Many claim that the Philippines is getting poorer and poorer by the minute. But I beg to disagree.

Judging by the new cars plying on the streets I wouldn't think so. 2.0L compact sedans? V6 mid-size sedans? V8 SUVs? Seems a hard sell a few years ago - yet they are already being offered here. Even our family wouldn't have dreamt of being able to afford a brand-new SUV 5 years ago.

Housing projects are all over the place and condominiums are sprouting like mushrooms. Even our subdivision has seen its share of improvements - whereas less than a decade ago all the houses looked the same (as this was a government housing project), now house renovations & rebuilding are a common sight.

Non-essential amenities are also a given nowadays. Mobile phones, DSL internet, PDAs, Cable TV, Coffee shops, etc.