I had a situation last week, and particularly on Friday which absolutely infuriated me. I kept my mouth shut for the most part, though, and simply avoided the confrontation. That situation, though, caused both Feyma and I to make some re-evaluations about our future. I will explain how this will affect our future in a future post, either later this week, or perhaps next week, so stay tuned for that.
If you are a regular reader, you will likely remember, starting back in February 2010, we had trouble with our neighbors. The first problem was that they had rented out space to a Call Center operation, which operated at night, and they were very noisy, which woke us up every night. It caused me to go over there in the middle of the night two or three times to ask them to please keep the noise level down so that people in the neighborhood could sleep. In March, it happened that the owners of this building behind us took us to Barangay Court, and they were embarrassed soundly when the Barangay Captain basically told them that they were in the wrong, and they should keep the noise level down.
Then, a month or so later, these same neighbors started building a new commercial building even closer to the property line of our property. I wrote about that in an article in which I said that watching the construction workers was like watching a circus act.
Well, over the past month or two, Round Two in the battle with our neighbors seemed to get underway. Their new building is only an inch or two from our property line. I don’t really care about that so much, because it is actually fairly normal here. However, while constructing the building, the workers have been encroaching onto our property. We have a hollow block building where our maid irons clothes that is right at the back property line, and also a storage shed there. When the workers are working, they are always standing on the top of each of these buildings. I would not mind much, but when we were brought to court, the owners over there accused me of trespassing for even going to the gate of their property to talk to them. Well, these workers are not going to the gate, they are standing on our roof!
The storage building has only a tin roof, with the corrugated roofing tin. We just put that roof on about a month ago, it is brand new. I kept telling the workers not to stand on the building because that roofing tin is not heavy duty enough to support somebody standing on it. In fact, they had already damaged it a couple of weeks ago, because regardless of my requests, I keep catching them standing on the roof.
Well, last Wednesday, I was working in my office, which is on the second floor. I had the curtains closed and could not see outside, but suddenly, I heard a very loud crash, and immediately after that our maid was screaming very loudly. I quickly opened the curtains to see what was going on, and I saw that our storage shed had a hole in the tin roof. The workers had dropped a hollow block from the third floor of the building under construction and damaged our roof. In addition, the hollow block landed only about 2 feet from the head of our maid and her young daughter. She was washing clothes in that spot at the time. If the hollow block had landed on the maid or her daughter, I am quite sure it would have either killed her, or seriously injured her.
Well, the workers immediately owned up to the blame that they had accidentally dropped the hollow block. It damaged 3 panels of our storage shed roofing. They promised that they would fix it on Thursday, as it was late in the day and the hardware store was already closed on the day they did the damage. They put a tarp over the roof in case of any rain overnight. We explained to the workers, very sternly, that we were not happy, and that somebody could be seriously injured by such an action. They promised to take corrective measures, put up a net between their building and ours, and to be more careful. Again, they promised to fix the roof on Thursday too.
Well, when Thursday came around, the workers did not show up on their job next door, nor did they fix our roof. This was very strange, because they had never missed a day or work next door. We just didn’t say anything, though, to see what would happen.
On Friday, the workers showed up. They had one piece of roofing tin with them, even though they had damaged several sheets two days before. Feyma told them that they needed to replace all damaged pieces. At this point, the lady who owns the property came out and started yelling at Feyma very loudly. I was inside the house and could hear her very clearly, it was so loud. She told Feyma that only one piece would be replaced. Feyma got very mad at her and yelled right back that all damaged pieces were to be replaced, and at that point the lady realized that she was in trouble, so she just left.
Next, about an hour later, the workers started replacing the one piece of roofing tin. Feyma went out and reminded them that they needed to replace all damaged pieces, and also they needed to paint the tin, because the roof was brand new, and it was painted before they damaged it. At this point the lady’s husband came out and started yelling at Feyma. He told her that we wanted everything so fancy, and they didn’t like it. They would not be painting the metal. Feyma tried to explain that the pieces that were damaged were painted, but he just kept yelling at her. It was really a big scene. I had already decided, and Feyma agreed with me, that I was not even going to go outside because I did not want to be involved in the problem, since last time we had problems, they told us flat out that they hate foreigners. So, we thought it best for me to just stay out of the dispute altogether.
