Live in the Philippines

Live in the Philippines helps expats with visas, moving and other services regarding the Philippines.

Fulfilled in the Philippines

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Ten years ago I bought two Dream satellite systems, as no cable is available in my area of Bataan. Since I can enjoy watching a stateside NFL Games and Baseball on the ESPN channel, albeit I must get up early some days to view the games, in my opinion it’s worth it, to me. There are a couple of other good channels, such as History, Discovery, and National Geographic plus regular TV and movies. Last week dream System had a deal if I pay them $431.00 in advance I get 18 months of premium TV. So I did, and saved about $140.00. What I didn’t know is I also receive 2 new decoder boxes to unscramble the signal and 2 new Satellite dishes. Now I have 3 spare Satellite dishes and 2 spare decoder boxes if I ever need them. Maybe I need more TV’s?

Television has never been that big of a thing to me as I joined the Navy at age 18 and spent a great part of my life on ships and away from the United States. I did like watching ”I Love Lucy” in Italian or Turkish sometimes. But for the most part it was music and books that I spent most of my time with.

My music tastes are varied with my first choice being Country, being a kid from New England (Dorchester section of Boston, and Cape Cod) Country was a new thing to me in 1965, and on my first ship in the Navy. I would play classic Rock, as that’s all I knew. Until I met a kid from Cookeville Tennessee, named Jerry Ray (last name omitted) who insisted I play his music (Country) on my record machine. In the interest of fairness I told him we’d play one of my albums then one of his, throughout the workday. It was sure to happen, and it did, we both started liking each other’s music and a great friendship was born.

Books are another thing I love. That was not caused by any teacher in school; it was caused by my Father. Every Friday night he came home from work and threw down the latest comic books by Batman, Superman, The Flash and the rest, for me and my four brothers. My Mother would complain that they were junk and would rot our young minds. My Father would smile and tell her, “Someday they won’t need the pictures.” Well, he was right! My brothers and I to this date are avid readers.

So what does all that have to do with living here in the Philippines? Well…In the Zambales area there is a high population of English speaking (and reading) people, and most American or Australian owned restaurants hotels and or bars here have book exchanges. Take one leave one or 10 to 20 pesos to buy one. As tourist arrive and depart new books are put into circulation all the time. Also from people like me who will hit the National Book Store and pay retail (it’s still cheaper than the stateside price) and or use the second hand book stores at the mall.

Now for music, that presents a whole different story, but mp3 and flash drives have solved a major part of our problem here in my area. I have found a couple of downloading mp3 sites that for a very reasonable price I can download the latest Billboard 100 charts music. (Since they aren’t paying Bob to advertise on this site, I won’t mention their names.) And again tourists bring a lot of new music with them on IPOD’s and such. I have an external hard drive that holds 185 Gigs and it is close to being full with just music. My friend just returned from a ship, he brought 150 albums of mixed Country and Classic Rock. It’ll take a few months to listen to all that.

As for food, between the four big supermarkets on Subic Freeport, and the local markets in town, one can find all the ingredients needed to make your favorite meal. Example; I love strawberry short cake. Strawberries and whipped cream as easy to find. The Shortcake, it’s here, it’s a Philippine product called Mamon.

Or restaurants of all types to satisfy your taste buds. (We still lack a “Brothers Burger!”) One other food I’ve not found in this area is a Greek “Gyros” Sandwich, now to me that is heaven here on earth. If you know where I can get one here on the Islands I will drive as far as Manila to get it!

For all our Host Nation has offered to us, and the wonderful way I feel that I’m treated here, I still want to see a Red Sox’s game, or the New England Patriots’ play. I want to read a book or two a week, and I want Country Music while enjoying an Ice Cold San Miguel Beer, on a beautiful Philippine afternoon (rain or shine). Ahhh Luxury!!!!!

Now for a small addendum, before anyone comments how wrong I am, as they know their part of The Philippines is far and above better than my part. I say to you, “You’re right, it is!” And I receive no pay from the Bataan/Zambales Chamber of Commerce!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hi Paul – I had the same complaint about gyro’s a few years back. Someone mentioned to me that he found gyro’s being made & served in the restaurant section of one of the resorts in Barrio Barretto, Olongapo. I’ll be darned if I can remember which one, now. That’s what happens when age, compounded by lack of gyro’s, does. 😉

    • Hi Paul;
      I just showed your comment to my wife, Maria (Mayang) Thompson, (the keeper of the keys) she’s not smiling, but she will accept the mission, and assist me.
      The quest begins today, I will comb every resort, every restaurant and Gin Joint in the Barrio Barretto until this tasty treasure is found. I don’t care how many beers it will take (You can’t go in and order nothing) or how many inane conversations I must enter into, I’ll not rest until I find it, or my liver fails, If found or not I’ll document my quest, and report back on my findings. “Tally Ho”

      • Sandwiches I’ve found here that were quite good.
        French dip (I make them too)
        Philly Cheese Steak
        Since we have a Subway Shop I won’t list them.
        Ruben on rye.
        Camel Riders (Deli sandwich in Pita bread}
        Others I can’t remember as I’m old now, but they all taste good with an Ice Cold San Magoo! (Doesn’t everything?)

