Let us know your feedback, suggestions and comments.
We are open to any good ideas so we want to hear from you. And we will try to answer your feedback and questions despite our limited manpower. So do leave your e-mail address if you want a response. And please, if you find any glitches with the site, please let us know so that we can fix it when we can.

Read below what visitors have to say about this site:

Dear Julie and Visitors:

Thank you for telling us about the non-working email addresses. Due to overwhelming spam coming to these addresses we had to change them. Please go to this link to get updated contact info. http://newfilipina.com/sinokami/contactus.html

love, power, peace and joy,

Perla

Their is such thing as reverse snobbery. Snobbery stops you from thinking of the other person's story, their humanity. The so called volunteers who, in their spare time contribute or run the site, you call elitist are women from all over the world who have come to a point in their lives who believe in giving back in some form or another. Many of our visitors and contributors have also experienced hardship in their lives and have overcome struggles such as poverty and educational attainment.

don't just stand there and rant and rave about those who are doing something and giving something of their lives, get into the fray and give of yourself too. Criticism divides, alienates and can be a waste of your good energy. Channel your energy into positive action---online or off. I wish you many blessings in your search for manifesting your own talent and intelligence that serves others.s

Ricky,

I found your inquiry about some test results. Actually, you are not the first person to ask us via email regarding test results.

We merely provide the service of connecting you to people online. You must have been posting things about test results in one of the message boards that we provide. There are people posting in the message boards where you may be able to correspond with them. I cannot help you in this, nor can any of the volunteer staff. Again, this is a service that we provide for connecting our visitors with others. We are not responsible for any test results or testing services.

Please refer to our Terms of Service online for the extent of our responsibilities and offers online. http://www.newfilipina.com/TOS.html

Sincerely

Perla Daly

Dear Rachel: Thanks for your feedback. Right now, we don't have the resources to create a teen section, but I hope someday that this site will be able to do that. In the meantime, there is one site that i know of that is for Filipina teenagers. It is www.candymag.com. For U.S. links there are http://teenadvice.about.com/library/weekly/aa071801a.htm, www.teenvoices.com, www.youngwomensproject.org. Hope you will still come back and visit us. --- Perla Daly, Founder/Site Director.

Tayo Na! Feedback Form - Part 1
I checked out the website weddingsatwork.com, went to see their partner sites and found the site filipinawives.com. At the bottom of their front page is an article about the book, "A Long Way to Go for a Date," by Henry Makow, an American man who goes to the Philippines to meet a Filipino woman who is reputed to be "family-oriented, loving, and supportive."
The review of the book, written by the publisher of filipinawives.com, mentions that Mr. Makow resorts to looking for a wife in the Philippines because the women in the US and Canada are "brainwashed by feminists." Both the writer and Mr. Makow believe "that feminists in the West have destroyed the viability of a traditional marriage."
A pity, isn't it? There are still so many men who view marriage in terms of how it will satisfy their ideals and not in terms of how it can make the two people who enter into the partnership happy.I understand that these men are entitled to their opinions. I am also giving them the benefit of the doubt, they must be better than they sound because co-Filipinas have married them. But what appalls me to no end is how they view the feminist movement as a destructive force. The movement enabled women all over the world to have a say on their own existence, e.g. women's suffrage, the choice to pursue a career, etc. Is that too much to ask for?
It is very disheartening that many people still feel the way that the two men mentioned above feel. Often, I am inspired by how far people all over the world have come in terms of tolerance and respect, and then you happen upon those who've opted to be left behind. There's still so much "brainwashing" to do.
Tricia Capistrano: mailto:tjcapistrano@yahoo.com
Pinay based in New York City - Friday, June 29, 2001 at 11:17:30 (CDT) 11:17:30

Tricia,

It is true that feminism has been demonized by a number of men and women everywhere. These people tend to look at only the extreme men haters of feminism and do not want to see the beneficial changes of feminism. They do not know the history of oppression of women so that cannot understand the birth of feminism much less what it really means.

this makes great fodder for discussion. So to all, I have taken this entry and placed it in a message board at the ff. link. Please click the following in order to talk about this topic. http://www.bagongpinay.com/cgi-bin/forum_spc_Rel-FF.cgi?read=13

-----Perla, Editor/Founder

I cannot believe you are associated with weddingsatwork when they publish CRAP like this: http://www.weddingsatwork.com/culture/youmaybe.htm My mother, my aunt, my sister and all my beloved cousins are NOT like this For a site who proposes Pinays should Unite and Be Strong, it's hipocritical of you to be an affiliate of such a site. Give me a @%#$!? break !
Alex <frndlyalex@yahoo.com>
MetroManila - Wednesday, June 27, 2001 at 08:19:18 (CDT)

Hi frndlyalex:

I appreciate your upfront attitude. I hate to sound like a cliche but, that's exactly what makes this community tick and gets the dialogue going.

