Man, oh, man! We saw a 5 foot monitor lizard in our bamboo forest down at the farm in the province and the kin folk got excited! Good as barbecued iguana and it tastes just like chicken! Sadly, though, that is exactly why there are fewer monitor lizards in the Philippines! People eat them and it is free food! The Tokay Gecko is very common in the Philippines and most every … [Read more...]
Go Azkals Go!
I've had the pleasure of watching the Philippines National Soccer team, The Azkals, play in Bacolod at Panaad Stadium against the Pakistan team. Yes, they kicked butt and won! Hip, hip hooray!! A number of expats have asked me, "Gary, what the hell is an azkal anyway?" Basically, an askal in the Philippines is a street dog. The Philippine National Soccer team was named the … [Read more...]
Philippine Dating Scams
Do you remember the words to the old song, "Looking for love in all the wrong places?" There is a lot of truth in the song and people the world over make mistakes by looking for their lifetime partner in the wrong places. Retiring to the Philippines as a single guy and looking for your partner in life can be exciting and it will be a life changing event, whether it turns out … [Read more...]
Banana Ketchup
It doesn't matter if you are visiting in a native house, in a condo, in a bungalow or in an exclusive mansion, you will find one product of the Philippines on every table. Banana Ketchup! Jufran is the brand of choice but there are about a dozen different brands of banana ketchup. It is a household staple. If you have never tried banana ketchup, you may ask yourself, "What … [Read more...]
Working On The Building
One of the major concerns an expat has when considering retiring to the Philippines is the housing question! This was a concern 28 years ago in the Philippines and it remains a frequently asked question in 2014. Most expats are not interested in living in a native nipa or bamboo house but believe it or not, some expats embrace that adventure! I know a couple of Americans who … [Read more...]
Crossing Muddy Waters
There are a number of taboos in the Filipino culture that are best avoided at all costs. Most Filipinos are very friendly, loving and hospitable people but there are some actions exhibited by both expats and Filipinos alike that can put you on the wrong side of a gun in a heartbeat! I have found that most Filipinos are more tolerable toward expats than they are toward their … [Read more...]
Stupid Is As Stupid Does
In the Philippines, there is a saying that has the exact same meaning as the words of Forrest Gump in the movie. 'Tanga is as tanga does!" Yes, stupid is as stupid does. Over the years, I have listened to a number of expats complaining about their number one mistake in the Philippines. When I asked them if they would have done the same thing back home, the answer was always … [Read more...]
That’s The Sound Of The Men
No, they are not working on a chain gang! Although that may well have been a much better option than to experience the now outlawed Wheel of Torture. Some police stations had a Wheel of Torture, which they subjected prisoners who had committed heinous crimes and others who were drug traffickers. Spin the wheel and see what we get to do to you today! 20 Pacman. That is 20 … [Read more...]
Living Behind The Fence
There are many fabulous places in the Philippines to retire, live and enjoy life. A Philippine jail or a Philippine prison is not one of them! Not even for a single night! This article is my first installment in a series about Philippine Prisons. I want to be perfectly clear, I am in no way bashing or belittling the Philippine Bureau of Corrections or the Philippine Department … [Read more...]
English In The Philippines Diba?
English in the Philippines is one of the great attractions about the Philippines for expats and is one of the official languages of the country. It is not only nurses and other medical professionals, domestic helpers, laborers, entertainers and engineers that are OFWs. The USA also recruits licensed teachers from the Philippines and China recruits English teachers from the … [Read more...]