Let me introduce myself....

[Pototan]

I'm from Boston and have been active in state and local politics all of my life, and that's a long time, considering I'm 70 years old. I have been married for 20 years to a Filipina wife, who is 67. We met at a party in which her sister was the special guest. Her sister is a civil engineer.

I have retired from my position as a union officer and my responsibilities included negotiating contracts for union Maintenace workers throughout greater Boston, including hospitals, colleges, museums, casinos and bio-tech labs.

I have retired and plan to spend at least 10 months a year at my home on my wife's family's large compound in the town of Pototan, near the City of Iloilo on the Island of Panay in central Philippines.

The other one or two months, I intend to return to Boston, where I still have a modest residence outside of the city.

I was involved in elections, legislation and other political endeavors as part of my job with the union.

I have followed DU since the Spring of 2004, when John Kerry ran against George W. Bush. Can you imagine that Bush looks like a statesman after 4 years of Adolf Trump?

Part of my move out of the US was made easier because I can't stand the politics anymore. Nearly all of my contemporaries (I can no longer call them friends or relatives) are white males over 60 years old without a college education. You know what fascist asshole dominates that demographic.

I now live in a town in which I rarely, if ever, run into another Caucasian, never mind a racist.

I think most of you may enjoy my posts, because they will come with a pretty unique perspective

[Skittles]

1. GREETINGS, POTOTAN

what took you so long to get here?

[Pototan]

4. When I was employed, I made a conscious effort...

To stay off social media. I had no face book, twitter or any other account. I had to represent people who made comments that got them into trouble, and I didn't need any of that shit. My job was a dream job and the only communication I had was through emails and every one of them was a professional interaction and I would re-read them. My thought was always "would I be OK if this email appeared on the front page of The Boston Globe" before I hit send.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I was a hell of a debater when I was working or in a discussion with one of my asshole cousins, but I never put anything in writing, and as it turned out, nobody ever recorded me.

But now, I can interact anyway I want in writing and there's nobody in the Philippines that talks US politics, and I don't discuss Philippine politics, since I can't vote here.

So, my political discussions are going to be confined to DU, in writing, and in a political "family" in which I have more of an opportunity of finding people who agree with me.

Of course, my posts may seem strange because they will appear in wee hours of the morning to you, since the time difference is 13 hours (mid-night EST is one in the afternoon the next day here). I will probably post after I come in from the sun in the late afternoon. My only work now a days is working on my tan.

[Skittles]

8. I am up all night every night

no doubt we will cross paths!

[BlueGreenLady]

2. Welcome to DU

[chillfactor]

3. HELLO!

You will like it here. We are a great group!

[OnDoutside]

5. Welcome Pototan !

I've only been to the Philippines once for my brother's wedding, many years ago and had a great time.... they're lovely people. His wife is originally from Bacolod, although the wedding was in Cebu and I also got to visit Bohol to see the amazing Chocolate Hills.

[joshdawg]

6. Welcome to DU!

[Tetrachloride]

7. I'm 6 hours behind you. Not quite as pleasant

but it’s enough for now.

))). Cheers.

[LittleGirl]

9. Welcome to DU

I look forward to your posts.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Welcome to DU, Pototan!

We're glad to have you with us and your experience and perspective!

[nightwing1240]

11. Hello and welcome Pototan!

You're at the right place and like myself took a while to actually post here. BartCop is how I found DU after the 2000 election was stolen from Al Gore and I have read many great posts here since then and learned a great deal.

Best wishes and good luck! I look forward to reading your posts

[yonder]

12. Welcome to DU, Pototan.

Lived in the PI all of 67 and part of 68. Clark Field. Have mostly fun, coming-of-age memories being there and of its friendly people - especially so away from US military base influences.

Glad you found this site. Dive in, water's fine.

[SheltieLover]

13. Welcome to DU

[KS Toronado]

14. Being involved in the "Union Business"

I have to assume most of your contemporaries would be Democrats. The aircraft unions in Wichita always
told us to vote Democratic.

[Pototan]

27. Leadership is very Democratic

the membership, not so much.

I worked with tradesmen. mostly white males without a college education. They knew all of us were pretty Liberal, so they were pretty mum on politics. My boss was as progressive as they come, working diligently to bring minorities and women into the trades. He's close to Biden and I met and took a picture with the President just about a month ago.

Politics at work was fine, in the office. Outside was discussed very little with the members. It was torture with my family, mostly cousins. I have a hundred of them (literally) counting their spouses and kids. Most were brainwashed FOX News consumers. Almost all are racists. In 2008 my wife and I attended a Christmas party with my cousins. Obama had just won the Presidency and our Governor in Mass. was Duval Patrick. Well, N-Word this, move out of the country that. They would try to make their racist remarks out of my ear shot. But my very brown Filipina wife was way in the background when the racist immigrant bullshit started. One of my cousins noticed her and said "Oh, I don't mean you".

On the way home, my wife told me the story and let me know that she would never attend another gathering with my family. No parties, no weddings, no funerals, no nothing.

I now live with her family and it's like Heavan on earth.

[calimary]

15. Welcome to DU, Pototan!

Glad to meet you!

