My feelings and thoughts about the U.S. Election 2020 as a legal immigrant

I am truly disappointed, frustrated, and affected.

I have close Filipino friends, people I respect (and I still do) who seem to think that Biden and Harris are heaven’s gift to America and to the world.

I understand that the sources of U.S news in the Philippines (and the rest of the world) are mostly from the super liberal, left-leaning media here.

But I can’t help but to expect more from them, to do their own research and not just believe whatsoever, especially if they also give importance to the same values I do.

I’m sure they might feel the same way about me when they read this. They might not understand where I am coming from and I pray they will read this post completely.

Did you ever try to ask the actual experience, observations and thoughts of people you know here? Those who are Christians, hardworking, and are legally here?

Unless you know someone who live in a very liberal state/city and their mentality and views got affected/brainwash already, most hardworking people here (citizens and legal immigrants) will tell you their positive experiences under Trump especially on their finances. I know a lot of hardworking people who are more than satisfied with their Return of Investment (ROI), they reached their financial goals (that supposed to take another 10 years to reach) under his administration. Ask people who have a 401k, an investment type retirement fund and they will tell you that since Trump started their ROI went up, compared to how it was under Obama where it was stagnant.

He may not speak very presidentiable but he get important things done. Ask soldiers and veterans and you’ll get positive feedback too. Believe in the #RealHeroes. #HappyVeteransDay

Trump is always being compared to Duterte, the way they speak maybe but even that I know Duterte speaks in a more rude manner. For me, they have more differences (You can read my older post about that, Differences between Trump and Duterte)

Duterte is a puppet of China and more. Duterte is more like the Democrats here. Full of promises but where will they get the fund? Additional taxes from hardworking people. And more spending to the increasing number of people dependent to the government. I am not against helping the disable, elderly and children. But how about those who are abled? Democrats seem to like that. Opposed to the small government, the more the people depends on them the better. Controlling people is easier that way.

If it is too good to be true, it is a SCAM. If they are politicians their whole life, they are trained to give speeches to convince/brainwash people.

I tried reading hundreds of articles from both conservative and liberal media outlets, university and research websites before posting this. And I got more disappointment. The mainstream media and social media giants here are left-leaning. I read that even Google was asked to come to the Senate to explain. I was shocked when one day my husband and I can’t find this particular critical news about Biden if you click Google News specifically. Even when we type the appropriate keywords to find it. Most probably it was on the last pages. People always check the first few pages result, and they know that. I've read SEO specialists explanations too.

I can’t help but ask too about my friends’ happiness on Biden-Harris projected win.

Are you happy because Harris is the first female VP? first Black and first Asian American? I hope for the same thing but not her. She is way too different even to our own VP Leni Robredo.

Did you know she supports pro abortion/infanticide which is sweetly called pro choice here? Biden promised to reverse the Hyde Amendment and force taxpayers to fund abortion clinics. Don’t you think we should pray they fund more adoption centers and the likes instead? I am also praying that the fetal heartbeat bill will be a law in most states, if possible in the whole country. Trump supported it but not Biden & Harris.

Did you know Biden and Harris have socialist tendencies? But more for her and she’s even proud of it. Bad news though, socialism never works.

Of course they’ll argue it will if it is combined with capitalism but a little bit more of what the U.S already have and boom God bless America! The U.S. currently has elements of socialism, such as Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment.

Israel, India, and the United Kingdom all adopted socialism as an economic model following World War II. Socialism is guilty of a fatal conceit: It believes its system can make better decisions for the people than they can for themselves. Socialism has failed in every country in which it has been tried. *

Some are saying, Democrats might ditch Biden and put her as the President.

Did you check the news about Biden’s and his son’s business relation to China and how much they got? Oh and also Russia. Check out how he raised his son Hunter to do what he did on his own brother’s widow. Biden’s sniffing young girl’s hair and kissing female strangers in the lips (yep just like Duterte) also creeps me out.

The media here is truly plausible, reporting everything about Trump and silent about Biden.

In politics, they say you choose the lesser evil. I just hope they are not choosing a devil-in-guise. The same thing happened in the Philippines, they thought Duterte is the hero but who’s hero he is to whom now?

I bet China and the 4million Chinese he just accepted in the Philippines and given jobs. And the Marcoses, Imelda Marcos who is given a guilty conviction but still runs free outside of prison. Duh, old age and compassion my foot. Spell priority.

*Sources and Suggested Readings:

https://www.heritage.org/…/three-nations-tried-socialism-an…

https://www.forbes.com/…/socialism-the-failed-idea-tha…/amp/

https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/why-socialism-always-fails/

From an Immigrant's Perspective: Ways Americans can appreciate (more) what they have here in the U.S.A

1. Know and understand your own history, the American history.

Understand what it was like before and how much things changed and so much better now.

