My 100 Favorite things in the Philippines

100. Lechon - If a pig has to die for food, it might as well be for this! Fork tender, and, Oh so good, Lechon is the reason God created the pig in the first place.

99. Different colors on the money - US currency spends, but it is so bloody boring to look at. Hey! US mint! Get a little creative, will ya?

98. Jeepneys - I like them. They are truly an egalitarian form of transport. And, they are CHEAP!

97. Having a beach “all to yourself” - Yeah, I’ve been to the Riviera, and Hawaii too. Just what I always wanted… Sharing a beach with 100,000 strangers. The Philippines is for people who like beaches… ALONE!

96. Banana Catsup - Nothing dips better with Lumpia. Also great with fried chicken.

95. No winter - Sitting here in cold, windy, Shanghai right now, I start to appreciate this. The Philippines is the best place in the world to be a weather man. Nearly always the same: Warm, humid, and scattered showers.

94. Kan Kong - Healthy and free, if you know where to pick it. I like the stuff.

93. Flowers - Being in the tropics, nearly every plant has flowers of some kind. Damn near everything grows here.

92. Cheap beer - If you need an explanation, the SHAME ON YOU!!! At only PHP 19 per bottle, how can you go wrong?

91. Cheap smokes - See number 92 above.  Usually around PHP 30 or so. When God made this noxious weed, he made an 11th commandment: Thou shalt have cheap Marlboros and render unto ye the unlimited smoking section.

90. Cool markets - You learn a lot about a place from the local market. In the Philippines, markets challenge the best bargainers in the world!

89. Singing “Turning Japanese” (The Vapors) or “Elvis is Everywhere” (Mojo Nixon) on Karaoke - Just look at the stunned faces of your Filipino friends.

88. Manila Bay - Yeah, it’s polluted. Yeah, I think it would be hard to drown there. One of the best sunsets in the Pacific Rim when viewed from the Mall of Asia promenade.

87. WWII Heroes - Filipinos were feared by the Japanese as fierce fighters. A proud part of Filipino history!

86. Corregidor - See #87 above. A place of honor and sacrifice, both American and Filipino.

85. Sari Sari stores - Yeah, I often hear negative comments. But I must ask: Does anyone here not appreciate the fact that you can get life’s basic necessities at any time with only a 10 to 30 meter walk?

84. Mariel Rodriguez - Ooohh la la!

83. Wowowee! - See above. Ooohh la la!!! Boy, Willie is a player. I like when the old Lolas win. Be really good if Willie knew how to sing. I also like how R.R. jiggles while dancing. (Hey!!! I can look!)

82. Christmas decorations - Absolutely beautiful and unique to the RP.

81. Fiesta time - Any excuse for a party.

80. Intramuros - Heritage that is irreplaceable.

79. Old churches - The history of the Philippines is intertwined with the church. Even if you are not Catholic, you simply can’t help but admire the beauty, architecture, and history of these structures.

78. The Manila Times - The oldest English newspaper, and, I feel, the best.

77. Pan de Manila - Anyone who hasn’t tried their hot pandesal with garlic cream cheese is really missing out! Baked on a pugon, and served steaming, I always eat one too many!

76. The Taho guy - Every morning, at 10:00 AM sharp, he walks through the compound hollering. If he misses a day, I wonder what’s wrong.

75. Filipino Buses - If you ride on the better buses to the provinces, these are as nice as a bus can get. Video, CR, Aircon, and, on some, even flat sleeper seats. And a bargain at under PHP 1,000 for even long journeys.

74. Fresh fruit - I am not a fruit eater. However, the pineapples and Mangoes in the Philippines can convert even a dedicated Chocoholic!

73. No ties needed - I hate ‘em. There is a special place in Hell for their inventor. Even in business, I seldom wear a tie. Business casual is the DRESSIEST you may ever need (and that is just for important meetings, like lawyers, and government offices.)

72. Cleanliness - You have never set foot inside a clean house until you have entered a Filipino home. Germs don’t stand a chance.

71. Fresh seafood - Surrounded by water, if you like seafood, then the Philippines is a paradise. You can eat nearly everything that swims here, and most Filipinos do so!

70. Cultural variety - With over 80 different languages and 7,000 different islands in the archipelago, life is a varied mix, and never boring.

69. Cock Fights - I know many people dislike them intensely. In the West, there are many examples of animal cruelty that can often be worse. I view them as part of the heritage here. Seeing a man holding his prize rooster, caring for it, and showing it off… THAT is true pride! All my relatives eagerly anticipate the fight days… They are truly social occasions.

68. Halo-Halo - When Chow King opened in Abu Dhabi, Becky and I shared a Halo-Halo on one of our first dates. You can’t eat one alone. It’s not the same. They were made for sharing.

67. Buko Shakes - Somehow, when it is hot outside, nothing will hit the spot like an icy cold buko milkshake.

66. Fishing - Some of the world’s best fishing is here. Nothing beats the simple pleasure of catching your own.

65. Waterfalls - I am intrigued by them. Beautiful and a bit mysterious, there are hundreds of them in the country, just waiting to be explored. A waterfall shower is a “must do” life experience, at least once.