I will tell you, at times, yesterday, listening to them yell at Feyma, I felt like I was going to have a heart attack or a stroke, I was so mad! I maintained my cool, though, and stayed out of the dispute. I could tell, though, that it was very hard on Feyma.
Anyway, these people seem to be downright crazy lunatics. All of our dealings with them have lead to problems in the past, so we are at the point that we don’t even want to see or hear from them. Since they live just on the other side of the fence, though, it can be difficult.
So, I’m hoping for a better week this week! Last week was enough stress for me.
Hi Bob. Just let it go, It will cause you more trouble then its worth, the couple of bucks for the roof paint isnt enugh for a war. they will get theres in the end.
Hi Jack – As I said in the article, I will be addressing what we are going to do in a future article. Believe me, it’s not the paint that I am worried about, it is the danger that somebody in my family could have been killed in this incident of carelessness.
Hi Bob.
I missed your previous posts on this subject, but from this present posting, things don’t look good at all. In my opinion, your relationship with your neighbors would only get worse since they have already made known to you that they “hate foreigners”. Even if the problem about the roof and the carelessness of the workers are resolved to everyone’s satisfaction for the present time, the relationship between you and your neighbors will always be tense and hostile from here on. No court or barangay-imposed directive could change the fact that you don’t like each other. The situation will flare up again at the very slightest provocation, trust me, and you’ll find yourself obsessed at the thought of the man and and his wife 24/7. The unpleasant feeling will eat you up like cancer. It would not be fair to Feyma, either, for her to be out there alone dealing with the neighbors while you keep out of sight.
Btw, aren’t there zoning ordinances in Davao? Why is it that a commercial building is allowed to be built next to a residential home?
I seem to remember that you said you were renting your house. None of my business, but if I were you, I’d consider moving. For your mental and physical health.
Regards.
Hi John – Nice to see you back on that site, it’s been too long! I hope you are doing well.
Feyma and I have a solution in mind, and I’ll be writing about that soon.
I don’t like to let Feyma handle the situation on her own, but it will only be worse if I enter the fray, because these folks really hate foreigners.
I did have a quick question though, Is this a commercial building with a contractor or are the owners providing there own labor to build. If it was contractor labor I would take it to there contractor.
Hi Jack – I don’t know for sure what the arrangements are for the labor, I have not been told. There is no contractor’s sign or anything of that nature. From the looks of the people, they seem to be day laborers, more informal types.
Bob, I don’t know how you stayed out of the fracas when they started in on your wife. I know you did the right thing, but you have a cooler head then I do. Fortunately we have only had one minor incident with some nearby relatives that play their music too loud when they are drunk. By the way, my wife and I have decided to stay in the Philippines. I really didn’t want to go back to the rat race in America. Good luck on your situation, and I hope it works out.
Hi Dave, I saw on your blog that you decided to remain here! Congrats! I think you are making the right move! Thankfully, Feyma and I have come up with a solution to this problem, and it should be resolved soon… tune in again on Friday to get our solution!
Hi Bob: I bet Samal Island is looking better and better to you. Hang in there.
Hi Roberto – I’d love to build on Samal and move there… but it won’t happen until after my kids finish school, at least 6 more years. There just are no good schools over there, and the commute would be too long for the kids.
Hi Bob – My goodness! It’s a never-ending story with these neighbors! I would say I hope their nonsense ends, but that’s wishful thinking. Looking forward to your next article on this problem. I would have lost my cool by now, but after your last encounter, I see why you stayed out (for the time being).
Hi Henry – Yeah, it’s a never ending ordeal with these folks, unfortunately. I really wanted to go out there and join the fray several times, especially when I hear them coming down on Feyma. But, in the end, I know it is better for everybody involved if I do my best to steer clear.
Hey Bob,
I remember when I lived in Utah, and I had a dispute with the Neighbors, I would call my Lawyers…From the law firm of Smith, Wesson, and Winchester. No shooting would ever take place, but just a show of my pump action sitting by my side while sitting on the porch would silence the situation. Sometimes the county sherrif would show and calm them down. I know that a foreigner with a gun in the Philippines is a big no no! However, isn’t ther a police force there in Davao that can be called? Maybe you need to talk to the Barangay cheif? It’s probably wise to let Feyma do the talking. Good luck. 😉
Hi hudson – When we went to Barangay Court with these people a few months ago, they advised us to call 911 in the future instead of the Barangay Hall. There have been times that I have nearly called 911, but I want to only do that if the situation is really bad. The Davao 911 system involves PNP and TFD (Army – Task Force Davao). I don’t want to abuse that over a property dispute or some silly nonsense, and only use it when things are serious. But… the time may be coming!
