Last year I got married to my beautiful wife, K. I'm from Ireland, and she's from The Philippines. We're both in our early thirties, and we love each other dearly. But boy are there some questions I wish I'd asked and some things I wish we'd talked about before we tied the knot! Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely zero regrets and I would do it all again in a … [Read more...]
Staying Safe in Mindanao
This post is actually a response to a comment we had on RTTP asking for an honest and true account of what it's like to live as an expat in two specific areas of Mindanao, Iligan and Cagayan. I thought the response deserved more attention and so have decided to publish it as a post. It should be noted that Mitchell's response is specifically for these two areas and is based … [Read more...]
Who Let The Dogs Out
Four years ago, when we first moved to the city from the farm, that was the burning question. Who let the dogs out? It was about 10pm one evening when we returned home from Chicken Alley, listening to live bands, when we noticed our front gate was open. Our 2 dogs were missing. One dog was a Doberman and the other was a Gamboa, which is mixed St Bernard. We went immediately … [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...]
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...]
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...]
Street Food Is An Everyday Food Fair
Street Food is a very important part of the Filipino Culture and it is also a very important part of the foreigner's experience in the Philippines. There are many different types of popular and locally affordable street foods in the Bacolod Area. My article is Negros Occidental specific, where I have lived for the past 6 years. You will see large pots filled with Batchoy and … [Read more...]
Human Trafficking and Sex in the Philippines
It's a dirty business! The sex trade is nothing new in the Philippines, as it has been around for many, many years. With the lure of big money, every day young women make their way from the provinces to the bars in cities, seeking work. For many of them, it is their choice to seek such employment, as they are only following in the footsteps of other relatives, sometimes even … [Read more...]
Lawless Avenues
If you read the current news in the Philippines, you know about a 19 year old US Marine being a suspect in the murder of a 26 year old transgender in Olongapo City. This incident has become highly politically charged in the Philippines, fueled by activists, leftists, militants and those who are anti-American. Olongapo City was known as Sin City for many years but when … [Read more...]
On The Road With Gary
You can drive all the way from Luzon to Mindanao, although I have never tried it and never plan to! Much of your trip will be with your vehicle on a RoRo upon the seas of the Philippines. I have been on a RoRo from Bacolod to Dumangas, Iloilo with our family vehicle, along with the San Miguel Beer delivery truck, the Gardenia Bread delivery truck and an assortment of other … [Read more...]