Goodbye, Philippines

Online, George develops a bond with Carmelo, a college teacher who, despite having many boyfriends, has a son with a woman who’s not his wife. In Canada, Fernando, who was married and has a family of his own, decides to live according to his “true nature” when he reached 60. He asks George if he wants kids of his own.

Story by Charles Au Lavoie

Author's email: [email protected]

One day, as George was scrolling through Facebook images and posts to pass the time, a photo caught his attention. Its photographer, Goyo Santos, who becomes friends with George later on, reveals that he has a boyfriend who pushes him to do things that he doesn’t want to do. George tells him to say no. A story about drugs and sex.

Story by Charles Au Lavoie

Author's email: [email protected]

During George’s stay in Igbaras, Iloilo, his friend Joel Palma, an events manager and barangay councillor, invites him on a trip to San Joaquin where his older sister lives. Geraldine, Joel’s sister, tells George about their brother’s motorcycle accident and the sacrifice she made to help the family.

Story by Charles Au Lavoie

Author's email: [email protected]

 As a child, George was sent to a bourgeois school with a mandate of getting top marks. From that came an estrangement from his family that increased with the sudden death of his father. Despite the passing of his father, George never considered himself as fatherless. The loss or its awareness remained buried until he met Lando, who resurrected it fifty years later.

Story by Charles Au Lavoie

Author's email: [email protected]

George sees a post by someone named Chrissel. The post is a photo of a boy wearing shorts like those worn by pin-up calendar girls. Having common friends with Chrissel in Iloilo, George decides to send a message to the young lady boy. They exchange messages and George eventually shares about his late effeminate cousin.

Story by Charles Au Lavoie

Author's email: [email protected]

George visits Paete, Laguna to research for a new book with the 2nd World War as background. A Filipino expat living in Canada accompanies him. George meets the host’s grand nephew, Nestor, who assists him and with whom he becomes fond of. He later meets a basketball team called Tropang Pagong and realizes something about his own happiness.

Story by Charles Au Lavoie

Author's email: [email protected]

More than once, George wished he had a smooth and peaceful soul, like the one Augustina Mendoza has. In her fifties, the religious devotee shares her values and convictions on Facebook. Meanwhile, George meets online a Sri Lankan who is struggling with discrimination for his sexuality. The 31-year-old man begs him to take him to Canada.

Story by Charles Au Lavoie

Author's email: [email protected]

George Miller is a writer who’s always been interested in people and events around him. A few years earlier, he had been welcomed into the Filipino community in Victoria, Canada through a now-deceased friend. His fascination with Filipino culture had grown since. When he opened a Facebook account, he sees photos of Cambodia and becomes curious of the photographer, Mateo Bautista - a Filipino. George follows his instinct and contacts Mateo Bautista. They exchange messages on Facebook and later on, philosophies. Just as George slowly reveals more of himself, he reflects on human communication.

Story by Charles Au Lavoie

Read by Warren Carrie

Music by Angelica Dayao

Author's email: [email protected]