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…
Based on some personal conversations lately, several expats think they have a voice in Philippine politics and believe that the laws of the country should be geared toward them and not the Philippine citizens. That is not happening. Many Filipinos do not take it kindly when foreigners poke fun or say inappropriate remarks about the…
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…
Are you excited about retiring to the Philippines? Feeling anxiety? Are you nervous? If you have newly arrived, do you feel like you are fresh off the boat? In 1986, I moved to Metro Manila to live for a year. Back then, there weren’t any forums or even internet to seek advice from other expats…
I am regularly asked by friends in America and also by foreigners from all over the world a common question. “What do you do every day in the Philippines?” “Have fun,” is usually my first reply. I make the most of every day and have fun in our area of the Philippines. My approach works…
It is really not anything new to me but to many others, the recent published medical studies linking nature to health has been a buzz. The research indicates that people who are outdoors the most and have contact with nature seem to be less prone to illness than those who spend most of their time…
My kitchen differs from my wife’s kitchen due to the diversity of the cuisine, which is prepared. However, I am not complaining about my wife’s kitchen, as she can also be diverse in helping me prepare international dishes. Without a doubt, topics related to food remain hot topics among foreigners who have retired to the…
2014 was a very good year in the Philippines. It was a very good year for my family and I and it was a very good year for the country. There were a number of economic and cultural advances made this past year. Some foreigners are still wearing their same crap colored glasses and one…
Many Filipinos are very happy this holiday time of the year because they received at least one Balikbayan Box from relatives abroad. Many foreigners refer to the famous Balikbayan Box as the BBB. There is not a better way to ship goods to the Philippines than by the Balikbayan Box. You do not pay a…
I’ve already heard a few grumbles from some foreigners about what they will spend in the Philippines this holiday season. With that attitude, they may as well not spend anything. My wife has a large family but I am not expected to buy 1,000 gifts or feed 1,000 people. However, I enjoy giving and I…
I recall very well, as if it were only yesterday, when I first moved to the Philippines in 1986. I have shared the story many times about my living with a Filipino family for one year duirng that time. I also vividly recall many things that happened during that year so long ago. The members…
I have been asked many times over the years whether there is Thanksgiving in the Philippines. The answer is always “yes and no.” The majority of Filipinos do not celebrate Thanksgiving in the Philippines. However, there are many Filipino-Americans who have retired to the Philippines from the USA and they indeed celebrate Thanksgiving here. Many…