Unless you already have a dive shop, why not try Dive Link? I dive with them and they have very new gear, all Italian and well maintained. February is very busy, so if you want me to book you in somewhere, let me know. Sunsplash and Kuan Bar should have their aircon rooms open and there are other places that are very nice and reasonable too. The kids can swim safely, as well as play with other kids, roam the island on foot or hubble hubble motor bike taxi's, comb the low tide mark for shells and so on. If you need a Yaya then we can easily find one for you for P100 or so. Kuan Bar has a swimming pool and is the unofficial British Embassy and Sunsplash owner Mathias has kids about the same age. You can also hop over to Bogo for shopping and so on. 3 or 4 days is enough unless you really want to unwind. If you need help getting there or want to hire a car, again I can give you some numbers or simply do a deal with a cab for about P2000 to Maya. Any list members who are interested in Malapascua and need help, let me know. We formed the Malapascua Business Association yesterday and are getting serious about promoting and looking after visitors (See separate news release) Cheers, It does not look like the dive trip to the Sprattley Islands is coming off. We will be coming up to Malapascua for a week during February regardless and hope to do some diving up at your neck of the woods. Is there much for Neng and the daughters to do whilst I am blowing bubbles? The girls are 4 and 7 years old.

you must live a pretty flash kinda life. US$50K not go far? Even in Makati it is a nice little earner, say P250K a month or so, not bad! I wouldn't complain. As an ""ex-pat"" you would indeed get a housing/education package, probably car and driver and maids and so on, and better money, depends on the job and the company. As for the daily kidnapping, it has died down to twice weekly I believe. I would rather live here than in the US, and I love visiting the US but it is much safer here. If I had to live in Manila I would want that kinda dough, too. I would probably get a place in Ortigas or Bel Air rather than Makati, or down in Alabang and let the driver worry about the traffic. Peter, I suppose like anything it is what you are used to. I am living comfortably on P25000 a month and would spend more if I had it. Life can get expensive here if you try and replicate everything so it is just like back home. But then why come? As for the kids, well mine live here (one does and one on the way), so do several million more. Of course there are exclusive international schools and so on you can cloister them in and they get to meet lots of kids from the same background, but very few Filipino's. Be grateful you have worked yourself into a position where you will enjoy the benefits of an ex-pat job. Take every opportunity to fully experience living outside of the US and don't worry about the money, you are not going to go hungry. Cheers, Perry, living in Bogo, the Sugar Cane Truck Capital of the World. PS Maybe I can send the Anonymous Bear up to stay with you for a while, he's eating me out of house and home!

I'm not sure I would want to take 2 young children to the philippines especially since it seems you are unaware of the pitfalls , kidnapping is a daily occurence for people who are perceived as well to do , Makati City is very upscale ... a nice 4 bedroom apartment will cost you 1000 a month maybe with an indoor pool, a maid will cost you 30 a month or so, a driver about 60-80 a month if you supply the wheels. Food and transportation are very cheap for the most part, pollution is terrible smog etc.. A nice restaraunt in Makati it will cost you only 30-40 bucks for 4 people. You can buy a nice 4 bedroom apartment for about 80 - 120k with maintenence at about 250 per month ... 50 Grand won't go far unless you are ""mr frugal"", twice that would work nicely ...however in the provinces it is twice what you need... I would definitely consider a walled community with security or a condo in Makati. The philippines are a great place ...enjoy...seriously.... but not as cheap as some might thing...

Gaisano put out a Farmers Loaf for P15 and it is real bread, not that cake like sugar stuff! If you can only get the local product, then try toasting it, it will disguise the taste. Or if you are making US$50K or more, get your company to include a baker along with the maid and driver. Where do you live? I get my bread from French Baker and at least it is not sweet. They have dark brown whole wheat (the round type) that is also Ok for my taste.

I would like to know where I can get a decent apartment in makati for 1 million pesos."" ""I would like to know where I can get 1 million peso's"" Its all about perception, right? As for the real answer, contact the banks and ask for repossessed mortgages. All the major banks have numerous properties they have called in the mortgages on, plus cheap cars. Some will be advertised, but the best buys are sold quickly. I have a friend with BPI who lets me know when bargains crop up. At the moment there is a plethora of places in Manila, mostly condo;s sold off the plan. As they say you pay for what you get. Having a driver from the provinces is very useful in Manila, especially for somebody who is going for the first time! What I have quoted is the going rate after checking with many people, it is not about being frugal its about giving people a decent wage and what their worth, I have no problems paying a maid 3000 pesos less than $60 a month, she deserves it. Any reasonable maid/driver will soon realise they are underpaid and if good will find a job somewhere else. In Hong Kong I used to pay more than the minimum and was quite happy to do so, the minimum, is about $475. The difference meant much more to her as it did to me. I would like to know where I can get a decent apartment in makati for 1 million pesos.