I have watched two new constructions going on in my neighborhood from my second floor and have seen the same thing happen. The workers at the new site act as if they own the property next door. They climb all over the other peoples roof and in the end it will cause leaks and I have even seen them take a leak off the new construction site down on the roof of the property next door. I comment to those in my house that I would not tolerate that, but I suppose I would be in the same situation you are in.
It is a situation where if you say anything you may have problems, possibly on going problems, but if you do not say anything the same will happen. You think if I do not say anything they may get an attitude they can do whatever they please becauseI will not do anything.
These situations are made worst for me because I do not like it when people take advantage of anyone especially me. With my personality if I did not take action to defend my rights that would be like a cancer that would always eat at me. If I took action the grief they would give me from then on might be like a cancer. I guess I would have decide which cancer I would prefer haivng.
I hate you are in the situation you are in. Try to keep a cool head. I have learned the one that rants and rages generally looses the battle. It is the calm and cool ones that you have to worry about.
Hi Tom – Yes, I believe that situations like this, with workers abusing the neighbors are very common here. Like you, I feel that if nothing is said, they will continue to press the issue to see what they can get away with. I have been noticing them this morning really abusing my neighbor’s roof! Several hollow blocks have fallen on the neighbor’s roof this morning from that construction. Oh well…
Maybe have somebody sit out there with a video camera to record the abuses going on…Just a thought.
Hi hudson – Thanks for your suggestion.
Bob, I along with all your many readers will wait with baited breath to hear what you have decided to do. You might reread some of the comments (even mine?) when you were taen to the baranguy captain by these people. They lost big time there have, I think, have been haroboring a grudge and hoping to get back at you ever since.
We have a seemingly intractible problem with two different neighbors over their illegal (no business permit, no business license, no samiltary permit, no BIR registration) karaokes that blast away day and night. We have taken them to the baranguy captain many times. they do not budge. When there was only one karaoke, the police closed it several years ago (at our request), that night, someone? threw a gallon of white paint all over our gate and driveway. (As soon as there was a new police chief, the karaoke reopened.) My favorate defence: “If you don’t like karaoke, why did you build here?” Fact was, we had built long before either of them had put in a karaoke. We are hesitating before taking them to court, since we may have to move back to the Us for several years to take care of my Mother (age 95 and living alone). Why start what is sure to be a prolonged court battle when we may not even be here?
Hi ProfDon – When we went to Barangay Court, I tried to leave the situation on friendly terms, but these folks would not accept my gesture. Thus, yes, I do believe that they have been harboring a grudge, and just waiting for a chance to pay me back. I have to say… it’s all just not worth the headache or the heartache!
Hu Bob….
Sniff …Sniff….I think I smell a move on the horizon. 🙂
Truthfully it would be the smartest thing you could do.
I can tell already that the problem WILL NOT go away and fighting it will only put your health at risk.
Sometimes it is just best to come to grips with the fact that you cannot fight anymore and what you really want is PEACE and if you stay where you are you will NOT ATTAIN PEACE
Happy House hunting!!!!
Hi Tyleen – I am not sure if you got Paul Harvey on the radio in Canada when he was alive… I suspect you did not. But, as Paul Harvey used to say at the beginning of his radio program… “Stand by for… news!”
This situation may require some electric fencing. If they touch the fence they would know it real quick and if they disable the fence on your property it would be damaging your property. Just a thought!
Hi Larry – I am at the point that I really don’t want to escalate the situation, and I feel that shocking somebody with an electric fence would do that. I do appreciate your suggestion, though.
document ..and video tape each and every incident, this kind of behavior I have zero tolerence for…your a better man than I Bob…I would have had a blood letting with my Irish temper.
