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Welcome to the Philippines! You’ve probably noticed that Filipinos are friendly, accommodating, and

nice all around. For starters we are always smiling. It is not true that we are always smiling, but it is likely we do it more than your people. This is because it is so much more pleasant than frowning or scowling. And people generally look better when they’re smiling, no? Here in Manila there is so much aggravation to put up with. It’s sweltering even when it’s rainy, the traffic is horrendous, it’s noisy and poverty is widespread. Smiling is the last thing one feels like doing under these circumstances. If you think about it, smiling in these condi-tions is a form of protest. It is a way of rising above the situation. It is not, as you might think, a vapid reflex.

Your people probably have a lot more to smile about than we do. They should smile more, it would make them look younger.

Right now we’re smiling at you because we are curious as to what you, a foreigner, are doing in our country. Are you a corporate executive, a chef, a diplomat? A retired soldier fetching your fiancée whom you met online, or a Brazilian model? A Peace Corps volunteer or an NGO worker? A tourist drawn by our famous beaches, or just looking to get laid? Filipino curiosity is insatiable. We have to be in the know. We don’t even have to do anything with the knowledge, we just have to know.

No doubt you have been told that we pride ourselves on our hospitality. Our hospitality is not a PR thing; it is genuine. We are glad that you’ve come all the way here—we like having guests. You are someone new to talk about.

Entertaining others entertains us. And since you’ve taken the trouble to come all this way, we figured the least we could do is prepare this basic guide to help you get

acclimatized.1. Our beaches are renowned the world over for their powdery white sands, brilliant sunshine, and the spectacular biodiversity in the water. Beaches, as far as we know, are on the seashore. When you are more than ten kilometers from the sea, say, in the shopping and office complexes of Makati and Mandaluyong, don’t feel com-pelled to dress for the beach.We assure you that we natives won’t feel ill at ease if you don’t wear your loosest tank top, ratty board shorts and crumbling flip-flips while walking around the mall. Don’t dress down on our behalf; we do like to dress up. We think it is a way of showing respect not just for the occasion and the setting, but for yourself.2. It is hot and humid in Manila so we sweat a lot. In order to stay cool and refreshed we take baths or showers every day, if not two or three times a day. If those of us who were born and raised here find it hot, it must be positively infernal for those of you from America, Europe, Australia-NZ and the temperate zone!You must shower every day, if not several times a day. For maximum refreshment we recommend generous applications of soap, shampoo, and antiperspirants. Just dous-ing yourself in cologne is not enough to cool you down. Take a shower every day, you’ll feel so much better.We insist.3. The Philippines is a former colony of the United States, and English is taught in our schools. We watch Hollywood movies and American television programs, sing popular songs in English, and visit websites in English. Plus millions of us have relatives in English-speaking countries, and we are the world number one in voice-based call centers.So there is no need to express profound surprise when we speak to you in English. Please don’t tell us, “But your English is so good!” Yes, we have English. And indoor

plumbing, electricity and wi-fi, and we don’t actually live in that tree house, it’s decora-tive.4. From childhood we have been trained to do things for each other. We do this without thinking—our programming is so thorough. For instance if the friend of a friend is look-ing for a particular type of bread that is not available in stores, and we know someone who lives near a baker who produces that bread and sells it at an organic market, we will obtain that bread for the one who’s looking. It’s no big deal, it’s the way we were brought up. We are not currying favor, we are not sucking up, we are just being helpful. It’s our culture.So if we go out of our way for you, it’s not because we think you are the Big Kahuna or because we want something from you or we think you are wonderful. We do it be-cause we were brought up to be caring and considerate, and it is considered selfish and unfriendly for us not to do it. Plus if our mothers find out that we did not help when we could have, we’ll never hear the end of it. If you are suspicious about accepting our generosity, know that we’re really doing it for ourselves. It is not a sign of weak-ness; it is one of our strengths.5. If you consider the Philippines a shithole cesspit backwater, please do not feel compelled to grace us with your presence. Certainly we will miss the pleasure of your company, but we will manage somehow. We were born here and have lived here all our lives; this is our home. We presume your homeland is not a shithole cesspit backwater, so we are mystified as to why you would choose to be here when you could be there. Surely someone of your magnificent qualities and impressive qualifications would be appreciated and rewarded in your own country?6. It is true that lots of Filipina women prefer foreigners over their own country-men. For some it is a matter of true love triumphing over ethnic and cultural differ-ences. For others it is a matter of economic necessity. It may be useful to remember this when you are swarmed in red-light districts by exotic women cooing at your manliness. We are bound by very strong family ties-children are duty-bound to give financial support not just to their parents but to entire villages of relatives.7. Your dollar/pound/euro/other foreign currency goes a long way in the Philip-pines, allowing you to enjoy a higher standard of living than what you would have back home. You can afford a lifestyle that is luxurious compared to the average Filipino’s. We hope you will not confuse the foreign exchange rate with personal merit. Unfortunately the Philippines is not a meritocracy. InterAksyon.com is the online news portal of TV5, a television and radio broadcasting network based in Quezon City, Philippines.