Our links with the above mentioned web site and others like it ARE highly criticized. I have been repeatedly questioned on my decision to put links to sites such as weddingsatwork.com or filipinowives.com. (also see earlier feedback for Christina Busque's inquiry of February 28, 2001.)

Look at it this way, I am attempting to bring about understanding between Filipinas of different backgrounds. We all need to get a glimpse of how those on "the other side of the fence" live and think. Please allow me to clarify further why our site, one which seeks to help Filipinas empower themselves, would have links to weddingsatwork.com or filipinowives.com:

It is important to know that not only do we have a link to those sites but they also have a link to ours. Because NewFilipina.com strives to raise the image of Filipinas on the Internet and in the world, I feel that the mutual link between our sites could possibly give a balancing view of the Filipina image for those visitors, most especially foreign men, who go to those sites. I hope that men and women who are not Filipino who might have preconceived ideas about Filipinas will click on the www.newfilipina.com link in those sites and so that they can find out that there is more to Filipinas than just women who might possibly make good wives. And we have been getting visits from these types of people. I can tell because they write in or go into the message boards and ask questions.

Yes, we do represent the sentiment that Filipinas should Unite and Be Strong. In reality, this is not easy when, as we all know, we all live our lives very differently. This CAN BE EASIER if we respect other Filipinos/as no matter where they are in their lives. Because we must remember that life is a process by which we each strive to be better people, even if we can't see it in others. How many of us Filipinos possess empathy, compassion, tolerance for other Filipinos? We must be willing to learn from each other, help each other and support each other. And we can only do that by NOT insulting each other and putting each other down. Have you noticed that Filipinos are very fond of doing that to each other? It's one heck of an annoying habit, isn't it? So, frndlyalex, give me a break, too.

By the same token that we have the right to free speech, polite or otherwise, I have learned that we all have the right to change our minds about our direction in life, about our attitudes, about other people...anytime and anywhere. Being flexible this way makes a lot of room for growth and change for the better for everyone. And life becomes a continuous joy and not a burden.

I have learned a lot during the past three years of this site's existence and have changed my minds about people in the mail-order-bride industry. Below are the links to insights that I have gained. Controversial, maybe. Truthful, definitely. Check 'em out if you yourself really care to explore what "exchange of ideas and insight" and how people can change their minds.

Our first forum on Filipina Mail-Order-Brides in 1998
http://newfilipina.com/members/magsalita/98.12/SNM-MOB/forum.html

Could it be that it's not personal?
http://www.bagongpinay.com/cgi-bin/forum_spc_mailorderbrides.cgi?read=17

I don't see it as black and white
http://www.bagongpinay.com/cgi-bin/forum_spc_mailorderbrides.cgi?read=16


---------Perla, Editor/Founder, NewFilipina.com

James, As soon as we can get the volunteer webmaster to add it to the site, you will see it. We will email you this week on our planned date. Thanks, James! --- The Editor

Christina: Aha! Controversy and disagreement this time over weddings-at-work.com and filipinawives.com.

Christina, you wrote to ask us why would our site, one which seeks to help Filipinas empower themselves, allow links to the above mentioned sites. It is because NewFilipina.com also strives to raise the image of Filipinas on the Internet and in the world. I feel that the link to NewFilipina.com could possibly give a balancing view of the Filipina image for those visitors, most especially foreign men, who go to sites on marriage to filipina wives. I hope that men and women who are not Filipino who have preconceived ideas about Filipinas will click on the newfilipina.com link and find out that there is more to Filipinas than just women who might possibly make good wives.
And so I established mutual links with weddings-at-work.com KNOWING that they have a link to filipinawives.com. I did take a look at the 2nd site before i agreed to the mutual links. Being the button below that site doesn't bother me either.
I hope that this clarifies things for you.
Funny, the last time someone questioned NewFilipina's ties with certain types of people it was from the people of conservative tendencies who were scandalized by our radical features. We wrote to them to say that  NewFilipina.com tries to represent Filipinas of ALL backgrounds. Bringing about dialogue and understanding between people who have nothing in common is something we hope to bring about through the site.
Thanks for writing, Christina. We are glad you approached us on this topic.Please continue to write us if you have more to say.

