It is that time of the year once again. A time when many expats bitch and moan! Time to ditch those shorts and put on some long pants. Time to dig out a real shirt and put away that muscle T. Time to put the sandals and flip flops in the closet and put on some socks and shoes. Time to go to the BI office to file that annual report and pay the P310 fee! This is a requirement … [Read more...]
Big Bamboozle!
Do not get on this boat with strangers! Especially if a tout gets your attention by saying, "Psst!" And no matter how nice looking the tour guides are. I will let your imagination run wild about all the things that can go wrong. If you are traveling the seas around the Philippines, especially the far south Philippines, always use reputable passenger ferries. If a private boat … [Read more...]
Cold As Ice!
As I always say, "Everyday unfolds a new adventure in the Philippines!" The last two days have been new personal experiences for me. For the very first time in the Philippines, I feel cold! An LPA, Low Pressure Area, moved into Negros Occidental, dumping a lot of rain on the Bacolod Area. It has been dark skies, dreary and very breezy the past two days. Temperatures can be … [Read more...]
A Barrio Holiday Season
For me, there is no better place to spend Christmas and New Year than in the barrio! Nowadays, most villages in the Philippines are referred to as a "barangay," however, my wife's hometown is rich in Spanish history and many people still refer to the village as the "barrio." Our barrio is located about one hour south of Bacolod City and there is hardly a stranger unless they … [Read more...]
Paradise Kitchen Is A Dirty Kitchen
Something you will learn when you are in the Philippines is that a number of English words take on a completely different meaning here. Most Filipinas desire a dirty kitchen! No, it isn't a roach and rat infested kitchen with grease splatters on the walls and a pile of dirty dishes in a clogged sink. A dirty kitchen is simply an outside kitchen, not located inside the main … [Read more...]
Is Age Gap A Relationship Powder Keg?
For many years, some expats have spread the tale that any and every Filipina is willing to marry a foreigner regardless of his age! It is not true. Of course, there are some who will, seeing the marriage as a financial opportunity but their agenda is not including being a faithful, loving wife. Others actually fall in love with an older gentleman and they see age as only a … [Read more...]
A Rainbow Amidst The Rain Clouds
I took the above photo from the courtyard of our home in Bacolod City on Thanksgiving afternoon. Two days later, as I began looking at all our photos from our annual Thanksgiving Fiesta, this photo captured my attention in a remarkable manner! Initially, we were concerned of inclement weather, which would have moved our Thanksgiving festivities indoors, however, we never … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving In The Philippines 2013
Several days ago, an American friend back in the States seemed confused when I was talking about our Thanksgiving Festival, which was upcoming. He did not believe that there is Thanksgiving in the Philippines. Well, there most certainly is! This is our 5th Thanksgiving in the Bacolod Area of the Philippines and as always, we all had a blast! There are more than 300,000 US … [Read more...]
Finding Your Paradise In Wonderland
It has often been said that one man's Paradise is another man's Hell! I certainly believe it. One size does not fit all and we cannot paint a true picture of Paradise using the same brush, as people have different ideas about Shangri La or Dreamland. Everyone does not enjoy living on the beach in a rustic beach house by the sea, surrounded by lush coconut trees. Everyone does … [Read more...]
Filipino-American Solidarity
For two straight days, the lights on the Empire State Building in New York City were blue, red and yellow, the colors of the Philippines, as a sign of support for Filipinos and the Philippines during their recovery from Super Typhoon Yolanda. New York City has a very large Filipino-American community, a community which has contributed greatly to the city and state of New York. … [Read more...]