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“And I don’t want you eating any red meats like beef and pork and … “Hold on just a moment there ma’am, pork is not a red meat.” “Oh yes it is,” she responded. Now you have to know, you don’t argue the color of pork with someone who has been as involved with pork and its color as I have. “In the Philippines we say it is red,” added my pleasant nephrologist lady who clearly imagined that being as we are in the Philippines, the two of us, then she had the last word. “In North America it’s called “the other white meat,” I felt wounded. “Like I say, we’re not in …” “Webster’s dictionary says pork is a white meat,” I pleaded as one last try. “Oh dear,” the good lady sighed kindly, “All right then, I don’t want you eating any red meats or pork,” she smiled indulgently. You just can’t win with some ladies – especially not nephrologist ones. I have developed these swollen feet you see, edema she assured. I shall add quickly that this started in Canada as I don’t want the Philippines blamed as being unfriendly to white feet. But where we thought […]
After a languid start we caught the Ceres Liner departing the North Bus Terminal at 10:20am. It was not a fun bus ride. For one thing there is an election campaign running. That means all the roads are being done up, widened, deepened, raised, repaired, sunk, over-passed or under-passed or re-surfaced as the case may be. It’s hell traveling north out of Cebu at the best of times I gather but now with the highway narrowed to one lane for both directions it was nigh impossible. But, ten minutes’ drive and one hour later we cleared the worst of the road works and picked up a little speed. The countryside that took over from the built-up roadway was decidedly more beautiful but not a little scary. Narrow twisty roads winding their way up the ever higher mountains with sheer rises for our left hand and escarpment drops from the very road edge to our right. I mean, I was sitting next to the window on the right and I would be looking down trying to find the road shoulder but could see nothing but a drop of hundreds of feet. Exactly how close were we to the edge anyway? I […]
As an expat in the Philippines I have noticed that I have gone through numerous attitude phases. When recently a friend of mine decided to throw in the towel (at least temporarily) and move back to the U.S. I realized that I am far from being alone. Adapting to a new country and its culture after a lifetime in our own, is a daunting task and should not be taken lightly when considering such a major change in ones life. My first Attitude phase was I guess what would be termed “seeing the world through rose colored glasses”. Just off the plane, in love and with what looked like a world full of opportunities, the first few months I spent living in the Philippines may have been more from the perspective as a tourist. The people were friendly, the culture exciting and exotic, and the sun shone everyday. Such things as “Filipino Time” were shrugged off with amusement, and the people with their “hand out” were looked upon with compassion and usually given a kind donation. The ocean and beaches were always nearby, to be reveled in with abandon, followed by lazing in the sun then maybe a snack at […]
We left the apartment on our Cebu bound trip a half minute late. But it was only because I used my lifetime of experience dealing with the ladies. Daisy had a whole raft of things that ‘needed’ doing before she left the house including cooking breakfast when there was 10 minutes to go. But my male cunning outwitted her female argument, hence our timeous departure. We caught a Jeepney with but seconds to spare as we unlocked the gate. You remember the gate that was locked from the inside when I was on the outside? Usually we seem to miss the Jeepney by fractions of a second. Talking of missing things by a fraction of a second… The ‘Ceres Liner’ bus, (the Philippines Greyhound equivalent) departed on time at 8:20am and carried us safely, more or less, to Cebu in 5 ½ hours (inc. landing craft). Half way we happened upon another Ceres Liner by the roadside which decided to take off just as we had crossed to the on-coming lane to pass it. (2 lane highway only) The newly accelerating bus driver didn’t want to be passed however, certainly not by some other cheeky driver from the same company, […]
Anyone who spends any amount of time on Expat social media forums will invariably see many posts and comments relating to Filipino issues here in The Philippines. This is probably never as much so as now, with the recent election of President Duterte and the many controversial things his administration is known for like a brutal and bloody war on drugs, and the extrajudicial killings that have come with it. The topic of this article is not to debate whether any of these issues are right or wrong, but simply to explore whether I, as a foreigner in The Philippines, should be making my opinion known. To begin with, I have to look at my own country, Canada, and how I view foreigners in my country getting involved in issues that are uniquely ours. I won’t mince my words and will state very bluntly that I have always got severely peeved at immigrants that have come to my country , then decided they had the right to try and change my country, culture, belief systems, and yes, even laws, in order to make my country more like they country they left. My usual , and very pointed reaction, was to […]
I’ve never eaten so much damn rice in my life. In fact, I never knew there was that much. But these characters here would eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, mid-morning snack, mid-afternoon snack and a midnight feast if they got the chance. Was a time when I was a bit extreme the other way. Imelda couldn’t get me to eat rice unless it was a milk pudding or in a curry. That was it. That was what rice was for. Potatoes were where it was at. Filipinos however take the concept of ‘staple’ to the extreme. I didn’t have enough with Daisy dishing it up morning noon and night but then I had Miranda joining in as well. Anyway, on that score I’m back down to one woman again, (and possibly a reduction in rice ration.) We put Miranda back on her flight Saturday afternoon and she is now back in Manila. Poor thing. Didn’t want to go. Had a wonderful time here she told us. In a week she’ll be back toiling away in Hong Kong again, human rights only applicable on Sundays. Better not get myself started. We’ve just enjoyed a high drama these last 25 ½ […]
For better or worse, the type of person I have always been, is one that sets about a task, completes it and then moves on to something else. The only time for rest and relaxation is when all tasks that need to be completed are actually completed. I am sure that there are probably psychological terms to disturb a person who thinks like me , but hey, who really cares. This way of thinking has suited me well throughout most of my life, though maybe causing me to be a little bit of a workaholic. The problem though is now I am in a country where this type of thinking is just plain impossible and leads to nothing but frustration. To give an example , I keep an online daytimer/calendar with which I list all the things I want to get done. Since I have people working for me, and I can not do all the things that need doing myself, I have to assign or delegate tasks to others. Usually, I will take about 5-10 task on myself per day, and delegate maybe 10 more to other people, all neatly color-coded by person. Every night, or early the next […]
An Old fashioned Relationship Recently I realized my relationship with a Filipina seems strikingly similar to the relationship my parents had. This whole train of thought began when a Facebook friend of mine made the following comment on his page: “Thinking how tough these girls are here. No power no problem, they know how to cook using sticks and charcoal. No toilet paper ,they can use a tabo. No washing machine ,they know how to use buckets and hands and even the toilet. Don’t have tons of money, most are easy to please being a simple people. These girls are strong willed yet so soft hearted and feminine. That’s a woman for me. That’s someone I want to serve and cherish.” Well,,, he did happen to post this on his personal page on which he had “western women friends” and the reaction from some of them made me laugh. Among them were comments like: “Be careful…you might have us western gals unfriending you” and “I can do all of those things you mentioned . Stop stereotyping.” The resentful reactions of western women was not unexpected to me , but really showcased why I had given up on a relationship with […]
Duterte talks a lot of crap and many foreigners want to know what is REALLY going on and how it affects everyday life for expats in this country.The brief and to the point answer is that little has changed for us here, except for perception. That perception of what is going on in the Philippines has little to do with reality and has more to do with this age’s usual practice of media reporting that is biased from both sides of the issues, and the modern trend of social media “netizens” to spread whichever biased media reports support their own, usually biased opinions. As usual, the reality seems to have gotten lost. So what is the reality for us Expats living in the Philippines? To start, to those few who may not know, let me provide a very brief overview. For many decades, the Philippines progress and development has been stunted. There is no arguing this. They simply have not lived up to their true potential, which has been experienced by most other developing Asian countries. Though this has changed somewhat over the past decade, corruption and a somewhat lackadaisical attitude of Filipnos has limited their success. In the recent […]
Tony’s Day in Dauin The three of us enjoyed the afternoon in Dauin, Pronounced ‘Dawin.’ It was a toss-up on who would have the less comfortable, back seat on the pedi. I moved fast to take it, thus displaying my male gallantry. I have to be most assertive on these matters as Daisy goes out of her way trying to ensure I am comfortable at all times; she being the more suited to rough-it she appears to feel. Miranda joins the battle. It is she who must have the less than desirable seat, we two must sit together. But I win – this round at least. Mike’s place, as it is known, is a pleasant resort-style location sandwiched in among a dozen or more similar establishments that line the Negros coast north and south of Dumaguete. Mike’s is reputably the best when it comes to diving excursions be they scuba or snorkeling. I’m in no position to compare but in any event we are not set on doing any diving today. As we motor I reflect that it must have been 1969 when I last dipped a toe in a warm ocean. It was during my early days in Durban […]
Before I get into this article, let me explain that this is just a fun exercise. My Dad passed away a few years back,( several years after my mother died), and he had never been to the Philipinnes, much less had a relationship with a Filipina. He had what I think was a good relationship with my mom for close to half a century and I believe that though they never showed their love too much to the outside world it was there, and it was deep. So what got me thinking about this imaginary scenario of my dad in a relationship with a Filipna? Well, a few days back I caught a glimpse of this old guy , a little hunched over and walking with the careful step of the aged. He strikingly resembled my own father in his later years. In tow, was a good looking Filipina, and though she was not one of these twenty something eye candy types, she definitely was attractive and probably in her mid 40s. Also in tow were two young kids. With increasing interest , this article of imagination started to take shape in the back of my mind and I decided […]
Meeting my wife for the very first time is a memory that is fondly coming to mind often these days. Recently I have had to come to Manila on numerous occasions and every time I do, it brings me back to that day that that has changed my life forever. I met Shirley online through one of the more popular dating sites, Filipino Cupid and we had chatted almost everyday for several months while I was still in Canada. She had ticked everyone of my possible relationship boxes, however I had gone through this several times already with other Filipna women. On the previous occasions, I had corresponded with Filipinas, for substantial amounts of time, then eventually hopped on a plane to visit the Philippines and meet in person. Each time I was either disappointed right away or very quickly as they just could never meet my expectations. Some were just not attractive as they appeared online, some were too “easy”, some I did not trust, and some were nice but there was just no chemistry. Regardless, every time I had visited the Philippines I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the companionship was always a bonus. When meeting my wife for […]
