Philippine creativity in music and arts is well-known.
Above, a dancer strikes a pose, giving life to the
beautiful, creative and independent Filipina.
Click on the image to view books on dance.
Puppy Linux Tours the Tropics
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Gliezl, Puppy forum member, is
a Philippine national (Filipina)
Raffy's self-introduction is in the Puppy Wiki
Links: The Filipino Americans | Picture Collection | Books | Corregidor Island, A War Memorial | Heavenly beaches at Boracay | Diver's paradise at Anilao | Must-know for travelers
Bring Puppies, Have Tropical Vacation !
Have a tropical vacation in the Philippines for unbelievable prices (something like $100 for a three-day scuba diving expedition!), or even free homestay in one of the villages. What do you have to offer in return? Maybe bring some Puppies - yes, resurrected (refurbished) PCs for a school or two. You see, old PCs may be everywhere in your country but can not find their way to where they are needed because of cost. They get taxed when they are moved! But in this country, there is a "Balikbayan Box" plan, meaning, boxes with goodies from overseas are let in without questions or taxes, expecially when sent by overseas residents (called Filipinos). [Example, from the US, shipping of the big box takes 90 days and costs $100.]So if a tropical vacation is within your interest, you can try finding a low-fare seat to Manila (usually via Northwest Airlines), book your flight, and let us handle your itinerary. You may have to pay for inter-island trips, but residence will be mostly free, to be offered by villagers. Are these villages like paradise? Well, some sort of, as the people there are not yet too commercialized. And the vilagers speak English and are very friendly to guests.
You may find a local (a Filipino) in your area. Just try visiting your church during Sundays and find some jolly, brown-to-fair skinned people speaking English (with Hispanic or American accent), and you will easily find your way to one of the many villages in the Philippines.
Please inquire at ra f f y m n _a t _ y a h o o _ c o m.
What to Expect
Although forgotten in a school corner, this board states eloquently why children should always receive our attention. The number of children in the country is growing. Population control has met the conservative stance of the dominant catholic church, thus allowing population growth at a high level of over 2 percent per year. Yet growth of the economy has averaged only more than 3 percent, resulting to little improvement in school resources and standard of living. Given the recent oil shocks and the accumulating public debt, the situation is hardly expected to improve. More and more Filipinos (the natives) migrate to other countries, but they regularly come home, especially during the Christmas season. It is this phenomenon that prompted the granting of "balikbayan" (coming home) privilege to the overseas citizens. Send boxes home then claim it - no questions will be asked and no taxes will be collected.
Kids' talents will always suprise us. Here, a Japanese guest (lady in glasses) asks the kids to sing with her, and those around her enthusiastically oblige. With TV and radio everywhere, even Japanese songs and movies reach the many islands of the country. However, books are scarce and computers are almost non-existent. Ironically, in the top ranks of government, powerful PCs and licensed software are the centerpieces of procurement programs. Corporate lobbying will always be there, money will change hands, but in the villages, life will be the same. Bringing some Puppies to these villages together with stories of good governance have the promise to change the people's perspective and resolve to act.
This is one situation in a city public college. There is a computer class going on. The computers are in a single row by the wall, and all the students sit face-to-face with the PCs (or at least the first row of students do). Those in the back can watch or do other things. Where there are available PCs, like in public offices, the prevailing class of PC software has produced a culture of fear of "computer viruses", contributing to an artificial absence of PCs, as a computer can be used only by one person. With Puppies, this will be the new culture: "bring your own software and data, and share a PC".
The teachers are very talented and resourceful, usually women, who enjoy "first-class citizen" status in the country. Women are not expected to do difficult chores, and therefore their feminine features are accentuated. Unlike their Asian counterparts, Filipino women enjoy autonomy and high social status. But at times, poverty drives the women to look for employment overseas. Many teachers are also leaving for more rewarding work abroad. The Filipino woman you meet in church could in fact be a teacher.
While guests take photos in the background, the hosts take pride in the successfully concluded school activity. Students Topet and Aileen (wearing white shirts) pose with local officials who helped coordinate the activities of the guests.
The author's home unit is an institute offering graduate studies in development work. In this picture, the author (wearing blue) poses with (from left) guest Takeshi Higashimura, tour expert Elmer Antioquia, and Institute Director Aser Javier.
by Raffy Mananghaya
Note: One reader complained that she landed in this page while searching for Philippine dances. No problem - the picture above links to books on Philippine dances, so her search effort was not in vain!
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