tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8189009741045629452012-02-17T09:13:07.113+08:00Valuable tips and advice to foreigners in dealing with the transition to Philippine culture and society.Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.comBlogger651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-4106297251181913642012-01-26T21:15:00.002+08:002012-01-26T21:54:28.210+08:00

I guess with my luck it would be too much to expect  that two successive annual trips to the Bureau of Immigration to pay the annual report, (a P310  yearly "head tax" required of resident alien residents), would go off without a hitch.. On two such treks, one in 2009 and the other in 2010, I was robbed and pickpocketed respectively en route. Fortunately I had no such incidents in 2011. This

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-76209264251712195212012-01-07T17:12:00.003+08:002012-01-12T21:33:33.302+08:00

The numbers are in.  Metro-Manila deaths and injuries over the New Years holiday from  fireworks mishaps and stray bullets were overall greater than last year's figures despite hopes by the authorities  for a decrease in such casualties. Adding to this sad state of affairs this year on which should be a festive occasion was the extreme air pollution on New Years morning. This was caused by the

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-43882276065902003882011-12-14T14:57:00.003+08:002011-12-15T13:44:12.901+08:00

Every year beginning In December, there's an increase in traffic in Metro Manila as more people are out and about doing their Christmas shopping, attending holiday parties, etc. So along with more private vehicles on the road, there's also a greater demand on public transportation.  But this year it seems especially acute for some reason, especially when it comes to the (un)availability of taxis.

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-88421062671530630832011-11-20T15:05:00.001+08:002011-11-22T11:41:13.568+08:00

If there's one form of diversion on which Philippine culture thrives, it's sensationalism, and the more melodramatic the better—especially if it involves well known show business celebrities and political figures.   An example is a recent incident involving the high visibility and troubled Revilla family which boasts of  members in both of these professions. Bad feelings that had been brewing

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-66649876930110191712011-11-01T14:01:00.006+08:002011-11-22T16:18:38.069+08:00

I have long believed that the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is  part of the Philippines and should not be allowed to secede (see my post  Disaster Averted for Now).  But as time passes, I'm becoming doubtful that it's worth the ever increasing political, social, and financial costs for the country of trying to pacify and hold on to this territory.  Maybe it's time to let the ARMM go

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-5341467074867290552011-09-26T09:33:00.005+08:002011-09-28T11:03:50.616+08:00

I'm no economist. Yet as an expat American residing in the Philippines,  there are certain facets about the financial system here that I can't help but notice and which seem paradoxical for an "impoverished third world" country. For example, as a whole, the Philippines has managed to avoid the fallout from the Great Recession and in some ways is faring better than the U.S.  It's true that

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-28421800754283689672011-08-24T08:00:00.008+08:002011-08-25T12:48:12.800+08:00

In Philippine culture, eating is not just a means of satisfying a physical requirement. It serves as a psychological fulfillment as well, and one that cuts across all socio-economic classes an genders.  So it was not surprising that the topic and consequences of “emotional eating”—using food as a means of escape from personal  problems—recently came to the fore as related by Sharon Cuneta, a

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-79419279815402097892011-07-23T15:07:00.002+08:002011-07-24T09:36:08.296+08:00

Although businesses in the Philippines are often inefficient and difficult to deal with, one of the last places I expected to find such a problem was in trying to contact a well known local financial institution,   Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation) (RCBC) Savings Bank. Beginning several days ago, my wife Lydia and I could not get through by phone to the  branch where she conducts checking

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-72301057121392626982011-06-19T12:00:00.005+08:002011-06-26T19:55:44.819+08:00

When it comes to traffic, the streets of Metro-Manila are fraught with danger, mainly due to undisciplined driving habits that are endemic in the Philippines.  Not only are motorists a hazard to each other, but to pedestrians as well. Crossing the street, even in crosswalks is often a nerve-racking experience. Drivers rarely stop, so the only way to make it across is to wait for a gap in traffic

