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...]
A Wonderful World With Beautiful People
If you spend one weekend in the Philippines, you will never want to leave! An old retired US Navy guy told me this not so long ago and he shared his many wonderful experiences in the islands. He met the love of his life in the Philippines, as he married one of the lovely local ladies and is still married to her today, some 35 years later. I already knew about the grandeur of … [Read more...]
In My Midnight Confessions
How do you meet a fabulous lady in the Philippines? If I had P1 for every time I have been asked that question, I would have a nice little nest egg in savings to last me for some time! I remember back in the 1980s, the best way to find a lady living in the Philippines was to join Cherry Blossoms Introductions in Hawaii and become a member. You were then sent a list of photos … [Read more...]
How To Retire Early In The Philippines
How to retire early is something that many folks think about at some point in their life. When most people think of retirees in the Philippines, they think of someone over 62 years of age, however, I have personally met a number of retired expats here who are not even age 60 yet. Or age 50 for that matter! They still consider themselves retired because they no longer work for … [Read more...]
See You In September, Christmas
Merry Christmas from the Philippines! September 1 officially kicked off the Christmas Season in the Islands of Paradise and it will not end until early January, 2014. For many, the Christmas season will not end until mid January, after the Festivals of The Three Kings, The Black Nazarene and Santo Nino. It really is more fun in the Philippines! The country is famous for having … [Read more...]
Philippines Travel Guide Books
Philippines travel guide books abound but it’s sometimes confusing to know which ones are the best. The fact that you’re logged on to this website tells me you’ve at least considered visiting The Philippines, if not moving there for retirement. I’ve just turned 54 and am not convinced the USA is where I want to spend the rest of my own life, so I’m at the “serious … [Read more...]
Philippines Retirement Visa
There are some who sell retirement information to future expats but they never mention retiring to the Philippines, so I inquired why. My answer was because only foreigners married to Philippine citizens can avail a permanent visa to live in the Philippines. This, my friends, is far from the truth! The Philippine government actually promotes the Philippines Retirement Visa … [Read more...]
The Land Of Wondrous Smiles
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...]
A Personal Story of Life in the Philippines
I guess I first fell in love with the Philippines on my bus trip from Clark to Subic. I saw the poverty, and soon found out that just a small amount of my money went a long, long way in the Philippines. Gary, as you have said in many ariticles, it is not only about the low cost, but about the Filipino people. For me, the people are real, not plastic. They seem to be people … [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...]