Let me share my humble opinion concerning books & videos my American friends have found helpful to learn more about my country and have romantic visits here in The Philippines. 1st there is Insight Guide Philippines (Insight Guides Philippines) which is more than a travel guide, it spends more time on background and meaning of locations in the Philippines. Many beautiful photos. Good book to learn about Philippines without going.
2nd is Lonely Planet Philippines (Philippines, 7th ed) a detailed guide book from the Lonely Planet travel series. It is smaller in page size but has over 500 pages of good info especially provinces. Photos are B&W. * Take this book with you * I have't reviewed it yet but the 8th edition of Lonely Planet Philippines will be more current.
4th is Culture Shock! Philippines (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) or Philippines (Culture Shock!) . It is a little old but it is still the best book on insights to our funny ways (except for my current "Filipina Courtship Secrets" eBook of course :-) It goes beyond the norm of "Travel Books" to share insights to our unique: 1. Body Language - what we say with simple eyebrow movements, a touch on the arm or curling under of our fingers; 2. We say it but don't really mean it - we want to be kind and gracious so sometimes we offer things but don't expect you to accept; 3. We say we are "traditional" and "simple" and "obedient" but what do "we" mean by those English words? A Must Buy!
5th is my recommendation for those concerned with safety in these tense times.
<product no longer available>
goes beyond my common scense suggestions covered on my FilipinaCupid dotcom website and ebook to provide you with the lasted report from a BiG time intelligence firm.
6th is Traveler's Companion Philippines 1998 . The chapter entitled “The Country and Its People” is an excellent account and analyses of Philippine history. Even better than what is taught in school. "I never expected to find such a treasure in a travel book. You will be ready to appreciate the country during your visit." Lots of beautiful color pictures on high quality paper. I would read this one before I left & take Lonely Planet guide above with me. It is becoming more difficult to find so I also suggest The Philippines: Islands of Enchantment for it's beautiful photographs. Also, a US friends says the recent Impact guide The Treasures and Pleasures of the Philippines: Best of the Best (Impact Guides) is beautiful.
7th is Traveltalk: Filipino, Tagalog : A Three in One Survival Kit to learn essential phrases before your trip or have fun writing words of romance in your Ladies native language. Great package includes cassette tape, phrase book, 2 way dictionary and an audio guide. It is a fast & easy way to learn Tagalog, to make it easier to get around and also show respect for Filipino families you visit. I recommend it to Western gentlemen courting Filipina women. If you have time and something more then Teach Yourself Tagalog: A Complete Course in Understanding Speaking and Writing the Language of the Philippines is wonderful but to pronounce the words properly you will need the audio tape that comes with Traveltalk Filipino.
8th is Closer to Home , an award winning movie that realistically shows life in rural Philippines. See the daily life of a small town family. Their relationships, hardships and joys. See their home, their town and the countryside with over 25 Philippines' locations included.
Then see how and why this pretty Filipina teenager meets an older American man, their courtship, and how she copes with the USA culture shock the first few months after she arrives in the USA.
Closer to Home is a 2 hour high quality DVD movie with an interestering story as well as much about life in small towns in Philippines. I highly recommend it because it exists. I am sure Mr. Nobile worked very hard against difficult barriers to make this movie.
I wish story was more realistic to today's foreign romance events and had a happier ending, but that movie exists only in my, and tens of thousands of others, imagination. Or, in the memory of the thousands that have lived it. Mostly, happy memories I am sure! Jean
