What kind of content are you looking for?
As most people who read this column daily would know, yesterday a little bit of a flame war broke out in the comments of my last column. No biggie, it seems all resolved now. Anybody who has been on the Internet for any appreciable amount of time knows that these things happen from time to time. The flamer himself, though, left at least one comment that was constructive, though. Here is one thing that he said:
Perhaps try when possible to tackle some more meaty issues (at least to me) regarding an expat moving here to Davao Things that might be construed as more constructive to a person actually moving living and building a lfe here. Believe it not most of this sort of information stuff is not readily accessible to people as you might think and can only come from those with direct experience such as yourself.
OK, I want to provide content here that is interesting and relevant. Honestly, though, I am not certain of what this person is seeking. What exactly are these “meaty issues?” I mean, it would be nice if everybody could point out issues to me that they would like me to write about. I thought that I had covered meaty issues, so I am kind of at a loss to know what it is that this guy is asking for.
Right now, what I write about is what it is like to live here. What is my day to day life like, what do I do, what kinds of activities do I find to keep myself busy and happy with my life in the Philippines. These are the topics that I generally write about. If something “meaty” comes up, like a new type of visa that you can get, or something like that, I write about it too.
I do get requests from people, usually via e-mail asking me to write about a certain subject. When I get such requests, I generally write an article on the subject. From time to time, though, people ask me to write about something that I know nothing about. For example, a get a fair number of requests to write about building a house here. Well, since I’ve never built a house here (yet), if I wrote about that it would not be so accurate, because I don’t have experience in that particular endeavor. When the day comes that I build a house, I’ll most certainly be writing many columns about the experience.
Is there some topic that you’ve been wanting to get my scoop on? If so, leave a comment and tell me! If I have experience or knowledge on it, I’ll most certainly write about it. Let me know!!
Hi Bob,
Well, since they are playing for the National Championships, I’d think it would be worth the effort. Ohio State is complete fluff, so you if any of your friends might be interested in a little foreign sports culture, I would think a little ‘American Football Party’ would be in order here (you know, chips, dip, buffalo wings, beer and pep-cheers). LSU will kill Ohio State with one hand tied behind their back. Your team is about as sure to win as the sun will rise tomorrow. I think it would be a very impressive display. I’m sure that it would be a very unique experience for many Filipinos and non-US expats since nobody pays attention to NCAA football except Americans. A great cross-cultural exhibition and to be had by all. Seriously, if I was in town, I think we would make this a night to remember
Regards,
RichardInSC
Hi RichardInSC – Keep in mind that we are 13 hours ahead of you, so this would be an “early morning” party! Thing is, I need to make sure if it will be on TV or not here. Only a very very few games are on. But, given the importance of this game, it probably will! Hmm… buffalo wings and beer? This is a must do!
Yeah, If any football game will shows up there, I would guess this one would! Here’s an idea…If you find it, just record it and play it for the party at a more civilized hour. I seriously doubt anybody in the Philippines would know the score ahead of time
Great excuse for a get-together for sure. Wings, beer and the college football spirit = A really great time!
War Eagle!
RichardInSC
I think I would be interested in knowing more about filing US taxes while living in the Philippines. Yesterday I asked our accountant here what we should do if my husband decides not to work here in the US and just stay in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Our accountant here mentioned about the treaty/agreement between the US and the Philippines of not taxing the individual twice and hopefully he’ll get back to me without the bill for research. I told him we wouldn’t be able to afford him if we’re LIP.
We just have our building 99% completed, a combination of our living space on the first floor and 1-bedroom apt/condo style units on the 2nd and 3rd floors. I’m afraid that he wouldn’t want to come back here. Believe me…it wasn’t fun going through the building process from plan to finish (and now the taxes I’m dreading and it’s going to be April soon).
Every now and then, I find your invitation to join your network of friends. I am not computer savvy and I always think I will have to figure out a lot of things. Today I have not even completed a Frienster loading of the apartment’s pics. I’m trying to learn how to blog my place in the Philippines so I started dabbling on it. It still overwhelms me and I know the process of improving it is still a long way to go.
I don’t know if you want to keep this link– http://zylla3.wordpress.com but check it out just in case you have business in Manila. I would want to retire in Davao or Cebu or even go back to Negros but all my siblings/families are in Quezon City and Bulacan now.
I love your photoblog and I follow it as much as I follow the travel of one foreigner who wants to retire in Cebu I believe. He’s back in Sacramento now but he still blogs of something related to the Philippines and it’s people, just like you Bob. I like the pictures of his travel from Dumaguete to Cebu last December (http://travelswithgoyo.wordpress.com ) Thanks!
Hi Cecilia – Thanks for the comment. Regarding taxes, I have covered that on the site before, but I will be happy to explain it here too. It is actually quite simple. If your husband is a US Citizen, his taxes are the same in the USA regardless of where he lives. If he lives here in the Philippines, his tax obligations to the USA are exactly the same as if he lived in the USA. Now, for Philippine taxes, he will now own ANY taxes in the Philippines if his income is not derived from the Philippines. For example, if he gets a pension, or has a business in the USA, the Philippines does not tax that. If he puts up a Sari Sari store here in the Philippines, that is taxable by the Philippine Government (since it is located here), and also by the US Government (since he is an American citizen and earning money). Yes, there are treaties that will limit the double taxation, but there will still be some due on both sides of the ocean.
Thanks for your kind words, Cecilia.
Thanks Bob! That’s a speedy answer…and a starter. My husband won’t have any pension yet. He wants to retire even without the retirement package, at least not until the next 5 years. He thinks he can survive with the property rental to be in PhP. The scary part is “his taxes are the same in the USA regardless of where he lives.” That’s why I’m afraid we still have to file here and can’t even afford the tax preparer’s fee. I hope it will be simple enough that we can do it on our own and e-file from the Philippines, if that is even possible. We will be in Quezon City this June (simpler if I can get him back to the US)…if and when later we can afford to relax and travel as far as the Visayas, we’ll be in Davao.
I need some one familier with fileing and helping to get reqirments for fiancee visa.With u.s imigration someone liveing in peranque aor manila.
Hi david – I’m sorry, but I know of nobody in that area, who does such things. You know, it’s very easy do yourself, you might try that.