I grew up in Pasay City, Philippines. My parents brought me up speaking English, and I learned Filipino (Tagalog) from my friends. English is the medium of instruction in Philippine schools, from pre-school and kindergarten, up to the highest educational level.
I learned Visayan from my Dad (Ilonggo) and my Mom (Cebuano). My Ilonggo, though, is limited mostly to just understanding the language, but I don't speak it fluently. My Cebuano is excellent - in writing, speaking, and oral reading. I started speaking Cebuano when our family transferred from Pasay City (Tagalog-speaking area) to Cagayan de Oro City in northeastern Mindanao (Cebuano-speaking area).

My professional work since 1974 has covered such areas as college teaching, fisheries biological research, training and human resource development, project management, focus group research, event management, prawn grow out pond operation and management, internet marketing, and translation.

My wife is from Camiguin Province, a Cebuano-speaking area. Our son and daughter are now young professionals.

I have traveled extensively in the Philippines. I have visited Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Israel, and Turkey.