Through Facebook conversations, George gets glimpses of Filipino lives in the Philippines and among expatriates and Overseas Foreign Workers.
Although he prefers to keep his emotional distance, we gradually see George’s longing for meaningful connections and his ongoing grief for his deceased partner.
The interest is both documentary and personal, as he discovers the breadth and uniqueness of the gay community in the Philippines and in North America. He is often reminded of the disparity between the deprivations and emotional angst of his youth and the sufferings of the younger generation.
As his health declines, George continues to encounter younger gays, writers, and others with similar interests. Facebook gives him licence to be bolder and more direct with his questions about others’ lives. Stories by Charles Au Lavoie
Read by Warren Carrie
Music by Angelica Dayao
Painting by Detalyii/Jacob Bravo
Author's email: charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
The author, Charles Au Lavoie, gives his message to the listeners of Goodbye, Philippines.
23 Aug 2021
Chapter 17 - Family Reunion
After a health emergency in the Philippines, George flies back to Canada to recover. Lando, who was left worried, waited for news of his situation. After months of silence, George finally responds to Lando. As the two are catching up, Lando asks George about his feelings.
Story by Charles Au Lavoie
Epilogue music: Ich bin der Welt abhanden Gekkomen by Gustav Mahler
Author's email: charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
9 Aug 2021
Chapter 16 - George's Fear
George is at risk of going blind because of a history of blindness in his family. As a preventive measure, the doctor prescribes him medicated eye-drops, and tells him that in the event of a violent headache in the middle of the night, he should go to the hospital right away. This happened to George while he was in Iloilo. Lando assists him, but something was odd with George.
Story by Charles Au Lavoie
Author's email: charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
26 Jul 2021
Chapter 15 - Online Economy
After having been contacted by several women whose Facebook accounts have no biographical information or timeline content, George decided to do some investigation before clicking the Accept button. He does exactly that after a guy named Ben Casile contacted him. Ben’s intentions would soon unfold after several chats with George. Over time, George would see a familiar pattern with strangers he interviewed online for his book.
Story by Charles Au Lavoie
Author's email: charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
12 Jul 2021
Chapter 14 - The Starting Point
While in a cafe at a mall in Victoria, Apin asks George about the book he’s working on. George responded that it’s about Filipinos. Apin is puzzled and asks George why write about the Filipinos. Their conversation turns into a reminiscence of their childhood.
Story by: Charles Au Lavoie
Author's email: charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
28 Jun 2021
Chapter 13 - The Purpose of Life
George acquired a new Facebook friend named Jerry Patterson, who he met at a neighbor’s wedding. After he accepts Jerry’s friend request, George scans Jerry’s timeline and finds links to disturbing music videos. George feels Jerry’s unspoken hell, and reminds him of his own pain of living.
Story by: Charles Au Lavoie
Author's email:charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
14 Jun 2021
Chapter 12 - Guilt
Filipinos always remain connected with where they came from. George had learned this, through online and personal exchanges with Filipino expats and overseas workers. It’s a matter of duty.
31 May 2021
Chapter 11 - All About Love
On Facebook, Joy mentions to George that her husband had left her to live in the Philippines and is now living with another woman. Later, George shares with Annie what he had just learned, and asks her how a relationship survives for an OFW and their spouse.
17 May 2021
Chapter 10 - Shackled
Just as their conversation was getting interesting, George’s friend Gilbert logs out without warning. Shortly after, he experiences another abrupt ending to an online exchange. Feeling frustrated, George asks himself: Is social media addictive?
3 May 2021
Chapter 9 - Jack of All Trades
One day, George scrolls through Facebook and sees a video of half a dozen men in the middle of a drinking session. Among those men, he recognizes his barber Vince when he visits the Philippines. Vince works many jobs in order to survive while others sell products online.
19 Apr 2021
Chapter 8 - Love is a Mango Smoothie
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.
5 Apr 2021
Chapter 7 - Straight to God
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: charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
22 Mar 2021
Chapter 6 - Saturn's Children
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: charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
8 Mar 2021
Chapter 5 - Can I Call You Dad?
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: charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
22 Feb 2021
Chapter 4 - Boy or Girl
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.
8 Feb 2021
Chapter 3 - Drinking Buddies
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.
26 Jan 2021
Chapter 2 - Dirty Curiosity
More than once, George wished he had a smooth and peaceful soul, like the one Agustina 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: charlesaulavoie@gmail.com
11 Jan 2021
Chapter 1 - Guilty of Stalking
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
Website: http://www.charlesaulavoie.com/
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