Bert, you wrote:
"I saw a curious thing when I visited Hong Kong. Many of the Filipina ladies hold each others hands while walking, or while sitting, or join arms.
This is different. Is that a filipino custom?"

It is very common in Germany, too. You can see lots of young women joining arms all the time. And kissing on the cheak when saying hello is getting use, as well, at first I noticed this custom in France. Now all our young people do it, boys and girls, and I think it is taking a lot of agression out of behaviour.
I'm very fond of it. I'd rather be kissed to death, than beaten.

GOLDEN50
carpe diem