 |
| Heavy. Solid Gold. |
 |
| King Charles III |
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about Crowning the King of England. Updated May 6, 2023.
Sunday, September 11, 2022
Coronation of the King of England
Monday, August 22, 2022
How To Follow This Blog
 |
| Here's How To Follow My Blog |
How To Follow This Blog
You can read the latest posts on your favorite blogs by adding them to the reading list on your Blogger dashboard.
Follow My Blog
 |
| Regular Updates About The Philippines |
Your Google profile, including your name and profile photo, will show up publicly as a follower of a blog when you use the Followers gadget.
You can change your Google profile any time.
To follow a blog anonymously, follow it from the Blogger dashboard or the Settings menu.
From the blog’s Followers gadget
Sign in to Blogger.
In the blog that you want to follow, look for the Followers gadget.
Click Follow.
In the window that appears, click Follow.
From your Blogger dashboard.
Sign in to Blogger.
In the left menu, click Reading list Bookmark.
In the top right, click Manage reading list Edit.
Click Add.
Type the URL of the blog you want to follow.
Click Next.
Choose whether to follow publicly or anonymously.
Click Follow.
Stop following a blog
from your Blogger dashboard.
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read about how to follow this blog about life and travel in the Philippines. Uploaded August 22, 2022.
Friday, July 29, 2022
The Vietnam War
 |
| My Graduating Class |
The Vietnam War
I got my draft notice and immediately went and interviewed recruiting offices in my town. I talked first to the Army. Then the Marines. The Marine recruiter explained that the Army always prepares a plan of escape, but the Marines never do. The Marines always try to develop a plan when it is needed. Well, it seemed the best way to survive would be to have a plan of escape (or retreat.) A no brainer to me.
If you allowed yourself to be drafted, you would only need to serve for three years. But if you joined you would be required to serve four years. So, to make a long story short, I went and joined the Army. If one joined one could choose an MOS (job.) I was told there were openings in Infantry, Gunnery and Finance. I chose Finance (another no brainer to me.) I would wear the diamond shaped lapel pins of a Finance specialist.
 |
| Finance Pins, MOS 73C |
 |
| Finance Specialist |
It was not too long, and I was on my way to processing in Miami. We got some shots there and I watched as some of the biggest and "toughest" guys were kneeling and sitting on the floor, holding their foreheads, propped up by the wall looking like they were about to pass out.
Well, I made it through that with flying colors. No sweat.
During basic training I qualified for officer candidate school and turned it down. I had no thoughts of making the military a career.
When I was about to board the plane to Vietnam, I remember thinking "maybe I will discover what this is all about." Well after almost a year there I still had not figured it out.
After many years I met a Filipina online and flew to Manila to meet her in person. We met at a shopping mall and hit it off very well. In a short time, against the advice of her friends and family, we were on a plane headed to Mindanao. I was seeking some adventure and she was happy to travel along. The U.S. State Department advised "use extreme caution" while on Mindanao.
We stayed at hotels there for weeks.
The Philippines seemed a lot like Vietnam.
We married and had three children. My wife and children are now U.S. citizens and we have flown back and forth between the Philippines and the U.S.A. several times.
Jet lag is always a problem. But we overcome it by sleeping at weird hours until it is gone.
The guy in this video will shed some light on the situation in the Nam. In the city where I was the people were friendlier. Probably because it was known as The French Riviera of the Far East, a rest area for us and the "enemy."
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read about a former Vietnam veteran in the Philippines. Updated July 31, 2022.
Scams In Philippines
 |
| Don't get scammed |
 |
| Scams |
Don't Get Scammed in the Philippines
There are many scammers in the world. Study at these links to avoid becoming a victim of scams. Number one is NEVER send money to someone you met online! Number two is NEVER give money to someone you met in person if you have not gotten to know them in person over a few weeks or months.
There are all kinds of scams you could easily fall victim to.
"I need capitol for my business."
"I lost my money in a taxi."
"I lost my money to buy my school books."
"I love you so much. Can you help me?"
"My relative (grandma, grandpa, Mom, Dad or baby) is sick."
"Can you lend me some money for food?"
If you ever give or lend money you must assume you will never see it again. It is GONE. So, unless you are a very rich philanthropist don't even think about it. You might as well gamble away your nest egg before you rent or buy a nest for you and your future sweetheart. Then where is the money to court the lady or girl of your dreams? You will need money for dinner dates, movies, game rooms,
buses and
Have fun with her!