64. Caves - Underground beauty. Nature at its finest. Thousands of them throughout the country.

63. Rainbows - With all the moisture in the air, full rainbows are common. One special rainbow I saw on our wedding day. Becky prayed at the cemetery before our wedding, and a full rainbow appeared. She took it as her ancestors’ blessing, and who am I to dispute that?

62. Peanut butter - See Pan de Manila above. They make the absolute best peanut butter I have ever had.

61. Carabaos - Yeah, they smell bad. But, I think they are really neat animals. Gentle giants.

60. Different birds - Birds migrate to the Philippines from all over Asia. Warm weather and lots of water and food attract them. Many are unique to this country.

59. Myths and superstitions - The folklore of the Philippines is rich with stories and tales of old. Some may sound silly, but they are a vital part of the country’s heritage and make fascinating conversations with the older people in the family. There is still a very much alive oral tradition here.

58. Noli me Tangere - This is a “must read” for any foreigners living here. Written by Jose Rizal, a true hero. Explains much about the Filipino people.

57. Listening to the rain - I like storms. We have a corrugated steel roof on our house, and the sound of rain on the roof is comforting, in a strange sort of way.

56. CDO bacon - The CDO Ham Shop in Quiapo makes the best bacon in the world. Meaty, salty, smoky, and sweet, sliced paper thin, it fries up beautifully. This is the heroin of pork, folks.

55. The little altar (shrine) in our house - This gives Becky a lot of comfort. Light a candle and say a few prayers. Part of her heritage.

54. Filipino brooms - When you look in our utility closet, there’s a thing in there that looks like something Brunhilde would use to fly into the full moonlight with. Very practical, and cheap, besides.

53. Coconut shell floor scrubbers - Two empty coconut husks, strapped to Rebecca’s feet. She “dances” and they really do scrub the floors! I watched a 90 year-old lola in Pamplona use them… Now THAT’S entertainment! (And she was pretty good, too!)

52. Rice planting songs - The family was singing short little songs while planting rice in the paddies… Sort of like a cadence while soldiers march. Unique to the Philippines.

51. Calamansi - Calamansi “lemonade” is phenomenally good. For a real treat, blend with a little Tanduay Rhum and ice for a Filipino “Electric Lemonade”.

50. Tanduay Rhum - Pretty good rum (I’m a bit of a rum fan) and a real bargain (Less than PHP 100 for a bottle).

49. Filipino folk music - Not as common as OPM or the Pinoy crooners and Divas, but unique to the Philippines. Every province has their own songs and dances. They are a mixture of native and Spanish influences, with many lyrics about love or old folk tales. Filipino guitar can be stunningly beautiful.

48. Nipa Huts - I like them. I’d like to build one in Manila, perhaps on our roof.

47. Hammocks - Native made, and very strong, a comfortable nap in the province, with gentle ocean breezes.

46. The color of the sea - The waters around many Philippine Islands are nearly pristine. Colors range from light turquoise, like a swimming pool, to the deepest indigo imaginable, over the Mindanao Trench.

45. Our barbecue grill - Made from native Cagayan Valley clay, this thing can really cook! Squat, and a bit funny looking, but designed to make perfect barbecue pork.

44. Mangroves - Found along the shore of every island, the fish and wildlife supported by native mangroves is astounding. These are disappearing due to development in many parts of the country.

43. The Philippine Tarsier - I like monkeys. I’d love to train a monkey to get me a beer. These are more like tiny lemurs. They are the smallest primate in the world, and they belong in the forest.

42. Many kinds of Rice - Some people don’t like it, but I like rice. If you move to the Philippines, you had better get used to eating it. Rice certainly deserves respect. In the Philippines, rice equals life itself.

41. The 5 centavo coins - Yeah, they are pretty much worthless. But I think they look neat. I like the hole in the middle.

40. Native clothing - Filipinos can weave cloth and make lace in an amazing variety of styles.

39. Champorada - A form of rice pudding made from red rice and native chocolate. Sinfully rich, healthy, and a wonderful breakfast.

38. Going to the movies - Cheap entertainment, free aircon to boot. Becky trying to translate Tagalog movies for me is an experience. Most of the comedies featuring Ai Ai, Dolphy, Chocolate, or Pokwong I can follow without too much trouble.

37. Talking with the Tricy drivers outside our compound - These guys hang out all day, swapping stories (Bullsh*t in American vernacular). Always ready to talk and say hello, probably not more than 3 pesos between them all, they are nice guys and a daily 5 minute conversation with them has become part of my routine.

36. Giving chocolates to the neighborhood kids - I’ve become known as the compound’s ”place to go for candy”. They have learned that if they hang around, I usually will give them a few small sweets.

37. Getting things fixed - A bargain in the Philippines. There is an old man who comes through our compound daily who will fix everything from a toaster to sharpening knives. A few pesos and it is as good as new. I’ve fixed things here that I would have thrown away in the States.

36. The value of money - We send money to the province. You can really see the effect that relatively small amounts of money have on people’s lives.