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-55079920607574881522011-05-16T15:23:00.247+08:002011-06-02T08:35:38.590+08:00

Adam Sandler had "Eight Crazy Nights". But since May 7, I've had  "nine crazy days". To begin with, the phone system in our condominium tower is undergoing a changeover from one trunk line with locals (extensions) connected to the units (sort of a PBX system).  Instead  occupants who want phone service will be responsible for obtaining their own  landlines for their condos independently. The two

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-1633386433243722232011-04-18T14:22:00.016+08:002011-04-20T14:56:01.899+08:00

When it comes to identification, if you are a foreigner residing in the Philippines, your passport  and or even your I-card will only get you so far. For many transactions, a local and more widely known form of i.d. is required.  A very common one of course is a Philippine drivers license. But many aliens, myself  and my wife include, don't drive here (as is the case for most Filipinos as well)

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-67653315905061480922011-04-03T16:39:00.007+08:002011-04-17T14:16:42.862+08:00

The three Filipinos who were recently executed in China on drug trafficking charges and their OFW (overseas Filipino worker) counterparts who leave the Philippines to work abroad legitimately have one thing in common. They avail of opportunities (and risks) to make more money in jobs overseas than they could at home in order to benefit their families, especially  their children, even if means

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-33920170939447489402011-03-23T15:18:00.010+08:002011-04-03T11:23:26.573+08:00

My wife Lydia  and I just returned from our first trip out of the Philippines since relocating here over five years ago. It turns out that the concerns that I mentioned in my previous post "A New Adventure" were baseless. Our I-cards (along with valid passports of course) got us through Immigration upon both leaving and returning in just a few minutes  It took a bit longer when exiting the

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-74382418329433602682011-03-08T15:27:00.011+08:002011-03-30T11:04:36.913+08:00

Last November my wife Lydia and I celebrated our  40th wedding anniversary; so we decided to treat ourselves to a once in a lifetime trip to Europe. Planning and executing this excursion has been a learning experience and an ordeal in itself. Once we decided exactly where on the Continent we wanted to visit (London and Paris), out next step was selecting a reliable service that provides group

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-81138583085505023982011-02-07T20:45:00.007+08:002011-02-12T16:30:07.414+08:00

Pity the non-affluent married couple in the Philippines when one or both partners have become estranged  and want to break up. They have no way out of their marriage because divorce in this country is prohibited. The Philippines, which is  predominantly Roman Catholic is one of the three countries in the world where divorce is not allowed (the other two are Malta and the Vatican).  Yet divorce

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-92160240716484615062011-01-16T15:21:00.006+08:002011-01-20T10:41:26.636+08:00

When I hear about the snow and cold weather in the U.S.and Europe that is typical for this time of the year, I'm especially glad to be living in the Philippines with its mostly tropical climate. I was raised in Indiana and well recall those frigid Midwestern winters where in my area, the central part of the state, temperatures would drop as low as to -10°F  (-23°C). I spent most of my adult life

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-73299960943955895922010-12-27T19:48:00.002+08:002010-12-28T19:09:15.080+08:00

Effective Jan. 1, U.S.Medicare will pay physicians who counsel patients seeking information regarding end of life planning.  This includes patient-generated health care advance directives that instruct doctors whether or not to use extreme measures in a medical crisis to keep him /her alive or when (s)he becomes incapable of making that decision due to senility. However, Medicare coverage is

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-28112915806733135712010-12-03T14:56:00.005+08:002010-12-05T14:42:10.603+08:00

Recently, an announcement appeared in one of the local newspapers regarding a planned random inspection to be conducted by the Pilipinas (Philippines) Ant-Piracy Team (PAPT).  This agency will be checking businesses in certain areas of Metro-Manila in order to determine if they are illegally using unlicensed systems to run their computers. How rampant is software piracy in the Philippines? Well,

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-87386091850166486322010-11-24T14:37:00.009+08:002010-11-24T16:19:34.499+08:00