It’s Sunday, Valencia market day. The best day every week the regional farmers come to Valencia to hawk their wares. We were there by 8:15am. Pretty darn early it seemed to me for them coming from out of town and having to set up and all. But there they all were looking as entrenched as if they were there all the time. Mind you, many of the stalls are simple hessian rugs with fruit and veggies spread thereon, no construction as such. We gathered extra supplies with Miranda arriving for her week-long visit this afternoon. It was interesting watching Daisy at work ever willing to negotiate. I have to hold Back so as not to cause a white boy rise in prices. To get to Valencia market was an adventure. We stood outside our complex, baking in the hot, early morning sun. No pedi-cabs in site. Then we saw a Jeepney on its way. ‘Not good, not good,” says Daisy, “too full,” as we focus on the crowded roof. But the bus had just dropped one or two folks a hundred yards back and this driver was not going to forgo another couple of fares if he could get them. […]
Why had I had moved to the Philippines seems to have got lost to me recently. To be truthful I have lost my way simply because I have chosen to pay more attention to things that really do not matter to me, than to the reasons I moved to the Philippines in the first place. So why had I moved to the Philippines? I moved for several specific reasons, the first of which was my desire to be in a relationship with a women I found attractive, loved and who most importantly, felt the same way about me as I did about her. This has happened beyond my wildest dreams and today I am married to that person whom I dreamed of, and we have that relationship that had been so elusive in my 3 1/2 decades of adult life in the western world. The second biggest reason I moved to the Philippines was the climate. My life in Canada was totally dependent upon the seasons and their effect on me. As I got older and was less inclined to enjoyment of winter activities like skiing, I quite simply detested winter. I hated having to put 4 layers of clothing […]
Filipino People Fighting for What they Believe In Enter President Duterte who was elected not only on promises of ridding the streets of drugs and crime, but also of attacking the corruption and financial rape of the Filipino people by the elite. Lofty goals indeed! During the past few days, I have been in Manila meeting with Duterte men, pursuing my fight against another foreigner who has scammed several dozens of people and skated with impunity through unrelenting attempts to be brought to justice. Over the past several years of mine and these other victim’s fight, that impunity has clearly been granted by corrupt justice and political officials who have sacrificed their Filipino countryman’s integrity and pride for selfish financial gain. Now in Manila, and speaking directly with numerous high ranking officials of President Duterte’s staff, I have gained a rather fortunate glimpse into the mood of how things are going for this administration, and their lofty goals, as well as their candid feelings of being led by a man they love and revere. These men were of a different ilk than the the Duterte Fanatics who grace the pages of Facebook and express their devotion naively with little grasp […]
The collection of my passport from immigration that I told you of did not get completed last Tuesday. No, having handed it to me and giving me time to check the visa stamp and discovering I had been given three months rather than the requested two, it was sort of snatched back and replaced with a new form that I had to take away with me, complete and return again in a few days. This had to do with the granting of an ID card that I now needed if I was going to be staying awhile. So Daisy and I returned to the sleazy alley that leads to the dubious-looking immigration office. Somewhere in London, or Victoria BC this alley would be kinda cute with funky, shops, hanging planters with perhaps at the end a tiny coffee shop, crowded but with insufficient bistro tables or seating. This alley however possesses a different kind of charm one that tips the hat to the wanna-be entrepreneur. Thus were we intercepted by seedy-looking gentlemen sporting hand-held trays possessed of Viagra, Cialis and a range of products that, I suspected, may be intended for related uses, the former mentioned being off-prescription and half […]
Right from day 1 when looking for a place to explore in Asia the two choices that immediately came to mind were either Philippines or Thailand. Initially my leanings were Thailand based on the visions I had in my head of beautiful exotic Asian women amid a lush tropical jungle paradise. These images were more plentiful because at that time over a decade ago, Thailand was already a popular destination for western men, and tourists so stories of its beauty and virtues abounded. The Philippines on the other hand was comparatively unknown. Though I, like most people had heard of the Philippines and had met many Filipinos who were working in Canada, finding westerners who had visited the Philippines for a vacation or to relocate as expats were scarce. During that fateful first few months when I was trying to answer the question Philippines or Thailand, I joined several online dating sites dealing specifically with each country. I posted profiles and sat back not expecting a whole lot. Within hours though, the inbox of the Filipino dating sites filled up in an overwhelming fashion, with more interesting options than I could possible wade through, but in comparison the Thai websites […]
It’s a warm one out there, 91F, +/- 33C. Same as yesterday. I love to sit outside overlooking the pool and glance up, way, way up at the coconut palms; their thick fronds stand in relief against the near cloudless deep, blue sky. There is neither pollution nor haze, the air being remarkable in its clarity. I want into the pool but I am forbidden. I need to heal I am assured by Miss Daisy. Scabs must not get wet. Scabs? Yesterday I got into an incident, a bad habit of which I cultivated in Salt Spring of somehow managing to trip over myself. There is always a good reason, it’s not that I don’t know how to stand up. But, there we were in the heart of Dumaguete heading for the downtown mall which place we have yet to discover. An area normally intended for sidewalk was not so constructed. The ground was sloped as for a ramp but it was suffused with a gossamer thin layer of powdery concrete dust spillage and fine sand. (As I discovered too late) My sandled right foot stepped assuredly thereon only to slide away as if on ice (Canadians will understand that […]
It’s hot, the Filipino sun is blazing and I regard the tempting blue of the pool. On account of no one else around I was instructed most definitely, not to venture within during she-who-would-be-obeyd’s absence. But then, she isn’t here. She will never know. I am taken back to the disobedience of my school days as I weigh the chance of being caught. Can I get away with it? After all your years Tony you should know by now, girls notice everything. I shall have to return the towel to the washing line exactly as it is now, because if not, she’ll spot it instantly. I might have to endure a finger wagging and a scowl. But maybe it’s worth it just to spend an hour in that water… Will he or won’t he? We signed up for Internet banking, Daisy and I. My idea her account. We followed up with the intention of doing some on-line shuffling of funds but we could not get into internet banking. We were stymied when we got to the ‘answer-some-personal-questions-for-your-personal-safety-and-security, bit. But, it seemed, we were so damned safe and secure that we couldn’t get on-line to Daisy’s account never mind anyone else’s. […]
My head is in the clouds reading the biography of, ‘The Wright Brothers.’ Or at least it was. Orville had declined to take the American president for a spin on the grounds of safety when, to the audience’s horror, that very same afternoon he came a cropper, killing his passenger and almost writing himself off. And then my ears become attuned to Daisy’s melodic and honey-smooth rendition of Gabriel’s Oboe as sung by Hayley Westenra. My Filipina angel was serenading me. She’s like that is Daisy, my Filipina angel. They say it’s typical of Filipinas or for that matter Filipinos in general and I find it enchanting. It’s not new to me. Daisy would often serenade me while we talked on skype. For no apparent reason she would break into song and seduce me into a soulful happiness for quite some while; one song after another, Western love songs for the most part that is, until she’d smile and return to the former conversation. She always sang word perfect to the lyrics of the original – her English fluency outstanding – until she returned to our chat. Perhaps she should sing to me all the time, we could make […]
The Philippine’s war on drugs is in full swing now several months after the election of their new president, Rody Duterte. He was elected in a landslide victory on an election platform that was largely focused on the end of criminality in the country which he claimed was rooted in the proliferation of the drug trade. Previously President Duterte was the mayor of Davao City and during his term in local office, he boasted how he had solved the city’s criminal problems through the execution of its drug trade personalities. During his election campaign, he promised more of the same except on a much wider national scale. Well he seems to be clearly delivering on that promise as the death toll mounts on a daily basis due both from police killings of suspects that were allegedly resisting arrest and even more disturbing, apparent vigilante squads where victims are killed execution style with the tell tale “cardboard sign” identifying the victims as drug personalities. Whether these people are guilty or innocent will never be known, as they were never given the benfit of defending their innocence in a court of law. Putting aside the whole question of human rights for a […]
I started to think about both currency and Visa today. I need to change some money. I arrived packing a quantity of US$. They were full dollars too. Years ago I kept in a savings pile at home, all the US$ that were used to pay me by American visitors, rather than change them at the bank. I figured I might get to use them just as they are someday. Meantime they would be savings. Well, what better time to bring them out than now. Cdn and US currencies had been more or less at par when I saved them. Now, I was spared a steep exchange rate to buy US. Well, in one direction anyway. Now that I’m here exchange counters, banks et al have ways to get around what to them is the profit-making issue. Solution? You make different denominations of currency somehow carry a cost burden that must be separately recovered. Hence, talking $US now, in addition to whatever the over-the-counter rate is, a $20 bill costs ₱50 to change, a $10 bill costs ₱40 and so on. You get the drift. A US dollar currently carries an official exchange rate of ₱47 and change which of […]
Some Simple Musings on my Philippines Adventure Damned if I know, is it a cultural thing or purely language? Daisy and I are having any number of laughs over each other’s comprehension. Well, actually, I’m the one with the comprehension problem. There we were having lunch and talking about the upcoming afternoon shopping trip. I had been instructed to remain home after my cheek surgery yesterday. “Mustn’t infect.” In the middle of the chat Daisy decided she wanted some white paper. I spent the next few moments trying to associate that thought with what we had been talking about. I tried to work it out and make sense of it. Even pointed out a nearby pad of paper, but my revelation left her unmoved. White paper, she insisted, I want white paper; you know, same like black paper. Oohhh! Make a note for the seasonings aisle. Something like that but way more funny had happened earlier in the day. We were both rolling around on the tiled floor on that occasion. I’m so ticked I cannot recall it for you now. For light reading my Kindle kept reminding me that I had bought Trump’s ‘The Art of the Deal.’ Well, […]