35. Greenhills - The snooty part of Manila. Nice for a stroll, shopping, or eating.

34. The Aguinaldo House - In Cavite. Unique colonial architecture and an irreplaceable piece of history.

33. Seashells - As varied and numerous as the sea creatures they came from.

32. Flying over the islands - Natural beauty in the Philippines is spectacular, and often, the only way to see it is from the air.

31. Native Coffee - Very good, and a “must try” item.

30. Lumpia Shanghai - One of Rebecca’s specialties. She has the Chinese beat by a mile on this one!

29. Local furniture - Craftsmen still exist in the Philippines. Furniture made by hand, with considerable skill, from native hardwood is common and beautiful. It will outlast anything made in the States (Except, perhaps, Amish or Shaker furniture made in much the same manner).

28. Natural food - No preservatives and nearly everything you buy from a local market is “organic”, even if not necessarily certified as such.

27. Mah Jong - The typical provincial recreation. I like to watch, but refrain from betting (Won’t go there)

26. Green - The jungle has many shades of green. Ireland may be the “Emerald Isle”, but I think the Philippines is greener.

25. Holy Week - Yes, it can be boring to outsiders, but there are few places on Earth, except perhaps Mecca, where the faithful express such devotion.

24. Christmas - Filipinos LOVE Christmas. Your mood cannot be bad during this season. Much less commercial than in the States, and the Family is central to the celebration.

23. Telling a Manang I’ll find her a Kano boyfriend - Usually results in a blush, a giggle, and an “I’m too old!”

22. Cheap DVDs - Even the legal ones are cheap, by US standards. I’ve never had a video library as extensive as I do here.

21. Baguio Pineapple Jam - Try it on pancakes.

20. Piat - A place of pilgrimage and a beautiful setting.

19. Santo Nino - Holy to most Filipinos, and a highly historic church.

18. Bancas - Colorful, and usually made by hand. The only way to reach many places. Cheap, but don’t go looking for safety gear. Another completely unique experience in the Philippines.

17. No prescription needed - Feeling sick? Just head to the pharmacy.

16. Calesas - Traditional, horse-drawn carriages. You need to ride at least once.

15. Vigan - The oldest, best preserved Spanish city in the Philippines. An historic treasure.

14. Swimming - With water everywhere, a swim is always possible. I never travel in the country without bringing a swimsuit.

13. SM, Robinsons, GOTESCO - You can do everything at these stores, from paying utility bills to buying a house full of furniture. True “one-stop shopping”.

12. Delivery - Usually cheap, free, or minimal hassle. Anything, from refrigerators to food can be delivered. Even McDonalds delivers.

11. Puto - Steamed little cakes that are surprisingly addictive.

10. Legua de Gato - Little butter cookies that disappear very quickly (At least when I’m around!)

9. Nature - The Philippines is truly beautiful. Words cannot describe it, especially in rural areas. People live in harmony with nature, despite all the modern problems.

8. Riding a tractor - Transport, hauling, plowing… These vehicles do it all.

7. Growing your own food - There is a satisfaction you gain from growing things yourself. Self sufficiency is alive and well in the RP.

6. Respect - There is a civility among people here that has disappeared in the West. Mistrust, caution, and nastiness are rare, and certainly not expressed very often. People’s attitudes when I return to the States give me a shock. I am no longer used to it.

Now, the top 5 (in order)

5. Faith - Belief in God has caused problems throughout history. In the Philippines, faith UNITES people and gives them civility, charity, kindness, hope, and comfort. The strong faith here is refreshing, and I respect it.

4. The simple life - Life in the provinces is hard, but there is a satisfaction of escaping the modern world. Death from stress-related heart attacks is rare there.

3. Filipino kids - The nicest, most well-behaved, respectful kids in the world.

2. Family - The ties are strong here, and I was welcomed into the family. This is something else that is quickly disappearing in the West.

1. Filipina - Women in the Philippines are the sweetest, most beautiful, and hard-working women in the world. They are THE national treasure of this country, and should be treated with respect and reverence.

I’m not at all a connoisseur in floral affairs, but when the former organizer of the always extravagant Philippine Ad Congress declares that the weekday night wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the brightest spot in Dos Castillas, I’d be happy to oblige. I’d be happy to come along and learn. And you should, too.

Bring a camera if you wish (the colors will simply astound you), and take the liberty of posing beside those remarkably cheap chrysanthemums, the price of which you may still haggle with the vendor. To my knowledge, all the shops are open 24-7. Accessible, eh? (Especially to me, since I live about ten minutes away from the place.) If you’re running on a really tight budget for those imported tulips, a trip to Dangwa just might be your best bet. Dangwa’s flowers are, by nature, completely the opposite of today’s gasoline: there’s always a great supply; it’s affordable even in high demand; and the pricing won’t make you think twice.

For a guy like me, Dangwa comes in handy during the most sudden of dates. For the rest of the pack, Dangwa represents what Manila is all about: creativity, color, cut-price commodities, and cherished traditions. Oh, and of course, the familiar chatter of Pinoy customers asking for “tawad, tawad po, wala bang tawad?”

Well not a photo this time but a video that I sent back to the UK when I was traveling Asia about four years ago.

I do not pretend its a master piece but the opening few minutes shows Bataan near Manila where it is alleged the highest cross in the Philippines belongs, and later a minute of non Philippines video that I cannot edit out.