Funny, I was at Malapascua last Xmas also and never saw a turd! A lot of the garbage on the beach is actually organic matter like leaves and coconut husks, palm fronds etc. However if it has been heavily raining there will be some runoff at the next low tide. The noisy disco has been sorted out by the Baranguay and only operates friday and saturday night and at a much lower volume. In fact they are putting live bands on which is even better. The karaoke is a local bar and the locals love their karaoke, however they don't seem able to tune them to anything other than loud with too much bass. Again the Baranguay have sorted a few of them out. Recent efforts have proven successful in involving the local community in better garbage control, away from the tourist areas they still litter with gay abandon. There is an ongoing contest with each Barrio competing for the cleanest and greenest award, so far I think Logon is winning. However, they need a removal service. They can sell the garbage to recyclers but getting it off the island is a major expense, more than it is worth at present. Keep in mind that every visitor adds to the amount of refuse the island has to cope with, hence major efforts being made to rectify this so they don't suffer the same fate as Boracay did a few years back. As for Lonely Planet, I went off them years ago. Their Philippine guide is inaccurate and biased, just like their Thailand one. They deride Angeles, Pattaya and Patpong as dens of disgust for example, yet devote pages to the Gay scene in Manila and Bangkok. Since they both sell the same thing just packaged differently I can't understand why. As the Philippines isn't a major hippy, sorry ""traveller"" destination they are always two years out of date by the time the book appears in the shops. Try Bohol or even Camotes for something different, or make the trek out to Siargao. Better yet, learn to dive! Cheers, Perry. We are not divers, nor particularly into hanging out at bars. What does Bantayan have to offer in terms of natural setting, fairly peaceful and beautiful surroundings, a resort with class and attentiveness? We went to Malapasqua last Christmastime and were very disappointed -feces and garbage on the beach and in the water, a noisy disco at one end and a noisy karaoke at the other. We are going back to Siquijor at this time but would also like to try another area, like Bantayan. I no longer trust Lonely Planet guide as they mislead totally about Malapasqua. They are also off about other places. They say Subic has nice beaches!

I don't mind the ladle and flush at all, but I think we could afford to go ""upscale"" to flush toilets and hot water showers. I hesitate to mention money matters...because I prefer to live below our means and I prefer to live closer to the norms of a place. I've worked in Ecuador leading natural history tours in the Amazon and Galapagos...lived out of my old Land Cruiser in Colorado doing hydrogeology field work for graduate school. Mady and I demand or expect very little and have few material possessions. But having said this, our retirement income will be sufficient for a comfortable middle class lifestyle here in the USA...the point being we should have a certain amount of freedom when it comes to choosing where we will live. I'd rather live such that observers think we are less well off than we are.

It's been my experience that over-analyzing things long in advance of the event may be a sure sign that the event will not occur. Deciding the type of toilet facilities one will have several years hence does not take into account any of the following things which may render even owning the toilet a remote possibility: poor health, divorce, reduction of retirement income, more advantageous retirement locations in the US or Europe, etc. You can't make specific plans about where and how you will live 8000 miles away 6 years in advance of the retirement. I work with people who have been planning to build houses on lots they own in Oregon 10 years before they will start building. In the interim 10 years, they need money and sell the lots or get divorced. On the other hand, the first step towards achieving a goal is to set a goal (but not necessarily the style of toilet).

Someone has finally made a real comparison: rent for $500 in rural Virginia vs $500 in Cebu What is the difference? 1. local labor (maid, handyman, driver) are a little cheaper in Cebu 2. raw food costs about the same, but quality will vary. Beef will not be as good or safe. Some vegetables won't be available as frequently or at all. 3. In Virginia you will be a target for serial killers. In Cebu you will be a target for poor folks wanting assistance. 4. lots of pretty southern gals in Virginia. lots of pretty (and available) exotic Asian gals in Cebu. 5. beer and cigarettes (I quit smoking 6 months ago) are A LOT cheaper in Cebu. 6. Your wife cannot take unwanted purchases back to the stores for refunds in Cebu.

Having just come back from Cebu, I'm going through food withdrawls. I REALLY miss the food! My personnal favorite is the lechon manok (barbequed chicken) from the various street vendors. My favorite place to eat is at a delapidated outside eatery which is in an alley on Osmenia Blvd. The place doesn't have running water, no napkins, no eating utensils and uses scraps of linoleum on top of makeshift tables that never get cleaned. But, damn that chicken is good! Although I'm not religious, I pray for forgiveness from the botulism gods before eating there. :) My other favorite is dinuguan and rice, which again, I find to be best prepared by the streetside eateries although several of the food courts around Cebu do a pretty good job. Now I'm off to the fridge, too!

