It’s almost Valentines Day!

February 6, 2014 by feyma

It’s almost Valentines Day!

Valentines Day is just around the corner. Some of our readers here might be single and writing/chatting to a Filipina here in the Philippines. You might want to give an impression to the lady here (they called it pogi points). It might be a good idea for you to give something to the lady you are getting serious with online.

To get started, remember showing that you care by giving her gifts. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It will make her happy that you really take the time in planning it.

Valentine’s Day is approaching!

If you need good advice on what to give to your loved one here in the Philippines. Here are some simple and affordable gifts that you will show to your lady that you care enough for her:

Sweet surprise: selected baked good cookies and put in the box or in the basket.
Chocolate: Different kinds of chocolates (imported or local brands) it can be in the baskets or in a beautiful box that she can use for decorations or storage after munching the chocolate.
Jewelry: Fashion jewelry, pearl jewelry or the real one that will cost more, some are very expensive.
Stuffed animals like teddy bear, puppy, dolphin, monkey and others, or a stuff heart shape pillow and other nice stuffed products.
Photo Album: A pictures of you and your lady inside together, or if you didn’t meet up your lady yet in person maybe a collage of her pictures and yours in the album.
Flowers: Different kind of flower arrangements to chose from either simple arrangements and affordable, in a vase or a bouquet. If you want fancier arrangement then it will cost you more.
Nice printed shirt with hers and your face, or a mug or a plate.
Maybe a puppy or a kitty.
Camera: Lots of good and affordable cameras nowadays.
Cellphone or Tablet: Same as above, you can buy cheaper and affordable cell phone and tablets. Take note: electronics gadgets are way expensive here in the Philippines than the West.

Hope that some of the ideas that I mentioned above help a lot to those still thinking of what to give to their loved one here in the Philippines. Sometimes it’s hard to give when you don’t have any idea in mind.

We have a company that will deliver to your love one here in the Philippines. If there is anything that you want and it’s not on our site feel free to email us what you want and we will send you an invoice for it. I don’t usually mention our other site here, but I was asked from our reader here privately for a good gift for his/her loved one. That’s one of the reason why I wrote this article.

To some of you here that uses our company “Thank You” so much for the patronage. We really appreciate you guys’ business. Again feel free to let us know if there is anything you want that it’s not on our site.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

January 16, 2014 by feyma

Just a reminder folks!

A few days ago me and Aaron went to the Department of Foreign Affairs or DFA to file for our Philippines passports. First time for Aaron to get a Philippine passport and a renewal Philippine passport for me. We’ve been wanting to go there since middle of last year, but didn’t get around to it until end of the year. We know we had to be there early, I mean really early even before the mall opened. Luckily now the DFA office here in Davao City located at the third floor of SM City Mall Matina, not too far from our house. Good thing that the office is inside the mall, so it’s not so hot inside the office anymore while waiting. So Aaron and I went there like around 9:30am just right before the mall opened.

Aaron & Feyma

We already went there last year to get the applications. We just want to get the application paper from the security guards. They were just handing out outside the door of the DFA office there. We didn’t even have to fall in line for that. Our purpose of going there to renew my passport since its already expired a long time ago ever since I was still living in the States. When it’s expired (around mid 1990′s) I just didn’t bother to get a renewal since I already had my US passport anyway. At that time the Philippines would not recognize the dual citizenship yet. They just passed the law on august of 2003.

So after we (me and the kids) got our dual citizenship here early last year, we then decided to get our Philippine passports. Since Aaron is going to the States this year, its good for us to get his Philippine passport for the first time. When the person at the DFA office explained the requirements to me for Aaron to do, he could tell I am cringing every time he’s explaining. Duh in short too many requirements to fulfill. Big Sigh. One of the requirements you have to fill the same papers (7 times) and have it notarized by the lawyer. Wow unbelievable… One of the requirements that will takes us long to get is the NSO birth certificate for Aaron. They will not bend down there, the applicant had to submit the NSO birth certificate. So any Filipina giving birth in the USA should report the birth of the kid to the nearest Philippine consulate office in your area. So that the kid will have records in the Philippines too. Easier to get any Philippine documents then especially passport after dual citizenship. Unfortunately none of my kids were reported of their birth to the Philippine Consulate Office after giving birth. I never knew and never had friends that reported the birth of their kids too as far as I know. I really wish to God we did. It will be all easier for us by now then.

The personnel at the DFA office told me that the processing for the reporting of the birth (NSO) since we are in the Philippines will take around 4-6 months. Wow, really long, but we don’t have a choice but to report it. My understanding when the personnel explain, they will send the papers again to the USA (at the consulate office there) for their records that the child was born there. Send it back to the NSO office here in the Philippines for verification and approval. At least the kid already has records both countries. Oh well just have to do what they requires us to do.

So reminder again Fil-Am friends: To please report your kids after giving birth in the USA to the nearest Philippine Consulate Office in your area. Some of you might want to get a dual citizenship of your kid. It will be easier to get the Philippine passport then.