Hi brian – ha ha.. my tolerance level is really being stretched and tested with these folks right now! Remember… I’m Irish too! 😉
PS: I don’t know if they have “staked” surveys over there Bob, its a formal & precise way to determine property boundarys….maybe having one quietly done ( in case its not in ur favor) ….with hopes they encroached on your property could cause them a lil financial hardship….:)
Ha ha… you are a sneaky man, brian! I like it! 😆
Since we are only renting this property, I’d leave that up to the house owner, though.
Hi Bob – Paul Harvey also provided “The Rest of the Story.” I’m hoping to hear that kind of “final solution/happy ending” tale rather than “news.”
Though the Barangay court advised YOU to call 911 for your next incident, I’d recommend that your maid and her daughter file a KP Form #7 Complaint Form with the Katarungang Pambarangay. I think they have a valid complaint that requires some mediation. You can stay out of the fray unless you’re called as a witness.
(I have a pamphlet that I can email to you if you’d like.) 😯
Hi Paul – That’s a pretty good suggestion. I had not thought of the maid filing a complaint. I think that is a pretty reasonable thing to do.
I am hoping that a happy ending is coming soon… although I can’t say for sure yet.
Bob: How about writing about this in your newspaper column… Naming them publicly so that they lose face?
Hi John – I actually thought about doing that… but I nixed the idea myself. I feel it would be provoking them too much, and could be dangerous….
Believe it or not, they could file a complaint against you for putting their names and and the incident in the paper! Good idea to exercise caution.
Exactly, Paul… libel and slander laws are very liberal here too, and the truth is not even a defense in all cases! 😆
Hi Bob,
I have a friend here in the same position with his neighbour. his problem started when the next door dog killed his 3 week old kitten. My friend threw a rock at the dog and scolded the guard for not taking better control of th dog. The owner of the dog then had my friend called to the Barangay and told how everyone was afraid as my friend was crazy! To make life easy, my friend will move house very soon as he does not want any problems at all and he has been here since the late 70’s.
Hi Chris – It’s a tough situation to be in, and I really hate it. Feyma and I have never had any trouble with any neighbors in our lives until now, but these folks are really crazy. I feel for your friend too!
Sorry to read of additional difficulties with the neighbors Bob although it sounds like more of a situation with the construction workers than the neighbors themselves. As you have mentioned, it is very fortunate that no one has been injured so far.
Sure, I could think of a lot of devious ways to get back at the neighbors or the workers for the present situation you describe although I wouldn’t dare try them as a foriegner. Ok, so anything the least bit devious or underhanded as nice as it might be to just ” think about ” is out of the question. This made me think of something my Grandmother used to do whenever she got into some kind of confrontation or difficulty with a merchant, neighbor etc. ( which was not very often ) . A day or two after cooling off about whatever happened, right or wrong, my grandmother would bake a cake or make home made cookies and give them to the other party.
My thought in applying this to your situation, at the appropriate time of day, send a case or two of chilled San Miguel next door to the construction workers and somehow get the message to them to ” please ” have more respect for your side of the wall and everything that is on it, including the rooftops , and don’t toss the bottles into your yard !
I realize that with the aggrivation you are experiencing at the moment this may sound a bit absurd but it just may help.
Hi Bob – To be honest, we really don’t have a problem with the workers, just the owners of the property. When the workers damaged the roof, they owned up to it and promised to fix it without question. Then, the owners instructed them not to do so, and were yelling at us and such. So, we really have no quarrel with the workers at all.
The situation with the owners of the property has gone beyond sending them some beers or whatever. When we were in Court with them, perhaps you might remember, I extended my hand of friendship to them, and they refused it.
There is a solution on the horizon, perhaps in 2 or 3 months.
Wouldn’t it be nice if your next place had a swimming pool?
I do like to swim, Peter! 😉
Bob I guess that as comfortably off white guys from English-speaking countries, we tend to believe that racial discrimination is something that happens to other people. Unfortunately we are a minority group here, and there is every reason to expect that some locals will resent our presence. It makes no difference that the resentment is irrational – racial prejudice is irrational by definition.
Good luck with your situation. It’s no comfort to know that your experience has been mirrored by millions of minority group members over the years in our own countries.
Hi Ken – As a white guy from the States, I never really knew what racism was on a personal level until I moved to the Philippines. I mean, I never felt racism on the receiving end. When I came here, I suddenly learned the feeling of what it felt like to be treated differently because of the color of your skin. In my 10 years here, I have grown used to is, and it is not something that usually bothers me anymore. But, it was interesting to learn the feeling.
