Comments...

Deedee's My Impossible Quest

I have nieces who are "Amerisians". They too struggle with their identity and their sense of belonging is always in question. Dee, what you had in the past is part of who you are. You probably will never get over them because of the heartaches. I know I'm generalizing here, but older Filipinos tend to not wear their emotions on their sleeve. Hugging, kissing, tucking your kids to bed were not common practice then. Kissing your elders hand is ingrained at such an early age, but for some reason, older parents never really encouraged their children to openly display their emotion. And as far as people staring when they see you, I'd probably do a double take myself if I saw you and hear you. C'mon. it isn't everyday one sees who they think is a Flip with your coloring AND your accent. People's accents have always fascinated me to begin with.
The most important thing is that you're past that. You have a beautiful family who loves you. Aiden is a better person today because of who you are. You've enveloped him with such wholesomeness and that your heritage makes him just as unique as you. Isaac is a very lucky man to have you as his other half. I am grateful to have met you in this board, of all places. I can honestly say, I've met more interesting, caring individuals in this site than I have in my lifetime. You really are a redhead in every sense of the word ... hahaha.
Comment from rickytagamanaoag - 13/04/07 6:31 AMIn 1988 

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On Home Improvement

Hi Archie, I commend you for having such patience in restoring an old house.  That reminds of our friends who bought a very old rotten house that no one would dare buying it and thru their love of old things and being artists, they were able to transform a real dream house.  Such a jewel. Very classy and with an excellent taste. Euhhh, is it ok if I could drop by to your house this summer in July and say hello? No worries, just offer me a fine lemonade....that will do.  I won't invade you.  But if you insist....I might have a second thought. ha!ha!ha!    
Comment from larigolotte2412 - 12/04/07 3:46 PM

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On SS's e-mail..

So there's a Ricky AND Archie of DC and AJ. These are FOUR different individuals. Ay-yay-yay! SS, my problem is changing my mindset coming from abroad going to the Philippines. I will never get used to cold showers. What's funny is that people say it's better to take showers in the morning because it's not supposed to be as cold. Well, it is, every single time I get under that cold shower I let out a yelp. It doesn't matter what time of day it is. Another funny story involves my daughter when I took her for a visit three years.  She starting yelling that there's no "thingy" to flush the toilet. I told her from the other side of the door to use the bucket, fill it with water, and pour it into the bowl. Then she yells back, that it isn't going down. As it turned out, she was slowly pouring the water in. I had to show her the art of dumping a whole bucket of water in WITHOUT getting splashed! She wanted to take the next flight back after that ... hahaha.
Comment from rickytagamanaoag

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In 1988, my wife and three kids went home to the Philippines. The three grew up in Toronto.

Our first stop from the airport was a house in Paraniaque. We rang the bell at the gate and since our flight was delayed the owner ( they expected us earlier) were already asleep. While waiting for the servant to open the gate, the two girls were looking up a guava tree near the gate.."Dad, " said one girl"there are so many BUGS in this tree!"

"I know, I know.." but please do not make any such comments when we are already inside the house." I pleaded. "We might hurt the feelings of the owner.." We were to stay there overnight and the next day we will travel to Pangasinan..

"Okay" my 13-year old daughter said. She is beside her 11year old sister.

So we went inside the house. The host was happy to have us "Canadians" as house guests. I saw the two girls starting to scan every inch of the living room from the floor to the ceiling while we chatted with the host in Tagalog. Then one of them said: "can we go to the bathroom?" They were shown the door to the CR. ( Filipinos call their bathrooms Comfort Rooms ). So the two girls stepped inside.

Seconds later, they gave a blood curdling scream.."Bugs!!! Big Bugs!!!" Then they ran out of the CR. I went to see what scared them.

It was the first time in their lives to see  large cockroaches creeping on the walls. I told them to get used to those because they will see more of those critters before they would fly back to Toronto after a month---#

--vic

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