Comments on: Philippines Questions — Round 10

By: Philly

Philly — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:33:50 +0000

“a”? Your name is “a”? Well, sorry to say, I really don’t know what you should do to fix your current situation. You certainly need professional advice and not the sort of answer you will get online. I do know that one of the only Filipinas I know who has a lifetime ban from entering the US got in her predicament by a similar situsation. She tried getting a new passport and ignoring the old “wrong one” she had obtained through a fixer. A records search found it and presto, banned for life for immigration fraud. It’s nothing to trifle with, the stakes are high and the mis-information is huge. Get a lawyer is my only advice, sorry I can’t help more.

By: a

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:36:50 +0000

Hello!! Iuse my cousin name to get a passport long way back for overseas job. At that time i was so young and naive. The agent who reccruited me said that its okey to used someone else name beacause Im not old enough. Beacause I wanted to help my family so just follow what she said. But now that I know is not right to uses other people name. I decided that I need a new passport using my name. So what should I do? If I apply for a new passport using my name with all the proper document woud that be okey? Please advice Thankss

By: Philly

Philly — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:23:27 +0000

@Queeniebee: Oh indeed I am a stranger in a strange land. But then when I last lived in the US I felt the same way … I think becuase I lived outside the US for so many years and also becuase I was retired from a ‘regular’ job and yet not on Social Security and not down at Starbucks with the other oldsters swapping tales about my 401K performance and how horrible Medicare is.

I don’t have alot in common with many of my fellow Americans, I guess. And if you make money from the Internet … oh, wow then you’re really, really strange.

Every day I find things here in the Philippines that puzzle me, amaze me and even infuriate me … but I enjoy it. You are not put in a ‘box’ with the other 60 plus old men here like you are in the US. Anyway, I have to go write about some differences right now

By: Queeniebee

Queeniebee — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:41:49 +0000

Hi Philly, I’m glad that you were not insulted. I guess what I’m really trying to ask is that even though you are basically very happy with your surroundings the philippines is still a country full of mystery and contradictions. Do you ever feel at times that you are a “stranger in a strange land” I wish other expats’ could weigh in on this topic also.
Thanks for trying to address all the many issues.

By: Philly

Philly — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:43:27 +0000

@queeniebee: Thanks for dropping by. Wow, I’m kind of floored by your comment? How could I feel insulted by what you asked … and how fis my article convey that I was insulted? I am _not_ insulted, upset or anyhting like that … I am just once again confused as to how writing with a smile on my face about my neighbors and friends makes it look as if I was insulted or upset?

Not picking on you, Queenie, becuase this has happened before, someone will give me a good idea for a posting (which I am grateful for, by the way), I’ll write something, something good for a change, and when people readit they get the idea I wrote it out of anger or embarrassment.

There’s a lot more to this ‘language’ stuff than I understand, apparently

Anyway, I am not upset about anything ecept my own inadequacy.

I’m very happy to have comments and something to write about..

By: Philly

Philly — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:52:42 +0000

@John in Austria: Hi John. Indeed, there are times Ithink there’s an unwritten law that only the worst features of the US are allowed to be exported. It’s almost as if there’s a secret plan to make sure nothing good crosses the US borders outbound except things that make the US look bad. *sigh*. Mostly what we have given the world in the past 40 years has been war on little nations thta pose no threat, unhealthy fast food, filthy language non-music, Hollywood starlets who can’t find their underwear and an occassional TV show. Years ago when I made my first business trip to China I checked into a hotel aways out in the provinces. The bleeman did the usual walkround of my room, pointed out all the amenities and flipped on the TV … showing me the channel for CCTV, the Chinese equivalent of PBS. “US TV” he proudly told me. Know what show was being exported to show 2 billion Chinese the ‘best parts’ of the good old USA? The Simpsons. (:-(

By: Laurence

Laurence — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:48:14 +0000

Philly,

I’ll be a temporary expat in 2 weeks time. Landing in Manila on Dec 18 and then up to La Union and Baguio for Xmas. If I’m passing your way I’ll drop you a line in advance and maybe we can catch up for a Red Horse (or 2).

Cheers,

Laurence

By: queeniebee

queeniebee — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:46:27 +0000

Hello Philly, I hope that you or Mondanao Bob did not view my question as insulting. I’m sure that you have many family members and friends that you are close to. It’s just interesting for me and many I’m sure to hear your perceptions and I’m sure every expat’s situation is unique and different.

By: John in Austria

John in Austria — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:34:58 +0000

Hi Dave,

Good comments. Why import your country into another. That’s why I hate seeing all these McDonald’s and KFC’s and other fast food places all over Europe. I’ve been here seven years and never eaten in one yet. It’s so much nicer to sample the local services and meet the people, rather than living and eating in something that is an exact replica of one in your home country. When in Rome . . .

By: Dave's Wife

Dave's Wife — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:13:31 +0000

I’ve read it and I’m not packing any bags, honey…unless it’s for a short vacation – in the spring or summer and not now when it’s WINTER!