Hi Bob. Maybe a combination of the ideas from Tyleen & Brian would be of assistance. First of all, video taping the attitude of your neighbour. Secondly, seeing as you are renting. Maybe your landlord doesn’t want to lose his, or her tenants. Maybe your landlord would like to take on a piece of the action & you keep your hands clean. Kind of!
Hi Guy – I think that Feyma and I have come up with a good solution, and I’ll be sharing more about that on Friday. Our landlord is already involved, and is making some complaints against these people. Hopefully that will help.
Hi Bob
I am only reading about what happened second hand and my blood is boiling here! I would have been out there possibly with a big stick, and I would not care whether they hated foreigners or not! For your own well being and that of your family, you should find a more peaceful place to live forthwith
All the best
Malcolm
Hi malcolm – Nice to hear from you, my friend! I hope you are doing well.
A big stick would be a good accessory for me to get ahold of! Second though… it would probably just get me in trouble! I better void it! 😆
Hi Bob. By my count this may seem more like round 4? Best to let your landlord handle it after all it’s his property. Tough to swallow though. I’ve been the recipient of a little hostility in the Phils, too, but 99% of the Pinoys I deal with are fine people. I feel bad for you and your family. Whatever you decide to do good luck to you and the missus.
Ha ha.. Hi Mark… it depends on how you count the rounds, I suppose! Actually, when I was writing the article I sat there trying to decide which round this really was! 😆
You are right, though, the vast majority of Filipinos are friendly and great people! If they weren’t, I would not live here!
Hi Guys, i’m so pleased i found this site…………………….this is SO interesting………………..
I’m half Filipino. my mother is filipino but my father is english…..i’m36 years old….we have a few houses here and one particular cousin was our caretaker…..only this year we learned that he had stolen a large amount of money from my mother and the shop business……..around 60,000 to give you an idea……well to cut a long story short? it’s been very difficult too for me……….we’ve since evicted them from the house that we had built for them (we still let him keep the tricycle we bought him, i might add!) and he’s got quite nasty and they’ve been starting rumours about my filipino girlfriend (by the way, when we evicted them? they moved 4 doors away!) we’ve since been to the barangay and filed a complaint about the oral deffamation. but he still continues to TRY and intimidate me…….
his own brothers (who still work for us) don’t even talk to him cos of what he’s done….however, their mother comes to visit and she keeps feeding information back to my cousin which is becoming a real problem now! i’ve been to see a lwyer and he said just wait till he makes a mistake………..
By the way as i said i’m half english too?, with filipino coloured skin? and they treat me as a foreigner too, which is pretty sad as i had that trouble in UK too. even my UK i had my fair share of racism growing up……but to experience it at 36 years old? from full grown men and women? i mean come on…….
i know not all filipino’s are like that as there are some genuinely amazing people here……….
but in this day and age? i thought the raceism issue was on the brink of extinction……….
perhaps not….
thanks by the way for having such a good site….
i live here too…….
I’m Mike from Iriga City, Cam Sur
Hi Mike – I’m glad that you like my site, and find it informative. I’m sorry to hear that you have had a few run ins with people, or been rubbed the wrong way. I hope that all works out for you and that you can enjoy life in the Philippines!
Hi Bob,
That’s unfortunate. Will be waiting for the next episode. Will it help to write the new Mayor, Madame Sara, sort of explain your situation, and use it as an example of bad development in the city or something? Although it may be “normal” to construct a building close or almost right against someone’s property line, there are easement requirements (that’s been in the books for eons.) Anyway, good luck.
Alex
Hi Alex – If I addressed our new Mayor as “Madame Sara” she certainly would not help, because she doesn’t like that kind of name! She has clearly said in the press that she wants to be addressed as “Inday Sara”. Ha ha…. it’s true, although I’m just teasing you, Alex…. 😉
Anyway, Feyma and I have already resolved ourselves to a different solution, and you can read about it on Friday.
he he he ok, Inday Sara.
😉
Bob
To me this seems to be a safety issue, I mean what if The Kids,Wife, Yourself or anybody for that matter was hit by this block.