The other day I opened the newspaper and noticed a full page ad from the Philippines' leading department store chain announcing  a Thanksgiving Day sale. Apparently this American holiday day, like Halloween, is another occasion that has recently made its way into the calendar of (unofficial) fiestas in the Philippines, at least in Metro-Manila.  Another indication of this trend is that many

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-55429647082242057072010-11-05T17:21:00.007+08:002010-11-07T13:52:57.329+08:00

Whether one is a native or foreigner in the Philippines there is no escaping the fact that the country is besieged by a high crime rate and that almost no one is totally safe from becoming a victim. Yet not all such criminal acts, especially robbery and other crimes of property necessarily involve physical violence. Instead, some perpetrators  prey on their targets via deceit and fraud.  Some

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-45262693722498568912010-10-25T09:43:00.003+08:002010-11-05T19:12:04.857+08:00

It doesn't take much to get Filipinos into a festive mindset especially at this time of the year. Christmas of course is a "major, major" celebration here, second only to Good Friday, and holiday ornaments and merchandise have been out on  the shelves for a couple weeks now. BTW I'm going to try be less of a curmudgeon about Christmas.   After all, I rather enjoy the special dishes that are

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-76970645941067908832010-09-27T11:04:00.003+08:002010-09-29T20:03:49.095+08:00

Sept. 26 marked the one year anniversary of Ondoy, the flood that wreaked havoc throughout Metro-Manila (see my Sept 28, 2009 post "Storm Signals").  There is much that still needs to be done to prevent a recurrence of the damage that would recur if a similar storm to were to strike again. Yet it's heartening to see that steps have already been taken in that direction including a campaign to

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-64322706511460204782010-09-09T21:10:00.008+08:002010-09-10T16:47:32.324+08:00

I have refrained from commenting about Aug. 23 hostage tragedy because so much has been said about it already that I wasn't sure what more I could add.  But as recent developments have come to light, I've decided to put in my two cents. According to the Sept. 8 edition of the "Philippine Daily Inquirer", a respected local newspaper, witnesses said that the hostage taker, Rolando Mendoza,  

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-34388719294908013002010-08-22T17:42:00.016+08:002010-09-21T15:48:02.911+08:00

Eastwood City where my wife and I reside continues to be a vibrant blend of condominiums, businesses, shopping and entertainment.  As a long awaited additional tourist attracton to this mixed use community, a  high-rise hotel, the Eastwood Richmonde,  is scheduled to start  its guest operations in September.  The hotel restaurant, The Eastwood Cafe, is already open and starts serving at  6:00 a.m

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-33980085607363458962010-08-09T16:10:00.008+08:002010-08-10T18:55:55.242+08:00

Although the Philippines is certainly not lacking for laws to protect employees from abusive working conditions, they are not usually not enforced. According to the announcement "DOLE to inspect, correct firms violating minimum wage, other labor standards",  a government study showed that over half  the businesses inspected by the Philippines Department of Labor and Employment were in violation

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-31142202914904082472010-07-20T17:16:00.012+08:002010-07-22T14:07:46.815+08:00

Typhoon Basyang (aka Conson) ripped through the Philippines and hammered Metro-Manila last week. The storm left the city without electricity for an extended period and in some areas of Luzon for several days.  As a result, perishable foods that lost electric powered refrigeration and/ or freezing within this period became unsafe for consumption. Food spoilage  is a problem that accompanies any

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-42948470367556439572010-07-04T16:15:00.002+08:002010-07-09T20:16:10.101+08:00

July 4 marks not only American Independence Day but also Philippine-American Friendship Day.  By way of a little history, this date was also originally celebrated as Independence Day in the Philippines to commemorate the official end of American colonization in 1946. The holiday was moved to June 12 in 1964.  For the story behind reason for the change, click here. But back to the present, in

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-83340150370223947642010-06-23T12:52:00.001+08:002010-06-23T12:55:27.611+08:00

