Printable View
I live in a very uninspiring neighborhood here in Cebu and the apartment building has 5 MB x. 60 MB wired Internet of which I am usually the only user. The carrier is PLDT. Happy to report the service is pretty good with few if any interruptions. I bought a Tattoo 3 g unit that connects via its own wifi or USB. Forget it, at least where I live. Almost doesn't connect at all. So don't count on it at least in my poor neighborhood.
[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1752709]I'm rereading a book called "America's Boy," written by an author named Hamilton. It offers perhaps the best, most profound, explanation of Philippine culture I've ever read, and sets cultural habits and characteristics into a rich historical context. I think if you read that, you will not more about this place than 90% of those who contribute to this board. This latter comment isn't meant to disparage anyone, but the book contains so much rich socio-cultural information, and is so well researched, that it casual visitors here would be unlikely to randomly discover such information themselves. I find myself going back to read entire passages that establish contexts for behaviors that I've never been able to understand before.
GE.[/QUOTE]Interestingly, [URL]Amazon.com[/URL] has two versions of the book by the same name, same author (two different publishers, different number of pages):
[URL]http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Boy-Century-Colonialism-Philippines/dp/0805061185/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438108734&sr=1-2&keywords=america's+boy[/URL]
[URL]http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Boy-Marcoses-Philippines-Faber-ebook/dp/B00KV1HYNY/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438108734&sr=1-3&keywords=america's+boy[/URL]
[QUOTE=WickedRoger;1752473]Looking at the 5 FRs appears you maybe an Aussie. If so this is embarrassing for Aussies that you ask such a question on a board like this. Not sure if RK and others would be proud to say they are Aussie to after this type of FR would question the IQ of Aussies LOL.
Why not try Google? Always a good start.[/QUOTE]I doubt I am the first to think of this, but just a thought. I checked the version of VBulletin that ISG runs on and it should support Sticky threads. We can Sticky a few posts that appear at the top of the forum to answer the most common newbie questions. I imagine Jackson has a reason for not enabling this feature for select moderators in times past, but it may be worth a try to ask him again.
Just a couple of ideas for good sticky threads:
1. The Newbie's guide to mongering in the Philippines with sample itineraries for 3 day, 7 day, and 14 day trips.
2. The guide to mongering in AC.
3. Top ten things to do in the Philippines besides mongering. Stuff like a trip to Tagaytay, the Chocolate Hills, Palawan or Borocay, Scuba, whale sharks, etc.
4. Playing the Manila Dating site game like a pro. By Skogis.
5. The definitive guide to Mongering in Makati by Hutsori.
[QUOTE=XMan;1752531]Here is a good one: [URL]http://feelippines.com[/URL].[/QUOTE]Nice one XMan, seen a few similar blogs etc around in cyberspace.
Jiffy Park sent me an email in response to my FR regarding using Google etc (see below) calling me a moron. Thanks Jiffy - 5 FRs and people who live her and contribute are morons?
Oh well see'est LE vie JP but I see you got hundreds of replies to you rather inane question on a board with so much information you don't even need Google.
GE = good FR and something I will read (probably too high brow for JP LOL).
Thanks for the information much appreciated, I like the sticky idea which would help a lot of newbie.
In my recent trip I met a girl (a repeat girl from previous trips)I could not bang. She had become to chubby. She started out as a spinner approx 2 months back. Got herself a overseas WU bloke and obviously now uses all her time digging in all the fastfoods she can get hold of. I had to let her go. In 2 months she gained an awful lot of pounds. Is this what we want? Atleast I don't. With a humoristic twist let them girl be so they have to work for the money.
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1752879]Interestingly, [URL]Amazon.com[/URL] has two versions of the book by the same name, same author (two different publishers, different number of pages):
[URL]http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Boy-Century-Colonialism-Philippines/dp/0805061185/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438108734&sr=1-2&keywords=america's+boy[/URL]
[URL]http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Boy-Marcoses-Philippines-Faber-ebook/dp/B00KV1HYNY/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438108734&sr=1-3&keywords=america's+boy[/URL][/QUOTE]I have the book in front of me. I read it soon after I first came to the Philippines.
It is called "America's Boy: The Marcoses and the Philippines" by James Hamilton-Paterson. It's a well-researched biography of Marcos and his wife but has lots of stereotypes in it that show the author's bias.
My copy is published by Anvil Publishing; first printed in 1998 and printed onn that horrible cheap newsprint favored by Philippines book publishers; available from National Books. The faded price tag says 210 php so if it is still in print it may cost more now. (PS. I just noticed on Westy's link that Amazon have it available on Kindle for $12.86, so it's still available).
My own preference if you want to understand filipino culture more is to read the books by F. Sionil Jose. He writes like Rizal by putting fiction into exact historical places and context. The best one for understanding the filipino woman is "Ermita", about a filipina of that name (no prizes for guessing where she was born).
[QUOTE=WhatsUrName;1752946] We can Sticky a few posts that appear at the top of the forum to answer the most common newbie questions.[/QUOTE]Though technically not stickies there are 'user blogs' - at the main Philippines' forum page scroll down and you'll see them - anyone can create and others can add to. I made two, one for Viagra and the other for Angeles transport to / from NAIA, because I grew tired of seeing these two questions asked every other day. Certainly the short-day 1-day or less user blog would be a good addition.