Visiting a Doctor in Dumaguete is another new experience in my continuing adventure Before going to the doctor, We’d grabbed a bite in the Jollibee. Cost me $2.50 to feed and water Daisy and me. It was good though. And so it should be for that price. Good gracious me. Inflation is out of hand. Thinking of food I watch the tiny lizards that run about our walls snacking on whatever it is they find on the walls and ceiling. It’s nice to see them back again. Not since days in East Africa. My snack I thought desirable to help gather my strength before my meeting with the quack. No I’m not ill. But I do have to pop a couple of prescription drugs for my on-going welfare. On the grounds that prescription meds are said to be much cheaper overseas than they are in North America I decided that rather than stock up in Canada I would wait till I hit town in Dumaguete. Good call. They were about a third of the price that it cost me under our envied health care system. The lady doc turned out to be a sweetie – small, a tiny voice but […]
Girls and Relationships in the Philippines Shortly after coming to the Philippines for the first time in 2010 and discovering that a wide range of attractive girls were interested in me, I started to feel very confused. What are these girls really offering? I asked myself. Sure they are sexually willing, but what kind of relationships can you honorably have out here in the land of sun and sand? For many months I was unable to answer those questions satisfactorily but now I feel much more clear headed about the whole situation. Basically there are three simple sexual options in the Philippines, dependent on what you, the traveling male, is looking for. Two of the options in the Philippines are quite easy to deal with. The first revolves around the good guy who is clearly interested in one kind of relationship only, marriage. I can’t promise that he will have an easy time fulfilling his dream but it is certainly a very realistic one which many men have lived through and the chances of this kind of traveller finding happiness are good, because there are definitely a lot of girls in the Philippines who desperately want the same thing: a […]
You Don’t Know Anything…YET. With this article I want to continue on a theme that ran in my last article about TAKING YOUR TIME. There is so MUCH about living in the Philippines that you just learn when you get here. I spent close to two years reading absolutely everything, watching all the videos from the BIG PLAYERS (Henry, Ned, Bud, Mike) and yet with all of that there are still times when I feel I only scratched the surface of what being here has to offer. There is just so much you will get (especially about yourself)….when you GET HERE. This leads me to what I want to talk about today; You Don’t Know Anything…YET.. One of the eye opening realizations that happens when you are here for some time is that; YOU REALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO CREATE A NEW LIFE;YOU REALLY CAN LIVE THE LIFE YOU ALWAYS IMAGINED OR, THE LIFE YOU NEVER IMAGINED. The Philippines for most MEN is that glorious place you get the chance to do it all over again or do what you never dreamed you would do. If you were a terrible Father and all your kids are grown and don’t give a […]
TABLE, CHAIRS, BEDS AND OTHER FURNITURE If you are from a country like mine (THE USA) one of the ideas that I think is a part of our culture is the joy of having our own place! We love the idea of having a place that we can call home to do as we please. It also does not matter if you are male or female ALL of us like buying things for our “place.” It doesn’t matter if you are very specific with your decorating or you are just a guy that gets happy at having a great chair and a TV in front of it. We like to shop and decorate and make the place feel “homey.” AND we like to do it as soon as possible. In my opinion this “bug” should be left in your home country. Now, I am one of those guys that likes to gets everything as soon as possible. When I was living in Norfolk, Virginia, I remembered renting a truck (2011) driving to Maryland IKEA (Ikea is nice, simple and comes with tools and instructions) and filling that truck with living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen “stuff.” Then I […]
Having a Wall and a Gate is typical in the Philippines Might be Good To keep People Out, but it is embarrasing when the person it is Keeping out is You You’ll recall last week Daisy and I had visited Valencia market when I got nature’s call. I was dropped at our apartment gate, none the worse for wear except for the ruckled skin on my one hand. My driver who had been paid in advance by Daisy so I would not have to haggle, moved off. I unlock the 8’ high, solid metal gate with the key entrusted to my care, but sadly the gate had been further locked with a bolt – on the inside. It shouldn’t have been. That’s not supposed to happen. Tenants are instructed accordingly. But it was. Now I was caught standing on the edge of a busy, concrete highway, sun blazing, badly needing to go, and had no way to reach anybody. I yelled and rattled the gates but to no avail. I case the joint. Is the wall climbable? Where would I climb it if I were a burglar? This is not easy. These high walls are mostly solid, built to keep […]
THERE’S SOME GUY IN THE PHILIPPINES NAME “JOE” WHO LOOKS JUST LIKE ME! They call me “Joe” !..This is something I told my GF one day after coming in from a walk, after she asked me how was my time out. Of course I have come to realize now that this guy JOE looks like every American that comes to the Philippines. Yes, get use to the fact that you may possibly trade in your name for the name JOE. Yes, simple… not hard to mess up… yes has a nice simple ring to it. “Every other Joe.” It appears that Filipino men in particular are very fond of referring to ALL AMERICAN MEN REGARDLESS OF COLOR AS “JOE.” I was walking down the street going into different places and all I kept hearing was “HEY JOE” “JOE MY FRIEND” “WHAT’S UP JOE” At first I was very puzzled and shocked that there could be someone here that looked like me……named Joe. On a couple of occasions I tried to explain that they were mistaking me for someone else, in which they would respond with laughter and reply; “you’re so funny Joe. So it appears that there are several […]
St. Valentine’s Day in Dumaguete – The Market Daisy thinks we should stay home. “Because so crowded.” The lady requires peace and quiet, not the hurly burly that comes with crowds celebrating. Most of Daisy’s conversations start with ‘Because.’ We aren’t sure why, that’s just the way it is. Daisy is supposed to be learning proper English from me. Alas I find it easier to learn Filipino English. It’s just easier – if less precise. Filipino English uses about one third of the words an Englishman needs to say the same thing. It’s even understandable – in places. “I off?” when she asks if she should turn the light off, is an example. “Have you got the items we were to return to the store today?” “Have.” We decide to go to the nearby Valencia market. Its claim to fame is that it is a market situated in Valencia. It does have a long tradition however and the Acacia trees prove it, they must be as old as English oaks. In all of East Africa where Acacia trees proliferate I never saw trees that matched these for size and beauty. Their limbs and branches stretch up into the heavens and […]
It’s hot and sultry here in Dumaguete City. I wipe my brow in the comforting shade of Mango trees. I ruminate on my new-found information. In 1901 the Silliman University of the Unites States established its first, SE Asia, overseas elementary school for boys. It grew over the years to become a university much renowned in the Philippines. In 1976 a teaching hospital was opened and now thrives as perhaps the best outside of Manila or Cebu. Concurrent to the elementary school opening, but apropos of nothing, the German scientist, Max Plank, who had yet to make a name for himself, was proposing the uncertainty principal and a theory which was to become known as quantum theory. What’s that got to do with anything? I don’t know, just thoughts running wild – you know how it is. Coincidence of dates perhaps? Anyway, now well established, Silliman is the most respected of its kind in the region. I regard its colonial administrative buildings partly hidden behind a high, compound wall opposite the Moon Café where Daisy and I are lunching on our newly acquired favorite – Chimichangas. Only ₱97.00 It’s our third time at the Moon, probably because we could not […]
We are seated at a table for four, this Asian lass and I. We are in Casablanca. Not the Casablanca you understand but another spot on the planet that boasts the name. A restaurant in fact that, alas, does not have Sam playing for us tonight, there is no sign of Rick (I suppose he is hidden away sweet talking Major Strasser), Daisy stands in for Ilsa and Captain Renault is not in evidence although his security guards are omnipresent. We order a Philippine delicacy the appearance of which, when it arrives, creates doubt. Mindful of the lads standing there supporting guns with ammo reminiscent of that found in field artillery I hesitate to comment in any but the most positive light. The contrast between this Casablanca and the original is that, in the original it appeared as though one could hear each other speak. Such is not the case with this one. We are on the outdoor terrace at the waterfront, Rizal Boulevard, a pedestrian walkway and a seawall between us and saturation. Two foot waves plunge determinedly against the sea wall but for now anyway, they are resisted. But it is not the waves that drown our conversation. […]
GOOD THINGS COME IN THE PHILIPPINES … TO THOSE WHO WAIT. The longer I stay in the Philippines – and I have been here nearly six years now – the clearer it is that the happiest expats are the ones who started their visits slowly. Living in a generation that is used to instant gratification, it is easy for visitors to come to the country and become fixated by the easiest options. This tack is okay if you are only coming for a few weeks. When time is short, you have no choice but to take the obvious bright spots. This is true of any holiday. In a mere week or two, you can not do more than scratch the surface of a foreign destination. But fault lies with those who arrive in a new place with a long stay in mind but still never get beyond the initial offerings. Here I am talking not only about accepting the first girl they meet but retirees who choose where to live because they have been told about this or that island or town or village as being very good. Then they settle on an area in town without pausing a few […]
A Ceres Bus Trip to Remember The most ubiquitous bus line in this neck of the woods is the Ceres Liner. The fleet is modern and many of them are air conditioned and have free WiFi. The trip was to be a six hour drive with the driver appropriately tooting his horn every ten seconds or so for the entire journey. Well, after all, the road was lined with human development for almost its entire stretch. There were brief glimpses of distant vistas where coconut palms vied with banana palms for attention when not overwhelmed by the prolific density of avocado or mango trees. Less than a kilometer before the scheduled half way pit stop we sustained a tire blow-out. It was on the inner right rear I decided since it happened under my bum. The driver and his companion got out to peer under the bus. Satisfied there was no longer an effective inner tire we drove on, gently, until we reached the pit stop. Here it was discovered, the bus was not possessed of a jack. How to lift a huge bus and change a wheel? You stand and stare. Just as the staring and head shaking was […]
You might want to read Further to understand the title “Killing Time in Paradise”, lol You are probably aware that the Philippines became a very different country on May 9th, electing a new President, Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte (nickname “Rody”), who positively encourages extra-judicial killings. Does this development have any implications for you and your plans to live a happy life in this foreign country? Is it time to consider living somewhere else? The answer is clearly both Yes and No. The No dimension is easier and more comforting to address so I will start with it. Rody did not explicitly say that everyone should simply kill anyone they don’t like. Indeed, he even qualified his statements to clarify that it was okay only to kill someone who had done something wrong or, as he so eloquently puts it, someone who is a “son-of-a-bitch”. So according to Rody, everyone who is decent, law-abiding and toeing the line will have nothing to fear. There is safety as well in the fact that not everyone in this country owns a guns, only maybe 60% (so only some 60 million people) and even many people who own guns are not of a mind […]
