Last month, the expat community in the Bacolod area was shocked by the deaths of an American and his Filipina wife. They had lived in the area for some time and had an organic farm in Murcia, outside Bacolod City. Many of us knew the couple and some of us actually bought organic vegetables from their farm. A very sad and tragic story. The husband was reportedly found in a deep … [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...]
Marvelous Coffee And A Laid-back Lifestyle
Did you know that the Philippines was once the world's 4th largest coffee producer in the world? For a number of reasons, the Philippine coffee industry fell on hard times. Coffee rust and the explosion of coffee growers in South America both played big parts in the demise of the Philippine coffee industry. It has only been during the last 10 years that an effort has been made … [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...]
Fresh Off The Boat
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 in the Philippines. I did not have a Filipina girlfriend or a wife in those days. … [Read more...]
Groovin’ On Every Afternoon
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 great for me. Of course, what is fun for me may be boring to you and what you consider fun … [Read more...]
How Life Really Works
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 always have. I don't give because I have to or because I am expected to. I only … [Read more...]
Hillbilly Central
A number of foreigners have asked me where the largest expat community is located in the Philippines. There are more than 300,000 US citizens living year round in the Philippines, however, many of those are Filipino-Americans, who retired to the Philippines. That group usually retires near their hometowns in the Philippines before they immigrated to the USA. Supposedly, … [Read more...]
Say It Ain’t So, Gary!
"It ain't so, Gary!" There, I said it. I communicate with more than 50 foreigners most days, every week in email, in my article comments, on the RTTP Forum and in personal consulting. It never ceases to amaze me about some of the things that foreigners have been told about the Philippines...by other foreigners! There is a lot of misinformation going around and a lot of it is … [Read more...]
Bend Me, Shape Me, Anyway I Want Me
I remember back in the early 1970's when a cousin moved from small town Alabama to Atlanta and she told the family she was trying to 'find herself'. Some of the family, who were born and raised in that same small town in Alabama, had a good laugh about that and they thought she had lost her mind! As it turned out, she had broadened her horizon, met a man she later married, both … [Read more...]
How To Have More Money For Fun!
From what I have gathered from many conversations and discussions over the last several years, many people around the world are looking for ways to save money and cut their cost of living expenses. In the Philippines, there are a number of ways you can cut the cost of living and I am not referring to just tightening belts and dropping down in your quality of lifestyle! Rather, … [Read more...]
Nothing Rough About This Guide
One of my favorite activities since retiring to the Philippines is sharing about this fabulous country, the wonderful Filipino people and their vibrant culture. As one friend told another friend when we had gotten together one day, "Don't get Gary started!" I think that pretty much sums it up, as I love writing and actually talking about the Philippines! The best cities, the … [Read more...]