Live in the Philippines

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

It’s been a long journey, though it seems short

Expats / by

My interest in and association with the Philippines hits a milestone today.  It’s been a long journey, though the time seems so short.

I started out by coming to the Philippines for the first time on July 24, 1990.  I came back again in 1992, 1995 and 1999 before moving here to live permanently in 2000.  Since moving here and living here for the past 11 years, I have grown to love the country more than ever before.  This is my home, the place where I feel most comfortable.

So, how and why did I come to love the Philippines?  Of course, it was through my loving wife, Feyma.  Yes, today is the anniversary of the wedding that brought us together.  We were married on August 9, 1990.  Feyma has been by my side ever since, and I am happy for that.

Every marriage has it’s potholes, the road is never perfectly smooth.  But, if you drive in a way that you avoid the potholes as much as possible, weave the road of life in a way that your ride is as smooth as it can be, well, you can enjoy a good life.  Like I say, no marriage is perfect, and Feyma and I have had our share of ups and downs, but the ups are way more pronounced than the downs have been.  I am always happy that Feyma is part of my life.   The good times we have had together far outweigh the bad, no doubt.

I love Feyma dearly, and I would do anything for her, you can bet on that.  I know that when I married Feyma, I got far more than I deserve, and I am a lucky man.  I like to feel that she came out a winner too in the marriage.  After all, if both parties don’t feel like they got the better end of the stick, long term success is doubtful.  We’ve made it 21 years, though, so we must be doing something right.

To my wonderful wife, and the love of my life… I love you babe!  Looking forward to the next 21!  I hope you are too.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Happy Anniversary Bob and Feyma Bayoy Martin. I hope that you two have a great day and great new memories! Thanks for being such nice and great friends. Congratulations!

  6. Happy anniversary, Bob. Your blog has been a great help in reconnecting with friends in Mindanao, especially in Wao. I myself have been back for good, and am based in Cebu. Since coming back a year ago, I’ve visited Davao 5 times already and will be there again this month. I love the place! I’m not surprised you’re enamored to the place.

  7. Happy Anniversary, Bob and Feyma! I like the analogy of the road with potholes, and like any marriage you try to avoid the potholes. You two are certainly doing something right!

  8. I know why you have lasted this long. You allow Feyma to be the boss. HAHA! Just kidding. Happy Anniversary and many more to come.

    art

  11. Happy 21st Wedding Anniversary Bob. May you, Feyma and all you’re loved ones be showered with more Joy, Love and Companionship for the next 21 years ahead.

  13. Congratulations to you and Feyma, Bob. I can echo your sentiments about getting more than you deserve as I have too, with Menchu.

    The very best of luck and continued happiness and prosperity to both of you.

  14. Bob–add my wife and me to the list of those Congratulating you and Feyma. Yes, you , like me, got the best of the deal as Filipinas are so-soo easy to love. Mine has put up with me for over 45 years.

    • Hi Loren – 45 years! You are the one who deserves a hearty congratulations! And, I’m offering my congratulations to you and your wife on such a wonderful achievement!

  15. Hi Bob-Congratulations to you both on your wedding anniversary and hope you have many more to enjoy together.
    Regards.
    Jim & Marilou.

  16. Congratulations bob and feyma you are both lucky to have each other and a lovely family again congratulations on this milestone in your lives
    chris

  18. Happy Anny Bob and Feyma !!

    Reading you guys’s story throughout the past years have always put a smile on my face and have at least let me know something about the land of my good friend who I hope I can join her one day again.

    Hoping you tons more good years. 🙂

  19. Hi to you and congrats! I`m James Hutcherson, I am Married to a filipina for 8 years now and we live here in LasVegas, Nv USA. we met here and both work for 2 major Casinos,However after spending 2 weeks in the P.I. last Year , I left my heart there and am seriously wanting to retire early. My wife is from Dipolog and we (the Family) actually have 2 homes where the maids reside now and take care of the property while Mother and father in law live in Chicago,Illinois.and brother in law just resently moved to London with his wife.it is my sincere desire to retire in dipolog and enjoy the rest of my life. fishing , having some Red Horse and farming Fruits and Vegtables on the property.I am 43 years old and it is my 5-10 year plan. any advise?

    James

    • Hi James – You bet, I have some advice for you… Don’t wait 5-10 years. Do it more quickly than that. Why put off enjoyment in your life? Another piece of advice – there are almost 3,000 articles on this site…. read them all before coming.

  20. Congradulations Bob, & Feyma, Wow 21 years of wonderful marridge!! yes Bob guess you have found your ideal life there in the Philippines. Thankyou for keeping us all in the loop, bringing us this, and your other sites,and your many contributors!! Here is to your happiness togeather and to the next 21.. Some day I will make it also happen.

    • Hi Glen – You can do it! Remember, though, no matter where you live, no life is ideal. There is no perfect place on earth, you just have to find the place that is best for you, but it still won’t be perfect.

  22. Congratulations to both of you, Bob & Feyma, and very best wishes for the future. Also, I like the pics!

  23. Good to read this – It is a priveldge to live here and a privelege to have a wonderrful Filipina asawa ! – anytime you both are in Tagaytay please call in for a beer !

  25. Hi Bob and Feyma,
    Congratulations on your 21st anniversary!
    Daisy and I have been legally married for 2 years since July 25, 2009, But we have really been married since July 21, 2001.
    Congratulations on your journey together!
    Jade
    John And Daisy Edward

  26. Congratulation to both of you, Bob and Feyma. Happy Anniversary and wishing you for many more years together—-potholes or not!

