When pigs fly, could be my answer to that question. Sunday 15 November, I sat down to watch the Pacquiao Cotto fight, l phoned Dream Satellite and booked the big event well in advance. I asked “What time does the main event starts here in the Philippines?” “8am sir”, the tiny voice responded to my inquiry. I’m thinking that can’t be right, as the fight is in Las Vegas, in a different time zone from the east coast. So I adjust and figured 10am or at worst 11am. But alas, I so absolutely wrong, 8am Pay-for-View clicked on, but no fight just filler until 11am and then started with three no name fights prior to the Main Event. Pay-For-View, … [Read more...]
Watch me on the highway
June 14, 2009 By 57 Comments
Hi everybody, if you come to Zamboanga City, be careful. No, city is not dangerous as you hear, but it just got more dangerous than before! You see, I bought motorcycle! So, now, if you driving around in Zamboanga, better watch with your eyes for crazy Spaniard on road! I never drive motorcycle before in my life, but now I will start! What you think? Some people say riding motorcycle in Philippines is very dangerous. But, my thought is driving is very slow here, so should be not a problem for me. I must practice a lot, and I keep on practice more and more so that I can't have bump to a car! So, I bought motorcycle on Tuesday … [Read more...]
Blood Sport Philippines
May 13, 2009 By 86 Comments
As you might know, I am a Spaniard. OK, yes, I am half Spaniard. But, I grow up watching the bull fights. I love the sport of bull fighting. It is part of my culture. The bull fighting of the Philippines exists too, but here is Cock Fighting! It is what a lot of people call a blood sport, same as bull fight. This week is a big week for cock fight in the Philippines. This week is World Slasher Cup II, an 8 Cock International Derby to be held in Cubao, Quezon City. This derby has entries from over 100 competitors from worldwide! From Zamboanga Peninsula, we have our own team of cockfighters competing, the MJRG team! I, of … [Read more...]
Fight day in Davao
May 4, 2009 By 38 Comments
So, yesterday, Sunday, was fight day. Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton. I wrote an article on Friday in anticipation of the bout, and although it was a very short match, it certainly lived up to my expectations. I was a little worried for Manny, maybe he had not taken the "Hitman" seriously enough, but he proved me wrong, knocking out the Brit in just the second round of the fight! What a fight it was too. Very short, but also thrilling. The day was somewhat comical here, though. First, I had heard about so many sites where the fight could be seen over the Internet, so I decided to give it a try. During some of the fights in the undercard, … [Read more...]
Let's get ready….
May 1, 2009 By 109 Comments
...to rumble. This weekend, Pacman is at it again! No, I'm not talking about the vintage video game from the late 70's, I'm talking about THE PacMan! Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao is a champion boxer from General Santos City, Philippines. Considered a hero here in the Philippines. Certainly a source of great pride in this nation that needs a symbol of pride so very badly. Manny Pacquiao's fighting record stands at 48 Wins, 3 Losses and 2 Draws. Those 48 wins include 36 knockouts. In his last fight, Manny shamed Oscar de la Hoya, the Golden Boy. Since then, Manny Pacquiao has been widely considered as the world's #1 pound for pound … [Read more...]
A Job in the Philippines
January 26, 2009 By 10 Comments
Today's guest column is from LiP Reader, Henry Lamkin. Henry is a School District Superintendent in snowy Wisconsin. He spends time dreaming about the warm weather in the Philippines, understandably. Thank you for submitting this article, Henry. Many is the foreigner that has dreamed of retiring in the Philippines but wanted for the income to do it. The question oft arises can I find employment in paradise to supplement my meager income to sustain me. The sages that have preceded us caution that wages and opportunities exist not for the local Filipino much less the rich Kano's who neither worked nor toiled in his homeland. After careful … [Read more...]
Are you ready for some football?
October 1, 2008 By Leave a Comment
One thing that kind of surprises me is how many people actually base their decision about whether to move to the Philippines on how much (or little) American Football they can catch on TV here. Two or three times per month, I get e-mails from people asking me how many games per week they can catch on TV. Usually, people ask about NFL football, but recently I've also gotten several inquiries regarding College Football too. photo credit: jor_dan I used to be a big football fan back in the 1980's and before, but around 1990 or so I kind of lost interest in the game. As I recall, the players went on strike one year around that time, and after … [Read more...]
The Congressman wants what?
September 30, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Do you remember a couple of months ago I had an article where I advocated the Jeepney fares should be determined by the private sector, not dictated by the government? Over the years I have had numerous columns where I pointed out that the Philippine government, in my opinion, gets too involved in matters that really should be private. Also, many Filipinos, in my opinion, look for the government to tell them what to do, to protect them, etc. instead of taking care of their own needs. So, do you know who Manny Pacquiao is? I have written about him before, and he is quite famous anyway, so I am sure that the vast majority of you know who … [Read more...]
Did you see the Olympics?
August 30, 2008 By 16 Comments
Now for the first time in decades my home country of the UK did a fantastic job at the Beijing Olympics. Well done team GB!! I JUST WISH i COULD HAVE SEEN IT. Now the news networks mainly showed still pictures as they did not have the rights to show and the TV networks here in the Philippines had very strange coverage to say the least. Solar showed pay for view coverage so the only other channel showing the Olympics was the CRIME and ADVENTURE network, yes you heard correct. Now I knew we were in for a rough time from the opening ceremony as the coverage that was allegedly live was stopped every five or six minutes … [Read more...]
Going for a walk
March 21, 2008 By 4 Comments
One of the things I did not do enough in the UK was to take time and walk around my own country, I was always too busy and never noticed or took for granted things like castles and beautiful landscapes. Then I started to travel around Asia and my eyes opened up to the beauty of counties like Thailand and Vietnam. Lets face it whizzing by in a car or train there is no way you see the details , so now I am in Davao I love to spend my time walking and taking deliberate turns into unknown areas and passing amazed people shouting "hey Joe", I even love the fact that people begin to follow me especially the children . Now do not get me wrong I … [Read more...]
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