To newly naturalized Americans, who are English as Second Language (ESL) speakers like me, the DK's Children's Encyclopedia of American History is easy to read and understand, the pictures and illustrations help a lot too. I imagine myself enjoying reading it again with my children in the near future. The American Reader: Words that  Moved a Nation Edited by Diane Ravitch is another must read. Learning more about American History since I arrived here makes me appreciate of what you have here more and more everyday. Learning our country's history helps us to appreciate what we currently enjoy and those who made sure we are enjoying and still enjoying it now. Knowing history, as they say, helps us not to repeat the same mistakes of the past.

I can't help but to compare and connect the American and Philippine history, the Philippines being colonized by the U.S.A after Spain, and realizing how much influence you have on us too. Comparison is good when it helps to improve things. Comparison is better when it makes you appreciate the differences and improvements of the 'before and after'. Comparison is the best when it gives you contentment cause you know you have more than what others are still wishing for.

2. Read and watch global news and documentaries about other countries, especially third world countries and war-torn countries.

To some sympathetic and empathetic people, reading and watching can be more than enough but to some it may not. Most countries in the world still look up to the U.S.A because of the individual rights you have here. There is no perfect society in the world, but some citizens from other countries are still fighting and working on to have and enjoy the same rights you already have here. The rights you are taking for granted and sadly even abusing at times. Most countries are still on their way trying to copy what you have here and experimenting what will work in their own country. Wanting more and discontentment are human nature but so does gratitude and appreciation.

3. Befriend an immigrant and ask them, listen to their own experiences from their country.

Take an interest to their observations on what you have here, the similarities and differences. Sometimes, listening in real life to a person in front of you can have a better impact. Try to look through their eyes. Most immigrants who are thankful to be here are appreciative and will actually tell you what you have here that they wish they have too back in their home country. Legal immigrants who went through the process and did everything the right way to come and live here have substantial reasons why they left their own countries.

The opportunities you have here, you might not realize how lucky you are that job qualifications don't include your age, gender, height etc. Anyone who can still work and still wants to work have the same opportunities here, we are just starting to see that back at the Philippines where it is not a normal sight to see flight attendants and waiters past on their 40s, 50s and even 60s. Jobs that may be considered physically challenging and put aesthetic on the top employable factor still prefer employees on their 20s and 30s. Here in the U.S.A, I learned that is illegal, you cannot discriminate someone based on age, appearance, gender, race etc.

For me, you are also very accommodating here, respecting and recognizing the languages and cultures the immigrants brought with them. Almost everything and everywhere have available translations of other leading languages. Indeed, the U.S.A. is the melting pot of the world. I believe though that as you respect ours, we should also respect yours, learn your language, history, and culture, adopt and assimilate.

4. Visit another country, better if it is a country who have less but more people are happy and contented (like Bhutan).

As a Filipino, we are known to be one of the happiest and resilient people despite the economic and political challenges, uncontrollable disasters like storms and earthquakes we always experience in our country. We don't have a confrontational culture and are also known for our hospitality. Most Filipinos are very family orientated. However, these traits can be both our strength and weakness. We don't have the Second Amendment and owning a gun is not a norm, most people who get and have them are in the professions that are considered dangerous and get death threats like being a politician or a lawyer.

In the not so distant future, when we have kids already, I want our kids to have a first hand experience of a life in another country, like the Philippines, by visiting once a year or every two years or whenever possible (plane fare is not cheap LOL). They will always be part Filipino because of me and it is always important to know our parent's heritage which is also a part of our own identity. I hope, pray, and wish with all my heart that having that kind of experience will open up their eyes and minds to be more appreciative of what they have here in the U.S.A and also appreciate what the Philippines have. I wish people here can have the same opportunity, I hope when they visit another country it gives them more understanding and appreciation of life in general.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!

I am not an expert, I am not yet an American citizen but I appreciate everything you have here. I am amazed by how the United States of America was founded. American History is fascinating and inspiring. I wrote this article as a way of saying Thank You. As a new immigrant here, as a spouse of an American citizen,  this is my way of saying I love and appreciate this country, this country that I also now call HOME. 

God bless America!

Lockdown/Stay-at-Home Order/Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) Diary

*Based on my personal experience and knowledge as an individual, a married couple, with our family and friends in our very own communities.

Yesterday, my closed friend married at their home in Pennsylvania (PA), we wanted to be there but due to the travel advisories and other factors related to COVID-19, we weren't able to go. She understood too, PA is one of the top states with most number of cases, they were told it is better to keep the number of their guests to 10 including them and the minister that will officiate their wedding.

An aunt's family visit here in Florida (on my husband side) is move to later this year, before or around Thanksgiving.

The family of our Pastor in Mississippi also planned a Florida (FL) trip this May and he and his wife are planning to visit us but it was also cancelled. Hopefully, after everything gets back to normal (or what others call the 'new normal') they can still visit us.

