We hear more often from the guys who lost their shirts trying to do business in the Philippines. Most discourage others from even trying because they failed and they don't want to see another foreigner succeed. I'm sorry about their bad luck but it hasn't rubbed off on me. I am successful. My wife and I have not made a fortune but make enough to live comfortably every month. … [Read more...]
Winds of Change
On Saturday, June 6th, I woke up and discovered I live in a different Region of the Philippines. Without actually moving, I now live in the NIR. Negros Island Region. I went to sleep Friday night living in the Western Visayas but woke up Saturday morning living in the NIR. Imagine that. President Aquino used his pen and by executive order, he created the new Negros Island … [Read more...]
Fatboys, Fatboys, Whatcha Gonna Do?
I am not an official Bacolod Restaurant Reviewer but I enjoy passing on information to other foreigners when I find a gem. My family and I very recently discovered a gem while dining out for lunch. Fatboys Restaurant, across from the Triangle in the Chinatown section of Bacolod City known as Shopping. If I go to a restaurant and it is not worth a crap, I don't pass that … [Read more...]
Murky Waters of Safe Seafood Consumption
Most Filipinos eat fish or other seafood everyday and some eat fish almost every meal. My wife and our son included. We are certainly in the right location for eating healthy seafood and at an excellent price for Filipinos and foreigners alike. Fresh oysters, mussels, clams, prawns, shrimp, crabs, scallops, squid, hundreds of different fish, canned sardines and canned tuna … [Read more...]
A Miracle At Midnight
The guns were loaded, checked and re-checked by the executioners. The firing squad was ready to execute a group of convicted prisoners known as the Bali 9 on Execution Island, Indonesia. Among the Bali 9 was a 30 year old Filipina, who had captured the world's attention... Mary Jane Veloso. In the midnight hour last Tuesday, the impossible happened. A miracle occurred. Mary … [Read more...]
Marvelous Coffee And A Laid-back Lifestyle
Did you know that the Philippines was once the world's 4th largest coffee producer in the world? For a number of reasons, the Philippine coffee industry fell on hard times. Coffee rust and the explosion of coffee growers in South America both played big parts in the demise of the Philippine coffee industry. It has only been during the last 10 years that an effort has been made … [Read more...]
What I Like About The Philippines
I learned long ago that every foreigner who lives in the Philippines does not enjoy living here, yet some are still here. Something is keeping them here. I also know that the Philippines is not for everyone. Due to attitude and other reasons, some can never adapt to life in the Islands. An American from Arizona recently asked me why I enjoy the Philippines so much. I had … [Read more...]
Oh, Happy Day
Remember the old Edwin Hawkins Singers song, "Oh, Happy Day"? It is one of my favorite songs to sing during the Easter season. It is here, in full swing, and it is an entire week long celebration in the Philippines. Holy Week is probably the most important holiday in the Philippines or at least on equal footing with Christmas. Many foreigners do not realize just how important … [Read more...]
Beat Of My Own Drum
When I was still a young adult I quickly realized that I was not guaranteed that tomorrow will still be there for me. I did not follow the main crowd in high school. Peer acceptance and social acceptance did not mean much to me, although I was never a law breaker and I was not anti-social. I simply saw things differently and what was important to others did not mean squat to … [Read more...]
Why Can’t We Be Friends?
I know several expats in the Philippines who do not have any foreign friends by their own choice. They told me that most foreigners here are more trouble than they are worth. I haven't reached that point but I can very well see where they are coming from. Many had bad experiences in the Philippines with other foreigners but they get along extremely well with Filipinos. I … [Read more...]