Cheers!

January 2, 2014 by feyma

Dear Feyma: My sister’s problem!

Dear Feyma, I saw your website recommended by my friend. I am writing to you maybe some Filipina went through what my sister gotten into her married life. She’s married to an American. When they were writing, the guy he is nice and getting along with my family. I am married to a guy from Europe. I am lucky to have married him. He is really a nice man. My sister on the other hand was just so unlucky in love.

Anyway, they were married in the Philippines. My family came from the Northern part of the Philippines. My family thought everything was okay with them. It looks that way anyway. My sister got her papers process after the wedding. Over a year after the wedding, she went to the States. My sister said the marriage was okay in the beginning. Few years after living together, she can see signs already of the husbands bad behavior. At first my sister stayed in the house, since they had no children yet, the husband said it was okay for my sister to go get a job. So my sister was happy since not much to do at their house. She works as a waitress in a small restaurant. I think after months of working, my brother-in-law didn’t like it that my sister was out of the house. So it didn’t take long my sister quit her job and stayed home again. Well, my brother-in-law when they had arguments starts hurting my sister. It really shocked my sister because she never thought he’s that type of a man. But he did. My sister just let go the first physical fight. But later on he started doing it more often, my sister finally said that enough is enough and move out and stayed with my cousin on the other State.

Domestic Violence

Feyma Bayoy Martin He tries to ask for forgiveness, but my sister, she’s not yet ready to be with him again. My family was not happy with the outcome with the marriage of my sister, but my parents supports my sister a hundred percent and they don’t want also my sister to be the punching bag of my brother-in-law. I know that there’s 2 sides to the story. But my sister has evidence that she’s been abuse and she sent it to my parents. So I don’t want to start a debate here. I just want to share with you what my sister been through. The husband had no power to have my sister deported since she’s already a resident of America. We thank god for that. Maraming salamat Feyma for reading my email. Hanggang sa uulitin. Hannah.

Hi Hannah,

Thank you so much for writing. I’ve heard to many stories similar to what your sister been through. But not just Filipina to foreigner kinda marriage. It’s really a universal problem. Abusive people makes excuses to abuse somebody and blame the victims for their behavior. Like your sister, I bet you she’s the one blamed by your brother-in-law of his bad behavior. You know It’s been going on also with some members of my family and other people that I know. We really tried to help out the one in our family, we want her to leave her husband but unfortunately it never happened her leaving him. He left the wife for a year or so, and we the family were so happy, but he came back and beg for forgiveness and the wife give in. Same cycle again. We just give up and leave them alone. It’s been going on for so long that we just shrug it off. Nothing we can do about it anymore. Very frustrating.

I really hope Hannah that your sister will be safe and she will really decide what’s really best for her. You and your family can’t decide about that. Praying for peace of mind for her. Good luck to you and your family especially to your sister. God bless!

October 31, 2013 by feyma

Hypocrisy

Have you guys been reading or hearing on Philippine news TV? Regarding one of the big celebrities here in the Philippines wanting to marry his girlfriend. Why would that be a problem? The guy, he is 60 years old and the girl is 16 years old. To be honest I think if the girl was over 18 it might not cause a lot commotion here.

I think one of the reasons why it makes some noise not just here but all over where lots of Filipina married to foreigners community. The guy he is so nationalistic that sometimes he sounds like he doesn’t like the Pinay to be married to the foreigners. But his sister married someone from Europe. Well that’s just his opinion. It doesn’t bother me really. But what does bother me when he’s one of those person that’s against older foreigner guys marrying the young Pinay.

Freddie Aguilar with 16 year old girlfriend

But look what he is doing. He is wanting to marry an underage girl. My Lord my daughter is older than his girlfriend. To be honest, really just thinking, I know my daughter is too young to marry any guy right now, and I know she’s just not ready to have another life (babies) to support. It’s just like babies making babies. I know that celebrity guy can afford what the young bride wants, I would also say the same to any foreigner that married to Filipina, he can afford whatever the young bride desires.

For me that celeb guy should just zip his mouth before, since he already know that he had desire for youngster. I’ve read somewhere that his second or third wife, he married her when the girl was just 17. He said he loved her too much that he let her go later. He should know better, the media now scrutinized him and the girl. Honestly I felt sorry for the girl, now she’s going to be followed by the paparazzi. And he claimed that he didn’t know the girl was just 16 years old before they had the relationship. That really shocked me. He didn’t ask her birthday or what year in school she is? Knowing the year level of the girl, he can already figure it out her age. I don’t think the girl stopped schooling. I don’t think they are too poor. Or like he said he was blinded by his love for her to backed out. It’s already too late for him to know her age he said. But what can we say the parents were okay with it, and they approved of him marrying the girl when she reached the age of 18. Not sure if they are now living in one roof. The way he said in the interview, it didn’t sound like they are living apart. But who knows.

