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FAQ.ph is where you can read interesting facts, answers and frequently asked questions about the Philippines, its places, events and people.

Where did the Billion-Dollar Foreign Aid for Haiyan Survivors Go?

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(The tents at San Jose, Tacloban City where some survivors are still getting temporary shelters as of August 9, 2014)

Not only Haiyan (Yolanda) survivors but all the concerned Filipinos and foreign nationals are asking… where did all the international donations for Yolanda victims go? Did the funds reach the Haiyan survivors or not?

As a Haiyan Survivor myself, I’m also curious to the answer of those questions above. But with our government where Freedom of Information (FOI) is not a law yet, getting clear answers is like getting information that can only be found on another planet.

Nevertheless, let’s try to get some ideas that can somehow satisfy our curios minds.

If you’re also wondering where did those funds go, here are 10 things you should know: [Read more…]

Haiyan Update and the Lives of Survivors (See Pictures 9 Months After Yolanda)

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Tacloban Pier August 2014

Nine months after Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) devastated the central part of the Philippines, there are already changes that we can see. I went to Basey Samar, Tacloban City and Palo Leyte on August 9 and 10 to take pictures and update the Filipinos and the world nine months after Haiyan struck us on November 8 last year.

After nine months, I have observed and realized the following while I was touring the areas affected by Haiyan and having conversations with the survivors. [Read more…]

15 Things Only Haiyan Survivors will Completely Understand

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Having experienced Haiyan’s gusting wind, deadly storm surge, and the horror it brought to our region, several realizations came in to my life, and I know that other Haiyan survivors also share the same sentiments as I do. The havoc caused by Haiyan (local name Yolanda) was not only felt by the locals who actually witnessed it, but also by the people all over the world who kept their eyes on that terrible and heartbreaking news.

However, there are still many things about Haiyan that only us, the survivors, will fully realize. In order to let the world understand us deeper on what we had been through, here are some things that I want to share to everyone. [Read more…]

10 Signs that a Person has a Crab Mentality

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Crab mentality is a widely used term in the Philippines given to Filipinos who always try to pull down other Filipinos who are succeeding in life and getting ahead of them. This trait is not unusual to us, as it’s actually one of the common bad habits of many Filipinos.

People with crab mentality are everywhere. You can encounter them on social media, where they are always busy criticizing instead of appreciating the news and stories about the achievements of Filipinos.

This attribute is also one of the major causes why our country is not progressing. It doesn’t promote unity, humility and responsibility. I believe we have to get rid of it for our personal and national development. And the first step to eradicate this negative trait from us is to be aware of it. We can all be guilty of crab mentality, and here are 10 signs that someone is having this unfavorable quality. [Read more…]

Tacloban Says Thank You World! The Sangyaw Pasasalamat Festival 2014

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Tacloban says Thank You World!

It’s a gloomy Sunday. No excruciating heat from the sun. Although there’s no blue sky to make my pictures clear and bright, the scattered showers of rain signify it will be a blissful Sunday for Taclobanons and for all the visitors from the different places of the world.

People find their perfect places in the sides of the streets to wait for the Sangyaw Pasasalamat Parade. After almost eight months since Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated the region, it seems that Taclobanons are already back on their feet – thanks to all the heartwarming help and support from the International communities, and of course, from the locals who never give up the city and the whole Eastern Visayas. [Read more…]

14 Bad Habits that Filipinos should Break to Achieve Progress

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Habits are hard to break, and many people who have them are not even aware they possess them. We encounter them everywhere. We read them on the social media, in the comments left by Filipinos on a timely and popular post on Facebook, on a blog, or on a news website.

Oftentimes they are irritating, especially if you are a positive minded person because these habits are oozing with negativity. However, we must admit, we could also be guilty to having any of them. Of course Filipinos have good habits too. We are known to be hospitable, resilient, creative and many more.

But the situation of our country reflects the majority of our citizens. Face it, the Philippines is still a developing country, which means a less developed country compared to our neighbors Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Brunei. As a developing country, we still have many citizens who are suffering from poverty, starvation, homelessness, and lack of education. [Read more…]

Life in Tacloban: See Pictures of the City 7 Months after Haiyan

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The stories of Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) have been told in various media around the planet and have been written in the minds and hearts of Taclobanons, Leyteños, Visayans, Filipinos and all the concerned people in the world. All of us already know or at least have already heard what happened when Haiyan made a landfall in the Philippines on November 8, 2013. It’s already more than 7 months now since Haiyan caused havoc in Tacloban City, and in June 30, Taclobanons will try to commemorate its annual fiesta and various festivals. Many people from the neighboring towns and provinces might visit the city. And of course many Taclobanons who were dispersed after the storm might come back to their beloved home. To everyone who wants to see what our city looks like today, check out the following photos. I only have an old digital camera with low megapixel, and the weather was not also cooperative. So forgive me for their quality.

Back to school Tacloban [Read more…]

6 Things that Enslave Filipinos and How to Break Free from Them

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“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed — else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Philippines achieved its independence from the Spanish occupation on June 12, 1898, the date of Independence Day we commemorate each year. We also gained liberty from Japan and the United states on September 2, 1945 and July 1946, respectively. Since then, Filipinos have already enjoyed the freedom that our heroes like Lapu-Lapu, Andress Bonifacio and Jose Rizal fought for their lives. We already have the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to enjoy and enrich our native land.

But wait, are we really free right now? Have we preserved the gift of liberty that our heroes gave us? Alas, many Filipinos are still living like slaves today. Our country is still suffering from the following invaders that enslave the citizens of our nation. [Read more…]

8 Ways Filipino Parents Can Build a Better Nation for their Children

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“The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its homes” -Confucius

No parents have ever wanted a chaotic country to live in for their children. With the current situation of the Philippines—governed by some corrupt officials which affects the different sectors of the country—any parent would wish for a better environment for their family. This is one reason why some families decide to migrate abroad in hope to give their children a better future. However, migration is actually not necessary if only parents themselves would unite and start fighting for change in our nation. Through small steps by concerned citizens, the Philippines can change for the better. [Read more…]

12 Ways Filipinos Can Live a Good Life without Migrating Abroad

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“Men love their country, not because it is great, but because it is their own.” – Seneca

Your cousins are already in Canada; your best friend migrated to Australia just last month; and your nurse sister is planning to find a job in Dubai. Yes, it is sad that your loved ones are going far away, but you cannot blame them for wanting a better life. You believe their decision is wise, and you, yourself, also dream of working abroad after college graduation. It would be alright even if you miss your family as long as you can provide them their needs. The question is, why do Filipinos have to go outside of the country just to live a good life? [Read more…]

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FAQ.ph stands for Facts, Answers and Questions about the Philippines. It is an online place where you can read interesting facts, useful answers and frequently asked questions about our country, its places, events and people. Our mission is to share stories that will help Filipinos and the world gain knowledge about everything in the Philippines, including its beautiful spots, rich history, unique society, and solutions towards the nation's progress.

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