	What an Idiot	QUOTE (TripleG @ Dec 23 2009, 08:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ok...mmmm....now things are starting to become a little more clear. So the microwave explosion at the house due to Aluminum foil was just a cover for some covert bomb making experiment......I knew the "I didn't know aluminum foil was metal" excuse sounded a little fishy.. QUOTE I know a lot of dudes that are extremely well educated that are still complete morons. The fact that he list all his so-called educational accomplishments makes me think he is compensating for something. All the courses and seminars he list are like one day or maybe one week classes. By listing ALL of them, he tries to lead others to think he is somehow smarter than he really is. Then he opens his mouth and exposes himself. He needs to take a class on how not to be a douche. Wyatt Spot on!	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-23 12:23:00
Philippines	What an Idiot	According to his credentials, he has taught ESL classes! He's a lying scheister... University of Texas, Degree Master of Science (I call bullsh!t) Major Management of Industrial technology (School of Business and Technology ) Training and development. Minor Intercultural relations, University of Texas 1981 B.S degree Major in Criminology Focus Social pathology and investigations. Associate of science criminal justice. Professional Training 2007 Attendance Cherokee county pandemic flu preparedness seminar 2007 OVC Technical trainer and consultant orientation. 2006 WMD Incident Management/Unified Command Concept. 2006 Senior Officials Workshop for WMD and Terrorism Incident Preparedness 2006 Operations Security Fundamentals training Interagency ospec support staff- IOSS 2005 Anti terrorism level 1 training DOD Texas Department of State Health Services 2006 Container inspection 2006 OSHA Hazard communication 2005 Critical incident management group crisis intervention 2005 Critical incident management Individual crisis intervention 2005 Emergency risk Communication Training 2005 Bio Terrorism Disaster preparedness conference - Department state Health Texas Traumatic stress individual Traumatic stress group Emergency training 1990 Basic Life Support Certificate. Tyler Junior College, Tyler. 1980 Emergency Medical Training. University of Texas, Tyler. 1979 Certified in First Aid. Rusk State Hospital. Special Training Education 1999 ESL training, Tyler Literacy Counsel 1999 ESL Training University of Texas Tyler Texas Special skills Heavy equipment operation 1010 Bull dozer six way blade , Backhoe, Tractor, Fork lift, one ton truck link	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-22 19:35:00
Philippines	What an Idiot	QUOTE (S*J @ Dec 22 2009, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I know why the girl left his friend.. She didn't want to swap husband,jk	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-22 19:26:00
Philippines	What an Idiot	QUOTE (ladyinpink @ Dec 22 2009, 12:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> this man is freaking retarded	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-22 15:36:00
Philippines	What an Idiot	QUOTE (Jenn! @ Dec 22 2009, 11:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ten bucks this guy has a VJ account. Here's some info on him. It's crazy....calls himself Master or Sensei. He's a lunatic. Master M J Hughes has greatly contributed to the quality of life in Cherokee County, and his efforts are truly admirable. He has also been recognized by Governor Perry's office for his "commitment and generosity to community in the Lone star State". By State Representative Chuck Hopson for his leadership and work in rural and community development. By Congressman Jeb Henserling for his involvement in Humanitarian causes and Senator Cornyn. He has been listed in Who's Who in America 57th edition. Founder of the National Meditation center for World Peace his work has touched the lives of several generations. He has been contacted by agencies such as MaHa bodi society, Hazrat Mohammad of India, and Daniel Markell casting producer of wife swap who stated, I'm extremely impressed with yours life's work. After 911 Children's press filmed him working with New York youth about the trauma of the 911 catastrophe. A past member of DOVIA (Director of Volunteers in Agencies). He has been involved in community development and humanitarian aid for 30 years and an active advocate for youth. http://www.nationalmeditation.org/master_hughes.htm	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-22 14:45:00
Philippines	What an Idiot	Listen to this idiot ramble on about Filipinas and terrorists...	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-22 14:18:00
Philippines	All other names used?	QUOTE (Kevin-n-Merlaine @ Dec 27 2009, 11:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was confused about the middle name but finally got it straight with my wife. I dunno if all the ladies do it in the phils?? Her maiden middle name is her mothers maiden last name. Her new middle name after you're married will be her last name (Fathers last name) when she was single. Dear god it's still confusing when I write it down..LOL That's traditional among many latino countries. One of my best friend's middle name is Garza (his mother's maiden name) and all his siblings had the same middle name. Edited by Galt's gallstones, 27 December 2009 - 05:09 PM.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-27 17:08:00