Laws Restricting Foreign Land Ownership in the Philippines hurt Ordinary Filipinos Any foreigner who has wanted to buy land in the Philippines is, or should be fully aware of, the laws prohibiting foreign land ownership. . These laws are absolute and all encompassing save for one exclusion whereby a foreigner can obtain title to land in the Philippines through hereditary succession. (condos can also be owned by a foreigner however they are considered structures, not land). The statutes banning foreign land ownership are enshrined in the Filipino Constitution and the rationale beyond their enactment is to ensure Filipino land stays in Filipino hands. To sell this concept to the everyday working class(or poorer) Filipinos, some one somewhere seems to have convinced the middle and lower classes that this protectionist concept benefits them because foreign buyers would drive the property values up, effectively barring the lower classes from having the ability to own land. My personal feelings, and that of most economists is that this protectionist principle is seriously flawed. The most serious of these flaws is that foreign investment(with reasonable limitations to protect the national interests) has universally proven to be beneficial to a county and its people. Without getting […]
The Next Step of my Philippine Adventure As I continue on my Philippine adventure, I pause to ponder the view. Outside our bedroom window, on the third floor of this guest house, is a narrow ledge barely wide enough to accommodate the foot of a walker, heel to toe in front of the other. The architect lined this pigeon ledge with a wrought iron railing doubtless for aesthetic purposes but it makes, apparently, an ideal location for the ladies of the villa to hang-dry their hand-washed panties, bras and bikini combos. We’re not certain what the pigeons think about this but Victoria’s Secret might well benefit from the ladies merchandising acumen. How the ladies access the alleged balcony, remains, to me, a mystery. It occurs though that there are worse views. I visualize the owners. All slim judging by the garment sizes. But then most Filipinas are – slim that is. I was in Robinson’s mall last night taking a rest on a bench as Daisy shopped for supplies. The scene was easy on the eyes. Beauty everywhere. A returning Daisy wanted to know what I was staring at so enthusiastically. “Interesting design features in this mall,” I muttered. But […]
Why Start a Business in the Philippines? Sooner or later many of us expats will decide to do something industrious to pad out the long days of sun, sea, sex and sand. Since arriving I’ve been involved with the creation, purchase and sale of businesses from sari sari stores, jeepneys and tour boats to call centers, restaurants and bars. Along the way I’ve picked up a fairly useful playbook of do and don’t which have served me well over the years. So where to start, well depending on the size of the business you wish to start (I’ll cover takeovers later), the most important is the foundations on which it lays. The foundations of course form the structure of the company. From an unregistered habal habal (motorcycle taxi) to an SEC corporation you need to know who owns what and what will happen if things don’t (or do) work out. Foreigners are not allowed to outright own a company so many people including myself have put them in the name of my wife. If this doesn’t suit you it is also possible to do this but own any equipment the company uses and the lease personally. This effectively renders the […]
Who is Real, and who is just an Expat Pretender with skeletons in their closet? This is the first and only time I have lived outside my home country of Canada, so I am not sure whether this is a situation that is typical of the Philippines or rather a broader one where ever there is a large population of people with no long term ties to the area they live in. This issue is people who seem to take large liberties in their portrayal of who they are and what they have done in their life. I call them Expat pretenders and at the least their stories can be amusing, but at worst they also can be very damaging. Helping out my wife in her real estate business I probably run into more than my fair share and they have caused me anger, frustration and a lot of wasted time. The most prolific and easy to spot, now that I know what to look for, are those trying to impress their new young Filipina honey. Outwardly they appear well off, dressing the part, and they talk a good talk. They are important people back home like lawyers, stockbrokers or […]
My Philippines Adventure Continues Initiated in the unique experiences of public transportation in the Philippines Initially on our Philippines adventure, we got around in a cab. They are plentiful in the city as are Jeepneys and pedi-cabs. To anyone whoever complains about drivers in any North American cities I will ask, “You have never been to the Philippines have you?” These guys are something else; I think they even outdo the Italians. Most cross-streets have neither lights nor stop nor yield signs. It is every Cab, Jeepney, pedi-cab car, truck and pedestrian for himself. I am learning the art of ultimate jay walking. No one flinches. No one gives way. Some trucks display signs such as ‘Keep your distance.’ What they mean by that is “No getting any closer than 3”. By any normal reality the streets should be littered with broken vehicles and dead people – perhaps even including us – but no. This is all normal. The streets are filled with sound. The Jeepney is the Cebu bus. It’s a Jeep frontage with a modified long axle base carrying a passenger cabin. Most are painted in outrageous colors, no two the same, and many have, in place of […]
People come to the Philippines for various reasons and there’s no surprise the vast majority of those visiting are male. Some for a few weeks on holiday, some for a few months and some people like myself have made it their home. Whatever your intended length of stay, here are a few pointers that can help anyone. I initially arrived for a two week visit and never found anywhere better to visit and ended up living here full time so I’ve been through all of the following mind sets personally, each one building on the one before. Philippines for a Holiday The first thing to strike me having not traveled around Asia much before and coming direct from Marrakesh was the overall friendliness and hospitality of the people. But wary from past experiences as a traveler I knew to keep my wits about me which brings me to my first bit of advice. Only do what you want to do, whatever is possible today is probably possible tomorrow too, with the possible exception of fiestas and holidays. And if someone has approached you to offer you something, there’s a good chance it’s over priced. Overpricing in the Philippines can be […]
Motorcycles in The Philippines Not What a North American is Used To Motorcycles in the Philippines are part of everyday life for the majority of both Filipinos and Foreign Expats. They are everywhere and take many different forms. You have the automatic scooters which are light and uncomplicated to drive, street-trail hybrids such as the Honda XRM or XR which are easy to use on the street but are more resilient on the off road paths that alot of Filipinos must traverse to get to their homes, the standard 4 speed semi-automatic street bikes and then the larger full street bikes that more resemble what we would see in the North America. The most glaring difference between motorcycles in the Philippines and those in North America is size. Almost every motorcycle in the Philippines will be between 100 and 250 ccs, with a larger bike being a rare oddity that garners ews and ahs and many jealous, but respectful looks. Though I am fully used to the size of the motorcycles in the Philippines, sometimes I think about if I had a bike like this back in Canada. First off, it would not be considered legal on most roads, but […]
On to The Philippines (Cebu) The Adventure Continues The next stage of my adventures as I move on to the Philippines. The flight from Hong Kong to Cebu was about 2.5 hours and seemed over in no time compared with that 14 ½ hours from Vancouver. Heck, I didn’t even get to watch the whole movie after dinner which was too bad because it was the most recent Bond film. I may never learn how it all ended but hopefully Bond got the girl. We were met at the airport by Daisy’s boys, John Rey 18 and Justin 16. Two fine fellows I took an instant liking to. Very polite and courteous. Daisy is out right now in an early meeting with her mum. I said she should go alone and have some catch up time before imposing me on her. There’s to be a family gathering and party tonight. Our arrival in Cebu coincided with a major improvement in temperature; 83F. I am now in shorts and T. Sadly I seem not to have packed my sandals so am going to have to buy new. It was dark when we landed but sufficient street and other lighting to know […]
A NEW LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES What awaits you could be beyond your wildest dreams! You know, the one thought that comes to mind often is how possible it is to start a complete NEW LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES! This place literally GIVES you opportunity after opportunity to create and live a new version of yourself. And as I stare at the ocean (Metaphysical Teacher that I AM) while writing this, knowing that the ocean represents a “sea of unlimited possibilities” I realized that for anyone moving here, it is just that; a land of unlimited possibilities. What is so amazing is all YOU have to do is decide the kind of life you wish to live out. If you want the bachelor life then that is very , very easy here. If you wish for a new life of adventure, then with all the country has to offer in the way of activities and things to do and places to go, that to is very easy. And if you are one who wants a second chance at showing the universe you CAN be a good father and husband, then that life is here too. You want to be a […]
Will the Philippines Now Attract More Foreign Investment? Newly Elected President Duterte May Just Pull it Off I am involved in a business in the Philippines that will thrive or die on foreign investment to this country, and during the recent elections I automatically assumed that should Duterte come to power, people might be scared to invest in the Philippines which would have negative consequences to our business. Imagine my pleasant surprise this week when a Duterte Presidency was assured, and one of his immediate announcements was that he was committed to bringing foreign investment into the Philippines. His intention is to rewrite sections of the constitution that now exist which are extremely limiting to foreign ownership of corporations. Currently, foreigners are barred fully from ownership of business in several industries and in those that they are allowed to invest in, the maximum stake of foreign ownership is limited to 40%. These limitations have been a huge obstacle of attracting foreign investment to the Philippines as very few people would consider investing in a venture in which their control is limited. There are legal ways a foreigner can protect an investment , however these methods are tricky, complicated and usually […]
Don’t Want To Be A Minute Man in the Philippines! Take Your Time and Find the Filipina(s) You Want I have lived in the Philippines for over 1 year now. Before actually living here I had visited a number of times. Let’s face it, those who know, KNOW that there is a huge difference between visiting here and living here. I don’t care how many times you visit, there is no education like the one you receive living here. Once you choose to be a man in the Philippines, your reality will be different. With that said, the other thing you will come to know when living here is HOW MANY ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, OF ALL (LEGAL) AGES ARE HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES! When James Brown in the 60’s belted out “IT’S A MAN’S WORLD” I AM convinced he was speaking of being a man in The Philippines. I don’t have time to be politically correct and so many ladies MAY be turned off by this statement, but the truth is the Philippines is really a great place to be a MAN. It’s an even better place to be a foreign man OF ANY PERSUASION. Don’t get it twisted; WHITE, […]
Kumusta good people My Philippines romance and adventure begins A Blog by Anthony R. Edwards My Philippines romance and adventure begins officially with a Vancouver departure, on time at 2:30pm, January 31st . This Cathay Pacific flight made it safely to Hong Kong if a little late due to Headwinds. I watched flight progress on my TV screen map, as we tracked the planet. It was fascinating to gaze down on Beringia the former land bridge with Russia and I was reminded of the Korean Air disaster when we flew parallel to Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula. I hoped fervently that our plane’s captain was being careful. We crossed land again in the Sendai region of Japan with Tokyo somewhere off to our port. Near as I could tell we remained over Japan until Kumamoto passed under our left wing before traversing the East China Sea. We soon cleared Taiwan and over the South China Sea commenced our descent into Hong Kong. This would be my first venture into South East Asia. I had been courting Daisy, a delightful Filipina, for five months via Skype. We talked three times a day, for up to three hours every day. I’d called her from […]
