The Filipino people are simply amazing! Many face economic hardship daily, they often endure natural calamities and other disasters and life is a struggle for many if viewed from the Western logic, yet many are still happy everyday. They can still break out with such a fabulous smile even during tough times. The children in my article photograph live in San Nicholas, Cavite, … [Read more...]
Adios Daily Grind, Hello Paradise
Several friends in America asked me this week about retiring to the Philippines, as they are sick and tired of the same old daily grind and they are at the point of retiring a few years earlier than previously planned. As you can imagine, they had many questions about actually living in the Philippines. The burning question was, "How much money will I need each month to live … [Read more...]
Burning Down The House
Burning down the house is exactly what happened to this beautiful mansion during the early days of World War II to prevent the Japanese Imperial Army from making it their Headquarters when they invaded Negros Occidental. It is reported that it took days for the inferno to burn down the roof and the thick wooden floors. Today, this mansion and beautiful grounds on the border of … [Read more...]
The Good, Bad And The Ugly
Over the past 27 years, I have met many expats who are living in the Philippines. Some of the expats worked for foreign companies, some played basketball in the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association), some were engaging in business with their Filipina wives, some were military retirees who had spent time in the Philippines during their tour of duty and some were older retirees … [Read more...]
Ready To Party, Diba?
Some expats have it in their minds that every bar in the Philippines is an exotic bar with dancing girls. This is far from the truth, as there are many exciting nightclubs with couples dancing to the pulsating beat of the latest hot music on the international scene. The Philippines is one place that on any given evening, you can tell your significant other to put on her party … [Read more...]
Show Me The Money
One important question that most expats have about retiring to the Philippines is how to access their pensions and/or their money in USA and other foreign banks. Since I am American, I am familiar with access to money in USA Banks from the Philippines and it is not a problem for my family and I. There are a number of banks in the many cities in the Philippines which have a … [Read more...]
Build, Buy, Rent or Squat
Many expats retiring to the Philippines are still seeking the best housing option for their particular situation. Some expats have not learned yet that foreigners cannot own land in the Philippines, however, they can own a condo or a townhouse if the complex is 60% owned by Filipinos. A foreigner can own a building, yet not the land, but this involves an attorney drawing up the … [Read more...]
Paradise Or Pair A Dice
Maybe your idea of paradise is living near the strawberry fields of Baguio? When many people think about the Philippines, they often conjure up an image of lounging on a beautiful white sandy beach with an ice cold tropical fruit cocktail. Others think about trekking around one of the breathtaking mountain resorts found on a number of islands. Yet, others visualize dancing with … [Read more...]
Where The Buffalo Roam
Many first time visitors to the Philippines will often see a statue of the Philippines National Animal, the carabao, in public parks and plazas. The carabao is a water buffalo but many locals refer to it simply as a buffalo. In this article, I will be referring to the carabao as a buffalo. In the countryside, which is often referred to as the province, owning a buffalo is a … [Read more...]
Voodoo Killed The Radio Star
Did you know that there is an actual place in the Philippines that many locals refer to as "Voodoo Island?" Siquijor is that island and it is located in the Central Visayas, near Cebu and Negros Oriental. While touting the moniker of "Voodoo Island" may be seen as negative, many Filipinos travel to Siquijor seeking advice concerning spells and the breaking of spells. There are … [Read more...]