I often get e-mails (and Feyma does too!) from LiP readers asking about finding a house to rent here in Davao, or elsewhere in the Philippines. The people often want to know what kind of house they can get, and how much it will cost them. Or, they might say "how much is it for a 3 bedroom house?" Well, this is a very difficult question to answer, because the number of bedrooms does not necessarily determine the rental price of the house! I mean, you could have a very high quality place with 3 bedrooms, or a 6 bedroom shanty, and I can assure you that the 3 bedroom place would rent for more! This is just common sense. Since I usually … [Read more...]
College job
August 27, 2009 By 7 Comments
Feyma is working with a LiP reader this week. He is relocating to Davao, and Feyma is assisting him with many of his needs in relocating, things like renting a house, moving in, purchasing his daily living needs and such. She'll be back next week with a new article. For now, enjoy this repeat of an older article of hers! When I completed 2 years in college my brother asked me to stop my schooling to manage his textile business in Manila. I was in Cebu for school. I was in my late teens at that time. He had around 5 different stores, some were managed by his wife's siblings. He also had a dressmaking shop. He had around 4 or 5 seamstresses. … [Read more...]
Philippine Playboy!
July 29, 2009 By
People often ask me how I ended up in the Philippines. The short answer is for a better life. I must say, that the Philippines has exceeded my expectations. However, that also required an open mind and a re-evaluation of what is important. Yes I have a few less creature comforts here than I did in the USA but it didn't take me long to realize those things were not as important as I thought. Central air, super fast Internet connection (equal to T3), a DVR attached to my cable box with over 200 channels and hot water throughout the house come to mind. Those things are nice but they don't matter, you don't need them. Some of these things … [Read more...]
Summer of swimming
April 23, 2009 By 27 Comments
Summer vacation for the school kids here in the Philippines is well underway now, and the challenge for parents like Feyma and I is to keep the kids busy! You know how kids are, if you don't keep them busy with something, they will spend their time playing video games and watching TV. Doing that for 3 solid months will lead to boredom and also laziness! So, we are always keeping an eye out for something for the kids to do. If you have been reading my site for very long, you undoubtedly know that I enjoy swimming. The kids must take after their Dad, because they enjoy it too. Well, the other day the kids asked to go swimming, and we said … [Read more...]
A Year In The Philippines
February 16, 2009 By 32 Comments
As of February sixth, I've been in the Philippines for a year. I don't think I've ever been more alive than I have in the last year. Its been a year of learning but I've only just begun to learn. I have a long way to go. I can't help but reflect over the last year. There have been far more high points than low points. There are things I miss from The States but that is not what I think of as home any more. My home is in the Philippines, I just have strong ties to the US. I miss real milk. :) Maybe there's some here but its so expensive I don't bother. I miss pizza, but I'm better off without it. Oh I eat them but there's no 18 inch … [Read more...]
Market Day
September 18, 2008 By 28 Comments
Early Sunday morning I went with my niece and nephew to the Palengke (market) to get good and fresh produce and fresh meat. We went around 4am so that we can catch when the butcher delivers the fresh meat. Sunday is the market day here. People really flocked from all over Davao to get the fresh and newly delivered veggies. I mean they deliver everyday, but its really Sunday that the delivery is abundant and lots of variety. Since living here in Davao, 7 years ago if we go to the market P500 is enough already to buy the veggies that we want for the week. Nowadays we have to spend like P2000 for the weeks worth of veggies. Just a sample a kilo … [Read more...]
Getting expensive!
November 30, 2007 By 36 Comments
As I watch the value of the dollar sliding down against any currency I thought that the prices of the goods here would be lower a bit. I was wrong, as I go to the grocery store and shop for our groceries I find it that the prices of all the products are even getting higher. I also thought that the imported stuff that comes from the USA should be lower but it's not. Every time I go shopping now I usually spend a lot of money. We buy our grocery that's usually good for a week or two. The bread at the bakery the prices are higher too and the sizes are getting smaller. Some of the restaurants the prices of their food are higher and the serving is … [Read more...]
Hiring janitorial services!
November 21, 2007 By 26 Comments
It's been awhile now that I was thinking of hiring somebody to clean our house thoroughly. Yeah we have help here in the house, but she is so tide up with catering the needs of our kids that sometimes the house is not really maintain the way Bob and I want it to be. A few months ago while riding the taxi on my way home I saw a janitorial place not far from our house. So finally yesterday I told my niece to call the janitorial place and inquire from them how much would they usually charge for a house cleaning. Later my niece told me that she talked to one of the people at the cleaning place and they told her that somebody will be coming over to … [Read more...]
Hey guys I need some help here!
August 6, 2007 By 24 Comments
I got an e-mail yesterday from a guy in the USA. He wants me to give him some advice. This guy wants to move here somewhere in Southern Luzon. He wanted to marry this lady from that area. I guess it would be hard for her to go abroad quickly because she has 2 kids from her previous marriage. Anyway, this guy wants to know if he would move here to the Philippines is $10,000 enough for him to start a new life here with this new family of his? He also said that he thinks his lady might be pregnant, that's why he wants to move here so bad to be with her. He said on his e-mail that they already have a store (I'm just guessing sari-sari store, he didn't … [Read more...]
Furniture Shopping
March 21, 2007 By 11 Comments
Few days ago I saw a furniture store, as I glance on the window I could see that it's pretty good stuff. So I decided to checked it out. Wow, it shock me when I went inside, they had lots of good quality furnitures inside. The name of the store is BENTLEY. It's just behind Chowking right across Victoria mall in Bajada. I think they had branch in some other areas in the Philippines. This place in my opinion are selling high end stuff. But don't expect them to be a Thomasville or Ethan Allen in the States though. At least for Philippines, Bentley is good. ;-) One furniture that I saw that I like was a tall dresser, the price tag P95,000. Their … [Read more...]
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