Dennis - one day my youngest son told me that he knew kids who were bringing guns to school (we live near Seattle). A month later he found himself attending high school in Quezon City (where we have a house). He has often told us that was the best thing we ever did for him.

My wife is from Sampaloc, and we made a practice of taking the kids home (we both consider the Philippines home) every year. In all honesty, as bad as things are there, both of us have noted that the people seem happier than Americans do, and that this is because there, people are more grateful for everything, even the small things…and one’s happiness in life is directly proportional to one’s gratitude for things great and small.

Like many Pinoy and Fil-Am families, we stay here to make money…but when we are old, we will retire there, if for no other reason than to be cared for by family, instead of being stuck - imprisoned - in a nursing home or adult family home. Just something to think about, diba?