When I go out to the malls and the restaurants in Greater Bacolod, I see more expats in the Philippines are gathering and joining us all the time! The word is spreading and catching on that this part of the world is a great place to retire, live, do business and even raise children. If you are not interested in doing business and if you do not have plans to raise children, this … [Read more...]
Lift Up Every Stone!
As I have often related, there are more Filipinas than some may realize who do not have any interest whatsoever to living in the USA, not even for 5 years to qualify for her American husband's Social Security benefits. No, not for any amount of money, as they are perfectly happy living in the Philippines! My wife told me early on, as our relationship blossomed for 20 months … [Read more...]
Sweet Home Philippines!
I just returned this week from a several week visit to Florida, USA, to lend family support to a very ill relative, and I have a very fresh perspective about life in the USA, as opposed to life in the Philippines. It is fabulous being back in Sweet Home Philippines! For those who say they can live as cheaply in the USA as in the Philippines, this certainly isn't true … [Read more...]
Dreaming Different Dreams
Ever since I was a little boy, I have always been a dreamer! Back in those days, in the 1960s, my dreams were not actually realistic and were child-like in some respects. As a teenager, a young adult and as a middle age adult, I still had dreams and the dreams became more realistic with time. I think everyone should have a dream because dreams have a way of making life more … [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...]
Adios Daily Grind, Hello Paradise
Several friends in America asked me this week about retiring to the Philippines, as they are sick and tired of the same old daily grind and they are at the point of retiring a few years earlier than previously planned. As you can imagine, they had many questions about actually living in the Philippines. The burning question was, "How much money will I need each month to live … [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...]
The Good, Bad And The Ugly
Over the past 27 years, I have met many expats who are living in the Philippines. Some of the expats worked for foreign companies, some played basketball in the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association), some were engaging in business with their Filipina wives, some were military retirees who had spent time in the Philippines during their tour of duty and some were older retirees … [Read more...]
Paradise Or Pair A Dice
Maybe your idea of paradise is living near the strawberry fields of Baguio? When many people think about the Philippines, they often conjure up an image of lounging on a beautiful white sandy beach with an ice cold tropical fruit cocktail. Others think about trekking around one of the breathtaking mountain resorts found on a number of islands. Yet, others visualize dancing with … [Read more...]
Tolerance Tempered With Tradition
If it uplifts you to come in contact with easy going people with smiling faces all day long the Philippines could be a place where you will feel right at home. The native residents are - for the most part honest,innovative, often hard working as well as tolerant and happy. The diminutive incomes, noise at all hours and traffic jams - they face it all with a smile. If I hear a … [Read more...]