1. What is the best thing about living in the Philippines? Difficult question. My wife and daughter are with me wherever I'm living. Guess I'd rather enumerate several ""best"" factors in no particular order: a. My home is far better than I could afford in the UK b. Cost of living - I can live well on a modest pension and even increase my savings c. No ""winters"" d. No ""nanny"" government e. More time to do what I want (if I were retired in UK I'd need to be concerned with cost of living and probably need at least a part-time job) f. My wife is happy to be near her family so I am happy too g. People are more friendly 2. What was/is the most unexpected thing about the move or living in the Philippines? Little was unexpected since this is the second time I've lived here. But getting the 13A visa from within Philippines was more of a hassle and more time-consuming than I'd expected. However, before moving here I was working in Thailand where the Philippine embassy advised they could not handle a 13A visa application so I had little choice. For those of you intending to move here I'd suggest that you bring in only those things you really cannot do without. I'd forget about electrical items, vehicles, tools etc. Bring only those things that it would be impossible or difficult to replace and that you'd really miss: your books, photograph collections, vital documents, memorabilia, granny's teapot etc. 3. Knowing what you know now, what would you have done different? a. I'd have built the bungalow so that the main bedroom was on the north-east corner and had windows on those two walls since most of the time the wind blows from those directions. b. I'd have insulated the south and west side walls of the bungalow during construction. c. I'd have checked before buying that our lot was within range of cable TV to avoid having to get TV satellite system. Cable here has many more channels available than DREAM satellite and at half the cost. d. I'd have bought a car with higher ground clearance since our road is not yet metalled. e. I'd have added one more room to the bungalow ground floor and built a veranda, and perhaps another room, over the carport. f. I'd have bought a bigger refrigerator and a bigger cooker. 4. Or brought with you? More of my books. And last? 5. What do you miss the most from your homeland? a. long summer evenings. It's great dreaming of watching the sun go down with San Mig in hand. The problem is that sunset's over in 15 minutes; however, there's nothing I can do about that! b. some foods: cheese, good bread, fresh berries and currants, Indian and Chinese takeaways, rhubarb, fresh mint, roast leg of lamb, roast beef, salad cream, fish and chips, Fray Bentos steak and kidney pie in a can. c. driving discipline, good roads and road signs. d. museums, libraries, art galleries e. trains I'd like to add what I don't like about living here: a. mosquitoes b. large cockroaches c. fire ants d. lack of garbage collection e. the colour of the mains water f. the heat of April and May g. unjustifiably high prices of some goods and services including air fares. If travelling to Europe it's worth taking a short hop to Singapore, Bangkok or Hong Kong and to get your return ticket onwards from there. h. having to go to Manila for any official business.

nice try but good enough...haven't seen many dayuhan ; here trying to learn our language...(saw an american recently on TV who waxed an album...all of them in Filipino :) it should be ;patawarin mo rin (po) ako or simply ;patawad (po)

Thank you for your help.I have tried online but this must be an ;instore ; promotion only if anything.We are living in Hongkong(our house is in S.Leyte see photos Oliver) but have close relatives in both Manila and (Cebu- most convenient for pick up) if you do find anything when it opens let me know by off group email

I joined a list about a bunch of expats living in the Philippines and asisting us who are moving there soon. Great group. Can you tell me where that group has moved to? There are many posts that are going unanswered, but a lot of off topics going on. I think this is a great source of information. But the group has taken a turn.

as an example, try the Philippines National Bank webb site. Last time I checked I found 5 banks that take direct deposits. No real advantage in keeping a US ATM account. Regarding disabilities, many on the list have written that SSI is not paid out of US.

i too am wondering what has happened. i remember people for being banned for far less than i've seen lately. whats going on?

although I am not in Cebu,I will answer some of your questions.Direct deposit is available for all U.S.Government benefits.VA,Social Security,DFAS.You don't need to make sure you are on Tricare Standard,just make sure you disenroll from Tricare Prime.Search archives of this list for ""ronfallscity"ronspeers and;diegobalibado"".Google ""rao clark"",""rao subic"",""rao baguio"".Also contact rao in Cebu.It should be listed in ""Links"".If you still have any specific military retiree questions,go ahead and post them and if I see them I'll try to answer them.I think you will eventually discover why military retirees abound in the Subic and Clark areas.

the list has been carried as unmoderated all along.I for one am glad.I was once banned for hurting a lawyer's feelings,and once for (privately} calling a moderator's action idiotic.I agree the pendulum has probably swung too far in the other direction,but I think Paul Reinking has the right solution:

I did not like what some of the moderators did prior to this change in the list - re - the filipina lawyer, I thought there were far to many moderators, and felt many of them had never been in the Philippines; maybe were not exactly sure where the Philippines are, BUT since the list has changed so drasticaly, insults, flaming type language, (not sure as to the exact definition of FLAME) I now think a return to having moderators is imperative for the survival of this interesting group. This list is NOT about american/foreign relations. It IS about living in the Philippines. For good or bad You are in another country, If you do not like it here, planes leave daily. This country has imperfections the same as America or any other country. I, for one am enjoying my time here and do not want to change it for another. I want to see this group return to the topic (Living in the Philippines) the land of the blessed where the sun meets the sea. This is of course my humble, and most likely totaly irrelevant (to some) opinion. SO IF YOU ENJOY THIS GROUP AND WANT IT TO CONTINUE as a friendly informative pleasant exchange of information among gracious, thoughtful, considerate, polite people enjoying their life, lets get together and do whatever it takes to make it work.

well u dont know me but thought I would add my 2 cents worth also.We have been married 2 yrs now and I am so happy I cant believe it. My wife is a province girl. She is degreed and smart, religious but not overboard on the god thing. She is from a family that has struggled all her life but her parents are good people. She lived through pinatubo and came out through mud up to her waist ( lahar). She demands very little and always , always wants to be a part of my every day. She is 25 y/o and I am 57 y/o. She knew nothing about sex and intimacy but has been eager to learn all that I want. Sheknew little about cooking, and now makes to best spagetti I ever tasted. She is 1 and a half years from her real desire, to get a degree in nursing also. We have never had an arguement, and parting words are always, I love you.I was married to a manila (city) girl (49 y/o) before that and only lasted a year. Her attitude changed the day after the mariage, what a bitch. All she wanted to do was sleep. The house was dusty unless I cleaned up.( All she wanted was party dresses, shoes( yeah Imelda syndrome), sleep, eat and tv. The reason I went for the province, education route was on the advice of my stepsons ( yeah no father so I got visa's for them too, and they were great) "" if ya want a faithful girl go to the provinces"", their words, not mine. You won't see the real person before the marriage usually, Just hope for the best and that it was really what she is like all the time.

What is the size of the property? Location? Do you have documented < access (right-of-way) if you're not directly connected to a roadway? And what is the price of the house? What do you have connected for utilities? What is/is not available for you? Was the land value determined by the zonal value?

My wife is 35 and I'm 59. I would not be so much concerned about the age difference as I would about your girlfriend's youth -- if that makes sense. Some 19 year olds are still immature teenagers, others quite mature. I have teenage kids myself and the thought of being married to one is pretty scary! Just to be forewarned about what can happen IF things go wrong, you might want to read, ""A Long Way to Go for a Date"" -- the account of the disastrously failed relationship between a 48 year-old Canadian college professor and an 18 year old Filipina beauty queen. It's available on Amazon. I'm not saying that your situation, which I know nothing about, is similar. I was like you -- I agonized over the age difference issue. Was I being fair to her etc. Now that we've been married for six months, it seems a non-issue. All who meet my wife like her instantly. Your old Irish aunts might think you're a pervert but I suspect they'll adore her and take her side whenever possible.

I enter this topic with extreme caution. Every one has an opinion and mine, most certainly, carries no particular weight. As Eric says ""to each his own"" keeps me from telling anyone ""you should"", but I'd like to detail how I Iived comfortably in one house on hot, hot Luzon for six years with two window aircons. had one humongous windows unit in the living/dining area. Rarely turned it on because I hated to close up the house. Had another in one guest bedroom for the unacclimated visitors. I put a ceiling fan in every room and kept every window open 24/7. (Finally got smart enough to close windows when typhoons blew rain sideways.) In retrospect, the house felt cool because it was well designed for the Philippines. 12' ceilings in the 15X24' living/dining area. Two ceiling fans moved enough air to handle the average day. TV room and bedrooms had 9' ceilings. Most importantly, the house had three wings, (a square U) with a courtyard in the center. Air moved through a six sided house with windows on each side. A strong ceiling fan, on high, in 12X12 rooms made me reach for a sweater, Dec--Feb, but less so in April and March, when the doldrums moved in. Still the fans were enough. A water bed also helped. The fan above and unheated water below will make you remember where you stored that sheep's skin. Last January, my wife and I went through Deja Vu when we found ( and quickly rented) a 2,800 sq ft ""square U"", high ceiling, house in Bacolod city. It is still unfurnished and (although we spent a couple of cool/comfortable nights there on air mattresses) we can't give fair witness until sometime after we move in July. Stay tuned. End of ramble. My experience may not help you Jerry (you're already settled), but I may be able to convince some folks that aircon, and the resultant high electricity bills, are not the only way to influence their environment.