I'm sure there are many honest and lovely Filipinas (like the one I met in the Philippines.) They will be faithful and will stick with you through thick and thin. You take care of them and they will take care of you. Filipinas make the best wives and mothers on earth.
Save your money to build a life with your new love.
Read more about meeting ladies and how to
avoid scams in the Philippines.
Was this helpful?
If you have found this article helpful, have questions, suggestions, advice or insights please "comment" below.
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read about avoiding scams in the Philippines. Uploaded July 29, 2022.
Friday, July 8, 2022
Tired Bus Drivers Taxi Drivers
 |
| Don't ride with tired drivers in buses or taxis. |
Tired Bus Drivers and Taxi Drivers
Some of the scariest times are when your driver is obviously fatigued. On two occasions I have ridden with drivers who were trying to stay awake. One time was in a bus operated by Victory Lines. About half way through our trip on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from Angeles City to Manila I noticed the driver repeatedly nodding, slapping his cheeks, rubbing his head and slapping his forehead. All this time he was driving about sixty miles per hour with a bus full of hapless passengers.
 |
| North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) |
Another time I was riding in a taxi from the airport in Manila. We were again on the NLEX, this time going to Angeles City. I went to meet my Mom who had flown in to see us and our first child, who she had never gotten to meet yet. We were renting an apartment in Magalang, a small farming town near Angeles City. The driver was showing signs of fatigue. He began taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes and his head. I asked him to turn on the radio and play some music. I think that did the trick and we arrived alive at the Angeles City exit.
I found some advice online,
This one from Ireland,
"Driving when you are tired can be very dangerous, and it may cause you to micro-sleep (or nod off momentarily). At 100 km/h you travel at 28 metres a second, so if you micro-sleep for just 4 seconds you would travel over 100 metres without being in control of the vehicle. Never drive if you are fighting sleep."
and this (from a NOSH article),
"Time of day: Your body has a sleep/wake cycle that tells you when to be alert and when it’s time to sleep. The urge to sleep is the most intense in the early morning hours."
Advice
Humans have a natural urge to sleep at night.
Daytime is the best time to ride in buses and taxis (without a doubt.)
I remember news stories where buses have crashed down off mountain roads and people died.
So, to be safe, I think is always a good idea to briefly interview the driver. Looking straight in his or her face ask "How much sleep did you get last night" and "do you feel wide awake now?" If the driver shows signs of lying (averting his eyes while answering you or reaching to his mouth, nose or face while answering) then you may assume he is tired or fatigued. Don't ride in his bus or taxi! Better to suffer a delay than possibly get into a wreck. There is always another bus or taxi.
 |
| Carry Some Canned Coffee |
Maybe one should carry some canned coffee and offer an obviously tired driver a can or two, or three! Or, if in a taxi on an expressway, offer to buy him some hot coffee at a rest area.
Here is a complete list of places to stop along highways.
Was this helpful?
If you have found this article helpful, have questions, suggestions, advice or insights please "comment" below.
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about tired and sleepy drivers in the Philippines. Uploaded July 8, 2022.
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Pay Your Income Tax
 |
| Don't forget your taxes. |
Pay Your Income Taxes
A tax filing service for American expats
No matter what is happening in your life or the lives of loved ones and friends you must always make time to take care of your taxes.
After all, taxes are what make your country the great country it is.
Do yo have a bookkeeper or CPA you can call on to assist you in preparing your tax returns? Or, do you know how to file online? If you qualify you may be able to E File your own taxes online.
Was this article helpful?
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read about pay your income tax in the Philippines. Uploaded July 7, 2022.
Sunday, July 3, 2022
Cheapest Cars to Maintain
 |
| Maintain Your Car |
 |
| X Tool OBD2 Code Reader |
Maintaining Your Car in the Philippines
Best Easy to Maintain cars to buy in the Philippines.
From the article
"A well-looked after car tends to be more cost-efficient in terms of maintenance."
Should you have it serviced by the dealership? "There are some drawbacks to this, however, chief of which is the dealership’s tendency to prevent owners from actually witnessing the maintenance work being done to their cars; there have been horror stories of unscrupulous mechanics surreptitiously taking random working parts from cars and replacing them with faulty ones, or of letting the car be touched by interns instead of trained mechanics.
Outside shops are an increasingly popular option for car owners who are looking to save some dough without compromising car maintenance, although you would need to exercise due diligence and scout around for such shops that have positive feedback from satisfied customers. Otherwise, you might actually end up paying more when worse problems arise."
