You are here: Home / Archives for Mindanao

Corn in the Philippines

August 11, 2010 By MindanaoBob 68 Comments
Nothing beats a good piece of sweet juicy corn!

Do you like corn?  I do.  I especially enjoy a really fresh piece of corn on the cob.  There is just nothing quite as good as a fresh piece of juicy and sweet corn on the cob!  Problem is that it can be quite hard to find a decent piece of corn here in the Philippines. The Philippines is really an agricultural Country, so you would expect that you could find some good corn here, but the fact is that it is very hard to find such.  Most of the corn that is grown in the Philippines is feed corn, used to feed animals.  It is very dry and hard.  Not delicious to eat. I can remember when we lived in the States, we lived in an area where … [Read more...]

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

Finding true love and happiness in a foreign land

August 4, 2010 By JimC 56 Comments
Jim's Wife, Marilou Cunningham

Today, we have another guest article from my friend, Jim Cunningham.  Just has Guest Posted here on LiP before, and I welcome him back.  Thanks for sharing your feelings with us, Jim! MindanaoBob Just recently, or to be more exact since coming to live permanently in the Philippines I have become aware of the trials and tribulations within our ex-pat community of foreigners who come here to find true love and happiness. Foreigners come to countries like the Philippines because they have heard or imagine that the women here are not only beautiful which is true in most cases but also compliant to their husband's wishes. Coupled with the fact … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Guest Tagged With: Expats, Jim Cunningham, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Relationships

One person can’t really make a difference

July 28, 2010 By MindanaoBob 69 Comments
As a foreigner, you are an Ambassador here in the Philippines, so act like one!

You hear it all the time - One person can't really make a difference. When it is election time, a lot of people don't vote, and when you ask why they say... One vote can't change anything.  Frankly, I don't think it's a good habit to get into having that kind of attitude. How does this apply to the subject of this site, living in the Philippines?  Well, just keep reading, and you will understand. The fact is that as a foreigner living in the Philippines, you are part of a very small minority.  Yes, there are tens of thousands of foreigners here in the Philippines, but on a local scale, you are often a very small part of the population, … [Read more...]

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

Monsooner or Monlater, You’re Gonna Get Wet

July 27, 2010 By JohnM 29 Comments
A Monsterous Typhoon

Here in the Philippines, the climate is tropical. What does that mean? Well, a few of things. First, the tropics is the area located between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer... Everything in the middle. Because of the location of the Philippines (Between 4° 40' N and 21° 10' N), the country is wholly, 100% tropical. Next, the location means that the length of your day is relatively consistent throughout the year: Roughly 12 hours in most of the country. Therefore, there is no "daylight savings" or "summer" time here... There is no point to adjusting the clock. It gets dark at about the same time in December (In the far … [Read more...]

Filed Under: John Miele Tagged With: Daily Life, John Miele, Living in The Philippines, Luzon, Mindanao, Visayas, Weather

The Death of a Tourist in Gen San. Part 2

July 23, 2010 By GenSan Chris 43 Comments
Jock in his Coffin.

As I explained in Part 1 of this still unfolding drama, Jock, a Scottish Tourist fell sick and unfortunately died in hospital in the early hours of the 24th May 2010. Now most people will be thinking that this is a simple case where a person dies, he gets in-turned and the story is closed but unfortunately in this case the story is far from being over. Today, 6th July 2010 I am continuing with the story because even now, 6 weeks after his death, the body of Jock is still laying in the funeral home, un-chilled and with no decision as to what to do with his mortal remains.   I have now contacted a City Councilor and a Doctor Friend to see … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chris Tagged With: Daily Life, Expats, Filipino Culture, Financial, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Travel

The Artificial Reef Domes 2010

July 16, 2010 By GenSan Chris 21 Comments
dome

For any readers who have been following my articles over the past year you might remember that myself and an American friend, John Heitz founded and completed the Sarangani Bay 5,000 Artificial Reef Dome Project which has now been finished nearly 2 years. The project itself for the 5,000 Domes cost just over 900,000.00 pesos which at the time was about $21,000.00 US so really for the quantity of aid going towards the environment this was a very economical project. All the funding came from the private sector, from organizations like: Rotary Clubs, School, Petrol Companies, Port Authorities, Project Aware, Fishing Companies and private … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chris Tagged With: Chris Dearne, Diving, Ecology, Expats, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao

Are you sure about that?

July 14, 2010 By MindanaoBob 75 Comments
My experiences with Filipino mechanics has been good

I've been told many times that the stuff that is made in the Philippines is nothing but cheap junk.  I usually agreed with that, but I did so without giving it too much thought.  As I think it over, though, next time somebody tells me that, my response will certainly be... Are you sure about that? Today, I want to relay a little story about a recent experience.  I took my car in to the shop for service.  This happened back in May, or perhaps it was April, I don't recall.  I didn't get around to writing about it until just now, though. It all started one morning when my nephew went out to move our 2000 Mitsubishi Adventure.  Our Adventure … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Daily Life, Expats, Living in The Philippines, Mechanics in the Philippines, Mindanao

Hey Joe – Ramblings from General Santos City

June 23, 2010 By Gary Ames 20 Comments
Orange Garden venue, under the canopy at dusk, before the guests arrive.

I don’t really have a specific topic for this article – but I’d like to give props to Paul K for showing it’s ok to ramble about a few things. I’ve recently incorporated some early morning jogs into my routine, which take me right through the heart of Gensan. I enjoy it, the city’s waking and there are other joggers, walkers, and morning workers, most just starting their day. I’ve commented on a couple articles that I haven’t heard as many “Hey Joe’s” around town as when we lived here back in the late nineties. However, my morning jogs are increasingly filled with that familiar greeting. Do the “Hey Joe’s” bother … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Guest Tagged With: Adjustment, Communication, Daily Life, Entertainment, Expats, Filipino Culture, Gary Ames, Health, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Shopping

Million Peso MAN, A Greedy Lawyer!

May 28, 2010 By GenSan Chris 56 Comments
Life Guards Logo.

This is an account of a tragic accident which took place last year, 2009 on Mothers Day leading to the unfortunate death of a young 11 year old boy in the Cambridge Farm Hotel Swimming Pool and the pure greed of the Mother and her Lawyer in trying to make a large amount of money from this tragic death which was in fact the result of negligence by the mother! It started in the afternoon when the unfortunate family went to the swimming pool in order to swim and eat which is not unusual for people, even none Hotel Guests are allowed in after making a small payment which covers costs. They entered the area and ignored the sign telling people … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chris Tagged With: Business, Chris Dearne, Communication, Expats, Filipino Culture, Financial, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Safety

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
« Older Posts