Foreigners living in the Philippines, was it easy to make new friends, or do you sometimes feel lonely even when you're surrounded by people?

I've always been a lone wolf type, so I had no loneliness problem until I turned 50. Then I met the woman of my dreams, the answer to all my prayers. We built a big house, and her two younger sisters, her mother, and my brother-in-law live with us. Another sister and several nieces and nephews live just a few steps away. I'm surrounded by family, and I've made friends with a few neighbors, including the bakery owner two houses down from the gate, and some street vendors who make the best barbecue skewers every night from 5 to 9. Fruit sellers stop by our house to show off fresh bananas, mangoes, lanzones, and fresh bukō. Especially after sunset, there's never a shortage of people to talk to. My brother-in-law runs a sari-sari store in a shop he built in front of our house. I really love sitting out front with a cold San Miguel or Red Horse, chatting with the neighbors.

If you're not comfortable being alone, no matter how many people are around, that emptiness won't be filled.

I know the mall security guards and most of the cleaning staff, and I talk and laugh with them, but are they friends? No, they're just acquaintances. I can't sit down and have a deep conversation with any of them. So the answer is no, I don't have friends.

Since my wife passed away, I've had fewer chances to socialize with people.