I’m intrigued. I look forward to reading your posts and your take on things! I learn something new here every day.

[Roy Rolling]

16. Welcome

Former union contract negotiator for movies/TV colleagues here.

[Duncanpup]

17. Welcome

Teamster here.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. Welcome to DU. . . . .nt

[GreenWave]

19. Hi, I almost flew right past this thinking it was a Rolling Stones video

[NBachers]

20. I'm glad you're here. I bet plenty of people would love to see pictures of where you are.

[judesedit]

21. Welcome, Pototan. Always nice to add another family member

[Lochloosa]

22. Welcome to DU . Pototan

[CountMyVote4Reality]

23. Welcome to DU, Pototan

What took you so long to join?

[blueknight73]

24. Welcome to DU Pototan!

I am a former Local Chairman for my union and look forward to reading your post.

[markie]

25. ...

[KarenS]

26. Welcome

on edit: So finally after all this time, you have something to say?? This is definitely the place to do it!!!

[2naSalit]

28. Cool!

Welcome to DU!

I was born in Beantown! Lived out in West Barnstable at my grandparents throughout my childhood, also up on the coast of Maine and southern NH also. Now I'm in the northern Rockies by way of seven or eight other states. Will be interesting to hear about life in your neighborhood!

[lark]

29. Welcome to DU!

This is a good place to come and discuss politics, music, sports, health - but especially politics. No traitor caucus placators allowed!

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

30. Welcome!

[sinkingfeeling]

31. Hi.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. Welcome to DU

[malthaussen]

33. Pleased to meet you, hope you know my name. n/t

[hwmnbn]

34. Pototan, you had me at...

"Let me introduce myself"

You describe a life well-lived. A career supporting workers rights and political activism while lurking in DU for 18 years.

That's quite a resume and you can finally come and share your expertise and insights with us.

I for one, can hardly wait.

Congrats on your enduring marriage and the new "crib" in the Philippines, both of which sound lovely and warm.


Welcome to DU in the open!

[TeamProg]

35. Welcome, but man! You are living in a nation that we stateside fear the U.S. will become!

As far as racists, they are everywhere. They might just not have the freedom to express it where you are. In the U.S. we know who the racists are.


July 25, 2022 | MANILA, Philippines

Freedom of press is guaranteed by the Philippines’ Constitution. Yet the island nation has become one of the most dangerous places in the world to exercise that right.

Journalists endured verbal abuse, online attacks, libel charges, and physical harassment for years under the strongman rule of Rodrigo Duterte. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines reports that at least 23 journalists have been killed since 2016, and many expect the new administration will be worse. 

Both President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the famous dictator, and Vice President Sarah Duterte, daughter of Mr. Duterte, come from political families that are openly hostile toward journalists. It remains to be seen whether they will build on their parents’ legacies of cracking down on press freedom, but the past few weeks haven’t been encouraging. A few days after Mr. Marcos assumed the presidency on June 30, the Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa for cyber libel, marking the latest in a series of blows to the acclaimed journalist and her embattled publication Rappler. She now faces nearly seven years in prison.
Why We Wrote This
Freedom

The Philippine government has a history of targeting adversarial journalists. Until press freedom is fully protected, experts say it’s the public that loses out.

It’s one thing to enshrine a freedom in the constitution – it’s another to ensure that freedom in practice. In courts and newsrooms across the country, journalists are fighting for their right to work freely. Still, experts worry about how the press would fare under six more years of persecution, and the impact this all has on Philippine democracy.

Danilo Arao, an associate professor of journalism at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, says the magnitude of harassment and intimidation is producing a “chilling effect” and hinders the Philippine press from “performing the highest normative standards of journalism.” 

[Pototan]

39. I have found there is a difference between the Government and

the culture.

In a country that has a dominate demographic, there isn't much room for rascism. So far, everyone I have met has been kind and are deffernetial because of my age.

There are some problems with press freedoms, but they had a verified free and fair election and a peaceful transition of power. I feel safer here than in the States. They have never had a school shooting involving students. There are reasonable restrictions on guns. The President is limited to one 6-year term and the Supreme Court must retire at 70. They have national health care (PhilHealth) and they are the kindest people I have ever encountered.

Election day is a holiday, and the Senate is elected at large. There are no restrictions on social media, so control of the press has less impact, as you can get info unrestricted, as evidenced by this post. The Philippines has enumerated rights in their Constitution, but just as in America, powerful people will attempt to restrict them. They love Americans. A 2015 Pew Research poll headline stated the Filipinos love America more than Americans love America. America had a 96% positive result from Filipinos and a 92% positive result from Americans.

But there is one overriding advantage to living in the Philippines. There is no Donald Trump and there is no one here who I have found who likes him.

I do not discuss Philippine politics, although I make myself aware of it. I understand their history and their culture. After all, I've been married to a Filipina for over 20 years.

[Emile]

36. Retired Unite local 1470, welcome to du brother!

[Raine]

37. WELCOME Pototan!!! 🤗 🎉 🥳 🍾 nt

[Ocelot II]

38. Welcome!

[red dog 1]

40. Welcome to DU!