By Ninotchka Rosca
DESPITE the admonition not to arrive before 7 a.m., 50 people were already lined up before the Brooklyn Courthouse reception. It was 7:05. I had flown to New York from Los Angeles the night before and was to fly back at 4:00 p.m. I was about to take my oath of citizenship. I’d considered postponing but all my Filipino friends screamed: TAKE THE OATH!
The decision to be a US citizen, made after months of angst almost four years ago, morphed into weirdness. First, along with the application for naturalization, one had to list all trips outside the US since becoming a permanent resident. Fortunately, I’d kept all seven of my Philippine passports; the list ran to three pages single-spaced.
Then the questions: have you ever been a prostitute? Not yet. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party or any of its affiliates? Come to think of it, I REALLY don’t know.
Humor is not an option, a lawyer-friend said, write no. $400 filing fee; $300 for renewal of permanent residency; $70 for biometrics, $1,000 lawyer’s fee.
Three months later I was told to submit to biometrics. Blood sample, DNA swab, lock of hair? Be there at 10:00 a.m. or your application will be considered abandoned. Resistance is futile. At 9:00 a.m., 45 men, women and children shrieking in the cold were lined up before the service center. Smug in what I thought was an appointment, I headed straight for the front door and was promptly sent back to the end of the line.
Biometrics
Biometrics, it turned out, meant fingerprints. Long line outside; long line inside. Read two sci-fi books. Suffered 32 attempts at digitalizing my prints. Then I was handed a tissue paper to wipe my fingers. Curious, I asked a clerk why I was made to stand in line when the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) gave me an appointment. His reply: “I don’t know why they do that; it’s always been first come, first served.”
Almost a year later came another notice. You have to take the civics exam; questions and answers are online and in a booklet available at any INS office. I read 32 books on American history; took the online practice test 144 times, scoring 100 percent correct 140 times; memorized the Star-Spangled Banner; read the US Constitution and all the amendments thereto. Be there at 9 a.m., said the INS, or your application will be considered abandoned.
Old-fashioned bank teller windows lined one end of the humongous INS office. A tight-lipped woman took the note and said: take a seat; your name will be called. I was in the middle of my 2nd sci-fi book when I noticed that those with easy names were told to go to Door No. 1; those with “difficult” names like Abou Amadilatif were sent to Door No. 2. Hmmm. Then the thunder of my name came over the public address system with the dreadful words: Door No. 2!
I’ve been a New Yorker so long extreme anxiety turns me Jewish. Oich vech, I muttered, now the pogrom comes; why oh why did you agree to have a book with someone on the terrorist list; everyone else was diving under the table then… doomed!
Dossier
You come to me because I am the only one with the security clearance to access your file, said the agent when I asked why Door No. 2. He was white, seemed 11 feet tall, had a Clint Eastwood profile.
I have a dossier?
Yes. How many stars are there on the American flag?
50. Can I read my file?
No. In 1969, you founded the SDK [Samahan Demokratiko ng Kabataan – Ed.] which was intended to recruit members for the Communist Party of the Philippines.
1969? Lord, that’s just nostalgia. And it’s incorrect. Here, let me at it; I’ll tell you what’s true and not; I’ll correct my dossier.
No. How many stripes are there in the US flag?
Thirteen. I’ll even input the corrections into the computer. Take two minutes, I swear.
Younger girlfriend
It went that way for about 30 minutes. Somehow, we got to his girlfriend being younger than he was. “She’s 14 years younger; hey, I didn’t go after her; she came after me… I had worries, reservations, I told her I was too old for her… who’s the father of USA?”
George Washington. What do her parents say?
Oh, they’re cool with it. It’s quite different. My girlfriends before—the age difference wasn’t that much. What do the 13 stripes stand for?
The 13 original colonies which revolted against England.
Some would find something wrong with my having a younger girlfriend. I say they’re fundamentalists. What do you think of fundamentalists?
I don’t. What kind of fundamentalists?
We’ll get them all. You know the US Constitution, right? What do you think of it? Me, I think it’s one of the greatest documents the world has ever had—not that I’ve read all of it.
‘Can’t you tell?’
I lost my cool. “You haven’t read the Constitution? I read it cover to cover; I read all the 20-plus Amendments. I can recite the entire Preamble, whole Articles, and Sections… You, you, YOU haven’t read it?”
We stared at each other. The incongruity of the situation totally escaped him.
He who had power over my citizenship hadn’t read the Constitution. I was nonplussed. Luckily, another agent appeared, saying: “Hey, you know Wang, the Chinese guy… I just told him an ethnic joke.”
First agent sent me a sidelong glance. “Be careful; there are rules. Look at her; she’s watching you.”
Second agent. “I’m sorry; I don’t mean to offend. What nationality are you?”
First agent: “She’s Filipino, can’t you tell?”
Second agent: “I’m so sorry. I can’t tell you people apart!”
The boss
They cracked up. WHAT IS THIS? Another man walked in and from the two’s reaction, he was the boss.
“What’s happening?” Good; a tongue-lashing! They told him. He looked bemused. “I have a question—how many presidents weren’t born in the US?”
Seven, I thought. “You got me there,” said the first. “But that’s not allowed under the Constitution.”
Boss: “They were born before the Constitution…” He walked to a poster of US presidents. “Let’s see how many…” He counted seven.
“We should include that in the exam,” said first agent. “Like a trick question.”
Dismal person that I was, I didn’t protest. When the two visitors left, first agent turned sympathetic.
“I’m recommending approval. See I’m signing it. But you have no FBI clearance.”
WHAT?
Smoking in subway
“It’s nothing. They’re slow; they’re backlogged. Your fingerprints came back clean, except for getting fined for smoking in the subway.”
Outside, I found I had a great need to touch reality. Did I enter the right building or did I walk into an insane asylum?
The biometrics notice came again after two years. Be there at 10:00 a.m. or your application will be considered abandoned. Okay.
Two months after came a notice for additional papers and interview; first agent would speak to me again. Bet he and his girlfriend broke up. “So you broke up?” was my greeting. He was surprised. “How’d you know that?” “I had a premonition…” He interrupted me with a peroration against Younger Girlfriend as selfish, self-centered, wouldn’t return the bed he bought her; he didn’t care about the other gifts but—yaddah-yaddah-yaddah. Forty minutes of it!
He’d interviewed a mother and daughter the previous week. “The mother was kinda cute; I was kind of flirting…”
‘Woman with powers’
“Wait! Another premonition,” I said. “It’s common among Filipinos. You’ll have a happy relationship except she’s not here. You must look for her outside—in bars, theaters, shops, just not here. A long and happy romance but she’s not here; she’s out there.”
I gave him a I’m-a-Woman-With-Powers, you-nut-head look. Perhaps I could save some non-citizen woman. How do I get into these situations?
Now when could I take the oath? He speared me with a diabolical look and said: “Another two years!” And laughed himself silly.
Fortunately, it only took six months: You must notify INS at once if you are unable to comply.
Resistance was futile.
Where’s the judge?
So 7 a.m. in Brooklyn, dying from tedium as 300 were processed. We filled the mahogany pews, 10 in each row. An hour, two hours… the judge was nowhere. We were each given a newsletter and a voter registration form. My seat neighbor, an Asian woman, waved the form: “Sign?” She said, “Sign?” She barely spoke English. How did she pass her civics exam?
We lined up before a table with three seated clerks. “Has anything changed since your interview?” No. “Have you traveled outside the country?” Yes. Philippines, Canada, and Antarctica… She didn’t bat an eye. The guy next to her erupted: “What do I do? She doesn’t speak English!” He was processing my seat neighbor. I ran away.
‘Repeat after me’
Almost noon. Someone read the newsletter over the microphone. Finally, the judge walked in; we had to stand-sit. He delivered a sermon about his immigrant parents. Then he made us rise and raise our right hands. “Repeat after me…”
People behind me were laughing. My seat neighbor had her hand up in a Heil-Hitler salute as she muttered in a guttural voice. To whom was she swearing allegiance?
One guy, waving a small US flag, said he was taking his wife out to celebrate. What about you? Nothing, I said; I’m going home, filing away my citizenship certificate. Nothing? “Life goes on,” I said, “citizen or not.”
Unbearable sadness
Three months later, as I was replacing, with my just arrived US passport, the green Philippine one in my worn python-leather wallet, I had a moment of unbearable sadness. Green and I had fought so many battles together. When an Italian consul insulted it, saying Filipinas loitered in Italy to marry Italian men; I told her I’d dumped an Italian boyfriend for being less than sexually competent. My green passport and I had been mistaken for a mail-order bride, a housekeeper, an illegal…
I’d been a foot soldier in its struggle for validity and respect. The blue one, the most prized passport in the world, I’d acquired through a process I could only charitably call half-demented. Reality disappoints, truly.
408 Feedbacks on "Blue passport blues"
Larry
7 philippine passports means approximately 35 years as resident of the USA. One would think that you would have more confidence in your knowledge of the USA. Your account of what transpired seems a bit extreme.
Anyhow, why change your citizenship after all those years of resisting and fighting for your beloved green.
Gerardo
Blue passport being the most prized in the world? I quess you need to travel more outside US to appreciate other colours! It shows how limited your knowledge is about other countries.
Lava Bien
Maybe for ease of travel to Euorope or something or like Japan or Korea as you don’t need to get VISA in advance or declare your income and assests, say why you want to travel.
Blue passport and ticket, off to most 1st world countries.
How’s that Mang Larry?
Tato
Miss the green. Get it back. Apply for dual citizenship. No drama. I promise.
Jun
Larry, as the old filipino saying goes “nasa huli ang pagsisisi”. And as she truthfully said, “reality dissapoints”. One thing that I am still very proud of the green, now turning maroon due to mrp, is that is has given me a lot of opportunity that our other kababayans who has the other shade of green, as in green-card, could not see simply because they are looking towards at the land of milk of honey which was glossed-up and paint-brushed with artworks. And when reality sinks in, will indeed disappointing.
kopak
Good point, Larry. Nice comic article.
editha
you shouldnt have naturalized then if getting a blue passport has no meaning to you.
Gerda
I think you overstudied!!! Just read the book they gave you. Why did you waste your precious time taking the practice test gazillion times? I read the book once and took note of the important questions like who are the key ppl, important events and they form of government. And that was it!!! And I never hired a lawyer to apply for citizenship. Just fill up the form correctly and you’re in!!! They got so many ppl in line and they will not spend too much time interrogating all the preamble and the constitution because they do not know either!!! They’re idiots!!! They just got their blue passports because it happens that they were born there. Their main thingy is that you are a good person with no history of communism, terrorism, etc. I vouch for my identity and it made me comfortable enough to face them. Gone is my green and I’m in the blue!!!
Mar Jao
I guess change inevitably happens to people, it’s just a question of when. I used to see you visit our neighbor in Area 14 inside the UP campus. Those were the days…..
Lec
So what’s with all the hype and whining? At least be thankful for whatever the blue mini handbook will eventually bestow you. What’s the point of applying for the almighty blue. Apparrently, no one (not even the consuls you were insulting) knows everything. If you know something they don’t then you don’t have to hurl insult at them and boast.
Where, oh where thou art humility?
In the end, the only thing that is disappointing is to have read your article full of your whining self.
ElizDelRos
Edith is absoulutely right. Why did you even bother to go through that hell when in the end you’d still be whining…
(You were an SDK - -what in the hell are you doing waiting in line to get a piece of the American pie - the very concept you hated?)
Do you expect them to treat you like they did Obama?
The bottom line is YOU HAVE TO EARN IT no matter how stupid you think it is. The opportunity is accessible but you have to work your ass off to get to it, including waiting in line and putting up with another hardworking American giving you stupid speeches behind that window. And hey, nothing in this universe is GUARANTEED.
Things are not gonna run the way you want it, that’s for sure. You have to work your way around to get somewhere - heaven or hell. Keyword: WORK
Yes,they have so many rules - - - and 91 per cent of the time THEY FOLLOW IT. Idiotic or NOT. Let that be.
If you hate it, then heck trash that blue stuff then go back to the PHILIPPINES and maybe if you are well connected, you’ll get that big fat chance of becoming somebody! But hey wait again, you’ll have to wait in line, too; that is if they do wait in line there - - and without bribing someone…..
You got the blue. So what now? More complains?
Disappointed.
Too bad so sad for you,
rudy b.
why disappointed, when you can have
a dual citizenship.
Gayle
I remember asking myself “this is it?” when my bros and I have to finally sing the Stars Spangled Banner. This is why my dad divorced my mom and left us in Manila so we can get our blue passport? This is why my 2 bros and I w/ my mom had to live in my aunt’s extra bedroom? This is why we had to give up our youth so we can help take care of the bills? I’m not sure if it was all worth it…Well, yeah I do own my own home (w/c is upside down in equity), I have nice job but of course I have to work 2 jobs, not spend enough time w/ my kids for the sake of the American dream!!!
Reality disappoints « GUERILLA GEEK BLOGGER
[...] Found this nice blog post by writer Ninotchka Rosca entitled “Blue Passport Blues” on the inquirer.net website. This post describes in detail her journey into becoming an American [...]
sal
I,m fixing 2 have 1 myself 4days after 4th of july. 4 me taking this test is necessary due 2 the circumstances. green or blue doesn’t really matter, only the convenience that goes with it. I’m still very much a filipino. mabuhay
supremo
Ang d marunong magmahal sa sariling wika sa Call Center naglipana
Don Miguel
guess what. we now have what you call, the citizenship law. best of both worlds, no need to mourn your green. green and blue. they can coexist
Miguel
Man, you’re full of it. You know you want it. You want to tell me you went thru the hassle of what? What are you trying to say? All I can see is BS. Its all over your essay.
Macario
It took me11 years to get my US passport, I was confronted several times by agents at INS and stayed for 11 years and found out that at 7 years, I could apply for suspension of deportation ( now its 10 years ) and the agents told me that that law was invalid, yeah right. I checked the library and a hippie lawyer friend and he said it was still in the books and to use it, I did, when refused again, I told the agent that I can always find him and the INS but they will have to look long and hard for me ( reason for 11 years ) finally got it but it was a long hard battle and a lot of aggrevation along the way but now I miss my green passport when I travel to central-south america, middle east, eastern europe since the U.S. passport seems to be in these countries hit list, proves that life goes in cycles, then great, now hiding, hopefully it will turn to great again in my lifetime, yeah right !! but hopeful
Cai
Geez people, you are all so grim and determined and you take US citizenship so seriously!! It’s not a religion, you know!
And by the way, there’s such a thing as “sarcasm,” “humor” and “irony” in writing.
Go read books, maybe you’ll get it.
Emmanuel
You really are full of s_ _ t. You know you get alot more respect when you travelled with that Blue passport around the world. Stop your pretensions…denounce your citizenship if you are really disappointed.
bonnet
a nice essay to ponder, im here in US too on an exchange visa as a teacher, I never dream of turning my green into blue but the call of dollars would like and will lead me to it eventually because its necessary.and yet my ultimate dream is during my twilight years when im done earning here, all my retirement will be spent in our beloved country Philippines. Heck I realize though I might have blue passport still the one who will always accept me and never turn its back on me is my country.
CJ
Just want to say… now that the odyssey of citizenship is over and done… there’s no more to rant about… except New York life and being an American.
Anyway, it’s just paper. You are still a Filipino ’til the day you die.
Best of luck to you. And I like your creative writing flair… reminds of Jessica Zafra… but a lighter version… J Zafra-lite.
Don Miguel
guess what. we now have what you call, the dual citizenship law. best of both worlds, no need to mourn your green. green and blue. they can coexist
get your filipino nationality back, right away, no need for drama.
Iyo Karpo
Oh Jose can’t you see…
I hate that song.
I’d sing “Oh Canada, we stand on guard…for thee.”
judith
it’s not easy giving the green passport up. i had that feeling too. but yeah, apply for dual citizenship that way you can continue your with your life without having lissed znything. love your writing, though. hope you write some more!
Lynne Davis
Emmanuel, watch your grammar. You cannot even write/speak correct English.
Who cares about your “blue” passport.
Emmanuel
Lynne…..who cares about grammar in the US?….only Pinoys with intellectual pretensions:=). Even Great U.S. Presidents can make grammatical errors and misspellings. Yes…I care about my U.S. citizenship…my “blue” passport…And I’m tired of foreign borns obtaining U.S. citizenship and denigrating it…perhaps to make them look patriotic and intellectual. By the way I’m Filipino born…and I love both my home country and my more so, my adoptive country.
DB
Emmanuel, Pinoys don’t need to have intellectual pretensions to care about grammar. I care about good grammar and I don’t pretend that I am an intellectual. Bad grammar is bad English. Correct English is a measure of one’s training and background.
The “green” passport is difficult to give up. I have emotional ties to it. Yes, I have been embarrassed so many times to “defend” my “green” passport, but does the “blue” ever save me from any harm?
Thomas Alfaro
Yes, the blue passport…a sign of stability, privilege, opportunities. A country as powerful as the United States can only make it’s citizens proud and strong. I am a Filipino and always will be, my pride as a “pinoy” will never leave me. My love for the motherland is boundless, no matter how atrociously corrupt some of our politicians are…and I can only hope for the best. My decision to apply for the blue passport is bound by the gratitude I have for the country that gave me a chance, a chance to fulfill my dreams, by way of practicing the profession I love. In return I give my allegiance to the country that has balanced my hardwork with compensation.
And NO, it does not and will not bestow upon me “intellectual pretentions” and reasons to “denigrate” my homeland.
Emmanuel
DB…ha-ha…your belief that correct English is a reflection of one’s training and background is laughable. Say that to the native English speakers!!
Ishreh
For your English grammar I dont care.
For sure Majority of Filipinos here doesn’t know how to read or write our own ALIBATA. It’s a shame, really.
Bbituin
I got the blue just for convenience in traveling. I still have the green, renewed everytime. I did not renounce the green when I got the blue. Come on guys, you are all a bunch of hypocrites. Admit it that the blue gives you the high. The green gives you the blues. If only the green can get you anywhere without a visa, I bet you are all green today. As for those who hate the green and its origin, shame on you. I love the green and just use the blue and its origin.