Philippines	marriage troubles	QUOTE (Bob 4 Anna @ Dec 23 2009, 10:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh I tell her every day how much I like her cooking and it's what I prefer. We talked about it afterwards and now she understands that before she came my teen daughters & I seldom ate dinner together. I even thanked her during that discussion for returning us to the family dinner table. Believe me I got on that ball immediately. Over the weekend we drove an hour to get to a nice Filipino Grocery as the Asian stores int he area are missing a lot of the Filipino things she wants. The next day we found a small (hole in the wall) Filipino store that is less than 10 miles from the house! Not only do they have everything she wanted (even Magic Sarap) but they're very friendly. We bought the rice cooker, deep fryer & some other essentials within 24 hrs of her landing. I've already started inviting the friends over for dinner as she loves to meet them that way. I'll be taking her to Filipino Christmas Mass this evening. I'm hoping that between the Mass & the Filipino Store she'll be able to find some local friends quickly. She feels guilty asking me to drive her places so yesterday she passed the written test for her DL Learner's Permit! I'm thinking about getting rid of the expensive SUV with monthly payments in favor of a couple of used cars without payments so she'll have more independence during the days while I'm at work. Awesome! IMO, sitting down and sharing a meal together is one of the most important moments of family bonding. In our culture (American), we've seen to move away from that. I'd encourage you to make it a ritual now....it will help your wife and daughters bond more. Merry Christmas! ...and congratulations on her passing the written test!	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-23 14:05:00
Philippines	marriage troubles	QUOTE (Bob 4 Anna @ Dec 23 2009, 09:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Then there was the time she got upset because I had suggested the kids eat what she cooked and I'd find something else for dinner (apparently the amount prepared was misjudged). She thought I didn't want to eat her cooking but here it's not uncommon for us to eat different things for dinner. I could see her point of view. Did you even taste it? At least taste it and tell her how tasty it is but since there isn't enough for everyone you'll eat leftovers...and it better be hers. Has Anna met any other Filipinos in your area yet? How about at church? Any local asian markets? Even if the closet asian market is 50 miles away, it'd be worth it to take her there at least once in awhile and since she's been there a month already, get to one right away. If she feels totally cut off from her culture, she is going to quickly become depressed. I know most of us Americans think of culture as what kind of restaurant we're going to eat at, but to Filipinos, it is their whole life.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-23 13:23:00
Philippines	marriage troubles	QUOTE (Tahoma @ Dec 23 2009, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm waiting for scarry's reply too. Maybe he can explain why he has enough money to hang out at the bar, yet he can't afford to help his wife's family. Also, for the price of his wife's plane ticket to the Philippines, scarry could have paid for a lot of couples counseling. Giving up on a marriage after only five months is pathetic. I hope they get the help they need so that they can work it out.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-23 12:25:00
Philippines	marriage troubles	QUOTE (ellmvl @ Dec 20 2009, 10:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I really find it gay for men who whined and complain about their wife's attitude over a forum like this. I don't think that's helpful. Reaching out for help is the first step. I'm glad he talked about here and to be fair, from his perspective, he believes everything he said to be truthful. It's not that he was lying...it's just that both of them are seeing things from two different views. Hopefully, if he has been reading this thread, he'll be looking back at it with a different set of eyes, and be willing to work on changing his behavior if he truly loves her. I hope for the best for the both of them.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-20 18:09:00
Philippines	marriage troubles	QUOTE (Ndrangeta_one @ Dec 20 2009, 04:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> WOW..... what a difference from the male point of view and the female point of view..... You both right......but 2 rights does not make a relationship works either.... it seem that neither side is willing to make a small compromises.... I think we need to add a sub-forum to this....like such; A guide for KANO husband with Pinay wife...... Your wife is a another "human being"....just like you...treat her with respect as you may want to be treated by her. Your wife is not a victory price to be shown around.....she is not a thing...again she is a human being with feeling and emotions!!! How would you feel if your mother or sister was treated in a certain ways?.... remember is or will be someone's mother and she is someone's sister...... A guide for Pinay wife with Kano husband....... USA is "NOT" the land of MILK and HONEY and not everyone has a money tree in the backyard... if you have that illusion..... leave it at the airport, before embarking on the trip. Life here is very hard, harder then were you coming from, because without an income or a decent income life will be miserable.Extended family is not the same due to culture difference among many other western culture things... Unfortunately, as long as many of these international dating sites keep perpetuating those myths, some American men and Filipinas will have those ideas in their mind going into their marriage. Then reality bites.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-20 09:57:00
Philippines	marriage troubles	QUOTE (Pinay Wife @ Dec 19 2009, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> There you go, there's always two sides to a story. Sweet Pinay, I agree with you. It's his loss, not yours.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-20 02:22:00
