My friends,

Where in the Philippines are you or your loved ones from? We'd be thrilled to know. Also, please provide a monicker or description of your town, city or province, if you could.

We'll start with myself. I am from Santa Cruz, a town just south of Davao City, and otherwise known as the Investors' Haven of Davao del Sur because of so many big enterprises with situs here. My fiance in Corona, California was born and raised in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, the Spanish colonial pueblo that was originally named La Ciudad Fernandina by our Castilian founders, in honor of King Ferdinand of Spain.

How about you?

Claudeth's family (Mom, Dad and siblings)lives in Bayabas and her Aunt lives in Nazareth, areas around Cagayan De Oro on Mindanao.. I think her Grandmother lived on Iloilo but recently passed away. I am from Delta Colorado and we currently live in Santa Ana California.

My fiancee is also from Davao, the land of durian.

i was born in oras, eastern samar. i lived in tacloban, leyte until i was seven and lived in taguig, metro manila for nearly 15 yrs. hubby was born in sto tomas, batangas and was raised in tanauan, batangas. he then lived in las vegas until he joined the navy. now we reside in oak harbor, wa.

I come from Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines. It is 1,400 meters above sea level and nestled in the Cordillera Mountains. The weather here is perfect with an average temperature of 24 degrees C and can dip to around 7 degrees C during the winter months. It is regarded as a top destination for tourists visiting the Philippines, and places of interest include Burnham Park, Mines View Park, Botanical Garden, Camp John Hay and the Philippine Military Academy.

My fiance, who now lives in the Phoenix, Arizona area, was born and raised in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, a municipality created by the King of Spain in 1897.

ako sa davao din..sa davao city mismo...layo man ang st. cruz paingon naman na digos..wala pa koy nabasa na taga bangkal davao city diri sa vj.

Matina (atbang sa SM for 20 yrs.).....sa Tibungco, Davao City nami

Hubby is from MI.

layo manang tibungco uy...kaila ka kay eve congreso? taga tibungco mana sya....asa ng mi? sori ha kapoy research wala ko kabalo unsa na...thank u.

Lau jud. Wla bya. Taga Michigan akong bana.

Ai, sa A. Mabini Elementary ko grad, batch '96.

ah..sa drahs ko nag grad og highschool...ay wala diay ka kaila sa iya...sa um matina ko nag college...ikaw?

Drahs(Y2k). UM('04)

year 2000 ko nag grad sa drahs...really um pud ka?

proud manileña!

bikolana ako

My sister talks about Baguio often. She spent three years at Clark and she and her husband used to go up there for a get-a-way

my wife is also from Davao. a little of the history of Davao.
Local historians claim that the word davao came from the phonetic blending of the word of three Bagobo subgroups when referring to Davao River, an essential waterway which empties itself into Davao Gulf near the city. The aboriginal Obos who inhabit the hinterlands of the region called the river, Davoh; the Clatta or Guiangans called it Duhwow, or Davau, and the Tagabawa Bagobos, Dabu. To the Obos, the word davoh also means a place "beyond the high grounds", alluding to the settlements located at the mouth of Davao River which were surrounded by high rolling hills. When asked where they were going, the usual reply is davoh, while pointing towards the direction of the town. Duhwow also refers to a trading settlement where they barter their forest goods in exchange for salt or other commodities.

Spanish influence was hardly felt in the Davao until 1848, when an expedition led by Don Jose Uyanguren came to establish a Christian settlement in an area of mangrove swamps that is now Bolton Riverside. Davao was then ruled by a Muslim chieftain, Datu Bago, who held his settlement at the banks of Davao River (once called Tagloc River by the Bagobos). After Uyanguren defeated Datu Bago, he renamed the region Nueva Guipúzcoa, in honor of his home in Spain, and became its first governor. Uyanguren's efforts to develop the area, however, did not prosper.

A few years after the American forces landed in 1900, private farm ownership grew and transportation and communication facilities were improved, thus paving the way for the region's economic growth.

