• Madonna, New York: I was surprised to find out that a website for Filipinas in Switzerland existed. I was surfing the web and I bumped into your site.I was really impressed. I am a Filipina artist who used to live in Switzerland and now moved to the States. Like you, I have travelled and lived in different countries... Your story about Filipina migrants in Switzerland really touched my heart. I can relate to it very much. I do have a lot of stories to tell except that I don't write. I paint. I had shown some of my works in Switzerland. I am continuing doing art here in the east coast... I wish I had known about you and your works while I was still in Switzerland. I remember feeling artistically and culturally isolated since I didn't know any other Filipina artists then. (Visit Maria Madonna Davidoff's webpage).
• Reg: Ang ganda ng sinulat mo sa ARNIS bilang healing art ng sugatang lahing Pilipino. Naniniwala rin ako na maaaring makatulong ito na muling buhayin ang mababang moral o mababang pagtingi sa sariling kultura ng mga Pinoy. Yun nga lang hindi rin naman ito kilala sa sarili niyang bansa. Natutuwa ako kasi naka-relate ako sa sinulat mo tungkol sa naging mas malalim ang pagkakakilanlan sa sarili, bilang isang Pilipino dahil sa pag-aaral sa arnis. Dati rin kasi akong galing sa ibang martial arts. Kahit naman kasi gusto ko noon ay nahihirapan akong maghanap ng eskwelahan. At kakaiba nga ngayong arnis na ang pinag-aaralan. May kakaibang saya na sa arnis ko lang nakuha. Sabi mo nga may iba't-ibang dahilan kung bakit nag-aaral ng Martial Art. Dati rin siguro ay gusto ko ito para sa pagtatanggol sa sarili, pero ngayon ay nakita ko itong isang instrumento ng pagpapakita ng makulay na lahi ng Pilipino. Ngayon masasabi ko sigurong nag-aaral ako para magturo at magpatuloy ng sining na maaaring mawala sa sarili niyang bayan....ang ganda ng sinulat mo, pagpalain ka nawa!
• John, Manila, Philippines: I opened your webpage. Maganda talaga (it's really beautiful). I did not expect such a website, to be really honest. I really liked your love poems. They had a fairly deep sense of deep erotique which I feel can only come from deep within all of us.
• Eric, USA: First of, let me introduce myself. I am Eric Bert Taimanglo, 26 years old, born of parents who hail from Guam And the Philippines, respectively. I, too, have been exposed to numerous cultures(my father was a member of the U.S Air Force, stationed in Clark Air Force Base), but was always asking myself the question: " Where do I belong?". I can recall times, back to my pre-adolescent years, when I wished I was, "white". Guamainians have an unfound and undeserved reputation for prejudice against Filipinos or the offspring of a " unthinkable union" betwixt the two. During my stay in the P.I., I encountered such phrases as, "F*&^%%%&8ing Amerikano, you don't belong here". The only thing I remember as being a refuge from so much ignorance and hate were the Martial Arts. I took up the study of Judo when I was but a boy, and so enthralled was I by the purity of mind, muscle, and sinew and pain that encompassed the learning(I would execute breakfalls on asphalt), right then and there I knew that I had found something that I found shelter in. As the years went by, I studied and analyzed as many resources as I could, from Aikido, to H-Sing-I, to Kenpo... but the only art form that kept me riveted, glued, that spoke to me , were the Filipino Martial Arts... something about a stick, held firmly, yet flexibly in my hand, seemed to actually give me firm answers about where I CAME FROM AND WHAT GOT ME HERE. It's kind of crazy, don't you think, that a individual would find himself(forgive the reference to gender), by learning to fight with a stick? In any case , I just wanted you to know how great your poem was, about the poem that you so skillfully wrote, and how it touched me in ways I can actually understand. May the Creator bless you with kindness, knowledge, and continued enlightenment. Thank you for writing "ARNIS FIGHTER".
• Dave: I just visited your homepage and read your writings thru newfilipina.com. You gave a voice to the silent longing of my soul for a homeland, and give words to unexpressed loneliness of a migrant. Coming to the U.S. in 1982 at a tender young age, I was full of hopes and dreams of a new and better life than what my parents had. Years past and I look back sadly wondering what happend to all those years. I am left longing for the vigor, hopes and dreams of those early years. After living in San Francisco for many, many years I was happy to join my love for a new chapter of my life but I dreaded the move away from what I came to know as my new home. Somehow, internally I must have stored the feelings I cannot now recall somewhere in my brain---the difficulty in starting over, transplanted again. After reading your adventures and difficulty in Switzerland, I find solace and kinship in fellow migrants such as yourself.
• Che, Australia: Kumusta. I read some of your articles. They are good. I can sense a feeling of sadness.Maybe it is because you live abroad.