sincerely, perla

freddie: ouch! yes, many times we do lag behind in updating the site. because, actually we are not in business. this site runs on voluntary efforts. 2 people work to update the site. contributors send in stuff occassionally. no one works on this site to get paid. we have no sponsors or income. but we hope that someday we will burst forth with activity and lots of surprises when we get funding and sponsors. wish us luck.---perla daly, the editor. March2001

we have a page on "what is a new filipina". it has quotes from Filipinas both from the Phil. and abroad saying what they think a new filipina is. no one mentions anything about geographical location because really it doesn't matter where you live. geographical location is irrelevant, don't you think.

>dont you think it will send a wrong message to those who like me just happen to drop by?

this is not the intention of the site to give off an illusion of division between Filipinas abroad and Filipinas in the Philippines. we are trying to do the opposite, that is create communication and understanding between any Filipinas with differing backgrounds.

the site contains articles, poetry, art, and message board participation of Filipinas both in the U.S. and abroad.


i personally think that online sharing should help us bridge the distances of geography and knock down the invisible walls of differences(social status, monetary, marital status, or location, family backgrounds).

i feel connected with my family and friends all over the world BECAUSE of the Internet.


as more and more Filipinas in the Philippines get access to computers and the services of the Internet and can get online, then there will be an increase of participation from the Philippines. it's only a matter of time.

btw, take a second look at our core people page and you will see that some of our women are still in the P.I., still go back to the P.I. or grew up for a good part of their lives in the P.I. We have not forgotten where we come from.

thanks for writing. i hope you this clears up some of the things you wrote about. and I hope that you too get a chance to place YOUR input and insights at the site. ask us more questions if you have any.

god bless you and take care

sincerely, Perla

eulie: no more need to register, really. go ahead and browse through the site. we got rid of the password procedure because it was too much work for our understaffed site to handle. ---Editor

irene: go ahead and browse through the site. we got rid of the password procedure because it was too much work for our understaffed site to handle. ---Editor

chat: go ahead and browse through the site. we got rid of the password procedure because it was too much work for our understaffed site to handle. thanks for your encouragement. we appreciate it.---Editor

thanks a bunch!

go ahead and browse through the site. we got rid of the password procedure because it was too much work for our understaffed site to handle. ---Editor

as of the fall we have eliminated the password procedure. we got rid of it because it was too much work for our understaffed site(1 to 2 part-time, volunteer people) to handle. ---Editor

anyone can join! we hope that we can create a real community with dialogue between people from all backgrounds.---Editor

I thank you for your e-mail regarding Bamboo Girl. As many people reacted to Bamboo Girl's style and opinions it was my responsibility to respond to those reactions as we want to keep all of our visitors coming and interested in what the site has to offer. But, i don't think that I was saying "sorry" and apologizing for putting her in our site, rather I was explaining our point in including her. When I asked others to come forward to give their opposing opinion and/or thanked them for theirs it was also not an apology but rather our way of being open to all directions from where the opinions come from. We are getting people who both love or hate Bamboo Girls's style. It is to be expected. But we don't plan to not include her stuff in the site because we don't feel regretful or sorry about it. I hope that you will continue to find stuff in our site to your interests. And if you have any other suggestions we really want to hear them because we want this site to grow and go on strong. thanks mimi

I would like to comment on the article on beauty pageants by Ms. Alcantara-Tan. I understand how much people adore her writing and views, etc... but why do you choose to "publish" such a hateful article in your website? Do you not realize that some of the beauty queens being riciduled might also be visiting your site? And what then when they read it? Don't you think that by writing that checklist, Ms. Alcantara-Tan is creating yet another stereotype... how can she possibly know that all these qualities pertain to each and every young woman that are paraded on independence day? Is she not aware that a majority of those girls were probably forced by their parents to attend those events? Why must she imply all these negative superficialities on young Filipina women? Just because she is a very outspoken person, Ms. Alcantara-Tan should not feel she has the freedom to judge others so harshly. And frankly, I think that the people at New Filipina should stop currying favor (in other words, kissing ass) to Ms. Alcantara-Tan by allowing such articles to be published. Her style and attitude does not belong in New Filipina. As a young Filipina woman, I feel that such negativity should be carefully considered before it is allowed onto your site. Thank you for your time. Sincerely
A Very Disappointed and Very Anonymous Visitor
(Sat, 31 Oct 1998 23:26:53 PST)