Marc
Ninotchka, I enjoyed reading your blog. Don’t feel so bad about your old, green passport. Savor the memories you had with it.The newer Philippine passports being issued now are colored maroon anyway(as if color was your only concern).With your blue passport(I disagree it’s the most prized passport in the world - in the Philippines perhaps), I believe you’ll avoid traveling to Somalia, Iran and other anti-American nations who don’t kowtow to the US. I’m convinced you’ll inevitably go for dual citizenship. Mabuhay !!!
Jane Estrella
Interesting bit of satire!
Lynne Davis
Emmanuel, looking at every comments
you’ve made gives the impression that
you have Borderline Personality Disorder,
big time. Too shallow!
MBA, MSN, MPH
bart diego
………………….hahahaha nice experience !welcome to the world of reality !
Ryan
I think an Aussie or a Swiss passport is better than the American passport. The Philippine passport isnt bad either- I love the fact that I can go to North Korea, Iran, Mongolia and a lot of other exotic countries where Americans can never set foot - and being a traveler- A combination of Aussie and Pinoy passports are the best!
Diegong_Kirat
We all have different ways of viewing the same thing. That being said, her view deserves to be respected in this democratic society.
She is not taking away from anybody anything when she wrote this article. But she is succeeded in soliciting your comments (hence time, hence money) and allowed everybody to share a piece of idea in this place.
We should thank her at least.
So here it goes: Thank you for a very insightful satire, though I do not agree with your whining.
B
i’m not being prejudiced here. it’s just that sometimes you wonder why some asians who barely speak english are able to pass the citizenship (one of the requirements is a knowledge of and ability to speak english language)?? they even have translators during the exam!!! tsk..tsk..
anyway, thank you for sharing your insights.
Emmanuel
Lynne….don’t you have to be a doctor to diagnose? Not some Master’s degree?…Just kidding:=)
Dewey
I guess your humor is really lost on many of the people responding here. Are you a professional writer? I would love to read a book from you! I have watched while my Filipina wife went through many situations with INS, and I understand where you are coming from. Hilarious…
Liza
My Philippine passport and I did not fight any battles but I was also very sad when I replaced it.
victoria victor
i got
victoria victor
i got my blue passport but didn’t go through with the agony you had….. for one, i do not have a boytoy 14 years younger than me….there you go!
Perferio Rubirosa
Passports? Come to think of it , they are just bound pieces of paper - at the end of the day you are who you are in this universe. Blue passport or not - or green for that matter.
Mel Velasco
Kudos to Ms Rosca. She is still feisty
and does not back down .I remember her
braveness during the Marcos regime. I did not have trouble that she had concerning her application for US citizenship but I was kinda annoyed from the comment of my interviewer that I speak “pretty good English”.Having a blue passport does not mean freedom from those assinine questions from the US Customs personnel in the airport.
Carlos
All persons born in the Philippines are 1st class filipino citizens, and can be DUAL citizens ( Philippines and USA)
All NATURALIZED PERSONS with blue passports are 2nd Class U.S. citizens ONLY.!!!!
Only U.S. born OR children of US citizens at birth are 1st Class USA citizens.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Dolor
Got mine too, but in my heart I am a proud Filipina.
Emmanuel
Carlos….what is a first class and second class citizen? Please define….if u can’t….then you don’t know what you’re talking about.
sushimonster
totally agree with a previous poster on her Jessica Zafra-ish creative writing skills. Though I very much disagree that the “blue” is the most prized in the world! Everyone applies for the “blue” for convenience, admit it or not. I have a Canadian “blue” that gets me anywhere and that’s about it. The “green” has a special meaning to me because it reflects who I am and where I came from. If only the “green” comes with so many perks as the “blue”…sigh…And if only “green” can provide greener pastures from within, then we wouldn’t be subjecting ourselves to such blues acquiring the “blue”.
Editha Flores Wolff
Well, it is an interesting article. I have been living in Germany for almost 20 years now. I could have actually given up my passport very long time ago but I did not. It never entered in my mind to do that. I have recited “Panatang Makabayan” all through primary and secondary education. Fellow Filipinos and Germans are surprised most of the time when they find out that I am still a Filipino citizen. I speak fluent German and understand German culture and read German literature. Actually, there is nothing wrong with changing your passport because it is more for convenient purposes. And if one is intending stay in that country for life and have a family, it is almost a must. Children need stability. Passports in green, blue, red (no idea) is like acquiring additional language skills. You acquire it because it has its purpose; personal or non-personal, business or non-business, short-range or long-range. If it serves the purpose, then be it. I just wish that one should stop saying: “I am very much Filipino in my heart”. You changed your passport and that is it. Pangarap man o pangangailangan, stand by it. No explaining. You know it better.
Kevin Visitacion
Great blog post! I’m 2.5 years away from the same process and I’ve never really thought about it as parting ways with my “green”. One tends to focus on the “blue” and the convenience it brings.
“Green and I had fought so many battles together.” - Though I have not experienced the same things Ms. Rosca have experienced, I think I feel what she and others felt. I understand the sense of being thought of as someone lesser.
Liking my other non-passport color experiences with Ms. Roska’s “green-related” ones makes me relate to her unbearable sadness.
honesto de lima
Blue passport - You ask for it, you applied to have it and you pay for it so enjoy it.
tirador
whether you have a blue or green passport doesnt matter. what matters is you dont forget your heritage and where you came from. blue passport means you embraced allegiance to the US and you wanted to explore better opportunities and improve your life. we dont need to insult the americans or their immigration and naturalization protocols. in the first place, dont sweat it if your not really interested of becoming a US citizen. nobodys perfect as well as no nation in this world is perfect. much more so, not even our own country the philippines. overall, its how we live our life and how we carve our destiny no matter where we are. enough of too much drama okay…he he he he
Tokwa
I agree with tirador. Puro kayo drama!
Jessica
Its okay to express your sentiment through this blog and I agree with what other bloggers said. If you have aspired and finally acquired the passport you aim for, then so be it. Live with it and deal with it. If you had a hard time getting it, then suck it in. The blue passport is not the most sought after passport in the world. Its a misconception that we should get rid off. For me, the most important passport is our passport to honestly serve our own country and our countrymen.
ross
whats wrong with you sour graping for having a blue passport, if you dont want to become a US citizen dont write something
that you do not like, if you are only using US as a hiding place then go back home and join the writers there so you can make your comments against Uncle Sam, maybe you are used the filipino way of bribing everybody so you wont get in line it doesnt work here my dear sorry for you.
Tokwa
Ross,
Good job!
db
I”m not sure I understand why she became a US citizen. The only significant difference between residence visa’s and citizenship is the right to vote. Also, nearly all Pinoy’s become DUAL citizens that that is they have allegiance to both countries. Although after reading this blog, I seriously doubt Ninotchka would defend any US citizen like myself.
Paula
Lighten up people. It’s a witty article, with it’s humor and sarcasm. Before you start blabbing away and judging the author for her reasons for getting her US citizenship, why don’t you try googling who she is and trying to get a feel of where she is coming from. duh. Ninotchka Rosca is “The First Lady of Philippine Literature.”
Dolores
Giving up Philippine citizenship was not easy for me. Never gave a thought to my identitiy until the chance to acquire US citizenship came. Met a British woman living in the US who also felt the same way about giving up hers and she was the only one who didn’t make me feel like I was dumb for passing up the chance to acquire US citizenship. Lucky for me, the dual citizenship bill passed and made it easier to make up my mind. I now have both passports and still prefer to use my green passport over the blue one when traveling around Asia. It’s just a huge part of who I am. Besides, at my age, there’s no chance of being mistaken for a prostitute again. Have to say, I got into Singapore once in my late 20’s - without a return ticket (never done they say) - just my green passport and an innocent look in my eyes !
Lou Dvorsky
Really great! After 72 years and 61 years of “foreign” experience, I must congratulate you on your own experience. My own, was a bit simpler - my father was a president of the Czechoslovakian airlines and once voted the wrong way. We wound up in Germany for 4 1/2 years while US was deciding under which quota we could come to the USA. Finally, my dad was allowed to enter the States under a quota for Italian scientists because he was born in Trento (now Italy, before first world war Austria-Hungary). When we left I was 11 years old and according to my father got immersed in English. In 6 months I could go to an American school. After coming to USA, I graduated from high school and attended University of Virginia. During that time (5 years in USA), I got to swear allegiance for the umpteenth time, but had to answer those difficult questions first. Mine was ” who was the first president of the United States? Well, we got that done, got 2 certificates, and the rest is history.
Just a quickie summary, was married twice, first wife died after 33 years of marriage, 3 children, worked for the US gov’t for 31 years, then as a contractor for the FAA, and as a office manager in Taipei, Taiwan. Married and moved to Philippines, worked some more in Taiwan, and finally retired to Philippines again. Now enjoying life as it should be enjoyed.
Lanier
I got my green card a few weeks ago. A week ago, I got back from a business trip and landed in JFK. At the luggage area, a video screen was showing scenes of Americana: firemen, school kids, dancers, etc. At the end of the segment, these varied individuals all said, “Welcome.” I choked up with appreciation of this country, where I’ve lived for 18 years now, and which, right from the start, was welcoming, not only to me, but to Gujarati newspaper vendors, Ethiopian taxi drivers, Salvadoran grocery clerks, Israeli bartenders, etc. And I also remembered the US Supreme Court case in 1989, which acquitted a person who had burnt the US flag. “The flag protects even those who hold it in contempt,” the opinion said. Only in America. I am so looking forward to someday being able to do jury duty, to vote, and even to be drafted if necessary.
tirador
Hey Paula,
Who cares if shes the first lady of Philippine literature?
Well, if shes the “First lady of Philippine literature”, then the more she should write something with more sense. I am not contesting her option to acquire US citizenship because thats her prerogative. Given that what she wrote is all for the purpose of wit, humor and sarcasm, she shouldn’t write something about her swearing allegiance to another country (the US) considering shes the first lady of philippine literature. Its too ironic to me. She should have remained a philippine citizen to add credibility to who she claimed to be and what shes writing about…duh
he he he he…
elaine
this article is a filipino’s way of bragging… to seem unhappy with getting her US citizenship but truly inside her mind..she’s bragging that she got a US citizenship.
so typically pinoy… to downplay the things they covet most.
example: juan: wow you really have a nice car there…a z4 BMW! pedro: yeah it’s nice… but it spits out gasoline like it’s water… juan: oh that’s bad…
filipinos do this type of bragging while sparing the feelings of others by downplaying what they have. humility? well… who knows?
Emmanuel
Paula…no doubt the article is well written…but no doubt will not make the New York Times or Washington Post editorial. One cannot make satires out of half-lies.
Lagrimas
Mas hinahangaan ko pa si Ka Roger ng NPA. Pinangatawanan ang kanyang prinsipyo laban sa mga imperyalistang dayuhan. Di tulad nung iba dyan na aktibo daw sa Gabriela at Karapatang Pangkababaihan pero naroon naman sa America at nag US citizen pa…ha ha ha. Ano ba ito, ka-ipokritohan o ka-plastikan. Walang iniwan kay Kiko Pangilinan at Mar Roxas na galit na galit sa America pero pinagmamalaki naman na silay produkto ng mga I’vy League schools sa Amerika. Pinoy, gising!!!!
oliver
Being ‘blue’ is so over-rated. If you want to travel around the world, you can do so with the green passport. I prefer applying for Visas for the countries I would want to go to rather than be subjected to this ‘half-demented process’ of getting an American passport. And besides, opportunities abound in plenty wherever you are. Some people just think and believe that they’ll have better opportunities in the US. There are a lot of really good opportunities in the Philippines also, some even better than what others may call ‘dream jobs’ in the US, particularly at this point when the number of unemployed and those being laid-off is rising in the supposed ‘land of milk and honey.’
db
As an American citizen and proud husband of a two naturalized citizens I think I have the right to comment on US citizenship, something I hold very dear. And I would fight to death for Ninotchkas right to print these words. That is America. That is what I believe.
With all her lamenting about waiting in line- did any American offer to let her go to the head of the line for even $1? NO. Did anyone offer for her to cut corners and take advantage of something? NO! I cannot say it is so in the Philippines, a place I like but would not die for. For my son to get his passport and all the associated papers so he could emigrate to America money changed hands. I hated every peso that was handed over, but I understood.
While the writer may be the First Lady of Philippine Literature she is also responsible for her words and actions just like me. In America celebrity doesn’t guarentee anything. Besides, she is a Philippine writer not an American writer so I don’t see the connection as her celebrate didn’t get to me.
If this is blog is meant to be humorous, I don’t get the joke. So call me stupid….but don’t call me unpatriotic or unAmerican. Maybe I’m tanga and I don’t understand Philippine culture but that’s as far as it goes.
Mickey Rat
To db,
Well, I dont even understand what your talking about…what you just wrote is too far off from the meat of the discussion…its just full of drama.
Jim
DB you have totally missed the point of this post. with all due respect to your passionate reaction, please re-read the post.
tsk
all blogs are fine, but it would be better if you aspire for a passport in heaven, whether you like it or not men dies and after that judgment and there are only two places, in a lake of fire or in heaven, are you ready for that
Emmanuel
Oliver….Lady Liberty says “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled, yearning to break free…………I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
The “half-demented” process of obtaining a blue passport….which is in fact a U.S. citizenship process Ms. Rosca was referring to, was intended for the above mentioned people….the masses and not the “smart class” that Ms. Rosca thinks she belongs to.
In fact the citizenship process requires only that applicants know how to speak English — neither “articulate” nor “fluent” English –but English good enough to express oneself and understandable by the person one is communicating with. That’s why there is so many U.S. scientist hailing from all over the world who speaks English as a second language only. You wouldn’t know how smart these people are by judging their English.
These are the facts lost on Ms. Rosca. She probably felt the process “half demented” as it didn’t challenge her intelligence enough.
Finally, it is “American Way” to respect the law…the process authorities come up with. As these processes were not developed out of the blue but with thorough deliberation.
manny
“I’d been a foot soldier in its struggle for validity and respect. ” It is my guess that the statement is elaborative enough of what we all have gone through prior to changing passports.
And this is probably the point that we failed to emphasize enough before we argue why we need to change passports in the first place. Some say for better option; some say for all sorts of practical reasons.
And here lies the disappointing reality: that we manage to forego our past to give way to the very confining concept of ‘convenience’.
billy
Sa mga nakakaraming nating mga kababayan maswete ka kasi di mo na kailang mag TNT. Ang iba sa atin, maswerte na mabigyan ng tourist visa para lang makarating sa america, samantalang ikaw ay blue passport holder na. Ganoon pa man sa kabila ng pagkakaroon mo ng blue passport dismayado ka pa rin. Siguro ganoon talaga, di naman tayo nabubuhay sa mundo upang magkaroon ng blue passport. Hindi sukatan ng tagumpay sa buhay ang pagkakaroon ng blue passport. Para sa akin , Pilipino pa rin tayo, kahit ano pa ang kulay ng passport mo. Lagi kong sinasabi ko sa mga anak ko, na Filipino tayo kahit nakatira tayo sa ibang bansa. Di na magbabago iyon, kahit magpalit pa ako ng passport. Ang kulay ko, ang wika, ang kultura iisa ang kinauuwian - Pilipino. Siguro kaya marami sa atin ating disappointed kahit meron na silang blue passport kasi ang puso natin green passport pa rin. Mabuhay ang Pilipino.
eboybear
i’m glad there are a lot of interesting responses from this article, from both filipino and non-filipino nationals; it’s always good to hear opinions from all sides, which we can all take something from to form our own conclusions.
i myself am living in the united states for more than 4 years now; and although i have not shared in the difficulty of acquiring the means to stay here like ms. rosca did, i do personally witness her situation in many more filipino’s who’ve undergone the same ardous process of legalizing their status.
being a fan of ms. rosca’s work since i was a schoolboy, i do understand her penchant for writing in the “slice of life” form, to colorfully describe her recollection of her experiences, and convey it to us the readers. it’s pretty much the way blogs are written these days, except, she was doing it for about 40 years now, so i’m glad she actually does blog - my own mother can’t even operate e-mails!
anyway, in my opinion alone, i don’t think it was her intention to disrespect the immigration process of the united states, or to seemingly make the officials out to be imbeciles. i think, she was just poignantly describing to us her interactions with these people, as seen through her eyes … not to judge them, but to humanize them.
we filipino’s know how cold and unfeeling the immigration officials can be, and that is why her anecdotes about chatting up with the agent’s lovelife is a window to that person’s soul being opened up to us the reader’s.
although ms. rosca is a political activist and women’s advocate, i don’t think it was her goal to politicize this particular subject. due to her age, and through the many things she’s been through in her life as a filipino, she was just being wistful in her parting ways with her philippine passport.
for all the naysayers who put down the credibility of ms. rosca’s participation and contribution to the welfare and reputation of filipino’s the world over … walk a mile in her shoes first before you judge her ever so harshly.
as for me, i enjoyed the article, and hope that ms. rosca continue on in her writing to give a voice to the filipino diaspora for many more years to come.
canadian-eh
the article was funny and light-hearted.
i enjoyed reading it.
just want to share this joke.
a filipino couple were in front of a judge answering questions for their canadian citizenship application. their daughter
was there to give them support.
judge: what is the capital of canada
daughter whispers to her mom-ottawa
mother: hi,hi,hi,hi
passport rules new
passport rules new…
Be sure to read Webmaster Book ( http://www.webmasterbook.net/ ) before writing your own comments!…
diuata
is that blue passport still “the most prized passport in the world”?
my nieces were born in the U.S., their parents really proud showing their passports and i was kind of struck by the fact that somewhere there it was written something like “do not delay at all cost” or something, i thought that was pretty cool, a person, a citizen of a country that seems to be given top priority only because he or she was born in the “right” country.
but is america still the coolest country, the most valued, and acquiring its nationality the most coveted, most highly regarding thing a pilipino can do in one’s life? all these conflicts and meddling in wars and all the rest of it does makes one wonder so. And come to think of it, other coloured passports (i.e., european passports, or other asian passport, whichever) offers more or less the same privilege of being their national, without having to be guarded with their opinions as to which country is meddling or winning or interfering in whichever war there is at the moment, or in any other points of interest really.
the writer of this article is lucky (and patient, actually) to have acquired such a passport, but i hope the writer is not like any other pinoys who think of themselves as something else other than a normal human being with a different coloured passport, cos in their hearts of heart they know what they really are: Pilipino.
andy
The color of passport does not really matter. It’s merely a piece of special paper. What is paramount is how you live your life. We have to aim for the untimate passposrt in heaven.
basta
To Larry:
If you are a well traveled person 1 passport in 4 years would not be enough, I know a Filipino wife of a Brit who had 2 unexpired passports already and has to apply for her 3rd coz there’s no space for the next travel.
winer
Whether a Pinoy is born in North America, Europe, Australia, the Philippines or any other planet. You have to remember that your heritage is still Pinoy. I am a 6th British-American generation but in my veins and arteries the blood that flow in it is still British, I am proud to be one.
editha
Either you’re in or you’re out.
