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You are here: Home / Archives for Filipino Culture

May 21, 2015 by feyma

Dear Feyma: Needs advice on cheating husband!

Dear Feyma - Got a Problem?  Ask Feyma!
Dear Feyma – Got a Problem? Ask Feyma!

Hi readers I got this email from a reader on my other blog. She emailed me privately and asking some advice for her niece’s problem. To be honest I just don’t know what to tell her. I am asking you guys’ advice on what to tell her. I’ve seen and heard too many stories of cheating spouses. I want you guys’ input to what I should advise and tell this lady on what to do. Some of the words in the emails were written in Tagalog. I tried to interpret in English as good and as accurate as possible.

Dear Feyma, I’m a reader of some of your blog. You don’t know me. But I will introduce my self. My name is Mindy. My family lives in Northern Luzon. I am an OFW in Kuwait. I am writing and needing advice for my niece. She lives there in the Philippines. She has been married to her husband for over 5 years now. They had a baby last year. Her husband is a seaman. He travels abroad, works on a ship.

My niece was shocked when her husband came home last March 2015. He didn’t give any money to my niece. He told my niece that he wants to separate. My niece asked him to just stay for their daughter’s sake. The husband don’t want to be married anymore. My niece told me that when her husband started going abroad his family said bad things about my niece. Her husband got help in going abroad financially from the parents of my niece. When my niece give birth to her baby the Papa & Mama of my niece paid the hospital and other bills, until now the husband did not pay them. After the husband went abroad many times, they bought house and car. My niece wants to sell the house and car and all the other properties now that he wants to separate. The husband told my niece that she won’t get anything. He even get all the jewelries and electronics gadgets that he gave to my niece. 

It turns out now that the husband is having a relationship with the working student that was helping my niece while she was pregnant. That working student was sent by the parents of the husband. My niece found out the relationship when she accidentally open the private email of the husband because they share a laptop. The husband forget to log out. My niece saw all the emails. He denied but my niece showed him the email. He still denies. The husband abandoned the baby now.

My niece was just so shocked that she doesn’t know what to do. What should my niece do? Salamat sa payo (advice). I will just wait for your reply. Sincerely, Mindy.

Honestly I’ve been hearing too many stories like this. It even happened to our neighbor before it’s the lady that works abroad, similar situation the lady went abroad to work in the Middle East. When she gets home the husband already had someone on the side, so they separate went back abroad and later the lady end up marrying an OFW that she met there in the Middle East. Others too, the lady who works abroad found someone there (abroad) and later the lady will separate to the husband here and she moves in later to her lover abroad.

Too many stories that probably you hear or it happens to someone you know. I want to hear what would you guys advice if it happens to someone you know? I will pass you guys message to Mindy.

I really appreciate any advice given to Mindy or to those readers that were just shy to share here.

Filed Under: Daily Life, Expats, Family, Feyma, Filipino Culture, financial, Live in the Philippines, Living in The Philippines, Relationships Tagged With: Gifts to the Philippines, Live in the Philippines, Web Magazine, WowPhilippines

March 26, 2015 by feyma

Death: A subject that’s mostly avoided in the household!

I was just browsing the news here in the Philippines. I came across a story of a former actress that died due to cancer. Her hubby was interviewed and he really said that he is lost now after losing his wife. They’ve been married for more than 3 decades now. By the way, they got married at a very young age. So really, as if they both grow up and matured together. That’s the reason why they’re had a very close relationship.

It really got me thinking because she died still a fairly young age. When the husband said that “he is lost without her”. I can’t blame him for saying that statement. When we first came here to lived, I can really see Bob will say that similar lines, because I know that Bob will have a hard time surviving without me. I’m not exaggerating it but that’s just the truth with us. Bob would really get lost if I went ahead of him. Even my immediate family or his immediate family will say that too. They know because if I was out of the house for a few hours Bob will be antsy. I’m not sure if part of the reason because we never been apart for a long time (days) in the States before. He is used to having me at the house all the time. He works at home pretty much since the early years of our marriage. I’m happy to say that he is getting better about it now. For the past few years now he is good already.