A Church Wedding for the Filipina I Love Time to Show her I Believe in my heart that our Love is Forever A church wedding is not something that I have ever laid awake at night dreaming about. In fact as I entered the 5th decade of my life, the thought of having any wedding was the farthest thing from my mind. I had been down the aisle once while in my twenties and only a few years after was visiting lawyers trying to work out an amicable divorce. It was a typical story shared by the majority of my friends,(minus the “amicable” part) and for that matter most of all couples that made that solemn commitment, “til death do us part”. For the next few decades, my cynicism regarding the institution of marriage grew as two by two I saw friends and acquaintances disband their hallowed union seemingly with little care. I grew to be entrenched in my belief that marriages in today’s society were only temporary. With that belief, it was hard to stand straight faced during a wedding ceremony and listen to anybody solemnly swear something like ” to have and to hold, from this day forward, […]
Filipina Immigrant Homesickness can be a Major Problem Though not the road my wife and I took, many Foreigner – Filipina couples choose to live in the home country of the foreign partner. For those Filipino immigrants settling in a new land, I have always assumed that there must be some difficult challenges they face. Yuri, a contributor here on this blog site is one of those who with her husband has become a Filipina immigrant in the U.S. and recently she made a video explaining how one of the biggest problems she has faced is Homesickness. I myself, as alluded to in a previous article, have faced some small degree of homesickness since moving here to the Philippines from Canada. Most of the things that I have missed though revolved around amenities such as longings for western food, modern shopping and decent health care, however a big one was also that I missed being around people of my own culture that could understand my way of thinking. I found the solution to most of that through a move to Dumaguete City and since then have very rarely yearned for a return to Canada. One thing that has never enterred […]
Those Awesome Remote Tropical Islands of The Philippines A Nice Place to Visit, but maybe not a great place to live? I believe most people who have moved to the Philippines are like me and probably visited here a few times before deciding to settle here permanently. Myself, I vacationed in the Philippines numerous times and usually ended up on a small remote tropical paradise called Carabao Island, a short boat trip from world famous Boracay. The water was clean and and clear, the people simple and friendly and the lifestyle as laid back as one could imagine. For me it truly was the paradise I had always dreamed of. For several weeks a year I would get away from the stressors of the modern life far away from ringing cellphones and endless emails. the biggest decision I had to make most days was what time I would wade out into those aquamarine waters and explore the numerous coral reefs at my doorstep. Life was good and I figured that what I had in that small little postcard picture perfect locale was all I would ever need or want. When I finally made the decision to relocate permanently to the […]
Philippines Election Filipinos have Spoken Loud and Clear The Philippine election is over and there is a new, as yet unclear direction that this country I now call home is heading in. Due to laws barring foreigners from getting involved in elections in any form, I like many foreign expats in the Philippines have had to stand by silently and observe a process that could have far reaching effects on our lives. In the end, Filipinos have voted for change, and though I believe change is necessary I had hoped it would be accomplished in what I feel would have been a safer, more stable and gradual way. Filipinos have elected Rodrigo Duterte as their next President. As the election process started, I have to admit Duterte was attractive to me as a candidate for personal reasons. I and several dozen others are embroiled in an all out war with a despicable Norwegian Expat that has damaged all our lives irreparably. It has been a long and hard battle bringing him to justice and ridding ourselves of the pain he continues to cause us, but it has been frustrating too, as his tentacles of corruption run deep in the Filipino […]
Creepy Crawly Pests Not the place to be if you are Squeamish about Pests Having grown up and lived most of my life in Canada, where the cold harsh climate half the year keeps most manner of small pests in check, I have had to adapt to a different reality now that I live in the Philippines. Bugs and small pests rule here and everyday it is a constant battle to reclaim our living spaces from unwanted intruders. Personally, though I am not enamored with them, I am not squeamish but to those people who cower in fright at these small pests, The Philippines just might give you a lot of stress. My biggest issue is with ants. They are everywhere! Leave any food crumbs anywhere and very soon you have an army of these little industrial insects swarming. There are many different varieties of ants and while most black ants are harmless some have a voracious appetite for wood and if left unchecked will destroy any wood structure. Red ants on the otherhand pack a nasting little bite. The best way to control ants is regular spraying and simply to keep things sanitary Cockroaches seem to be the next […]
Why I am Lucky ! Several years ago I made a huge decision that would turn my life upside down forever change the world I live in. I pulled out all roots to the country and life I had lived in for over 5 decades and made a move to the Philippines. After living here for 2 and ½ years, I truly consider the Philippines as my home and this life as the one I expect to have for the remainder of my days on Earth. It is a life I dreamed of since I was a young man, but sometimes like all humans I usually take my blessings entirely for granted and sometime pay way too much attention to the things that are not perfect, rather than fully appreciated what I have. Today, I want that to be different and am spending a little bit of my time to inventory some of the reasons I should feel so lucky for the life I now have. 1- I have a beautiful and intelligent wife, who loves me beyond anything I could have thought possible. I love her just as much. I fully believe we will be together until the day […]
English in the Philippines English Speaking Expats do not feel the Isolation here that they would in Other Asian Countries That most locals can speak or understand some English in the Philippines is probably the second most attractive benefit of moving to this country, besides the chance to have a great relationship with a beautiful woman. It certainly was a major factor for me when I first decided to check out my chances at meeting an Asian woman. When I started the hunt for the relationship of my dreams and my sights began to get set on the Asian women who I found to be exotically beautiful, I initially focused on Thailand. I joined the Thai dating sites and though there was no shortage of women who blew my mind in the looks department, communication was next to impossible. I tried the common translations apps but it became abundantly clear that I could not get to know some one to the extent that I felt I required in an intimate relationship. I had to study my goals , and they did not include having a pretty fixture by my side that might keep me interested in the bedroom, but would […]
I am a guy in my early 50’s would like to meet a girl from the Philippines for a long term relationship with the girl based in the south of Ireland for it to be easier to form the bond.
The Filipina Perspective What Are They Really Thinking? A while back I wrote an article about the Filipina perspective and how though we foreigners have a lot to say about our Filipina partners, very few Filipinas come out publicly and tell their side of the story. Yes men, there are two sides, lol. At first I tried to convince my wife Shirley that sharing her experiences and thought about being in a relationship with a foreigner could be extremely beneficial to both foreigners and other Filipinas. After several weeks of patiently waiting for something from her, it became clear that she was not going to bring those thoughts out in public. I had to respect her decision but to this day, I have to admit that what she, or other Filipinas in interracial relationships with foreign men, feel, experience and think. I suspect that most of the men who like me are in a relationship with a Filipina, are probably in the same position. If we are truthful, we will admit that it is hard enough to understand the other sex from our own culture, but then throw in the added difficulty that our women are from a culture alien […]
Learning Filipino Culture An important step if you want happiness in your interracial relationship! Before I get into learning about Filipino culture, I want to introduce myself. I am Yuri Sincero. I was born and raised in Cebu, Philippines. I now live in the United States, married to an American man for almost 2 years now. I wanted to write this article because I feel that there is something very important that international/interracial couples should know. My focus is on filipino nationals married to a person from the west, but I feel it can really apply to any international/interracial couple. There is a learning curve when marrying outside of your race and/or culture.*This specifically is learning about Philippine culture and its connection of how filipino women are. .As a filipino national in a serious relationship with my American husband since 2012, what I have noticed is just how different our cultures are. Accepting the differences and adjusting continuously has been the hardest lesson for me. You cannot really appreciate the experience until you live with a person from another culture everyday. My husband and I are both very open to learn from each other’s culture and it is a huge […]
Financial Insecurity in the Philippines Paradise Turns Quickly to Hell When An Expat is Broke Financial insecurity in the Philippines is a subject that I know all too well of personally since I moved here for good. Like many Expats who have come to these beautiful shores, I thought I had it all figured out and would live the good life for many years to come. My plan was to start a business here (how hard could that be?), and spend half the year in these tropical climes building it while spending the nice summer months of Canada piling up cash reserves overseeing my business there. It was a great plan that fell apart very quickly. Not only did my business here in the Philippines fail miserably, but while away from Canada, the business I had hoped to provide a stable income of western dollars was run into the ground by the the people tasked to manage it responsibly. Left broke in a country where there is no safety net and few people who could help out even if they cared, it was a scary time. I was one of the real rare fortunate ones who was able to start […]
Spoiled in the Philippines Getting FAT!!! I realize I am getting totally spoiled in the Philippines and that is translating to a very disconcerting growth in my waistline. I have been looking in the the mirror and at pictures that have been taken of me and not been impressed with the fat guy I see. It has caused me to reflect on how and why I have got this way. Honestly, I have always tended towards chunkiness, not being granted the genes of one who can eat whatever they want, do no exercise and stay svelte, but never have I packed on so much weight as my past two years staying here in the Philippines. For me it has always been necessary to include a regular work out schedule in order to maintain anything resembling comfort in my physical appearance. Over the years, the main motivation for staying in shape was quite simple. To be truthful, it was all about women. The pool of eligible women was simply so small and the competition so fierce, that there was always a need to look as good as I could to even maintain my slim chance in hell of attracting one that […]
