It's about to happen! One of the biggest Festivals in the entire Philippines is about to explode in full tilt boogie beginning on October 1. Since 1980, the MassKara Festival has been an annual event in the City of Smiles, Bacolod City, and every hotel room in the city will be booked for 3 solid weeks. That is how big this festival is! It is a combination of Mardi Gras and … [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...]
Diving Subic Bay
It was about 7:00 pm and very dark - the night was still; the stars were shinning above as I did a back roll into the water off the boat; still descending into the 12 meter deep, dark but crystal clear water; I turned on my flashlight and shone it into a rock crevasse - just in time to see a one meter eel take a small wriggling reef fish into it's mouth. The eel had a choice of … [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...]
Divers Do It Deeper In Coron
One of my wife's best friend has been telling us for years about how beautiful Palawan is, with so many fabulous places to visit. Since my wife's friend now lives in Wales with her hubby and two children, she asked us to visit her island, take many photos and tell her about the trip! I had heard of the Underground River in Palawan but some of the other places on this majestic … [Read more...]
The Music Is Alive and Kicking
I discovered while still living in the USA in the late 1970s that Filipinos are excellent singers, dancers and performers! The house band of my favorite music club in Huntsville, Alabama was all Filipinos and I was blown away how they could sing and perform every single song as good, if not better, as the original singer and bands. Fast Forward to the years 2000-2009, when I … [Read more...]
Watching Sports in The Philippines
Sports fans often just want to catch a game, no matter where they are. If if involves something you can bounce, pass, shoot, kick, throw or catch, there's a chance you'll find people who want to watch it from the stands or on TV. It's no different in The Philippines. When most people think of Pinoy sports, Manny Pacquiao comes to mind first. Pacquiao is a world champion … [Read more...]
No Stranger In Paradise
Some may think that I am only talking it up when I say that everyday unfolds a new adventure in the Philippines but this has been so true in my life, even after living here year round for the past four years. No, I haven't left the Philippines once since 2009. If you are looking for adventure, you have to go out of the house, as adventure is not going to come to you! Negros … [Read more...]
Jungle Boogie
Let me introduce you to a few of my buddies, who I met at Mambukal Mountain Resort. They are getting ready for the Mambukal Mudpack Festival, which begins the third weekend in June. This is one event you do not want to miss in Negros Occidental. You may ask, "Well, how do I get there?" Mambukal Hot Springs and Mountain Resort is located in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, which is the … [Read more...]
Do You Have The Guts?
Some foreigners call it a blood sport and say it is inhumane. Others perceive it as one of the favorite pastimes of the Philippines as it is, a very popular activity in a different culture. Whether you detest cockfighting, can tolerate it or if you enjoy watching it and getting caught up in the excitement, cockfighting is here to stay in the Philippines. Cockfighting is not … [Read more...]