Hello. Welcome to my country - the Philippines! I want to promote the Philippines, not just because I am a Filipino who lives here, but because the Philippines is a country that is so welcoming, so beautiful, and so diverse in a lot of ways. In this blog site, I’ve written many articles about the good places to visit here, the realities of life, and the challenges of the modern times we Filipinos are facing. I know those blogs are just a tiny portion of the whole story about the Philippines so in this another post series, I would highlight good stuffs that would more likely make you appreciate the land of the Filipinos in a more positive and engaging way. Laiya - One of the Most-Visited Beaches in the Philippines During Summer Boats in Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan If you’re reading this post right now and you happened to be not a Filipino, I suggest you continue up until the last word. You will get to discover what truly a good life is here in the country. ...

There can never be equality in this world. As a Filipino observer, this is what I learned over the past decades of my life here on the Philippines. Perhaps, many of you will agree that good and evil forces are the key players in this innocent planet. For the religious, its angel and demons who fight each other. For the politicians, it would be the majority versus the minority. For world leaders, the allied and axis powers do take over the world. But for the kids, it is simply the heroes and villains. This post is something you may not like and I sincerely apologize if it would hurt your feelings or bring you harm, especially with the photos I am going to share here. With all these never-ending racism, discrimination, abuse of power, terrorism, oppression, and inequality happening around the Philippines and the whole world, are not those so-called “superheroes” already dead? It’s only in the movies where good ending happens, but in real life, the cycle of winning and losing just keep on...

“Ang kabataan ang pagasa ng bayan.” (The youth is the hope of the nation.) –  Dr. Jose Rizal, Philippine National Hero Quite a rhetoric statement by  Jose Rizal  if you will examine, but if taken literally, yes, it conveys the truth about the youth. When adults are done, the new generation whom were once youth, will take care of the country. So needless to say, that is how life cycle goes in this planet, in any country. The youth is the hope of their own nation for they will be next in line to rule, run, lead, and build the country. However, what makes the statement rhetoric is that not all youth can be trusted if it’s about shaping the nation in the near future. Even the then youths whom are now the adult citizens of the country, they lose the quality of being a “hope” of this nation. Children Playing in a Park You may or may not agree with me on this interpretation of mine but I believe there is one truth we can both agree with. And that is: Hindi pa huli ...

Filipinos are known to have strong family ties. That despite of the fact that we have to leave our families and friends behind to work somewhere far, we still choose to pay a visit them whenever the time allows. In a way, these fiesta tradition, Christmas holidays, holy week, election day, and other occasion days are what brings Filipinos together. During these days, bus terminals, seaports, and airports are full of Filipinos queuing up for their rides heading home. It’s in a Filipino wish list - to go back home no matter what. When I got my first job in the city back in 2005, there’s always this feeling that I wanted to go back in my home province and see how things go on there. You know that feeling of missing home and you’re too far away. You really need patience, more of it. Back then, I want to see my parents, my friends, and relatives whom I had grown up with. I want to see the green environment, that place that made me a person that I am today. Since then, I tried maki...