If you don’t like the way things are done in the US, then you could always go back and stink in the Philippines.
America would not be where it is now if
people don’t respect the laws.
Too much drama and pretense on the part of the writer!
Marc
Politics and corruption are what stink in the Philippines. Filipinos love to bathe more than their western counterparts so most smell good,actually.
The article simply tells the story of how the writer got her blue passport but, being a good writer, she was able to infuse her tale with drama,humor, irony and hyperbole. This made the article very interesting, so much so that we were moved to place our comments here.
earldiao
You know what, i read this article with fascination. I just could not imagine why the writer would go to the trouble of having to wait for years with all the indignities and humiliation that goes with it just to get that little “blue” passport. If she truly hates the process, which i think is intentional anyways, then why proceed? In all honesty, i don’t think one becomes more important, and probably feels a lot more powerful and insanely proud, just because he or she carries a blue passport instead of the often maligned green passport. Self respect and dignity, i think these are priceless than any object a person keeps in his or her pocket.
Bernie Castillo
Hi Ninotchka Rosca,
LOL. Bored, love-starved immigration bureaucrat, the inanity of regulations, the irony of getting a coveted American passort and becoming a citizen without knowing jackshit about America or even the basic requirement of speaking its language - English.
America is just a place to get a “secure” passport . How else can you explain all these movie stars, politicians , rich Pinoys, coming back to Pinas and ply their trade here. All you get there is security, stability and the illusion of the American Dream. My american white friends are all over in Asia retiring there with a young lady in one arm and the another holding a San Miguel or a Singha.
Cheers,
P.S. Anong year ka sa U.P. ?
Bernie Castillo
tokwa
the best title for this blog is “hypocrisy blues”
James Goksina
just stopped by.Gotta love msn, very fine stuff. Thank you…kisses
ricoh@featiU
dear ninotchka rosca, congratulations, >:) be proud of what you are! mabuhay ang pilipinas and god bless america…..both countries are proud of you..your exemplery and hard work (are) were recognized…i salute you…….ciao
Bong
i’m glad that i have a blue passport, and being an american citizen. at least patas ang laban, unlike back home…dayaan or palakasan in order to succeed.
dette pascual
I can only speak of my own experience in obtaining US citizenship. It was civilized, pleasant and they made it as easy as possible for the applicant. I did not get any lawyer. All my transactions were by mail except for the fingerprinting part, interview, and some other minor things I do not remember. I chose to be an American citizen. I respect and admire the history of the country and what it went thru to obtain their freedom, and I am proud to be American. I sympathize with the one who wrote the article, but I don’t understand why she had to go all the way to N.Y . I obtained my citizenship right in CA where I lived. God bless America!
Marc
Ninotchka, you are in America for a reason. Your blue passport puts you in a very good position to help the poorest of the poor Filipinos, like the scavenger children in garbage dumps that the Philippine Christian Foundation is trying to help. Kindly checkout http://www.pcf.ph to realize how blessed you are.
It is time to get over your blues and help rescue these poor kids from a potentially endless cycle of poverty. They don’t have the choice of which citizenship to choose. At the very least, let us(OFWs, immigrants & other kindhearted souls) help give them the choice of life.
Always a Pinoy
dette pascual: you miss the bigger point.
bong: i have never experienced na hindi patas ang labanan even when i had a green passport.
I have a blue passport but my old and worn out green passport has a lot more memories than my blue one. My green passport was more than a passport. It was my badge of honor. It was my history, my sacrifices, my triumph.
rlyn
To Ninotchka, I’m so proud of you for being a proud pinoy before. I’m a pinoy holding a green passport but I every time I go out of the country I’m so proud to present my passport to any immigration officer. I also have some bad experience with immigration officer abroad but I make it a point that not all pinoy are a opportunist in their country some are just plane tourist like me.
Pilo
talaga itong si ninotchka, bakit ka nag-US citizen eh ikaw pa nman ang tinaguriang “first lady of philippine literature”..he he he. magagalit sa yo si freddie aguilar nyan, sasabihin niya hindi ka makabayan..he he he
T_soi
hoi, lahat kayo na meron mga blue passport huag nyo pagmamalaki yan dahil pumunta lang nman kayo dyan dahil naghihirap kz kayo sa pinas,honestly im not proud to have that,punta2 lang ako sa US minsan at natatawa ako sa mga proud pinoy na meron US passport pero hirap hirap naman sa pgbabalat buto kawawa nman kayo dyan.kaya pinili ko d2 sa pinas tumira dahil sariling bayan feel na feel mo alaga eh sa US discriminated kayo dahil asian lang kayo,eh hwag nyo sabihin di nyo nararamdamn ang discrimination dyan sa atin nga discriminated kna kung wla ka trabaho ano pa kaya dyan di naman puti kulay ng balat nyo kaya huag nyo pgmamalaki ang blue passport nyo kulay lang yan.hehehe!!
Carlos
Filipinos in the USA who have changed to the blue passports.
We have a saying:
“El mono en seda un mono se queda”
Jane
well, kadalasan ko naririnig samga pinoy galing states pag umuwi dito sa pinas na mahirap daw ang buhay dun, kayod ng kayod,di daw kagaya dito masarap, paupo upo ka lang kakain ka pa rin… pero ….. ang tanong ko naman sa sarili ko, eh bkit di na lang sila dito mag stay sa pinas eh mahirap pala ang buhay doon…… hehehe ang pinoy nga naman…. pero anyway kahit gano naman tayo katagal at kahit ano pa maging kulay ng passport natin when we get old balik PINAS pa rin tayo….. Iba kasi ang Pinas…. Kaya enjoy habang bata pa life is too short……
Gilberto G Reyes
I suggest get back your citizenship, be a dual citizen .. a lot of filipinos have done it, and its a simplier process… for USD50, you get your Filipino citizenship back, and for another usd50 you get a Filipino passport again. But this time, its maroon, being machine readable
Carly
This is so funny! And Amen to the comment about the Italian boyfriend… I am 100% Italian, born, raised yadda, yadda and dumped an incompetent Italian boyfriend. I have since found my happiness with a Filipino man.
And I would never turn back. Forgive the consular officer…. Italians can be very ignorant and stupid, most of all when in a position of power.
George
You know what? You’re too good for America. Go on back to the Phillipines. We don’t deserve you and your superior attitude. it will be our loss that you have turned away.
buh bye now.
Harrison
Its amazing to hear the perspective of an intelligent person jumping through the bullsh*t hoops. At times I’m so ashamed of my country. In the end though, there are some amazing people here that really make it worthwhile. You’ll find the grossest ignorance and the most uplifting selflessness all in one place. Its a tough balance, but works out well in the end.
Chris in South Korea
Congratulations - and welcome to the States. I find it hard not to apologize for the actions of the government, so I’ll refrain. Now, onward with your life. Go and enjoy. Live long and prosper
Emmanuel
T-Soi,
We have anti-discrimination laws in the U.S……so discrimination is not a problem. No employer can discriminate against any individual based on their sex, skin-color, religious belief or sexual orientation. So discrimination is not a rampant problem as those individuals who don’t have a realistic opportunity to immigrate to the U.S. would want to believe. It’s not the same situation in the Philippines where discrimination is practiced by some Filipinos to other Filipinos….like in job hiring for example. You need to have “connections” rather than “know how”. Bawal ang ganyang practice sa America.
William Ortel
I am not filipino. I can not relate to what you went through. I know someone who can though - a woman who essentially raised me. Like many new yorkers I grew up with a filipino caretaker whose voice I continue to hear in my head. I am far away from her now but hearing what you went through - what she went through - is almost making me tear up.
I want to conclude with some depth here, but I can’t really do anything justice. I hope filipinos who are in a situation similar to hers read this and realize that even years after leaving our house, they are still remembered and loved.
I’m halfway around the world now but when I get home one of the first things I do will be sitting down with her.
jen
fabulous writing and how sad that we have to give up our passports in order to gain the US one…wouldnt a world of dual citizenship (despite the countries involved) be so much better!
tokwa
kahit ano pa ang sabihin ng iba dyan, maganda pa rin ang opportunity sa america but it depends on the persons mindset and attitude. kung wala ka sa ayos, eh hindi ka bagay sa amerika. tama yung sabi ng isang blogger, kahit papano parehas ang laban sa US. depende rin sa karanasan ng iba…may ibang hindi sinuwerte sa america. i cant speak for them though. sa pinas naman, basta may pera ka at koneksyon, happy ka rin pero depende rin sa tibay ng sikmura mo. meron din namang parehas lumaban sa pinas at sinuwerte rin. bottom line is kung sa’n tayo masaya dun tayo. and when we evaluate our conscience at the end of the day, we probably did the right thing if we can say honestly to ourselves that our integrity is still intact.
Chris
If a US passport is the most desired in the world, why do so many Americans travel with a Canadian flag pinned to their lapel/suicase/backpack?
Jennie
You know what? I’m glad they gave you such a hard time…it should be hard, it should be damn hard! I’m sick of seeing people who “deserve” to be American get in so easily…if you want in, work for it, because quite frankly, we don’t need you and your smug attitude. Go back to the Phillipines and be smug there! That doesn’t just go for the States either, all Western countries make it far too easy to get in and now we’re paying for it!
Edward
Who ever taught you that style of writing has a sick sense of humour. I could only make it 1/3 of the way before I got so turned off I couldn’t continue.
I suggest learning how to write properly.
To-Chi
Racial disicrimination in the Philippines is much much worse than here. “Bumbay”, “Intsik”, “Negro” are still part of the daily lexicon. Bisaya ka? Chimay ka siguro. And the name-calling? “Lumpo”, “kalbo”, “ngo-ngo”, “kumang”, and so on. Saan ka nag-aral? Kung hindi rin Ateneo, La Salle at UP o sa States, kawawa ka naman.
The US is not heaven, but it’s not the Philippines either.
Dudong
JANE:
Buti magaling sumagot ang sarili mo sa iyong tanong. Kayod sila nang kayod para kumita ng dolyar na pang retirement nila sa Pinas. Isipin mo may US$ pension pa sila balang araw na enough lang sumuporta sa kanila pag sila ay matanda na. Pag sa Pinas galing pension nila, mahihirapan silang mag cope sa kanilang pangangailangan sa future gaya ng gamot, pagkain etc.
ted
In my case I had to wait 13 years to acquire a blue passport. I thought the last part would be the hardest but it took me only 8 months from the time I submitted my application up to my swearing. I am proud to be an American Citizen just as I am proud to be Filipino by heart. I am grateful for this country because the playing fields is still largely fair. Still, like in most foreign born US nationals - home is where you spent your childhood and adolescent years. You can take out a Filipino out of the Philippines, but you can’t take the Philippines out of a Filipino.
Adrian Robin Ngo
wow, i loved this article… i’m speechless yet so many thoughts float in my mind.
thanks, this gives me a new feeling of appreciation for my Philippines passport, even though it is an ugly maroon now!
pipoy
ako masasabi ko na i have the best of both worlds. meron ako blue passport and proud na maging isang pilipino. Yung mga nagsasalita jan na mas gus2 nila sa pinas, well bakit ang haba pa rin ng pila sa us embass umulan at umaraw. kung ung green passport nila ay kaparehas lang ng blue passport, bakit takot na takot ka pagdating mo sa pila sa port of entry mo sa us. yung blue passport ay ticket para sa magndang buhay, hindi ito guaranteed.
Matt
Like To-Chi says, U.S. is not heaven, case in point is racist Jennie who thinks she’s the only one who deserves to live in the U.S., as if she owns it
Jennie - unless you’re a native american, you don’t have the right to say what you said. You and your family are immigrants there in the U.S. as well, you just happen to have migrated first, you’re racist and ignorant that’s what you are.
But aside from people like Jennie who are like dinosaurs that would someday be extinct(hopefully sooner), other than that U.S. is a land of opportunities, and if you work hard you’ll do well, and that’s what’s missing in P.I., the playing field is not leveled, everything is controled by the influetial and powerful, the middle class has no power.
You just have to put up with Jennie the dinosaur from time to time.
Not a Hick
I thought it was hilarious, these people are just too touchy, because they really are insecure about our country. People working in the government should be more tolerant, and I suppose they quiz you so hard, because we’ve got enough of our own dumbasses here. You can let page one of comments stand as exhibit A.
FlipChino
I first read with bemused feeling Ms Rosca’s tales about life as a fresh-off-the boat immigrant to New York, in a Sunday magazine called Philippine Panorama 25 years ago. Well it looks like–diatribes, humorous whining, griping and all–she’s still here and….never really left. The simple, plain question to Ms Rosca is if indeed this country seemed an insane asylum–why stay? (and even become a citizen)
ARS
As a green card holder (non-filipino) for 26 years now, I liked the blog post very much. It reflects the ambiguity I feel wrt immigration officers and the USA. Reading some of the comments on this blog it also reminds why I did not become a citizen yet. I don’t see any country (including the USA) as being the best and most free in the world. The USA and my own country have both good and bad qualities. I might at some point for reason of convenience (inheritance laws) become a citizen, but will never be a flag waving person (for any country).
marie
From my own personal experience, I too had a lot of heartbreaking experiences while waiting for my greencard and while I was applying for my citizenship. To get either one is truly a privilege and not a right. But looking back, I can proudly say that it is all worth it. America is a country that pays back its hard working citizens. I am happy here.
tokwa
mga kababayan,
magaling talagang literary writer itong si ninotchka. ang purpose niya kaya sinulat niya itong blog na ito ay para asarin kayong lahat at guluhin ang inyong diwa at pananaw. tingnan nyo, maraming nagalit marami ring walang utak na sumuporta sa kanya. pero kung talagang iintindihin nyo ang blog na ito, itoy walang katuturan. magpapakahirap ka ba namang kumuha ng US passport tapos ipagkakalat mo na “its not worth it?” duh!…bravo ninotchka, ganyan nga guluhin mo ang utak ng mga kulang sa pansin at ungas na pinoy!
tirador
kahit ano pa sabihin nyo, masarap ang buhay ko sa america…haaayyy buhay! he he he he
perla
if you guys think this is a good example of creative writing with humor, sarcasm, and all that , i dont think so….
T_soi
no!no!no! sa totoo lang masarap parin ang buhay sa pinas. mga pare koi magpakatotoo naman kayo diba yan ang sinabi ni fidudido. kung pangit ang pinas bakit umuuwi parin kayo para magbakasyon? mag sprite na nga lang muna kayo para matauhan kayo hehehe!!
tirador
pareng T-soi,
yes, yes yes…
tama ka dyan, kaya nga panay ang bakasyon ko sa pinas eh para ubusin yung kinita ko sa amerika…he he he
masarap talaga magbakasyon sa pinas…pero masarap pa rin buhay ko sa amerika…sorry na lang he he he
tirador
pareng T-soi,
bakit ganun? uminom ako ng sprite pero masarap pa rin ang buhay sa amerika?
he he he…
joke lang pre..katuwaan lang (peace!)
Boy Lazatin
I think T_soi is correct. C’mon guys be real! If its nice to live in the US, then why the heck theres always a long line of US visa applicants at the US emassy in Manila? Maybe T_soi can explain that intelligently…let’s hear from T_soi once again.
POGI
mas masarap mag hirap sa USA kesa pinas kc may 2long na bigay ang govt.dun
jakbkk
very enjoyable,funny,informative piece from Ms. Rosca, the green (and brown before that) passport has always been maligned and looked down upon although same can be said of other Asian passports even within the region (Singapore, Japan even Hongkong immigration take a good look at our kababayans).
rog
nakakapagtaka kung bakit maraming gusto pumunta at maging citizen ng US samantalang ang pangit pangit ng treatment nito sa mga immigrants. mas mabuti pa sa NZ, Australia o canada.
T_soi
Boy, i am one of those people lining up in US embassy in Mla. applying for a US visa 6yrs ago. 10 yrs.multiple entry visa was given to me. natutuwa ako dahil makakapunta nako sa dream land na sinasabi nila kaya dali2 ako nagpunta dun pero puro lang pala disappointment ang ma experience ko dahil napaka lungkot ang buhay dun malayo sa lahat, my cousin an engineer and his wife a registered nurse working 12hrs a day 5-6days a week para lang mkabayad sa monthly bills nila at maka support sa 3kids nila na nag aaral din,halos dina sila nagkikita sa bahay. twice lang ako nag bakasyon dun at kung babalik mn ako baka manonood lang ng laban ni pacman.
ang life ko d2 sa pinas meron 2 hse maids, 1 hse boy and a driver dyan sa US kahit meron kana sakit pipilitin mo parin magtrabaho kz no work no pay.
i am not a govt employee,i am one of the luckiest business man here in Cebu.
so pls. stop convincing me that US is a heaven bec. Fil. is only a 3rd class citizen there.1st is white american, 2nd is black then 3rd is hespanic,(pwera nlang kung mgbago mukha nyo) ang pinoy kamukha sa hespanic kaya na belong kayo sa 3rd clss citizen dyan. ang mga pinoy na sobrang paghihirap sa pinas ay dream land nila ang US. aasenso naman kayo kung di kayo tamad, matalino kayo at meron abilidad sa pinas. kaya cge mag 7 up nlang kayo sabi ni fidudido para magpaka totoo na talaga kayo lahat dyan. peace be w/ you!!!
Mr. Praktikal
Mr. T_Soi,
yan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko eh….huwag tayong mag-generalize. maraming umasenso sa amerika at meron din namang hindi. yung iba dun na nanirahan nag-aral, nagtrabaho at nag-retire. limang bagay lang kaya hindi mo magugustuhan ang amerika.
1. kung ikaw ay tamad
2. kung ikaw ay pusong-mamon
3. kung ikaw at ang magulang mo ay corrupt at masarap ang buhay nyo sa pinas.