Philippines	marriage troubles	It takes about a year for someone to adjust to their surroundings...she's no where near that time. IMO, sending her back home only complicated things. It would have been a lot less expensive to seek couples counseling. From what you've said, it sounds like you are the one thinking divorce and not her. If that's the case, then I'd get her back over as soon as possible and get counseling. Maybe it's a cultural thing for us Americans, but we tend to look for an exit out of marriage when things don't turn out the way we planned. Either, you never took the time to really get to know your wife's moods, or you've decided that you can no longer deal with them. In any case, you considering divorce as the best solution after only 5 months is a cop out. As for her personality - do you know if she's had trouble with her other relationships back home - with family members and friends? A Filipina with a bad temper is often referred to as maldita. It might help you to understand her mood swings by finding out if she has always been this way. There are many ways you can help save your marriage if you just stop looking for an exit. Edited by Galt's gallstones, 19 December 2009 - 07:58 PM.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-19 19:57:00
Philippines	WOW What a party	Yeah ... We had a lot of fun that night ... That just looks wrong on so many levels.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-01 19:49:00
Philippines	WOW What a party	QUOTE (muñequita linda @ Dec 30 2009, 05:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> C'mon you, male chauvinist pigs, give the ladies a break! Let them out of the room and it should just be you, ugly fat guys, clinging on to the pole and flaunting with your miniscule masculinity. Common lore suggests that stout men have tiny roosters and this is your chance to determine among yourselves as to who is the biggest among the tiny! Shut up and bring me another beer! Vomanos muchachas!	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-30 22:20:00
Philippines	WOW What a party	For New Years Eve, we're gonna install a stripper pole, then have all of us fat guys sit around and watch the wives dance between serving us beer.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-30 17:57:00
Philippines	Are You In California?	QUOTE (Arbind.Ariadne @ Dec 29 2009, 10:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I just miss the Cebuano-Visayan language. I have been teaching my husband every now and then to speak it but he mixes up the words. Naay mga Sugbuanon duol o ania sa Santa Monica, CA? Asa man mo dapita sa California? FAE We're in OC and have several friends in the LA area who also speak Bisaya. If you'd to join our Filipino network , send me a PM and I'll give you my wife's contact info.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-29 13:42:00
Philippines	Pito-pito	I was going through my digital camera and found this video of our toddler with his Papa-lo and Kuya playing pito-pito. Sigh...we miss our Papa-lo and Mama-la. OgT3GudGWxM	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-04 22:07:00
Philippines	A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves	SAD but true. Our father left us when I was 2 and my younger sister 1. Afraid that he might not support us financially, he sacrificed and went to Saudi Arabia as a Communication Engineer, which is 5 times bigger than his salary when he was working in the Philippines. Imagine leaving your 2 and 1 year old daughters and not seeing them grow, not be able to hug them when they cry because of an imaginary ghost on their closet, a call from them during christmas and new year just to say thank you for the balikbayan box you send, or a call from them that they recieved an award or a star in school but you weren't there to share that happiness with them. I'm an 80's baby, and we dont have email, webcams or yahoo messenger,or skype before. We just call my father once a week or send him mix tape with us singing and saying how much we love him. I remembered the time that all me and my siblings do is ask something from him (spoiled little brats as we call it) we know that he won't say "no", that is when I realized how selfish we were to him. And now that I'm already here in US, I feel what my father felt when he was away from us. He must be thinking of going home a gazillion times, but never did because all he thinks about is giving us a good future. So, for those people who have parents or loved ones sacrificed being away from them to give them a better future , I salute them! And my prayers are with them.... They are the true HEROES! and im glad we have our own hero at home For you, your sis and father. My wife's eldest sister has 3 children, and her husband, who is Filipino, was working as a truck driver in Saudi Arabia. I don't how they managed the separation for so long. He would come home maybe once or twice a year. They are all together now finally, living in Canada, but the oldest child is 12 and had lived most of his life without his father around.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-06 22:05:00
Philippines	A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves	It is kinda sad. Where I live the Sakadas have left a very big legacy. When I was in Laoag, everyone I met had relatives in Waipahu, Kalihi, Ewa Beach, or even Puhi and Hanamaulu. There presence is still felt here today. They where somewhat lucky, as they became citizens and brought their family here. Then this cycle still repeats to this day. Most Filipinos come here through their families not through marrying haoles. It just shows the hard working spirit of most Filipinos. Yep. We went to visit some distant relatives of my wife who live here in So. Cal this last weekend. The husband and wife were both RN's in the PH and then moved to the U.S. in 1980. It took the husband 4 years to finally pass the exam here for RN, but now they've a beautiful home, they've put two kids through college paid with cash and they send their youngest to a Catholic school that is $12g's a year. They told us that an RN coming out of school here in California can expect about $36/hr and work three, 12 hour shifts a week. I know it's a generalization, but Filipinos that come here to America seem to find the way to providing a better life for their children. Hopefully, the second generation won't lose that hard working spirit as they become Americanized.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-06 15:49:00
