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A big change for the kids!

June 11, 2010 By MindanaoBob 65 Comments
Riding the Jeepney to School will be good for the kids!

Well, it's already mid-June, and that means that the new school year here in the Philippines is in full swing!  We have three kids in school, and between the three kids, they attend two different schools.  Jean, our daughter, is now in second year High School and she  attends Davao Wisdom Academy, which is not too far from our house.  Aaron, one of our sons, is also in second year High School and he attends Ateneo de Davao University, High School Campus, which is up to 30 minutes from the house if traffic is bad.  Our youngest son, Jared, is in fourth grade and also attends Ateneo de Davao University, Elementary campus, which is in the same … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Adjustment, Bob Martin, Daily Life, Davao, Expats, Family, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines, Transportation

Oops, I did it again!

June 7, 2010 By MindanaoBob 72 Comments
The Lemongrass is ablaze! This is normal when cooking Liempo Balamban!

Oops, I did it again?  Hmm... wasn't that a Britney Spears' song?  Yep, I guess it was.  Amazing, with that title, I believe that I have successfully worked Britney Spears into the Live in the Philippines Web Magazine for the very first time!  I never would have thought that was remotely possible. But, wait... what did I do?  Well, there are a couple of things that I did that fit the title "Oops, I did it again."  First, remember last week, I wrote an article called "Getting a do-over in the Philippines"?  That article was about my new BBQ Grill that we recently built.  Several people asked in the comments if I could show a picture … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Daily Life, Entertainment, Expats, Family, Food, Living in The Philippines

Dear Feyma “Please advise”

June 3, 2010 By Feyma 69 Comments
compuer_typing

I got an email from a lady who lives in the foreign land and has a friend with a problem. I've heard of these problems many times. Just lately I talked to a friend with just had similar situation. It's really hard to tell the people what to do though. I don't really care how old the couple as long as they are happy. I've had so many friends here and in the USA before that the guy was 30 to 40 years older than the lady and the marriage was really working and they love each other. So for me age doesn't really matter. "Dear Feyma, How are you? I stumbled upon your website like over a year ago and find it very helpful to all of us Filipinas who … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Communication, Daily Life, Family, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Financial, Living in The Philippines, Relationships

Talking with DJ

May 28, 2010 By MindanaoBob 34 Comments
dj2

As I told you in an article earlier this week, Feyma, the kids and I were down in General Santos last week for the wedding of a niece.  Before going to the wedding, we had a chance to visit with some family members for a while.  I got a chance to talk with one of my nephews, DJ.  I did not know DJ well, we have not spent much time together.  DJ is eight years old.  I think that in the past I have only met him once or twice, and never really had an opportunity to talk with him. DJ lives in the bukid.  What is the bukid?  Well, it is the mountain.  It is the Bisaya term for a very rural area, usually in the mountains.  Anyway, DJ lives … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Business, Communication, Daily Life, Davao, Expats, Family, Filipino Culture, Language, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Relationships

Juanito’s First Birthday and Adoption Update

February 16, 2010 By JohnM 22 Comments
242

January 2 was a big day for us! It marked Juanito's first birthday, and a year that went by way too quickly. Thinking back on that day a year ago, and how Becky and my lives have changed, it really has been such an eventful year. It seems like just yesterday. If you had asked me a year ago about being a parent, I would have given some smart-alec answer about being one who should not breed, or something similar. It truly is amazing how the moment you hold that small life, that bond develops, without even realizing it. So, fast forward to now: We've been very dilligent in making certain that we are doing everything we need to do for his welfare. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: John Miele Tagged With: Expats, Family, John Miele, Living in The Philippines, Relationships

A tragedy in the family!

January 21, 2010 By Feyma 20 Comments
kevin

I am writing today about what happened to my nephew. His name is Kevin. He is 9 years old. His just 3 days younger than my youngest son Jared. He is kind of quiet kid, I think because they just moved to Mindanao last year from Manila. He is still adjusting to everything here. He went to school with my other nephew Joshua who is 4 days older than him. They went to the same school so that Kevin can adjust easily, but they are not in the same class so that no competition will occur. His been studying in that school for 4 months.  He is learning Bisaya quickly too. Then in early November his teacher asked him to throw the garbage. The teacher … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Family, Feyma Martin, Health, Health Care, Living in The Philippines

Monday was a big day

December 16, 2009 By MindanaoBob 69 Comments
chris

This past Monday, December 14, was a big day in the Martin Household.  That date is always special for us, because it is our eldest son's birthday, but this year it was extra special.  Our eldest son, Chris, turned 18 this past monday.  I have to say, that I had mixed emotions on the big day. Firstly, of course, I was quite proud of our son.  Eighteen is a big birthday, because it is sort of the birthday on which you enter the gateway to being an adult, at least in my culture.  After the age of 18 you are no longer considered a minor, and in most aspects of life you become an adult at that age.  So, my wife and I certainly felt quite … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Daily Life, Family, Living in The Philippines, Relationships

Tiger by the tail

December 14, 2009 By MindanaoBob 58 Comments
tiger_woods

Back in the mid-1960's, Buck Owens had a hit country music song called "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail."  These days, when you mention a "Tiger by the tail" it has a whole new meaning.  The world's best golfer, Tiger Woods is in a rather difficult situation. Back on November 27, Tiger Woods got into a somewhat minor car crash just coming out of the driveway at his home in Florida.  At that point, Tiger's world began to unravel.  As I am sure anybody reading this already knows, revelations began about Tiger being involved with multiple women, despite having a wife and two children. In addition to his family life, Tiger is also in danger … [Read more...]

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

But, she's not family…

November 16, 2009 By MindanaoBob 57 Comments

For Americans, and I dare say, for people from most every Western Country, we really are not used to having full time maids, or for that matter, we are not used to having maids at all. Maybe 50 years ago, having a maid in the house was a little more common than it is today, although even at that time it was somewhat rare.   When I was young, and still living with my parents, I remember one time when we had a maid.  It was a time when my mother was sick, she had recently undergone some rather serious surgery, and because she was still recovering, my Dad arranged for a maid to come in around 3 days per week or so, to help keep up with the household … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Expats, Family, Living in The Philippines, Maid

Our trip to Manila Ocean Park

November 10, 2009 By JohnM 25 Comments

Did you know that Manila has a brand new aquarium? Well, it does, down off Roxas Blvd, near Luneta Park. Manila Ocean Park partially opened last year, and we decided to spend the day down there, followed by lunch at the Harbor Side restaurant. Manila Ocean Park is owned by a Chinese firm that operates aquariums in Mainland China, and they are in the midst of developing an ocean themed entertainment complex right on the bay, eventually including a bigger aquarium, shopping mall, and hotel. At this point in time, just the aquarium is open, and they have done a pretty nice job on it, if a bit pricey by Manila standards. So, we decided to take Juanito … [Read more...]

Filed Under: John Miele Tagged With: Family, John Miele, Living in The Philippines, Manila, Travel
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