788 replies to this topic

[petesie]

What an ordeal!

Glad you made it out the other end and looking forward to hearing of your sons first impressions!

[Macman]

It's been a while since I posted on this thread, but there just really isn't much to say.  "Married" life can be very boring, but fulfilling.

 

Petesie, my son really loved The Philippines as far as the people and the food go.  He really liked Angel's friends, and got along very well with them and with her family.  He couldn't take the heat though.  It really bothered him, to the extent that he was overjoyed when it was cloudy or rainy.

 

Way back in the early stages of this thread, I mentioned that I had to pay 20,000 pesos for my annual playing rights at the golf club as opposed to the 7,500 that the Filipino members pay.   Before I left for the U.S. in May, I dropped a letter to the club president, appealing to his sense of fair play.  He brought the matter up with the board.  Much to my delight, when I got back here, I was told that my appeal was approved, and I will pay the same amount as all the other members. 

[dixon cox]

Way back in the early stages of this thread, I mentioned that I had to pay 20,000 pesos for my annual playing rights at the golf club as opposed to the 7,500 that the Filipino members pay.   Before I left for the U.S. in May, I dropped a letter to the club president, appealing to his sense of fair play.  He brought the matter up with the board.  Much to my delight, when I got back here, I was told that my appeal was approved, and I will pay the same amount as all the other members. 

 

Good for you Mac, that just goes to show that it never hurts to ask, they can only say 'no'.

 

Never ask, never get 

[Macman]

You're absolutely right, DC.  In the letter, I mentioned that  live here, and intend to die here (morbid, but true).  I pointed out that I contribute to the local and national economy with my purchases, and that I am involved with some charity work.  I support the golf club by playing more than most.  I also mentioned that it wasn't a question of money, but rather a sense of my not belonging by charging me a different fee.  I feel a lot better about the golf club now, and even picked up a trophy in the club tournament last Saturday.  Hooray for me.

[thailover57]

Love success stories, Mac! Congrats on the trophy, but you have a better trophy in Angel. Happy for you.

[Macman]

Thanks, TL57.  You've been a supporter of ours right from the start, and we appreciate it.  Angel says, "Hi."

[thailover57]

Back at you! Say Hi to her too. You are two lucky people and I couldn't be happier for you both!!!

[Macman]

We got hit by an earthquake this morning.  I had just come back from golf, and Angel was still sleeping.  We were far enough from the center to be only mildly affected.  Still, we both felt dizzy and nauseous.  We just cameback from Cebu last Wednesday.

 

http://news.yahoo.co...-063010385.html
 

There's a link. 32 dead now, and that was before the 2 aftershocks.  We went to the movies this afternoon.  With about 30 minutes to go to the end, an aftershock hit.  Angel wanted to leave, but I said that it was over now, so we might as well stay.  Then, with about 5 minutes left, another one hit.  She wanted to leave.  We got up, and then almost everyone started running out.  The crazy thing is that the people who left after the first aftershock, were all sitting on the stairs outside the theater (it's on the 3rd floor of a 4-story building.  I don't know why they felt safer there than inside the theater itself.  They were still in the building, between the 2nd and 3rd stories.  Anyway, I'm home now.  It was a dumb movie ("The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones"), but I still would have liked to see the ending.  Ah, life in The Philippines.

[thailover57]

Mac, happy to see your post and know you're all right. Scary doesn't come close to what you and Angel must have felt. Please keep posting and keep us up to date.

[Macman]

Thanks, TL.  We were lucky here on Leyte, but I saw the videos and photos of Bohol and Cebu.  Pretty scary.  Some of my friends and family sent me emails saying that I should come home, but I pointed out that I'd probably get hit by a cab in New York. As Joe Louis said, "You can run, but you can't hide." 

[thailover57]

And at this point, wouldn't it be, come visit? Cause it appears you are home!

[Macman]