As you may have read last week, I was basically shut down and out of touch with the world of Internet for seventeen days at the beginning of the month. No LiP, no Facebook, no emails, no business - completely shut down electronically. That made for plenty of free time - free time that Baket ko (Asawa ko) [my Wife] felt obliged to help me fill with activity. To escape, I had to come up with … [Read more...]
Smart 2 Slo 2 No Bro
February 20, 2013 by 35 Comments
Here I am, sitting at the keyboard of the laptop once again, pounding out an article for Live in the Philippines. I can't tell you how happy I am to be able to do this. For the past seventeen (17) - that's right, seventeen - days and nights, pounding on this same keyboard would have gotten me nowhere outside of my house. Did I say SEVENTEEN DAYS? That is how long I went without any … [Read more...]
Some shocking news
February 8, 2013 by 73 Comments
I got some shocking news earlier this week. Before giving you the news that I received, I want to lay out the underlying story for you first, though. It all started back on January 22, just a couple of weeks ago. I am surprised, but what happened that day did not seem to get a huge amount of news coverage, at least not nearly what I thought it would. You see, on January 22, a Canadian … [Read more...]
It’s Tax Time Again – Expat Style
January 29, 2013 by 8 Comments
Here it is, the end of January already. So very much is going on - fiestas, football play-offs, fun in the sun, taxes. Whoa! What's this about taxes? So soon? Can't a person have some peace and quiet about that topic before April 15th comes around? Actually, January plays a big part in US income taxes. During this month employers, financial institutions, and the like are tasked with … [Read more...]
Retire in the Philippines, is it for me?
January 25, 2013 by 48 Comments
Today, we have a guest post from my friend, LeRoy. LeRoy is trying to make the decision of whether he should retire in the Philippines and is asking for input from the LiP community. So, give LeRoy some advice and let him know what you think! I thought I would invite others to give me feedback as I evaluate my retirement choices. As a side note, in addition to my business background, I … [Read more...]
Myths From the Missus
January 22, 2013 by 33 Comments
Last week's article on traditions/superstitions started me thinking. It appears that there are readers out there who may want to know more along these lines - particularly more about some of the myths and mythology of the Philippines. Now, I don't claim to be an expert in any of these areas. I can only relay to you, dear reader, what I have heard and/or learned during my stay in the … [Read more...]
Mano Po
January 16, 2013 by 38 Comments
I am writing this article with a serious issue on my mind. For Christmas I wrote an article regarding the downfall of the children of America, and possibly other countries, losing the meaning behind the reason for the season of Christmas. This article is about the loss of respect given not only to our elders, but to everyone in general. I see it in the news on a daily basis. A young teen or … [Read more...]
Traditions & Superstitions
January 15, 2013 by 24 Comments
Since the start of the New Year, there has been considerable talk - both on-line and off-line - about traditions and superstitions of Philippine origin. Now, I'm as gullible as the next guy and I can believe or disbelieve any of the superstitions. Tradition, on the other hand, is something that requires a little respect from an "outsider." I've done a little research - both at home and on … [Read more...]
A New Year – A Fresh Start?
January 8, 2013 by 21 Comments
As I write this, the calendar on the wall is still of the Year 2012 variety. For good reason, too - this article is being written on New Year's Eve. While it will appear in print sometime early in the New Year, its composition is in the old. It takes time for the writing, editing and publishing to occur. But, of course, you knew that. There is still a lot to take care of today so that … [Read more...]
2013 Philippine Predictions
January 1, 2013 by 56 Comments
It's that time of the year again... a New Year is upon us! Today is January 1, 2013 here in the Philippines. You slow pokes in the USA and some other parts of the world will have to wait until tomorrow. With the New Year, that also means that it is time for me to prognosticate on what will be happening in the Philippines in the coming 365 days. Will I be right in 2013? No way to know … [Read more...]
Year End Odds & Ends
December 29, 2012 by 3 Comments
Well here it is - the real Yuletide! The "'ber-months" just can't compete with the last week of December Hope all readers have (or had) a most Merry Christmas. Mine was just fine. Counting them all, it was my sixth Christmas here in Pasuquin. It's quite a treat in this locale as the town fiesta is held between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. So, the celebration is in dead earnest … [Read more...]
Tax Talk – Expat Style
December 18, 2012 by 22 Comments
Over the past few weeks, I've been inundated with questions regarding the U.S. income tax. I've been fortunate enough to pick up a couple of new clients along the way (that's always a good thing!) but find that the questions have a much broader scope and application. The questions have sprung from discussions with other U.S. expats. Some have discovered that they are still required to file … [Read more...]
December Blues
December 11, 2012 by 14 Comments
It's a beautiful time of year, or is it? December has just unfolded on us and things just aren't the same this year. There's a typhoon that wended its way through the central and southern Philippines. The days seem to be getting shorter a little earlier this year. Visitors have come and left, leaving an empty feeling behind. So much more just isn't the same. As long-time readers of … [Read more...]
Dear Kuya – Part 2
December 7, 2012 by 17 Comments
For part one of this story, see Dear Kuya. I pack my bags and sit out by the road waiting for a bus to go pass. So I sit for about 30 minutes until a bus appeared and stopped so I could get on and away I went down the road never to look back. The bus was a local one that stopped at every little place along the road and I have ridden them before so I was ready for a long ride. Being 9:30 … [Read more...]
A Trip To Baguio (Pt II)
December 4, 2012 by 21 Comments
In my last article, A Trip To Baguio (Pt I), we found family visiting and taking a trip to the City of the Pines - Baguio - in Benguet Province. We drove for seven hours, checked in to our hotel, ate lunch, rested a little, then visited the Philippine Military Academy for the remainder of the day. On the second day, we visited The Mansion and were getting ready to move on to other … [Read more...]
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