A Japanese entrepreneur named Kichisaburo Ohta was granted permission to exploit vast territories which he transformed into abacá and coconut plantations. The first wave of Japanese plantation workers came onto its shores in 1903, creating a Little Japan. They had their own school, newspapers, an embassy, and even a Shinto Shrine. On the whole, they established extensive abaca plantations around the shores of Davao Gulf and developed large-scale commercial interests such as copra, timber, fishing and import-export trading. Filipinos learned the techniques of improved cultivation from the Japanese so that ultimately, agriculture became the lifeblood of the province's economic prosperity.

Davao was formally inaugurated as a chartered city on March 1, 1937 by President Manuel L. Quezon. Thirty years later, Davao was subdivided into three independent provinces, namely Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. Over the years, Davao has become an ethnic melting pot as it continues to draw migrants from all over the country, lured by the prospects of striking it rich in the country's third largest city.

On December 8, 1941 Japanese planes bombed the city. Japanese occupation started in 1942.

In 1945, American and the Philippine Commonwealth forces liberated Davao City from Japanese forces.

Born and raised in Marikina City, another city girl!

Hola Senorita Teresita! Your fiance is Ilocano and that makes me an Ilocana. I was born and raised in Alicia Isabela, the hometown of the famous and infamous kingpins of Isabela -- The Dy family. For the record, Governor Faustino Dy was the governor of Isabela. He held that seat for many years until such time that he got old and cannot serve the office anymore. His son decided to throw his hat in the gubernatorial seat, but he lost to this radio personality named Grace Padaca. Dy filed an electoral protest arguing that Ms. Padaca is a member of the NPA and the rest as they say is history. The underdog won eventually after a lot of controversies.

HI....

Well, about me: I was born in Quezon City but grown up in the island named " Isla de Fuego" , famous to its name Siquijor...now Its time for me to do some adventures again (Found/Got my work here). Here I am back to where I belong, not actually in" Quezon City" but atleast closer to Manila and QC...Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting "Miss Bacoor Cavite""...hehehehehe..

And let me present also the place of my beloved one. He comes from a place where famous to its river.. " Mississippi"......See ya there.... muahh




Dzyrhetom

Gagalangin,Tondo Manila

Hi to all of you.!

I was born and raised in Quezon Province, 220 kms away from the center of Manila, youngest of 9 children (big family huh). After High School I moved to Manila to study and work. I got married with an office mate from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija and have two wonderful kids. The marriage didn't last long and here I am in Rhode Island with my very loving and responsible husband. He is petitioning my two kids that's why I happen to run across this Visa Journey. I will be going home on March 8 via Northwest for my kids medical on the 10th and 11th and their interview on the 23rd of March. I also have a house in Dasmarinas, Cavite where somebody is renting.

I am so excited going home and starting to pack my things at this very early because of the "pasalubongs", you know how filipinos are. If someone from you out there has the same schedule, maybe we can meet somewhere in Manila (maybe at the Mall of Asia). I'm not been there but I will visit that place where people say that it's incredibly huge and updated.

I'm glad I found this forum because I learned so much about the life of my kababayans. I am also out of work because Rhode Island has the highest unemployment rate and I'm not yet driving. Regards to all of you. Keep smiling and God bless.

My wife is from Digos City, about hour south of Davao.

I am from Dallas Texas.

taga negros ko.

My fiancee was born in Salvacion, Bayugan, Agusan Del Sur and now lives in Cainta, Rizal.

Iligan City, Lano Del Norte

Me= Malolos City, Bulacan
Hubby = Calumpit, Bulacan

Purong Tagalog po. Kawawa naman kmi wala kming alam na ibang dialect.

I was born and raised in Silang, Cavite... Purong Caviteña... Tagalog lang ang alam kong dialect.
Edward was born in St. Louis, Missouri but he grew up in Warrenton, Missouri.

