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Pasko
‘Tis The Season Do you ever get the feeling when you wake up in the morning that today is supposed to be a special day but you just can’t think why? It happened to me a couple of days ago, on September 1st to be exact. What could it be? Surely not a family birthday or anniversary – I would never ever forget any of those. (Or at least my smartphone calendar won’t let me…
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A Shipmate explained it to Me
I was at the Boston Army Pier taking my Draft Physical in October 1964, a Navy Chief walked by and asked if I was looking forward to another cheery New England Winter? Hell no; I replied, he said if I could be there at the pier in the morning by seven AM (0700 Hours) I could join the Navy and sail on a hotel with four sit-down hot meals every day or be drafted into…
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How much money do you need to live in the Philippines?
Updated for 2018 How Much Do You Need to Live in the Philippines? Probably the most often asked question from people who are thinking about living in the Philippines is this – How much money do I need to have a good life there? Well, to be honest, there is no single answer that can be right for every person. “Living good” is a different concept for every person, and what is a good life…
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Retirement! What Retirement? Journals from an Indigenous Philippine Sorcerer.
Retired! What? Wow, I’m still not off the hook. I’ve been ‘retired’ 8 years, and I’m still pouring over my journals of Arik’s teachings. I’m not busy grading exams or preparing lecture notes, but busy organizing my journal writings of an extraordinary indigenous Philippine teacher. For an impending book, no less! Lord, I never thought I’d be doing this in my retirement. But, as challenging as it is, it has been an enormous pleasure. I’ve…
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Damn It’s Still Cold!
Stuff just lasts a long time at “Casa Mayang” (My wife’s nickname) in 1998 we went to Ocampo’s Dept. Store in beautiful Downtown Olongapo here in Zambales Province, on the Island of Luzon. By the way, as it happens worldwide, with the advent of two new malls it was the death null for this very old store. My wife had never seen any freezer other than the ones she saw in the Super Market placed…
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Street Vendors Lingo
Vendors in the Philippines “Isdaaa! – Moro-Moro, Bangus, at Saka Gulay!” Sound familiar? It didn’t to me until fairly recently. Let me explain. When I first retired to the Philippines I lived in West Insular Village, a pleasant and mostly clean gated community in Davao City. A bit pricey, but that’s what you expect from mid to high-end private housing compounds here. Nothing unusual in choosing a gated community – lots of expats do the…
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Are these the best you have?
HEADPHONES: Yes sir, they even have a built-in FM Radio, and volume controls for each ear. Wow, I don’t even use the radio or CD player in my car or living room as I like the convenience of the USB memory stick. Have you figured out what this is about? Back to my My/Phone, audiobook reader (I’ve mentioned in the past) I tried the little headphones that come with most cell phones including the 8…
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Homesick
Last night while I was looking at Facebook and reading updates from some of my friends that still keep in touch, I noticed that I was feeling a bit sad. With my mind drifting to things in the past. This does not happen often, but I do get homesick from time to time, missing the sights of where I grew up as a kid, missing my kids and my friends from school and work, even…
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Filipino Culture of Littering
Littering in the Philippines Filipino Culture of Littering I love to go for walks in the countryside around the village my wife grew up located in Bohol. I always hope not to encounter the Filipino culture of littering. The lush green vegetation with the occasional brightly colored tropical flower is beautiful. When I get to a high place on a hill, I look out over the deep green forest. It has a river running through…
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Gay in the Philippines: Over the Rainbow
Gay in the Philippines Is the Philippines Over the Rainbow? Gay in the Philippines? It’s no surprise that a service tailored to advise and assist people considering taking the plunge and coming to Live In The Philippines will be targeted by folks from all walks of life. For anyone contemplating such a move, it can be both exciting and daunting, and all manner of potential problems related to lifestyle and culture will spring to mind…
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I Really Should Know Better
Changing the way you look can be a good thing or not so good. In the US Navy, I was on a commissioning crew for a new ship in Norfolk VA in the 1970’s. We didn’t have much to do but hang around the barracks and sneak out as early as we could. Then one day a Master-at-Arms (Cop in Navy terms) came by saw my 3rd class Petty Officer emblem on my arm and…
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Working in Alaska: Mess Hall Food
Mess Hall Food I am working at an Alaska Seafood Processing Plant Mess hall food at the processing plant where I work in Alaska. I am a Filipina working in Alaska. I am a Dual Citizen – USA and Philippines. I’ve been asked by quite a few people about what types of food we (the workers) eat here in Alaska. We get Mess Hall Food, let me tell you about it. The company that I…
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