"Toyota certainly enjoys a certain status in the Philippine market; older drivers especially harbor fond memories of Toyota vehicles that are robust and run trouble-free, cementing its reputation for reliability. Just one look at Toyota’s sales numbers (45.26% market share as of November 2018) and you’ll know it’s true."
"While Honda maintenance isn’t exactly known for being cheap, it’s somewhat offset by the fact that they have longer maintenance intervals than other brands "
I pay a lot of attention to Scotty Kilmer of Youtube fame.
Scotty advises to stay away from all but Toyotas and Hondas. Those made in Japan are best. He says, from his experience, Toyotas and Hondas which are made in Japan need only oil changes and air filters for the first 100,000 miles. And if maintained according to the owner's manual schedule it is not uncommon for them to last for a LONG time, even up to 500,000 miles or more!
Use a OBD 2, car computer reader to check its condition before buying any used car or nearly new car. It must be specific to the car you are thinking about buying. Call the manufacturer of the car code reader to be sure the car is included in the list of cars the reader is set up to diagnose.
My favorite cars to own are Toyota and Honda. The reason there are so many of these in the Philippines and all over the earth is summed up in one word "QUALITY."
Auto repair shop in Angeles City, Philippines.
Where to eat in the Philippines.
Where to meet girls in the Philippines.
Was this helpful?
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read the comments about this blog about Cheapest Cars to Maintain Toyota and Honda, car maintenance in the Philippines. Uploaded July 3, 2022. Updated March 30, 2024.
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Read Comments About Philippines
Comments About This Blog
Thanks for sharing your insights about the Philippines. Hopefully those in positions of leadership will take note of your suggestions!
Nice review regarding Real estate. I will use this for future references. Thanks for sharing your post.
Fantastic read! I’ve saved your site…..,
I lived in a rural area in the Leyte province for a year. I developed asthma there not from car pollution but from all the burning, cooking with firewood, burning garbage ( everything including plastic), rice fields burning and simply burning to get rid of mosquitos. When i went to cities i did not suffer bcs less burning there.... i left the Philippines a year ago but still suffer from the asthma.
The US State Department is just covering their ass in case something happens to you while riding on one of those modes of transportation. What other choice would you have to get around in Manila or anywhere in the Philippines really? A taxi? That would be worse in my opinion. So walking is all that's left. I also have taken jeepneys and tricycles without any problems in many cities in the Philippines. No buses yet, but not out of fear, just no reason to yet. I have not had an opportunity to ride the rails in Manila yet, but my wife probably could not do all the walking you are talking about, so I may never get to do it. It's okay, I'll just hop in a few jeepney's and/or tricycles and put up with the traffic.
I am very happy to find a website like this. Well done and well said. Am a Canadian with my Filipino wife here living in the Philippines for 3 years. It is very discouraging to see the amount of smoke from vehicles and burning garbage. I cannot open my windows or going outside for a fresh air, not to forget 10 dogs per each house. I live in the province of Pangasinan. I can't wait to get out because of the smoke. It is such a beautiful country . I did bought a beach area but you still have to live with it, I mean going to the market and stores. It is impossible to avoid the smoke.
Hey Timo, I'm a Filipino and I enjoyed reading your articles. I agree with the first poster that your experiences and observations are pretty accurate. I admire your adventurous spirit that you are willing to let go of the comforts of your homeland to experience the "Filipino" way of life. I say comfort because I have tried staying in the US in a few of my business trips and I find the "American" life style to be comfortable in a general sense. It's easier for your country men to own a house, car and buy the basic necessities in life even at a minimum wage. I'm glad you haven't experienced any of the bad things that we see on the local news and I pray you will never will. I just would want to share that since the Philippines have so many local dialects it also entails that the culture may vary slightly from province to province. If you try living in the Baguio for example you will probably find that the police there may be more trustworthy as well as the taxis (they return you the exact change unlike in Manila) and even the people too. You may even find your self listening to country music in some establishments. So if you ever would want to experience the different "Filipino" life you may try living in different provinces. Now, that would be a really interesting blog, especially coming from an outsider point of view. Continue sharing. It's very helpful and entertaining at the same time.
