Posted on 09/11/2006 11:18:24 PM PDT by Roy Tucker
Edited on 09/12/2006 12:03:02 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
I think you say " Long live the Philippines ( Mabuhey ).... but, sure on that.
True. Name a problem, the Philippines has it.
I think President Bush said 5,000 the other day in his 9/11 speech, but I don't have the reference.
My wife is from the Philippines. I'm no expert, but I can answer a couple things...
Mabuhay means more like "welcome".
I'm not sure how you'd say "make my day, punk" in Filipino (Tagalog) or in Visayan / Cebuano (used more in Central / Southern Philippines). English is the official language of Gov't and business & they love our movies: Maybe you'd just hear "Clint Eastwood" with a Filipino accent!
The Philippines was actually in very good shape after we helped them rebuild after WWII. In fact, for a while there, they were the #1 economy in SE Asia, I believe. But, after we gave control back, that got torn down by corruption everywhere, and a culture of dependency on outside help. Sometimes you run into a bit of the "We are a victim" baloney, but I think most Filipinos realize most of their problems are self-generated -- they just can't seem to summon the willpower to exorcise corruption from the culture. (A true "culture of corruption", much like some other Hispanic societies. It's also a great example of why we here in the U.S. have to stomp that sort of crap out before it gets too far. Even when it seems small. Ya' hear that, Bubba? Ya hear that, DUmmies?)
That said, most Filipinos / Filipinas are good, decent people. No, my wife isn't making me say that!
VERY excellent program (Air Emergency) last night on National Geographic Channel (?) about the 1994 bombing of a PAL (Philippine Air Lines) 747 by the same guy behind the 1993 WTC bombing. Even includes a slightly flirty (to the bomber) Filipina flight attendant (my wife cracked up at that - subtle comic relief in a serious show.) But those flight attendants did a great job & the flight crew too: Despite serious damage they got the plane landed with only one death -- a young Japanese engineer who was sitting right over the (liquid) bomb. Kudos to the young doorman at the apt. building in Manila where the terrorists were staying, too: A good example of how an ordinary citizen can make a huge difference by being alert (twice in one incident.)
RP (Republic of the Philippines) has some natural gas. Not too much in the way of oil.
It is mabuhay :) My wife is fluent in Tagalog. I am not yet, but I keep working on it.
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