It’s the start of the rainy season, and what better way to spend a cold and wet day than to indulge in a cry fest? Yeah, it’s probably due to all that drought we experienced just a month ago, but with the sudden (and very welcome) rain showers we’ve been experiencing, it’s like every Filipina woman’s idea of a good time is to stay home in their rattiest sweats and have a good cry over a nice movie and a cup of cocoa. Combine the rain with a few tears, and presto! Have we got the wettest season ever or what? BTW, put those phones away!

What is it with Pinoys and dramatic movies or soap operas? Ever since the 70’s, the Filipino movie-goer and soap opera watcher has been barraged with tear jerkers on the big screen and on their TVs. Our soap operas are not complete if there isn’t a female character that is being maltreated or openly scorned due to her station in life/ her lack of looks/ the fact that she is adopted/ the fact that she has a fish tail instead of legs. Oh yes, there is always something to cry about in Philippine cinema or television. Continue reading “The Top Four Dramatic Movies that Filipinas Can Relate To” →

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re like most people, you’re probably scratching your head right now and wondering what to give your dad. I mean, let’s be honest,  if your dad is anything like my dad, most likely he knows what he likes and he sticks with it. Meaning, if he’s a hardcore basketball fan, then he’ll want some courtside tickets, just like what you gave him last year (and the year before that). Then he’ll pat you on the back and mumble his thanks. At this point, you don’t even see any reason to break with tradition, so you’ll keep on giving him the tickets year after year, and you know that he’ll be happy, right? Right?

When we think about fathers, we picture the strong, stoic figures of the household. Remember the time when you bumped your head, or skinned your knee? It was mom you ran to for hugs and comforting, and dad was the one who would take a perfunctory look at the affected area, pat you on the shoulder, and tell you to tough it out, before handing you a band aid or some ice. So dads won’t appreciate a Hallmark moment every now and then, yeah? Maybe. But beyond the usual gifts, have you really tried to show your dad that you appreciate him? More importantly, when was the last time you did that? Continue reading “How to Show Your Dad that You Appreciate Him” →

Tourists who have made multiple trips to Southeast Asia know the drill: sunbathe and frolic in the beaches, sample the street food, mingle with the locals, and shop. Though people will swear by the great shopping in Europe or the US, when it comes to bargain finds, nothing beats Asia.

With a warm, tropical climate and easy-going, friendly people, the Philippines is one of the countries in South East Asia that has seen a steady increase of tourists with each passing year. Most visitors have been to the country several times, and a lot of them have considered relocating to the country on a permanent basis. Foreigners travel to the Philippines to experience a quality night life, enjoy the picturesque beaches and great food. But apart from these, there are many other reasons why they choose to stay for good.

• Visas and Immigration

Prospective expats intending to work in the Philippines for less than six months will be required to apply for a special work permit. For periods exceeding six months, you will need to apply for a Philippines work permit from the embassy in your home country. All Continue reading “What You Need to Know Before Moving to the Philippines” →

Mama, Mommy, Mother, Mamita, Mumsy, Inay, Nanay. These are the different ways we Filipinos refer to our moms, and with Mother’s Day just around the corner, what better way to show them that we love then than to recognize all the different types of Filipino moms? You probably thought there was just one type, didn’t you? There’s no denying that our moms love us to pieces.

And though sometimes we don’t get them at all, in the end, we finally arrive at the conclusion that they only want the very best for us. Some of their mothering habits are often endearing, sometimes frustrating, and sometimes just plain baffling, but one thing’s for sure—we can’t help but love them more. Here are the types of moms that we’ve grown up with. Continue reading “The Different Types of Pinoy Moms” →

Last time, we featured the different destinations where one could go for a nice summer retreat in the Philippines. We featured Metro Manila haunts, Tagaytay attractions, and places of interest in Baguio City. This time, let me take you around the various wonders down south, in the Bicol region.

Ah, Bicol. A land of fiery cuisine, gorgeous ladies, and stunning views, it is located at the southernmost part of Luzon, and it has some of the most unpredictable weather in the country. The morning could start out being bright and sunny, then dark rain clouds will soak the whole region with unexpected rain showers. This is also a place that experiences the full power of the monsoon Continue reading “Part II: How to Spend Summer Vacation in the Philippines” →

After saving up for so many months, you finally have a brand new phone. It’s the latest model, and it’s sure to be the envy of your friends. The only problem is, you don’t have enough money to fund your calls and text messages to your ever-growing number of contacts. Suddenly, the guy with the ratty old Nokia from the mid-2000’s who seems to have an endless source of load looks a lot happier compared to little ol’ broke you. Is there a way to get more call and text messaging credits and perhaps Internet access without spending a lot?

If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be happy to know that Globe Prepaid has a lot of promos that will enable you to communicate with your friends and loved ones as often as you want. Globe operates one of the largest and most technologically advanced fixed line, mobile, and broadband networks in the Philippines, making it the top mobile network choice for the technologically savvy younger market. With 65 percent of the Filipino youth owning at least one cell phone, Globe has thought of ways to make calling, texting, and getting Internet access easier and more budget-friendly. Here are the latest promotions that are a big hit for Globe Prepaid subscribers: Continue reading “The Latest Prepaid Promos from Globe” →

Last year, a bill filed in the House of Representatives required Overseas Filipino Workers to send money back to their dependents or family in the Philippines, or else their passport will not be renewed. Ambassadors, Consul Generals, Chief of Mission, or Charge d’ Affaires are authorized to withhold the renewal or approval of the passport of an OFW who fails to send money home, unless he or she shows proof of compliance of the remittance requirement. According to the bill’s author, OFW Family Club Party List Rep. Roy Seneres, the bill aims to protect the families or relatives of OFWs who have been neglected and abandoned in the Philippines. Seneres also said that there have been reports of families or dependents of OFWs who have complained of the failure of their OFW relatives to send support to them, and if the Remittance Law comes to pass, then it will require OFWs to send a big portion of their earnings home, as much as 50 percent or maybe even more.

Now wait just one minute, what is this, exactly? Has Seneres been huffing nail polish fumes or something equally nasty that perhaps has driven him to propose this law? I see a storm brewing on the horizon, and the aftermath of this is not gonna be pretty. Continue reading “Why I Strongly Oppose House Bill 3576 or the Remittance Law” →