As the result of some of my recent experiences with taxis in Metro-Manila I have decided take this opportunity to review and expand on some advice that I offered in my original post about what everyone who uses this form of transportation here should know. First, when you flag down a taxi, tell the driver where you're going before boarding. Many drivers are prima donnas and  will refuse to take

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-43891861358107436562010-06-06T16:44:00.011+08:002010-06-07T10:37:18.502+08:00

My wife Lydia and I recently returned from a trip to her home town, Gumaca, Quezon, which is about 210 km south east and a 5 1/2 hour bus ride from our locale in Quezon City. It was good to get away from the concrete jungle of Metro-Manila for a few days.  Another incentive is seeing  Lydia's step-niece who roll outs the red carpet when we visit there. Gumaca is a bustling municipality with a

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-7615581755155143832010-05-29T14:58:00.002+08:002010-06-19T15:44:40.040+08:00

When it comes to political issues,  as my posts indicate I'm usually rather opinionated.  But in the case of outgoing Philippines President Gloria Arroyo's last-minute naming the Renato Corona as Chief Justice of the  Supreme Court I can see both sides of the argument as to whether or not President-elect Benigno Aquino should recognize this "midnight appointment." Granted that there is

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-73303743649088325042010-05-13T15:15:00.009+08:002010-05-16T09:45:02.550+08:00

Probably the best way to describe this week's  elections in the Philippines and the country's first experience in electronic voting is to quote Charles Dickens: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". It was the best of times in that despite glitches with some of the machines, voters for the most part were able to complete and register their ballots. At this writing about 90% of

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-81156947558326629462010-05-06T21:31:00.006+08:002010-06-27T14:17:27.672+08:00

The old Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times" is certainly ringing true in the Philippines these days.  As national election day draws near (Monday, May 10) several factors come into play that make this occasion one of the most significant such events in the nation's history. One is that this election will be the first in this country to use automated vote counting. On the face of it

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-44066391838359762392010-04-13T13:32:00.012+08:002010-04-13T19:59:42.371+08:00

I hesitated to bring up this topic because on the face of it, the subject seem rather inconsequential:  riding the jeepney (aka "jeep"), which is a ubiquitous and cheap form of public transportation in the Philippines, especially in the cities, towns and provincial roads. As I mentioned in my original post,  this vehicle might best be described as a cross between a passenger van and as the name

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-48126159624715888672010-04-01T13:15:00.066+08:002010-04-03T15:38:24.868+08:00

Due concern over a recurring physical problem, I had a medical procedure performed yesterday. As mentioned in an earlier post, quality health care in the Philippines is remarkably inexpensive as compared to the same level of care in the U.S. (see my post "The Future of American Medical Care Lies in--Asia?) I had a private room in a first rate hospital, the daily charge for which is about

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-57005003154451657662010-03-21T08:00:00.003+08:002010-03-22T14:04:27.407+08:00

Like many other countries, the Philippines is currently observing International Women's Month. When it comes to women's rights, the culture of this country is truly a paradox. In some respects Filipinas are ahead of their American counterparts as for example in career opportunities. Women in the Philippines been active for decades in the professions such as medicine, law, broadcast

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-82566063463822761352010-03-04T16:26:00.003+08:002010-03-04T16:53:52.872+08:00

As I mentioned in a previous post one of the most irksome aspects of Filipino culture is the fixation on light (read white) skin, especially among women. So it was refreshing that no less than the Mayor of Makati City, Jejomar Binay, recently made a statement criticizing this sign of colonial mentality.As Mayor Binay pointed out, cosmetics companies profit from this obsession by exploiting the

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-4226074495721716762010-02-14T13:53:00.045+08:002010-02-15T18:28:45.892+08:00

This year, two holidays happen to fall on this date: Valentines Day and Chinese New Year. Here in the Philippines, both are celebrated with almost equal enthusiasm. The former is popular for its romantic significance-- an emotion that runs deep in Filipino culture. The latter is important due to the strong Chinese presence and influence in this country. At this very moment a dragon procession is