• Cora, Glendale, CA, USA: I was very much impressed by your writing and, from what I read, by your passions in life. I only chanced upon your website, never having heard of it before, and I must admit I unexpectedly converted from a cynical snob to an ardent admirer. In the very rare occasions that I surf Filipino websites, usually for the purpose of amusing myself and/ or looking for something to laugh at, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and substance of your writing -- very intelligent, very passionate, very genuine. It actually put me and my long-held condescending attitudes towards my fellow Filipinos to shame. Having been a world traveler myself, having lived in the USA for these past 16 years, and having acquired American citizenship, I have made it a point to "forget" my being a Filipino -- Filipino values, Filipino pride and all -- sometimes even ashamed of them. But now, reading your articles has re-enkindled that sense of pride in my being a Filipino. It is indeed very inspiring and thought-provoking. And will probably spur me into contributing my share, no matter how small, to elevate the plight of fellow Filipinos anywhere that I may happen to be. I've perused the other web pages hyperlinked with yours, especially the ones re Filipinos in Zurich -- the special circumstances they are under, the many unique things they have to contend with, etc. I find it fascinating and intriguing, realizing how different and how much more difficult and challenging it must be from the ones that Filipinos here in the USA contend with. I think we have it a lot easier here, Filipinos having known the American culture and the American way of life all this time. And of course, having countless relatives and Pinoy friends all over the USA makes a big difference too. Over there in Switzerland, what a totally different picture, all-together different culture -- and yes, not to mention a totally different language. And I agree that not knowing how to speak the language is in itself the biggest hurdle to integrating in that society. What a challenge! For Filipinos who are not there as tourists, those who have to live there for some reason, I can just imagine their feeling of isolation and loneliness being in that part of the world. That's why I think what you're doing there to alleviate that feeling among our fellow Filipinos becomes all the more important, and is indeed admirable. I'm impressed by all the activities you're all planning to celebrate this year's Centennial. Just reading about those almost makes me want to jump into a plane and fly there! (And that's coming from a place -- Los Angeles, California -- teeming with Pinoys! We do take a lot of things for granted here.)

I like what you said about learning "to analyze (the country's) strengths and weaknesses, to love its imperfections, to accept its faults and failings." Many times, as with many Filipino transplants, I concentrate on its weaknesses, thus become unforgiving of its faults and failings. At other times, though, I feel that these feelings are simply our way of rationalizing why we left in the first place... our way of explaining why we decided to live in foreign countries instead... When I came to the US in 1981, I did not plan to stay... but I couldn't make myself leave...

Thank you for your beautiful writing... thank you for the inspiration... Keep up the good work! Please continue sharing your time and talent with the Filipino community. I wish you the best in this wonderful journey.

• Isabel, Vancouver: I am currently in second year studies at Simon Fraser University. I am taking an anthropology course and have chosen to write a comparative analysis of western vs. Filipino culture. In that regard, I came across your homepage while doing research on the net. I am inspired and intrigued by your views and your patriotism. If at all possible, I would very much like to ask you some questions respecting the uniqueness of the Filipino people.
• Manuel, USA: Edessa, I just read your WAITING TO EXHALE. I feel compelled to communicate with you now before perusing the rest of your work. I was in Switzerland 10 years ago. First time in Europe after having lived in the US for 20 years. One of my biggest surprises, as I walked along the promenade by the Lac Leman in Lausanne was a familiar face that was coming towards me. Pushing a baby carriage, in a white uniform looking attire, the woman couldn't be anyone but a Filipina. We do develop a sense for each other's features, after all. It was a shock to me, as I had not really kept up with patterns of migration of our countryfolks. That incident intrigued me, and as I wandered through Europe I realized the ever continuing saga of our people, and I thought of all the personal dramas, triumphs, heartaches that come with each face... You've put some to life for me today. I thank you. I have had a dream project along this line of your endeavor. I'd like to tell stories like yours with a movie camera. I'm doing historical background research right now. That's what led me to your site. I have good friends in Nyon whom I'm planning to visit someday, again. Same folks I stayed with in Lausanne (Swiss/Scottish). I've been dragging on this project for a long time now. It is ambitious, I know, but you've given me quite an inspiration, and I wonder if I can tap on your talents and experiences one of these days (besides the ones you're already sharing)? I am an elementary schoolteacher (in SF, CA) on a year's sabbatical who's exploring many personal interests. Right now, I'm concentrating on art, cooking and film...studying, that is. Keep up the great work. I'm very proud of you and the kababayans in that beautiful but very foreign country.