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ABAKADA 2011

CROSS CULTURE

M arga Congreso, a native of Siargao Islands, in the -Philippines, about 800 km southeast of Manila in the province of Surigao del Norte,

famous for its surf, sun and sand. After school she took up BS Biology in U.P. Diliman for two (2) years then continued at the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan in 1997. She then moved to Germany to finish undergraduate studies and proceeded with pre-clinical medicine in Hannover from 2000 to 2002. She subsequently took clinical medicine at the University of Heidelberg from 2002 to 2006. Heidelberg

is where Dr. Jose

Rizal practiced ophthalmology under the famous German ophthal-mologist Dr. Otto Becker at end of the 19th century. That makes Marga the second Filipino physician trained at the University of Heidelberg.Parallel to her MD, she pursued her doctoral degree in the field of Cellular Neuro-science at the University of Bonn, Germany, awarded PhD degree in 2010. She has worked as a resident physician in neurosurgery in Switzerland and Germany since 2006 and now in Copenhagen, Denmark at the Rigshospital. She is also currently holding a post doc-toral position in Stem Cell and Cancer Research at Panum Institute, Copenhagen.

Short Interview with Ms. Marga Congreso by Judy Jover.

JUJ: How did you learn about Babaylan?

Marga: A friend of mine invited me to her birthday party back in 2009 in Aalborg, where I was based. In the party, I met a member of what was then Babaylan Aalborg, Ate Letty Richs who later on introduced me to Judy Jover who is the Chairman of Babaylan Denmark. In September of that year, I joined the all day excursion and Au Pair Orientation of Babaylan in Silkeborg, where I got to know more about the organization. It was in the following year, when I moved to Copenhagen, that I became an official member and an active volunteer.

Juj: What made you decide to join Babaylan-Denmark?

It started with a friendship which turned into a social en-gagement. Once you hear success stories, you usually get

inspired. But I wanted to share more than just inspiration. I wanted to get involved. I realized that everything that has been accomplished first finds its worth when it is shared with others. I grew up underprivileged and yet surrounded by warm-hearted and generous people. This is my chance to share my blessings through Babaylan.

Juj: Could you share us some of your mission and vision?

Marga: My personal mission in my involvement in Babay-lan is to actively support Babaylan’s cause in promoting the welfare of Filipino immigrants, especially women, and

empowering them. I focus myself on my field of expertise, which is health care. I am a physician by profession. Cur-rently, Í am a medical consultant of Babaylan who gives free consultation services to au pairs and other individuals. As a resource person for health and prevention, I would like to conduct a series of symptom-based lectures and seminars in the coming year, for instance, what to do in case of “chest or abdominal pain” or “headache”. We have all learned from the recent tragic death of a beloved au pair and we want to inform people what to do to prevent its recurrence.

My vision and hope for Babaylan is that it would attain more and more resources and more and more helping hands in the future to expand its causes in order to reach out to many other groups of people who are in need. With that, I also mean the possibility of initiating valuable projects in the Philippines. Ms. Judy Jover has set a heroic example by initiating a project to install water pumps in needy com-munities in her native Mindoro. This and many other simple ways can indeed make a huge difference in people’s lives. In this connection, it would also be a good idea to establish an “alumni association” of former Filipino au pairs who are back in the Philippines. The association could help us in various local (Philippine) projects including, of course, orientation of outgoing au pairs.

