Well, I remember my first Philippino "bed" in 1982, while being in Mindanao. They called it "banig": you just lay on a bamboo mat right on the floor. Every inch of my body ached when I awoke next morning. It has been one of the most unforgettable memories of experiences and the heartily hospitality of Philippinos, living in a very poor cottage, but sharing with me some handfuls of rice and a family coke... .It happened on my way back to Davao coming from Monkayo... Well, I also remember how many times I started to whine, when I had to go to bed as a little boy. Still being as happy as a a sand boy I only had one thing in mind. Stay up, stay up!!! … [Read more...]
Did you see the Olympics?
August 30, 2008 By 16 Comments
Now for the first time in decades my home country of the UK did a fantastic job at the Beijing Olympics. Well done team GB!! I JUST WISH i COULD HAVE SEEN IT. Now the news networks mainly showed still pictures as they did not have the rights to show and the TV networks here in the Philippines had very strange coverage to say the least. Solar showed pay for view coverage so the only other channel showing the Olympics was the CRIME and ADVENTURE network, yes you heard correct. Now I knew we were in for a rough time from the opening ceremony as the coverage that was allegedly live was stopped every five or six minutes … [Read more...]
Washed up performers
August 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Over the years, I have noticed time and time again that the Philippines seems to be a lingering stage for washed up performers. Time and again, bands that were popular 25, 30, even 50 years ago tour in the Philippines, and often to sold out audiences! I mean, we are talking about people who were popular in the States back in the 60's, even in the 50's. We are talking about bands and singers from the USA, Australia and other places in the world. These people were famous in their home countries, or even worldwide in their day, but sadly their day seems to have passed. Many of these performers would have a hard time drawing much of a crowd … [Read more...]
My friend that I never got to meet
August 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment
I lost a friend a few weeks ago. He passed away at a young age, just 48, way too young to die. I say that I lost a friend, but the truth is that I never met the man. I felt like he was a friend, though. He was a man that I wanted to meet for a couple of years now. I have been told that he also wanted to meet me. There were two or three times when we had each been scheduled to be at certain places at the same time and would finally meet each other, but in each instance one of us, or the other, was unable to make it. Honestly, I was shocked when I heard of his death. The man that I am speaking of is a great man indeed. His name … [Read more...]
How much did it cost to move?
August 27, 2008 By 12 Comments
Long posting again, but I hope this information is helpful. I have noticed that many people ask regularly on this blog how much it costs to move here. Well, we arrived here in mid-April of this year, and, nearly five months in, we are just about done with expenses related to the move. So, I'll detail how much it cost us to move from the Middle East. Our experience is based on Manila... Your expenses will obviously vary in other parts of the country. In Abu Dhabi, Rebecca and I had very few belongings... Her furniture, etc. was not worth moving, and I had a furnished executive flat and a small storage room in California, so we really had very … [Read more...]
Gone Fishing . . .
August 27, 2008 By 8 Comments
Hello Everyone, I'm currently on vacation in Canada. Normally I'd like to upload a new post for the Small Business File, but the nature of my travels has me in different places and without normal ammenities that help in making a regular e-column come to 'print'. That's code for my two year old has greater luggage requirements than me, so I had to leave the laptop at home in favour of a set of toy construction vehicles, a portable DVD player and his favourite story books. There is a silver lining to leaving the laptop at home -- it means I have a chance to keep both of my eyes open for great small business opportunities and ideas from Canada that … [Read more...]
You're how old?
August 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment
In my dealings with other expats here in the Philippines, one subject that comes up regularly is that it is hard for us to tell the age of people here in the Philippines. Some people look much younger than their physical age, while others tend to look older than they really are. It seems that it is just hard to tell for certain how old a person actually is. I know one expat who is a single man, and he tells me often that this is a real problem for him. As a matter of fact, this person has resorted to actually checking the ID of any potential dating partner to verify the age before he actually dates the person! He does this because he … [Read more...]
Talking with Inday
August 26, 2008 By 13 Comments
Yesterday I was talking to our laundry lady (her name is Inday). She just came back on working with us again. She worked for us before like 2 years ago. The kids really liked her and she liked our kids too especially our youngest one. Before she left 2 years ago, she asked me if she could take off for 2 weeks because her and her hubby will be going to Zamboanga to visit the her husband's parents. Then the next day she came back to get her paycheck, at that time I was not home but my niece (the one that has baby now) was here at the house. My niece told her that I'm not home but she gave the money for Inday's pay. Inday stayed for awhile and … [Read more...]
Give me Money!!!!!
August 26, 2008 By 28 Comments
I love walking around DAVAO and I walk in places where perhaps not many visitors go, and during the day time I have never had any problems at all. In fact I always hear the "HI JOE" and the big smiles and the ladies laughing,not sure why they laugh it must be my hair. One thing that always surprises me is that no matter what area I am walking around be in a very poor area or a middle class to upper class area I am surrounded by smiling kids who always make themselves known. However I have noticed despite if they are dressed in rags or prim school uniforms after a few seconds I hear the "Give me money", as if its so automatic like its taught … [Read more...]
Medical debate
August 26, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Last week, I was watching ANC (the ABS-CBN News Channel) on TV. The show was "Crossroads" with Tony Velasquez. Crossroads is a weekly news show that goes in depth and talks to guests about topics in the news. Something similar to what you might see on Sunday Morning TV in the United States. Crossroads airs on a weeknight here, though. It is generally a good show, though, in my opinion. When I watched the show last week, the subject that was being discussed was whether foreign doctors should be allowed to practice medicine in the Philippines. I was under the impression that foreign doctors could practice medicine here, as you often … [Read more...]
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