The tropical sun has done in some friends of mine. They were over 70, fair skined and tan freaks when they were young. Had it not been for skin cancer, they would probably still be around. I do not have a financial interest in the company below. And I do not use their products. I use zinc oxide instead, a brand made locally, the cheapest, by United Labs. But some are alergic to zinc oxide. From what I read, zinc oxide is better than the expensive stuff I have bought here and in the States and even the stuff they are selling that also contains green tea. I eat two bags of green tea every day, like drinking 10 glasses, but a lot easier. I don't like green tea, but it is easy to swallow with water and I do believe in its health benefits, well documented. It is also a good idea to also wear a hat here, a local straw with brim is probably best. The ones with bills, like baseball caps are better than nothing, but not nearly as effective, I understand. Some local straws are very nice and inexpensive. A hat, I often wear, will get you more smiles from the Filipinos, especially if you have a wild band. The foreigners will kid you. But it will not only help protect you from skin cancer, maybe, but will protect your head from Filipino structures that are at about 5'11"", important if you are over that height. A full brimmed straw can be a life saver in more ways than one. Some good information from my OCR not without errors, because of my bad editing, below: SUNLIGHT is considered as of the essential elements for a healthy life. It can also Cause plenty of skin troubles. Careless exposure to sunlight cause about 90 percent of premature skin aging, age spots spider veins and sagging skin. Over time, high doses of sunlight can raise your risk of skin cancer. Your skin, designed to be shield for your body, needs protection for itself against the sun. Unfortu­nately, many are misinformed about the truths about sun protection. Most people would use sunblock only when they go to the beach. The truth is, you need to wear sunblock everyday, whether you arc out in the un or under the shade. whether it's sunny or cloudy. Many still think that the higher the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of a product is, the better sun protection they will get. They better think again. ***My last reading of this, when I was in the cosmetics business, was there were no standards and if there were they could not be enforced for the SPF ratings. So the ratings have little value. *** (My, me Don, italics.) It is necessary that we understand what we ex­actly we want to be pro­tected froth. The invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun is the culprit. It is categorized into three: UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. There is at easy way to remember the kind of damage the UV rays inflict. The A rays cause ageing, the 3 rays are responsible for burning, and the C rays, Cancer. Most of the UV rays that reach the earth is UVA. And it causes the most damage. You do not see the effect at once but unfortunately, it accumulates over tissue. After age 30. tell tale signs of skin ageing begin to show. Since it has the longest wave length, UVA rays penetrate the deepest, through clouds, shades, even indoors. That is why it is important that we ap­ply sunblock everyday. The problem is most sunblock a chemical sunscreens, which provide only limited protection against UVA rays, and most none against UVC rays. Worse, the chemicals break down rapidly in the still, thus they required frequent application. The SPF rating refers only to UVB protection. A higher SPF rating therefore does not guarantee protec­tion against the more harmful UVA rays. An SPF rating of 15 is sufficient for daily use, and you have to look for zinc oxide on the label to ensure that the products shields against UVA to UVC rays as well. Zinc oxide is the only Sunscreen, ingredient that protects against the ntire UV range, from UVA to UVC. It is non -photo-re­active, meaning it maintains its effectiveness for a long period of time even with still exposure. Godiva, which uses only the best available ingredients in ht's products offers a daily use sunblock creams with tint oxide in an ultrafine front called sunblock. lt gives a matter, transparent finish .You will look like you are not wearing anything unlike the other greasy sunscreens in the market. Its especially suited for application on the face, neck, and other exposed body parts. Godiva calls its unblock cream ""Green Tea'' because it also con­tains a super anti oxidant from green tea extract. Anti oxidants are needed to neutralize free radicals and repair sun damaged skin cells. The super-anti oxidant in green tea is called EGCG. Ill a recent re­search day Dr. Lester Mitccher of University of Kansas, EGCG was found to be 100 times more effective than Vitamin C and 25 times bet­ter than Vitamin E at protecting cells. Godiva skin care avail­able at leading health and beauty stores, drugstores, and supermarket

Speaking as someone who recently retired from Dhahran, I think that Steve and this website are doing a great service in spreading the word about Mar's prediciment. From personal experience, I can tell you that Mar's situation is not unusual, and in fact is better than many. Myself, and my wife (who is from Cebu City) have observed the following, on a regular basis: 1) Filipino taxi drivers being recruited in PI, and arriving in Kingdom and being forced to sign a new contract, written only in Arabic, and then finding their salary has been reduced by half, their contract time period doubled, and that they have no recourse 2) Filipino maids being held (even locked in their room at night) without any outside contact, for years at a time 3) Filipino maids finally escaping, running into the street (I know of two such events myself) with clothes torn, after the men of the house tried to rape them 4) Filipino maids being cursed on a regular basis by young boys of about age eight, who they have raised from infancy the problems go on and on (women held in prison will have a much worse experience than Mar is .....), and anyone who is considering a job in KSA should know of these. personally, I also place some of the blame on the recruiters in the PI as these guys must know very well what is happening, yet they continue to send people over............finally, for those who may not be aware of the economics, it's not simply a 'lure for big money' that causes these folks to go to KSA, but rather the possibility of having any job at all. sad to say, many of the unlucky people we knew there had been to college, and were sometimes even college graduates. they simply could not get a job in the PI. on the positive side, and I really don't mean to get into politics here, we did feel the new Philippine Ambassador was being much more aggressive than his predecessor, in investigating and helping those who have been caught in the web. If anyone knows of someone considering a job in KSA, please advise them to take these considerations into account.

We will be up for 5 nights. Probably 2nd or 3rd week of Feb. Thanks for the offer of booking accommodation. It sounds good for us. I will mail you direct in the next couple of days about room rates. Sunspash? Is that anything to do with Sunsplash at Small Lalaguna, Puerto Galera ? The England Cricket Team are looking for some new players. Do you have anyone there who can play cricket there is obviously none in the UK! LOL I would like to dive Monad of course but also Calangaman, Capitancillo Island, Ormoc and Nunez Shoal if I get the chance as it just about half way between our beach lot on Camotes (approx 124.18 East 10.42 North) and Malapascua. . If the Anonymous Bear is available for a dive perhaps we can get a chance to dive with him? I have an unnamed shallow on my chart at approx 124.15 East and 11.16.30 North . Do you know anything about it Perry? Perhaps a new dive site? Congratulations on forming the Malapascua Business Association. It is great to hear that you are becoming so organised. All you need now is to persuade ""Ocean Jet"" or ""SuperCat"" to include Malapascua as one of its destinations! Think how easy that would make travelling?