Thank you Marga!

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Marga Congreso, post doc., MDwww.research.ku.dkBABAYLAN

SPOTLIGHT

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ABAKADA 2011

University of the Philippines

FILIPINA ON THE SPOT

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Maria Lurenda Suplido Westergaard(Dra. Lolit)

I got a letter about livmo-derhalskræft screening - what should I do?

I am sure that many of you have received a letter from your Kommune’s health service about screening for livmoderhalskræft (the Danish word for cervical can-cer). The test is more popularly known as a Pap smear. Maybe you are wondering what this means, if it is important, or if it is something you should do.

The term Pap smear is like a nick-name for the Papanicolaou test. It is named after a Greek doctor who invented it. It is a test for cancer of the cervix or cervical cancer.

The cervix is the tip of the uterus. In Pilipino, it is called “kwelyo ng matres.’” It is at the far end of the vagina. It has a small hole that is the entrance to the uterus. This hole opens up to 10 cm. in a preg-nant woman - big enough to let a baby’s head pass through. The rest of the time, the cervix is small and feels firm, like the tip of your nose. The cervix is a tunnel for menstrual blood to pass downwards, and for sperm cells to come upwards and reach an egg cell.

Unfortunately, the cervix is a very common site for developing cancer. The Philippine Depart-ment of Health (DOH) tells us that cervical cancer is the second leading cancer site among Filipinas. It is second only to breast cancer. In the Philippines, there are more than 7,000 new cases and about 3,800 deaths every year due to cervical cancer.

You have a higher risk of cervical cancer if you had your first sexual intercourse early (like 15 or 16 years old), or if you have had many sexual partners, or if you have had a sexual partner who has had many partners. There is also a higher risk if a woman has had a genital wart infection which is caused by a virus called HPV (human papillomavirus).

The problem with cervical cancer is that you do not get any symptoms until it is too late. These symptoms include bleeding after sex, spotting in between menstrual periods, or a foul smelling vaginal discharge. By then, the cancer would have already spread, and treatment would often mean removal of the cervix and the uterus.

It is therefore very important to catch the dis-ease early - when there are just small changesto the cervix. Treatment might still involve sur-

gery, but only a part of the cervix needs to be removed and there is less risk of the disease spreading to other parts of the body. The way to catch the disease early is by doing a Pap smear.

The Philippine recommendation is to have a Pap smear examination every three (3) years if you are a woman who has been sexually active (present or past). It can be done more often if you have many risk factors, and maybe less often if you are over 65 and your tests have been consistently negative for many years.

There is a study published in 2002 by Drs. Corazon Ngelangel and Edward Wang that showed that only 61% of Filipina women had ever heard or read about the Pap smear, and only 37% of women ever had one. Women say that the reason for not doing it is because they:

• are busy • are not married • have no symptoms • think it is expensive • are afraid • think they are too young • are ashamed to go to the doctor • want a lady doctor • got sick • feel that it is not the right time • simply do not want to do it • are not aware of it

In Denmark, all women between the ages 23 and 65 receive a letter offering a free Pap

smear. If you are 23 to 50 years old, the invitation letter comes every three (3) years. Afterwards, you will receive it every five (5) years.

So how is it done? Your own doctor (egen læge) will take the samples. You will lie down on an examination table, without panties on. It is a good idea to wear a dress or a long blouse so you do not feel too exposed as you take off your pants and under-

wear, and get up on the examining table. You will need to bend your legs at the knees, and open the thighs. Some examination tables have a metal brace where you can put your feet up - just like when giving birth.

The doctor will use a spec-ulum to open up the vagina a little bit. The speculum is inserted with the two parts flat against each other. Once inside, the two parts are spread apart so the va-gina opens and it is easy to see the cervix. This is the most uncomfortable part of the test, simply because there is a foreign object in your private parts. It is not painful, but it can be if you are very tense and worried. Try to relax and breathe through your mouth.

The actual taking of samples is painless. The

doctor will use a wooden instrument that looks like a popsicle stick but has a different shape at the end. This is rubbed against the cervix. You will probably not even feel it. Sometimes the doctor will take extra samples of fluid discharge to check for infections.