I have come to live in the Philippines, beginning in 2008, and own a thriving business here -- i do find that my thought process parallels yours; namely the number of foreign immigrants (both workers, entrepreneurs, and retirees) would explode over the next few years if the air were simply clean (sure other infra is needed like better transportation, etc.) but I have been an American for 50+ years and know that many would flock here due to all the other factors, like economic opportunity, climate, activities, (girls), beaches, access to ASEAN market in an English speaking country! The problem is there are no "planners" here in government, they are just short term opportunists with no interest in the future of their children and grandchildren. It is hard to decide if they are just -- , selfish, or stuck in a culture (implanted by 333 years of colonial Spanish rule and servitude) that has taught them so well just survive today and get a P500 bribe for allowing the belchers to pass the emission test? Maybe its a combination of all? But it makes no sense because the oligarchs that control the political and economic structures here, do spend time here and are essentially harming themselves by breathing the air daily. Maybe they ----deserve their fate? My dilemma is how to escape the pollution while also being able to commute to my business, located in the City. I will either 1. move the business to a less polluted area - very expensive and entails hiring/training new workers. or 2. Sell the business and go back to the USA. 3. Hire an expensive/capable manager to run the business (most likely eventually into the ground) and go back to the USA. 4. ------ get them to implement the progressive plans that would benefit them as MUCH as me!!!!! For gods sake (they do claim to be god fearing here) why can't they figure out that an investment in cleaning up (taking off the road) roughly 5 to 10% of the vehicles (10% of the vehicles, in my view cause 80% of vehicle air pollution) would cost a lot of money but would be paid back 10 times over by, 1. A booming economy (it is said that 5 jobs are supported by each foreign retiree), 2. More productive workers (less COPD and sick time). The higher tax revenues from higher marginal economic growth could probably easily compensate for the low interest rate loans necessary to get all the Jeepneys and Polluting trucks off the road. Note: Surplus vehicles, many of them rejects retired from Japan and Korea are bought/imported into the Phils on the cheap because they are said to be the "only" affordable way to get a vehicle -- by purchasing poisonous belchers!-------------- Phils has a good credit rating, a good growth rate, and also boasts strong service economy (call centers, tourism, etc.) the financing would not be a problem, it is just about political will! All of these solutions are available, it really boils down to the political will, and leadership, --------, even with Noy Noy doing a far better ------ job than his predecessors!
wonderful blog, most of the articles are darn accurate! =) I was surprised reading all of your articles, I wish I had read half of the things stated here back in 2002 when I first arrived here in the Philippines to finish my high school, migrating here to the Philippines from the middle east was real hard for me. there was a lot of things that I had to learn and learn real quick. one of the most important things for me to learn was how other people perceive deal with foreigners, cost of living, school and education, safe places to live/ rent, food to eat and what not to eat and so forth. yes my experience did help me open my eyes to a lot of things. 1. education YES it is way cheap to study here in the Philippines but you still have to consider if and when you graduate will the piece of paper you receive would hold value to jobs abroad. let me explain, back in the middle east they categorize you as where you have received your diploma, if you received your diploma from a list of countries in their list your pay is such. if you receive your diploma from a western country then your pay is such. no matter how great your experience is. and guess who gets paid top dollar. =) of course I don't agree with this kind of methodology because its not a paper who makes a person but his experiences and what he learns in his lifetime that determines if he/she is competent in a given situation. 2. safety here in the Philippines. GOD where can I start. thank GOD I have never been robbed by pickpockets or held at GUN point. but there's a lot to consider. basically I go with a set of rules. and keep telling my wife this. BTW she grew up here in the Philippines and in one of your posts regarding good K12 schools here you mentioned her school ;) when we go out we don't bring expensive things with us. we minimize the amount of cash we have in our wallets, and we bring our throw away cellphones. I call it that because if GOD forbid it gets stolen the robber would not benefit due to its low value. Other rules are, be very aware of the places you go to, if the place seems unsafe bring someone you work with or someone who is family that knows someone from that place. 1st hand experience. Think ahead of the criminal elements around you. and you would be fine. 3. food and water. I had to learn this the hard way. we buy our raw food in the super market now. no more wet market for us. and get our water at the grocery as well, its better safe then sorry. 4.THANK GOD you provided us with some ideas on real estate, and provided some good lawyers in your posts. I hope I can read more of your posts more power!
Please participate by commenting on posts at this blog!
But do not attempt to advertise in your comments, they will be removed promptly.
Was this article helpful?
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read the comments about this blog about living in the Philippines. Uploaded June 15, 2022.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Volcanos In Philippines
 | ||
| Pyroclastic Flow from Mt Pinatubo 1991 |
Volcanoes In the Philippines
The Philippine Islands are located in "The Ring of Fire" around the Pacific Ocean. At present we are living at an altitude of about 750 feet in a subdivision on the side of the ancient Taal volcano. We are not concerned about tsunamis. We are nearly 25 kilometers from the current Taal Volcano which is on an island in the center of the caldera of the ancient volcano. It is currently emitting gas clouds thousands of feet up in the air (Feb 2024).