It would be good to know which way the rate is going. It seems the trend is down (more peso per GBP) over the last ten years. I do not think it is going to be get any better in the short either. Do you have a crystal ball Terry? I need to borrow it to have a look at the Tech Stox for next year! LOL Becareful playing the numbers Terry Yes, Steve. That by low sell high always works. But I don't have a crystal ball either, damn it. Maybe Terry will share his with poor souls like us who are handicapped by inability to predict the future. Steve, that is the first time you ever forgot to change the title to a digest post, I believe, very much out of character for you. And the other members have been very good with the title reflecting the subject lately too. Thank you, friends! A title that reflects the substance of the post is very helpful to many.

Will those of you with firsthand experience educate me with the ""pitfalls"" (potential or otherwise)of vehicle ownership in Cebu. *Other than the traffic and fellow drivers*. For example, when I lived in Honduras (Central America)I resided in a mining camp in the mountains with an Army detachment for security (because we stored explosives on-site) and my vehicle was secure there. However, in most other areas vehicle theft was/is rampant. For trips outside our camp, I had both a passive and an active alarm system, a ""club"" for the steering wheel, and would usually hire a local to watch it if I could not park it in a secure area. In spite of similar precautions many people I know had their vehicles stolen while I was there. Is vehicle theft a problem in Cebu? How about vehicle insurance? Is it readily available and reasonable? Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

While I haven't lived in Cebu (soon to be) I have purchased, owned and driven vehicles there. I can tell you from experience, second hand vehicles are mostly junk and not worth the money. The new ones are ok but pricey. The best bang for the buck I've found are the Suzuki multicab pick up trucks. You can buy a fully reconditioned Suzuki for about $2000US. They are sturdy, reliable and require little maintenance. They are also easy to manuvere and park in Cebu and at 6'/200lbs, I can drive them with a reasonable amount of comfort. With the exception of the battery location, theres not much to steal on them. My good friend Manuel Arcena @ Pasajero Motors (in Cebu) will take good car of you if you want to purchase one. They will also build the cost of insurance into the purchase price which is pretty cheap. There are three engine combinations available, a 550cc, a supercharged 550cc and a 660cc engine. The 550cc is really efficient but is a little short on power. The supercharged engine is cool but should be avoided because of reliability issues. The 660cc is the best engine with decent power. The best model year for the Multicabs are the early 90's models. They can be identified by the round headlights. Or you can check the seat belts where the mfgr date is stamped. There are other outfits that recondition the Suzukis for a little cheaper but Pasajero has the best. I've been to their plant in Talisay and they have skilled workers who are tooled correctly which shows in the finsished product. If you decide to buy one, make sure you get a 4x4. These vehicles are so light in the back, the 2wd's easily get stuck just climbing a slight incline like a driveway.

a lot of the garbage is in fact brought to the island by visitors, mostly Filipino. They turn up with a dozen in the group carrying everything they need in food and drink and leave all the packaging behind where they throw it. They board the boat for home considerably lighter. The onus of cleaning up their mess is left to the resort owners who have not made a cracker from them as many sleep on the beach out front of their resorts. This Filipino phenomenom for littering really gets me going. They shower two or three times a day, keep their homes immaculate and their clothes clean yet as soon as they step outside they spit and litter like it was a national pastime. When you mention it they look at you dumbfounded with no comprehension of having done anything wrong. Before the advent of plastic everything, most food items were transported in natural packaging like banana leaves, all bio degradable. Once they had eaten a mango or banana there was no problem simply throwing it out of the window. The trouble is that habit is no longer viable given the prolification of plastic in the country. I try to refuse a plastic bag wherever I can and dispose of everything properly. But the Filipino does not. Add to this the deplorable and disgusting habit of spitting and it is no wonder TB is still a worry here. I was at the meat market today and watched in horror as the woman behind the counter hawked and spat on the floor next to the meat. Of course I have seen it on a daily basis here but I never lose my revulsion at this act. The problem is exacerbated on Malapascua as it is a small island. We are currently trying to develop a garbage collection business for a local to operate but lazyness is getting in the way. Meanwhile our clean up initiatives are going well but constant reminders are the order of the day. What do I do to help? I try to work with my personal Filipino's, family and friends. At the moment they are aware I abhor their habit and try to avoid littering when around me. It is a start and something I encourage all members to look at with their own families.