Philippines	A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves	(originally published in 2007) By JASON DePARLE, NYT On June 25, 1980 (a date he would remember), a good-natured Filipino pool-maintenance man gathered his wife and five children for an upsetting ride to the Manila airport. At 36, Emmet Comodas had lived a hard life without growing hardened, which was a mixed blessing given the indignities of his poverty. Orphaned at 8, raised on the Manila streets where he hawked cigarettes, he had hustled a job at a government sports complex and held it for nearly two decades. On the spectrum of Filipino poverty, that alone marked him as a man of modest fortune. But a monthly salary of $50 did not keep his family fed. Home was a one-room, scrap-wood shanty in a warren of alleys and stinking canals, hidden by the whitewashed walls of an Imelda Marcos beautification campaign. He had borrowed money at usurious rates to start a tiny store, which a thief had plundered. His greatest fears centered on his 11-year-old daughter, Rowena, who had a congenital heart defect that turned her lips blue and fingernails black and who needed care he could not afford. After years of worrying over her frail physique, Emmet dropped to his moldering floor and asked God for a decision: take her or let him have her. God answered in a mysterious way. Not long after, Emmet's boss offered him a pool-cleaning job in Saudi Arabia. Emmet would make 10 times as much as he made in Manila. He would also live 4,500 miles from his family in an Islamic autocracy where stories of abused laborers were rife. He accepted on the spot. His wife, Tita, was afraid of the slum where she soon would be raising children alone, and she knew that overseas workers often had affairs. She also knew their kids ate better because of the money the workers sent home. She spent her last few pesos for admission to an airport lounge where she could wave at the vanishing jet, then went home to cry and wait. Two years later, on Aug. 2, 1982 (another date he would remember), Emmet walked off the returning flight with chocolate for the kids, earrings for Tita and a bag of duty-free cigarettes, his loneliness abroad having made him a chain smoker. His 2-year-old son, Boyet, considered him a stranger and cried at his touch, though as Emmet later said, "I was too happy to be sad." He gave himself a party, replaced the shanty's rotted walls and put on a new roof. Then after three months at home, he left for Saudi Arabia again. And again. And again and again: by the time Emmet ended the cycle and came home for good, he had been gone for nearly two decades. Boyet was grown. Deprived of their father while sustained by his wages, the Comodas children spent their early lives studying Emmet's example. Now they have copied it. All five of them, including Rowena, grew up to become overseas workers. Four are still working abroad. And the middle child, Rosalie — a nurse in Abu Dhabi — faces a parallel to her father's life that she finds all too exact. She has an 18-month-old back in the Philippines who views her as a stranger and resists her touch. What started as Emmet's act of desperation has become his children's way of life: leaving in order to live. About 200 million migrants from different countries are scattered across the globe, supporting a population back home that is as big if not bigger. Were these half-billion or so people to constitute a state — migration nation — it would rank as the world's third-largest. While some migrants go abroad with Ph.D.'s, most travel as Emmet did, with modest skills but fearsome motivation. The risks migrants face are widely known, including the risk of death, but the amounts they secure for their families have just recently come into view. Migrants worldwide sent home an estimated $300 billion last year — nearly three times the world's foreign-aid budgets combined. These sums — "remittances" — bring Morocco more money than tourism does. They bring Sri Lanka more money than tea does. The numbers, which have doubled in the past five years, have riveted the attention of development experts who once paid them little mind. One study after another has examined how private money, in the form of remittances, might serve the public good. A growing number of economists see migrants, and the money they send home, as a part of the solution to global poverty. Yet competing with the literature of gain is a parallel literature of loss. About half the world's migrants are women, many of whom care for children abroad while leaving their own children home. "Your loved ones across that ocean . . . ," Nadine Sarreal, a Filipina poet in Singapore, warns: Will sit at breakfast and try not to gaze Where you would sit at the table. Meals now divided by five Instead of six, don't feed an emptiness. The Comodases with their granddaughter Precious Lara. Red-Carpet Treatment O.F.W.'s, or Overseas Filipino Workers, are often treated like heroes upon their return to Manila because of all the money they send home.; Christmas Bonus Globe Telecom is just one of many Filipino companies that award prizes to overseas Filipino workers and their families. ....