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It’s that time of year again

August 9, 2010 By MindanaoBob 104 Comments
Bob and Feyma at another wedding many years later

Well, August 9 comes around each and every year, I am pretty sure about that.  August 9 is a special day for me every single year too.  This year, though, it has even more meaning.  It's a milestone even for Feyma and I this year. Why do we feel that August 9 is special? Well, it is our Wedding Anniversary, and this year marks our 20th Anniversary! I know that different Anniversaries are marked with different "themes" or "names" or whatever it should be called.  For example, the 25th Anniversary is the Diamond Anniversary.  I really, though, was unsure what the 20th Anniversary was, so I just went and checked at Wikipedia.  According … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Expats, Feyma Martin, Holidays, Living in The Philippines, Relationships

Two hundred thirty four

July 5, 2010 By MindanaoBob 44 Comments
Fallen US Troops from Afghanistan

Happy Fourth of July to all Americans!  Including myself!  Yes, as I write this article for LiP, today is July the fourth, Independence Day in the United States of America.  When you read this article, it will already be July 5th here in the Philippines, but still July 4th in the United States, though. Although we have lived in the Philippines for more than a decade, we still celebrate the 4th of July every year.  Our kids enjoy July 4th too, even our youngest, Jared, who was just one month old when we left the USA, so he obviously does not even remember the place.  Still, though, he is proud to be American, and proud of his Filipino side … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: 4th of July, Bob Martin, Daily Life, Expats, Holidays, Living in The Philippines

Trip to Boracay

June 22, 2010 By John 13 Comments
03062010332

I was fortunate enough to have an invitation from a friend of mine to visit him in Boracay for a few days and as I had not been to that area for some time and I was promised free accommodation and touring around the islands, I thought this was an opportunity not to be missed. My friend has his own apartment in Caticlan, but it overlooks the bay where Boracay jetty port can be seen across the clear blue sparkling waters. This was my base for 4 days and what a lovely base it was. My friend had built his own business up as a boat owner, ferrying passengers between Caticlan and Boracay and also facilitating island tours.  He had worked … [Read more...]

Filed Under: John G Tagged With: Daily Life, Entertainment, Expats, Food, Holidays, John Grant, Living in The Philippines, Transportation, Travel

What is Easter like in the Philippines?

April 2, 2010 By MindanaoBob 26 Comments
holyweek

I've written on LiP a number of times about Holy Week in the Philippines.  Still, though, Holy Week has changed quite a bit here since I first moved here, and I also still get e-mails from readers asking about Easter here, or what they should expect here during Easter. Just yesterday, I got an e-mail from a relatively long time LiP Reader asking about Easter here.  She asked me a number of questions that I would like to provide answers for, and I feel sure that there are other readers with similar questions, so I will share it here on the site so that more people can benefit from the information. First, let me share with you some of my … [Read more...]

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

Card Issue & Araw ng Dabaw Photos

March 17, 2010 By Jawz 14 Comments
araw

First, I want to mention something. This maybe something travelers should keep in mind before coming. My story goes like this: When I got my visa updated, I had to withdraw A LOT more than usual to pay the fees. Afterwards, I had gotten an email from the bank saying that they detected irregular activity and to call to confirm it was me. I wasn't able to call internationally. I thought I'd let it slide, thinking maybe it won't effect anything (I am wondering why I had that mentality at the moment). Later, I needed to withdraw in my normal pattern. The ATM refused to give me money, saying the bank has temporarily shut my account from any withdrawals. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jawz Tagged With: Business, Daily Life, Financial, Holidays, Jonathan Watson, Living in The Philippines

Valentine’s Day in the Philippines

February 15, 2010 By MindanaoBob 11 Comments
candy

I am writing this article on the day before Valentine's Day.  When it is published, Valentine's Day will have already passed here in the Philippines, but for many readers it will still be Valentine's Day in the location where they are reading this.  I will wish a Happy Valentine's Day to all, though, whether it was yesterday for you or it is today as you are reading this article. When I moved to the Philippines, it was in May, 2000, so my first time to celebrate Valentine's Day here in the Philippines, it was in 2001.  When February 2001 came around, I must say that I was quite surprised at the significance of the holiday here.  Valentine's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Business, Expats, Filipino Culture, Holidays, Living in The Philippines

New Year’s Traditions in Abulug: Keeping out the bad juju

February 2, 2010 By JohnM 12 Comments
Part of our "arsenal"

This year, I decided to write about everything we did for New Year's... This posting should appear in February, after everyone is in the winter doldrums, so it will be separated from the other New Year's articles. New Year's Eve is much more important to Abulugenyos than Christmas... It is largely centered around chasing out bad spirits and luck, and inviting in the good luck: A mixture of Catholic and Chinese tradition that is uniquely Filipino, but borrows heavily from other cultures. Indeed, the day ends with a Mass at church, before everyone's Media Noche celebrations. Generally, the New Year is almost religious in nature, second only to … [Read more...]

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

Did you have any idea?

January 20, 2010 By MindanaoBob 24 Comments
National Geographic says that the Philippines is one of the best new trips in 2010!

Did you have any idea?  I sure didn't!  I only found out about a week ago, or so, but I was very happy. Oh, you don't know what I'm talking about, right?  Well, if you remember, last week, I wrote about the new "Immigration Superbody" and I talked about how it was very difficult for a foreign tourist to be able to book a trip to the Philippines, get his hotels and domestic travel all booked up and such.  Well, while doing research for that article, I found out about something that really surprised me and gave me some hope for Philippine tourism! The thing that I didn't know is that National Geographic has included the Philippines as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Holidays, Living in The Philippines, Travel

Pumpkin Pie

January 6, 2010 By LouisT 7 Comments
Pumpkin Pie

For me being an American what could top the holiday meal off any better than a nice slice of pumpkin pie?  Unfortunately here in the Philippines it's a bit pricey to get a can of Libbys pumpkin puree and there's no ready made pie crust available but hey, I'm a resourceful guy, there's always a way to accomplish your goals.  The pie crust was no problem, I got that recipe down pat when I was on the quest for the perfect Apple Pie in the Philippines.  What I really needed was a substitute for pumpkin.  I found it too, in the palengke.  There is a type of squash here that the locals call Kalabasa, it's a pumpkin although I am unsure what variety … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Louis Tagged With: Food, Holidays, Living in The Philippines, Louis Tamasi

Another Year

January 5, 2010 By Paul Thompson 22 Comments
Diving Platform

Since I’m writing this and you’re reading this, means, we made it! We survived the Holiday Season and 2009. Down comes the tree to be stowed away for 8 more months. And I’m reminded of something that happened, after New Years on a ship I was on. Two weeks prior to Christmas the Chief Engineer wanted a Christmas tree set up in the wardroom. He tells the Chief Steward to make it happen, Chief Steward told him to call the Union, as it wasn’t his job. I have the trees in my storeroom so somehow I’m involved. Chief Engineer calls me and tells me to bring a tree and decorations to the wardroom. “Call the Union, it ain’t my job” I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paul T Tagged With: Animals, Entertainment, Holidays, Living in The Philippines, Paul Thompson
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