• Virgie, New Zealand: I am your fellow kababayan now in New Zealand. You have lovely poems and really enjoyed reading them. Keep up your good work, you're one of the best!!! Please check out my website, mine is not that good compared to yours but want you to have a good laugh. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/5067/ and don't forget to sign in my guestbook, okey?
• Adrian, Manila, Philippines: I read the articles in your internet homepage and you write very well. We may have met. I was the legal assistant of Commissioner Ed Garcia of the Philippine Constitutional Commission. It would be good if you can write some storylines for the drama portion of my tv program Buhay OCW on the Kababayan Satellite TV.
• Carol's Bed and Breakfast, Quezon City: I emailed you earlier and forgot to mention how pleasant it was to stumble on to your webpage. Congratulations on a fine web page!
• Matthias, Zürich, Switzerland: This is really a very good and important homepage, especially the poems and the contributions about Philippine history.
• Curtiss, Manila: Dear Edessa, how wonderful of you to remember us and to send me your message. I checked out the web site and it is great (of course).
• Rosanna, Zürich, Switzerland: Saw your home page and the Tambuli corner. Fantastic. I wanted to cry reading the poems. Sent them to my nieces in Montana.
• Renus, California: I checked out your updated homepage. Well done. If I may make a suggestion. Scan several of your paintings/photographs, and create an on-line art gallery of your visually-oriented work. This will complement nicely your textually-oriented work (poems/short stories). To make the art gallery even fancier, create picture frames and enclose your work with the latter, a la museum effect.
• Ty Rador: Not as rhetorical as you are, I can only say your website is neat! You write well; I draw ideas. Da best to you! (Here's Ty Rador's cool and critical contribution! - edessa)
  
• Orlando, USA: I was very moved by your articles that you have written about Arnis. I was born in America, So I have been a bit blind to my Filipino heritage. I guess my interest you could say started in martial arts. I assumed late training in the martial arts (The last 5 years). I have trained in Kenpo for 3 years and by some stroke of luck not too long before my first visit to the Philippines I was introduced to the art of Kali. I train with the Kali association of America, in which the curriculum is the "Villabrille-Largusa Kali System". We are very old fashioned and traditional so to speak. So thus, my interest and curiosity has strengthened for my Filipino heritage. I try to read up on as much history as I can, as well as search for any ancient philosophical queries. I am very proud to be a Filipino, and here in America, I find that those who feel the same as me about my heritage are not as much as I thought there would be.I have been in Kali for 2 years now, and every day I learn something new. Unlike Kenpo where I thought I was great after 1 month, I find that in Kali, even after 2 years of training, I still realize I do not know anything and it is just only the beginning. It stands as a true testiment to the pride, skill, and love for family,friends and country that a complex and devastating art like Kali has somewhat managed to make it to this present day and age.
• Chris, Washington: I enjoyed reading your articles about Arnis. However your other subjects were a refreshing suprise to me. I am your typical American "mutt". Italian, Spanish, Irish & god knows what else? I am a 50 year old male, happily married for 25 years, with 4 children. I grew up in Northern California, and was lucky to have made many Filipino contacts there. Six years ago, after moving to Gig Harbor, WA. I took up a new martial art. (Remy Presas Arnis) I was amazed that in all the years of contact with the same countrymen, I never heard of this art! Even though Master Angel Cabales lived within 50 miles of my Calif. home! I most definitely consider this art a treasure for people of all cultures and ages. Thank you for your insights and your information about your culture was appreciated.
• Jon, Modern Arnis de Mano Webmaster, Arizona: I will place a link to your homepage in about 1 week. It appears that you are a dedicated practitioner of arnis.
• Gladys: I tumbled upon your webpage and i am very very glad to know that there is an active filipino community in Switzerland. I happened to visit the country last year and i thought that there is no such thing as an organized filipino community in switzerland similar to what i heard of in the US or Canada. Scanning that long list of activities you have for the centennial is very heart warming. I was in Vienna and i saw a huge portion of the filipino community gathered in a mass in a church within the heart of vienna and there I was wondering if the same organized group ever exist in Switzerland. Now, i know and i am very happy that there is such group in switzerland, probably i was just going with the filipinos in suisse which has not yet joined your group. I got a lot of cousins in Zurich , most of which are nurses. And one friend in Cham, married to a swiss guy. Anyway, just dropping by to congratulate you on that very nice webpage. MABUHAY!
• Steve, Philippines: Looking for Filipinos overseas in the net, I chanced upon your beautiful web page. Congratulations. Yes, I can love you from across the room. A great poem. But I can feel the sadness from within. Why? Is it because you are very far away in another land? I'm now in the process of putting together a housing coop for Filipinos overseas and I am in search of where to base our first office. Would you by any chance be interested to help me out? Pls give me some feedback. Thanks and best regards.