The Bataan segment shows my surrogate son Harold jumping for joy to go such to such a place as we both struggle to hold the camera still because of the huge winds on that day.

However the last minute is of HUE HIN in Thailand which is also beautiful. The king lives here but he did not want to appear on the video.

I used to really love Cebu City.  I stayed in Cebu many times during the 90’s for a few days at a time.  I remember my first time in Cebu, it was in July 1990.  I stayed at the Montebello Villa Hotel in Banilad, Cebu City.  The place was out in the middle of nowhere.  The area surrounding the hotel was just bare land with grazing cattle and goats.  It took 30 minutes to get to the City.  Now, if I go to Cebu, the Montebello is right in the middle of the sprawling City.  The City has grown to surround the area.  Traffic is terrible.  Pollution is getting worse in Cebu.  I am seeing this same kind of develop in Davao.  What happened to Cebu in the 1990s is ongoing in Davao right now.

I have a contingency plan for myself, though.  As most of you already know, Feyma and I own a piece of land on Samal Island, just a 10 to 15 minute boat ride from Davao City.  That 10 or 15 minutes, though, brings you to an entirely differnet place.  No traffic.  Pollution free.  Clean water.  A total lack of hustle and bustle that you find in the City.  It will be a while before we will live there, but by the time we get there, I think that living in Davao City will be an entirely different experience than it is now.

I moved to Davao City in 2002, after living 2 years in General Santos.  Davao was a much bigger City than GenSan, but still relaxed and easy to navigate.  Now, though, just 6 1/2 years later, I am finding Davao to be much more developed, a lot more traffic, generally not the same Davao as I moved to in 2002.  I am sad about that.  Funny thing is, when we see new development going on in Davao, we are happy to see the City expanding, and improving.  But, in day to day life, when it takes 2 or 3 times as long to travel the same distance as it used to, the happiness about the development fades away.

I still love Davao, I am just getting concerned.  As I have written about in the past month or so here, we have 3 new shopping malls under development, maybe 4 or 5 condo developments in the City, etc.  It is making Samal look better and better!

The thing that is inviting about the future of living on Samal is that it is close to the City, so we can still take advantage of the amenities here, yet being separated by a boat ride makes it seem that it is so far from civilization.  I like that idea.  There has been talk about building a bridge from the City to the Island…  to me, that will only help transfer the development accross the Gulf.  I don’t think that will be a good idea.

Samal dreaming…

Since living in the Philippines I am “always on the way”. One thing I tried to visit, has been a prison, because I got a lot of questions in mind. But whom could I ask? At first I asked my brother-in-law JO1 Ricardo Sarong JMP (Jail Management and Penology), if he could set an appointment with new Davao City Jail Warden, Mr. J/SINSP Noel P. Guerrero. Ricky’s designation is custodial, at the same time also jail investigator.

Warden Guerrero agreed spontaneously last week. I went to jail. The city jail in Davao houses almost 1,000 male and 200 female prisoners.

After visiting another Philippine jail during the 1980s, I must confess: I felt again mixed emotions. I think, every one of you, my dear readers, can imagine, how “it is inside the jail”. How many prisoners have to share one small cell? How about the sanitary installations? How about the food?

I learned from Warden Guerrero, that the Philippine “govern national support” is 45 Pesos per head per day. That’s less then a dollar… . I remember stories about Western jails, where prisoners “enjoy” television, computer and other things, while getting three meals a day.

So, what’s badly needed? Of course, any kind of support from the private sector as well as NGO’s (Non Government Organizations) is very, very welcome.

The City Jail in Davao is very blessed having supporters like the NCCC-Mall, city mayor Duterte and his daughter, vice mayor of Davao as well as the Archdiocese of Davao.

How about human rights and torture? I was really surprised when I listen Warden Guerrero, who mentioned with vigor and emphasis, how he would pursue and investigate the even smallest impression or incident, which might happen in his jail. “Every prisoner is also a human being and has the right of a human treatment’, the warden stressed.

I was able to talk to some prisoners awaiting trial. being in detention awaiting trial for months or even a whole year is more than depressing. But, undisputed, Philippine courts are also more than  overtaxed with thousands of cases… .

I like to express my gratitude to Warden Guerrero for taking time for me and answering my questions and walking around with me.

As for me, let’s have a look at some people who inspire me.

Fidel V. Ramos - Fidel Ramos was a General in the Philippine Army when Ferdinand Marcos was basically a dictator here in the Philippines.  In 1986, when Cory Aquino ran for President against Marcos, and most people agree that Marcos stole the election, Ramos was the first person who stood up against his boss, President Marcos.  It is generally agreed that the action that Ramos took was the beginning of the downfall of the dictator, which ushered in a re-birth of Democracy in the Philippines.  Later on, in 1992, Ramos was elected President of the Philippines.  Under Ramos, a lot of things started turning around in the Philippines.  Economic advances were made, and many people (myself included) believed that the Philippines was on the path to success under Ramos.  Unfortunately, after Ramos left office, things turned back around and headed in the wrong direction in my opinion.  Also during the Ramos Administration, peace was reached in Mindanao between the Goernment of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front.  Because of his actions against Ferdinand Marcos, and his actions as President of the Philippines, I feel inspired by Ferdinand V. Ramos.