Bob and Feyma at Lemlunay Resort in Sarangani

Bob and Feyma at Lemlunay Resort in Sarangani

When I first arrived in the US, Bob and I really talked about death. At first it caught me off guard. When he explained to me that we have to talk about it since all my family lives far away from us. He has to know what do I want if something happened to me there. Do I want my body be shipped here or be buried there? I told him not to spend the money on sending my body here, I want to be buried there since at that time we’re living there. When we first moved here, that’s one of the things we talked about too. I asked him the same questions if something happened to him does he wants his body be shipped there, he said no need, he wants to be buried here. Our kids know that too.

Me and my friends were together for our summer party there. We talked about that similar subject. Some had the same reaction (the newbie there) as I had before, mostly that were already there for a long time were so open about talking about the topic. But it got all of us friends to open our minds when one of our friend died, she was hit by a car and died instantly. She lives just a few blocks away from us. Her son stayed at our house almost everyday to play with Chris. Luckily she already had a Will made. Everything went smoothly after she passed. She states in her Will that she wants to be cremated. It goes on the will that she wants her ashes be distributed in her property in Luzon, if I remember. Her husband and her son came to the Philippines to do what she said. Bob and I were lucky enough to be visited by her son when they came here.

Honestly, us that have kids we really had to talk and have a “Will” made by the lawyer. Really at the early age we should have it done. I think with the internet nowadays people are already open about death.  It’s not taboo to talk about death anymore.

For you expats here in the Philippines, if something happen to you are you wanting to ship your body to the place you’re from? Or do you just want to be buried here? Is it important to you to be brought back to your birthplace? Feel free to say what you think.

Cheers!

Filed Under: Daily Life, Expats, Feyma, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Live in the Philippines, Living in The Philippines Tagged With: Gifts to the Philippines, Live in the Philippines, Web Magazine, WowPhilippines

March 5, 2015 by feyma

Shopping: It’s more fun in the Philippines!

When I was growing up in the province of Malapatan, Glan (South Cotabato then, became Sarangani Province now), my mom would want to buy something for the household she goes to Dadiangas then (called GenSan now). The only big stores I mean like a small mall, at that time was Kimball Plaza (I think built in late 70’s), it burned down around 2002 and Datu Complex. I think Datu Complex was closed around that year or two after that too. Before the sad event, people were just so happy shopping there. Going to those places when I was a kid the place its always jam-packed. Just think about it, since that’s the only few malls in town. The people that were shopping there were the people from the nearest towns like Marbel, Polomolok, Kiamba and the other side of the bay Malapatan, Glan and the smaller towns, and of course the people of GenSan.

At around Mid 90’s, GenSan was the boom town and too many malls were being built. KCC was built and it’s packed with people that the business were in retail (geared more for sari-sari store). Now KCC built one of the fancy mall in GenSan “The Veranza Mall”. It’s really like the annex of the KCC mall. SM GenSan, I think is the nicest SM mall that’s built in Mindanao. It used to be GenSan was quiet after sundown. Nowadays as if the city never sleeps. I’m happy that GenSan improved a lot.

Felcris Centrale - A brand new mall in Davao

Felcris Centrale – A brand new mall in Davao

I could say the same thing with Davao city. When we first arrived here to live in 2002, Davao just had a few nice malls. Its a bit better than GenSan I should say . It’s just simple malls not fancy at all. It used to be that the small neighboring towns comes here to Davao city to shop. Nowadays, those little towns have malls of their own already too like Toril, Tagum and Panabo. Living here for a long time now, I can say that no need for us to be going special trip to Manila if you don’t really need a super fancy stuff. You can almost find anything you want here. If your wife want expensive and branded stuff you can almost always get that here, I think. If she wants those super expensive bags or shoes that the famous people use, then you might have to go to Manila, HongKong or other Asian countries. It’s not a problem too for flight, some airlines now fly from other cities here in the Philippines to other Asian countries.

