About Bob Martin
About Bob Martin, the Publisher & Editor in Chief of the Live in the Philippines
Yes, I am an American, but I have been coming to Mindanao regularly since 1990. In addition, I have lived permanently in Mindanao since early 2000, and I love it here. The thing that I hear all the time when I tell people that I live in Mindanao is that I must be scared because it is so dangerous here. Actually, that is really far from the truth. Yes, there are places in Mindanao that are quite dangerous, but the majority of the island is safe. Is it perfectly safe? No, I know of no place on the earth that is perfectly safe, do you? I have lived here for a number of years now, and I have never felt that I was in danger yet. I do try to use common sense in my daily comings and goings, though. I suppose that in these days of uncertainty that would be a sensible thing to do no matter where you live.
Yes, we have a few crocodiles in MindanaoI have been involved in a number of different types of businesses over the years. I guess that at the root I am a retailer. I have managed a number of different retail stores ranging from small specialty shops to huge discount stores in the past. Since the early 1990’s, though, I have been self employed. In that time I have done different things. Initially I was a writer, authoring about a dozen different books that were published. Most books that I wrote were on the subject of Amateur Radio and Shortwave Radio Listening. In recent years I have sort of mixed my passion for retailing with my passion for writing and for the Internet in general. I have a number of different blogs on the Internet, as well as e-commerce stores selling different types of items on each of my websites. It is a good life, and I enjoy it very much. The kind of business that I do allows me to have free time when I want it, and also work at whatever schedule I choose. It allows me time for my wife and kids, which I enjoy a lot as well.
Speaking of my wife and kids…
I guess that when you mix up all of my interests and my passions, there is only one thing that you could call me. An Entrepreneur. Yes, I am an Entrepreneur, and I love it!
Come back to the blog often!
# 1 Bob said:
You have a peacefull,positive and creative manner about you! I like your site as I am much interested in coming to the Philippines if I could get over my fears. You make these considerably less.
# 2 Bob said:
Hi Bob - Come on over and give it a look! I’m sure you’ll like it here. Don’t let any fears hold you back.
Thanks for your compliments. They are much appreciated!
# 3 wol4997 said:
Hi Bob,
Ihave been following this site and a couple of your others for a few months now. I really like the new layout on this one. I was a little disappointed when I tried to log in yesterday and got the message that it was getting a facelift. I am often disappointed with the results when I run into this. Not this time. You have done a fantastic job here, keep up the good work.
# 4 Bob said:
Hi wol4997 - Great news! I’m glad that the short wait yesterday turned out to be worthwhile! Thanks for letting me know!
# 5 geert & mayette said:
Hi! My husband & I are visiting your site almost everyday for about a year now, we enjoyed reading every blog.
Anyhow, we like the changement you made, into web magazine so much better, Great works! Nice photos too.
Actually am from Leyte Island so that is why I keep on visiting your site & reading all the post as well over Leyte.
Always has been our plan also like many other’s dreams here with filipina wives to go to live in the Philippines, that don’t know when to make it happen because of different reasons… In our case we are working on it hopefully very soon
Thanks! Have a Nice Day to you All!
mayette&geert
Belgium
# 6 sid said:
Hey Bob,
man you are my mentor, i don’t even know where to start. I myself have married a beautiful filipina and we have been by each others side for 19 years. she is from Pampanga and we have a house there which is absolutely beautiful,i hope and pray to be there in two years. You look like my twin brother, and as i read your articles I feel as though our spirits are the same. I have been back to the Philippines the last three years, and my view on life has changed. My first morning I was there I was just so overwhelmed I bursted into tears because of the hospitality that the family gave to me. I kick myself in the rear for waiting to go back to the Philippines so long, 16 years. I am so amazed by the spirit of the Filipino’s, for so many who have nothing in material possessions, they are the happiest people I’ve seen in my life. They are the toughest people who can endure such hardships and still go on, and their family sticks together like no other I’ve seen, absolutely incredible people. I can keep going forever but I have to go. Take Care of yourself and your wife and kids.
Sid
Mesa, Arizona
# 7 Bob said:
Hi sid - Thank you very much for your nice comments. 19 years is a sign of a very good marriage, congratulations on that! Feyma and I have just passed our 17th anniversary, so we aren’t far behind you!
Good luck to you, and I hope that your plans in two years work out!
# 8 Bill Long said:
# 9 Tom said:
Sid
I hate to bust your bubble but Bob is much better looking than you.
Thanks for telling me about this site. Lots of good info.
Thanks to you Bob this is a great site.