Datu Toto Paglas - I wrote a while back about the death of Datu Toto Paglas.  Toto was a Mayor of a small town in Maguindanao in the 1990’s and after serving as Mayor of the town (which beared his own name, which is also that of his father), he worked for world peace.  During his term as Mayor of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, Toto brought capital investment into the town, namely a banana plantation, Fruitera.  Fruitera provided employment for the residents of Datu Paglas.  Toto instituted a policy which basically was that it was not allowed to be lazy in Datu Paglas town.  Everybody had to work!  Toto brought peace to his community, something that was rare in that part of Mindanao in it’s day.  A lot can be learned by studying the actions and policies of Datu Toto Paglas.

Louise Lynip - I came to know of Louise Lynip through Jim Cunningham, a regular LiP reader for years now, and a soon-to-be resident of Talakag, Bukidnon.  Louis Lynip died a couple of years ago, but she was a real dynamic lady before her death.  Lynip, an American, came to live in Mindanao in the 1930’s, and started an Orphanage here.  During World War II, when the Japanese took the Philippines, Lynip went into hiding in the hills and mountains of Bukidnon.  At some point during the war, the American forces found out that she was in hiding in Mindanao, and sent a submarine to secretly get her and take her to safety.  She was taken to Australia by the US Navy and remained there until the war was over, in 1945, when she returned to Mindanao.  At that point, her orphanage took roots in Talakag, Bukidnon, not far from Cagayan de Oro City.  She remained in Talakag until her death in 2006.  Just about 2 months prior to her death, Feyma and I visited the Bethany Children’s Home and met Louise in person.  What a wonderful lady!  I was quite saddened by her death, but I also felt so happy that I was able to meet her before she passed.  Thank you, Jim, for providing me with the opportunity to be inspired by Louise.

Bebe Metillo - I have written about Bebe Metillo many times on this site, but for those who don’t know, Bebe is my Bisaya teacher.  I have known Bebe for a little more than a year now, since August 2007, and in that short time, Bebe has had a tremendous impact on my life.  A very positive impact.  Bebe’s biggest influence on me, of course, is the teaching of language that she does for me.  On top of that, though, Bebe offers me so much more - cultural input, encouragement, etc.  I really feel so lucky to have found Bebe, and I also have to thank another reader of this blog for introducing me to Bebe - that was through Shannon, who used to live here in Davao and was a missionary.  I believe that Shannon has since gone back to the States, but if she reads this, I offer my sincere thanks to her.

Feyma Martin - Yes, last, but certainly not least is my own wife, Feyma.  We were married in August 1990, so more than 18 years now.  In that time, I have learned a lot from Feyma, and I value her friendship over that time.  Feyma deserves special mention too, having put up with me for so long.  I am not always an easy person to deal with!  Honestly.  Feyma has been my friend, my confidente, and has given me a wonderful family.  Without her, my life would not be complete.

Of course, there are others who inspire me, but these are the ones that have a real Philippine connection.  Through these people, in one way or another, my life has been changed, for the better too.  Some have had very indirect influence on me, others have a daily effect on my life.  I thank all of them, though.

Filipino Malls

I’ve been out to notice some differences between here and the states, for one, sales people are more aggressive in the malls than they are in the states.  It is more like the states where in the 70’s.  I remember if you set foot on the carpeted area of a Sears store, the salesmen would pounce on you.  Maybe it was because I was in my 20s and most likely age group to buy furniture and electronics.  They are not as bad here as they were back then.  They act as if they are paid on commission in stores like Shoe Mart (SM).  Most of the time, they seem pretty disappointed if you decide not to buy.

In the big malls, you’ll see  people on microphones at some of the larger stores.  They will be demonstrating some products.  They like to do this for newer items that people may not know about.  I see a lot of that revolving around some kind of “magic” iron or maybe ironing board where the iron will not fall from the ironing board.  I never paid any attention, they kind of bug me when they are on the mic.

Malls in the states usually have four anchor stores, the big department stores that will draw lots of people.  Then lots of little shops throughout the mall fill the rest of it.  In Cebu, they usually have only one anchor and that store is often the owner of the mall.  The big mall in Cebu City is SM Mall.  It is huge and modern.  I don’t think there was anything in Memphis as large but then it had been a while since I had set foot in one of those places. LOL Other malls in Cebu city are numerous Gaisano Malls, Ayala Mall, and Robinsons.  Ayala is probably the second most visited mall in Cebu City and lots of expats go there.

SM Mall in Cebu City is a modern mall, with a bowling ally with automatic score keeping and bowling balls like we have in the states.  Eight movie theaters and hundreds of stores in between.  There is McDonald’s and Kentucky Friend Chicken and Pizza Hut!  Lots of lights and very flashy.

Now they are probably a bit warmer than you are use to.  SM mall is the coolest I’ve been in, a lot of Filipina are cold there but I never have that problem.  You could probably put me in a walk-in-cooler before you get me cold.  The smaller malls out in Metro Cebu, like in Talisay were quite warm to me at first but within a month, I was use to them.