For many Filipinas, the idea of being so exposed is enough reason not to go and have the test done. If you think you would be more comfortable with a female doctor, say so. When you call the doctor’s office to make an appoint-ment, say that it is for the Pap smear, and you would like to have a female doctor do it. When you make the appointment, and when you later on meet your doctor, you can also say that it is your first time to do this, so that they will under-stand that you are tense. Before the test, take a shower so you feel clean, but there is no need to use special washes or perfumes. Remember that the test cannot be done if you are having your menstrual period.

The results of the test are ready in two to four months. Your doctor will probably say that the doctor’s office will contact you only if the test is positive. So if you do not hear anything, it is negative. However, you can always tell your doctor that you would like to have a hard copy of the results, positive or negative.

The Danish cervical cancer screening program is very effective. In some kommunes, up to 90% of the target women are tested. The re-sult: the number of women who are diagnosed

ABAKADA 2011

Photo from Symptoms-of-cancer.net

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HEALTH

Cervical Cancer - What All

Women Need To Know

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The sound of the elevator echoed through the narrow passage to the main hall of Amagerkulturløftet where Fili-pino Community (FILCOM) was

to celebrate Philippine Independence Day, as guests poured in to join the merriment. The two-day event com-menced on a bright sunny Saturday morning of June 11th and culminated on Sunday the 12th , which was the exact date of the proclamation of the Philippine Independence day.

Yellow balloons with the logo of West-ern Union, one of the sponsors of the event, filled the hall, adding more colour to the already multi-coloured banners hanging on the walls. Also, posters of Philippine heroes, great places in the Philippines - beaches of white sands, dining places and hotels - were displayed, not to mention the banners of Babaylan-Denmark and People Uniting and Generating Aid for Development (PUGAD).

As of 11:00, the early program for children had not yet started. The sound man was late, the children were loud and boisterous and cheerful guests were enjoying the Philippine food fare which included puto at dinuguan, kutsinta, cassava cake, longganisa, tapa at sari-sari pang mga luto ni Aling

Leonor at Ate Evelyn. Of course the celebration would not have been com-plete without the lechon or roast pig.

Finally, the sound of the microphone was on the air. With Filipino Associa-tion in Denmark (FAD) on the lead, the children of different ages gathered themselves at the stage and enjoyed a series of games and fun competitions that lasted for almost two hours. Really, it was an atmosphere of merriment – pista sa araw ng kalayaan.

After an hour’s break, the second part of the day’s event opened graciously with the singing of the Philippine Na-tional Anthem. This was followed by Fr. Joe Thomas’ Invocation, an encourag-ing exhortation with thoughts-to-ponder and his non-denominational prayer – “Let us lift and encourage one another in a spirit of brotherly love…. the height of man’s mental and a spiritual emotion is Love.”

In the absence of Philippine General Consul, Poul Krogh, who was unable to attend and deliver his keynote speech because of illness, Prof. Einer Lyduch, a historian and experienced motiva-tional speaker, commanded the stage with his gleams of Philippine history. He talked about how the Filipinos achieved their independence from the colonial

powers. He was even equipped with a copy of “My Last Farewell,” which was written by Philippine national hero Jose Rizal shortly before his execution.

Then came the entertainment - the musical and dance show – where performers donned feathered hats and laced and beaded Filipiniana cos-tumes, creating a true carnival spirit. There was also a film showing of the first colonial rebellion of the Filipinos against the Spaniards in 1896 and the American Spanish War. As usual, the Tinikling (bamboo dance) presentation drew interest from the audience.

By 21:00, the children were gone, the elderly had tiptoed out and those from the young generation were ready to break a leg. The music began to fill the air and Chris, the disc jockey, madly played irresistible disco music and continued to play as the beaming lights gleamed until the wee hours.

At 1:00 in the morning, Dexter, who rescued Chris from a whole day’s work, was told to tone down the music as the disco neared its end. The music com-bined with the live singers continued uninterrupted. Ultimately, it was time to pack up. Gil’s eyes needed some sup-port to keep them open.

FIL- COM Commemorating Philippine Independence Day 2011

Photos by Fridolin Warburg

FDG Dancers Babaylan Dancers

by Luth Abainza

ABAKADA 2011

FILIPINO COMMUNITY

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