    Mars

    • Thank you so much, Mars. Every road has a pothole or two, but our vehicle’s suspension is good, and can handle a bit of a rough ride from time to time! 😉

  29. Happy Anniversary Bob and Feyma. WoW, 21 years, it may make you wonder where all of that time went. I think the success of your marriage comes through in many of the articles you have written, in certain ways. Best wishes for the next 21 years !

    • Hi Bob – Thank you so much, my friend. You are right, where did all of those years go? It seems impossible. They have been 21 good years, though.

  30. Congratulations Bob and Feyma on your Anniversary and salute your guts to raise your lovely family in our country… Hope a lot of my fellow citizens learn a lot from you…. Wish you to keep going and best of health.

  31. Thank you Nolasco! I don’t think it really takes courage or guts to raise a family here, just a willingness to be flexible and enjoy life! Take care.

  32. Hi Bob and Feyma. Happy anniversary! Many many more glorious years ahead for both of you. Ayaw gyod patintal sa mga tentasyon diha Bob or you’ll be in trouble kay Feyma, hehehe…

  33. Hi Bob and Feyma. Happy anniversay and hope you have many more to come. We have been married 40 years this year, but as you say you have to work through the bad times and put them to the back of your mind. The good times far outweight them. God Bless you both and your family.

  37. Hi Honey – Thank you so much for the nice post that you made on LIP and FB. I was really touched. It was a good 21 years. Lots of challenge a long the way, but we did make it. Thank you for being a good husband, a good dad to our kids. Thank you also for being good and supportive to my parents when they were alive and to my other siblings, to my nieces, some turned out good others we experienced heartache. Still you were there for me. I love you more for that. I always thanked God for giving you to me.

    I love you honey with all my heart. Happy Anniversary and hope for more years for us.

    Love you always!!!!

  38. Dearest Feyma and Bob,

    21 years! Time does fly when you are having fun.

    Happy Anniversary and may you be blessed with more happy and fulfilling years of wedded bliss.

    Jon

    • Hi Jon – Yep, it’s been 21 years already. Gee, I think that when you and I first knew each other Feyma and I had been married only about 5 years or so! Amazing!

      When are you coming back to Davao?

  40. Congratulations Bob and Feyma.

    That’s a great accomplishment and I am happy for the both of you for your strong commitment to each other and family.

  42. Wow….so many responses and well wishes, you must be proud of that!! So I will add my congrats as well to you and your wife, GOD BLESS and give you 21 more.

  44. Hi Bob, congratulation on your wedding anniversary.
    Me and Neal still have you beat ,because we are celebrating our 26th anniversary in a couple week’s. Hopefully soon we will meet when ever we get to the Philippines.
    Take care.

  45. Congrats my friend, your living where most of us only dream. Being laid off has been tough and my unemployment got screwed up but I plan to get your book so we can start the process to move there where we belong. I did want to ask you about radation from Japan if theres been any in Davao ? As this country crashes it makes me want to get out more.

    • Hi Brian – Sorry to hear about the unemployment situation. That’s tough, and I hope things start going in your favor soon.

      No radiation in Davao.

  46. Thank you to all of you for taking the time to greet Bob & I on our Anniversary. I really appreciate very much you guys. It was a good 21 years together even with a bumpy ride a long the way. Thank you also for all you guys prayers.

    Thank you LIP family and FB family!

    Take care you guys and God Bless!

  47. Bob and Feyma: Happy Anniversary. They say time flies when you have Fun. Macrine and I had been married for 54 years. You have 33 years to catch us. Salud, Peseta y Amor!

  48. Hi. Congratulations Bob and Feyma. All the best on your wedding anniversary. With many many more to come! Best wishes from Dave,Joradin,Alex,Jordan and Shaun.

  49. Congratulation, Bob and Feyma! My wife and I also married in 1990, but on August. I am regularly surprised with how quickly time has gone by!

  51. Bob and Feyma,
    Happy wedding anniversary, here’s a toast for you for another 21 yrs. or more. Congratualtions!!

  52. You know life is funny, How you can meet someone so far away, and find out that you have found your soulmate, “The Perfect One”.. Never in a million years did I ever think I would go to the Philipphines to live …. leave alone falling in Love…So I congadulate you on your happy success, You have a wonderful wife… children and everything a man could want for… Good Luck to you and yours…God Bless

  53. Hi, Bob and Feyma!

    My warmest congratulations on your anniversary!
    I pray that you’ll have more and more fruitful years together!

    Cheers! 🙂

  54. Hi Bob- Wow, that long huh? Congrats to you and Feyma! You love the country, the people and most especially the woman in your life. Lucky! You ever wonder if you stayed in the US? He he. Well, 21 cheers for love and more success and everything else!

    • Hi Sugar – Yep, 21 already! After Feyma and I married in GenSan, she lived in the States for 10 years, and now we’ve been here in the Philippines for 11! Time flies when you are having fun!

  55. Hi Bob and Feyma
    Let me and Jenny add our congratulations to you both. Many more to come! We are going to celebrate our 22nd anniversary in November!
    Regards
    Malcolm

  57. There must be a thing or two about you that Feyma really likes, Bob.(wink emoticon)
    If you want to “stick” long-term, I’d play up those angles & try to keep the socks off the floor!(big grin emoticon)(Thumbs-up emoticon)

    Congratulations to both of you!

    • Well, Mike, I can tell you one thing for sure.. I haven’t been leaving any socks on the floor! Ha ha… Truth is, I haven’t worn a pair of socks for over 10 years now! ha ha…

      Thanks, Mike, take care!

    • BTW, I’m not even certain that I own socks any longer! I think I have a couple of pairs in the drawer, but honestly I haven’t even opened the sock drawer for years! 😆

  61. Congratulations Bob and Feyma, Just so happens my youngest daughter “Sobe” has the same Aug 9 for her birthday. 8/9 is a great day always bud!