I was born in Quezon City, spent most of my childhood nestled within the protective walls of Malacanang Park near Nagtahan in Manila and moved back to Quezon City in time to start highschool. Growing up within the confines of the Park was kinda cool. My father was known throughout the area, having been assigned to the then Presidential Security Command hospital. Went biking around the area with my childhood friends who were also children of military officers. Mabini Shrine was a favorite to go to, although my brother and I would sneak out through a hole in the wall to go to a sari-sari store in the nearby slums to redeem a yoyo by exchanging a soda bottle cap bearing the prize. My mother did not learn of this until we were adults......my parents would've been very cross. A boat ride across the Pasig River would take us to Malacanang Palace, so that the interior is still very familiar to me. My father and brother's barber was the barber or then Pres. Marcos. It was through my father that my brother and I were exposed to the arts...ballet, museums, operas, concertos, plays, and yes...even Martin Nievera's "On The Right Track" concert. My father was medical escort officer to certain members of the first family so that when they went to these functions, if the schedule permits, we would go, too.

My heritage is of a Spanish-Ilocano one and of a Pangasinense one. My paternal grandfather was a Spanish gentleman famer/businessman from Laoag City and my grandmother was a schoolteacher from Bacarra. Spent a lot of summer vacations there. Fort Ilocandia was an ambitious project than an uncle was part of. I have yet to go back to the beautiful Pagudpud and try the ride again on Paoay Lake. I have not been to visit for 20 years now and it seems that it will take longer for me to do so. My maternal grandfather is of the Montemayor clan from Alaminos. He was a member of the 26th Cavalry of the USAFFE based in Fort Stotsenberg (now Clark in Pampanga). He was killed in action by a Jap sniper. My grandmother is from Sta. Barbara in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. We still get our "bagoong" and salt from a nearby neighbor there. Alaminos is famous for the Hundred Islands and for the beach where Gen McArthur Landed. Oh.....the beaches.....standing tens of meters away from the shore and still have the water up to your knees. A few kilometers away from the house in Sta. Barbara is Calasiao where all these stalls in Manila that sell "puto" and "kutsinta" say their wares are from. The taste of the ones from Calasiao are really different....they are much much fresher.....and much, much cheaper, too! Further down from Calasiao is Dagupan.....home of the "bangus". On the other side from Calasiao are even more beaches.

Pity that I will be missing these...at least for awhile. When we get the chance to visit, I'd want to go and retrace my childhood and share it with my husband and children. Hopefully soon enough.

Oh...my hubby was born in Mobile, AL and basically went around the country with his family. His heart belongs to Thibodaux, LA where is grandfather's family still lives. I can't wait to meet them.

HI ate,

Where in Iligan City? Jan po kasi ako nag aral nung college..sa IIT po....Goodluck po sa atin ate...Im here in Cavite ngayon....

I'm from Cebu...pure cebuana and my fiance in West Palm Florida...

I'm from Iloilo "pure Ilongga sabi nila na malambing?" the city of prestigious festival "DINAGYANG"...where you can find also the historic Church "Church of MIAG-AO" numbers of Universities and lot more........

Im from Pototan, Iloilo. Christmas Capital of the Phils. and Rice Grainary of the Phils.

My hubby is from Naga City, Philippines. hehe God bless you all!

My wife is from Laoag City. The infamous Ferdinand Marcos is from Sarrat. I am from Hawaii and that is where we live.

I hailed from a small province of GUIMARAS, specifically in the town of JORDAN. It's just a small island composed of 5 towns. It was a sub-province of ILOILO until 1982, if i'm not mistaken. After that it became an independent province. It's a 10-minute ride by motorboat or a ferryboat from ILOILO to the island. Guimaras is well known for it's sweetest mangoes, which in fact the local government prohibits bringing of mangoes, in any form, (seed, fruit, seedling) into the locality to prevent mixed-breed. The people celebrate MANGAHAN festival every May, which is usually most harvest takes place.

Other than being well known for sweetest mangoes, the island is also known for fine, white beaches which become popular to local and foreign tourists. Alubihod and Pulang Pasayan (Red Shrimp) are just few of the finest beaches we have.