I'm sure people all around the world have similar experiences, cancelled plans, much awaited vacations etc. Of course, these are small things compared to a death of a person because of COVID-19, unemployment, hunger, inadequate assistance, and abused of power by the government and its officials during this trying times.

My husband's work is part of the essential workers category, he still go to work everyday. In our neighborhood, we are the only young couple our age, all of our neighbors (who are very sweet and kind to us) are retired and senior citizens. Because of this reason, we know that we have the responsibility to be extra careful and not interact with them if we are feeling any symptoms at all. Even without symptoms, I continuously remind my husband to take care of his health and keep his distance at work (if there is a co worker who is showing symptoms). Thank God, we are all in good health.

My family in the Philippines are in total lockdown, they can only go out if they need to buy food and medicine, only one person per household can go out. My mom's store in Cavite is closed for more than a month now. She and her family in Oriental Mindoro are in good condition but we are all worried because the lockdown was extended until May 15.

We understand the reason for this extension but sadly after the lockdown, people will be overwhelmed by the bills lined up, with no income for those who are no work, no pay and those who were required to close their small businesses like my mom.

We are more blessed than others. We try to help in our own little ways. Our heart ache to those who both fear dying either from the virus or hunger.

I support herd immunity especially in poor countries with more young population like India and the Philippines. I think the government can focus protecting the vulnerable: senior citizens, children, sick, disable, and anyone with weak immune system. They should allow people who want and need to get back to work, reminding them to be extra careful if they have someone at home who is part of the vulnerable population. Individual responsibility is very important and it is said to be flattening the COVID-19 curve in Sweden.

The main fear is that hospitals won't be able to handle the situation, even though 80% of cases are  mild and most of them can stay at home until they get well.

I should be working now as a teaching aide/assistant in a nearby technical college if not for the COVID-19 pandemic.

This lockdown/stay-at-home/ECQ is no one's fault but China (Chinese Communist Party/Communist Party of China) and their lies.

China should pay a financial cost for its Coronavirus lies. China committed a crime against the world that resulted in economic hardships all over the world. China should be legally liable for the pandemic damage it has done. But how? How to make China pay?

As we pray that we remain safe and all our loved ones, we also pray for all the COVID-19 patients, medical workers, frontliners, and essential workers all over the world.

I hope all leaders all over the world can effectively handle their own local situations, copying other proven and effective strategies they can from other countries.

I wish that a vaccine will be available soon but if not, may the government find a way that everyone can survive too financially even if it means ending these different versions of lockdown/stay-at-home order/ECQ soon.

May all the government officials/leaders/public servants listen to the people they serve and not abuse the emergency powers given to them according to the law during these trying times.

May they execute the law fairly and not bend it to their own will.

Starting all over again: Applying a new job here in U.S.

We, my husband and I, went by the books. We followed everything by the letter. We chose to wait for all my documents to be processed first before I started applying for a job.

I don't want to be a pasaway. I don't want to be a part of the stereotype of immigrants who already applied for jobs even when they don't have their Employment Authorization Document (EAD)/working permit YET. My husband also don't want me to be pasaway. Thank goodness he was so supportive in all the ways I needed. The feeling of being unemployed is never a good feeling, even if we know that it is just a part of the process we need to go through.

Before I left the Philippines, I was a college instructor in a state university. I was given an item (an equivalent of a regular position in the government) a temporary item that will turn to permanent once I finished my thesis and get my master's degree. I wasn't able to finish my thesis. If I am not leaving, I don't have a choice but to finish it or transfer in a non thesis program. My job was good but can be overwhelming and stressful at times, like all other jobs. Juggling them both (writing a thesis while working and teaching was just too much for me). But I regret not finishing it. I am finding a way now if I can continue it thru distance learning in UPOU or in a university here.

Now living in the U.S., I know I can't expect to get the same job I last had in the Philippines but as they say there is no harm in trying so I will. But I am also open to start at the bottom as a teacher assistant or office staff.

Having a driver's license is so important here. Most job ads I saw have it under the requirements. Since I am still working to have one (just got my learner's license), I am narrowed in applying jobs that don't require having one.

Certifications are also big here. Almost all jobs require some kind of certifications. Here in Florida, the most in demand jobs are mostly related to medical professions.

Some professional jobs may also ask you to submit a US Equivalency Report. I just did my research on that one and working to get mine now.

Those who want to be primary, middle, and high school teachers here need to have a Florida teaching license. These are the requirements for foreign trained graduated or non-citizens like me.

I am not so choosy regarding the salary but I am looking and hoping to get a Monday-Friday job. Day shift of course. Raise your hand to those who tried night shift before and you just know it won't work out for you. LOL.

Wish me luck! God bless us all!