Contributed by Louie Tacker
HELLO to all of loyal readers of this blog. My name is Louie Tacker. You might have read some of my guest blogs here from time to time, as the blog author who is my friend, has given me the privilege to be a guest blogger. Well, she emailed me the other day asking if I could do some entries for her as she studies for law finals, and I assured her I would only try to live up to her standards.
If you read her regularly, you know how interesting her articles are. I had stumbled on her blog about a year ago, while I was blog surfing. And you see, I like to correspond all over the world. I feel it’s a great way to learn other cultures and meet people from around the globe. Her accounts of her family and married life drew me to her blog at first, then after reading her crisp, sometimes funny and all times entertaining blogs, I have become an avid regular reader.
A little about me. I go by Lou to most, live just outside N.Y.C., married with two children. Uh - Okay, that would do. I know enough about me. Haha!
Right here, I would like to let the good people of the Philippines know how well I respect you people and your country. I myself have had many experiences with not only Filipinos but other Asian people right here, as you know, N.Y.C. is a cultural melting pot, and I try to meet as many from all over the world as possible. Over here, we are all basically immigrants, no matter how long our families have been here, except for - of course our native American Indians, who by the way are wonderful people. In my interaction with some Filipinos here in America, I have found most to be pleasant, well educated people, sincere, hardworking and eager to share their culture to others.
So in my brief emailing with Rhodora, I was not at all surprised to find the same qualities in her. Our emails ranged from politics to everyday life experiences and I found her extremely bright, talented and funny. Now I’m saying these not to grease her so she will yet allow me to continue guest blogging here. Lol! But I do mean it sincerely.
I have also read some of your responses to her blogs and it seems she has a really nice group developing and my interest in Filipinos and your culture has expanded over time. In fact, I was watching the travel channel here the other night and they featured the Philippines and its people, showing different kinds of foods that you offer, and – now, don’t get mad at me – but I believe you eat this – was it called ‘balot’? It’s a boiled duck egg. Mmm.. I was getting interested but I was not used to seeing the partially formed duck inside. I also saw how some of you would eat ‘bulate’ (worms) which are considered delicacy in some parts of your country. Wow, I just can’t gather myself to eat the ‘bulate’ but maybe if I had chance to visit there, I would try the ‘balot’. I also noted how they said you eat many small meals throughout the day (no wonder you are all so nice and slim). I also know your country is made up of many different people over the centuries, and may I say the racial mixes produced a fine blend.
Now I don’t want to get into history, but I just want to mention about the times when Americans helped in driving the Japanese out of your country. I know in these times America is looked upon in a negative way by many across the world and our president is ridiculed by many. Personally, I’m politically independent, but in defense of my country and president, I can tell you we did not start any religious war for what it is, we unfortunately were attacked that day almost six years ago, and we had to stand up to defend ourselves and the rest of the world who may be victims too in the future. Yes, I might be prejudiced, but I saw, heard and lived it. I live only eight miles away from where the terrorists attacked my country, and it affected my personal life in ways I rather not discuss because I don’t want to feel gloomy. Let me share however, that I attended over 40 funerals and memorials of friends and acquaintances who I lost that tragic day.
So like I said, in defense of my country and president, we are doing what we feel is right. We are not aggressors but we have been placed with the large burden of being world police so to speak, and in doing that, we make many enemies. George Bush is a good man. Do I agree with him on all his politics? Of course not, but I do believe in many of his principles. As far as this war on terror is concerned, well, remember, this was pushed on him. He did not seek it out, and his number one job is to protect this country and its people. In short, please don’t just judge America on what you read. We might be an overly materialistic country, I admit that, and I’m the first to criticize us for it. Yet we are mostly caring, non-aggressive society over here, and I do believe we are first to help even our enemies, when natural disasters occur. Uh - okay, enough back patting of Americans.. lol!
I hope my guest blogging here will let me get to know more about the good people of the Philippines. I welcome comments on my entries and would gladly answer questions if you may. Don’t worry, I hail from New York and I can take harsh words and criticisms, lol! I will even appreciate it if you are honest and upfront with me, and I will try my best to answer your questions the same way. I am open to all topics from politics to romance to sports to everyday living, so fire away. From personal observations, I think the mix between the Americans and Filipinos is a positive one, in all ways, and I personally only hope it grows especially for me.