[QUOTE=WhatsUrName;1752946]
5. The definitive guide to Mongering in Makati by Hutsori.[/QUOTE]I'm the wrong fella to ask about that. I use the dating sites, craigslist, and once or twice a week check a few bars and nightclubs. I rarely go to Burgos and Havana; when I do it's because I have some friends in town.
[QUOTE=RedKilt;1753023]My own preference if you want to understand filipino culture more is to read the books by F. Sionil Jose. He writes like Rizal by putting fiction into exact historical places and context. The best one for understanding the filipino woman is "Ermita", about a filipina of that name (no prizes for guessing where she was born).[/QUOTE]I echo this recommendation of F. Sionil Jose. [U]Gagamba[/U] I feel it's his best single novel and the five-novel Rosales saga is excellent. He owns La Solidaridad bookshop in Ermita's Padre Faura St, a store filled with Philippine-centric works on politics, economics, and society. He also writes opinion pieces, such as this one [URL]http://www.philstar.com/arts-and-culture/725822/why-we-are-shallow[/URL], in the Philstar newspaper. He has strong anti-Chinoy views that some have labelled racist, so there's a trigger warning.
Another great novelist is Nick Joaquin, [U]The Woman Who Had Two Navels[/U], but I'd recommend his [U]Culture and History[/U], a collection of essays that challenge contemporary Filipino nationalism.
Historian, writer and journalist Ambeth Ocampo, who Jose admires, ought to be read by those interested in Rizal and the Philippines.
[QUOTE=Hutsori;1753037]I echo this recommendation of F. Sionil Jose. [U]Gagamba[/U] I feel it's his best single novel and the five-novel Rosales saga is excellent. He owns La Solidaridad bookshop in Ermita's Padre Faura St, a store filled with Philippine-centric works on politics, economics, and society. He also writes opinion pieces, such as this one [URL]http://www.philstar.com/arts-and-culture/725822/why-we-are-shallow[/URL], in the Philstar newspaper. He has strong anti-Chinoy views that some have labelled racist, so there's a trigger warning.
[/QUOTE]I agree with all your recommendations Huts and the debate on both sides about F. J. Jose's views on Chinoys has been quite intelligent (for the most part).
After I got hooked on all of Frankie Jose's novels (including the excellent Rosales saga about Ilokanos that Huts mentioned), I was taken to meet the great man who was sitting outside his bookshop in Padre Faura not far from Robinsons. He was rather intimidating at first with his idiosyncratic French artist's beret), but he was OK after a while (call me Frankie).
The sad thing in all of this is that there are some very deep and intelligent thinkers, writers, dramatists and musicians in the Philippines, but their voices are lost in the noise made by the millions for whom culture is noon-time TV, the singing and dancing shows on weekend TV, telenovelas, pinoy big brother and Manny Pacquiao. I cannot see it changing in my lifetime.
[QUOTE=RedKilt;1753023]I have the book in front of me. I read it soon after I first came to the Philippines.
It is called "America's Boy: The Marcoses and the Philippines" by James Hamilton-Paterson. It's a well-researched biography of Marcos and his wife but has lots of stereotypes in it that show the author's bias.
My copy is published by Anvil Publishing; first printed in 1998 and printed onn that horrible cheap newsprint favored by Philippines book publishers; available from National Books. The faded price tag says 210 php so if it is still in print it may cost more now. (PS. I just noticed on Westy's link that Amazon have it available on Kindle for $12.86, so it's still available).
My own preference if you want to understand filipino culture more is to read the books by F. Sionil Jose. He writes like Rizal by putting fiction into exact historical places and context. The best one for understanding the filipino woman is "Ermita", about a filipina of that name (no prizes for guessing where she was born).[/QUOTE]No argument with RK here. Those are excellent sources. However, I was particularly interested in the nuances of the relationship, its etiology and continuation, between this country and the USA For me, the cultural insights were a very worthwhile bonus. It's true there are lots of stereotypes, but it's difficult to see how you can hope to describe a culture accurately without the use of stereotypes.
GE.
WR, You've been a bit cranky lately. Take a deep breath of air (hopefully not jeepney fumes) and relax.
A pm is a pm and I think it should stay that way. Your public message to J wasn't especially kind. He replied by pm. PM should stay pm.
The Internet is a huge source of information, some of which is total crap. Asking senior members for an interesting or favorite or useful or thought-invoking URL isn't so "inane" if you really think about it. And in the end we even get a few book recommendations!
I've seen a few Philippine related blogs. There is one in particular that strikes me as inane. Can anyone guess which one it is? LOL.
[QUOTE=WickedRoger;1752959] SNIP SNIP SNIP .[/QUOTE]
I was asking the question as I thought it would be a good chance to find out different people's sites and books they find beneficial, I also thought it may help get me get to know some people in this forum which is why I didn't want to use google as I am new here and just signed up.
Wicked Roger. Sorry for calling you a moron mate that was silly although I did feel you where rude in your post to me when all I wanted to do is hopefully build a rapport and get to know people here who have a common interest.
[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1752011]Guys,
In Manila for 7-8 days and then I would like to take a side trip too one of these 2 places. Cost isn't really a factor but I may want to take 1 or 2 ladies with me. Which is the better place to go or if I go alone which place has the better girl option there. It would be very nice to lay on the beach and get laid all day lone too. LOL.
Any comments and suggestions are appreciated.
PC out.[/QUOTE]Bring TAKE OUT to Borocay!
Rate tonight at NAIA was 45.50 to 1. This is a great deal for anyone coming soon.
PC out.