Taal acted up a few years ago and spewed volcanic ash into the air for a few days. The wind carried it over a great area. Ash fell on our house for a couple of days, just a little not a lot. We swept it off the sidewalk. It was so heavy it took two men to lift a small bag onto a truck.
When Mt Pinatubo erupted in the 1990's it buried lawns of homes, in and around the Clark Freeport Zone of Pampanga, in several feet of ash. Angeles City, Olongapo, Tarlac and many other cities were affected by ash. Ash even fell on the Greater Manila Area.
I talked with a man at a jeepney stop in the Clark Freeport Zone and he recalled how the sky turned black, he had been waiting at the same spot and he thought "This is it. It's all over now." He survived. It happened that the director of the Philippines volcanology department was hesitant to issue evacuation orders affecting thousands of people but made an educated guess, based on the data he had, and finally ordered a large area to evacuate. Well, his order resulted in saving a great many lives.
If you have an aversion to exploding volcanos, you may want to live a hundred miles or more away from one. It may be hundreds of years between eruptions, but one never knows. Warnings are announced when volcanos start becoming active. So, if you buy or build a house "you pays your money, you takes your chances." Some houses get buried by Lahars. Choose your location carefully or just "fuggitaboutit" and go happily about your life! Like Filipinos do.
Check these lower cost types of home construction in the Philippines.
Keep these things ready to go at all times.
Was this article helpful?
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about volcanos in the Philippines. Updated February 11, 2024.
Monday, June 13, 2022
Tiny Houses Philippines
Tiny Houses In The Philippines
Are you living in the Philippines and would like to buy a lot and build your very own detached house on it? Would you like the privacy it would provide? But you do not have enough money to pay cash to build your dream house? No worry, you can start smaller with a tiny house. Made to order, just the right size for your present situation! Many people are "in the same boat." Many are considering building a small house to be their "starter home."
 |
| Earth Bag House, Philippines |
Earth bag house construction in the Philippines.
 |
| Bamboo Houses in the Philippines |
 |
| Pre Fabricated House, Philippines |
 |
| More Expensive Prefab House, Philippines |
Prefabricated Houses can be built quickly and assembled on site fast!
More prefab house builders.
Was this article helpful?
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about tiny houses in the Philippines. Uploaded June 13, 2022.
Monday, June 6, 2022
Florida USA Real Estate
 |
| Florida, USA |
Are you a Filipino? European? or are you from another place on Earth? Consider Florida as a place to live, work or retire.
I lived in Florida for many years before chatting with, meeting, visiting and marrying my Filipina wife in the Republic of the Philippines. We were married by the Mayor of a small town, North of Manila.
We have been living on and off in the Philippines and Florida since 2007. It is a long distance between the two. Our flights average about 24 hours including three or four stops to meet connecting flights.
In the Philippines a family member is usually driving us to the airport. In Florida we usually ride to our destination in a Tampa airport "limousine" or in a public bus.
 |
| Arriving in Tampa |
And yes, we suffer from jetlag both ways. Our days and nights are turned upside down. It takes almost two weeks to get back to our normal nighttime sleeping schedule.
A great many Filipinos land in California and stay there. Some get all the way across the USA and stop in Florida. The climate is very similar to the Philippines. We have a lot of Filipino friends in both countries but far more relatives in the Philippines.
In the Philippines my wife buys our properties. In the US I buy them. We like real estate as an investment. In the Philippines I am limited to buying condos. In the US Filipinos may buy almost anything in any State of the USA.
Clearwater, Florida is in the Tampa Bay Area. Not too far from Orlando and it's many popular attractions.
The Governor of Florida protects
during the "pandemic.'
Was this article helpful?
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about Florida, USA. Last updated June 24, 2022.
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Maps of Philippines
Maps of the Philippines
Maphill interactive maps.
Be Prepared
Always be prepared for any emergencies. Keep paper maps of your province in your house and in your vehicle. Designate meeting spots where you can meetup with family and friends. Prepare and keep a bugout bag for each member of your family. Each bag to include a street map, water, small portable water filter, first aid kit, compass, mosquito repellant, mosquito net, parachute cord, set of clean clothes, soap, food bars, a few small canned foods, etc. Each bag can weigh up to about 10% of each person's body weight. With a maximum weight 20%.
Was this article helpful?
If you have found this article helpful, have suggestions, advice or insights please "comment" below.
This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about maps of the Philippines. Last updated June 3, 2022.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)