4. kung bobo kang mag-ingles
5. at kung hindi ka sanay sa lamig
kung hindi mo nagustuhan ang amerika, eh bahala ka sa buhay mo. huwag mong idamay yung iba na iba ang pag-iisip sa iyo. praktikal di ba?
Boy Lazatin
T_soi,
You are totally wrong and misinformed. What school of logic did you came from? Sorry to say but you dont belong to America. First of all, no one tries to convince you that life in the US is better. Bloggers are just telling stories just like you but definitely not everybody agrees with you nor everybody is against you. Those people whos been in the US and have succeeded in their quest for a better life have an entirely different story to tell than your worthless frustrations. Your excuses are your own. US is not for everyone, and definitely not for you. There are lots of Filipino’s who made it big in the US, but others don’t and that is a fact. I could tell that you had a very bad experience in the US and your just sourgraping. In America, they dont give a rats ass even if your the most successful businessman in Cebu or in London. Even Ex-Senator Franklin Drilon has to remove his shoes at the security check at the port of entry in San Francisco. Tell you what, in America your just a piece of shit and thats why you cant help but vent your frustrations in this blog. Second, it seems that you have a questionable personality no wonder why you cant even put up with the challenges in America and your paranoid about being discriminated because you dont have the guts and the balls to fight back and assert your rights. Third, you cant even speak the language well and even your spelling sucks. Finally, I agree with you on one thing. Yes, your better off in Cebu because thats your comfort zone, thats the society where you belong, and you can never afford to get out of it because a loser is a loser.
Tokwa
ha ha ha…kawawa naman si T_soi grabe ninyong alaskahin.
Ram Roy
Boy Lazatin,
Before you start bashing someone else’s spelling mistakes, take a look at your grammatical mistakes…its your kind that brings the embarrassment to the Filipino community in the US…..oich goyem!
Bernie Castillo
Hi Boy & T_soi,
Huwag naman natin la-itin ang mga Pinoy na nag-sisikap makahanap ng magandang buhay sa kanilang mga pamilya. Ang Pinoy ay hindi homogenous, may kanya kanyang sariling kagustuhan. Respetohin na lang natin ang kanilang desisyon. Alam na natin ngayon na hindi basta-basta mangibang bansa. Lakas luob at kapal na ng mukha para sagupain ang lahat ng perwisyo at hirap na alam natin darating. For some people living in Cebu or Manila with an army of alalays is the life to live. For some its not only the comforts that drives them - it is the ideal to better the odds for themselves or their kids. Nasa lahat ng tao iyan - iyong drive to survive. Basic instinct ika nga. The only difference is the way we pursue it.
Hope you guys have good life in Cebu for Mr. T_Soi or Mr.Boy in the U.S. But please let us all Pinoys be decent enough to respect each other choices. There are millions of reasons for people to move. It is a quirk in our make-up as human beings….since the dawn of man in Africa.
Cheers to all,
Bernie
Boy Lazatin
Hi Bernie,
Thats what I’m trying to say…thanks!
T_SOI
boy, napaka pikon mo nman hwag knaman mang gigil dyan nagsasabi lang naman ako nang totoo. sa San Carlos University ako nag aral at natapos ng busines admin. kaya successful businessman ako ngayon. thnks God.
cge na kumayaod knlang dyan boy sayang ang oras eka nga time is gold daw dyan kawawa knaman kayo…tama ka talaga bernie kapal ng mukha ang kailangan para kumayod sa ibang bansa tulad ng mukha no boy kaya dapat isa si boy ang maging bayani sa bansa natin.
comida de china
Sang ayon ako sa iyo Bernie!
Ang mahirap kasi madalas sa Pinoy, masyadong magaling magsalita. Nuong nasa Pilipinas ako, walang tumulong sa akin sa mga kalbaryo ko, kahit kitang-kita na hirap ako. Nang maka-lipat sa US at guminhawa ng konti, yung mga taong hindi ako pinansin nang hingan ko ng tulong, e sila rin ang unang-unang nakikialam sa buhay ko. At sinasabihan ako na bumalik na ng Pilipinas.
Ang hirap din kasi sa ibang Pinoy, hahanap ng “issue” para mapaganda ang tingin nila… sa sarili nila, tulad nitong pag-lipat o hindi paglipat sa Amerika.
Kaya ang masasabi ko na lang, kung hindi ka naman tutulong sa problema ng isang tao… e huwag ka na lang humirit sa diskarteng gagawin nya sa buhay nya.
Ron
ok ka T_SOI boto ako sayo straight ka pare totoo lahat sinabi mo hwag mona kse patulan si Boy baka na layoff lang yan sa trabaho kaya maiinit ulo tanggalan kse dito ngayon..peace na kayo mga pare katuwaaan lang ‘to hwag dibdibin.
hector catanghal
who said no work no pay? I don’t feel like I am a 3rd class citizen here in America! I feel good having a filipino skin because they love to have the kayumangi skin. I love my filipino lips as opposed to the whites or other mestizo looking. I feel good about myself because my contemporary of same age or younger here looked way way older. They envied me for that. My car is an eye catcher when driving in the freeway and especially on the street. I work regular 8 hours but most of the time I don’t! Living here in the US is a choice. Yes no place like home and I miss my relatives dearly. I still wanna live here in the US because I feel more safe and secured! sorry for your not so good experience here in the US.
T_soi
hehe!sarap talaga asarin ang mga taong pikon. Boy the way you made a remarks proved that you really a sick man & needs an immediate medical attention. you need to complete anger management course as well.
misinformed & sourgraping i think not a proper word to use coz i’ve been there twice & i know what life in united states is.
Fil. like you doesnt have talent w/ life full of uncertainties must go abroad to look for a better opportunity. even though you are treated like a 3rd class citizen in US you have no choice but to swallow your pride to be able to survive.
pls. dont insist that no racial discrimination in the US. are you aware of what Pres. Obama said abt. the incident of Mr. Gates?” I think we know separate and apart from this incident — is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos (latinos looks like a noypi)being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately, and that’s just a fact.”
anyway, i completed my business ad course & graduated at san calos university cebu city. FYI..Boy paalala ang puso mo hehe!
Tokwa
T_soi,
No offense meant. Clarification lang, what do you mean when you said :
“African-Americans and Latinos (latinos looks like a noypi)being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately, and that’s just a fact.”
talagang bang “disproportionately” o may iba pang mas appropriate na word? Hindi ko lang kasi makuha dahil parang mali ang gamit mo nung “disproportionately”.
Pakilinaw lang…Thanks!
Tokwa
To Boy Lazatin,
Its okey to make comments but lets be a little decent naman. Its not right to put down somebody na hindi mo nman masyadong kilala, in fairness kay T_soi.
inuman na lang tayo para masaya!
Mister-Yoso
Hi Bloggers,
Hindi nyo ba alam na si T_Soi, si Bernie at si Boy Lazatin ay iisang tao lang. Pinaiikot lang kayo ng mga yan.
Canuto
Masarap talaga ang buhay dito sa Amerika. Kung masipag ka lang, aasenso ka. Sa Pilipinas, kuba ka na sa trabaho (kung may trabaho) naghihirap ka pa rin. Pero nangangarap din ako na sana ay balang araw, umunlad din ang Pilipinas. Mangyayari lang yan kung mautas na (sana) ang mga kurakot at mga mapagsamantalang tao sa gobyerno.
Boy Lazatin
T_soi or Bisoy,
Kahit ano pa naipundar mo bisaya ka pa rin at bopols ka pa rin mag-english.
he he he…
von
Boy Lazatin, kung sino kaman hwag mo liitin ang mga bisaya dahil maraming matalinong bisaya at talented, wla akong nakitang maling english ni T_soi at tama naman ang lahat sinasabi nya. 21yrs na ako nkatira dito sa San Francisco tama lahat sinabi ni T_soi.
Tokwa is correct if you are professional enough lets be a little decent naman pag nag comment ka no below the belt.
hazel
boy lazatin, pls. hwag naman po natin liliitin ang mga bisaya kse maraming matatalinong bisaya at talented pa.
tama naman ang english ni t_soi.
18years na ako nakatira dito sa maryland at kung di tayo kakayod mahirap talaga lalo na pg winter di tulad sa phil. na kung mayaman kana magaan ang buhay mo tulad ni t_soi. so be decent and professional enough naman pag nag comment tayo.
peace be with you or both of you.
Tokwa
I really dont like your comment Boy. Its uncalled for. Tama ang ibang bloggers. Hindi porket nasa abroad ka at hindi ka laki sa probinsiya eh magaling ka na. English is not a status symbol of success or a guarantee of persons integrity and dignity. Marami tayong kababayan that made our country proud and they came from Cebu, Mindanao or Ilocos. Everyone in our country contributes to our success as a nation. Kaya Boy, please dont make this blog a venue for hatred. Kung tagalog ka man, hindi ganyan ang mga tagalog. I hope your not.
Dudong
Different strokes for different folks.
Bernie Castillo is correct. So please, T_soi and Boy Lazatin, stop your extremely personal arguments. Stop insulting each other. Let us all respect each others’ opinions. There is more to the Philippines than Tagalogs and Visayans.
There is not a single formula for happiness. If you go at it your own way and find it, then very good. But do not expect others to have the same priorities, ambitions, and view of happiness as you. They are not your clones.
Tokwa
I agree with Ron, blog 141
This blog is for healthy exchange of ideas at hindi personalan. May mali si T_soi pero mas mali si Boy dahil naapektuhan siya ng husto na hindi naman dapat, to the point na naging personal ang kanyang atake that I dont agree with. This blog is just all about the sacrifices of getting a blue passport. Lets respect each other and if you guys could, lets forgive and forget and let bygones be bygones. I understand the sentiments of T_soi and he never meant to attack anyone siguro talagang hindi naging attractive ang buhay sa America para sa kanya. He has a point. Im here in the US and Im okay but sometimes bumabalik sa isip ko ang mag-retire sa atin. I also understand that Boy felt kinda insulted pero sabi nga ni Ron, katuwaan lang walang pikunan at walang salitang masama tayong bibitiwan. Peace to all kababayans!
jane
God Bless all of you!!! at lahat sana ng wish nyo mag come true…… thats coming from the heart…. Andyan na kayo sa states or any part of the world enjoy it….wag nang magpapa apekto sa mga taong iba ang pananaw sa buhay…..make the best of everything. Pinakamagandang sandata PRAYERS….God Bless
Lanier
Wala akong kinakampihan sa away ni Boy at ni T-Soi. Dapat nga walang personalan. Pero, sa totoo lang, maraming mali ang English ni T_soi. Halimbawa: “Boy the way you made a remarks proved that you really a sick man & needs an immediate medical attention.” Dapat nag-Tagalog na lang siya. Siyanga pala, totoo bang nahihirapan daw makahanap ng tao ang mga call center sa Pilipinas dahil balu-baluktot daw mag-Ingles ang mga kabataan ngayon?
lee bog
basta ako…american citizen and happy
ilovetosendgiftstothephilippines
Matindi pla d2….
PinoyPaRinAko
Ewan ko sa inyo.
Basta ako, gusto ko sa pinas pa rin ililibing ang bangkay ko.
Mahirap sa america mamatay.
Walang magdadasal para sa kaluluwa natin.
May you all rest in Peace.
Babay!
Aleman
Its sad, if everybody is thinking that american is the most prized passport in the world. Co’z thats not true or maybe youre just an ignorant of the privilages of some citizenship like GERMAN. I’m a German citizen, enjoying the German privilages also being a european. Here we are not treated like a dog even if you are not a citizen. Being a german we are also enjoying the german salary (the most high salary in the world in compare to all strong countries). When naturalizing, you’ll be treathed with whole respect, (even if you’re late with your appointment). I’m not competting other citizens here, I just wanna tell, IT’S SAD IF YOU ONLY THINK American is the best.
edward
YUNG MGA PINOY NA NASA ABROAD/USA.KONG PROUD KAYONG PINOY DI UMUWI KAYO DITO!TINGNAN NATIN ANG ANG PAGKA PROUD NYO KONG KAYA NYONG BUHAYIN ANG PAMILYA NYO ANG SAHOD DITO SA PINAS!!BUTI PA KAYO NASA USA NA!!PA PROUD2X PA KAYO SA PINAS!!!
Tokwa
To Aleman,
No, don’t generalize like other bloggers did. Not everybody considers the US passport as the most sought after passport in the world. Try to put things in perspective. To some people maybe, but to all, definitely not. Im happy for you that you like being a German citizen but you need some helping with your English grammar and spelling. I have a strong feeling that your a Filipino who became a German citizen.
coolmomma
to all filipinos out there - be proud of your heritage. haven’t met an overseas filipino who doesn’t dream or looks forward to spending retirement back home in good old ‘pinas.
Lupe
Tokwa Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 5:02 am
To Aleman,
No, don’t generalize like other bloggers did. Not everybody considers the US passport as the most sought after passport in the world. Try to put things in perspective. To some people maybe, but to all, definitely not. Im happy for you that you like being a German citizen but you need some helping with your English grammar and spelling. I have a strong feeling that your a Filipino who became a German citizen.
**********************************************************************
Hindi niya naman kailangan ng perfect english. Anong gagawin niya sa english kung german nga first language na niya. Hay nako talaga mga pinoy na inaangking perpekto ang sarili sa wika ng ibang bansa…need recognition to atleast to get out of the thirdclass citizen’s category? tsk, tsk…Ang daming ganon sa mga fora na pinoy! Hindi sinasagot ang mga comment kundi nangungurrect lang ng grammar. Mga nuissance. Why don’t you stick to the matter!
harold
to: coolmomma
you really cool i like your comment! keep it up man!
Kikay
GOD gave us our own free will to choose what is best for us so whatever the consequences we will be responsible for our action.I respect all the comments ,if we can not love them at least we should not hurt them.GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
James Goksina
Searched greencard immigration in msn but for some reason found this page.great info
Berna Suarez
To Lupe,
Lupe says:
“Hindi niya naman kailangan ng perfect english. Anong gagawin niya sa english kung german nga first language na niya.
Well, thats the point. Bakit pa siya nag-english kung hindi niya naman ito kailangan like what you said. Eh di sana nag-German na lang siya. Mag-iingles ka rin lang eh kahit papano yung naiintindihan naman di ba? Sino ba namang German ang papasok sa Inquirer blog na ito aber? Do you think Germans would care on this kind of issue if theyre the highest paid in the world? Pinoy din yan, ang hina mo naman… baka ikaw pa nga yan eh…he he he.
Mr. Praktikal
To Lupe,
On your post that you alleged Filipinos are on the third class citizen category, thats a dumb comment. Its all in your mind. If you have a poor mindset, you will think that way and will classify your race as third class citizens. Maraming Pinoy na umasenso sa ibang bansa at nahigitan pa ang mga citizens ng host country because of hardwork, perseverance, and a high level of self esteem. If you consider yourself as such, then thats you.
winer
The basic concept of human relation in a civilized world is that we don’t have to like a person… but we have to have a sense of respect.
andy
It’s not fair to say that Filipinos are third class human race in their adopted countries. It’s just a product of your imagination. Some of us may not speak or write articulately in English but it does not mean we’re inferior. There are countless of Filipinos who have excelled in their respective field of endeavors in other countries. In fact, I know someone who is a Ph.D. graduate in Food Science from one of the prestigious universities in Australia and has a postdoctoral fellow in Functional Foods awarded by the government of Canada. This Pinoy is the top honcho of the research and development and quality assurance with a food company in the US. The company is raking in millions of dollars because of this Pinoy.
coolmomma
to winer:
EXACTLY! i agree 100%. let’s be civilized in giving out opinions and respect each other’s ideas. i would like to think that everyone who commented in this blog are filipinos anyway.
Aleman
thanks to all, who understand my english, co’z we dont use any other language here rather than GERMAN, sorry for those who are offended. In central europe we are not good in english (only the English people), but still, it’s sad for those who are still uncivilized Filipino.
BYE . ! ! !
iyo karpo
Aleman is wrong. There are still many Germans coming to Canada to look for jobs, specially here in Alberta. Germany must be a poor country.
Aleman does not realize that Rizal is Hitler’s biological father.
Tokwa
nakakapagtaka nga naman…nung una mali mali ang grammar at spelling ni aleman, ngayon mukhang maayos naman. besides, im wondering too na mayroong german na all of a sudden nagkaroon ng interes sa inquirer blog na ito which is too far out for the busy german person to spend time and blog their his cents, kung wala siyang link sa pagiging pilipino or sa pilipinas. third, its very strange for a natural born german citizen to use aleman as his moniker. aleman is the tagalog term for a german. thats easy isnt it? sana nagtagalog ka na lang. be true to yourself ika nga to avoid conflict and confusion.
jok
Don’t confuse individual achievements with being Filipino -its not the same. For every Filipino who became top dog. I can name the same number of Americans or Germans or Italians even who is by the same respects “top dog”. One person or group of people’s achievements do not neccessarily reflect a “race”. Its like saying: Abu Sabaya beheaded people and he is Filipino so what does this say about us?
On being inferior - people will always have their preconceived notions of what you are based on background,religion and so on and so forth…You cant do anything to change that as thats how people are. Its up to you whether you will prove them right or wrong.
With Aleman’s comments- Ive met people like you… those that stay a few years in some country and come back saying that he can no longer speak Tagalog or even with an English accent. Even though - every tagalog speaking person he runs into knows that he’s just one trying - hard SOB. Come to think of it with all the Filo 80s movies of stereotype balikbayans who pretend not to be able to speak Tagalog - I am surprised why there are so many of them around
berna suarez
to iyo karpo,
dont be fooled by this aleman. i could tell in this blog right now that this aleman is not a natural born, blonde, blue eyes, white skinned german but a filipino or filipina maybe, who acquired german citizenship for some reason. we dont even need sufficient amount of logic to conclude such because nobody from germany will waste his/her time putting his two cents on a blog that has nothing to do with german people or germany. the issue here is all about us passport and i dont think germans would care. pinoy din yan na gusto lang magpa-impress under the guise of being a german. masyado lang nasarapan sa naging kapalaran niya sa germany kaya pinangatawanan na niya ang maging german. just take a look how he/she reacts. o di ba, lupe?
NoChoice
I have been in the US for almost 20 years now. Still have the green passport, no need to change it. I have all the priviledges except voting during the elections. Funny, most Americans I know don’t even care to vote.