  2. Paul, I am surviving OK with out Peru Pizza House pizza and now you just HAVE to mention Gyros!!!! Your a cruel man…..hahahaah

    • Dave;
      Peru Pizza House? One of my ships was in Peru and we never found a Pizza place, and now Peru exports it. What a changing world we live in. As to the Gyro, if some guy (or girl) out there in the world, wants to retire in the Philippines. Come and open a Gyro Shop. “You build it and they will come.” (Quote by Kevin Costner)

  3. Sounds like you might enjoy the Kindle II that you can purchase through Amazon.com I have a friend that has one and he wrote a story on his blog about it. http://www.goiloilo.com I know that when I arrive to join you in that wonderful lifestyle one will be packed in my bag. Happy reading.

    • Hi Ron;
      I went on line and looked up Kindle II, so now I know what it is. I’m just a old gezzer I guess, as a paperback or hardbound book just feels good in my hands. But I agree with you, if I had trouble finding books I’d jump on that in a Manila Minute.

  4. Paul:

    Here in Manila, there are a number of Shawarma places, especially in the malls… Little different from a gyro, but essentially the same thing. Lots of Filipinos worked in the Middle East and came back, starting the stands… They are usually like a food cart. Also, a number of the Irani restaurants that are popping up have them too… Food court, lower lever, Tri Noma there is a shawarma stand.

    • Hi John;
      There are many Shawarma stands here in Olongapo City as well, although good, they are just not the same as a Gyro, The spiced lamb, the cucumber yogurt sauce and the fresh veggies.
      I dated a girl in Florida who told me she’d leave me if I didn’t stop eating them, as she didn’t like the smell. I wonder what ever happened to her? I’m not Greek, but I love their food!

      • Paul: I graduated High School in Tarpon Springs…Something like 80% Greek back in the day. I won’t eat them either, with good reason. Back in high school, during 2-a-days in the summer, the football team would head into town to the gyros shacks, where they had a special, 2 for $2 or something. All of us linemen would pig out and head back to practice. Coach found out where we were going, and said, “I’m gonna make all you Rockheads burn off that fattening food”. Couple hundred yards of forward rolls up and down the field usually meant that, not only were we tasting them twice, we had a negative caloric intake! Still can’t stand the smell to this day!

        • Hi again John;
          Tarpon Springs was a short drive from Clearwater, and I’d make the trip often. I liked the area very much. I would have moved there but my work was in Treasure Island by St. Pete. You’re not the first to not like the smell, as I said above. If I had a Gyro in the afternoon, I’d not bother to hit any clubs that evening, as I knew I’d not meet any woman that night. So I never ate them on the weekend. I should have dated Greek girls.

          • Hello John & Paul, Chicago has a greek town so there’s a lot of gyros. I did not know gyros is that such special. I stay away from it because of its size. & I don’t know how to appreciate it. I’ll get one soon.

            Can you please describe the smell? How bad is it that a girl would stop dating you if you don’t stop eating it? A toothbrush will not remove the smell, Paul? Nothing like our fried dried fish though.

            • Hey roy – Let me suggest a gourmet’s delight meal for you…

              Start off with an appetizer of fried dried fish (bulad).
              Main course – Gyros!
              Dessert – Durian!

              You’re in for a culinary treat, my friend!

              • Hello Bob, Bulad alone satisfies me; the durian has to be a candy or ice cream. I don’t quite get the idea of eating durian.

              • Hi roy – Ha ha… see now… I don’t like Durian candy or ice cream. It’s too fake. It’s not really tasting like real durian. If I want durian, I want the real thing! I used to eat the durian candy from time to time, but got tired of it. I eat fresh durian regularly, though.

            • Roy;
              It’s not that bad a smell, and after the first bite you don’t care anyway. Give one a try, I’ll bet you have another! Bring a lady with you and neither can complain.

  5. ahhh to be content, i like it Paul, hmmm i could get rich by opening a stand that sells skewered lamb shank ? whod a thunk it 😉 my mouth is now watering with the taste of cucumber sauce and vidalia onion and fresh tomatoe with lamb/beef on pita and a huge order of fries and a dr pepper !! ropa !

    • Hello Tommy;
      Dave who wrote above called me a cruel man, just for bring up the subject of Gyro’s. After he reads your description of them, that title will go to you.
      Content, that’s for sure Tommy. There is something in the air or maybe in the water, but more than likely, it’s those brown eyes of my wife that cause my contentment. And I’m cursed with ugly blue eyes, I’m gonna’ git’ them thar’ colored contacky’ lens.
      Like us, Dr. Pepper is so misunderstood!

  6. Well it’s nice to know that I’ll still be able to catch my sports
    after I move over their, although it’ll have to be early in the
    morning.

    • Hey Barney I have windows XP media centered edition and have a cable hooked to my CPU wala instant DVR 😉 view at my leisure anytime and sometimes twice !

