Wagas Chronicle

If you are in America or in other foreign country, for sure you hear something about the Filipino Nurses. In hospitals, in every clinic or in convalescents. There's always a Filipino Nurse. And they can easily be identified by their looks and by their accents. Their brown skin and shorter in height is also obvious. They belong to Asia but not really Asians. They're often mistaken as Pacific Islanders like the people of Hawaii. Not to mention, they always carry signature bags and the latest gadgets. Besides, they're noisy when they're together but silent when they mix up with other ethnic groups or with the locals of any host country. But why America and other foreign countries want them? Let's take a look at some of the reasons. 1. English Speaking Forget about the accent. Filipinos are one of the best English speaking ethnic groups in America and in other countries. The grammar is good enough. And when it comes to writing, they're meticulous about ...

The island of Cebu is located in the central part of the Visayas islands in the Philippines. It is an island surrounded by islands and one of the best tourist destinations in the country. The people of Cebu are called Cebuanos and their language is called Cebuano. Just like any other islands in the world, Cebu has its own unique culture. So when you're visiting Cebu, it is better to understand their language and expressions.  And here are some of the examples. 1. Gi atay, Ka Peste or Ka yawa Gi-atay  is originally a bad word. The root word is  atay which literally means, liver. It's a word used to express disgust or frustration over anything. It is equivalent to the "F" word in English. Sometimes, they just say it atay instead of gi atay as a short cut. But as the Cebuano culture evolves, sometimes they used it as an expression of fun. So when you hear a Cebuano saying gi atay or atay , don't get upset. Because, it's either they're mad at somethi...

In the early 90's, my father went to America as a tourist from the Philippines upon the invitation of his own sister in Pennsylvania. He got a multiple entry tourist visa good for 10 years. But when he arrived at the port of entry in Detroit, he was hold by the immigration. People in the immigration suspected that my father was a fraud. He was maltreated and was even put to jail for a couple of hours. He was hold in a cell barely naked and cold. For him, it was a torture. He was treated like a terrorist. And then the next day, my father was deported back to the Philippines without any explanation from the U.S. Embassy. Take note. My father has no criminal records. He was a former police officer.  For us children, it was a terrifying experience. I was so angry with the Americans at that time. And even before the incident, I was already an anti imperialist activist in college. That incident fueled my mentality as a radical anti American. But in 2006, unexpected turn...

Do you have a daughter? And you're always worried about her. Don't worry, you're not alone. I also have a daughter and I know how it feels. I got married in 1997 and blessed with two kids. My first son was born in 2001 and it's a mix feelings. Of course, I am happy. Watching his face the day he was born, feels like I was watching myself. That was the day when I turned myself from an adult man into a daddy. It was the best day of my life. But when my daughter was born in 2006, it was a different feeling. I don't want to pretend. I am happy but at the same time I am worried. Watching her, is like watching her mother. Of course, I love my wife with all my heart. But I can't deny the fact, that I was linked to many women before I got married. And that's where all my worries started. It's about reminiscing the good and the bad times about women. Most of all, I remember the day when I made a woman cry for I was a jerk. It's about believing i...

Racism I come from the Philippines. A country whose education system was designed by the Americans in the early 1900's. We call it, the Colonial Education System. Because of that, we thought we know everything about America. But I'll tell you. Our American History books in the Philippines never mentioned the history of racism in America. They hide it from us. And I didn't know the extent of this problem until I arrived here in 2006. And when I say extent, it's really bad. And it's happening everywhere. I myself was a victim of racial discrimination in the work place. No need for me to elaborate how did it happened. Take note, white Americans are not the only racists in this country. It comes from any colors.  By the way, don't say the word "negro" when you're in a crowd of black people or in public places.  Sometimes, they call it the "N" word.  For them, it's a bad word. In some extent, you'll get punch in the face. Thi...