Yes the easy way out would be to move but then you are established there and comfortable and why should you be forced to move out. On the other hand It sounds like the neighbors are not reasonable people and maybe this is just another incident, and many more different issues will come up with them. Im sure you don’t want to this type of thing to escalate to some acts of violence. So you are is a odd predicament and I look forward to you getting things resolved peacefully.
Hi Neal – Those folks next door are most certainly not reasonable people. They are crazies from what I can see and hear from them.
Good luck in your dealings with your neighbours Sir Bob. For the sake of your family I would exercise caution. In 4 years here I have lost count of the number of times I’ve had issues with the neighbours (moved three times). Nothing too serious, just kids, dog, cats, rooster, pig noise and smell, the theft of anything metal not bolted down. Mostly to do with backyard burning and kids burning the plastic off wire to sell to the junk shop. The full blast of the radio from the house next door throughout the night for the last 4 months has been mentally exhausting, even after extremely polite repeated requests to lower the volume, nothing changed. One thing I have learned was to be wary of some of the people here, if you have a “run in” with the wrong person, sometime in the future you may be “salvaged” from a quiet site. I am sure you understand what I mean.
Thank you Boss. I have lived in Davao City for over 8 years now, and that includes living in 4 different houses here. Plus I lived in GenSan for 2 years. So, I’ve done a fair bit of moving. I’ve been in this house for nearly 5 years now, though, and I have enjoyed “settling in” a bit.
Considering Bob’s and your experiences, should expats necessarily be labeled Snobs if they choose a “Gated Community?”
I have discussed a gated community with my wife a few times but that meant moving a couple of hours from my wife’s family. As the family connection is very strong here, I knew my wife would want to visit her family frequently, I had no desire to do that. If I was going to live in a gated community, it would be much better to move to Australia where we had good relations with every neighbour. If there was a problem it was resolved over a cup of tea or coffee.
At the end of the day, the decision on where you live in the Pines, gated or not will depend on how safe you want your family to be.
Hi Boss – Personally, I do not think that being inside a gated community is automatically safer than not being in one. Bad things happen in gated communities too!
Bab, from some of your remarks, I have the awful feeling that you have decided to move, as Boss says he has done four times. For many/most of us, we own out homes and, at least for me, would lose big time (we would get maybe 20% of what we have put in) if we sold. So many of your supporters and members are hoping for some type of “magic bullet”, besides grin and bear it, in our on-going struggle with neighbors who seem to feel they have the right to do anything and the responsibility to do nothing.
In 2000, I was in Davao on an Asian Development Bank project about private sector development. At that time, I talked with the owner of Gaisano. He said one of their big headaches was the lack of zoning in Davao at that time. At that time, a developer had to hold public meetings aobut a project at which all opposing views were aired AND receive the approval of the baranguay council and the captain. You might check to see if this is still the case. If it is, has the owner gone through this procedure? If not, may a pry bar in taking him/her to the captain and saying: we will overlook this violation, but you fix out roof and tell your workers to be careful.
Helpful?
Hi Don – It is my understanding that there is zoning in Davao, although it seems to be loosely enforced. Feyma and I have chosen a solution which addresses this problem and several other challenges. I’ll be telling more on Friday.
Bob I’ll be interested to read your solution on Friday. I’m fascinated by the number of proposals that assume Filipino institutions, including the legal system, work pretty much like they do in the USA; and that Filipinos have the same kind of attitude to the rule of law as Americans. My reading and limited personal experience suggest both assumptions are wildly misconceived.
Hi Ken – I have had two previous involvement with the Philippine legal system, at the Barangay level, and they both worked out very good for me, and made me quite happy. The system is much different here than the USA, and I suspect from Australia as well. But, both systems probably have their good sides, I suspect.
Geez, Bob, sorry to read this! The situation you’ve described – neighbours encroaching on property – is not uncommon, as you know, but the point of your maid and her daughter almost being killed is just plain scary. She should file a case with the Barangay Captain.
Yup, I would have gone ballistic! That, however, would create a lose-lose situation for you, so it’s good to hear that you remained in the house. All I can do is to wish you and your family the best of luck while you and Feyma consider your options. Looking forward to your next article on this.
Hi Mike – Yeah, it’s not a good situation, but we are taking steps to address it and put an end to it, for us anyway. Read again on Friday! 😆
Sorry to hear about your neighbors. I don’t think the owners are playing with a full deck and you’ve gone way beyond trying to get along. It’s not the workers fault as they are taking their ques from the owner. Being rational may not work here, and if that were me, I’d be packing my bags. You also have to consider that if they are expanding, there will probably be more noise in the future.