To each their own. Some people can tolerate being sweaty all day and some don't. I for one prefer not to be most of the time.

My brother in law lives in Ireland. He tells me it is very common there for older Irish men to marry 15-20 year younger Irish women. The old Irish aunt's should be no problem for you unless they forgot about the home country.

Did you notice the countries oldest University there? Dumaguete is an education center for sure. They have a lot of sports activites with teams from other areas. The park is great there as well. There are Germans there who own a bar and a motel as well. Very nice. I can not remember the name of the place. I fully agree with you it is a great place. Thanks again.

I have asked about the same thing in the past and was informed that it is accepted in the Manila area. I would suggest you check the area you plan on staying for accepting Doctors and Hosptial acceptence. Avoid surprises that way. You could check the Blue Cross website and check under the international coverage for these details I believe.

I dont know about you Jeff but thats my favorite place to go!I dont like big crowds and I love the small communtitysthere is some nice hot sprins and great waterfalls you have to check out on the island as well. Jeff why you going alone?I think its a good idea to bring a friend and take the ferry acrossgood luck and have fun I know you will.

Lexan is very tough stuff. Do N O T use anything but copper!!!!!!!!!!! plastic has a poor heat transfer coefficient. Copper has the fourth best coefficient of all natural elements, and is inexpensive. Sure, you could build something more efficient, but I am thinking of installation costs.

I have a friend who married a younger Filipina. Not only is she, but she also looks younger than she really is. When Keith gets rude comments from people about the age difference, he just replies,"" I don't care for wrinkled women "", end of discussion. When I first met my father-in-law, he remarked that it is odd that I married my wife since most Americans marry younger Filipinas, my wife is 4 years and 1 day younger than I am. After considering his comment, I asked him if I could trade Madel for her youngest sister. He never answered and to this day I still wonder if he thought I was serious.

Sun will eventually ruin Lexan. Paint the tank black, it makes a big difference. I've seen the silver tanks on the roofs there, even in places that have presure water supplies. Can anyone tell me why they have them?

A little older this time than the last time so I see it differently now. I'll give a chit what other people think when they start paying my bills, and age in PI means zero, zip, nothing. If one of the girls is LUCKY enough to catch a steady meal, she won't care if you are 75. Most people don't realize that meals are a meal to meal thing in PI, like we just eaten, but where in the heck is the next one comming from?

I'm watching Dream in a window on my computer while reading this list, and it's worked without failure since installation, 10 months ago. And there's no noisy, annoying cable ads inserted into the broadcast, like on Skycable. Yes, VA will DD in PI bank, and I would like to know about VA care in Manila, especially if they have Ortho clinic. Voc Rehab section in Manila or out of So Ca Reg office?

I heard a rumor, supposedly it was on the news ;, that starting soon all planes comming from foreign countries must land at Clark Airforce Base rather than the international airport. Any truth to this? Thanks.

Hi I am looking for web address or name of dept stores in san fernando to buy household furnisher

I know it is a late response to your message but I live in Davao City in Mindanao./p>

Any users in Mindanao and Zamboanga in particular? Also is there anyone in the Manila area?

I know. When my house was being built I felt like I was having a violent flashback. 8 of the 10 workers (all family ofcourse) wore clothing that I had tossed in a box, here and there, over a 3 year period.

Dagupan is a city in Pangasinan, on Ligayen Gulf and is closer to Manila than both Aparri (one of Luzon''s northernmost towns) and Laoag (Ilocos Norte)... so it's closer to Laoag to answer your question... geography that's on-topic here :)

I visited in Tarlac for three months. I didn't care for cold showers. I took the house's garden hose, connected it between the water line and the shower, and criss-crossed it back and forth on the roof. Got hot water from solar heat.

even if i actually live in sampaloc, I can't directly answer your question (ironic, isn't it?). I can only say you look in Ermita and Malate...it's near Sampaloc already... Sampaloc is mostly residential and also part of RP's university belt... mostly apartments for students on a budget...although Espa ;a Blvd. has been undergoing a facelift..

I have a few questions to ask of those who have already made the move to paradise. I know I will love it there, as I do everytme I visited. But you all have experienced the actual move, so hopefully your information will assist people like me, to have a sucessful transfer over. 1. What is the best thing about living in the Philippines? 2. What was/is the most unexpected thing about the move or living in the Philippines? 3. Knowing what you know now, what would you have done different? 4. Or brought with you? And last? 5. What do you miss the most from your homeland? Thank you

The tank on the roof is for water storage. To be used when the water system is shut down for one reason or another.