From my FRIENDSTER posting: "Things I would still like to do, but have never done yet" (revised)

(1) Win the lottery big time (lol)... (2) Travel around the world ... (3) Read and study more scriptures from the Bible (and applying that more to my daily life) ... (4) Go camping ... (5) Attend an NBA game at a team's home court arena ... ( 6) Practicing how to ballroom dance(and other dances too) ... (7) Learning how to play a guitar ... (8) Publish my mini-novel of-sorts ... (9) Go to Philly and see the 'Rocky'statue ... (10) Sail on a cruise to the Bahamas ... (11) Visit the Philippines again after so long ...(12 ) Running a marathon ... (13) Going to Six Flags ... (14) Checking out the west coast, particularly California ... (15) ... get married, have kids, have agreat rewarding career - so good tomake my Mom and Dad proud of me.

Mistaken for being a Spanish-speaking person

Here I am now residing in a great area called Orlando, Florida. I've been here for already 1 month and 12 days. The place and the people are lovely so far with only little or nothing to complain about. However, I do have to mention something that is interesting, and I do not find it to be offensive whatsoever. I think it's pretty cool, come to think of it! I know for a fact that part of my physical features would definitely match up with the looks of a Hispanic or Latino. I can only assume that part of my family's origins could've came somewhere along the lines from that of the Spaniards. Orlando is a different from the place I left: Hampton Roads. In Hampton Roads, VA, there are lots of Filipinos everywhere no matter where I go. Here in Orlando, I can spot a handful in certain spots - so that makes me and others of my own - the minority. Hispanics and Latinos seem to dominate in the bigger numbers as well as caucasians residing here. There are a couple of Asian nationalities (asides from Filipinos) around too, from what I have observed ... So with all this happening, I go to public places as this totally exclusive Florida resident and whenever I talk with a sales associate and/or a customer from a store, a construction worker on the 14th floor, or even a neighbor from around the way, THEY are speaking to me in Spanish. I'm saying to myself, "No hablo espanol." I decided not to go for that idea. Instead, I say to them that I am a Filipino who have a bit of Spanish-blood yet I don't speak the language OR to avoid the "race" thing altogether in a more simple way, I just say I speak only the english language and grew up in the United States for years ... I really admire the fact that I can pass as an individual who bears resemblance to the Hispanics and Latinos. And in the end, even that respect is there!