Doing Business in the Philippines A Foreigner’s Perspective In respect to a foreigner doing business in the Philippines, I have to start by trying to dispel the belief that it is not possible for a foreigner to make money here. Whenever I have written anything about doing business in the Philippines as a foreigner, there is usually a very vocal group of disenfranchised former entrepreneurs who have failed miserably and I guess feel that because they failed all others will do so as well. I would even go as far to say that most of these people have let resentment of their own failure poison their thinking about the possibilities of success and probably are so vocal because another’s success might show them the need to examine their own failure and the responsibility they must personally take for it. I do speak from experience on this topic as I too failed miserably in my first steps into the Philippines business world. Like many other Expats, I got off the plane with a fair amount of cash in my account expecting to easily turn that cash reserve into a life long steady stream of income to allow me to live like […]
Philippines Weather It’s the Sunshine, Stupid When you first think of coming to this country, it is natural to take a little interest in the Philippines weather you are likely to encounter. Frequent and highly alarming news reports of monsoons, typhoons, rainy seasons, floods, storms, tropical depressions and sodden landslides are bound to make anyone wonder if this country is really the Paradise you are looking for. So you diligently get out a map or two and consult a few websites trying to find out when and where exactly the rain falls and the wind blows and, guess what? You learn nothing. If you consult some of the detailed maps that boldly use primary colours – brilliant blues and reds and yellows – to highlight regions of rainfall, storm, sunshine etc at various times of the year, they generally look like colourings done by blind children, utterly incomprehensible to all but, perhaps, an experienced meteorologist. Surely it would be easier to portray the for formula for sending a shuttle to Mars. Even if you do grasp the essentials, you have to ask: Are they reliable? Perhaps they were valid yesterday but what about tomorrow. Climates are changing so quickly. So […]
Share your Filipina Success Story What has it been like for you Living with a Filipina? I would love for some of you other readers to share your success stories to show to all of you men out there still searching, that the the majority of us are happy beyond our wildest dreams. I am sure that there are men out there that cruise the plentiful blog sites and social media pages and what they see is a lot of men moaning and groaning about their sad tales of woe at the hands of some Filipina. I think it is important to show that these men are probably in the minority and to be blunt, most bear a good part of the responsibilty for the disatorous relationships they got themselves into in the first place. My personal experiences since moving here and meeting countless foreigner-Filipina couples who have a happy and healthy relationship leads me to believe that there are more success stories than failures and being vocal about your happy tales will inspire more men to responsibly search out for the Filipina that is right for them. So come on men, if you have found happiness with a Filipina […]
What Foreign Men Want in a Filipina What you Filipina Women may not Know! Do women here really know what foreign men want in a Filipina? That thought just struck me this morning as I sat down in front of my computer so I decided maybe I could give them a few insights. Before reading this, please understand that I cannot speak for all foreign men but I have gained some knowledge of the subject from both my own experience and through talking this subject over with the many friends I have made here who have found a Filipina partner or who are still searching. If you are a guy reading this and have something to add or a different viewpoint, by all means feel free to sign up share what you want in a Filipina. ( https://findinglovewithafilipina.com/registration/ ) To start, I have to share a secret to all you beautiful and available Filipinas out there. The vast majority of us foreign guys gracing the beautiful shore of your island nation are not movie stars, models , rich or famous. Mostly, we are middle aged to older grey haired or balding, probably at least a little overweight and come from […]
Meet a Filipina in Person Easier than you could imagine! Can you forego the whole online dating ritual and just hop on a plane and come over to the Philippines and meet a Filipina in person? The answer to that is a resounding absolutely! Though myself and many other foreign men have used online dating sites to find our Filipina partners, there seems to be a growing number of men who have avoided that whole hassle and simply just came to explore the Philippines and carry out their search in person with great success. To give you an idea of how easy it can be, I am a happily married man who is 100% loyal and actively try to ensure I put out none of the signs out that I am interested in any other women, but almost on a daily basis I get those signals back from young beautiful women while I go about my daily business. Some are subtle hints while others are straightforward inquiries whether I am single and looking for a Filipina girlfriend or wife. While going to great lengths to avoid appearing “available” there is no doubt in my mind that if I was looking, […]
Perspective as an Expat in the Philippines Forgetting to see the Beauty I am writing this article reflecting on my perspective as an expat in the Philippines as a follow up to my previous article on what the country looked like as a tourist who was just visiting. Very quickly after I sat down in front of my computer to punch away at the keys, not too surprisingly I realized how differently the world looks like from this perspective, and how it affects my daily enjoyment of my life in the Philippines. To give a little background, I have now been living here for over two years and I consider the Philippines my home. I do love it here, but just like when I was living in Canada, I really take all the beauty here for granted. I believe this is an absolutely normal human attitude, but it is also one I believe I have control over. Writing about it, I hope, gives me the insights to change, because understanding how my mind is thinking gives me that ability to change, which will ultimately have the effect of not only gaining more enjoyment from new life in the Philippines, but […]
Finding a Girl in the Philippines Online Get Ready to be Overwhelmed! When I first went about finding a girl in the Philippines online, I was absolutely shocked and overwhelmed. I had been pretty much single for a decade or two and had tried all the online dating sites popular in North America from the free Plenty of Fish platform to the pay per use Eharmony and Match.com services. Those North American services were a major disappointment probably more because of the fact that I was just not considerred a “catch” by Western women than the actual services I was using to find a suitable partner. Then that brilliant notion enterred my mind that maybe there was a different reality somewhere out there where women may actually still want a middle aged slightly balding, decent guy. Well there was, and it blew my mind when I found out that Finding a girl in the Philippines had so much potential. The site that I used was Filipinocupid.com and the response was nothing short of amazing. I sat down, filled in the profile blanks, wrote a short background of myself and uploaded a few pictures. (real ones of course, lol). I turned […]
Life in the Philippines Perspective is Everything Recently Henry, “Reekay” Velez made a video called ” what do you see” and this made me once again reflect on the different perspectives I have looked at the Philippines from during my time here and how it has affected my enjoyment of life here. Perception of life in the Philippines as a tourist When I first started to visit the Philippines, it was strictly as a tourist in a new and colorful world that I knew little about. I was hopping on a plane usually in -25 C degrees weather, bundled up in 3 layers of clothing then debarking in weather where anything more than shorts a tee shirt and sandals would be extremely uncomfortable. Usually I would stay a day or two in Manila where the bright lights, street vendors and even the beautiful “available” young women standing enticingly outside the “gentlemen’s” clubs were a novelty that filled me with wonder. When tired of the Manila scene, it was time to hop on a plane and visit the seaside paradises so plentiful in this island nation, and it was my tastes always to concentrate on the out of the way native […]
Living With a Filipina – Chapter 6 And her Family Writing this article about Living with a Filipina and her family, I expect to get a lot of reactions from all over the board. It can be a real touchy subject as just about anybody who has been in a relationship with a Filipina has probably got a strong opinion based on their own experiences. Some are good, some are bad, and some are just plain disturbing. In my case I have two which are from both sides of the spectrum. The first Filipina that I met online then had visited here in the Philippines and had a brief relationship with, had a family that I would say fit snugly into the “bad” catagory. A short while after my initial visit to meet the family, the requests for financial help started to roll in. Her mother wanted to run for Barangay Captain (had no clue to what that even was at that point) and lamented how only a cash infusion from her perceived new foreign benefactor could make that dream a reality. I sat through hours of sad tales of the how downtrodden the local people were due to the […]
Philippines Volcanoes: Peak Attractions. Ask travellers why they choose the Philippines and most will trot out the usual platitudes: the sun, the sea, the friendly people, the prices. Maybe some will show more thought and note: the beaches, the forests, the waterfalls. And there is no doubt that all these features have their merits. But what about another one of the Philippines definitive features – its volcanoes? Why do so few people get excited about them? They are one of the most dramatic elements of the country’s landscape, with over 200 of them randomly popping up in all parts of the country, so that even the least intrepid of travellers are likely to see a few of them? Admittedly, they are fairly unobtrusive most of the time, quietly adding impressive beauty to the horizon for sure, but otherwise marginal. Unless, of course, you are of an energetic, hiker frame of mind, in which case they offer a wonderful opportunity to see untrammelled nature up close – to ford remote, meandering streams, to rub shoulders with and study strange flora and fauna; and, if you have the stamina to reach the top, to savour spectacular views. Either way, it is worth […]
Ferry Travel In The Philippines Is it safe? If you are coming to the Philippines and have done even a minimal amount of research, you will know that ferry travel is likely to be a part of your itinerary if you wish to stray any distance outside of Manila, and an essential part if you want to visit one or more of the islands which constitute the raison d’être for most visits. Oh, how wonderful that can be! Sailing along in a brilliantly painted bangka, sheltered from the sun, with the blue sea splashing against the sides. I have enjoyed that from the short transit to Puerto Gulera in the north to El Nido in the south-west. But you will probably also know that the Philippines has an unenviable reputation as far as ferries so. So it is worth asking: What is the truth about ferry travel? Or, as the more pessimistic might put the question: Just how risky is the situation? To get the bad news out of the way first, much of what you have heard about ferry travel is true. For starters, the country has the unwelcome distinction of having had the world’s worst peacetime maritime […]
As an expat in the Philippines I am now part of a society in which for better or worse, I stand out and am highly visible. This is an ironic twist for me as for the first several decades of my life I desperately strove to be in such a position. Growing up, I have to admit I was on the insecure side. I was never the guy that garnered a lot of attention from the girls nor was I held in great esteem by my peers who gathered around amazed at my wit, laugh at my jokes or be in awe of my abilities and accomplishments. For the most part I was just one of a faceless crowd that I felt I had to work hard to impress and show my relevance in the world in. In my late teens and early twenties I resorted to drink, outlandish behavior and extravagant spending to set me apart from the crowd and counterbalance my shyness and insecurity.