(edited) Nearly 10 percent of the country's 89 million people live abroad. About 3.6 million are O.F.W.'s — contract workers. Another 3.2 million have migrated permanently, largely to the United States — and 1.3 million more are thought to be overseas illegally. (American visas, which are probably the hardest to get, are also the most coveted, both for the prosperity they promise and because the Philippines, a former colony, retains an unrequited fascination with the U.S.) There are a million O.F.W.'s in Saudi Arabia alone, followed by Japan, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and Taiwan. Yet with workers in at least 170 countries, the O.F.W.'s are literally everywhere, including the high seas. About a quarter of the world's seafarers come from the Philippines. The Greek word for maid is Filipineza. The "modern heroes" send home $15 billion a year, a seventh of the country's gross domestic product. Addressing a Manila audience, Rick Warren, the evangelist, called Filipino guest workers the Josephs of their day — toiling in the homes of modern Pharaohs to liberate their people. ....(edited) While the Philippines has exported labor for at least 100 years, the modern system took shape three decades ago under Ferdinand Marcos. Clinging to power through martial law, he faced soaring unemployment, a Communist insurgency and growing urban unrest. Exporting idle Filipinos promised a safety valve and a source of foreign exchange. With a 1974 decree ("to facilitate and regulate the movement of workers in conformity with the national interest"), Marcos sent technocrats circling the globe in search of labor contracts. Annual deployments rose more than tenfold in a decade, to 360,000. rest of article here.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-06 12:02:00
Philippines	update!	Wow, that was fast! Congratulations!	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-07 14:58:00
Philippines	petitions for parents	In the meantime while you wait for your citizenship, you can bring your parents over for long visits with a tourist visa. We applied for tourist visas for both my wife's parents back in June and they were approved and given 10 year, multiple entry visas in late July. They flew over here in early August and stayed with us until about a month ago. With a multiple entry visa, they can stay for up to 6 months at a time and then I think they have to wait 3 months before returning for another maximum of 6 months. I would recommend doing this right now, especially if you are a couple of years away from getting your citizenship. 6 months is a long time...my wife's parents were actually homesick way before then and wanted to get back home.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-07 15:04:00
Philippines	i need some advice	Both of you are anxious. Both of you have to be busy. Spend more time with your work, family and friends rather than wait for your paper. Your papers will eventually be approved. Excellent advice. You've got to get your mind off of the whole thing to keep your sanity. If you've done all that you are suppose to do, just put it to the back of your head for hours throughout the day. Limit talking to your fiance or chatting online...because both of your emotions are running high with anxiety. Go out with some friends and he should do the same. Edited by Galt's gallstones, 11 January 2010 - 01:28 PM.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-11 13:28:00
Philippines	Why a Filipna???? Tips?? Lessons?	Don't marry a Filipina or an American or an Irish or a Kenyan. Marry the woman you're in love with. Marry the woman that matches your goals, your ideals, your faith, your morals, your retirement plans, your ideas for size of family desired, your ideas of ideal financial success level.... etc. MOST OF ALL marry the woman who makes your heart rush, that you can't stop thinking about even if you try to because you're mad at her. The one you'll forgive anything... And, people will probably complain that I'll say this, but also marry the woman you are sexually compatible with, sex drive, open or closed-mindedness, etc. Without sex it's just a very close friendship and room-mate. Physical attraction is only important for the beginning until you develop deeper feelings, but it has to be there too. Having dated a lot in my younger years (my first marriage was at age 33), I can tell you from very personal experience, NO TWO WOMEN are the same. I've dated mostly American women, but also one from Peru, one from Spain, and a previous Pinay. All were already in the U.S. and legal status. This is the first relationship I ever had from afar and didn't intend it to ever happen, it just happened. We started out friends from a social networking site, very casual. I always liked talking to her, joking and laughing and I just always wanted to talk to her more and more. We found we had more and more and more in common and I just became more and more convinced this could really turn into something very great. The Pinay I dated before is COMPLETELY different from my fiancee. Like cast from completely different molds. To find anything they had in common besides hair color and gender would be very difficult. Your topic is the same as "who's married to a brunette, what do you like or what don't you like". Or, "who's married to a Pisces/ Aries/ Sagitarrius and how is that going for you" (actually that group might have more in common than the 45 MILLION or so women you just lumped together), or who's married to a woman under 5'5" and how's her cooking? OUTSTANDING! Great post. Edited by Galt's gallstones, 16 January 2010 - 01:42 AM.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-16 01:40:00