    • Barney;
      Later in the day ESPN shows a lot of some game called Soccer or jokingly they call it Foot Ball, it’s kinda’ like Foo’s ball for real. The best part is, many times no one wins, and the people seem quite happy with that. What a world! Thank the gods for MLB NBA,and NFL.

  7. Hi Paul – Just finished up tidying a few aisles at the JoT and found something you might like. Since we all appear to be gyro lovers, here’s a recipe for some good, homemade tzatziki sauce:

    2 x 16oz. containers sour cream
    1 x 16oz. container Greek yogurt
    2 ea English cucumbers (can substitute Japanese cucumbers)
    2 Tbsp garlic, minced
    1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

    – Peel cucumbers & grate into colander; squeeze out excess water.
    – Mix sour cream, yogurt, garlic and olive oil in large bowl.
    – Stir cucumbers into mix.
    – Chill between 0.5 hrs – 2.0 hrs before serving.

    If you wish, you can add a little fresh mint, dill and salt to taste, but they’re not really necessary.

  8. Hi Paul, Hi Mayang! Great seeing you both again today…

    Greek gyros – YES! Angeles City has a Greek restaurant I always wanted to try. They even have a website. Here’s the link: http://www.myrnaki.com/html/specials.html

    The first gyros I had was at Greenbelt Mall in Makati years ago. The restaurant was called Mediterranean Cafe and was still there a couple of years ago. I’m not sure if they still are…

    • Mita;
      I got so excited I jumped to the site, I read the menu and saw that the meat they used was pork and not lamb. Even the Souvlaki was made from pork; I’m e-mailing the Greek Embassy and turning those pretenders in. This could cause an international incident LOL
      And yes Mayang and I also enjoyed the day very much, let’s do that more often. Next time I’m in Angeles City I will try the Gyro, as I’m Jonesing for one, and will enjoy it with pork. I’ll e-mail in advance in case you two want to join us.

    • Hi Mita – We have a “Mediterranean Cafe” in Davao, it’s franchised from Manila, probably the same chain. They have gyros, pretty good too. Service is terrible, but the food is not bad.

    • Hi All – I think the Greek restaurant in Makati is called the Cyma Mediterranean Restaurant in Greenbelt, not to be confused with the Cyma Estiatorio located in Trinoma, Quezon City. The former has reviews of gyros “to die for” while the latter didn’t discuss the entire menu so gyro existence is not known.

  9. I must have got it wrong…Cafe Mediterranean and not the other way around. There’s also Mano’s Greek Taverna in Tagaytay that is owned by a Fil-Greek couple. They have home-cooked Greek food and they do serve lamb. Until the traffic in the South Luzon Expressway improves, I don’t think Dave and I will be going soon.

  10. Hi All;
    Let’s recap this article;
    I wrote about Satellite TV: one response.
    I wrote about books: no response
    I Wrote about Music: no response.
    I wrote about food, “Greek Gyro’s”: That was the subject that got the attention, of almost everyone. Myself included. Maybe Gyro stands are the 50th way to make a living in the Philippines?

  11. Paul
    So from what I read here you are a music buff, im not that deep into the Country Music but I am very open minded will listen to almost anything. I can send me a assortment for your listening pleasure direct from Little Rhody if you would like.
    I guarantee you don’t have some of the stuff I have in my collection. Let me know as it would be a kick for you to hear what I am listening to as I read your post,s on LIP 8 thousand miles away. If your in the “Parrott Head” crew Bob is your Man.

    • Oh Neal
      I’ve only 19 Jimmy Buffett albums (remember I lived in the Caribbean and Florida) I’m an original Parrot Head, 7 Live Jimmy concerts and I had a beer with him on St. Kitts in the BVI. Ho mon, you rascal you!

      • Some Music other than country;
        560 Classic Rock all 60’s 70’s 80’s (they stopped making rock in the 90’s)
        Peter Tosh
        Third World
        UB40
        All Bob Marley
        Buena Vista Social Club and much more Reggae

        Tell me what you like, I might have it!

        • Paul
          Trust me on this one I have some classic stuff to name a few:
          Beenie Man, 80’s David Bowie, Frank Marino.Fuel,John Lee Hooker,Kenny Wayne Sheppard, John Lee Hooker,Robin Trower,Walter Trout,Guitar Shorty, Gary Moore, Buddy Guy. I have some good 1 hit wonders also, Oingo Boingo, Payolas etc.

          Let me know.

          • Neal;
            My limited computer knowledge and I do mean limited, tells me I have no idea how you can send music, I tried a few time to upload music to an e-mail and after 45 minutes I quit. Is there another way?

            • Im no friggin computer expert either but I think they can just be sent as mp3 files, Im guessing. Any help here from the almighty OZ I mean Bob.

        • Hi Bob;
          I just last month downloaded 3 Jimmy Buffett albums “Jimmy Buffett – Buffett Hotel- 2009”, “Jimmy Buffett – License to Chill-2004” and Jimmy Buffett – Take the Weather with you -2006”

  12. Paul
    Im not a Gyro fan, I would rather go down to a N Y System and get 3 “Gaggers all the way Loaded” 51th way to make a living there.