Hi Kevin – I can’t disagree with anything you said. Your thoughts are right on the mark in my book!
Hi Bob- When I read your post I thought well it has got to the stage that you would start looking for a new residence like I mentioned to you in my reply to your Round 1 post.
Although the property you live in is ideal for your business and family needs the situation will only get worse when the new business eventually gets underway.
If you resign yourself to the fact of moving and don’t let the situation get on top of you, you will be better off health wise as well as have peace of mind.
I’m sure you will get something suitable fairly quickly and you will be back up and running in no time at all.
Remember to wish the new occupants of your current house all the best with a nice card when you go.
All the very best.
Jim.
Hi Jim – Indeed, I remember that you said we will have to move back a few months ago. We shall see… tune in on Friday! 😆
Bob..It sounds like to me the owners of the property where you are living at now have a life long problem going on.You and your family can always move if that suits your purpose..but the owner of the property where you live now…will be living with that awfull neighbor for a long time..unless they sell or better yet get some body with a few screws out of place to buy….Good luck on what ever you and your family does in the near future…..
You are right, Dan, the owners of the house where we are living now have a lifelong nightmare in dealing with these neighbors! Better them than me!
Bob, try checking with your City’s Engineers Office. If I remember right, the Philippine
Building Code requires structures to be built two (2) meters away from the property line. Good luck!
Thank you for your tip, alberto.
Time to use this situation Bob to your best advantage and turn it into a positive !
As you well know, taking a bad negative and then – turning it around to suit your positive needs , especially when it is involving your family, is the best step forward!
I suggest you bring your future plans (that I know you have) a little bit earlier and put your and your wife’s newer Ideas into play now!
As you have been there long enough (In the RP), you know that a Filipino’s vendetta is not likely to go away.
Others may say there are other options;
{fight it, go to authorities, talk to neighbors and get their help, take pics, record conversations, go after them…}
Well… as many know… Confucius say = “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, ..dig two graves”
Maybe time the Martin family to look for greener and better “coconut groves”….
I will wait for your Post to see what you come up with , but I am betting I am close!
One more thing Bob…..Good Idea to continue to have that low profile, hey….watch some silly TV, have a nice cup of ground roubust coffee; or……maybe write an article on…’my B/que is better that Thompson’s!’
Denny – Vegas
Take care of yourself and relax big guy….!!!!
Hi Dennis – Indeed, we don’t plan to endure this situation, and hope that our solution will give us a better life.
Hi Bob,
Sorry you’re having these problems. Did my FB Message make you feel any better? 🙂
I think my last question here got buried. Considering the fact that you’ve had 5+ addresses in 10 years, and what Boss had to say above, are you possibly re-evaluating your position regarding Gated Communities? My [Filipina] wife is enamored of them, digging them up at real estate sites, but I’ve always wanted to live where “the people” live, so we’ve disagreed. However, this post and comments is giving me pause.
?
Hi James – I am sorry, I did not reply to your comment. The reason was that you made a reply to Boss, so I thought you were addressing your comment to him, and I didn’t want to butt in. Sorry about that…
Regarding gated communities.. I have no desire to live in one of those places. We lived in one for a year, about 5 years ago, and we did not like it. The problem that we are having with the neighbors is, in my opinion, as likely and possibly more likely to happen in a gated community, because many of the residents in those places are quite arrogant.
Take care.
Thanks Bob,
I guess chance comes into play no matter where you live. In my case, living virtually ON a large university campus, my fortunes change on average about once a year. Next door to me is a large townhouse with 3 apartments, usually stuffed with undergraduate students. Currently, I couldn’t ask for a nicer bunch of young people, but there have been times when police cruiser visits were routine, and morning broken beer bottle cleanup was common!
Even Sarah Palin had to build a wall! 🙂
I’ll wait to hear your plans.
Good luck,
–James
Hi James – Ah… I didn’t realize you were living near a University. I remember my college days. For a couple of years I lived with some friends in a Duplex, in which an older fellow and his family who owned the place lived in the other side. We had a good relationship with him, although we probably left a few beer bottles around from time to time! 😉