Filipina Heart Blog

Philippines Typhoon

filipi10 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:37:28 +0000

As you have no doubt heard, Manila was hit hard by a typhoon. Around 250 have died, and the total is now around 500 after mud slides across northern Philippines. The city is still flooded even now, here is a video of what has been happening.

Some of my wife’s family lives in Manila, and we are yet to hear if they are alright or not. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the family’s dealing with this tragedy.

Remembering Michael Jackson – Inmates Perform Thriller

filipi10 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:11:54 +0000

As all of you have no doubt heard, the King of Pop Michael Jackson has passed away. Filipino inmates decided to give a trubute to him performing Thriller, enjoy!

Philippine Fiesta

filipi10 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:02:00 +0000

Once a year in the small town of Kananga, Philippines ( Where my wife grew up ) a Fiesta takes place that involves the entire town. People are all over the streets celebrating and drinking the native drink tuba, the alcoholic drink that does not give you a hang over. The Fiesta is about family, and enjoying karaoke, eating, and as said before, drinking. Below is a picture of a traditional Philippines Fiesta in Cebu.

There is also a Philippines Fiesta that is held in the United States for American Filipinos to enjoy. The two-day Philippine Fiesta is one of the biggest indoor gathering of Filipino Americans in the East Coast. It features a trade pavilion with exhibitors from both the United States and the Philippines, a cultural festival with local groups and performers, and a concert featuring top artists from the Philippines. Furthermore, on the Friday night before the Philippine Fiesta weekend, a gala is held to welcome exhibitors, dignitaries, performers, Miss Philippine Fiesta Pageant finalists, and other special guests.

For more information about the Philippines Fiesta held here in the US visit www.philippinefiesta.net

Lucky Me Pancit Canton

filipi10 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:25:21 +0000

Today I wanted to share a funny commercial I found for Lucky Me Pancit Canton. I loved Pancit Canton when I was staying in the Philippines, and I still miss it now that I am home in the states again. My favorite flavor was sweet and spicy in the orange bag, masurap!

Get Well Soon

filipi10 — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:41:21 +0000

When I was in Ormoc City for the first time, shortly after my wedding, I got a bad throat infection. My wife’s brother in law Charlie, helped us to find a good doctor in the city. He told me never go to the hospital because it is very dirty. I asked him, “where do people go when they are sick if they can’t afford a private doctor?” He said they just don’t go at all, or find a healer.

The Doctor he found me was good at speaking English, and very knowledgeable about my particular element. He gave me something that worked right away, and I was healed in a day or so. Me and the Doctor had some time to talk, and I asked him if he will ever come to the United States, and he said “No, there is no tuba there.” ( Tuba the alcohol made from coconuts )

Anne Curtis

filipi10 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:42:30 +0000

Anne Curtis is a Filipino-Australian commercial model and actress currently active in the Philippines. She was 13 on her vacation in the Philippines and was spotted by a talent scout of a fastfood chain, Jollibee. She is best known for her roles as Celine Magsaysay in Maging Sino Ka Man and as Imang/Fatima, the title role in Kampanerang Kuba. Both of these shows aired on the ABS-CBN network in the Philippines. She can be currently seen in the new 2008 film When Love Begins…

Philippines typhoon, ferry capsized over 700 missing

filipi10 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:58:30 +0000

Officials announced that 28 passengers of the ferry MV Princess of Stars washed ashore after treading water for about a day. Most from the capsized ship are presumed dead or still missing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families effected by this tragedy.

ABOVE: Alaysa Caranoo waits for any news of her missing brother, who was on board the capsized ferry MV Princess of Stars.

Visa process length

filipi10 — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:54:28 +0000

Me and my wife got married in December of 2006, I stayed in Manila for a total of two months. After than I came back home, although it was very hard to leave the Philippines without my wife. We started the visa process in April of 2007. I hired a lawyer to handle everything that needed to get done in the US, because I was planning to go back to the Philippines to be with my wife. The Lawyer said the entire process would take about 6 to 8 months. I when back to the Philippines on May 17th 2007. We stayed in Ormoc together during my stay, waiting until we got called to Manila for my wife’s interview. I wanted to be there with my wife to help her with all that needed to be done. Once we got the interview date we traveled up to Manila. Thankfully my wife got her visa approved at the US Embassy. We made plans to go back to United States, together this time. We arrived in California on 16th of may 2008, then arrived home in New Mexico on may 17th. It took a little over a year, and I was away from the united states for one year. Strange, we came to United States exactly one year after I left! So anyway I think it will take around a year or so to get your visa if you get married in Philippines. Let me know if your experiences are shorter.

Pizza Party

filipi10 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:02:42 +0000

I stayed in the city of Ormoc during most of my stay in the Philippines. There really isn’t much to do in Ormoc, as my wife says when I ask her to go out somewhere, “There’s nothing to do here.” Anyhow if your a pizza lover, like me, you won’t like Ormoc very much. Pizza choices I have tested included, Buns and Pizza, Tata, and a pizza shop near the water ( I think its called OMC Pizza ). Jonalyn, my wife, told me there used to be a Greenwich pizza in Ormoc, but it went under.

1. Buns and Pizza – has the best pizza in Ormoc in my opinion. The sauce there isn’t over done, their cheese is the best tasting too. I would usually get the ham and cheese pizza, but one time I tried the chicken pizza which was actually pretty good.

2. Tata Pizza – is alright, they tend to burn the bottom of the pizza and that never taste good. They have two locations in Ormoc.

3. OMC Pizza – is ehh, they don’t put sauce on their pizza so its kind of strange and dry. I tried to ask them to add sauce but the pizza I received still didn’t have any sauce ( they probably just didn’t understand me ).

You have to understand, in the Philippines pizza sauce is like sweet BBQ sauce, NOT tomato sauce. If your in Manila there are Pizza Hut’s and it is so masarap ( delicious )! I recommend the bacon cheese burger with sweet tomato sauce.. mmm!

Aiza Marquez

filipi10 — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:16:35 +0000

Aiza Marquez is a promising young actress from the Philippines. First appeared on a McDonald’s TV ad. She has had acting ambitions ever since she was a child. After being discovered to do commercials, Aiza was then tapped by the Viva Artists Agency to be part of their pool of artists. The rest, as they say, is history. She has since appeared in movies (“Abakada Ina”, among others), television commercials (“Pop Cola”) and tv shows (“H2K”). Updated Every Monday!