I spent most of childhood days on this island, finished high school in an exclusive catholic school for girls in ILOILO CITY. We moved to MANILA in the late 80's where i finished college.

My husband was born in COLORADO but grew up here in MISSOURI where we live right now.

wife is from tacloban city or from a small town called calubian but mama lives in tacloban city now

I'm from Negros Oriental, best know as "the place of gentle people" but working here in Cebu City.
My fiance was born in New York but live in Arizona.

I am from the Land of Promise Davao City
Soon to be husband is from Toledo, Ohio

Wife's family is from Camiguin, but she grew up Cebu.


I was born in the Phoenix area, but have lived in California for the last dozen years.

.......

The island-province of Camiguin is a pear-shaped volcanic island in the northern tip of Mindanao. It is approximately 90 kilometers north of the City of Cagayan de Oro. It is bounded to the north by Bohol Sea, to the west by Macajalar Bay, to the southeast by Gingoog Bay and to the east by Butuan Bay.

....

Among the Province's major products are coconut, cassava, banana, camote, palay, corn, fruits, coffee and vegetables. Camiguin's volcanic soil has proved to be a fertile ground for planting various crops.

....

The Camiguin culture is a mixture of both Boholano and Cebuano culture. It is very colorful and creative. The people are deeply religious, hospitable and friendly. Cebuano is the major dialect in the Province. However, in the towns of Sagay and Guinsiliban, where most of the indigenous tribes reside, the Kinamiguin dialect is still spoken. Kinamiguin is derived from the Manobo dialect with some mixture of Boholano.

http://www.camiguin.redbearnet.com/

My hometown is Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Local and foreign experts describe Vigan as a "place like no other". Being the only surviving colonial town in the country, Vigan has strung along the narrow streets of the old Mestizo District. Located in the northern part of the Philippines, Vigan is 408 kilometers north of Manila and includes an area of the China sea as a buffer zone on the western side of the town.

Vigan, earlier known as "Ciudad Fernandina", is the oldest surviving colonial city in the country. It has aupiciously escaped the bombs of World War II unlike its sister cities, Manila and Cebu. Vigan brings images of antiquated houses, cobbled narrow streets, calesas and friendly faces peering out of large windows.

Vigan was once a thriving center for trade and commerce among the people of Ilocandia and the Cordilleras. It is situated at the delta of the mighty Abra River and also adjacent to the Mestizo and Govantes Rivers going to the South China Sea. This position at the mouth of the Abra most probably enriched its existence as it was a fluvial harbor connected to the China Sea, making trade possible with other islands and with China.

Vigan was converted into a component city on January 21, 2001. In partnership with the government of Spain, the Vigan Master Plan is in the process for revitalization of the historic Vigan.

Prominent sons of Vigan include Diego Silang, Padre José Burgos, Pres. Elpidio Quirino, Rep. Floro Crisologo and Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson.

I'm from Cebu City, Sugbuanon or Cebuano......

Howdy! I am a pure-bloodied Bicolana; born in Irosin but raised in Bulusan, both in Sorsogon. About my hometowns...
Irosin: Irosin is said to come from the old Bicol word, "iros", meaning to tear down or cut off a part, usually referring to the sudden erosion of a mountain. Irosin is surrounded by mountains with Mt. Bulusan as its highest peak. It is the only inland municipality of the province of Sorsogon.
http://irosin.gov.ph/gallery/

Bulusan: Bulusan is a bicol word meaning a place where water flows. Indeed, even up to this day, water flows abundantly everywhere in Bulusan - through its rivers, creeks and even canals around the poblacion, the onrush of water is audible. The source of this abundance water is none other than Bulusan and Agingay. Hot springs and mineral water, natural fountains also dot the Bulusan landscape. The Mt. Bulusan Lake- Forest Eco-system has been decalred by the national government as a National Park. In fact, the Bulusan Lake Resort is considered as the province's premiere tourist spot, earning for itself the monicker "Switzerland of the Orient".
http://www.geocities.com/bulusan_dbeautifu...lery/index.html

My adopted hometown is Davao City, "the land of promise."
http://www.davaotourism.com/?page=gallery

Kansas, Missouri was my husband's hometown but he grew up in Colorado.