Philippines	Filipino WWII veterans still waiting for payments	Thank you for posting this interesting article. Chinook and I enjoyed reading it. The article brought back memories for Chinook. She saw more than a dozen Filipino World War II veterans at the United States Embassy in Manila when she went for her interview on February 23, 2009. The veterans were outdoors on the grounds of the Embassy, some wearing their World War II military uniforms. They were signing up for their benefits at a large tent that was set up on the Embassy grounds. The Filipino veterans from this era have been poorly treated by the U.S. government. We hope the Veterans Administration processes the remaining claims quickly. The veterans deserve no less...and much more. Mabuhay ang mga Beterano!	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-18 20:09:00
Philippines	Filipino WWII veterans still waiting for payments	AP – In this Jan. 13, 2010 photo, Norma Sotio gestures while talking about her husband Gaudencio Sotio By AUDREY McAVOY, Associated Press Writer Audrey Mcavoy, Associated Press Writer WAIPAHU, Hawaii – Gaudencio Sotio injured his left leg fighting to expel the Japanese military from the Philippines during World War II. Though Filipino, he was fighting under the command of the United States, which had colonized his homeland in the late 1800s. Last February, the U.S. said it would pay a lump sum — $9,000 or $15,000 — to veterans like Sotio in lieu of pensions it had promised Filipino soldiers during the war but reneged on paying. Since then, more than 11,000 surviving veterans now in their 80s and 90s received this much delayed monetary recognition of their service and sacrifice. But thousands of others are still waiting to receive their money as the federal government wades through a backlog of applications. This bureaucracy moved too slowly for Sotio, who died Jan. 10. The 84-year-old applied for his benefit on Feb. 20 — almost 11 months ago — just days after the law authorizing the funds went into effect. His death came before the Department of Veterans Affairs was able to rule on his claim. "My husband said: 'If the others are receiving, maybe I'm going to receive too,'" said Norma Sotio, his widow, as tears welled in her eyes. "It's one year already. If my husband received that money maybe he enjoy." Part of the problem is that 40,000 people applied for the benefit when the VA had been expecting only half that number. To cope, the VA added seven additional claims processors to its Manila field office. The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, which has over a century of documents for military servicemen and women, has also increased its staff to deal with the claims, and is now handling 800 lump sum payment queries a week, or twice as many as when the program started. The VA expects these changes will allow it to plow through the existing application pile in about 10 weeks. "We are committed to delivering these benefits in a compassionate and timely manner," said Willie Clark, the Western area director for the field operations office. Ineligible applications may be slowing claims processing. The department has so far had to deny nearly 8,000 claims, mostly from people who hadn't served. Some were from veteran widows, children and other next of kin who aren't eligible. Some people filed more than one application. Some 16,000 claims are still being reviewed. The waiting has frustrated veterans who have already spent most of their lives pushing the government to fulfill its promises. "The long delay is justice denied. That's the saying. It's really true — it's an injustice somehow," said Art Caleda, president of the Hawaii chapter of World War II Filipino-American Veterans. About 400 applicants are in Hawaii, which has a large Filipino-American population. Most — or 65 percent — have been paid while 15 percent were denied. About 20 percent of the Hawaii claims are still pending, like Sotio's. "There are veterans who were able to file their application claims but then they died. What is the use of that?" said Caleda. "They're not only frustrated, they are dying you know. They're dying." More than 250,000 Filipinos served alongside U.S. soldiers to defend the Philippines from the 1941 Japanese invasion. They formed the resistance during the subsequent Japanese occupation. The U.S. military assured Filipinos they would be able to apply for U.S. citizenship and qualify for full U.S. veterans' benefits if they served. But one year after Japan's surrender, the Rescission Act of 1946 declared that Filipinos were not in active service for the U.S. military during the war. This stripped Filipinos of their status as U.S. veterans and denied them the benefits they were promised. The veterans pushed for years to win back these benefits. Success came slowly and in bits. In 1990, Congress passed a bill allowing thousands to immigrate and become U.S. citizens. A decade later, the U.S. recognized the right of the veterans to be buried in national cemeteries. Congress considered legislation authorizing pensions to Filipino veterans several times over the years. It finally settled on the lump sum solution when it included $198 million for the program in last year's economic stimulus bill. The VA has distributed $136 million, or over two-thirds of the money, to date. It's prepared to ask lawmakers for additional funds if it appears it will exhaust the allocated amount. Veterans have until Feb. 16 to file. Norma Sotio keeps a copy of her husband's application in their small apartment in an elderly housing complex in suburban Honolulu. It says Gaudencio Sotio served in the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines — a unit made up of U.S.-trained soldiers that was part of the U.S. Armed Forces of the Far East — during the war. After the war he joined the New Philippine Scouts — a unit of Philippine citizens that served with the U.S. Armed Forces and later worked as a radio newscaster. Gaudencio Sotio was a quiet man and never spoke much of the war, she said. But he kept a slim box full of medals, including a Purple Heart. Because her husband applied before he died, Norma Sotio would receive his benefit if the VA determines he had a valid claim. She says she'd share any money she receives with his children. link	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2010-01-18 17:22:00