# 10 Bob said:
Hi Tom - Ha ha.. thanks for the support!
# 11 Bettypribil said:
Hi Bob!
I like your site it is very informative,I am also from mindanao & lived for 20 years in Vienna,Austria with my austrian husband..Iam working here in the home for the aged.I am happy you liked my country Philippines…specially Mindanao…Mabuhay ka Bob!!!!!
# 12 Bob said:
Hi Bettypribil - Thanks for visiting! It is a pleasure to know you. Not only do I like Mindanao - I love it! Mabuhay ka pud!
# 13 John C said:
Hi Bob, Like what I read, sounds like you have it made with the lifestyle and the family. I live in the UK with my wife who is from Iligan City and was looking to maybe relocate as we are soon to be 3
Any advice on where to look for a home in Cagayan de Oro. I scanned the web but only came up with snob hill and the likes so any advice on where to look for a nice house with good schools and such would be most welcome.
Best Regards
John C
# 14 Bob said:
Hi John C - My best advice would be to avoid shopping for real estate on the web. That just doesn’t work well in the Philippines. Unfortunately, houses shown on the web are generally marked up 100-300%, because they are fishing for “rich foreigners” who will pay anything. The best thing you can do is to travel here, jump in a taxi and just look around town. Houses for sale will generally have a sign on the gate (for rent too), and then you can know the real price.
Since I have never lived in CdO, I really could not make any recommendation on an area. I could help for Davao or GenSan, but I don’t think you are searching here!
Good luck!
# 15 Jayson said:
Hi Bob,
you have a great sight here. I am planning to move to the philippines next year and from all the experiences i have read here makes me that little more prepared. I have been to Davao and I agree it is a very livable place. I have family throughout mindanao. Actually my father bought a block of land on samal island which we are planning to sell, so if you have any readers interested let me know. By the way do you know a jean trueman (australian guy) has a wife sam whos family is based in davao.? Anyways hope all is well
jayson
# 16 Ellen said:
Hi Bob, just happened into your website while searching for news on the Davao Gulf. Great site. I am a former Dabawenya holding a Canadian passport now. Me and my partner (Norwegian) arrived Davao last Dec 2007 on our sailing vessel and we (the boat and us) have been in Samal Island ever since. Being away from the country for over 30 years, I am so ignorant on a lot of issues here. Your website provided me with very useful info, especially on balikbayan visas. Thanks!
Ellen
# 17 Bob said:
Hi Ellen - Thank you so much for your nice comment! You’re not a former Dabawenya! Once a Dabawenya always a Dabawenya, right?
If you happen to see me on Samal, be sure to say hi! I spend a lot of time over there.
# 18 Ellen said:
Cheers,
Ellen
# 19 Bob said:
Hi Ellen - I think that I’ve seen your vessel there already! I pass through that Ferry terminal on a very regular basis. One of these times, I’ll try to stop by and say “HI”!
# 20 Ellen said:
You are very welcome.
# 21 Ronald T. Whitney said:
Hello Bob, I envey you for living there in the Philippines because I have been married to Filipino for 34 year and have not made it there yet
You have a nice looking family there. Also the price of gas here in California is at $4.45 a gal. not good but not as bad as the P.I.
Take Care, Ronald
PS. Mabuhay
# 22 Bob said:
Hi Ronald T. Whitney - while, you’ve been married that long and still never made it to the Philippines? That’s a long time Ronald, but really, there is no need for envy — airplanes are coming to the Philippines every day, and all you need to do is jump on one and you’ll be here in about 24 hours. Give it a try!
# 23 John said:
I’m a fan of your http://visayas.p7107.com site. But it stopped with the news articles by the end of May. Please continue it since it a major source for our friends abroad. Thanks and more power!
# 24 Bob said:
Hi John - unfortunately, I worked on that site for about two years, but it was a losing proposition moneywise. It never made enough income to pay for itself, and was costing me money, so I decided to shut it down. I simply can’t afford to pay staff to work on projects that lose money. Not enough readers supported the site by supporting advertisers, so I chose to shut it down.
# 25 John said:
Ahh… If you don’t mind, how much did you pay for each article there, especially for Capiz news?
# 26 Bob said:
Hi John - I never paid anything for the articles, but I had to pay employees to take care of the work, and it was a losing proposition.
# 27 John said:
If I were to put a similar site, how much would I pay each employee to take care of the work? Please give me an idea. Thanks a lot.
# 28 Bob said:
Hi John - That would be your decision. As a businessman, it would be your responsibility to decide how much to pay your employees and other such decisions.