I was Raised and born in Apayao,but currently living in Quezon city...

Apayao is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Kabugao and borders Cagayan to the north and east, Abra and Ilocos Norte to the west, and Kalinga to the south. Prior to 1995, Kalinga and Apayao used to be a single province named Kalinga-Apayao, until they were split into two to better service the needs of individual native tribes in the provinces
Apayao is subdivided into 7 municipalities

Calanasan, Conner, Flora, Kabugao, Luna, Pudtol, Santa Marcela

Apayao was among the earliest areas penetrated by the Spaniards in the Cordilleras, but the region, inhabited by the Isneg tribe, remained largely outside Spanish control until late in the 1800s. As early as 1610, the Dominican friars established a mission in what is now the town of Pudtol. In 1684, the friars again made vain attempts to convert the people and established a church in what is now Cabugao. The ruins of the early churches in Pudtol and Cabugao still stand as mute testimony to the failed attempts to occupy Apayao.The Spanish authorities were then able to establish the comandancias of Apayao and Cabugaoan in 1891, which covered the western and eastern portions of what is now Apayao. The comandancias, however, failed to bring total control and the Spanish government only maintained a loose hold over the area.

The Americans established the Mountain Province on August 13, 1908, with the enactment of Act No. 1876. Apayao, along with Amburayan, Benguet, Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Lepanto, became sub-provinces of this new province. Before this, Apayao had been a part of Cagayan province.After being a sub-province for almost 60 years, on June 18, 1966, the huge Mountain Province was split into four provinces with the enactment of Republic Act No. 4695. The four provinces were Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga-Apayao and Ifugao. Kalinga-Apayao became one of the provinces of the Cagayan Valley region.On July 15, 1987, the Cordillera Administrative Region was established and Kalinga-Apayao was made one of its provinces. Finally, on February 14, 1995, Kalinga-Apayao was split into two distinct provinces with the passage of Republic Act No. 7878.

It may be no coincidence that the outline of Apayao (and the former Kalinga-Apayao) resembles a bust of a man akin to former dictator Ferdinand Marcos (looking toward his home province, Ilocos Norte) whom they called as the "Great Profile" during the Marcos Era.

Mother was originally from Pasuquin Ilocos Norte though...And hubby was born in Twin falls Idaho.

My fiancee hails from Moncada, Tarlac.

Moncada is located at the northern tip of Tarlac, by the Pangasinan province line. Moncada became briefly the seat of the "Philippine Republic" headed by Emilio Aguinaldo when he abandoned Malolos, Bulacan in the face of advancing American forces.

Can I join? Hehehe!
I was born in Negros Occidental. My mother's hometown but raised and grow up in Paranaque City (Manila).
My husband was born and grow up in Riverside, California and we just moved here in Murrieta, California.

My hometown is Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. Laoag is the Ilocano word for “light” or "clarity”.

Apart from being distinguished as the provincial capital, Laoag City is also the center of the fast developing North Luzon Economic Triangle. The city seats in a strategic area close to the economic centers of East Asia, reachable in 45 minutes by plane from Hong Kong and 30 minutes from the port city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan. Having critical infrastructure such as Laoag International Airport and the Currimao Port makes Laoag the port of entry of goods and services complemented by an extensive road and highway system that connects it to other cities.

Places of interest in Laoag include Fort Ilocandia Resort, Malacañang of the North, St. William Cathedral & Sinking Bell Tower and the white sand beach resorts of nearby Pagudpud.

I love Cebu. We always stay at the Holiday Plaza over by Robinsons.

just corrected something..

I am from Olongapo City,Subic Bay..born and raised there.
Currently living in Tallahassee,FL with my hubby and our daughter.

I've been to Moncada Tarlac in 2004 during a road trip with my friends. Nice place reminds me of my hometown. The residents speak Ilocano and Kapangpangan and Tagalog?