Philippines	Via KOREA?	QUOTE (Mitch/Jezzieca @ Dec 22 2009, 01:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well let me explain how this just recently worked for me..... Jezzieca has family in South Korea that we were interested in visiting on our way back here to the USA. I had all the same concerns that have been brought up here so I had Jezzieca go speak with someone at the South Korean embassy in Manila. They informed her that since she had a US VISA and a onward confirmed flight ticket to the USA that she would be permitted to enter South Korea for a stay of up to 30 days. I was skeptical of this simply based on some things I had read, but figured we would give it a try. I arrived in Manila on December 16th via Asiana Airlines ( for whatever that is worth) On December 19th we both boarded a Korean Air flight from Manila to Seoul. We landed that afternoon and when asked by immigration about her Korean visa she explained what the embassy had told her and about 3 minutes later they stamped her entry and we proceeded on for a 3 day stay. We just arrived here in the USA this morning via a nonstop flight on Korean Air from Seoul to Dallas, Texas. POE process in Dallas lasted maybe a total of 15 minutes (due to line) with no problems and we are both here now at the house. So I dont know if any of this relates to what is being discussed here , but just wanted to share my experience in regards to transiting through S. Korea. Oh, thank you for sharing that! That makes sense! Hopefully chinese mutt will read this. This should be a pinned topic!	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-22 16:52:00
Philippines	Via KOREA?	QUOTE (Scott and Mhay @ Dec 21 2009, 12:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> that is under the USA portion too....not for korea... I agree with calling the travel agent or airline though....but if she were to go through korea and only stay 10 hours in the airport, then she would be good. I've looked over the original government website regarding exemptions and there is no caveat that says the travelers must stay in the airport. I'm glad you posted that link from Delta, but since it isn't an actual government site, I'm wondering just how accurate it is requiring the travelers to stay within the lounge of the airport? What if like the story I posted of the old woman coming to the US to visit was stuck with a 12 hour layover due to the airlines and they offered her free accommodations? It just wouldn't make sense to not allow someone who's destination is to another country (U.S. in this case), who has a Visa for that country, would be allowed to leave the airport. Anyhow, it's a good topic and I hope somebody can get some advice from Korean Air or a Filipino Travel Agent to help clarify this. My in-laws came over to visit us (tourist visa) by way of Seoul, and my wife was saying that when they were looking into possible flights, one of them would have had them in a long layover, and the travel agent said he could add a tour package while they waited. Now if South Korea makes an exemption for tourist Visas destined to the U.S., but not K-1 Visas, that would be odd, IMO. Here's the link again: http://www.hikorea.g...;showMenuId=375 Those that fall in the following categories will be allowed to enter Korea without a visa. Transit tourists bound for another country Eligible countries Applicable to all countries (save for Cuba, and Macedonia) that are not granted visa-free entry into Korea. Applicable to… Those with a visa or a re-entry permit for U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries) and traveling to any one of those countries through Korea. Those traveling from any one of the five countries mentioned above, whose final destination is not Korea.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-21 20:24:00
Philippines	Via KOREA?	QUOTE (Scott and Mhay @ Dec 21 2009, 12:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ok here is the link: http://www.delta.com...rt_information/ this is what it says: National Philippines (PH) /Transit Korea (Republic) (KR) Destination U.S.A. (US) ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW Korea (Republic) (KR) TWOV (Transit Without Visa): Visa required, except for Those continuing their journey to a third country on the same day, provided not leaving the transit lounge.Additional Information: - All visitors must possess: - all documents required for next destination; and - sufficient funds for maintenance; and - contact address in Korea (Rep.). - Passengers in transit must hold a valid passport. Warning: - Non-compliance with the entry regulations will result in fines for the airlines. For details, click here U.S.A. (US) Passport required. - Nationals of Philippines may enter with passports valid for period of intended stay. Passport Exemptions: - Holders of a valid on arrival Form I-512 ( Authorization for Parole of an Alien into the United States"). - Holders of a Temporary or Emergency passports. Visa required, except for Holders of a Form I-512 ( Authorization for Parole of an Alien into the United States"). Visa required, except for Those admitted to the U.S.A. on a single entry visa, returning to the U.S.A. after a visit of max. 30 days to Canada or Mexico. Passengers travelling to Canada or Mexico for stays of 30 days or less must For details, click here - A passenger may enter the U.S.A. with a valid visa in an expired passport, provided: For details, click here Minors: - Children, up to/incl. 15 years of age, excluding nationals of the USA and nationals entitled to travel under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (V.W.P.), are allowed to travel on their parent's passport. A person included in the passport of another may not use the passport for travel unless he/she is accompanied by the bearer. Additional Information: - Passengers not having proof of sufficient funds for length of stay For details, click here Warning: - Non-compliance with entry/transit requirements will result in:For details, click here See highlighted above in red. That to me, means that a K-1 Visa should qualify as exempt from having to get a Visa from South Korea if they wanted to stay overnight. That to me makes sense, since they have a lot of people traveling to the USA by way of their airport with plenty of layovers. In any case, Guardian Angel could get more reassurance by calling the airline as well as talk to a travel agent in the Philippines.