Anyway, I do have the green passport and never say I am proud to have it. It is part of my identity and my heritage. I for one could never say I am proud about our country, really I have seen better days and our country may look progressive but it is still the same old “bs” that is making it spiral downhill.
As a people, we Pinoys are survivors and self-reliant. We can adopt to any situation and conditions thrown at us. We survived long lasting home-sickness and working 3 jobs in order to support our immediate family and our “extended” families.
But that is the extent of it… as a people amd individual we are great, in-fact I’d say amazing but as a nation we all suck. Why? Because we let thiefs and wolves plunder our country. We spoil them by leaving the homeland and sending our hard-earned money back home.
The wolves really don’t have to do much knowing that the ever faithful OFW’s would always send some money back home. Imagine 11 million Filipinos sending at least $100 each month. Even if the government only gets a dollar per transaction, they pretty much are sitting on a gold mine.
I don’t blame the ones that so eagerly pursue the “blue” passport, it is just for convenience really. Now, if our government could reverse the tied of mass migration and create some decent jobs back home; a lot of us would totally pack up our bags and head out home.
I never consider myself lucky to be living in the US (as mentioned, homesickness sucks). For many like me, we have to be here in order to support our family back home. We have no choice. We have no opportunity in our own country.
The only things I missed about home are the friends and family, other than that… nothing. I hate the traffic, the corruption , the garbage, the negative thinking, the crab mentality, I do mostly hate how the government has gone berserk! But yet, I am keeping my green passport.
If you are one of the lucky few to be sitting in a pot of gold, then yes the Philippines is a paradise but for normal Juan dela Cruz, it is HELL in PARADISE.
NoChoice
BTW, I am not a writer and I am typing in the dark so please forgive my typos… I think you all get my point.
Aleman
ask a german who immigrate to canada, like a carpenter- coz here they are earning only €45 per hour, in canada they are receiving $97 (canadian dollar) per hour, actually they where televized here in germany. just ask them, personally.
Bernie Castillo
Kanya kanyang panahon lang iyan. Panahon ng mga Romans - prized din iyong Roman citizenship. Panahon ng British, prized din iyong passport nila by the Hongkies. Ngayon naman ay panahon ng Kano, kaya the US passport is prized ika nga. In another 50 to 100 years ano naman kaya - baka Chinese ???? Naku patay na…
noel
Dami sa States nagkakanokano-an, siempre pag dito sa Pinas vanity begets vanities…. si balikbayan…. daming alipores alialigid baka maambunan nang dollar….siempre si balikbayan parang nakaangat sa lupa pag labas nang NAIA…’ wala niyan sa states…’ ika nga PLDT. Blue passport is blue passport not green kasi walang tanong tanong iyan pag dumalao ka sa ibang bansa not requiring US visa.
Ala Eh kasarap dito sa Pinas eh!! pag masipag ka lang at taos pusong naniniwala sa Diyos. Tagal kung trabaho sa customer services sa States ala eh kababastos nang mga customers at halos wala nang naniniwala sa Diyos. Kaya tama si kabayan kanina eh parang roman empire iyan na nakikita kung unti unti nang bumabagsak. eh kahirap nang trabaho ngayon doon sa States. Pasensya na mga kabayan lalo na sa mga kababaihan ala eh bihirang bihira ako nakakita nang mga magagandang Pinay doon kung mayroon man bihira pero ma ala ‘ Ruffa Mae’ or ‘Katrina Halili’ hehehe!!! Oo nga pala mukha yatang puro ‘made in China ‘ na lahat sa States kaya siguro next time Chinese passport na winawagayway ni Kabayan sa NAIA pag paalis o padating nang bansa para makita nang lahat naka amuyong doon.
bob
living abroad…it may be poignant story, but entertaining
chuckles…
ponjap
salamat na lang, dito ako sa australia napunta. nagado ti takki lapayag yo. green, blue ano ba yan?
Patricia
It was fun reading your story….liked it…:)..should I say congratulations?…hehehehe…
andy
Yes, you are right Mr. Castillo. Empire just come and go. In the olden days, Rome was a very powerful empire and eventually it was followed by Spain, France, and England. Currently it’s America. But it will not remain indefinitely. For sure time will come it will be replaced by another country, most probably China.
winer
I did a research on the number of Asians living in the Divided States of America, specifically Filipinos, Chinese, and East Indians. Among these groups of races, Filipinos has a population of 4 million, Chinese 3 million plus and East Indians 2 million plus. Unfortunately however, seldom or rarely you will see Filipinos who are in “high profile” positions whether in politics, business and the media. Filipinos are intelligent, competitive, and hard working people but on the other hand, I think there’s probably an attitude problem. I am not a psychologist but I am pretty sure there’s a deeper reason.
andy
Winer - Thank you for your positive comment on the character/traits of Filipinos. I completely agree with you that Filipinos are seldom or rarely seen in “high profile” positions in politics, business and media. I think the rationale behind this is the fact that in terms of civilization, the Philippines is essentially a young country as compared to China and India which has been in existence for more than a thousand years now; in the same vein, these countries have both more than a billion populations, which will unquestionably generate exceptional intelligent citizens. In the Philippines, movers and shakers of the economy are predominantly dominated by Chinese-Filipinos. Almost all industries are controlled or owned by them.
erwin
Andy…
I think you’re right. The civilization of China and India have existed for thousands of years already. With that said, these countries have significant contribution to the development of civilization on the rest of the world. While the Philippines is obviously a young country. It would perhaps take many more years for Filipinos living abroad, specially in Norht American to have someone in what you called “high profile” positions in politics, business and media.
iyo karpo
I’ve just laid off German cabinet makers from my shop back in February, I replaced them with my kababayans.
june
Congrats,
It takes time and stupid questioning, anyway, afterall you deserve it with a little twist of discrimination.
Anton
thanks for sharing this blog. I would want to share my thoughts too if allowed. Been in the US for a little over a year. Wife and kids are back home in the Philippines.
Galit sa kapwa magnanankaw
Maganda pa rin ang Pinas, kung mawawala lang ang mga manloloko, mga suwapang at mga ganid sa katungkulan….siguro walang mahirap na Pinoy sa ating sariling bansa. Kahit magsumikap tayo kung maraming mga buwaya sa paligid…hindi pa rin tayo uunlad. kaya dapat patayin ang ganitong klaseng mga tao…..tapos sunugin pa pati kaluluwa nila…. isama mo na rin itong mga arroyo, estrada, marcos, velarde, villanueva at iba pang kabaro nila.
tsinoy
very interesting article. well-written.
the INS must read this.
Bernie Castillo
hi Mr winer,
There are x reasons why Fil-Ams are under represented in the political and business fields ( I doubt they are under rep in science & tech, education etc…)
A.) Pinoy culture frowns upon children who show signs of being “pilosopo’ or the aptitude for “winging it”. Kids who talk back or expect a reasonable answers from their parents are smacked. B.) College or university degree is still preferred and becoming an employee is the highest target being set. Becoming an enterpreneur or trailblazer is not even encouraged. C.) Related to b is the concept of money - because of our Christian heritage we look down upon people who are astute with money - we call them “mukhang pera”. Nevertheless, all of of the above are in themselves not wrong. The Pinoy psyche is not static, it is still being molded as we speak. Oh by the way before I forget, letter D.) we have not run out of opportunities in the Philippines for our run-o-mill Congressman. Once you see Pinoys in American politics by the dozens, I advise people to run for cover, the descendants of our Congress people have gotten their much prized “BLUE PASSPORT”…America here we come…hep hep hurray !!!
Bernie Castillo
Just read thru, other people’s comments:
To Paula, Cai, and Patricia : yes, LOL, the writers literary writing is literally “lost in translation” -….humor, irony sarcasm…judging by the comments being posted…LOL…
To B : I wonder too, not only Asians but east Europeans, Mexicans etc… who – yes can barely speak English, but are given the green light. Don’t worry, the western part of US wouldn’t be speaking English anyway in 50 years time. Time to brush up on your Spanish….hasta La Vista baby…
To Lou Dvorsky : Bless your soul ! You have found heaven in our beloved country…
To eboybear : As the above ladies did, you hit the nail in its head boy. Good plain “literal” explanation.
To Andy, Boy Lazatin et.al: As a friend of mine used to say “That’s the way the cookie crumbles”…changes everywhere but things stay still the same …just like home… Pinas has to go thru what other countries have gone thru and that is civil war… The Japanese through the fighting clans finally united under one Shogun, China through the ages …been conquered by the Mongols and united under one flag. The Americans with their Civil War….
To NoChoice: Amen to all you’ve said and I agree. Hope though that you get the chance to see Pinas from a plane flying daytime - Manila to Davao and see how beautiful our country is. For a moment throw away all these things that’s troubling your mind. Relax and look. There’s always a better way to look at things….read a few of Robina Gokongweis old missives on Pinoy Culture… you’ll see what I mean…
To Editha Flores Wolff: “Pangarap man o pangangailangan, stand by it. No explaining. You know it better”…
I like that… One has to put aside our sentimentality and look at things as they are…Living outside the country has opened my eyes to the person I look at the mirror - a quaint, provincial , sentimental Fool ! I woke up and managed to change the way I think and act following in some manner a mixture of the practical Western outlook, Pinoy optimism, and Buddhist precepts of the Middle Way.
To All : A common thread runs through the comments and that is Pinoys still love their country and Pinoys in America “mostly” do not want to be seen as “ungrateful” or “walang utang na loob”. The last is a cardinal sin in our culture. And also is “if only Pinas where like the US or etc…” Well one can do ones bit of making changes for the better without feeling guilty either way of disloyalty or feeling being used.
Practice Kindness everywhere you go and you will have done your duty to your fellow man…
Have a pleasant day to all Inquirer readers…
Lapayag
Wow! I have a US passport (I don’t call it blue) and a Philippine Passport (I don’t call it green). I have been in the US a little over 20 years and I could rightly say that some of the comments made here regarding the classification of naturalized citizens of Philippine origin is really insulting.
On another post made by Aleman, I think I can safely say that you need a little more learning before making comments. You are sorely misguided. You do have a point though, in stating that some Europeans do earn more compared to Americans. Need I remind you of the horrible amount of taxes you pay?
Someone also seemed to to have gotten a little too personal to the effect of branding people from the Visayas as inferior. To who? I would love to have this debate with you, any time, anywhere. As a point of clarity, I am from Pangasinan of mixed Ilocano, Pangasinan and Kapampangan blood and never in my wildest dreams would I be able to brand Visayans as inferior to anyone in the Philippines. In fact, no man should be inferior to anyone. I might be idealistic but I still believe that men are created equal.
I agree that there are “Zafra tones” in the writer’s style. Given that the writer was injecting humor, sarcasm and wit in her writing, I still find it a little bit inappropriate to belittle the process by which the US Government is screening its would-be citizens.
We all have our reasons why we left our beloved country. Those reasons are too numerous and too complex to discuss even those that are personal to us. Let me just say that I am glad I was given the chance to be here and be a citizen of the United States. It is by choice and it’s a choice I made for my own personal reasons. To belittle the process of which you made personal and conscious reasons to choose and undergo, is belittling your own choice,and therefore, yourself.
Naimbag nga rabi-i kanya yo nga amin. Masantos ya labi ed sikayon amin.
Tingting Rimart
That is so true. Being a citizen of a country not your own is a tough decision. Basically, it is about forgetting your identity. Anyway, to his own.
erwin
Tingting - Having a blue passport does not mean that you will forget your heritage as a Pinoy. Passport is just a piece of paper. It does not have the power to transform anybody’s physical features into a Caucasian. I was born in America more 40 years ago but the blood running back and forth in my veins and arteries is still very much Pinoy, and thanks to my parents for instilling the Pinoy traits in me. The problem with some of our kababayan is that they bragg of having a foreign passport. Remember that life on earth is just temporary. When you join your creator he will not ask you what is the color of your passport.
Tony
I was born in NYC with British Parents. Technically, I am an American but I don’t think it will change my identity as an Englishman. Of course I love this country but deep in my heart I am still a British bloke.
Juan
Even of you have a blue passport, your identity or heritage is still Pinoy. You can’t deny it! It’s ridiculous to say that you will forget your identity once you have acquired a blue passport.
Greg
Tingting - Blue passport will not make you forget your true blooded identity of being a Filipino or whatever nationality you have. As Erwin had clearly stated, it is just a piece of paper. When a bee bites you, you will still utter the Pinoy word for aray ko instead of saying ouch.
Mar
You’re still considered Pinoy even if you have a blue passport. It will not change you’re identity.
berna suarez
erwin,
your absolutely right. theres a lot of filipinos like the one who started this blog topic who seem to create an issue or a big deal about the blue passport. in reality, the americans doesnt care. it was only us or most of our kababayans who has so much drama in their mind and heart that makes it a big deal. whether you have a green or blue passport and how much time and effor you spend to get it, is immaterial. its how you live your life. like what you said, when we join our creator, he will not ask what color of passport you possess. masyado lang ma-drama itong si ninothcka na pinatulan naman nung ibang pinoy. in the first place, why the heck she applied for a us passport?
Ricci
hello, this is a great blog. just wanna ask, is the blue Phil passport the oldest one in existence? because if u got the blue one - i can feel its unique and truly priceless.
carla
very nice blog.
well written!
Joji Garcia
I agree. It doesn’t matter whether you remain a pinoy citizen or not. As long as you do what you really love and you are happy with it.
frianne
It’s a wonderful blog. I was touched by the last paragraph.
Gary
Maybe Filipinos are meant to be treated that way, being sick-man of Asia. Isipin mo, hindi man lang marunong mag-ingles, pumasa, samantalang ikaw, katakot-takot na interview.
Well, blame it on old M.L. Quezon, his words were profetic, “I’d rather have a Philippines run like hell by Filipinos, rather than like heaven by Americans…”
We have to scramble out of our contry, because it is runned like helll…
ryan
I opted for naturalization for a couple of reasons: representation to go with my taxation! Given that only citizens get to vote, but everyone gets taxed pretty much the same way, I’d rather get a say in how my tax dollars are spent.
The second reason I had to become naturalized was the ease of travel. Let’s face it, Pinoys need to apply for visas to go pretty much anywhere.
Lapayag
Frianne….you were “touched by the last paragraph,” how so? Frankly, I wasn’t offended, mad or “touched,’ but a bit disappointed.
I would love to hear your view….
Chatru
trully great!
what a share!
globe smart
It is normal for other nationals to look down at us Filipinos. Look around our country. It is so disorganized, dirty with trashes all around, denuded forests, lousy politics, corruption, cheating in almost all aspects of the society, teachers sent abroad as maids and many more. It is sad and shamefull. We need to change forthe better.
Celine
What a great read! Ahhh, that green passport … I have a love-hate relationship with it, but I know it would be heartbreaking to give it up when the time comes …
Ishreh
Guys where ever you are don’t forget this and pls. teach it to your children.
” Ang PILIPINO ay Maka-DIYOS, Maka-TAO, MakaKALIKASAN, at MakaBAYAN. ”
“Sa ISIP, sa SALITA at sa GAWA….
EARS!!!
Nice to read of all the comments in here. I think everything they wrote are right. We are entitled to our own opinions anyway.
g
I’m just curious why is it that you woud like to become a US citizen and you got a history of founding the SDK and as we
all know you hate Americans because you don’t want US basis to be in the Philippines.
So what is the use of being one…. or you might be just using US as your scape route later or maybe a milking place for you and your relative. sori for being rude but I just want the whole word to know.
Amanda Madrid
have just read ur story. i think u talked too much! u shud have answered just d question asked. para ka naman kc sino! d ka pa naging citizen ang yabang mo na!
Ramon
There’s an obvious tinge of elitism and sense of bloated self-worth on your writing. Don’t get me wrong, being proud is not at all bad, but : “My green passport and I had been mistaken for a mail-order bride, a housekeeper, an illegal…”
What’s wrong with being a housekeeper, or a mail-order bride? Have you been in their shoes yourself ? Obviously not, so don’t think you can judge them yourself. Go live your self-perceived, priveleged life, and let other ‘green passport’ holding folks live theirs. God I hate filipinos who view their countrymen as beneath them. If you don’t get respect from people of your same race, how do you expect other races give you respect.
Miguel
Thanks to G’s entry blog 216. The truth finally got told. To become US citizen, you have to have lied on your application concerning your past activities.
jakpu
among all entries, ito lang tinapos ko
i enjoyed reading this 
ang ccute nio haha
edwin
hahaha… people of the philippines!!! anong problema dito?? on how i see it, the writer seemed to be an accomplished women who got what she wanted or wished for. she wrote something interesting and wrote it very well.
why say she is whining/complaining?? why say she is “unpatriotic”??? …and she is “mayabang”??? this is a well written personal account which should be taken as it is — an art of self-expression. this is not a letter addressed to anyone.
so… great people of the Philippines, wherever you are, open your mind before writing those negative words (and before others open it for you haha..).
Also read comment #20 by Cai… thats the gist.
Carrie
Your application for “citizenship” was so fast!!! I’ve been a resident for more than two years and yet I did not received any notice about the “civics” test. I’m legally married to a an american citizen and I have a 4 yr old child with him and yet until now wala pang balita. I researched and it said I needed to be a resident for at least 3 years and then file for citizenship. Yours was too quick…lucky you.
pebong silang
this blog was a good read. i enjoyed it apart from reality really sucks!!!! i’m also in a foreign land somewhere in the middle east and being a woman and a teacher…it’s very hard for me to shun the “arab mentality–pinay dh good wife and good in bed.” it would take a tongue with the sharpness of a victorinox knife to lash at this arabs and say that filipinos are here because they need us and we in return need the money. living up to how somebody has been brought up is quite hard on this part of the planet…but what the heck…i’m proud of my green passport and would always hold my head up because i’m proud to be a filipino!!!
sweetie
I love this article. Ms. Rosca, kung nasaan ka man ngayon, saludo pa rin ako sa pagka-Pilipino mo! Mabuhay!!!!
JL
When the time came that I’m qualify to apply for US Citizenship, I grab the opportunity right away. I love to travel, having US passport means, I don’t have to apply for a visa going to other countries.
batang tondo
Mga kababayan, first of all I don’t know who Ninotchka Rosca is and if she indeed wrote this. Google says she is a Filipina feminist, author, journalist and human rights activist who is active in GABRIELA Network USA. But reading the story, it’s a complete opposite of her bio. Or maybe this story is only for the elitist point of view.
