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Sorry Guys, talk about a Blue @ss Fly chasing his tail! I thought it would be a good idea to leave things to the last month seeing as how I often misplace things and forget shyte but d*mn! Selling on eBay, I realise now I have ran out of time to offload much of what holds value, getting paperwork sorted with the Department of Foreign Affairs here, Police Checks, trying to cover bases getting some more Passport Pics taken, sending out stuff I have sold to buyers, Dr's visits, immunizations (GOD I HATE NEEDLES!) and trying to sort out a CPAP Machine I bought for my Sleep Apnoea. Still need to get the paperwork to sell my car and remove the OINKS Number Plates so I can pass onto my Son. My Daughter arranged a road Trip so leaving this Sunday to head North to visit the Lad missus and kids then also visit my older Sister on the way, so there goes 4 or 5 days I cannot afford to lose... Started packing the Balikbayan Boxes, was told "DO NOT MAKE THEM HEAVY" WTF? I packed Saucepans and Pots inside of each other and would probably have 40 KG's inside 4 carefully packed and taped up containers with 3/4 of the Box yet to fill, I do not want to send AIR! I plan to pack every square inch with something even clothes between pots etc so there is no air space! Lucky for me I have my Airline Tickets booked, the Hotel Room Booked with Shuttle Bus service so I can be picked up from the Airport on the 23rd and dropped back on the 24th to catch my flight to Dumaguete, and be finally, BACK HOME!

 

Past mistakes have a tendency to make us better if you can embrace them.

2023 was fun; a project that came in more difficult than expected, a work culture that I impacted positively and a current move to Okinawa to tackle the next challenge.

Personally it has been getting our farmland going; the wife onboard with my vision as well as some really good workers to include a couple family members.

Wishing everyone the best always!

Shawn

 

1. fair procedure and clear rules and regulations to obtain a visa for Europe.

2. A bottle of Lagavulin that will never get empty.

3. Another 3 wishes.

 

I was that young......and gave Mick my last cigarette! BTW I also took the photograph, fond memories of the 60's and my short claim to fame.
View attachment upload_2023-5-28_21-33-50.png

 

If people will not wear masks properly or at all and social distancing is nonexistent then what else is there to do ? We have had all these discussions ad nauseum

 

Yes indeed. This information is something to ingest and use to weigh your risk factors for sure. As to "why take the risk" that's up to each person's determination. Everyone should do what they can to mitigate the risks they take, in their interest and in the interest of their loved ones.

 

so, great subject! read all the posts and learn as always

my two cents. before the spanish the "philippines" was just 7000 islands with many languages and individual little cultures, probably one or more per island. (as it sort of still is today) settled by mostly malay area peoples. when the spanish arrived the muslim religeon was practiced in many places including manila and most population centers. the spanish drove them out. established catholicism which appealed to most filipinos whereas spanish language perhaps did not perhaps because no one language prevailed in the country.

i say that because the tribal culture still exists and many on negros can speak more english than their "national language" filipino (a supercharged version of tagalog) and/or tagalog proper. (yes, english is the second official language)

the spanish created the concept of a filipino nation and named it the Philippines. manila was the center and still is largely due to the economic power (70 percent of the nation) and site of government including the military and national police. the Philippines may claim and celebrate independence stemming from events of late 1800's but was still a spanish colony when the americans "won" the philippines in the spanish american war. the US granted independance rather quickly since it really never wanted and didn't really know what to do with the phils. that was to take place in the thirties but was delayed to 46 because of ww2.

the efforts to seek independence from the spanish spilled over with some turmoil against the americans so the relationship was somewhat awkward.

my opinion is that still today this is a tribal conglomeration more than a country with any real national history. it has existed under "home rule" less than 80 years (only three generations) which so far which makes it a newcomer on the world stage in terms of formal self governed countries.

i tend to see the functioning of the philippines much as i do the american indians which also have a full measure of internal disputes between tribes and even the bands within tribes.

which leads us where? i guess that it is hard to generalize about the philippine culture and you may have to adjust your thinking every time you get off the ferry? where is it headed compared to other asian nations? i can't get wrapped around that one

 

Yes I am on the mend, Thanks.
My experience at Holy Child has only been with the Eye Clinic and the dentist. All being good experiences.

I can not say enough about how good ACE is. It is of course a new hospital and it is very well staffed. I spent 5 days there and it cost about half of the cost of St. Luke's in Manila for the same amount of time.