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-21 15:18:00
Philippines	Via KOREA?	chinese mutt, you need to work on your reading comprehension skills. Anyway, it's not about you here. I'm sure the OP has enough good info from your link to understand that his fiancee can in fact stay in a hotel during her layover. It wouldn't hurt to talk to a travel agent in the Philippines or Korean Air to double check.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-21 14:59:00
Philippines	Via KOREA?	And more here: My nephew, who is a Filipino green-card holder, will stop by Korea next week on his way back to Los Angeles. He asked me if he could get out of the airport and explore Seoul since his layover is for 14 hours! Does he still need a visa? He needs to give me the new Panasonic camera that my ever-so-generous older brother bought for me as an early birthday cum Christmas gift. I should have asked him to get me a PS3 too. LOL! I reminded him that his grandmother, my mother, was able to get out of the airport when she was here for a 12-hour layover too. Her carrier, Asiana Airlines, provided a free accommodation but she waived it when we pick her up and brought her to an island near Incheon. We took her to the filming locations of “Full House” (drama starring Rain and Song Hye Gyo) and “Sad Sonata” (Kim Hee Sun and Kwon Sang Woo). According to the G4F website: Transit tourists bound for another country Eligible countries Applicable to all countries (save for Cuba, and Macedonia) that are not granted visa-free entry into Korea. Applicable to… *Those with a visa or a re-entry permit for U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries) and traveling to any one of those countries through Korea. ....... So hopefully, this can give the original poster some peace of mind...YES, your Filipina fiancee CAN stay in a hotel in Seoul during her 10 hour layover.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-21 14:53:00
Philippines	Via KOREA?	QUOTE (chinese_mutt @ Dec 21 2009, 11:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> http://www.buhaykore...without-a-visa/ Philippines have no Visa Waiver program with South Korea. HAPPY? That means she cannot go out of the airport and enter the country without a visa. She doesn't have a GC yet... too bad. Don't give out bad info. From your link: Is it possible to enter and visit Korea without a visa? It is. From Korea's government website: Tourists bound for another country. - Applicable to those with a visa or a re-entry permit for US, Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries) and traveling to any one of those countries through Korea. - Those traveling from any one of the five countries mentioned above, whose final destination is not Korea. - Must have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record or criminal offence in the five countries mentioned above. .... My mother is a Philippine passport holder and a US resident. I wanted her to visit us before she travel back to the US. I asked the Immigration office yesterday if it's possible for her to travel without a visa under her circumstance. After several pauses and "wait a minute"s, I was told that she could come to Korea without a visa as long as her outbound ticket is for the US and she could stay up to 30 days. Edited by Galt's gallstones, 21 December 2009 - 02:50 PM.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-21 14:50:00
Philippines	Via KOREA?	QUOTE (chinese_mutt @ Dec 21 2009, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> SHE is not a USC! Read again what I said. Can you find a South Korean source that says she could not stay in a hotel during her long layover? Because the site I just quoted from said "Foreigners staying longer than 30 days require a visa..." So unless you believe they have a different policy for Filipino Nationals, she would fall under foreigner. Edited by Galt's gallstones, 21 December 2009 - 02:40 PM.	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-21 14:40:00
Philippines	Via KOREA?	QUOTE (chinese_mutt @ Dec 21 2009, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> She cannot go out. YOU can coz you are under Visa Waiver Program in most (if not all) countries around the world. Sorry she can't even go to a hotel. She's going to have to sit or walk around the airport for 10 hours. Trust me, take the PAL direct flight, I've been stuck in Macau Airport for 4 hours waiting for our plane... wasn't fun. Now don't be giving out bad information if you don't know for sure. As far as I can tell, she can stay at a hotel in South Korea. For USC traveling to South Korea, you only need a Visa if you plan on staying there longer than 30 days. I would recommend contacting Korean Air to see if they have any information or can tell you who to ask. From a Korean website: Tourist visas: Foreign visitors who plan on staying longer than 30 days must also obtain a visa or visa extension http://www.korea4exp...quirements.html	one...two...tree	Male	Philippines	2009-12-21 14:10:00