So let me stop rambling on, as I say thanks again to Rhodora for allowing me this privilege to blog on her site and I hope to hear from you all as I will try to keep entries going, being the ‘caretaker’ of this blog while its author is busy studying. 
Welcome to our global community and nice of you to fill in for our student with a little “flattery” of our cultures and our unique qualities that we sometimes can not even seem to appreciate.
You mentioned “balut” which I used to like way back, but not crazy about now, but believe me, it’s like the brand names coffee the likes of TimHorton’s, or Starbucks that you can get hooked once you tasted it. A friend of mine have one of our workmates (a Lilly white Canadian, an reservist soldier ) hook to it and he likes it. By the way, I’m posting just north of the Border.
We have a place in Queens, where my sister and her hubby works. They too were there during the “infamy” and my brother in law being in Emergency Service (a medical doctor) was on emergency duty during those days and I can still recall his remarks that there were no patients to care for, for most were buried under the rubbles of the Twin Towers.
Right now, I can’t comment much on your country fight against terrorism, for we too are much involve in our mission in Afghanistan, which I fully support and I believe most of Canadians. But like you, I would like to see your country better understood, because that where most member of my family chose to make their home….
Come back soon and take care!
Great to meet you Louie, looking forward to reading your entries. And don’t worry, American-bashing is rare in the Filipino blogosphere, for obvious reasons. Pinoys would rather bash their own politicians and themselves (this you’ll soon find out). And even those that do seem to criticize the US from time to time only do so because of its foreign policies, and is not directed at its people.
Wow rhodora! Busy busy! Good luck on your exams and I hope your daughter gets into a college she likes.
Hi Louie, welcome from the Philippines. America has been a major part of history in the Philippines and helped us out in many ways as well. Looking forward to your entires.
hi rhodora, goodluck sa exams.. and be back ayyt..
hi lou! welcome
REPLY FROM LOU:
Greetings, Vic, from south of the border here, how are my Canadian friends? Beautiful country up there, thank God your sister and her hubby were o k. I know Queens well, large Asian population there…..
YES, I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. The biggest fault of Bush Sr. and Jr. is that they were never verbal enough, not even with our inner policies here. Hopefully within the next week or so i might do a brief 9/11 - terrorism blog. Too many Americans have forgotten that day and the war now that will never end….world wide…
REPLY FROM LOU:
Thank you, Kyels.. I will send your regards to Rhodora..
Don’t worry, she’ll be back before you even know it.
REPLY FROM LOU:
Snglguy, nice to met you. I fully understand about the politics. If you ever read anything about our politicians- the inner bashing amongst the parties has grown out of control especially the personal assaults…….like most countries the REAL people never really have bad feelings for the people of another land , the big mouthed politicians , are always the problem…….lol . Thanks for commenting.
REPLY FROM LOU:
Hello Ferdz, pleased to met you, thanks for your warm welcome, wish i was really there…….lol……Well over here, Filipinos are well accepted by American people. It took many many years for americans to warm up to the Japanese, only because there were many WW II vets who found it hard to get over the war.
HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN HERE.
Hi, Jhenny… thanks for the welcome.
Hi Tita Rhodes…hope your doing well there and goodluck on the exams okay.
Hello Louie
Thanks for saying we’re nice and SLIM! hahahaha
I love “balut”. You should try it. If the partially formed chick/duck kinda grosses you out, you just close your eyes. I did that the first time I tried. Now I can even talk to the partially formed chick before I eat it lolz I have a tendency to be a cannibal you know. As for the “bulate”…that is something that I will never do but maybe we should also try it…
The Philippines is indeed a beautiful country with beautiful people. We are actually a rich nation, rich in natural resources and skills. Enough to make this country a better place to live in. Unfortunately we have very “intelligent” politicians who are more materialistic than Americans lolz. So we end up with corruption instead. But nevertheless we are able to smile and laugh despite all of this
I saw the bombing of the WTC live on CNN when it happened. I know a lot of people are still grieving until now. Rest assured that many are still praying, including Filipinos, for healing and peace.
