From: m_adlard@csd.brispoly.ac.uk (M Adlard)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino
Subject: Re: Hello...
Date: 21 Aug 92 23:59:05 GMT
Organization: Bristol Polytechnic, England
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

: I'm a new reader to this netgroup.  I just visited the Philippines (I am
: an American born and raise Filipino, though).  I don't know how to speak
: Tagalog... not because I did not want to learn it, but my parents are
: from a certain region of the Philippines that speaks one of the thousands
: of different dialects.  Therefore, I understand only their dialect.  :)

Well I am English, and have been to the Philippines twice now, both times
I had to spend time in Manila waiting for a connection flight to Leyte.
My first visit was the first time I had been abroad and I was not expecting
the rush of porter's at the International airport, nor the heat.

My first visit was to meet a friend I had been writing two for some 5 years
she lives about 50 miles from Ormoc. I arrived in Tacloban exactly 2 weeks 
after the typhoon that hit Ormoc. As you can imagin I was slightly  worried
by what I might have found there. But lucky Glenda, my friend there (now my 
wife) was there to meet me safe and well.

The little village she comes from has about 20 families in it, most villagers
are kids, they were fantastic, two kids sort of adopted me and where ever I 
went, they came with me, they acted as guide & translator.

I was amased by the transport system in the area, the bright Jeepnees and the 
busses with so many people on board.

Durring my time there I also went to see Ormoc, that was horrific, while we
were there they were removing a small baby from a paddy field, that was so 
sad. But people in the center of town were still pleased to come over and 
talk, asking how the Queen of England was and other things about England.

I really loved the quietness of the area where I stayed, except about 4:30am
when about 20 or so chickens started crowing..

My second Visit back (when I got married) was better again, this time I was
ready for the mad rush of Manila, the only thing that was different was
the Elections.. I arrived 1 week before they started, so I was able to 
witness how the voting was done ect.. much different from England.

I also managed to visit Cebu, that is one nice place, we went to a beach there
and it was just like you see on the expencive travel adds, except there 
was only about 10 people on the beach.. 

I also went back to Ormoc (well several times, and also for the boat to Cebu.)
I was amazed how fast things were being built, I suppose it was then It struck
me that, the filipino people, do not sit down and sulk over desasters, they
get up and start re-building there lives, and for that I commend them.

I also had time to sight see around Tacloban, we went to the shrine of the 
Marcos's, that was so sad, to see all the riches that they horded in one build-
ing, several million US dollars worth, and yet, people out in the street were
fighting to survive.

Still I hope that both my wife and I can move from England (I am still waiting 
for here to come to England!) to Leyte or Cebu in a few years as I love the
place, and I love the people. People actually talk to you in the street, and 
not just because you are not filipino, but because its there way.. unlike 
England, where you can sit in a room for hours and no-one will talk..

* On a more serious note, My wife has just been granted a Setlement Visa for 
England, I spoke to an officer in our embassy in Manila, to what she must do 
next, I was told she would have to file papers to leave with the government.
at what I understood to be there equv of our home office.
 
Does anyone know what actually happends, and how long that takes. I have 
had to leave her there in the Philippines due to the delay in our government
processing her papers, and that was May 92.
I also understand that she has to pay a Tax before she can leave, does anyone
know how much this is? (price in piso's would be better so I can convert it 
here.)
Finally, can the tax be paid from outside the country, I.e. via a Philippines
Embassy?

Thanks for spending the time reading my comments on one of the most beautyful
place's I have ever been....

Matthew...



-- 
Matthew Adlard     | m_adlard@csd.brispoly.ac.uk

Any remarks made are my own views only.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino