Visiting the Philippines

[Calypso 464]

How long did it take before you visited the country after your immigration to the US?

How did you prepare for it all? Did you buy loads of pasalubong? Or was your visit a silent one and you didn't even spend much time with most of your relatives and friends but only with a very few chosen ones?

What was your experience when you finally arrived there? Did you hold a feast or just a small special meal with people you cherish? Did they treat you differently?

Do share. It has been almost a year since I left the Philippines. My husband and I are planning to visit when the wet season is over.

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"Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere."

-Mae West

"How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young?"

-Paul Sweeney

[mikeuday19 0]

tinanong ko yung friend ko na may mga relatives sa canada kung ano ang nangyayari pag bumibisita sila sa pinas, sabi nya, as usual daw, sagot nung mga galing canada lahat ng gastos, sagot nila pati pang shopping ng lahat, which means ang minimum pocket money nila sa pinas e nasa P0.5M, grabe noh, nung sinabi nya sa akin yan, parang natakot akong umuwi,

[marriedtomrg 141]

Depende naman sa yo yun. Dapat ihanda mo ang family at relatives mo kung ano ang mae-expect nila kapag bumisita kayo ng husband mo...and that includes pasalubong, pasyal at kung ano pang gastusin...para walang sasama ang loob kung konti lang ang bitbit ninyo or wala kayong bitbit (na pasalubong).

(Translation: That depends on you. Personally, you should manage the expectations of your family and relatives, especially when it comes to gifts, days/nights out, and other possible expenses...so that none of them feel bad if you visit with little or no gifts in tow...or if you are unable to treat them out).

Not everyone has Php 500,000 to spend on a vacation You should be able to come home and visit as a balikbayan without fear of criticism or hurting anyone's feelings...I know my mom would be happy to see us even though we come visit empty-handed...she'd just want to see her apo(grandchildren)!

tinanong ko yung friend ko na may mga relatives sa canada kung ano ang nangyayari pag bumibisita sila sa pinas, sabi nya, as usual daw, sagot nung mga galing canada lahat ng gastos, sagot nila pati pang shopping ng lahat, which means ang minimum pocket money nila sa pinas e nasa P0.5M, grabe noh, nung sinabi nya sa akin yan, parang natakot akong umuwi,

[mariposang_gala 1]

Its a weird feeling...Kc when i went there all my brothers and sister treated me differently..the bonding is gone,they are not the same people that i live with 2 years ago..i feel the love naman..but you know,theres a time that all of them are chatting in the other room and im in the other room alone...cguro 1.di ako makarelate sa usapan and 2 they dont bother kung di ko makarelate The first week is good but after that.....

Yap,magastos..but its really depend on how you will balance or budget everything...we never have 500,000 hahahaha..so tyaga tyga lang sila kung anong meron..Yes,i bring all the pasalubong i can bring for them...perfume,some clothes and shoes specially chocolate(di ko kc pinapackage malulusaw )...i planned the family vacation 6 months before my flight...

[rlogan 2,036]

specially chocolate

Wow, did my wife haul the chocolate home. I wondered why that big canvass bag was so heavy!

We went back after eleven months. No parties. A baptismal for our son though.

I did construction, and we spent a lot of time exploring Palawan.

We're very simple, humble nobodies. No showing off or extravagent living. Just stayed at home minding our own business with our immediate family.

[Pinay Wife 47]

We're very simple, humble nobodies. No showing off or extravagent living. Just stayed at home minding our own business with our immediate family.

[Tahoma 2,292]

We're very simple, humble nobodies. No showing off or extravagent living. Just stayed at home minding our own business with our immediate family.

What? You aren't a wannabe rock star with enough hot air to fill the Goodyear blimp?

[SuperDuper! 230]

What? You aren't a wannabe rock star with enough hot air to fill the Goodyear blimp?

Good one. But we're also wondering which 40K+ poster you are describing here? :lol:

[Tahoma 2,292]

Good one. But we're also wondering which 40K+ poster you are describing here? :lol:

No you aren't.

[finallyfree 2]

tinanong ko yung friend ko na may mga relatives sa canada kung ano ang nangyayari pag bumibisita sila sa pinas, sabi nya, as usual daw, sagot nung mga galing canada lahat ng gastos, sagot nila pati pang shopping ng lahat, which means ang minimum pocket money nila sa pinas e nasa P0.5M, grabe noh, nung sinabi nya sa akin yan, parang natakot akong umuwi,

at the bolded part.

[mikeuday19 0]

at the bolded part.

oh yeah, P0.5M, at sabi ko sa kanya wala kaming ganyang pera...

[mikeuday19 0]

Depende naman sa yo yun. Dapat ihanda mo ang family at relatives mo kung ano ang mae-expect nila kapag bumisita kayo ng husband mo...and that includes pasalubong, pasyal at kung ano pang gastusin...para walang sasama ang loob kung konti lang ang bitbit ninyo or wala kayong bitbit (na pasalubong).

(Translation: That depends on you. Personally, you should manage the expectations of your family and relatives, especially when it comes to gifts, days/nights out, and other possible expenses...so that none of them feel bad if you visit with little or no gifts in tow...or if you are unable to treat them out).

Not everyone has Php 500,000 to spend on a vacation You should be able to come home and visit as a balikbayan without fear of criticism or hurting anyone's feelings...I know my mom would be happy to see us even though we come visit empty-handed...she'd just want to see her apo(grandchildren)!

ang nakakasama ng loob, ngayon pa nga lang may kamag-anak na akong nagsabing hindi daw nila maramdaman na nasa US ako, pano kasi hindi ako nagpapadala ng kung ano ano, e sa dami ng gastusin ko dito uunahin ko pa ba sila? kakapanganak ko lang, anlaki ng hospital bills ko, tama lang naman sigurong unahin ko sarili ko,

pero yun na nga, hindi lahat ng relatives ko broad-minded, akala nila nagpunta ako dito para magpadala ng magpadala ng kung ano ano, buset nga eh...

[Pinay Wife 47]

What? You aren't a wannabe rock star with enough hot air to fill the Goodyear blimp?

Oh, are you talking to about me then, Tahoma?

I do believe that only the pretentious needs to have their egos fed. For the true rich like me <ahem, ahem>, <cough, cough>, there is only distinction, naturalness, care and simplicity. Outside this, there is no elegance. Only pretension. *edited to add:* some words were borrowed from my friend, Christian Dior <coughs again>

Meaning of pretentious:

1. full of pretense or pretension

2. characterized by assumption of dignity or importance

3. making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious. of pretense or pretension

Good one, Tahoma!

Edited September 20, 2010 by Pinay Wife

[Tahoma 2,292]

Oh, are you talking to about me then, Tahoma?

I do believe that only the pretentious needs to have their egos fed. For the true rich like me <ahem, ahem>, <cough, cough>, there is only distinction, naturalness, care and simplicity. Outside this, there is no elegance. Only pretension. *edited to add:* some words were borrowed from my friend, Christian Dior <coughs again>

Meaning of pretentious:

1. full of pretense or pretension

2. characterized by assumption of dignity or importance

3. making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious. of pretense or pretension

Good one, Tahoma!

PW...you're way too polite...you could have used stronger words than "pretentious."

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

Would be nice and you may get more responses if you would use all English in your posts.