For me, whoever wrote this personal account, I think she’s full of it. I’m not even sure if she’s 100% pinay. I can say she’s definitely a wannabe. I don’t like pinays like her. Maarte at mayabang sya masyado.
Anyways, I myself carry a blue one which I received in 2005. I didn’t go to all of the troubles she reiterated. Maybe it’s the location of the INS office. But still it’s true, some people get to become US citizens even if they can’t speak (proper) English. Also, she could have just gone to the INS website and review the 100 questions listed there. Puro kabolahan lang eto. Ang pinka point nya, napakaliit na section paragraph sa huli.
PS. Binasa ko lang etong story since I want to compare my experience with hers. And this is my opinion.
enjoying europe
saying our opinion as afilipino eh ok lang, kaya lang show some little education on it, kasi pag may nakabasa na iba eh nakakahiya tayong lahat na nandito. Napadaan lang ako dito sa site na ito, kahit anong sabihin natin, if you have blue other have aleman or green or british eh just remember mas nakakahiya kung liliitin mo ang pinanggalingan mo and that make us 3rd class citizen-kahit anong denomination mo. Together we can be strong (sana). (Sorry sa gramar ko, di ko na ma formulate ng maayos)
I live in Germany since 1985 and now I’m already citizen of that land. No choice eh, una- here in Germany perwisho lang ang dinudulot ng Phulippine Consulate- there are some cases na- instead na makatulong sila-nakakabigat pa. Thats true, so-no choice sa amin dito. And regarding our english, eh sa tutuo lang we dont use english in europe, kaya minsan its better for me to say it all in German kaysa english.
Ang gusto ko lang sabihin-dont show ang bulok na kaisipan ng Filipino. And that make us 3rd class. Pwede pa mag-share tayo ng experince to help other kababayans. Pasensya na……:-)
Joanne
This was a good read. I enjoyed the way Ms. Rosca wrote it. I had a lot of problems with my green passport when I travel.Maybe things will change with the new brown colored Philippine passport.
pricklyp
Great blog, Ninotchka! Is that your real name?
batang tondo
to enjoying europe:
ano bang pinagsasabi mo na bulok na kaisipan at “show some little education on it” at “kung liliitin mo ang pinanggalingan mo”. eh ikaw ang hindi nakakaintindi. tatagalugin ko na para maintindihan mo.
una, kung may gusto kang makamit, gagawin at titiisin mo ang lahat ng hirap. sure, share nya experience nya, bat pa sya magrereklamo, nakuha naman nya minimithi nya. pangalawa, ok lang na ipakita ang galing ng pinoy, pero hindi kayabangan at kaartehan ang pairalin. dito sa amerika, maraming mga babae ang nagbabago ang ugali kaya nawawala ang respeto sa kanila. hindi nila dapat gayahin ang ibang lahi. pangatlo, hindi ko nilalait o nililiit ang pinanggalingan ko. pinaglalaban ko nga kahit kanino **** ka. kung kaya kong mamuhay sa pinas sa kahirapan, babalik ako. marami rin akong dinaanan na hirap. pero mga katulad nya na mukha naman may talento, may kaya sa buhay at kayang mamuhay ng masagana sa pinas, dapat ay bumalik at pagsilbihan ang pinas. di ko alam kung gaano katagal na nya dito sa amerika at kung ano ang pakay nya.
nga pala, dito sa amerika, may mga dahilan para bawiin ang citizenship o green card. isa na siguro dito ang pagrereklamo ng wala sa lugar at paninira. sa tingin mo ba na lahat ng ibang lahi na makabasa nitong story ay sasang-ayon sa kanya o sa akin o sa yo? kanya kanyang opinion, kailangan tanggapin ng manunulat ang lahat, mapa good or bad criticism.
iyo karpo
To enjoying europe, este Aleman,
My bulok na Filipino kaisipan or taste does not make me 3rd Class Canadian.
I’m a successful Filipino-Canadian businessman. I arrived in Canada in 2001, about 16 years later than your arrival in Germany. I have started my business in 2005, about 20 years later than your arrival in Germany.
As a Canadian citizen, I am still a proud Pinoy. My english is still good as the day I arrived in Canada.
widowpaparache
ito maganda basahin para umandar ang aking imagination kung ano nga ba talaga ang buhay sa america. hindi ko naman sinasabing kontento na lang ako sa pilipinas ano, eh sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, uunahin mo pa ba makipagplastilkan dahil kailangan mo ng green card? mas maigi ata maginvest na lang ako sa pilipinas, matutulungan ko pa ang kapwa ko pinoy.
Banzai
to enjoying europe,
Paki explain naman ang ibig mong sabihin sa “show some education on it”. Ang labo kasi.
It seems you do not know the author of this piece you are commenting on. Paki basa na lang itong mga links para “ma-educate ka naman”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninotchka_Rosca
http://www.amazon.com/s?search-type=ss&index=stripbooks%3Arelevance-above&field-keywords=ninotchka%20rosca
and you might even find her blog page entertaining too.
http://ninotchkarosca.blogspot.com/
http://ninotchkarosca.blogspot.com/
Confusian
LOVE the article…. i thought getting a British Passport was bad! Although we had to pay a LOT, we didn’t have this kind of rude ‘reception’…. I’m amazed people still apply for an American passport!
I totally agree with Ninotchka, putting away my green passport brings me great sadness…. remembering the times where I was hassled in the German border by the border patrol guards (asking me for my number, address, email ad even though i said I was married), a French immigration officer was blatantly flirting with me (in spite of my french BF being around) and apparently calling me an ‘easy lay’ as soon as he saw my passport (in his language of course), my American and European classmates almost picking a fight with immigration officials because they always keep me apart from them and the Canadian immigration office ‘jokingly’ referred to me as a mail order bride…
non the less, I still am proud to say I’m Filipino!!
lemmor
The blue passport is for most naturalized citizens, meant for convenience only. Their original passports of any color will remain forever cherished as their own true identity.
we in europe
Hi, You Filipino make me laugh, the way you answer here in this blog you are showing youre a 4th class citizen of this world. I can only tell to my fellow european to leave this Site because this will degrade them. So- to aleman, british and enjoying europe. Dont waste your time here. Let just say its nice to be a european citizen. HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE. Actualy if everybody will read how this people give their idea, you will notice that they are still polite with their words. But the said American Citizen or those who live in US they are always unfriendly. That shows how they are in their land. OK BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE.
pepe rosal
iginagalang ko ang may akda sa panahon na kanyang iniukol sa pakikibaka. subalit sa palagay ko, ang tema ay ang pagtalikod sa inang bayan at pagyakap sa bansa na tumanggap sa kanya, at ang nakakapag taka, ito ang bansa na kanilang tinutuligsa sa panahon na sila ay nakikibaka. bughaw man, dilaw o pula, lahat ng ito ay tungkol sa pagtalikod at pagtataksil.
enjoying europe
to Banzai (or bonsai), sa batang tundo at sa mga 4th class americans and also to canadian businessman (kuno): siguro masaya kayo sa kalokohan nyo at sa kahirapan sa buhay nyo sa ibang bansa. Gayon man…Cool lang kayo. Eh talagang ugaling bulok parin ang pina-i i ral nyo….Cool lang. Bye….
Miguel
Ahhhhhhhhh, United States of America, you are so good to me…. from the bottom of my heart, Thank you very much
iyo karpo
Hi we in europe,
It’s unfortunate you speak monkey english. You must have monkey features.
You have poor grammar, a sign of low level education.
And your bashing of Filipinos is a sign that you are a victim of racial discrimination. You may be a German citizen, but a low-income citizen.
tg3793
Wow; your experience in the US sounded much worse than my experience in the Philippines.
The only thing I can think of that you got better was you got tissue to clean the ink off your fingers. In the Phils I was simple told to head toward the men’s room, black fingers and all. And before I left the finger printing station the attendant tried to hand me my file (as if I could grab it with my inked hands).
pepe rosal
Amerika! Ikaw nga ba ang matuwid at ang iyong pamantayan ang nararapat tularan ng mga bansa sa daigdig? Ang iyong mga mamamayan nga ba ang pinakamainam? Ang iyong pasaporte nga ba ang pinaka aasam? O baka naman ang kabaliktaran ang tunay na nananalaytay sa iyong mga himaymay at mahusay na naitago ang pagiging ganid sa kulay ng mga bituin. Ahhh mga tao, iba iba ang pamantayan. Nakakalungkot na isinuko ang dignidad at prinsipyo, nilunok ang lahat ng kabulukan, nagpapaka alipin sa ibang bayan sa sariling kagustuhan habang umaawit ng “Pilipinas kong Mahal”.
Isreh
Wherever you are…..
ANG PILIPINO
” Maka DIYOS, Maka TAO, Maka- KALIKASAN, Maka- BAYAN “.
” SA ISIP, SA SALITA, SA GAWA “
mr praktikal
pepe rosal,
kahit ano pa sabihin mo sa amerika eh marami ng pilipinong umasenso dito at umunlad ang buhay. kahit papaano, nirespeto ang kanilang karapatan sa bansang ito at protektado maging sa diskriminayson. ang palpak ay ang mga makakaliwa at mga huwad na makabayan tulad mo na kailanman ay hindi nakatulong sa ating bayan at mga kababayan. mabuti pa yung mga pinoy na nag-abroad may nangyari sa kanilang buhay di tulad ninyo na puro bulok na prinisipyo ang ipinalamon sa pamilya ninyo. anong nangyari sa inyong prinsipyo? meron bang nangyari sa kanga-ngawa ninyo sa harap ng us embassy at kasisigaw ng “ibagsak ang imperyalismo”? ang imperyalismo ay ang utak ninyong utak biya. nasan si joma sison? iniwan kayo sa pansitan at nanirahan na sa isang “western country” din na puro puti ang naninirahan at isa na rin sa inyong kinakalaban. ang problema ng pilipinas ay hindi kasalanan ng amerika or ano pang western countries. ang bumoto kay gloria, erap at marcos ay hindi mga amerikano kundi mga tunggak na pilipinong katulad mo. ang kapalpakan ng ating bansa ay kagagawan ng pilipino lalo na yung mga mahuhusay magtagalog na katulad ninyo na pang-dekorasyon lang at walang pakinabang. kaya mali si manuel l. quezon…mas mabuti pa daw na patakbuhin ng pilipino ang ating bansa na parang impiyerno kesa sa kamay ng dayuhan na parang paraiso. ang sagot ko kay quezon, eh “mag-isa ka!” tigilan nyo na yang drama. luma na yan. gets mo?
nenita alviar
i thank America for giving me and my family all the material rewards I can ever think of. Yet what I am most thankful for in here are the learning, growth, strenght and maturity whether personally or professionaly I’d experienced. Grabe ang dinanas kong struggles and challenges dito, pero yun nga I think it made me a better person ( i hope so) at sana yun ang makita ng mga Pilipino sa atin , na di lang materially rewarding ang bansang ito, ito rin eh great opportunity to learn in life. super talaga! thats America !
PHp
it get’s a little bizarre in the middle but overall it’s a nice story. I wonder where all these people base their ‘bullshit’ and ‘out of context’ comments…ang labo!! lol!
bayani magtanggol
nice reading all the comments etc. i guess there’s no place like home. No problem you can have dual citizenship. kahit sabihin nilang balimbing okay lang kung dun ka masaya. sa buhay kanya-kanyang diskarte kung nasaan ka man. basta masipag at matiyaga at may takot ka sa Diyos aasenso ka at siempre mabalanse mo ang “spritual” at “material” para maaya ka sa bandang huli.
Jun
Whether you have acquired a different color of passport by naturalization process or a native-born to a particular country with Filipino parentage, technically you’re still considered Filipino.
lectoto
nakakatawa naman ang kwento ni ninotchka, kahit di ko maarok na si ninitchka rosca e nag US citizen na!..kahit sinong taga UP circa 80s kilala siya..
Banner
I have a number of friends who have become US citizens, and it seems the New York is the WORST place to go through the citizenship process. Don’t know why, just is. Most other states (especially California) are a lot easier.
boy tupak
Just shut up. if you don’t like the way they process citizenship, get out of this country USA. Well this is not the Philippines where you can give something under the table and have your citizenship in one hour.
I was renewing my Phil. passport 3 years ago when I was still a green card holder at Los Angeles consulate. They told me to pay for mailing of my passport to my residence, while those who knew someone in the consulate were told to wait and got their passports in one hour. LONG LIVE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION
Travel Visa
Travel Visa…
WHo says the internet is full of garbage? Great post! Rock on……
choy
boy topak sa pinangalan mo palng eh topak kana talaga mag reason out hehe
flor
i find ninotchka rosca’s article amusing. i’ve gone thru the same dilly-dallying phase because i knew how ‘powerful’ the blue passport is compared to our green one (i’ve been stopped for a body search twice in my 3 trips to the philippines when i flashed my philippine passport). knowing that we can have dual citizenship made me decide to submit myself to the same experience. the consul who interviewed me was nice, but i heard from the others waiting outside that the man who went inside the other interview room came out 20 minutes earlier than i did. anyway, if tables were turned, i bet my interviewer would not be able to name the 13 original colonies in the US in 1 minute. even my colleagues at work are ignorant of the answers in the civics exam they tgive to applicants. sadly, those of us who decided to migrate in this country have to acquire the blue passport to get equal opportunities in the playing field.
Chicago Joe
Boy Tupak, I believe you have some serious anger issues. The author of the piece is describing an experience that many foreigners go through, yet you somehow automatically found it offensive? Perhaps its your lack of empathy for others and a lack of respect for who you truly are that made you react the way you did. Perhaps its time for introspective thinking…for all of us Filipinos.
Pepe Rosal
mr praktikal,
Sino ka para hatulan ako kung ano ang nagawa ko sa aking bayan? Naniniwala ako sa sakripisyo ng mga OFW, pero hindi ito nagbibigay ng karapatan sa kanila na mang alipusta sa mga taong naniniwala at patuloy na naninirahan sa ating bayang Pilipinas. Naniniwala ako na ang karamihan sa mga OFW ay nagmamahal una sa kanilang mga pamilya, at pangalawa lamang ang para sa bayan.
Hindi ako ang makakaliwa na sinasabi mo at hindi ako ang kaalyado ni Ginoong Jose Maria Sison na isang terorista. Marahil ay mas higit syang nakikilala ni Gng. Rosca, , dahil sabay silang sumulat ng isang libro.
At gumising ka kabayan. alam mo kung sino ang nag luluklok sa ating mga lider maliban sa mga “tunggak na pilipinong katulad ko na bumuto kay Gloria, Erap at Marcos”. Sa haba ng kanyang galamay, nasasakal ako. At ang sinasabi mong proteksyon sa diskriminasyon? Alam mong ito ay sa panlabas lamang, at kabayan, kahit di mo aminin, alam kong nararamdaman mo yan.
Jun
A highly educated and civilized soul will ascertain to make comments or say a piece of his/her mind on a particular subject in a very professional fashion. Negative opinions are generally reflective of mal-educated, hot-tempered and barriotic-mannered person.
frances
nakakatawa pala tong mga kano (hilaw), in europe we are really few but we were treated like human. mga walang galang pa kayo.
choy
Pepe rosal, I agree with you 101%
mr. praktikal
pepe rosal,
ikaw naman pala ang may diperensiya eh. kung nasasakal ka sa galamay ng bansang kinaiinisan mo eh di humulagpos ka? may sarili kang pag-iisip at kamalayan. malaya ka naman eh yun nga lang ang prinisipyo mo ang bulok. ikaw lang ang nagsasabi na ang pilipinas ay alipin. ikaw ay alipin ng mali mong pananaw at ikaw ang dapat gumising. marami ng tao ang nag-isip ng tama at nararapat at umasenso ang kanilang buhay. lumabas sila ng bansa, nakipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa at hindi lamang amerika ang pinuntahan maging europa, australia atbp…silay naghanapbuhay, nag-aral at nagpakadalubhasa. sino ngayon ang alipin? hindi sila nag-paalipin sa ibang bansa kundi ginamit nila ang lakas ng loob, tamang kaisipan at kasama na rin ang pagmamahal sa pamilyang naiwan sa sariling bayan. bagkus ang buhay nila ay umasenso sa ibang bansa at nakatulong din sila sa sariling bayan. ang alipin ay ang mga pilipinong katulad mo na masyado malalim ang pag-iisip at nagtatago sa hungkag na pagka-makabayan na hanggang ngayon ay walang kinahinatnan. alipin kayo ng kabulukan. kung ako sa yo, magsama kayo nila willie revillame, boy abunda, at kris aquino at pagsamahin nyo ang inyong drama sa buhay at kabaduyan baka sakaling umasenso kayo.
tokong
mr. praktikal,
sang-ayon ako sa yo 200%. nasa tao ang kanyang ika-aasenso at wala sa bansang dayuhan. kaya binaha ng husto ang pilipinas ay dahilan na rin sa bulok nating paguugali at kawalan ng disiplina. kung saan-saan tinatapon ang basura at sinamahan pa ng korupsyon.
GT
I’m sorry to hear about your experience going through a tough process. As for me, I have not experienced any form or hint of disrespect from any immigration personnel, they were even very courteous and always had a smile in providing me with the help I needed. I hope others reading this blog will not have a tainted impression of going through the naturalization process. As for my experience it did not take that long for me to get my citizenship. I started the paperwork in April ‘09 and got my oath taking schedule in August of 09 also…I guess there may also be some kind of exageration there somewhere?
Tenuissimus
Entertaining but obviously exaggerated. Filipinos who consider the US as the seat of financial success have yet to discover that greater opportunities are available someplace else. And while having dual citizenship is great on paper, it doesn’t really make you better than anyone else. I love blue and I love green. When you mix them together you get teal :p
Mokong
I feel for you. We did not go thru the same hassle on our citizenship application. It doesn’t surprise me that the agent who interviewed you did not even read the constitution. I didn’t. I mastered the 110 questions on the CD they provided got to answer 10 simple questions. As for being a US citizen, I am glad to part of the 2009 elections that elected Pres. Obama. I might be a US citizen now, but in my heart I will always be a Filipino.
tirador
to GT and mokong,
I totally agree with you guys. thats what i thought too. cool postings.
herleiness
I dont understand why you have to pay 1,000 grand if you can memorize the constitution. It means that you are capable to understand words and instructions and thus write an article about it. The instructions for application for citizenship have words that I bet is worth less than a grand. However, congratulations is in order for you. I also agree with what Tenuissimus said. hahahah… can you write an exaggerated article about smoking also?
payday loans
great posts, i was wondering if you ever used payday loans ?
choy
hehe!ok ka mr praktikal
eric
This reminds me of the day I turned “blue” from “green”! How true ! It was one of the sadest day of my life! Great article! Wonderful sense of humor! I enjoyed this so much! Thanks for posting! I’d like to know where I can read more from this lady!