Other parts of Mindanao malls were being built too. I’ve seen it advertise on TV or the malls here they showed of the branches they have all over the Philippines. For sure Gaisano Malls dominates Visayas and Mindanao. Here in Davao, we have few Gaisano malls (2 here in the downtown Davao, 2 in Toril, 1 or 2 in Tagum, 1 in Panabo). The main Gaisano here in Davao city, they improved that mall a lot to compete with the other malls. Now we have 2 SM malls herein the city. Here in Davao, just near to our house we have SM mall, NCCC mall, S & R Membership Store and the new one now that were just opened a week or two ago. It’s from Felcris. They also own Chimes mall.  Their brand new mall is called Felcris Centrale.

Most malls have grocery stores, department stores, appliance center, restaurants, post office and other shipping courier, pet shops, bakery, payment center for your house bills, banks, ATM machines, government offices, play area for the kids, riding train for the kids, conference rooms, theaters and many more features.

Really shopping nowadays got even better. If you have the hang of it, use the internet to shop. You don’t have to fight the traffic. Send it to your place. Use LBC courier, they almost ship to any place in the Philippines. That I know because we use them for shipping for our business.

Have fun shopping!

Filed Under: Daily Life, Davao, Expats, Feyma, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Live in the Philippines, Living in The Philippines Tagged With: Gifts to the Philippines, Live in the Philippines, Web Magazine, WowPhilippines

February 19, 2015 by feyma

Coming home for a visit!

I was talking to a friend  tonight. She called me up since we haven’t seen each other for quite awhile. Both of us were just so busy lately. Also since my cell phone I lost all of my contact numbers.. I thank God for FB and email, I am still in contact with some people even though I don’t have their number.

Anyway, she was telling me that whenever her daughter and son-in-law visit the Philippine again, she wants us to get together. Her daughter lives now in the US. She married a law enforcement officer from the mid-west in the USA if I remember. I sometimes corresponds with her daughter especially if her mom comes over to visit us.

Back home, with a Balikbayan Box

Back home, with a Balikbayan Box

My friend mentioned that her daughter will not be bringing that many gifts (fondly called pasalubong here). The daughter is a bit worried because she has so many friends to see but not much time to see them. My friend told her daughter that, she would rather have her and son-in-law here than the pasalubong. The daughter will not be staying long here since the husband just allowed short vacation (less than 2 weeks). The daughter said that they will not be going places, she just wants to hang out at their house and be with her mom and dad and her siblings. I told my friend that I understand those sentiments.

I’m telling my friend that when I used to visit here with Bob and kids, I usually just stay with my Papa & Mama at the house. My dad was so sickly. The whole 3 weeks that we took our vacation here, during daytime me and Chris stayed at the house. Bob and my siblings would go to town to buy stuff needed and our groceries. We paid big money for our fare not to hang out with other people but with my parents. To be honest, I was happy that we let Chris stay a lot at my parents house. It really made my dad happy. Few months after my dad saw Chris, my dad passed away. Next visit same thing me and the kids stayed with my mom, hang out with her. Even sometimes Bob went to see friends we stayed behind.

Anyway, my friend’s daughter is kind of worried that her friends might get upset/hurt that they will not be getting any pasalubong. They’re trying to save some money for something too that’s important to them. I told my friend to tell her daughter that “if she really has true friends with gifts or without they should be happy seeing her and the husband”. My friend said too that she’s telling her daughter that they will just buy little things from here to give. My friend didn’t really care that lots of people here likes the product that come from abroad. I said if it’s given, be happy with it.

I also told my friend if your daughter really is worried, another options for her daughter to do would be slowly buy stuff now and send balikbayan boxes almost the time they come here and just store at her parents house and they will open it when they arrive. The daughter will be coming for a visit before Thanksgiving in the States this year. So they still have time to send balikbayan boxes then.

Really Bob, our kids and I will be happy seeing the daughter of our friend and her son-in-law. I saw her daughter when we were just new here from the States. Really that was over 10 years ago already.

Filed Under: Daily Life, Feyma, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Live in the Philippines, Living in The Philippines, Travel Tagged With: Gifts to the Philippines, Live in the Philippines, Web Magazine, WowPhilippines

January 22, 2015 by feyma

Thinking of donating blood!