Appreciate the reply. I was there this weekend and it was beautiful, so clear you could see Leyte, Samar, Maripipi and beyond. However, even the best places and resorts have their off days. I had a meal at a place I reccommend last night that was not the best. It happens. At least the owner was apologetic and did his best to make up for it. The Baranguay are very particular about sepic tanks and human waste disposal. I hope the loan UFO you encountered was just that, it is unpleasent and it does frame one's opinion of a place in no uncertain terms! Perry, thanks for your comments and acknowledging that there has been those problems I mentioned (as for the feces, they were unmistakeable, and in several spots at the farther end of the beach towards the last resort). At the same time, I'm glad to hear that there has been efforts to eliminate the problems and get everyone involved. I wish you all success and so that everyone can enjoy thier visit to the island

I plan to move to the Philippines by January. I am still planning on what business to engage in with a capital of say $20,000.00. A friend told me about possible ""franchise"" of an ISP business worth $8,000.00. And he said he can find a business partner to share in the business on a 50% basis meaning I will put up $4,000.00. As a Franchise, you will be on top of two major business operations in my assigned area. (I have the option to select my area of operation provided it is not covered yet and because Metro Manila area is big, I can choose a city in Metro Manila. Quezon City and Pasig City area are still available open but I have to decide quick because these are good areas and somebody else may get the frachise for those areas.

Do you know anything about Quezon City an Pasig City. These are very large cities, Quezon a massive one extending far into the countryside, with room for many Internet Cafes. There are already thousands, mostly game parlors. Peter, moving quickly in a business deal is not a good idea anywhere. Here is often leads to disaster. You as a foreigner can only own 40 percent of a business. Be careful who your friends and business partners are. I can't speak for Manila, but the Internet Cafe business here in Cebu is only profitable if you do games by a school and that is not legal. Texting has taken over Internet for personal communication, locally. Those who do computers games by school schools do well. They pay bribes to authorities, but make money unless or until they are busted. I wouldn't touch it, personally. With an unknown partner and 40 percent, I would run from it.

IN the previous column, we focused on what kind of working and immigrant visas a nurse could be sponsored into the United States, as well as the legal basis for the sponsorship for Filipino nurses. This is the continuation of the guide, which we hope will enable our ""kababayan"" (countrymen) to check out the fine print. How long do I have to work for the sponsoring employer? The length of time stated in your contract (employment agreement, sponsorship agreement, placement agreement, or whatever they call it) is not set by law. It depends on the sponsor/employer and the type of visa petition being filed.

Slow down buddy, you're scaring me! Listen to what Don says, he is correct. The metro areas of the Philippines are flooded with internet cafe's. You might have a chance if you did it in a remote province with less competition, but you will get eaten alive in Metro Manila. Only my opinion.

The law can easily be found by some quick internet searches, but why bother to do the guy's homework for him. Anyone who doesn't listen to advice and sets up shop doing that kind of business (introductions and facilitating, etc.) while living in the RP probably deserves any subsequent legal action for just plain stupidity. There was a time, a few years back, before internet commerce, when relatively clever folks could make some good money by not being too conspicuous and making their clients happy. The political climate, too much competition and bad media coverage, however, has made the success of that kind of business a thing of the past. However, if he wants to move to Moscow, introduction services are wide open there, but he better watch out for local competition.

My philosophy time. If you are not interested in a ramble, delete now. You will get a lot of answers to this, a good question, in my opinion, with a lot of good answers. Books can be written one this. Maybe some have and many have components of the answers, Death of a Salesman, and such. ""Work,"" Studs Terkel, is a documentary on work, series of interviews with ""workers."" Most of fiction revolves around status and money, product of works. Sexual attractive of men is measured most often by women by the status they have achieved, statues conferred on them by success in making money working. Money is sexy, but power gained from work means more than money. You can get money with status, but not necessarily status with money. Some people need a job or business to survive. That is reasonable. But the price of survival is very low, if you material needs, self imposed, are not too great. Do you really need that BMW and new nine bedroom house for your two children, you and your wife? Some people do. Personally, I feel an Archie Bunker episode summed it all up. Archie's buddy got laid off from his job at the factory. Archie laughed at him, and Archie kidded him of course. Then when it looked if his buddy was to be reemployed, Archie said, ""Wow, now you can get your job back and be a *person,* again."" I have set around with many retirees, talking about business ideas. They usually want to go into business, though they have more than sufficient income. They need the status, I feel, a lot more than the money. They need recognition, a purpose, and helping others does not occur to them, even thought is the best thing going. It is not a cultural norm in the west except for the very rich who have massive incomes and work too, usually. Many people in western countries *are* their jobs or businesses. The more successful they are in them the more the are so. They can't feature themselves being ""barnacles,"" simply eating off the bottom and slowing down the ship, even if it is not going anywhere. And not making money, which has become a measure of personal worth, makes them feel impotent. They feel they have to work to demonstrate value. I talked to a guy in a bar in Angeles once, drunk in the morning, both of up. His friend said to show him respect because formerly he was the leader of the ""teamsters,"" or some such in Australia. I thought to myself, ""So what. Now he is just a drunk in a bar, just like me."" Some cannot forget the past and deal with the future. I talk to many retirees here. One retired US Army general I talked with said ""Life is over for me. I am just waiting to die. I had my day in the sun. I will never be a general again."" One day you are ""Director of Management,"" or ""Chief of Data Processing Operations,"" ""Western Regional Sales Manager,"" or what ever title, regional or international they bestow on you. (When I was with the Department of Agriculture, one of my friends had the title, Head Swine. The USDA had a Swine Division. ) And the day after retirement you are just you. The title evaporates. You can bask in the former glory for a while, but it grows cold quickly. It may be best to put the past behind and see every day is a new beginning. If not, maybe you too, will just be waiting to die. Some of the eastern religions suggest you have value if you sit and do nothing, value as a being. This is hard to accept for westerners. Personally, I buy it though have a hard time subscribing to it sometimes, too. The Internet and the libraries are full of books on how to make money for retirement. But on how to enjoy retirement, there are few resources. And most of it has to come from within. If your work is the only thing that makes you happy today, you are in real trouble when it comes to retirement. Better to see work as a necessary evil, especially towards retirement, and have plans that are realistic and enjoyable. Some have never known anything but work, They feel guilty doing anything else. They must continue to accomplish. And they know they cannot be employees here, so feel they are going to have to go into business to keep occupied or be a person. It is hard to succeed in business in any country. And if you have never done business before, successfully, you face a gargantuan task, especially in a different culture. Some can handle it, emotionally and intellectually. Most can't. Many want bars here, just so they can have a place they can drink, be king and not get thrown out. They don't really care about making money, just the booze and maybe the girls and a little admiration from the guys. And you can run a vanity business pretty cheap, so you don't pay too much for your strokes. Some try to help the local economy. But that is more overstated than fact, from my observations. Most are interested only in themselves and their families, not that there is anything wrong with that. Relaxing is a fine art. I have been on the Net enough for a while this morning between visitors and exercise, looking at designs of recumbent bike and the newer stunt kites. That is relaxing to me. But now I am really going to relax, by taking a nap, something I could not do if I were in business here. Then off to the mall for some browsing.