To Our Very Disappointed and Anonymous Visitor:
You are [many who have] come forward to express yourself against >Bamboo Girl's writing style.
But we are very glad that you have come to our site and then spoken up your mind about what you found.
From here, I'd like to say the following:
1. Would any of you be willing to write an essay or write-up that talks about beauty pageants and contestants in a more positive voice, perspective and experience. Or, if you know of anyone who has >already written one or is willing to write one, let us know.
We could and should share an article of this nature in the site as a >balancing article to Ms. Bamboo girls article and the beauty pageant contestant topic.
We really want our site to express the sentiments and opinions of all >our visitors, even those that are opposing. Because this is what we want this World Wide Web site to promote---dialogue and exchange.
3. With regards to AsarTime articles: The beauty pageant article by >Bamboo Girl is found in our AsarTime or "@#$%&*" section.
In all honesty, we have expected to get reactions like yours to >articles in that column. The Asar Time section is supposed to have articles that are meant to be "pot stirrers." It is an unconventional way of getting people to think about whether they agree or strongly disagree about a topic. I do hope that you discover for >yourself that the BagongPinay site is not solely represented by the tone of AsarTime articles. It is only one of many sections of the site. The rest of the site sections are more thoughtful and no less relevant (like Sabi ng lola ko, Muni-Muni, Galeria, etc....). >Please do not let that one section turn you off to the rest of the site as we think and hope that we have so much more to offer than "pot >stirrers."
4. With regards to Bamboo Girl: Why are we "currying favor(kissing >ass)" with giving her voice in our site----not only by placing her article in the site but also her interview from the Village Voice >of New York City(this magazine is an outspoken one, even by U.S. standards)..... Bamboo Girl publishes a very radical and >extremely unconventional magazine full of shocking ideas and also with activist articles that fight against not only gender and ethnic >stereotypes but also against injustice(to Filipinas unjustly accused of crimes abroad, Filipinas suffering harassment at work... >and even other Asians and ethnic people). Her writing style is just that---her style. But the bottom line of what she has to say is >quite relevant and important. We most probably will be airing more of her articles that have more socially relevant content in the >future (and possibly even less curse words within it...) It is unfortunate that the first article by her that we shared with you and >our audience is the one about beauty pageants and this is what you are judging her by. But please don't let her name on an >article turn you off, give her future articles a chance...
Feel free to write us back on this. Again, visitors like you are important to us.
---The creators of the BagongPinay site.

• Reply to the editors:
  Thank you for responding to my letter. If you would like to use my comments, you may do so, but I would have to ask that you either just let me remain anonymous, or just use my e-mail address, if you need to identify me. As for writing a positive article about beauty pageant to balance things out with Bamboo Girl's, I'd have to say that I cannot. I really don't believe in the Filipino style of pageant competitions. I just wanted to say that Bamboo Girl's way of approaching it is too harsh and one-sided, and it attacked the girls who fall prey to these things in a manner that is condescending and presumptuous. She is simply lashing out because they clash with her views. Not every beauty queen behaves the way she says they do. Perhaps somewhere in the boondocks of the Philippines, their mentality is that way, where many people are still living in a third world, but not here. I do think, though, that I have to apologize for accusing you of "currying favor" to Bamboo Girl. I just feel that sometimes, (and I am being presumptuous when I say this)that Filipinos are prone to ride the wave of whatever's trendy, regardless of what they stand for or believe in. Let's just say that, this is my way of counteracting with your Asar Time "pot stirrer" by being somewhat obnoxious. I guess everyone makes mistakes when making first impressions. Again, thank you for responding.
  (Fri, 6 Nov 1998 07:13:42 PST)
  
  
• We are still waiting for positive takes on the beauty pageant thing. Anyone readers out there have something to share? We want to hear from you and talk about it at the site. ---------The Editor