Diamond Plus
Right on Mr. Praktikal.
Just right as my gut-most feelings for the useless REDs in our country. China, THE Communist country is already running at full-speed as de-facto Capitalist nation. Where does this lead our antiquitated STUPID REDs ???
Michael Ferris
The book Crossing Borders by Michael Ferris is a book about traveling, living and working abroad. Great if you interested in different cultures and dealing with people of different nationalities. For more info, check any search engine or bookstore. ISBN: 9781602643734
Antenor F Cevallos
Dapat kasi pagbawalan ang pag-ibang bansa ng mga Pinoy. Meron akong negosyo at 25 empleyado. Kapag lumabas ang mga Pinoy, tataas ang suweldo sa Pilipinas dahil uunti ang mga trabahador. Ayoko niyan, dahil mababawasan ang kita ko.
Dapat lahat tayo manatili sa Pilipinas, dahil paraiso rito, mga pare ko. Magaling, matalino, at matapat ang ating mga pinuno. Maraming pagkakataong umasenso. Napakaganda ng kalikasan. Bawat Pilipino ay may magandang kahihinatnan.
tirador
ha ha ha!…oo nga choy. ok bumanat itong si mister praktikal..comedy pero rock. mukhang may point din siya….
Dewa
Are you sure the blue passport is the most prized passport in the world? Are they not the targets of most terrorists?
iyo karpo
US Citizenship does not provide for free medical care. US ranks 13th in the Quality of Life survey by UN.
Canada ranks #4. Medical Care is free.
sioc
The author of this article is just trying to exaggerate her so called trials in order to justify to herself (and her cohorts) that she did not really seek out desperately to get this passport. Those who know of her will understand why. I myself am shocked that a person of her past affiliations would be able to get US citizenship. Just tells you that if one is able to fudge certain information in those application forms, membership in even Al Qaeda would not bar anybody from getting that passport. Why not just lie low and celebrate this piece of good luck?
peter mcnut
huwag naman nating masamain ang blue passport. wala namang makapagsasabi na ito na ang pinaka-priceless passport sa buong mundo eh. kung napansin nyo, kagagawan lang nitong author na ito ang misconception na yan to make it appear that the americans are arrogant or para magmukhang masama sa lahat ng immigrants ang sistema ng america. baliw lang ang nagsasabi na ang us passport is the most sought after passport in the world. hindi totoo yan. kahit saan ka magpunta may pangit at may magandang sistema. don’t single out the united states just because this freakin author tells us she had a hard time getting her blue passport. in fact they didnt offer it to her, but she applied for it. kung talagang matalino siya, reasearcher or literary writer pa, bago pa siya nag-apply alam na niya dapat ang kultura, sistema, at ugali ng america. taga UP pa naman siya at alam natin na most people from UP has their inherent hatred to what they call imperialist america. pero sa totoo lang maraming UP grad na tumira na sa america. makes sense? bakit hindi tayo tumingin sa sarili nating bakuran bago tayo maghusga sa iba? baka mas marami pa tayong ugali at sistemang mas nakakahiya at palpak pa sa sinasabi ng author na dinanas nya sa pagkuha ng passport sa america. i know many bloggers will agree. the americans dont give a damn kung ano ang palagay ng mga pilipino sa passport nila. there are millions of immigrant in that country and everybody wants to make their statement. tayo lang mga pilipino ang gumagawa ng kung ano anong istorya sa sinumang kinaiingitan natin just to stir controversy and fish for complement that we’re intelligent and proud and we dont allow westerners dominating us. ang corny di ba? ugali natin talaga yan. i am not an apologist for the united states but im just trying to put things in perspective. we all have a choice if we want to migrate. theres australia, canada, UK, japan, new zealand…dont waste your time blaming the united states for all our troubles because we filipinos have created and is continuously creating our own troubles.
Ariel Loaded Rubia
Pag-klaro brod.
Ariel Loaded Rubia
Kasamok ninyo.
tirador
peter mcnut,
i know what your saying. your absolutely right. problema sa ibang kababayan natin eh kulang sa pansin. they want to make their statements known to many, at the expense of others pero ipokrito naman.
John
Nice article.
To that post about the U.S. being ranked 13th by the U.N., you don’t see them moving their headquarters to #4 Canada do you? How about #2 Iceland? Yep, I didn’t think so.
Oh, and nothing’s free. Somewhere, somehow, somebody pays for it.
iyo karpo
If UN has to move, then it should be Norway.
Why settle for #4 when there’s #1?
Let this be a lesson to talented Filipino writers trying to make it in US. If they can’t get American readership, then get a day job and keep posting in Philippine newspapers.
Cathy Melo
The green passport raises too many eyebrows and questions alike - but it is up to the owner to uphold its dignity. Well done!
This is the Account of One Applying for US Citizenship | Nursepod
[...] Read the post. [...]
New year
STOP THIS US BASHING. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE USA, GO BACK TO THE GOOD OLD PINAS.
IT IS A MATTER OF COURTESY, BE GRACIOUS TO OUR HOST.
mary ann
i was sad, too, when i finally got my us citizenship because it somehow felt like i was turning my back on being a filipino. eight months after that, i went to the philippine embassy in new york to get my dual citizenship. and making the oath to the philippines — the second time around, in a way — has never been sweeter.
galunggong
to mary ann,
if you felt like you turned your back from your own country when you took your oath of US citizenship, and you were sad about it, bakit nag-dual citizenship ka pa? just relinquished your US citizenship once and for all and go back to pinas so that it will make you happy forever. makes sense?
Gina Mokla
galunggong,
i agree with you. marami dito panay ang drama puro ipokrito naman. he he he..
PianoTrade
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Jerome
I had fun reading all the bloggers’ comments. Well, all i can say is that we all have our own destiny and its a fact of life. We also have our own choices and its this choice that brings us to where we are now. This choice also comes with great opportunities and challenges, its just a matter of how we explore them. No one can ever judge you that you did the right or wrong thing. Its within you, the inner you. As long as you are happy with what you have and with what you are doing without stepping into other person’s feett, then you can consider that a success. Working hard would seem laborious if you are not enjoying it, but if you feel satisfaction on it, like on how you felt satisfied everytime you send your hard earned money back home for you families and relatives, then that in itself is a success. Key is, as long as you are happy, go for it.
cheka_dy
been living in the states for 8 years now.
Its hard din pero manageable
My life in the Phils wasnt easytoo…kaya nga I went here eh. yeah, we have a maid in the phils, sometimes i can borrow my mom”s driver …But i know, it will be hard for me to be able to buy my own house and stuff like that. I just know that Pinas is palubog ng palubog
Bottom line: mas gugustuhin ko nang maghirap sa Amerika kesa sa Pinas!
angelique
I am so sorry for what I have to say guys!
But i feel embarassed to be a Filipino. There are things about our country that I like, dont get me wrong. BUT I jst dont feel proud to be a Filipino.
I look mestiza so I often get asked what my nationality is … at first, I would always claim with pride that im Filipino pero mapapaaway ka lang minsan eh. Sometimes this people dont really mean to be rude, bt you can just see it on their faces. i cringe everytime somebody says …I love your food. our nanny cooks adobo all the time. etc etc etc
Now, i just say im half asian-half spanish
im sorry again! but i cant wait to be an american citizen
Goryo
Minsan masakit man isipin pero karamihan ng mga pinanganak dyan sa amerika, lalo na’t mga kabataan ngayon eh ikinakahiya ang kanilang tunay na ethnicity. Kahit na parehong tubong pilipinas ang mga magulang, ang sasabihin ay ‘pacific islander’ imbes na ‘filipino’. Nangyayari yang ganyan, mismo sa aking mga kamag-anak. Kaya di ko sila makuhang mai-add sa facebook ko~tutal pinagkatatwa naman nila na dugong filipino sila~e di ko na din sila paki-alaman.
Ang blue passport ay para lang sa konvinyente. Di nangangahulugan na isang amerikano ka na sa puso’t diwa kung ika’y merong US passport. Sa inyo na yang US passport nyo~mas masaya pa din dito sa pilipinas. Mahirap pero masaya. Dyan, namumuhay ka ng para kang walang kapitbahay. Malungkot. Oo nga’t dollars ang pera pero napakataas naman ng antas ng pamumuhay. Malungkot ang mga pasko at bagong-taon na sana ay kapiling ang pamilya. Oo nga’t mahirap ang Pilipinas, marumi. mabaho, matrapik, polluted, ma-squatter. pero wala pa din katulad dito. simple ang pamumuhay. dyan ka na sa new york mo na mamuhay habang-buhay bilang isang 3rd class citizen.
Saludo ako sa mga pinoy dyan sa amerika na kahit ano pa mangyari, puso’t diwang pinoy pa din. Proud na sabihing pinoy sila kapag tinanong kahit na ang isipin eh maid, caregiver, nanny. Ke pinanganak dyan o migrante dyan~alam nila kung sino sila. At alam nila kung pano dalhin ang sarili nila.
bad credit loans
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Good Hosting
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Lapayag
Post # 292 from Angelique.. One of the MOST IDIOTIC comments I’ve ever read in here.
Half Spanish?? Spanish sardines maybe…
Mayet
It’s so sad to know that amidst the talents, skills and pride Philippines has, many of us are still ashamed of being a Filipino. Is it because the graft and corruption here in the Philippines that the whole world knows? No, I dont think so. Is it because we have seen our own kababayans being prostitutes, nannies, maids, servants in other countries? Yes, maybe. Have we seen Filipinos being head of departments or president of companies in the states? Rarely, maybe. What is our feelings that Manny Pacquiao is a Filipino but has been respected by the whole world? Aren’t we proud being a Filipino?
Nevertheless, this is just an eye opening. The truth is, sometimes, I wasn’t so proud of being a Filipino too. But whatever happens, what is more important is that we are happy to the where we are now.
choy
angelique, kahilas nnimo oi! mistisa kuno mahiya kanaman sa bilat mo!
choy
este balat pala!
tulindoy
since i came to the US 14 yrs ago, there was never a dull moment. i enjoyed every moment of my stay here. i worked hard, i seek opportunities, and i took advantage of every bit of it. i shared part of my income in helping the needy filipino children back home for their education. right now im reaping all the benefits of hardwork and im enjoying it and ready to retire. all who came to the US whether tourist, immigrants or illegals, have their own stories but mostly falls under 2 categories - success and failures. i am now a US citizen but deep in my heart, im a filipino and forever will be a filipino.i got what i want thru sheer hardowrk and positive attitude. whatever happened to others, i really dont know. i dont blame the americans and i dont blame my fellow filipinos as well. sinuwerte lang po talaga tayo.
Dewa
Only 22 nations have paid their dues to the UN. Sadly the Americans have not paid their dues. They have no money???
CIJAM
I can’t understand the writer’s point of detailing her excruciating charitably half-demented process of obtaining her citizenship then on the last paragraph she dismissed the value of her efforts as simply worthless . That it wouldn’t change her life and to be a citizen or not , life would just stay the same. I don’t think that process she undergone was insane considering that she had a questionable background being a member of a left wing organization. Your story is not yet the most ardous or intricate process that anyone had undergone to obtain citizenship or green card in US. Maybe you had read stories of people paying a hefty sum to smugglers from Mexico to be able to migrate to USA & people drowning in boats etc to just be able to set foot in the land they call the lone superpower of the world and the most admired nation in the world according to the most recent survey. So those questioning why the American passport is the most prized possession, ask yourself if you’re just envious or in denial? It is a bit a setback too to have this blue passport if you travel to Iran, North Korea who are hostile to Americans but in totality, this passport will not allow you to be degraded or looked down as a nanny, domestic helper, prostitute smuggler when you are in international airports . God bless America , the beautiful.
Pete Ocuma
well good for you,you have chosen the HOME OF THE BRAVE,BUT LAND OF THE DUMD….GOOD LUCK , BUT DON’T BE DUMB
Reh
Kaya di tayo yumamang bansa kasi majority maka-Amerikano ang pananaw nating mga Pinoy. Walang identity, walang pride, lagi tayong nasa likod ng mga puti. Sa lengawahe na lang, pinagtatawanan natin yung mga maling grammar sa Ingles ng kababayan natin pero ni isa man sa atin walang makabasa ng sarili nating alpabetiko ang Baybayin. Kaya dun pa lang nakikilala na natin kung sino tayo. Sa buong Asya tayo lang ang ganito. Asian nga tayo pero we are in the wrong place in Asia… Asian face with Spanish name and American vocabulary.
Di naman yumaman ang mga Hapon, Koreano o kahit Malaysia kahit di sila mag-abroad at maging magaling sa Ingles……Ang Kaibahan nila minahal at pinaglingkuran nila ang bansa nila. Kaya maraming successful na kumpanya sa kanila kasi pinapatronize nila ang mga sarili nilang produkto kaya later on umaasenso sila. Di lang naman corruption ang dahilan kung bakit tayo mahirap. Basahin nyo ang history ng S.Korea after Korean War,marami kayong matutunan.
Tagumpay ba nating Pilipino kung maraming kababayan natin ay naging isang blue passport holder katulad ng writer nitong blog? Yan ay depende kung ano ang pananaw mo.
Lapayag
Great Post Tulindoy. As far as the post above you, from Dewa, there is NOT one iota of significance to the topic being discussed.
I may not be as successful as some of our kababayans abroad, but I am okay. Like Tulindoy, I am a FILIPINO and NOT IN ANY INSTANCE did I ever hide that fact. I am PROUD of being a Filipino regardless of the passport I carry.
Some of the posters here manifest a deep hatred of the US and all it stands for. The reason is only their’s to know. We all have our biases, and I respect whatever opinion they hold regarding the United States.
Pero puwede po ba, stick to the topic!
Dewa
How can the blue passport be the most prized passport in the world? When they have not paid their dues to the UN? Anyway congrats now that you are a US citizen. You have just inherited a US$1.3 trillion deficit!
tulindoy
lapayag says;
“As far as the post above you, from Dewa, there is NOT one iota of significance to the topic being discussed. ”
thanks my friend. thats right, i myself finds it difficult to comprehend “dewa’s” postings. “malalim na mababaw…ewan ko ba?”
iyo karpo
Welcome to the Land of the Free (gustong magpalibre).
And the home of the brave. (kapal mukha).
Reh
Di mo rin maiwasang mag-isip lalo na kung maiisip mong may chance naman ang US na makapagimplement ng mas magagandang policy nung panahong under nila tayo. Like turuan gumawa ng mga indigenous industries tayong mga Pinoy that time. Marahil iba ang sitwasyon ng economy natin ngayon. Baka nga asensado pa tayo ngayon. Di sana kung mayamang bansa tayo ngayon maiisip mo pa ba ang maging blue passport holder. O kaya di na masisingle out sa pila ang ilang kababaihan natin sa ilang airport sa mundo, o maging katulong o siguro kahit OFW. Minsan kailangan mo ring malaman ang dulo kung bakit nagkaganito tayo ngayon para at least baka sakaling maituwid pa ang pagkakamali ng kahapon.
Basahin itong link- ang interview kay Stanley Karnow journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winner. Lalo na yung part na ” Economic interest in the Philippines” Pandagdag lang sa kaalaman, with no offense. Di naman tayo galit sa mga kano just so happen lang na parang nanghihinayang ka sa mga namiss na opportunity during occupation. Pasensya na kung wala man ako sa topic.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bataan/sfeature/sf_philippines.html
Miguel
Thanks for the link Reh. Its very relevant to the whole discussion here. It puts into perspective why the Filipino mentality is so PRO USA. Sort of Stockholm syndrome.
Dewa
My country was once colonized by the British. Yet today Changi airport is among the best in the world and Heathrow is at the bottom of the list! As a people we have come a long way. Move on Filipinos! You can do it too….minus the historical baggage.
Anon
Oh shut up with your sadness. You still change from green to blue, didn’t you. And don’t tell me, you didn’t have a choice, there’s always a choice.
choy
CIJAM,
are you aware of what you are talking about?think before you make a remarks ok?
MannyHM
Ninotchka, Welcome to U.S.A. I’ve heard about you and read some of your books a long time ago.
wade
DEWA,
yeah, your people and your country have come along way. no wonder why many of your people still migrates to the US, Europe and Canada non-stop, just to work as taxi drivers, hotel maids, gas station attendants, or settle with other menial jobs. can you tell me why? besides, heathrow airport and san francisco airport smells better than changi airport. you think this is discrimination? i dont think so. next time, speak for yourself but not for all of your people. always remember that each person has his own choice and certain people dont think the same way you, does not matter what country they came from. get me?
lebron james
Hey very nice blog!! Man.. Beautiful.. Amazing.. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…
Dewa
How about Singapore Airline? Does it smells to? Changi received its 1st Best Airport in the World award given by Business Traveller (UK) in 1988. In 11 Nov 2005, we’re the first airport outside Europe to receive the test flight of Airbus A380. In 2006, Changi Airport won the prestigious Skytrax award for World’s Best Airport attesting to its excellent standards in customer services and its attentiveness to passengers’ needs. In May 2006, Singapore Changi Airport was honoured the Best Airport-Asia award. I need not go on.
Dewa
World’s Top 10 Airports 2009
1 Incheon Seoul
2 Hong Kong
3 Singapore Changi
4 Zurich
5 Munich
6 Kansai
7 Kuala Lumpur
8 Amsterdam
9 Nagoya
10 Auckland
Where is San Francisco and Heathrow? If any conciliation Dallas/ Fort Worth was voted best airport in North America. And Zurich is the best airport in Europe.
wade
DEWA,
your knowledge is obviously limited because you can only talk about airports. is that all you got? still you didnt answer my question and i will ask you again ok.
why many of your people still migrate to the US, Europe and Canada so eagerly and even illegally, just to work as taxi drivers, hotel maids, gas station attendants, or settle with other menial jobs. (and yet you hate western people) can you tell me why? why? why? if you cant answer intellectually, then just admit to yourself that your plain stupid.
