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Rating: 
- Ok up to a point, some omissions.
Informative, but seemingly written from the point of view of a rich Westerner with many references such as, how many maids it would be appropriate to have, and what to expect of your driver, rather than someone who has come to admire and respect the natives. Omisions include references to some of the more exotic fruit e.g. Jack fruit, the possibility of being offered dog-meat at a barbeque, and good advice such as using the local dentists whilst on holiday. Trikes (in the form of motorcyle and sidecar) were not mentioned in the travel section, however in parts of Laguna and elsewhere they form the backbone of the transport system. Foreigners with spouses should be warned of the hazzards involved in purchasing land, especially agricultural lands, which if low-lying should be viewed in the wet season, not the dry.
I can't be entirely negative as in many places the authors do indeed capture the essential character of the Filipino, generally happy whatever the circumstances, and does explain the seeming noseyness of some of the older Filipinas I have met.
- Ok up to a point, some omissions.Informative, but seemingly written from the point of view of a rich Westerner with many references such as, how many maids it would be appropriate to have, and what to expect of your driver, rather than someone who has come to admire and respect the natives. Omisions include references to some of the more exotic fruit e.g. Jack fruit, the possibility of being offered dog-meat at a barbeque, and good advice such as using the local dentists whilst on holiday. Trikes (in the form of motorcyle and sidecar) were not mentioned in the travel section, however in parts of Laguna and elsewhere they form the backbone of the transport system. Foreigners with spouses should be warned of the hazzards involved in purchasing land, especially agricultural lands, which if low-lying should be viewed in the wet season, not the dry.
I can't be entirely negative as in many places the authors do indeed capture the essential character of the Filipino, generally happy whatever the circumstances, and does explain the seeming noseyness of some of the older Filipinas I have met.