If I may also add something from personal knowledge and research, even though I am not living (yet) in the Philippines. The ISP and Internet Cafe area of business is _very_ well covered, especially in Metro Manila. It seems every week or so there's someone coming on board here who broaches an idea that is similar in some way to: ""I know something about the internet, so I'm going to use my technical skills to make a business work."" You need to understand that the Philippines, especially in the big cites is _very_ technically savvy. If you'll check listing avaliable online, there are thousands of companies providing services. Because of the general economy and the amount of competition, prices for service (and thus potential profit margins) are razor thin. The telco industry is not not as competitive and de-regulated as in the US, either. Things that make perfectly good sense technically may wind up 'disapproved' by the telephone company, and thus, in effect, by the governement. Just getting phone lines, let alone DSL or dedicated data lines can take months or longer, thus your potential business may have everything it needs, but wither on the vine waiting for connectivity. The Philippines uses texting for example to do many business tasks (security alarm monitoring, vehicle tracking and location reporting, etc.) via SMS (text) that are only beginning to come into their own the internet in the US. There is a certified computer technical school on every other street corner and more MSCE's and other network-certified people per capita than in any US city you cna imagine, except, perhaps, Mountain View California. If you have superior business skils and management capabilites, you may well have a fighting chance, but if you aren't already running a business successfully in the US, it will be much more difficult, not easier, to successfully start an internet business in the Philippines.

My feeling has always been that one should have real business experience in his own country before considering starting something (on the advice of others who are not successful) in the RP. I share your curiosity and wonder at these questions we are hearing from guys about startups of business types in the RP that are already overworked. For someone to be prepared to drop $5,000-$20,000 on a cybercafe or a money-lending business is the height of innocence and a darn good way to lose that money real fast. The ever-reappearing theme of ""cybercafes in the RP"" reminds me of the appeal of video stores as startup businesses in the US about 15 years ago. How many people do we know who made a killing (or even a good return on their investment) with straight video rentals?

I'm going to add my ""two cents"" here because I believe this thread has opened an issue that merits further discussion. Similar to many others on this list, I too contemplate retirement in the Philippines. For me, retirement is about 5 years in the future, but still close enough to start seriously thinking about. My wife is a Filipina, born in the PI, so retirement in the Philippines is an obvious option. The cost of living is certainly attractive and I view being near relatives as a plus. However, one concern I haven't fully addressed is how would I spend my time? As Don suggests, for some, operating a business may be necessary to retain a sense of ""self"", but for me operating a business would be more along the lines of a hobby or ""something to do."" One of the items of ""baggage"" that most of us carry from our Western culture is the fast-paced nature of our lives. Most of us are always working on a ""to do"" list, whether it be at work, or at home. Slowing down can be a real CHALLENGE. I believe it takes time to learn how to slow down again. The way I look at it, a ""hobby business"" might just provide the transition I need from the faster- paced life I am now accustomed to, to the slower-paced life that the PI affords. Without a business, or some venture to absorb my mind (and time), I fear that I might quickly become bored. I can only do so much strolling through the malls and such. My goal, given time, would be to adjust to the slower pace of the PI. But, in the interim, I believe having a pre-planned ""something to do"" is a prudent course of action for anyone transitioning from a faster-paced life style. It certainly appears that Don H. and others have made that transition successfully, but not everyone adapts to a slower pace gracefully or quickly. As Don H. acknowledges, ""relaxing is a fine are"". As with any ""fine art"" skill requires some effort. Any thoughts?

