... Lerner has, for over five years, written a weekly column in the Business World newspaper entitled "Hey, Joe." In this column he would basically write his observations as a Yank in the Philippines .

The book, however, is not just a compilation of his columns. Columns in newspapers have a set limit of space. Taking some themes of his columns, Ted has been allowed the luxury of expanding them, giving them more depth. His book contains those stories that concern Manila ; "Hey, Joe" is therefore subtitled "a slice of the city - an American in Manila ." There are 33 different pieces, and each of them a gem.

In this, his first book, Lerner shows he has the keen talent for observation displayed by Englishman Hamilton-Forbes, ("Ghosts of Manila"). He combines this with the literary descriptive skill of his fellow countryman, the late John Steinbeck.

You think that is too much? Judge the following extract: "Subtlety. This is the beauty of the moon. In its light, which is actually sunlight, only in a back-handed fashion, you can look at people without really looking at them. You can see the city without seeing everything. The blemishes, so easily revealed by the harsh light of the sun, are coyly hidden by the moon. The mon allows you to think. Its seductive powers awaken your mind at a time when the mind is normally at rest."

Lerner, like many of us, has a love-hate relationship with the Philippines in general and Manila in particular. To the question, posed by his very middle-class visiting mother, "Why do you live here?" his answer is: "We don't like things perfect. Life is more interesting on a daily basis when it's not predictable.

"To enjoy the Philippines as a foreigner, one has to have an offbeat appreciation for the imperfections in life. You have to enjoy the fact that you can be witness to things you did not think happened anywhere these days, even in the most primitive of countries."

Thanks for that, Ted. Now I know.

The special thing about Lerner is that whereas he sees the same things we do, we merely observe but he takes notice. A simple statement such as: "We even found somebody to finally fix the toilet. Hardly anyone's toilet in Manila works as it should, and now ours did. Can you imagine? A proper flushing toilet! It's amazing how a few small touches can really lift your spirits."

It is this observation of the simple things that makes this book such a good read.

His description of a simple ride along the Sucat road in a jeepney one Friday night is a gem. The portrait of a lady brushing her long hair before retiring to bed is poetry. His visit to a bar that requires no naming (hint: a side room was called "The Office") is hilarious.

The wonderful thing about this book is that we all have witnessed and many of us have participated in the events described. His observation in Vixens when his Japanese friend paid a bar-fine:

"It's too noisy to tell him that what he sees may not be what he gets. You see, black lights are the secret behind the success of this kind of bar. A black light makes every woman look awesome, like a 10. It only seems to work for the women, though. The men still look old and drunk."

Later, in the same story, he observes: "In the two minutes we are inside the taxi, I discover that the girl's name is Sprinkles and that she comes from Negros. She also looks incredibly ordinary. Perhaps the taxhi should get a black light."

Still later:

"At the entrance to the casino we are required to pay 100 pesos each. I have never failed to see the irony of paing an entrance fee for the right to piss away all your money."

The fact that Lerner has not yet been deported is amazing. Filipinos, especially those in power, do not generally take kindly to truthful comments on this city. It may be because he manages to write the downside in a manner that is not spiteful, but almost with an admiration of the grottyness of this metropolis.

"In the deepest part of the night, hours after sunset and hours before dawn, long after the long before another uproarious day, the ugliness of this city called Manila becomes magnified. The cloak of darkness, which should serve to hide this city's repulsiveness, it's incredible amounts of garbage piled everywhere, its dirty old buildings sprawling in eveyr direction, actually resonates the hard features. Slams them in your face. Forcing you to see this city close and in more desperate and depraved detail."

From the forgoing, one can see that this book will not be top of the list with the Department of Tourism, yet, in spite of its honesty, Lerner displays an unrequited love for his adopted home, one with which, I for one, can feel empathy.

This is Ted Lerner's first book. I guarantee, it will not be the last. He is still a young man. he is a very good writer, with time enough yet to become great.

Alan C. Atkins, The Foreign Post, March 16-22, 2000