There are even smaller malls around, in Bogo City our only “mall” is Gaisano and it has about three our four stores in it.

Prices in the malls are usually higher.  But when you’re new to an area, they are a good choice as there are more choices, more items to choose from.  There may be expat hangouts in the malls in larger cities.  At SM mall you’ll find them at the French Baker and a few at Starbucks.  Starbucks is an expensive luxury item for the Philippines so its usually not crowded.

The thing that really got my attention about SM Mall was when we went to the smaller shops.  Gucci sun glasses for about $10.00?  That threw me at first but just as someone was about to explain it, I realized they were not the real thing.  I was pretty amazed that replica’s would be selling in such an open way.  Here they are called reconstructs.

Street Vendors and Reconstructs

Street vendors are very common.  Some are just rip off artist but you have to give them credit for trying.  I don’t understand why they try so hard to sell Viagra on the streets.  You can get it from any Pharmacy without a prescription.  You can get an IPOD for $20.00.  Of course, if you believe that it came from Apple, I’ve got a few bridges that I don’t own to sell you.  In many cases they function just as good though.  There is no way to tell, but some of them might be the real thing, very rare and probably stolen as well.  In Memphis, we had a Nike plant and the trains were constantly having gangs break into the cars and stealing thousands of dollars of shoes.  People were getting busted often for selling them or for selling fakes.  It happens in the US too but here it is accepted.  Most Filipino cannot afford to even think about paying $400 for an IPOD.  The people selling these kinds of things on the street are working hard and providing a needed service to the people of the Philippines.  It may be harmful in the long run but most Filipino find it hard to think about the long run.  So many don’t know where the rice for next week is coming from.

I bought some name brand sun glasses on a hill that work better than the ones I bought from Amazon.  I paid a couple of dollars for them.  The street vendors love to tout their Ray-ban sun glasses here.  No one in the US would be impressed with that but Jessie tells me they are in demand items here.  Anything you buy from a street vendor isn’t going to be the real thing but you might find some very useful things from street vendors.  Even if just a towel to wipe the sweat from your forehead.

Smaller Shops

For buying things at the best price you need to meet some locals.  They will know where to buy from.  I’ve found some very good prices that way.  Colon Street in Cebu city is well known as a place to get pick pocketed or your purse snatched so it is always a good idea not to carry a purse.  Also, don’t wear jewelry, there is a strong chance you will be relived of it. Try not to look like a newbie there!  It is also known as a good place to buy appliances at. And I found that to be true.

Watch out for interest rates.  If you’re forced to buy on credit, don’t be fooled by the 5% interest you may see.  That is the rate per month which equals 60%.  In most cases, you’re going to need an ACR (Alien Certificate of Registration) card to accomplish this but many places will sell to you on credit in your girlfriend’s name without that.  I tried to put something in my name and they would not do that.   Most furniture and appliance dealers will charge 5% per month, but not all.  If you pay cash, the smaller shops will likely give you a cash discount.  Some will display the cash discount price, others you may have to ask.  If you have to ask, first get them to make a list of everything you want. If you’re buying a lot, you might get a bigger discount.  We all have to do what we have to do to get started here.  For some, like me, it is paying outrageous interest, for others its sleeping under the stars or living in a boat for a while.  Some people come here literally with nothing and then find a way to survive.

There is a public market in Bogo City and in most other cities.  There are very low prices there but my Filipina girlfriend warns me that the stuff is cheap and wont last long.  The prices are so low, buy ten. 

You may hear the term wet market.  That means a fish market.  In Bogo City, there is an area set aside for the wet market within the public market.  You need to know what your doing if you go to buy fresh fish or take someone you trust along with you.  In fact, you’ll probably be better off having a Filipino buying it for you.  Often there are two prices in the Philippines, one for Filipino and one for the Kano (white person).  On the other hand, you might be able to find very fresh things.  I asked my girlfriend about buying some fish and she said she didn’t know which to buy, didn’t know how to tell if it was fresh. Just as she said it, I noticed a lady dump a bucket full of snakes and or eels onto her table.  Jessie didn’t notice so I pointed at the squirming mass of slithering flesh and asked her if that was fresh enough for her.  To which she freaked out, made some kind of auditory sound, stomped her feet and then got out of there.  It was pretty humorous to me though I don’t think she got the joke.  I sure wish I had taken my video camera with me that day.

I’ve been here less than a year, though I will soon have my first year behind me.  I’m still learning, I have a LOT to learn.  In my articles, I’m mostly trying to share things that are new to me, new from what I’m use too.  Please feel free to add other tips.  Already, I’m starting to forget what the changes were for me.  Things that were new to me, now seem normal, like the term wet market.