Others may have different viewpoint, but I will give mine. Living in the Philippines is cheaper than many other parts of the world but one still neads some money for food, drink etc. You also need somewhere to live, either rented or bought, assuming one is not 'roughing it'. So there are Electricity, Gas, Water, Telephone bills to pay as well. When I first came to Cebu to live, I was on a 'retainer' of US$3,000 per month. This money stopped on 1st April this year. At least the house I live in is now fully paid so dont have to worry about Rent money. I am too young to retire yet and receive income from my UK Private Pension Funds, and a long way off UK State Pension. So if I want to stay here I have to find some income. Finding a suitable job is proving difficult and extremely slow. My experience is Voice & Data communications - Telecomms. This industry is in big recession at the moment, the Philippines is no exception. I do want to stay in the Philippines (preferably Cebu) and do have my 13A Visa now. So my goal is to find a business, with my wife, that can cover the bills and the cost of living. I calculate all I need is US$200 to US$300 for this (since we now own the house outright). I have many ideas for business and dont really know if they will work out. I have therefore decided to pursue the one with the best chance of succeeding. This is my Summary for Success:- i) One that you have some experience with/in. ii) Proven Market exists for product/service. iii) Business Plan shows it will be profitable at marketable price. iv) Sustainable Growth. I have therefore decided to push ahead with my 'British Bangers - National Competition award winning, Premium Pork Sausages'. I used to help my Dad make these award winning sausages in his own Butchers Shop in the UK. I have already produced test batches of the sausage here in Cebu, to his secret recipe but using local Pork and imported other ingredients. Have 'customers' waiting for production to start. No real competion - closest alternative is Europa Delicattesen, but their product is Php423/Kilo in the Supermarkets. I hope to be able to sell superior product for under Php250/Kilo! Just awaiting final quotes from suppliers (and new batch of seasoning to see if closer to my Dad's original recipe). Being Food product, one can get repeat orders - sustainable market. The meat supplier I am expecting to buy wholesale from, wants to purchase finished Premium British Pork Sausage and sell in his Meat Shops throughout the RP. So Chris I hope this helps answer your question. I for one am being realistic. It is difficult finding a profitable sustainable (legal) business. If it was easy, many would already be doing it. One must set reasonable, aims that are relatively easy to attain, since one is more likely to succeed then. I also intend to have achieved regular, increasing income, before investing in more commercial equiment, bigger premises etc. I want to enjoy the Philippines and my life and wife here and I want to do that whilst I am relatively young. I certainly do not want to wait until I am 65 years old (UK Retirement Age). The alternative (subject to finding the right job) is to go back to the UK (where I dont need any Work Permit) and build up some more savings before retiring to the Philippines. Ideally one should only consider 'LinP' with enough income to 'survive' at a level you will be happy with. Any business should ideally be 'icing on the cake' for lifes luxuries like new clothes, holidays, 'presents' for relatives, etc.

I agree with your post below, except for a couple of things: 1. Being married to a Filipina does not automatically mean that retirement in the Philippines is an obvious option. Many Filipnas immigrate to the US (and other countries) because they want something different. A lot of guys married to these ladies think that returning to the RP to retire with their ladies will give them an edge, but they haven't talked much about these plans with their wives. As an example, those wives who have children in the US are not quite as eager to take these children back to the RP to go to school and live their lives in the RP. The children are now Americans. 2. If you want to keep busy with something, even running a cybercafe might be a good idea, but just don't expect to make a living at it. I'll raise a San Miguel to your banger plans. Your feet are planted firmly on the ground and your ideas are sound. Granted, as with most things in life, there are no guarantees, but your plan is unique, and you are ""bringing something different to the table.""

I have therefore decided to push ahead with my 'British Bangers - National Competition award winning, Premium Pork Sausages'. I used to help my Dad make these award winning sausages in his own Butchers Shop in the UK. I have already produced test batches of the sausage here in Cebu, to his secret recipe but using local Pork and imported other ingredients. Have 'customers' waiting for production to start. No real competion - closest alternative is Europa Delicattesen, but their product is Php423/Kilo in the Supermarkets. I hope to be able to sell superior product for under Php250/Kilo! Just awaiting final quotes from suppliers (and new batch of seasoning to see if closer to my Dad's original recipe). Being Food product, one can get repeat orders - sustainable market. The meat supplier I am expecting to buy wholesale from, wants to purchase finished Premium British Pork Sausage and sell in his Meat Shops throughout the RP. So Chris I hope this helps answer your question. I for one am being realistic. It is difficult finding a profitable sustainable (legal) business. If it was easy, many would already be doing it. One must set reasonable, aims that are relatively easy to attain, since one is more likely to succeed then. I also intend to have achieved regular, increasing income, before investing in more commercial equiment, bigger premises etc. I want to enjoy the Philippines and my life and wife here and I want to do that whilst I am relatively young. I certainly do not want to wait until I am 65 years old (UK Retirement Age). The alternative (subject to finding the right job) is to go back to the UK (where I dont need any Work Permit) and build up some more savings before retiring to the Philippines. Ideally one should only consider 'LinP' with enough income to 'survive' at a level you will be happy with. Any business should ideally be 'icing on the cake' for lifes luxuries like new clothes, holidays, 'presents' for relatives, etc.

