Q: We heard that you live in Pacifica, CA. Anyway, where is it located?
A: Pacifica, CA is located at the southern part of San Francisco and it is 10 minutes drive from San Francisco downtown. Pacifica besides the Pacific Ocean that's why the town got its name. Our place is near to Pacific Ocean. Pacifica is also surrounded by neighboring towns and cities like Daly City, San Francisco, San Bruno, Colma, Monterey, and South San Francisco.
Q: Do you like the place which is Pacifica, CA?
A: Yes, I like the place why not because the temperature there is not changing quite even during summer and winter. The temperature is about 45 to 50 °F. You don't have to use the airconditioning unit or heater because the temperature there is not quite changing. The problem there is sometimes there is a fog especially even in the night. It is difficult to drive when it is foggy because the surroundings are not clear and it might cause an accident. it is better to let the fog dissapear first before you drive in order to avoid such accidents. Our place doesn't experience snows. If it is raining during the winter period, Pacifica experiences colder temperature. Also, the problem is the apartment rentals are expensive especially if it is located near to Pacific Ocean.
Q: How long do stay in Pacifica, CA?
A: I am staying in Pacifica, California since I came here on November 11, 2000.
Q: Do you stay in Pacifica, CA with whom?
A: I am staying with my parents and my three brothers there. We are living at one bedroom apartment near to Pacific Ocean at 435 Esplanade Drive.
Q: Do you have pets there?
A: Yes, we have a fish which is arowana. My brother Freddie bought that fish two years ago and it is 16 inches long now. Also we have an algae eater about 6 inches long. Algae eater eates all the algae, fungus, and dirts from the edges of aquarium. We feed our arowana with feeders which are small goldfish that we buy at Pet Supplies near to our home. Please look at Our Lucky Arowana. Many folks told us that this fish is lucky and it will bring us good luck to everyone in our family.
Q: Since you are now in USA, is your bank account in Philippines is still active?
A: Oh, yes of course. My bank account in Philippines is still active. I am sending some dollar amount to my peso account in Philippines from my dollar account in USA. Fortunately, we have Bank of Philippine Islands Remittance Center here in South San Francisco. I can send my money directly to my account in Philipppines. Since I am paying my monthly insurance at Manulife Philippines, I have to fund my account because my payment is automatically debited from my checking account. I have to fund also my checking account so that when I visited or went back to Philippines, I don't have a problem to go to Money Changer Office or other banks just to exchange your money from dollar to peso.
A: Yes, just one ride in a Samtrans 112 Bus going to Colma Bart Station. If we need to buy clothes, shoes, and other things at home, we are going to Serramonte Shopping Center. Serramonte Shopping Center is the famous shopping mall in Daly City. I go to Serramonte Shopping Center often because it is nearest shopping mall in our place.
Q: Since you are a permanent resident in United States, are there stores or supermarkets that you can buy Philippine foods and items?
A: Yes, there are many stores and supermarkets here in United States especially in the Bay Area because there are many immigrants here like Asians, Europeans, Latinos, and so on. For the Filipinos like us, we are going to Manila Oriental Market always because it is a nearest supermarket in our place. I am going to Manila Oriental Market always because the items are cheap and affordable to everyone. In that supermarket, we can buy Philippine foods and products like bagoong, patis, hopia, tocino, longganiza, mangoes, and so on. There are also supermarkets in the Bay Area where Filipinos buy the Philippine foods and products like Island Pacific in South San Francisco, CA, Pacific Super in San Francisco, CA , Ranch 99 Market in Daly City, CA, and Ocean Seafood Market in Daly City, CA. Since Manila Oriental Market is located at King Drive Center in Daly City, CA, we can also buy Philippine bread or "Pandesal" at Valerio's Tropical Bake Shop. Also, there is a laundry shop at Wash Station where we laundry our clothes and it is a nearest laundry shop in our place.
Q: What is your favorite store that is nearest to your place?
A: As I mentioned before, we are buying grocery items at Safeway Store. At the back of Safeway Store Manor Drive Branch, our home is located. I am always going to Safeway Store to buy our foods for our meals. You can save even more if you have Safeway Card. To get Safeway Card, you have to talk to the Store Manager after filling-up the Membership Form.
Q: Is your place near to the restaurants?
A: Yes, of course. There are many restaurants in the Bay Area like in Daly City, Colma, South San Francisco, San Bruno, and Pacifica. In Pacifica, we have Tam's Chinese Cuisine. The restaurant is always full especially in the evening and weekend. I went to Lee's Buffet in San Bruno, CA last September 21, 2002 because my mother was invited by Nida Villafuerte, her co-worker at Portal Publishing. Nida Villafuerte's father, Jose Abarrientos, was celebrating his 75th birthday in that restaurant. The restaurant serves Chinese, Japanese, and Korean BBQ. My mother invited me to attend that party so that I can taste the foods at Lee's Buffet.
Q: Is your place near to Roman Catholic Church?
A: Yes, there are also many Roman Catholic Churches in the Bay Area because majority to the Filipinos, Italians, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latinos are Roman Catholics. I am going to Saint Augustine Church every Sundays and Holy Days. Saint Augustine Church is a nearest church in our place. There are also Roman Catholic Chrurches in the Bay Area like Saint Andrew Church in Pacifica, CA, Holy Angels Church in Colma, CA, and Saint Patrick Church in San Francisco, CA.
Q: Do you play sports in your area although it is cold?
A: Yes, I am playing sports in our area why not because I am also a sportsminded person. I play basketball, volleyball, tennis, chess, bowling, etc. Thanks God that my former employer, Exelixis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., had also an activity which is Bowling Tournament at Sea Bowl Lanes in Pacifica, California near to Linda Mar Center last March 22, 2002. This is my first time to play bowling here in USA. I like bowling very much and I enjoyed to play bowling with my boss and my co-workers, too.
Q: We heard that there is also a fishing area in your place, isn't it?
Yes, we have also a fishing area in Pacifica, at Pacifica Pier. Pacifica Pier is also a good place to visit especially to those people who like fishing, crabing, picnics, playing golf, and walking along the beach. Actually, last September 1, 2002, we went there with my parents, and aunts. September 2, 2002 is a holiday here in USA, so we spend our time to relax and take a rest there. Many people are spending their time there in Pacifica Pier because of the three-day weekend. I went to Pacifica Pier so that I can see that place and it is my first time to see that place. We went there to have a picnic and walking along the beach after the picnic.
Q: Had you been in Sta. Cruz, CA where most of the people in the Bay Area goes for their picnic?
A: Yes, I went to Sta. Cruz, CA last September 7, 2002 with my relatives especially with my aunts. We went there to have a nice picnic. My aunt, Mrs. Herminia B. Peņa, invited us for the picnic with her co-workers at K-Mart and since that time, it was also the birthday of my other aunt, Mrs. Flora B. Macaraig. We went there also to celebrate the birthday of my aunt. I like the place in Sta. Cruz, CA because it is environmentaaly beautiful especially with mountains and Pacific Oceans and there are many beaches there. The temperature there is also warm especially in the noon but it is also cold in the late afternoon. Hopefully, we are going to plan to go to Sta. Cruz, CA again if we have time.