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-71487555905542188202010-02-12T11:50:00.002+08:002010-02-24T13:54:44.735+08:00

As I've mentioned in previous posts, the Philippines has a long road to travel in getting its moral priorities straight. Part or most of the blame for this country's misplaced values lies with the CBCP--the Catholic Bishops Conference of The Philippines, which among other duties acts as a political lobby for the Church. Thanks to the efforts by the CBCP, the Reproductive Health Act as pending

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-31107412325920329242010-01-24T14:15:00.005+08:002010-01-24T18:21:21.067+08:00

If you have an account with Philippine National Bank through which you receive U.S. social security benefits via direct deposit, don't be surprised if you receive an unannounced visit by a representative of that institution.That's what happened to my wife. The PNB agent stated that the purpose of this interview was to verify her identity and make sure that no one was impersonating her and

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-29932317609722293522010-01-12T19:34:00.122+08:002010-01-14T08:42:02.256+08:00

In a replay from last year, today I got ripped off on the MRT. This happened (see "A Payment, A Theft, and Update") while I was on an identical errand: traveling to the Bureau of Immigration to file my and my wife Lydia's annual report, a paperwork formality which is required every January from all non-citizen permanent residents in the Philippines.This time I lost my wallet to a pickpocket

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-74112944723949258412010-01-01T05:30:00.003+08:002010-01-02T13:52:54.886+08:00

As popular an attraction as Eastwood City is, this venue outdid itself last night in drawing a huge crowd to take part in a safe and sane New year Eve celebration. And the best part of it is that my wife Lydia and I, along with our friends Barry and Elma (their own blog site, bjruth.com, is referenced in the sidebar of this blog site) had only to step outside our condo to join the

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-47328634649594368872009-12-25T13:15:00.002+08:002009-12-25T13:18:03.085+08:00

In compliance with FTC requirements which became effective this year, I am disclosing the following information.This policy is valid from 24 December 2009This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-75131629460955510712009-12-14T13:18:00.152+08:002009-12-22T17:35:25.679+08:00

The November massacre in Mindanao was a disaster waiting to happen partly because it was the logical outcome of President Arroyo's tactics of obtaining political support. It was a case of the chickens coming home to roost. So why does she pretend to be shocked? President Arroyo epitomizes the culture of corruption in country by having allowed her allies, the Ampatuan clan, to acquire their

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-53991719590417567062009-11-23T23:00:00.005+08:002009-12-16T13:50:44.911+08:00

If politics makes strange bedfellows (viz. the teaming up of Manny Villar and Loren and Legarda for the 2010 national elections), then this is equally if not more true of moral convictions.To be blunt, I find the adulation heaped by the Philippines on another Manny, i.e. boxer Manny Pacquiao, to be terribly misplaced. Pacquiao is being hailed as a national hero because his (sole?) talent

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-82684433093963225072009-11-05T13:45:00.103+08:002009-11-06T15:51:19.764+08:00

Despite the negative tone of this and many of the previous posts in this blog, I'm really not out to do a hatchet job on Philippine society. After all if I were so unhappy about life here, why would I have stayed for 4 years and still plan to remain indefinitely? However, when I read unfavorable but important news features and stories about the national character here, I believe that they

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-50633444208310033842009-10-28T14:38:00.089+08:002009-11-02T15:55:48.429+08:00

My wife Lydia and I celebrated 39th wedding anniversary this past Saturday by treating ourselves to dinner at a fine dining establishment. Now as I mentioned in my original post ("An Expat's Perspective on Life in The Philippines" Part 2, Aug. 7, 2008) eating out can be a dicey proposition due to many restaurant owners' indifference to and lax enforcement of health regulations. Then there's

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-76308076469193887602009-10-09T13:01:00.110+08:002009-10-16T09:39:20.557+08:00