A few weeks ago, I got a note from a fellow in Australia.  He was very, very interested in moving to the Philippines right away.  He had lots and lots of questions to ask me, and I gladly answered all of them.  Soon, the talk turned to the possibility that he would purchase a piece of land here, he was primarily interested in living on Samal Island, since he really enjoyed a peaceful area with plenty of quiet, beautiful scenery and a lifestyle filled with nature.  He inquired through Feyma about the possibility of helping him find a place to live on Samal.  After a number of communications, my new friend wrote to me and said that he had decided that the timing was not right for such a move.  He lamented the current sinking of the Australian Dollar against the Peso.  I went and did some looking into this, and here is what I found.  Two years ago, the Australian Dollar was at a rate of about P38:AUD1.  Roughly, the AUD stayed in a range of 38 to 40  until January 2008 when it dipped to just about 35.  A few months ago, the AUD had climbed all the way up to 44, but recenly took a real crash.  Currently, the AUD is trading at about P32.  It dropped from 44 to 32 in a matter of only around 4 months or so!  Not good for the Aussies!

A few days ago, I went out for coffee with John Grant, and we discussed this matter.  John was feeling down because the British Pound has also been taking quite a beating lately.  Two years ago, the GBP was about P104, and had even hit P110 before that!  However, from the P104 level, it took a slide down to about P79 in the first quarter of this year, before climbing it’s way back to around P90 in July/August of this year.  From that point, though, the Pound has fallen like a rock (a pound of rocks?) and is now trading at around P73, it’s lowest exchange in the last 2 years that I investigated.  Our British expat friends are hurting right now.

What about the Euro, the relatively new currency that our friends in much of Europe are using these days?  Well, over the last few years the Euro has kind of been the “King of the Currencies” with it strengthening against almost every World Currency during this time.  Two years ago, the Euro was worth 63 Pesos.  It climbed from there, all the way up to 73 Pesos!  But, 73 was the top of the exchange rate for the Euro. since that time, it has dropped against the Peso and today it is trading in the range of P61.  That is quite a slide for our European friends.

What about our Canadian friends?  I remember it was not long ago when the Canadian Dollar (CAD) was on parity, even a little higher than the USD.  Times have changed a bit since then, though.  Two years ago, the CAD was trading at P44, and over the past two years it climbed as high as P47.  Lately, though, the CAD has been taking quite a hit and has been pretty volatile.  Over the past week or two, the CAD has traded as low as P38.  In the past week or so, it has gotten back up to about P41, though.

What about the United States Dollar?  Well, as an American, I am happy to report that most American Expats that I know are very happy these days.  Two years ago, the USD was trading at around P52, and it dropped like a rock from there.  By January of this year (2008) the dollar was at P40, and the word the we were hearing and reading in the papers was that the dollar would be down to about P30 by 2010.  Frankly, I was pretty worried about that, because at the P40 level, life was getting a little rough, given that the USD was at P56 just about 3 years ago.  If the Dollar has slid down to P30, I would have had to figure out how to make more money, changed my lifestyle considerably, or left the Philippines.  None of these were things I really wanted to do.  Today, though, we are nearly back where we were 2 years ago, with the Dollar trading right around the p50 level again, in fact yesterday it broke P50:$1 for the first time during this cycle.  Speculation is that the Peso will continue to slide against the Dollar for the forseeable future.

Having the Dollar trading at these levels again is a great feeling for Feyma and I, and for our American expat friends too.  I must say, though, that I feel for my expat friends from other contries.  I know how they feel, because, as Americans, we lost almost 1/3 of the value of our money against the Peso not too long ago, and I know that life became more difficult.  I am lucky, because I make a pretty good income, so I know that if life was uncomfortable for me when the Dollar was so far down, some of my friends are really in bad shape with their currency down, because some of them also have very limited incomes in their home currency.  I hope that their currencies stabilize and even gain some value soon.

In today’s trying times, we just don’t know what the financial markets will do in the coming months and years.  Anything could happen, in my opinion.  It’s a good time to put a nestegg aside, to cover your needs during trying times that we may see.  It’s not a time to spend money wildly, that is for sure.

Good luck to everybody, I hope that your finances serve your needs.

One of entries in the book was a classic that many of you will probably remember. The title: “Old Mother Hubbard”. You probably also remember the first few lines of this one, but in case you haven’t or are in need of a refresher, here they are:

Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard, To give the poor dog a bone;

When she came there, The cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none.

After reading the whole nursery rhyme it is clear that inventory issues are not the primary concern, and thankfully so! But as a small business owner, the first few stanzas do remind me of how important inventory control is for just about every small business. Just ask yourself as a consumer, how many times have you been told “Sorry Sir/Ma’am, out of stock”. That line is a common refrain in the Philippines, and I believe much of the reason for it is because the use of inventory management systems are the exception to the norm rather than actually being the small business norm.

In my earlier article from October 13th titled “Happiness is a Positive Cash Flow”, I touched on the issue of inventory management and how it related to cash flow. In this article I will discuss two methods or systems related to inventory management. They are very simple but very effective methods to keep the costs of maintaining an inventory at a minimum, and at the same time reduce the chances of actually running out of inventory at any given moment. Both of the methods I outline below can be used in just about any small business setting — from a simple sari-sari store, to a full service restaurant, or any other small but inventory-driven enterprise.

