Bong Antivola写给厦门的情书：我的“天堂之厦”
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究竟是什么让一个外国人自豪的说出：“我在厦门找到了家”？究竟是什么一个外国人说想象不出长久离开厦门的生活？Bong Antivola，菲律宾人，来厦门12年。今天他写下一封情书和三行情诗讲述自己找到“天堂之厦”的幸福，
说起厦门我想起的是宁静，
生活在这片美丽的土壤，
美妙如此就似我的幻想。
《我的天堂之厦》
作者：Bong Antivola（在厦菲律宾人）
我的天堂之厦！谢谢你给我的人生带来的爱与欢愉。2006年12月2日那次邂逅，是我的多彩人生旅途中最浓墨重彩的一笔。我瞬间爱上了这座岛城和这里的人们。在我的40岁生日之际，登上鼓浪屿，被一百多人环绕着，那种记忆是非凡的。
一个在社交媒体上关注我的菲律宾政客朋友曾经有一次问我：“你爱厦门什么？”我自信的回答说“我在厦门找到了家”。那种属于这座城市的安全感，让这里的生活很美好。
被这里的美景、清新空气和新旧完美融合的气质所鼓舞，我组了一个“Xiamen Photo Plus”的摄影俱乐部。起初这个俱乐部只是一群菲律宾摄影爱好者，后来变成了一个国际组织。后来我们还在菲律宾驻厦门总领事馆的帮助下，在中国和菲律宾组织了摄影展。能通过我们的照片在两个国家之间建立起一座沟通的桥梁是我们的荣幸。
厦门的工作环境也同样值得考虑。一开始我在一个设计工作室工作。工作室设置在厦门，可以让管理一支艺术团队变得容易起来，而你的设计成果也很容易在德化、永春这些周边城市被制造出来。由于靠近制造工厂和人力资源，厦门绝对是拥有设计工作室的理想地点。
目前，我很感激能够在一家律师事务所工作。我的部门负责外国投资，工作许可和金融服务。我相信越来越多的人都意识到合法性，我很高兴能够在这方面分享我的知识。
厦门的艺术场景同样很棒！在过去的12年里，我亲眼目睹了许多精彩的艺术展览。我也有幸成为由Stevens Vaughn和Rodney Cone领导的Hafnia基金会的一员。通过这些曝光，我也有动力去追求自己对艺术和设计的热情。我的大多数画作都是受到厦门人的启发。
作为一只社交蝴蝶，我创造了“XiaWoMen”这个词，以纪念我在厦门遇到的美丽女性。 “XiaMEN”是男性版。那些令人难忘的照片在我的宝藏库中迅速增长，希望这些能为厦门外籍人士的宝贵财富。
厦门人的志愿精神同样让我敬佩。最典型的例子就是官任社区。在那里，志愿者每个月都会组织慈善活动，科普垃圾类信息，免费教授普通话，分享有关签证和如何在中国合法生活的消息。向他们致以最崇高的敬意！这些有真正有意义和实质性的工作，就来自心地良善的厦门人。
总之，如今再让我长久的离开厦门，那将是一件超乎我想象的事情。很感恩能在这座城市生活，感激在这里遇到的机会、挑战和快乐时光。
I LOVE XIAMEN… for life！
我会永远爱着厦门！
Xiamen， My Paradise
Dear Xiamen，
Xiamen， my paradise！ Thank you for the love and joy you brought to my life。
It was in December 2， 2006 – a milestone in my life’s colorful journey。 My love for the island and the people living in it was instantaneous。 Having around a hundred people on my 40th birthday in Gulangyu is absolutely phenomenal。
One Philippine politician/friend who follows me on social me once asked me： “What do love about Xiamen？”。 I answered with confidence that “I found my home in Xiamen”。 One of the things that make life beautiful is the feeling of safety and security。
With its beauty， clean air and perfect mixture of the old and new， I was inspired to form our camera club called Xiamen Photo Plus which started as group of Filipino photo enthusiasts。 It evolved into an international group。 We have organized photo exhibitions in China and the Philippines with the help of the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen。 It was truly an honor to bridge our countries through our photographs。
The working environment in Xiamen is also something to reckon with。 I started working in a design studio。 It was great opportunity to manage the art team and see you products being manufactured in nearby towns like Dehua and Yongchun。 Xiamen is definitely an ideal location to have a design studio due to its proximity to manufacturing plants and human resources。
At present， I am grateful to be working in a law firm。 My department handles foreign investments， work permits and financial services。 I believe that more and more people are aware of legalities and I am happy to be able to share my knowledge in that area。
The art scene in Xiamen is awesome！ For the past 12 years， I have witnessed amazing art exhibitions organized by the Chinese European Art Center （CEAC） headed by Ineke and Siggi Gudmundson。 I’m also privileged to be part of Hafnia Foundation headed by Stevens Vaughn and Rodney Cone。 With the exposure， I was also motivated to pursue my passion in art and design。 Most of my paintings are inspired by the people in Xiamen。
Being a social butterfly， I coined the word “XiaWoMen” as tribute to the beautiful women I met in Xiamen。 “XiaMEN” is the male version。 My collection of memorable photos is growing and I hope I could contribute to the legacy of the expats community in Xiamen。
One of the things I admire about Xiamen people is the spirit of volunteerism。 A prime example is the GuanrenCommunity。 I take my hats off for the volunteers who organize the monthly charity markets， information campaign about garbage management， giving free Mandarin lessons， sharing information about visas and how to live legally in China。 This is truly a meaningful and substantial undertaking purely done by kind-hearted Xiamen people。
In conclusion， I cannot imagine myself away from Xiamen for a long time。 I am blessed and grateful to have lived in this city that has given me so much opportunities， challenges and joys。
I LOVE XIAMEN… for life！
Sincerely yours，
Bong Antivola