End of last year was really pretty bad on both side of my family. My first degree cousin at the Rodriguez clan (my mom’s side) died third week of December, I was informed by my niece that she’s sick just middle of last year. I just thought that it wasn’t so serious. So shocked finding that she died a few months after. During that time also my first degree cousin at the Bayoy clan (my dad’s side). She was admitted to the hospital here in Davao for her illness (diabetes & heart). She’s been sickly now for 2 years or more.

So my cousin that was in the hospital needed a blood transfusion badly. If you’re on Facebook I think you saw that message from Bob asking if somebody would be willing to give blood. Here’s the whole message on his Facebook timeline:

FB“Friends, I have a request. It is not easy for me to ask for help, but this is for someone else. My wife’s cousin is hospitalized with complications from diabetes. She needs blood. If you are in Davao and if you have type O blood, would you be willing to donate for her? If so, please pm me and we will coordinate with you. Thank you to anybody who can help.— feeling hopeful with Feyma Bayoy Martin.”

Really a lot wanted to help from the announcement of Bob on Facebook. Problem most of them live abroad.  I want to thank you guys for wanting to help out. One particular person contacted me and she was really willing to give. Luckily my cousin got blood right away. My cousin expresses her appreciation for you guys’ willingness to help and the offered prayers.

While were asking people to donate, we’re also asking our kids if they want to donate and they’re all willing to give blood for their Aunt. So I brought Aaron & Jean & Chris. When we got to the blood bank it said on the sign that anybody who want to donate to show ID and the person that donates cannot be below 18 years old. So the kids ages were okay. So we filled up papers for some info and my cousin’s info. We had to show the request from my cousin’s doctor that she really needed blood. First off to be interviewed by the person in charge was Aaron. First thing they asked what time did he go to bed the night before, Aaron answered 12am. He was out then. They immediately said, he can’t donate blood. Too late for him to go to bed. The latest should be 11 pm, they said. So I brought Chris next in line. They will not accept him, because of his mental capacity (he is a special child). I even tried to donate myself but they won’t accept because I’m taking medication.

Giving Blood

Giving Blood

So last one in the family was Jean. She was accepted. I helped out Jean on filling out the papers. Wow, all the writing was in totally deep Bisaya. Jean was having difficulty answering them. So after she filled out the papers, she waited for awhile before her name was called out. Finally when they called her, and it didn’t took her long inside and she came out. So I asked her if she’s done there? She told me that “oh they didn’t take out any blood because I’m not type O blood”. I’m shocked that the blood bank people didn’t talk Jean into giving blood even though she can’t donate to my cousin. They could have saved the blood there for other people, especially because Jean’s blood type is fairly rare, type A. I asked Jean later when we head home, that if they ask to donate would she donate? She told me yes, she would donate.

I brought Aaron and my nephew the next day. Both of them can’t donate that day because they’re blood pressure was up. The technician said they might just be so nervous about it. The next day my nephew went back and he was fine. His blood was drawn okay. So luckily my cousin really got the 3 bags she needed, one of my nephews in Kidapawan was a regular donor there and he brought some blood from there.

I was shocked that the blood bank was closed during the holidays. The Red Cross was not open 24 hours during the holidays either (they opened till midnight during New Years day). Maybe that’s also the same in the West.

philippine_red_cross_logoHelpful information for you all if you want to donate blood:

  • Sleep the night before not later than 11 pm.
  • Bring with you a valid id.
  • Make sure you’re not taking any prescription medicine.
  • Make sure you don’t have cold, fever, runny nose.
  • If you have high blood pressure they will not out take blood from you
  • Try to relax, nervousness will lead to high blood pressure. They advise there to drink plenty of water.
  • Don’t drink alcohol for awhile if thinking of donating blood.
  • People with disability can’t donate

Those are the things I remembered that they reminded there.

If possible to donate blood do so. Bob and I really encouraged our family to donate.

Filed Under: Daily Life, Davao, Expats, Feyma, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Live in the Philippines, Living in The Philippines Tagged With: Gifts to the Philippines, Live in the Philippines, Web Magazine, WowPhilippines

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