Don’t Get Involved! A Filipino Mentality that differs wildly from what I am used to This Filipino mentality showed it ugly side recently here in Dumaguete. There was a very sad and unfortunate incident that has made me remember something my wife has tried repeatedly to convince me of. Out of respect for the family of the man, and his memory, I do not want to get too far into details but a simple overview is that a young American man got into a dispute in a bar which ultimately led to his death. The whole incident was caught on video from the security camera of the establishment, which then found its way on to the internet. I, like many others I am sure, watched the video and besides the the obvious revolt I felt watching the death, something else shocked, and yes pissed me off. As this man lay on the street, countless people walked by seemingly entirely disinterested let alone showing a willingness to help. This took me back to several decades ago when I heard numerous stories about similar behavior in New York City, where it was reported that muggings and other violence occurred on the streets […]
Having Kids as an Older Expat Should I, Should I not? Having kids as an older expat in the Philippines is something that just about all expats will have to think about. The reality is that most expats who have come to live in the Philippines will end up with a wife or significant other that is far younger than himself. Typically, the man will be in the 50+ age bracket and his partner will be smack dab in her child bearing age of 25 to 30 years old. Beyond the normal maternal instincts and yearnings any woman will experience, Filipinas are especially interested in having children as their whole culture is extremely family oriented. Simply put, I believe most Filipinas I have met will never feel fully whole unless they have a couple rug rats running around the house, who they can care for, nurture and mold into young adults. On the other hand, most expats, myself included, are in the stage of their life where they have probably already had children whom they have raised and are fully grown and maybe have kids of their own. They have already lived through the diaper changes, all night crying sessions, […]
Filipino Mentality – Chapter 2 “Crabs in a Bucket” or, “Me First” “Crab mentality, sometimes referred to as crabs in the bucket, is a way of thinking best described by the phrase, “if I can’t have it, neither can you.”The metaphor refers to a bucket or pot of crabs. Individually, the crabs could easily escape from the pot, but instead they grab at each other in a useless “king of the hill” competition which prevents any from escaping and ensures their collective demise.[2][3][4] The analogy in human behavior is claimed to be that members of a group will attempt to negate or diminish the importance of any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of envy, spite, conspiracy, or competitive feelings, to halt their progress.” Before living in the Philippines, I guess I had somewhere heard this phrase, but don’t believe I ever gave it a second thought or considered what it meant in practicality. Now that I have been here for a few years, I know all too well exactly what it means and what it looks like. To be blunt, it ain’t pretty! I experience the “crabs in a bucket” mentality everyday in my life in the […]
Starting My Philippines Life Over What I Would Do Differently Here I am, 5 years down the road in my Philippines life, thinking back to how I behaved during my first year or two and wondering how I would do things differently if I was just arriving in the country now. It’s not that I have any reason to complain about my life at the moment. On the contrary, despite having made many missteps after first landing in the Philippines, I am happily married with a incredible one year old son and only have reasons to celebrate. I am only pondering my early years because I feel so lucky to have gotten where I am, knowing that I made a lot of mistakes. Everyone arriving in a new country makes some, of course. But maybe if I confess to a few of mine, I can save you making the same ones I did. Before I begin, I would suggest it is essential for anyone coming here for the first time with romantic inclinations to be very clear which of two opposing camps they belong to: are you coming simply for fun or determined to find a wife? Your purpose will […]
Filipino Mentality Chapter 1 – Focusing on today vs Looking at the “Big Picture” I, like most westerners I know, tend towards being a “planner”. That seems to involve most aspects of my life from financial matters to vacations or even the meals that I have, and sometimes I notice that this need to plan can be considered somewhat anal. My thinking with just about everything centers around what I consider being proactive approach to life where I consider consequences and how to avoid negative ones and try to develop positive ones. My life involves lists, such as tasks on my daily calendar at least a week or two in advance and what things to pack when I go on a trip. In business and in my personal finances I use cash flow projections to determine the best use of what money I get when in order to not go out and buy something I want, but don’t particularly need, then be stuck with some one knocking on my door to settle a bill that I do not have the money to pay. The examples of how and why I plan is endless and it is clearly just the way […]
Here’s a quick break down of 5 questions any first time traveler should be asking. Question: I think Filipinas look beautiful and I want to find a relationship in the Philippines. There are lots of people in the dating sites from the Philippines but I want to meet someone face to face first. Can I go to the Philippines before I’ve met someone special? Answer: YES! – I would recommend to anyone coming to the Philippines with a view on making a relationship to follow these simple steps. Avoid committing yourself to someone you met in a chat room, while many people find lasting relationships online I prefer to find someone who’s not playing the numbers game at the start of a relationship. Find someone when you get here – this will probably sound difficult to anyone who’s never been here but forget everything you know from the west, just sit and wait for someone to chat you up, if you don’t like who arrives just wait a while longer or ask if they can introduce you to anyone else, it won’t take long even if you’re pig dog ugly! I kid you not. Come alone or with some casual […]
Filipino Mentality How my Thinking Differs – Introduction When I first decided to get involved with a Filipina, then again when I decided to live with her in the Philippines, I was certainly very naive in many respects. My initial belief was that the biggest problems I would face were going to be related to things like financial concerns and how to develop an income outside my own country in order to sustain a fairly decent standard of living here, or obtaining the proper visas to stay in this country legally. I wrongly believed that once I was able to overcome those types of obstacles, the rest would be a piece of cake and most days I could just lay back, relax and enjoy life in a sun filled paradise, far away from the harsh winter climate of Canada. I of course knew that Filipinos had their own unique culture, which I had discovered and embraced on my numerous trips to the Philippines each winter over the previous decade. I also had a relationship with a well educated and intelligent Filipina who was fluent in my own mother tongue and with whom I could communicate with as well as any […]
So you’ve found a beautiful girl and she ticks all the right boxes for you. You’ve started seeing each other and things are absolutely great. How do you know if she’s the one you want to spend the rest of your life with? Well the short answer is you wait and see but that’s not good enough for everyone these days so here are my 3 tips to point you in the right direction for your beautiful girl. How well do you know each other? Completing each other sentences (or sandwiches for that matter) is something that happens in many new budding relationships and while it can seem magical when it happens it’s not a sign to start choosing a ring. Really knowing each other has to include both sides of the happiness coin and can take years to achieve. Unless you’re about to drop off the edge to feed the worms there’s no hurry, take your time and get to know each other slowly, enjoy it and build a solid foundation for your future. What’s average, above average and what do you have? I meet many people who, after a few hours of online dating and mucky skype conversations, […]
LIVING WITH A FILIPINA Chapter 5 Her perspective of Living with a foreigner will remain a mystery for now So it has been several weeks now of gentle reminders to Shirley that she should start her series of articles and the truth came out today, lol. She just doesn’t want to do it. Though I am disappointed, I do respect her decision but when asked about her reason, another topic for my series popped into mind. I know that my wifes english is more than passable and she is definitely capable to string her thoughts into coherent sentences, so I was always confident that if her heart was in it, what she would share would have been a good read for myself and others, but the real reason she at least temporarily declined was her concern over what others would think. And I believe that sentiment is something that most of us foreigners with Filipina partners have experienced in varying degrees. It has become apparent to me over the course of my stay here that my wife is not alone in how she lets what other people will think, guide both her actions and hold ransom to her true freedom. […]
Living With a Filipina Chapter 4 Should I bring her home to Canada? In this series I am writing about living with a Filipina, this will probaly be an article that generates some polarized opinions. Though that might be the case, I have never been one to shy away from controversy in the hope that various viewpoints can be put forward and discussed in a way that people can benefit from. What now seems like many years ago, when I first got the idea that maybe somewhere else in the world there might be a woman that I could have a satisfying and meaningful intimate relationship with, I did travel to several South American countries in my search before trying out the Philippines. During that time, I seem to remember that my ultimate goal was that if I did find that woman, I would bring her back to Canada then maybe go back to her home country (in a warmer climate) during Canada’s cold winter months. When I first visitted the Philippines, that plan did not change immediately. I went the normal route as most men and visitted several times and each time I had spent time with some Filipina […]
Living with a Filipina Chapter 3 Remebering why I am in Love Loyalty – a good Filipina‘s unwavering commitment I awake early, and usually spend a little time these days out on my balcony, listening to the waves and watching the sun come up. The other day, when I came in the door, refreshed and inspired about the possibilities of the coming day and before sitting down in front of my computer, I decided to take a few minutes to climb into bed and lay next to Shirley my filipina wife. As I was stroking her hair, ( c’mon guys, don’t imagine where this is going please and just read on, lol) I could not notice the rise and fall of her chest nor the gentle exhale of her breath. For one short minute a panic overcame me that I have rarely felt in my life. She was of course alive, well and breathing but the thought that crossed my mind instantly was , what would my life be like if she were gone? That thought was something I hope I never have to face in reality, because honestly, I do not know if I would feel that life […]
Living with a Filipina Chapter 2 After my initial article of the series I intend to continue writing about living with a Filipina, some one commented that they would like more specific details of my experiences. I believe that is a good idea, but I do want to caution readers that this series is not intended to critisize my wife, but merely to point out some of the cultural differences that have caused me trouble as well as the solutions that I am trying to implement to make our relationship a loving, lasting one. I, like every human being on this planet has character flaws, but one thing I am proud of when I look in the mirror at night is that I do have compassion, and I try to act upon it. If I see a person or an animal in need, it hurts me and I honestly do everything within reason to help out. Living in the Philippines now for just over a year, I have seen more of that need need than I have experienced in the other 53 years of my life. Sometimes it is overwhelming, but I refuse to close my heart and ignore that […]
Living With a Filipina Chapter 1 Gord here again , with the continuing story of my Romance with Shirley . We are going through alot of changes right now , some really great and others , well, a little challenging. The first of which is Shirley’s new job . Since we met, Shirley and I have been working together in my businesses , but as I explained earlier, this caused stress in our relationship, We are both a little on the stubborn side (of course I think she is worse than me ,,lol) and quite often , disagreements on the business side, naturally carried over into our personal relationship. So Shirley made the decision that she wanted to get her own job and earn money apart from the family business. It is not crucial financially that she do so, but I believe that for her to maintain her own feelings of self worth and confidence ,it is a good thing . Problem though is the only job she was able to get quickly involved night shift work . It has been a few days now, and difficult getting into some type of routine where we both get enough sleep, and […]
Living with a Filipina Introduction Over a year ago I wrote some articles about my experiences Finding Love With a Filipina and as time progressed I had planned to continue with a series on what it is now like Living with a Filipina. Well, on the 28th of March my wife and I will be celebrating our first wedding anniversary so I figured there can be no more procrastination, I should now share my experiences and thoughts. Living with a Filipina – Introduction The Realities of an Intimate Relationship In the overall sense, the honest truth is that it has been extremely difficult at times and though my love for my wife is unwavering , I truly have had my doubts that we would make it as a couple. I will not say here that it is her fault , nor will I take full responsibility for our difficulties myself. The real truth is that at some point, our storybook romance had to face the realities of any intimate long term, lasting relationship.Those realities I believe are true for anybody who has the goal of a satisfying , healthy relationship with another. To give you some background, I myself have […]