Dewa
Please justify your statement. Show proof that Singaporeans illegally travel in search of menial jobs. When we have the 2nd highest GDP after Japan in S.E.Asia. Currently, we have over 1 million foreigners working in Singapore. Why would I hate the westerners? Or should I?
Ishreh
Migration happens everywhere. What is America now without people from Europe who migrated 600 years ago. What is Europe without the people coming from the East more than 2000 years ago. Influx of Chinese immigrants when Communist takes over Mainland China in 1949 helps the economy of majority of Southeast Asian countries. An example of appreciation of our contribution to the world just like what this Arab wrote in one of Middle East leading english daily newspaper ( IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT FILIPINO).
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=13§ion=0&article=110923&d=16&m=6&y=2008
choy
wade,
just relax be civilized of sharing your personal pespective. pinapakita mo lang talaga na wala kang pinag aralan.
wade
hey choy,
look whos talking. if you shut your mouth maybe its better for you…a-hole!
isprikitik
ha! ha! ha! ha!…alaskado si choy. panay kasi ang papel eh. buti nga sa yo!!!
Dewa
Whatever happens to freedom of speech westerners brags so much about? I thought its guaranteed by their constitution? And now they tell others to shut up?
Lapayag
Dewa and Free Speech…okay, here goes..the folks expressing their opinions are not “westerners” as you so eloquently referred to, at least majority of them aren’t. I’m not anyway.
Are you from Singapore you say? Okay then, since you are an advocate of free speech, why don’t you exercise your right to free speech in Singapore. I just want to see what happens when you do. Do you have the gumption to even do that in your own country. OR…here it is..are you Filipino and you are doind all your best to let people know that your adopted country is the best…OR, here’s another one, you have been denied entry to the US so you spit venom in any way you can??
Demski
Hah. What more can I say, Americans are getting more funnier nowadays. Kung magsalita itong manga Fil-Am dito parang sobra galing na nila. Kayo manga Fil-Ams, ipakita nyo muna mismo sa political system nyo na magaling next time around. Kasi ngayong bandang huli, you just elected a joke POTUS. Shame…
johnny
Ninotchka Rosca, i read your article and its good, i like it with some jokes on it.
Dewa
No I’m not a Filipino but my wife is. We’ve travelled far and wide in the US. From LA to Florida and New York. The brand name Singapore can stand by itself. There’s no need for me to promote it. As far as freedom of speech is concerned, we learn not to abused it.
isprikitik
Lapayag,
I agree with you. Dewa was so proud to be a Singaporean but his way of thinking was not. He tend to generalize his perception of people from other countries thinking that Singaporeans are perfect and on top of the world. What kind of mindset is that?
wade
Dewa says;
“Only 22 nations have paid their dues to the UN. Sadly the Americans have not paid their dues. They have no money???
Then why the heck you and your wife even traveled from Florida to New York
(land of the Americans) if that country cant even pay their dues? Why did you waste your time going there and move from one place to another just to see that country? Tell us honestly, are you a hypocrite or what?
Dewa
Why we travelled to the US? Just so you know that we were never denied entry. If the Philippines can afford to pay their dues to the UN, why can’t the Americans do the same? Are Singaporeans perfect? We try to be the best we can be.
wade
Dewa,
Hey dude, dont lecture us on Singaporeans trying to be st they can be. Everyone in this world wants to be the best they can be whether americans, filipinos, chinese, japanese, arabs and so forth. Its a lame excuse that the only reason why you went there is to find out if you will be denied or not. If your illegal, of course you will be denied. If you go there as a tourist (and not a terrorist) in good faith, then your most welcome like what you and your wife experienced. Just admit that your a hypocrite and its not bad, OK. The US is not for everybody. If your wife is a filipina, then you should understand that many filipinos found their fortune and success in the land you tend to criticize and lambast. Back in the days, I still remember that it was in your country that a filipina housemaid was hanged to death. “Her execution severely strained relations between Singapore and the Philippines and caused many Filipinos to vent their frustration at their own government and the Singaporean government over the helplessness, abuse, and mental stresses that many Filipino overseas workers face around the world” - from wiki. Tell this to your wife…
sprikitik
wade,
good job bro!
Dewa
Only in the US one can find fame and fortune? Get real! About the execution, did you get your facts right? A Filipina was murdered by another Filipina in S’pore. So the the murderer was hanged. Thats the penal code. End of story. Yet today the number of Filipinos working here has increased overwhelmingly. Shouldn’t they be afraid? You be the judge.
Justine
FUNNY essay! I like it.
for all of the foot soldiers, who fought for validity and respect… Cheers!
med
I love it! well written. Interesting story, I can feel what u’v been through:( TC & Mabuhay ka!
choy
isprikitik, di ako alaskado sa banat ni wade baka kayong dalawa alaskado babaw kse ng mga pananaw sa blogs na’to eh napaka layo na sa topic bobo!
wade
Dewa says;
“Only in the US one can find fame and fortune? Get real! ”
Hey a-hole, I didnt even say that. Your putting words into my mouth. Read my post again and you’ll see I am not generalizing like you so tell yourself to get real! I said many Filipinos, not all and I didnt say “only in the US”. If you cant put up a good argument, dont fabricate stories. Just stay back in your country and shut up.
And about that housemaid that your government murdered, who’s telling the truth now? I dont know. For many Filipinos thats not the end of the story.
Here’s the Filipino’s side of the story:
“Just before her execution, two Filipino witnesses claimed that Huang’s father framed Contemplacion for the murders. They alleged that the father killed Maga in rage after finding his son to have accidentally drowned. The son was an epileptic who was alleged to have an attack while in the bath tub of which Maga was not aware. The Singaporean court considered and rejected the testimony. The execution went ahead despite Philippines President Fidel Ramos’s personal plea to the Singaporean government to stop it.” …for Filipinos, this is the end of the story, you hear me dude?
Gemma
To Dewa and Wade,
Hey guys, pls stop your bickering. Stick to the facts when you argue and just respond to this blog. The topics that you guys are discussing is so far off from the meat of this blog. Dewa, dont distort other peoples opinion by putting words into their mouth. Wade, this is just a blog. Calm down and dont take it personal.
Dewa
Can’t you find fame and fortune in the Philippines? You have very little confidence in yourself and your country? Sad isn’t it? Flor Contemplacion confessed to the crime. And the Philippines Emabssy in S’pore deemed her confession to be credible. So why blame us? You are always welcome to sue our government if you think you have a case.
Lapayag
okay..soooooo then..since we have strayed too far from the subject. Dewa says “they don’t abuse their freedom of speech.”
Are you sure? the way I look at it, you can comment on other country’s state of affairs but you can’t on your own.beacuse (insert your comment/explanation here)…I think all of us know exactly what I mean here..
then again, that’s your view of things. Who are we to change it, right? Now then, get back to doing your marvelous work towards Singapore’s progress and leave us here to ponder our future. I think we are on chapter 27.A.2 of the draft constituion banning the inclusion of any other people in our new republic of whatever it is..I am so lost in this thread!
Lapayag
One last thing..I promise I won’t respond back to you anymore (really, over a plate of bagoong and hilaw na mangga)..you said you are married to a Filipina….are you sure you are not the wife? I really doubt the “Singaporean” is making all these observations..I think the FILIPINA is..wink-wink, nudge-nudge!!
Gricelda Hink
Thank you for your help!
grace x
question for ninotschka : is getting a US passport worth the hassle ?
Dewa
Thank you Lapayag, the Singapore’s image is still intact. I feel sorry for my wife. She’s the innocent party here. Ah well….never mind, she’s enjoying the good life in Manila and Singapore!
isprikitik
Lapayag,
right on! your perception was about right. i think dewa is the wife. if dewa is the guy, im sure the wife was once a domestic helper too from the phils. until she marry him.
isprikitik
Dewa,
how can you sue a government who’s also the murderer?
Dewa
Get a lawyer and sue. You are so clever to point your finger at our government, yet now you don’t what to do? For your information, Singaporeans are not allowed to marry domestic helpers. Only goes to show how much you know about Singapore.
Stephanie Dolan
Random question: I know you are using wordpress for this blog, but have you tried any other platforms. I am trying to decide for my blog? and I ask because I like yours.
isprikitik
Dewa,
yeah right, our housemaid just got married to a singaporean old man …ha ha ha!
wade
ha ha ha ha!
wade
Dewa says;
“You are so clever to point your finger at our government, yet now you don’t what to do? ”
how bout you dude, your just clever enough to point your finger at the US government saying they dont have money? you dont know what you are talking about. just for the record, the US government has more money than you, dont you think?
Alice Toribio
Dewa,
You better stop arguing because you tend to contradict your own statement and you distort other peoples statement. in short, you eat your own words. just admit that your a hypocrite and you lost this debate. end of story.
isprikitik
one down!
Jorge T
Dewa,
if your country is so progressive and wealthy, then why waste your time in this blog?
Pedro Penduko
hey dewa,
if you feel sorry for your wife saying shes the innocent party, then dont generalize your criticism of others and stop insulting filipinos who work abroad to earn for a living, ok?
Dewa
Good for your maid! How clever of her to choose a Singaporean. Good catch obviously.
isprikitik
the maid just called me, she said singaporeans sucks. she regret it!..he he he
observer
har har ha ha ha!
Dewa
The US is spending on borrowed money. Money that they don’t have. Hence their budget deficit of more than US$1.3 trillion and counting. Obviously you don’t know what this mean. At the other end, Singapore has use her surplus and not borrowed from the World Bank, IMF or ADB to tied over the downturn.
Dewa
The maid called you at this hour? 11pm?
Let me guess….you are her Filipino husband and both of you are in cohort to milk money from the Singapore man? In my country, we call you a pimp. Living off a woman’s earnings is punishable by law, be careful.
isprikitik
ha ha ha!…thanks for admitting what your wife does to you. so you call her a pimp too? well, shes now in trouble with your law i guess.
observer
hey sprikitik, i like the way you lambast the singaporean…ha ha ha!
isprikitik
yeah, your government is so rich and im wondering why you guys murdered a poor housemaid from a poor country.
choy
isprikitik,
your brainless rationale on this blog is extremely hilarious, out of context & nonsense. what school are you coming from? bonehead! HEHEHE!!!!
isprikitik
to the same shool where you came from dumb@ass..ha ha ha! but im glad im not “bisaya” ha ha ha
tulisan
choy balbakwa,
wawa ka naman lagi ka alaskado, “yabis” ka kasi eh..get a life schmuck!
choy
si bale ng bisaya ako bading naman..o say nyo?
choy
sensiya na bopols kasi ako eh…sori
tulisan
choy
bat di mo naman sinabi b@ding ka na yabis ka pa…he he he
Warren
hey choy,
dont ask, obviously no school and no education at all.
choy
hey warren,
huwag kang pumapel, wala kang alam!
gemma
sprikitik and choy,
theres no difference between the two of you. both of you should get a life. respect the other bloggers and post some sensible comments ok.
isprikitik
censya nakayo choy elementary lang kse natapos ko marunong lang ako ng baluktot na english kaya bahala nakayo umintindi sa ibig kong sabihin
isprikitik
choy
kaya kong mag choy hahaha! ikaw kaya moba rin mag isprikitik? aminin ko sayo choy na wla talaga akong natapos yan din ang sabi ni warren pero ok lang obvious naman pero sabi nila dito wierd daw ako ang iba naman nerd daw ako i said ano yon?
isprikitik
hahaha! kaya moba mag isprikitik? aminin ko sayo choy wala talaga akong natapos pero kahit pano marunong akong mag english bahala nangalang kayo umintindi sabi nga ni warren obvious daw wala akong pinag-aralan yon din sabi ng mga tao dito wierd daw ako at sabi din ng iba nerd din daw ako i said ano yon?
choy
hehehe! im glad im not TANGA LOG
isprikitik
choy balbakwa,
at least aminado ka bopols ka talaga on your post #370…im proud of you for being honest that your dumb.
nic
all are exaggerated. You read 32 books? Common, be realistic!!!!
euclid
Good writing!
isprikitik
choy,
nag-attempt ka pang mag-english at mag-tagalog using my moniker pero sabit sabit naman yung spelling mo both in english and tagalog. he he he…im done with you “yabis”!
isprikitik
choy,
spell weird? answer = Y-A-B-I-S…ha ha ha!
Rob
As an Australian with a Pinoy wife I understand your demented challenges to gain something considered valuable. You and Green suffer the slings and arrows of ignorance, only to find that those in power are more ignorant than yourself.
A marvellous piece of writing, carefully crafted, entertainingly gifted. You have found one of the meanngs of life. The event is fleeting, but the story may be enjoyed with fond memory for life.
Lorena B.
Nic, come on, 32 is exaggerated but the article said only two (2)…Somehow, people can not understand why Filipinos can read books like the Raymond Babbit does. Hello…
Tongbi
I still dont understand why the author says the blue passport is the most sought after passport in the world. To me, its just her own declaration and readers must be reasonable enough not to consider her statement as a valid official statement. Take it as if it comes out of a horse mouth and let your experience be the judge. Whether you carry blue or green passport, the way you live your life and you treat others is how you will be judged as a person and not the color of your passport. I feel sorry for the author but her experience and sentiments acquiring her blue passport is the complete opposite of what I have had. I cant speak for other peoples failure and I cant speak for other peoples success as well. We have our own choices and we enjoy the luxury of making the most logical ones. We seek comfort, convenience, and opportunities but when we fail to satisfy ourselves, theres no one to blame except ourselves.
isprikitik
censya na choy TANGA talaga ako at aminin kong bading ako,alam kong pogi ka. can i meet you somewhere?
isprikitik
warren
can i have your # plsss? pasensya na ako talaga ang bading alam kong pogi yang si choy sa name pa lang CHOY na CHOY na.
noodle_adik
I agree with CIJAM that those who are questioning the power of the BLUE is either in denial or just plain jealous. Let me add one more to that: maybe they have not traveled enough. Those of us who owns the BLUE ONE can travel visa-free to 160 countries in the world without having to suffer the embarrasment and indignity of proving our worth to the consuls of whatever embassy just to get a visa. And if we ever get in trouble in another country(knock on wood) for whatever reason, we are rest assured that the US embassy will work hard to ensure that we will be treated fairly and with justice. Half of my travels around the world happened when I was still a bearer of a Philippine passport that is why I know exactly the difference of being an American citizen. Do not get me wrong, PINOY NA PINOY pa din ako and kahit saang bansa ako pumunta I always tell them that I’m originally from the Philippines. Hindi ko na lang mapigilan sarili ko na mag react sa blog na ito coz im so sick and tired of the hypocrisy of some people devaluing the US passport and the United States of America. America is not perfect but this land certainly gave me a lot of opportunities to realize my dreams.
Dewa
Singapore a top choice for migrants
Thu, Nov 05, 2009
The Straits Times
By Lin Zhaowei
SINGAPORE is a top immigration hot spot, according to a global survey conducted by Gallup.
If it were to take in all adults who wish to settle in the country, its adult population of 3.6 million would jump to 13 million, said the survey released this week.
Gallup arrived at this figure by using what it called the Potential Net Migration Index (PNMI).
tirador
noodle_adik,
you and CIJAM are absolutely right.
noodle_adik
kapatid na tirador,
nagpapakatotoo lang po hehehehe
streetwear
Hello its a very nice site!
warren
it is very unfortunate and shameful that this two individuals (choy & iprikitik) is acting this way. in my personal observation, sprikitik is suffering serious psychological disorder called biopsychosocial
Dan
Inspiring story..
Please support this small drive for Filipinos way back home..www.reachoutpinoy.ca
Dewa
RP won’t get $2-M US military aid on rights record—solon
By Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Only US$2million and they give you conditions?
Pedro Penduko
Hey Dewa,
I think post # 356 is a good question for you, why dont you answer it.
iyo karpo
RP will never ask AID from Singapore. It’s economy depends on OFW remittances.
mskelly
surely your story is entertaing but hard to believe. i got my citizenship last year, applied for it without the help of a lawyer (the form is very simple). yes the fee is crazy, that’s why i decided to apply for citizenship rather that exteding my green card. i just read the booklet they gave, noted the important points. 10 questions, and they made me read this ubberly ridiculous sentence. no funfare at all. dont know if it’s just in new york or what but that is definitely the smae here in midwest. surely after the oath taking, there was a sense of sadness…..
mskelly
not the same here in midwest rather…
pinoy
love your mother land
Dewa
The senator said the problem with Washington was that it continued to get itself enmeshed in the state of affairs of other countries in its desire to “fulfill its self-created role as the policeman of the world.”
“They should leave our elections to us,” Santiago said, citing how the United States had interfered in the internal affairs of Vietnam and now in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.
Santiago has my vote as the next Philippines President.
ricoh@feati
dewa, do you know where the united nations, is located at??
rona reyes
dewa,
you seem to have the propensity to strap bomb around your body and blow up innocent civilians in a shopping center…just looking at the the way you post your blog.
hipma
how can we attain peace when we can’t even respect another man’s opinion? let’s all grow up, please.
Jhun
Bato bato sa langit tamaan sana sa sintido para magising….. maraming mga taga tuligsa sa ka kurakutan at kasinungalingan ng mga taong naka pwesto sa gobyerno ang ngayon ay naka pwesto na rin sa gobyerno. Tanong lang po…. sila po ba ay di nangungurakot ngayon? sila po ba ay tapat sa pag lilingkod sa kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin? Kung sana ang mga taong ito ay naging tapat, siguro, at sana, maunlad na ang bayan kong Pilipinas. Ka awa-awang mga Pilipino, pina mumunuan ng mga kurakot at manloloko. GUMISING NA SANA KAYO….
rona reyes
hipma,
i agree with you. lets respect other peoples opinion. only thing is i dont know what is singapore or where is it at. is it an island, a city , or what? but i know michael jackson and the beatles. and my opinion is i hate terrorism so lets respect that.
Ethel T. Sucilla
met Ninotchka in South Cal early 90’s, found her to be a tupperware pinoy activist, not at all surprised she’s turned color, for why would she stick to the US if not to become a citizen. True revolutionaries don’t mind inconveniences. Even Rizal had the common sense to return to his homeland. To which he said, “ang gamot ay dapat ilapit sa may sakit”
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