This has not been a great few weeks for Metro-Manila. First there was the the tropical storm on Sept. 26 which flooded the city and surrounding suburbs. Now we are experiencing rolling power outages as the result of equipment problems at Meralco, our electric utility. This situation which began on Oct. 7 will likely continue until tomorrow and possibly beyond.My wife Lydia and I live in a high

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-44226361248046149322009-09-28T17:33:00.062+08:002009-10-06T18:30:57.486+08:00

In the four years that I've been living in the Philippines, I've never been so personally impacted by a typhoon as I was by tropical storm Ketsana (known locally as "Ondoy") which on Sept. 26 blew into Metro-Manila wreaking havoc on the city and surrounding provinces.On the morning of that day as the rain was building I went out to a gathering that was about 12 km from home, not (consciously)

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-48550442919977649582009-09-19T14:43:00.034+08:002009-09-19T17:01:39.925+08:00

The problem regarding delayed mail especially from the U.S. that I discussed in my post "Please Mr. Postman" has become worse. A mail retrieval claim notice that according to the date stamp was over a month old was just delivered to me a few days ago.So when I went to the branch to pick up the item (which by the way really should have been delivered instead of my having to shlep there to retrieve

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-89288809624684521482009-08-27T15:19:00.051+08:002009-08-30T14:11:46.794+08:00

Today marks the 4th year anniversary of my arrival in the Philippines as an expat retiree. Aside from dealing with the petty annoyances that everybody faces on a day to day basis, this period has been personally less stressful than any other that I can recall.As a result I've had more opportunity for creativity in terms of writing and overall self-expression than ever before. I can think more

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-28083129831853078202009-08-05T17:16:00.029+08:002009-08-23T09:37:59.665+08:00

So much has been written about the late former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino (b. 1933), who died on Saturday and was buried today, that it's hard to add anything original. But to foreigners who may not be that familiar with this remarkable woman, I will just say the following.Her well known display of of honesty and humility was not a show. Cory was one of the relatively few leaders in the

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-3225897048370610272009-08-02T15:30:00.008+08:002009-08-27T19:24:35.053+08:00

A few days ago, my wife Lydia and I returned from a visit to her home town, Gumaca, in Quezon Province. This was my first such trip outside of Metro-Manila in 3 years (that journey was also to Gumaca), and it was good to take a break from my daily routine.While we there,I had intended to do some walking in the countryside outside of town and take in the tropical scenery. But due to time

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-41790475498334718162009-07-11T15:28:00.056+08:002009-07-12T14:23:26.772+08:00

Based on personal experience, I would have to say that weakest communications link in this country is the postal system, also known as Philpost. Over the past couple months, mail sent to me from the U.S. has arrived either late or not at all. Even priority mail items that finally did reach me were not delivered--based on the Quezon City Post Office date stamp-- for three weeks or more after

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-71772495605453767482009-06-13T15:44:00.015+08:002009-06-16T10:23:17.405+08:00

Yesterday was Philippine Independence Day. It was 111 years ago on June 12 that this country won its freedom from Spain. Shortly thereafter, the Philippines was colonized by the U.S. and did not become a sovereign nation until 1946.It seems to me that this year's celebration was more subdued than in previous years. Perhaps this is due to the anger of the people over an ongoing attempt by the

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-56137188852758857692009-05-11T11:20:00.063+08:002009-05-14T08:39:01.384+08:00

Although predominantly Roman Catholic, the Philippines is home to followers of many other religious beliefs (and non-belief). Among the the assorted groups (just to name a few) are Animists, Muslims, Buddhists, Mormons, and various Protestant denominations.One of the smallest minorities in this country is the Jewish Association of the Philippines of which I am a member. Because our numbers here

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-35159048045628058422009-04-10T13:25:00.003+08:002009-04-12T14:52:13.548+08:00

Of all the holidays celebrated in the Philippines, the population of which is predominantly Roman Catholic, Good Friday as the culmination of Lent has the greatest impact on the country, especially in Metro-Manila. All government offices and most businesses including, malls, retail stores, newspapers, even vital services such as pharmacies and private medical clinics are closed. Public