Relationships, Love, Marriage and other Trivia Some Interesting things to keep in mind while you are developing your relationship with a Filipina • Did You Know? According to a study, Couples who share housework equally are more likely to divorce • Did You Know? Husbands who kiss their wives before leaving home in the morning have been documented to live five years longer than those who do not. • Did You Know? Women can talk longer with less effort than can men. That has been proved repeatedly. Why? Because the vocal cords of women are shorter than those of men and so release less air through them to carry the sound. It’s all a matter of breathing. • Did You Know? Couples who lived together before they were engaged have higher divorce rates than those who waited until they were married. • Did You Know? In Japan, Women give men chocolates on Valentine’s Day. Men return the favor a month later on White Day (March14th). • Did You Know? A strong sense of humor is associated with intelligence and honesty. That’s why; most women are attracted to men with a sense of humor. • Did You Know? Most married couples […]
Quotes about Love Keeping your relationship in perspective Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. Engagement rings are often worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because the ancient Greeks maintained that that finger contains the vena amoris, or the “vein of love,” that runs straight to the heart. The first recorded wedding rings appear in ancient Egypt, with the circle representing eternity as well as powerful sun and moon deities. European males subconsciously seek out women whose waist circumference is about 70% of their hips. Beauty icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Venus de Milo, and even Twiggy had a waist ratio of exactly 70%. Women around the world are more likely to fall in love with partners with ambition, education, wealth, respect, status, a sense of humor, and who are taller than they are. Women also prefer distinctive cheekbones and a strong jawbone, which are linked to testosterone levels. During ovulation, women become even more interested in men with signs of testosterone. Women often feel loved when talking face to face with their partner; men, on the other hand, often feel emotionally close when they […]
A CHALLENGE TO FOREIGN MEN !!! Find your Filipina! If you are even reading this blog, it means you have an idea or a dream of a better life. I know . I am just like you. A few short years ago I was resigned to a life in Canada where I really had zero hope of any real contentment, let alone joy. I came to the conclusions ,that the concept of relationships in western society is now totally dysfunctional, as well as that I was just not a desirable commodity to the women of my country. Yes, I was pissed off, resentful, cynical and depressed. It sucked! I had tried all those online dating sites that you probably have . Eharmony(someone telling me who I was and who I should be happy with. ya right!!) Plenty of Fish(you get what you pay for and I will say no more on that) , and Match.com(the only ones I had any attraction to, happened to be paid to keep me interested). If you are like me , and I suspect you are, you wasted a lot of time and probably money, trying to find the women you desired and were constantly […]
FINDING LOVE WITH A FILIPINA CHAPTER 6 Its 2 am on a sunday morning here in Dumaguete City and I am up to check on who is out there , looking to get romance in their life . As I was getting up out of bed , I glanced at Shirley , asleep and peaceful on the bed beside me . Warm feelings of love enveloped me as I wondered whether she was dreaming of me , lol . I had to sit there on the side of the bed for several long minutes and just look at her and thanked whatever God is out there for putting her in my life . I stroked her hair , gave her several tender kisses on her forehead , and found a moment of complete contentment . That is the love I have found . The one that has eluded me previously for decades . Miracles do happen . I might as well go on and post here another short chapter , lol Last I wrote , I explained how Shirley and I came to the realization that in order to keep the magic in our relationship , we had to actually […]
FINDING LOVE WITH A FILIPINA CHAPTER 5 Good morning ,Gord here , to continue my story. Sorry for the delay , but it I have had to spend some time deciding how I would write this chapter , keeping it coming straight from my heart . Here goes , lol So , last I wrote , the magic seemed to be gone between Shirley and I ! But to be truthful , I now realize it was still there but in a different form . It is easy to be in a relationship when all things are roses , but life isn’t like that . For me , Shirley or anyone else . That is a fact and a reality ! The true test of love is what is done when things are difficult . For us , no matter how hard things were , our love for each other was the one constant and unbreakable thing . Now, like for everything in this world that is worthwhile , the real work had to begin. I cannot speak for Shirley on this but quickly , I will tell you what I learned. I had to change. Changing myself was all […]
Finding love with a Filipina Chapter #4 Good morning everyone . Gord here again , and its a beautiful day to be alive and in love . Let me continue today about how the love has grown between shirley and I. After several months of pure bliss with the newly found love of my life , I had to return to canada to attend to business . Problem was that Shirley could not attain the permit to come with me at that time. Pure and simple , that sucked . I had finally met the girl of my dreams and we had to part . The next 8 months all we could do was call , text or chat on skype . I missed snuggling with her , looking deep into her eyes and the touch of her soft skin . The way she giggled when I tickled her , and even the look of death she gave me when i pissed her off, lol. It was unbearable at times , but what got me through was knowing that I loved her , she loved me and that one day we would be together all the time . In december […]
Finding love with a Filipina Chapter 3 Today I want to tell you about Shirley . The love of my life that I thought I would never have I had plans to visit the Philippines again in the winter of 2013 so ,, I signed up again on a dating site hoping that this time the experience would be better .for several months , I corresponded with Filipinas , and went through the same crap again . Numerous gays posing as women , people who would have all sorts of reasons to not be able to do a video call , and of course ,all the requests for money . I actually did send money to some with the hope that it would help them and their families out , but I also knew some were just scams and con jobs . It took a long time to weed out the crap and again I eventually was left with several women I thought were real , and that i was attracted to in both looks and personality . It was a hard choice to make , especially with the doubts from my previous experiences , but for some reason , […]
Finding love with a filipina Chapter 2 Gord here again , to continue with my story of finding love with a filipina,,lol before I came to the philippines the first time , I joined filipino cupid , really not expecting much. What a total shock when after posting my profile I got hundreds of responses almost immediately . Now, to understand where i was coming from , I know I am not the best looking guy in the world , lol, but I do have a good heart , am fairy intelligent and work hard , so do feel that I have something to offer a woman . The thing is though , those are not qualities that western women seem attracted to. I am sorry to say that in my experience , here in canada the better you treat a woman , the less interested she is in you . Being a nice guy doesnt pay,,,lol. Kinda confusing to me,,,but in chatting with filipinas I generally got a different sense . They could accept being treated well. So I continued on with Filipino Cupid , but what I did find was that along with all the wonderful women , […]
Finding Love with a Filipina Chapter 1 I am a middle aged Canadian man , who recently found my true love and best friend while visiting the philippines . Over the coming days I would like to share with you mine and Shirley’s experience as well as our joy and hope for the future ! To start , I am pretty typical western man . Been married ,, and divorced . Felt the pain of playing only a minor role in my daughters upbringing . Seems to be that just about every guy around my age that I know here in Canada , has a similar tale , the only difference being the number of times and the adversity of the divorce . It seems that it is a forgone conclusion here in western culture that relationships will not be sustainable . I cant tell you why this is , nor am I going to point a finger at one specific gender . All I know is that this is the reality us men seem to face . Personally I gave up after dating numerous women after my divorce , and figured i would spent the rest of my days […]
DIVORCE FROM A FILIPINA There is a way if that is what it comes to When it comes to divorce from a Filipina, or the ending of a relationship, I always discuss the topic reluctantly as I myself am not in that situation and hope I never will be. Personally my feeling is that all avenues should be explored to work on an existing relationship and avoid the need for a split, but the reality is that some are just broken beyond repair and their only alternative is for a couple to go their own separate ways. For that reason, I recently choose to repost an article ( Divorce in the Philippines) written by another author several years ago about divorce in the Philippines, or more accurately, no divorce in the Philippines. I do believe that that article was accurate, but when I shared it with another forum of expats in the Philippines, I was brought to task by a member who had taken a novel approach to his divorce of a Filipina. Though I do not like how he delivered his message, the message itself was interesting. After doing my own research, I found that what he said to […]
Dumaguete expat, what do the locals think of me? Some Food for Thought! Recently, I was sitting around the patio at Awesome Desserts on the Boulevard, just one of many other foreigners kicking back and discussing this daily life that I describe as like winning the lottery, when a thought came to mind. How do the locals feel about this Dumaguete expat and my growing number of brethren. I made the mistake of vocalizing what was going through my head and after an origonal shrug-off by each of us, it quickly turned into a heated mini-debate with many different opinions. The end result was my asking Terrence to think about writing an article for us on the topic and this is what he came back with. If you are a Dumaguete Expat, or an expat anywhere in the Philippines, here I believe, is some good food for thought. Gord Do You Pillage And Rape? Or Are You A Nice Guy? by Terence Doyle Anyone else been experiencing troubling pangs of guilt recently about their pampered lifestyle out here in the Philippines? Anyone else pausing now and then during their daily round and wondering about the morality of their retiree ways? […]
DUMAGUETE, CITY OF CHOICE FOR EXPATS IN THE PHILIPPINES REAL ESTATE Dumaguete City, capital of Negros Oriental is gaining in popularity as the best place for Expats to settle. Previosly I have wriiten articles trying to explain why and have covered the topics of Medical Care and Amenities. This week I will give some info on Real Estate. The Real Estate market for both investment rental properties as well as single family dwellings is thriving due the steady influx of foreigners looking to rent or purchase accomodations, and it does not look like there is an end in site. Currently prices are still very attractive and affordable but at some point there is concern that this growth will lead to inflation due to supply problems and speculation. Purchase pricing varies with land ranging from 500 P/sq M for undeveloped land outside the city to 3,500 P/sq M for developed land in some of the more affluent subdivisons and beachfronts. Add to that your actual finished building costs of 20k to 30k per sq M(floor area) finished to North American or European standard. A typical mid quality house with 120 sqm of floor area on a 400 sqm lot , will […]
DUMAGUETE CITY OF CHOICE FOR EXPATS IN THE PHILIPPINES medical care This will be the first installment in a series of articles showcasing why Dumaguete City appears to have become the location of choice for a huge number of Ex-pats who have decided to make the Philippines their second home. When I first came to Dumaguete , quite honestly I was just not blown away. I had already spent about a year, on and off in the Philippines and what I had fallen in love with had a lot more to do with secluded white sand beaches and clear blue waters, as well as the simple way of life and culture of Filipinos in the provinces. Here, most of the beaches are mediocre, there is traffic, a little bit of pollution and the native Filipinos can be a little bit harder to get to know than in some of the other places I have been fortunate to visit. So when I saw how many foreigners lived here I decided to start asking them on an individual basis, why Dumaguete? The number one answer was that it had the amenities they were looking for , but was only minutes away from […]
Can Foreigners Make Money in the Philippines Ask the Chinese !! can foreigners make money in the philippinescan foreigners make money in the philippines There are a lot of naysayers to the question, can foreigners make money in the Philippines, but to those I ask , what about the Chinese? Are they not foreigners too? A simple look at the who’s who of wealthy businessmen today in the Philippines will yield more than a handful of prominent men and women who are of Chinese descent and risen to the top of the ranks in the Philippines business world. The prime example is Henry Sy, head of the SM group of companies that is also listed as one of the worlds richest men. He started his empire from next to nothing and through hard work and intelligence has gained a pinnacle of success in this country that is extraordinary. He is hardly alone. Walking in his footsteps are Chinese Filipinos (Chinoys) Taipens such as Lucio Tan (Philipines Airlines, Philippine National Bank, fortune Tobacco and Tanduay Distilleries), Andrew Tan, (Megaworld Corp and Consolidated Distilleries), John Gokongwie (Robinson’s, Summit Media and Cebu Pacific), and Tony Tan Caktiong, (Jollibee). These examples are but just […]
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