The need for your own vehicle really depends on where you live. If for example here in Cebu, if living within the City limits, there is little need for your own car since Taxis are readily available day or night and relatively cheap. Where I have chosen to live (because cost of house & lot is cheaper) in Talisay some 12Km from Cebu City centre, the need for my own vehicle becomes more important. Taxis are few and far between in the Subdivision and whilst Motorcycle 'Trike' are readily available they are not allways practical. I would never buy a new vehicle since the cost is high and depreciate rapidly. I decided on Toyota Tamaraw FX Diesel since it is assembled in the Philippines = lower price new, very popular = ubundant spares. The price new is still more than Php700K which is more than we paid for our House and Lot. Diesel fuel is cheaper than Gasoline and deisel engines have a reputation for lasting much much longer if properly maintained. I bought a 6 year old Tamaraw FX model that had been previously owned by a foreigner. It had alloy wheels, tinted windows and Dual Aircon installed along with Pioneer stereo system. I finally paid Php230K but should have gone lower because of the slight oil leak from the engine. I do not advise buying a car much more than 5 years old? Why - because spares are not carried by main dealer on cars older than 10 years (which limits how many hassle free years you can expect). Also one can not get 'Comprehensive' insurance for vehicles older than 10 years - not even 'Fire & Theft' coverage. Shop around for insurance - I found some on the Internet Crowe Insurance - First Direct. They gave me comprehensive cover for just over Php5,000. It also includes free Windscreen repair and Recovery Service. This was under half the amount using an Insurance Company that my wife's cousin, who works for RDAK, has contact with! I personally would never touch these 'Multicab' type vehicles. They are 'surplus' from Japan and you only get what you pay for. Sure they look good value when you see 4WD and aircon for Php200K or something. Just speak to people who have owned such vehicles for more than 2 years to find out what their true value is. My asawa bought one from RDAK (her cousin) and ran it as Jeepney business - breakdowns, repairs and 'accident' payouts (and unscupulous drivers no doubt) made sure this was a money loss business. If these Multicabs have aircon, it wont work well, or will give low vehicle performance and/or engine overheating. They often break down and spare parts (new) not readily available - have to import from Japan. The steel used on the bodywork is very thin which means they rust through very quickly unless one pays for underseal treatment and maintains well. Resale value is correspondingly low. LinP member Mike Rossiter bought a Suzuki pick up with aircon for Php120K. I believe and sold it when he left 15 months later for Php75k I think (or 38% depreciation!). My Tamaraw FX has been very reliable with one exception - the alternator failed. This was expensive to repair with new rotor and brushes(Php12k). The aircon also failed once but this did not stop the car working. I could probably sell it for about Php190K which is less than 20% depreciation over 20 months (ignoring the alternator repair cost). Another good reason for not buying new, but low mileage 2nd hand, is the bad driving! No matter how defensively one drives, there almost inevitably is going to be a prang at some point! Even if not your fault, getting real money from the other driver is going to be difficult. They probably wont have 'real' insurance, only that required by 'law' which only pays out if they maim or kill you! My insurance requires I pay the first Php2k of any claim. A DIY approach to repairs can get the work done much cheaper and quicker. For example when a Trike 'rammed me' from a side road pulling out blind from wrong side of a side road, the damage to his 'girder' fender mounted 'tank like' attachment was nothing. It made a nice mess to my nearside front wing and Indicator/Side Light lens assembly. Quotes from Insurance afflilated garages ranged from Php4K to Php5K. I unbolted the broken lens assembly and bought 'pattern' replacement for Php450. I unbolted the wing and hammered back the bent damaged areas myself. OK so with no filler and no new paint job you can still see it was in an accident. I could not see the point in paying Php2-3k above the Insurance 'excess' to have it look like new, only for some other idiot do more damage in the same spot a short while later. I will make good the small imperfections and scratches should I ever consider selling it. In the mean time grey metal primer is fine. So Budd sorry for the long reply but hope you find it informative. In short if you have to buy a vehicle because Taxi not convenient, get yourself a low mileage 2nd hand one for about Php300-400K (preferably Diesel) and one rugged enough to cope with the potholes. Biggest and highest rules Ok when it comes to other vehicles giving you right of way also. Thats why you dont 'argue' with the 'buses' or the 'Van Hires' - not only they usually bigger - but they have crazy drivers. Jeepneys and Multicabs you dont have to worry about to much as long as you expect them to stop and/or pull out at any moment. I was taught ""Mirror/Signal/Manouvre"". Here it is more ""Manouver, wait for a horn, if you hear one Mirror and/or brake, if not carry on"". Use of indicators just prompts other vehicles to get past you, or they use 'Hazard lights' (pressumably because they are a moving hazard!). Less than 10% use Indicators correctly I would guess - no make that 5%! If you horn is broken - dont drive! Seriously - too dangerous to drive in Cebu without a working horn!

Yes you can use GPRS as well but it comes at a huge price. I got some extra grey hairs from my first GPRS bill (18k +). But at times I can appreciate having internet and email anytime and anywhere.

I have lived in Cebu, actually Minglanillia, since September this year from Dallas, TX. For me owning a vehicle makes life so much more pleasant and fun here in Cebu. Jon has it about right for rules of the road. However I do suggest you find someone in Cebu who knows how to drive and let that person show you how and where to drive for about two or three weeks before you do it. Makes learning much more fun than by yourself and you will learn your way around. By the way Budd, I have a son who lives on the CARC ranch south of Carlsbad Caverns and he has been there almost ten yrs. A really neat place for men who have a handicap.