Really, I’ve met a lot of older guys married to a young Filipina (the Pinay is over the legal age) like a little over 20′s. And you know what I saw the love and care with each other. The thing that I had in mind now with the 16 year old, most of them were so immature, just a few are not. What if hard times/trials come along, can the 16 year old think right away on what to do? Maybe some can too. This is a difficult subject to tackle because for me it’s really up to the person. But I am hoping too that it will not happen to my daughter or other members of my family. I saw a lot of what happen when a 16 year old married that early. Trouble in paradise mostly.

*** But I guess it’s not so uncommon to a young girl become the mistress of someone here (some were pushed by poverty and the parents). So I guess its just the same. It’s one of the other unending cycles here in the Philippines “The young ones (underage girl) married or living in with the older guy”. ***

August 8, 2013 by feyma

Through the years, 23 years to be exact!

This first part is from Feyma.

Wow, 23 years ago on the 9th of August Bob and I said our “I DO’s”. Another year to create precious memories together. I just can’t believe it that it has been that long ago already since we became husband and wife. We were both in our 20′s then. Him in his late 20′s and me being in my early 20′s.

Can’t believe it that we’ve been together for over 2 decades now. It’s been a good ride for us. We are blessed with our 3 good looking boys, and 2 beautiful daughters (have to brag. LOL).

It’s been a roller coaster ride for us. We totally handled it good with the grace of God the almighty.

Of course we had our moments, just like the typical and normal couple. Our marriage is far from perfect, especially with the two different cultures together. Bob would say something and I take it differently. Sometimes we argue and fight, thank God not physically. Raising voices yes we do that, who would not. Being married for 23 years and together almost everyday (24/7 for a lot of years, since Bob has been working at home for more than 20 years) what can you expect? LOL. I’m so glad Bob put up with some of my shenanigans. I think he’s the only guy that can put up with it. Ha ha ha… Really he’s an amazing husband and a father to our kids. He is really good to our girls too. He’s also good to my family especially when my parents were alive. He was so thoughtful to them. That’s why I love him more for that. I know he will do anything for me. I do the same for him.

Bob works hard to support me, our kids and some members of my family. He never complained that. We’ve been burned out on helping other members of the family especially nieces that have been so ungrateful. One thing that’s so different on the 2 cultures. Filipino way, after what happened to some of my family members so disrespectful and not appreciating what we’ve done for them. I told Bob I had it, we are not sending anybody to school anymore. Western way: they would still support the other family members because not all members of the family are the same. In short not judgmental. I really applauded him for that. He totally open my eyes. I think I was just blindsided by my anger and embarrassment. I got over it and moved on.

To Bob: I love you so much honey. You and the kids really are my life. Thank you so much for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for helping me adjusting and teaching me living the life in the States. Thank you for pampering me. You really taught me a lot in life. Love you more for that. Happy 23rd Anniversary Babe. Another year to strengthen our marriage that last a lifetime!!!

A few photos from our years together

Now, this part is from Bob.

Thank you, hon, for your kind words! You know that I love you very much! Unlike most couples, this is the first (and only) marriage for each of us, and we will keep it that way, I know that!

We have had a lot of good times together, and a few bad too, of course. I have so many great memories of my times over the past 23 years! I know you do too. When we first got married, and you migrated to the States, I was able to help teach you and help you learn the ropes of how things worked there. After a few years of that, we both learned from each other (well, I guess we did that all along too, though). Then, in 2000, we moved to the Philippines and it was your turn to start teaching me how things work here. I love you for that.

Something that a lot of our readers may not know is about cooking. When we got married and you moved to the States, I quickly learned that you didn’t know how to cook! It was not a problem for me, though, because I enjoyed cooking, and I welcomed the opportunity to make meals for you. I hope you liked the things that I cooked. I quickly bought some Filipino cookbooks and I started cooking Filipino food for you. It wasn’t always perfect, but a lot of times it turned out great. I took great pride in the fact that I always made sure that you had some kind of food from “back home” to keep you feeling comfortable in the States. You never did learn to cook very much in the States. However, when we moved to the Philippines, you decided it was your turn to take care of me when it came to the cooking department. You not only started cooking most of the meals, you also learned how to cook American food, and you always made sure that I had the kinds of foods that made me happy! I love you a lot for that!

Marrying you was the best thing I ever did, and the thing that made me happiest in life. A close second was when we grew a family. We had 3 boys in the States, and they are all good kids, and I know that both of us are very proud of our boys. Still, as much as I love our boys, and you too, we always wanted to have a girl as well. Moving here gave us the opportunity to make that addition to our family by taking in two of our nieces and making them our daughters. It has really made my family life complete, and I love the girls just as much as I do our boys.

Happy Anniversary, honey, I love you from the bottom of my heart! Thanks for writing this surprise post, and I think you will also be surprised when you see that I added the second half to it!