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-16493368705485070882009-03-25T15:35:00.003+08:002009-03-28T08:29:27.530+08:00

For various reasons such as advanced age, many foreigners (myelf included) in the Philippines may have a hard time learning the native languages. (Yes, there are more than one). So it's fortunate that English is the second language here. Hence, American expats can readily communicate with most of the Filipinos with whom they come in contact, especially in Metro-Manila.However, there are many

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-76186736457072716882009-02-16T15:45:00.003+08:002009-03-07T15:24:47.344+08:00

Before I retired and relocated to the Philippines, I worked for or knew of employers in the U.S. who were unscrupulous in dealing with their workers. Some of their unethical and / or illegal practices included requiring employees to work off the clock or designating ordinary sales clerks as "assistant managers" and placing them on straight salary in order to avoid paying them overtime. As a

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-59535471385014698872009-01-15T14:08:00.062+08:002009-01-18T11:42:28.196+08:00

This is the time of the year (January through March) when permanent residents in the Philippines are required to trek to the Bureau of Immigration and file an annual report. This is basically the payment of our visa extension fee, which is PhP310 per person (plus a PhP200 per month penalty for every month missed after that window). When you consider the large number of aliens residing here, it's

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-15950932444512316032009-01-05T14:41:00.039+08:002009-01-10T10:55:21.629+08:00

Today I was looking through some beautiful photographs that Lydia had taken in 2004 of our apartment in Alta Loma, Calfornia. I had never seen these pictures before and they were so vivid and evocative, it's as though I were back there again. We have some fond memories of that place and as I sorted through the photos, I felt a twinge of nostalgia.Yet every day I am thankful that we were able to

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-48384943349711652342008-12-15T12:11:00.000+08:002008-12-17T14:56:44.851+08:00

I recently came across an article that discusses the outsourcing (actually off-shoring) of medical services in America by at least one insurance company ("Insurer Offers Option for Surgery in India"). That's right. Wellpoint is offering to send their clients from the U.S. to hospitals in the third world (specifically India) for treatment—airfare for the patient and a companion included. Depending

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-31881584137686462352008-10-26T14:37:00.010+08:002008-12-22T16:39:44.109+08:00

As I briefly mentioned in my original post, overpopulation is one of the most pressing issues in the Philippines. When my wife emigrated from that country in 1969, the population was approximately 35 million. In 37 years it has mushroomed to over 85 million, and about 28% of this growth has occurred since 1990 when according to The Philippines: A Country Study the population was 66 million. And

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-49215257626821781402008-09-08T14:04:00.040+08:002008-10-12T15:38:13.911+08:00

Although the the population of the Philippines is about 85% Roman Catholic, the southern island of Mindanao has a large concentration of Muslims (known locally as Moros. The settlement of this region by Arab traders and conversion of the local populace to Islam predates the Spanish colonization of the Philippines by a couple hundred years.As a whole the Moros have never fully integrated into

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-68212531423695968072008-08-08T11:32:00.141+08:002009-03-20T08:54:12.754+08:00

As an American who has lived in the Philippines since 2005, I would like to share my experiences and observations regarding life here with new and soon-to-be residents of this country. Of course, your own experiences in settling in may differ from the following. But my intent in furnishing this information is to try to ease your adjustment, and if I have made a difference, no matter how small, it

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-818900974104562945.post-26462157477119822552008-08-07T14:37:00.030+08:002008-10-17T12:12:12.168+08:00

Favorite spectator sports here are basketball, horse-racing, and jai alai. However, there is almost no interest in baseball and American-style football. The term “football” here refers to soccer, which is another moderately popular sport.Eating, drinking, and conversations about food are important features of Philippine culture. In fact, a common greeting here translates to “Have you eaten?”

Secular Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355591007995127097noreply@blogger.com3