hi, Rhodora - good luck! soon, come back! what luck!
hi, Louie! for a while, i thought you were related to William Thacker (remember Hugh Grant in Nottinghill?), but then you don’t have an “h” in Tacker. anyway, welcome to Rhodora’s site. even if she is away, i will keep coming back, you know. i am sure there is lot you could share with us, and we could interact.
while you mentioned that Filipinas are slim, you would be surprised why we would always feel that we are overweight. maybe when you say slim, you have the US standard in mind–americans are far taller and bigger than us filipinas.
and have you noticed? when you meet a filipina, you cannot tell her age? do you know why? maybe you can do a little guessing. cheerio!
LOUIE’S RESPONSE:
Hello Verns, nice to meet you, thanks for all your kind words. I can handle the partially formed duck. lol……….but the bulate???? I have to really be hungry for that one!
As for politics , your country is not alone , in my next blog, I will write about it.
From the many pictures I have seen of your country, it truly seems to be a lovely place!
About 9/11 as we call it here - well, living so close to the WTC makes it hard for us to forget although many Americans from other parts of my country seem to have short memories, and that is unfortunate. Perhaps I will do a blog on just my diary of that long , terrible day……..thanks for the prayers, indeed healing and peace is what the world needs.
LOUIE’S RESPONSE:
Well hello ther Sexy Mom, glad you will be reading my posts…………Yes I have plenty to say and in fact I tend to ramble , so i will try to keep my posts as compact as possible for me…lol.
Well let me guess, I would suppose that you all feel overweight because of your petite frames so 5 or 10 pounds to you is like nothing to the average American frame, i know petite women here in the U.S. are always watching their weight for that reason, but your habits of eating several times a day is taught over here as a weight watching program.
Now, as far as the age………mmmm…..lets see……I know it’s the Skin. Almost every Filipino I have seen either in person or pictures seem to have perfect skin, little wrinkling if any, I bet it has something to do with fish consumption in your diet and the smooth silky hair diguises the age?..Let me know if I were close in guessing…… and feel free to suggest any info you might want to know about American life style and I would gladly give my response.
hi Louie,
bashing America, heh?
i kinda do something like that i my blog particularly when I point out history…
wait till I blog about the other side of Gen. Douglas MacArthur
also I don’t like the policies of George W. Bush and against imperialism. I know a blogger who really bashes GWB
I don’t condone terrorism but I also don’t like your country invading Iraq. American boys are dying but the hunch that weapons of mass destruction in Iraq are nowhere to be seen.
IMHO, Iraq is better during Saddam’s bloody reign than under the present even bloodier sectarian strife
Hello tutubi……..you certainly are entitled to your opinion and i fully respect it as that of others. We could go back and forth for years on past present and future policies of all countries, but you see Americans fight for that right , that you ,I or anyone else can have the FREEDOM AND RIGHT to repectively voice their opinions
My beef is when the attacks take a personal twist there is no reason for that at all, i did not care fo Pres. Clinton’s politics , but I did repect him for the office he held..
As far as MacArthur - yes he did free the Fillipinos, and his own men leaving them open to the Japaneses invasion, this too can be discussed for days on end. As far as American troops being killed.well yes my friend, its a volunteer army,
Don’t get me wrong. I personally DETEST WAR, but it’s a sad fact of the world we live in, as far as weapons of mass destruction? Well someone gas over 200,000 Kurds serveral years back??………and perhaps you should ask the over 20 million Iraqis that voted for the first time in an open election - how they felt about finally not having a savage dictator ruling them,
You see, we unfortunately have the role of policing the world, it costs us billions of our tax dollars every year , and also, my friend - when trouble erupts, even antural disasters, who is the first to go with FOOD, MEDICAL, DOCTORS AND FINANCIAL AID, NO MATTER WHAT REGIME IS IN CHARGE OF ANY COUNTRY?
In closing, I migh not not agree with everything you say , but i would defend your right to say it……world politics is a dirty messy business and no matter who, or what decisions are made , as long as there are two or more people left on this earth there will be disagreements.
Thanks for responding and enjoy your day…….