The first method is known as ABC Inventory Management. I’ve also heard it called other names like 1-2-3 Inventory Management and Gold-Silver-Bronze Inventory Management. Essentially this system of inventory control aims to group your overall inventory into three broad categories. The first, category “A”, includes those items that are generally most expensive to have on hand in your business. It includes those items that are most costly to you in terms of actual cost as an input or product, and they usually take the longest to sell. For example, in a restaurant, such items include the finest bottle of wine, the best cut of steak, or most costly seafood entree. Yes, a restaurant probably makes a good profit on these items and that’s why they have them on the menu, but usually they are not the items that are ordered by most of the restaurant patrons on any given night.

Category “B” items are those that are not as costly as Category “A” items, but are still somewhat costly. And while their turnover is more frequent than category ”A” products, they are not as cheap to have on hand nor sell as fast as category “C” items. You can think of these items as those that definitely have a consistent rate of turnover, but are also high-value products that take up a good chunk of your monthly cash outlay to have on hand. For example, in a hardware store, such items would include quality hand tools, high-grade plumbing and electrical fixtures, etc. They do not include category “A” items like a full-steam bath enclosure with sauna and heat lamp, but they may include items such as a decent wall-mounted water heater, or a sturdy and well-crafted kitchen faucet.

Category “C” inventory items are those that form the bulk of your inventory, but sell rapidly and have the lowest profit margins on a per unit basis. The bulk of your sales will generally come from these items, and you probably rely on a high volume of sales from these items to maintain a positive and generally healthy daily cash flow. For example, in a sari-sari store this would include things like milled rice, packages of instant noodles, small candies, etc.

Once you have broken down your inventory into the three categories, you can then know with confidence where you should spend the bulk of your time monitoring the different items you have in stock. You will want to start by monitoring your category “A” items closest. You do not want to have too many category “A” items in your inventory as it means you have too much money tied up in expensive items that do not bring in sufficient cash flow on a daily basis. Try to not go overboard when ordering or re-stocking such items. You can always special order such items and make your customer feel special by offering a discount if he or she can wait for the order to arrive. Next, you will want to monitor your category “B” items. Again, try to make sure you don’t have any oversupply issues with these items, but at the same time don’t scrimp when ordering these items because you don’t want to lose out on a sale because you were too cautious when ordering. Sales of category “B” items really can boost gross profits, but not if you have too many on the shelf and do little to create sales of these items through promotions and marketing efforts. Finally, with category “C” items, be sure to have plenty of stock, and buy in volume wherever possible to leverage bulk discounts which you can in turn use to help maximize any profit margins on these items. Doing so will mean greater chances to maintain healthy cash flow on a day-to-day basis.

The second method I would urge small business owners to consider for an inventory management system is known as the Two Bin Inventory Management System. It doesn’t get any simpler than this system, but it works. As the name implies, you have two actual bins filled up for each of the various items you are selling. Your staff should take stock out of the first bin until empty. When it is empty, you reorder stock and start selling from the second bin. When new stock arrives, you replenish both bins and start over. With this method, you should overcome most of your inventory issues and in theory have the ability to perpetually sell your products and hardly ever run out of any items. It is a very simple system that is easy to learn and follow.

If you follow one of these two inventory control methods, or a combination of both, chances are you will probably be a leg up on most of your competition. They probably will stick to reordering only when they have absolutely no stock left on the shelf, and that will allow you to increase your business over time. As your business grows you can consider using a PC to help you track your inventory and plan accordingly, but in most cases and most small businesses, simply following one of the above two systems will likely be all you need and won’t cost you very much to implement.

So if you are a small business owner you may want to try and implement one of these methods of inventory control. By doing so you just might find your staff has fewer and fewer opportunities to use the words: “Sorry sir, no stock”

On Monday, though, President Arroyo took an action that may just make that treadmill obsolete.  President Arroyo has signed Executive Order 758, which may make it easy to stay in the Philippine for the long term.  Under EO 758 (details are limited at this time) people who provide employment for 10 Filipinos can stay in the Philippines indefinitely!  Yes, indefinitely - in other words, as long as you keep 10 employees for some kind of business, you can stay!  No need to keep making visa runs every two years, etc.

This can kill two birds with one stone too.  You see, a lot of people ask me how they can make money in the Philippines, enough to support their lifestyle.  Well, if you start a business in the Philippines, you can probably employ 10 Filipinos, and also earn enough money to support your lifestyle too!  There are so many underserved needs here in the Philippines, and there are literally hundreds of ways for you to fill those needs with a small business.  I have businesses here that I have started for under $100, so it can be done, and you can make a nice living here.  For a business that would employ 10 people, you will almost certainly need to invest more than $100, but your investment can still be relatively small, certainly much less than you would invest in such a business in your home country.

If you are looking for a way to stay here for the long term, this may be an option to look at!  It’s good for you, it’s good for at least 10 Filipinos that will have a job, and it’s good for the country in general!  Then again, if you are looking for what kind of business you could start here, why not check out my book, “49 Ways to Make a Living in the Philippines“.  It’s $49 (just $1 for each idea that I present to you!), and if you buy the electronic version, you can download it immediately after payment is made.  I’m not just trying to get money from you here, but I genuinely think that this book can help you make a go of living in the Philippines!  I offer a 100% money back guarantee if you are not satisfied, no questions asked!  How can you go wrong?

After a while, more details of this new way to stay for the long term should come out, and we’ll know the details!  What I see so far looks promising!