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Is anybody minding the store?

September 3, 2010 By MindanaoBob 84 Comments
Somebody did a poor job when labeling those boxes!

Imagine this situation, if you would.  Your brother just died in a foreign country, far away from his home.  You are mourning deeply for his loss, quite sad.  When your brother died, it was under unfortunate circumstances which caused an uproar, only making your loss more painful. Your brother's body is shipped back home from the foreign land where he died.  You and your family have made all of the arrangements for a nice funeral and you are hoping to get over it and hopefully get back to a normal life as time passes.  After the body is repatriated, though, you and the family open the coffin and the body inside is not your brother after … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Daily Life, Expats, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines, Manila

$$$ Check-Up Time

September 2, 2010 By PaulK 18 Comments
magnifying_glass

Well, dear readers, it's that time of year, again.  Time for a little health check-up of your finances, year-to-date income, and - gulp - your estimated income taxes for 2010. Readers who've kept up with my articles know that I'm a CPA and I love my work.  Helping others do "battle against the beast" is challenging but enjoyable. Around this time last year, I jotted down a few hundred words regarding what I believe to be an important mid-year review of estimated taxes and periodic payment of those taxes.  If you wish, dear readers, you can review that article here. Everything in that article remains true today - that in itself is something … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paul Tagged With: Adjustment, Business, Daily Life, Expats, Financial, Living in The Philippines, Paul Keating, Taxpayers

C’est La Vie

September 1, 2010 By Patrick Duffy 11 Comments
There goes a hermit crab now!

The next day I rent a boat to take me back to Hilabaan and Butna for a few days.  The people are curious about my returning so soon and why I love it so much on their island.  It is somewhat difficult to explain to those who had never yet seen the big city with its big city problems, crime and smog. A place where people do not know their neighbors and have little time for “hellos.” These people here live in a world that only God can create and which Hollywood can only imagine. In the evening I walk across the islands with Melvin and Noling to observe the Mr. Math and Miss Science talent contest at the town Plaza. The people take it upon … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Guest Tagged With: Daily Life, Expats, Filipino Culture, Luzon, Manila, Patrick Duffy, Travel, Visayas, Weather

Baguio View

August 31, 2010 By John 35 Comments
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Last time I told you that Migs and myself eventually got on our Bus to go to Baguio, we traveled on a Victory bus,  good condition, air con, and comfortable. The journey cost around p450 for about a six and a half  hour journey. It was great to see the countryside sweeping by, the little towns and villages, and  roads that were changing condition every few minutes. I was so impressed when we stopped at the Victory stop in Tarlac, everything was modern and clean, and really had a sense that a lot  of thought and pride had gone into this particular Tarlac bus station, but be warned there are many others, that do not boast the same conditions. As … [Read more...]

Filed Under: John G Tagged With: Baguio, Expats, Filipino Culture, John Grant, Living in The Philippines, Luzon, Travel

Davao

August 31, 2010 By JohnM 60 Comments
Didn't want to leave the pool!

Well, after two and a half years of living in the Philippines, and writing on this blog for two years now, we were finally able to take a weekend break and visit Davao. First off: What a really nice place! We thoroughly enjoyed our trip, and felt that it was much too short... That's how a "vacation" should be. When Rebecca and I were dating and during our first year living here, we travelled frequently, with Becky joining me overseas occasionally, or on domestic trips that I took for work. When Juanito entered the picture, those types of activities dropped off immediately, between the back and forth to Abulug and Juanito''s adoption paperwork … [Read more...]

Filed Under: John Miele Tagged With: Davao, Expats, Filipino Culture, John Miele, Living in The Philippines, Travel

A Pox on the Internet?

August 30, 2010 By Paul Thompson 74 Comments
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Back in May I signed on to Facebook, only because after Googling an old friend and I found him on Facebook. Some people swear by Facebook, me not so much. A lot of friends and relatives did show up, and that was a good thing. But my ex-wife? Please! The one thing I’ve worked so hard to do, is to keep continents and oceans between us (i.e.; North Carolina to the Philippines). The Ex shows up on Facebook asking to be my friend. Like that’s gonna’ happen. Say what? I’d sooner stick my hand in a blender and hit the puree button (see how I cleaned that up for our readers). Please understand, I wish her no harm, only distance. And Facebook … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paul T Tagged With: Communication, Daily Life, Expats, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines, Paul Thompson

I passed the test! With new Podcast!

August 27, 2010 By MindanaoBob 41 Comments
Oh no! Test Time!

Today, I'll be sharing a new podcast with you, but that will have to wait until the end of the story. It's been a while since I did a podcast, so it feels good to put one up again. Over the past 3 weeks, I have been having examinations as part of my Bisaya Class.  For new readers who don't know, Bisaya (or Cebuano) is the main language used in the Central and Southern parts of the Philippines. As the name implies, Cebuano originated in Cebu, but much of the Visayas and Mindanao speak this language, or a variation of it.  For the past 3 years I have been taking Cebuano classes and learning to speak the language. The textbook that I am using … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Communication, Daily Life, Expats, Filipino Culture, Language, Living in The Philippines, Podcast

Life is Stranger than Fiction

August 26, 2010 By Patrick Duffy 10 Comments
Lion Fish

Finally once again I am back in Dolores, Eastern Samar. With all the traveling, the humidity and the heat, I rest whenever possible. Yes, it's good to be back home again. In the morning I visit friends and make appointments with others whom are too busy. My friends and I catch up on many things such as family business and my plans on building my house on the beach. The housemaid I met last time now has new employers she introduces me to.  They are a local girl named Rebeca and a gentleman named Horst from Germany who met, fell in love, and got married.  They started a copra business and live in a nice house in town. They are planning to buy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Guest Tagged With: Daily Life, Expats, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines, Patrick Duffy

After 20 years and still adjusting

August 26, 2010 By Feyma 41 Comments
Bob & Feyma

Yes its been a couple of  weeks now since Bob and I celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary. It's been a good challenge for both of us to stay together. It's not been an easy ride the whole time. We had so many trials along the way. As everyone know its not going to be easy to be together with somebody that everything is so different. Hey can you imagine bringing 2 different culture into one?  Big challenge there. When we first got married I was in my early twenties and so naive with everything in life. When I arrived in the States everything is so new to me. For the first time I was introduced by Bob to a microwave, a big washing machine, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Adjustment, Bob Martin, Daily Life, Expats, Feyma Martin, Living in The Philippines, Relationships

My Kadayawan 2010

August 25, 2010 By Jawz 4 Comments
kada2

I had been wanting to see this, ever since I read about it in late '08. Something about seeing photos of people performing traditional dance in tribal costumes attracted my attention. I'm a culture lover, so I guess I was bound to want to see this, despite me being one to not take great interest in many other types of performances (excluding favorite band concerts). I could see it approach by the decorations being hung up in the malls. Finally, on August the 21st and 22nd, I got to see what I wanted. The events of the Kadayawan Festival! First, on the 21st, was the street dancing parade. The next day, Sunday morning, was the floral float parade. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jawz Tagged With: Daily Life, Davao, Expats, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines
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