wire is fine (for a 20 amp. circuit), but you will want #14 for lighting (15amp) circuits and #10 for 30 amps (Water pumps, heaters, etc) Just as in the States.(Here almost all electric sources are 220v only, so, everything else being equal your lights and appliances will only be drawing half the current as will 110v items.) If you are planning to build here it will most likely be concrete (with hollow block) construction. ""Romex"" is not suited for that. However you can buy it here-usually only two conductor without a ground wire. In concrete construction individual wires are pulled through plastic conduit. Most houses do not have a ground wire and there is no provision for one on the receptacles commonly available here. However, you can buy the standard, 3-prong duplex receptacles at most chain hardware stores. I am using these and having the electricians pull the bare copper ground wire through the conduit to all receptacles and connected to a driven copper ground rod at all distribution boxes, and to my well casing. The circuit breakers and distribution boxes are standard. Mine uses GE breakers, readily available here. The short answer to your question is leave your ""Romex"" at home and buy the wiring you need here.

12/3 along with 14/3 for switches. Buy your breakers and box in Philippines, is about the same cost or little less. If you can somehow get it here, you can if you ship container, get 12 or 15 cans pcv adhesive and cleaner. Sorry the ones here are no good at all, we had to redo everything and then use marie Epoxy on every joint. Jim malaika_pal. These question are for those who have built houses in the Philippines. We've been advised to bring our own Romex wire. The question is what gauge? Is 12/3 appropriate? Also do bring our own circuit box and breakers? Or would we be better off with circuit breakers in the Philippines? Not looking for cost at these items, but safety. Wife is bringing bathroom faucets and appreciate suggestions for other necessties for building a house in the Philippines.

Budd's budget for the Philippines and my comparison Can anyone give me a sample budget for the Olongapo area. That is where my wife and I are considering retirement. Oer even in the surrounding Zambales area. It seems most everyone on the site is living in Cebu.

We had a smilar quesion to this in the past. I beleive the upshot of it all, no problem on the felony conviction and certainly not on the misdemenaor. You gan get a 21 day visa no qestions asked. And as long as you have no problems here, they are happy to extend it. I feel sure this is correct, but would not bet much money on it.

i am considering marring a filipina lady and possible retiring in the philippines, I need to keep busy though and my expertise is in the forest products industry. This is all so new to me and I was wondering what part of the country would be best to locate in with the idea of pursueing something in that field on a smaller scale than here in the states. Something to do with working with wood, manufacturing for houses or what ever. Maybe this is all impossible but I would like to know. also. how is the quality of dental work there compared to the states, I here it is much cheaper but is it OK or not.

i am considering marring a filipina lady and possible retiring in the philippines, I need to keep busy though and my expertise is in the forest products industry. This is all so new to me and I was wondering what part of the country would be best to locate in with the idea of pursueing something in that field on a smaller scale than here in the states. Something to do with working with wood, manufacturing for houses or what ever. Maybe this is all impossible but I would like to know. also. how is the quality of dental work there compared to the states, I here it is much cheaper but is it OK or not. Thanks sincerely, Jim Dear Jim, I can't comment on the wood working, we have had others involved in that here. I hope they will comment, if they are still on the list. People come and go once the have what they need. Some stay just to discuss common interests, but not all by a long shot. On the dental, you can go to http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/medical.html and get my recommendations one dentist here in Cebu. Manila can be very expensive, the smaller cities cheaper than Cebu, even Davao, the same size but generally cheaper maybe because of the recent problems there but it has always been cheaper. There are others cheaper here, one across from Doctor's hospital, but no e-mail address, and I am not sure there is a phone, even. I have no personal experience there, though my wife Ani took her sister and was very pleased. But Ani likes to go to Dra Fernando, for the very few problems she has. Dra Fernando is more expensive than most dentist because of the high rent area she is in, but less than others. She has her own lab so the caps fit are sent back immediately. Many list members have seen her. Last time I went out there, maybe a week and a half ago, there were almost as many list members and their wives and girlfriends in her office as at a get together at Ratsky's: maybe a slight exaggeration. Do check the website at www.livinginthephilippiines.com . Despite spelling and grammar errors it has a lot of information, though a lot of it is in my opinion only. New things are always being added.

I was just wondering if life insurance is any cheaper over there than here in the states. Right now my wife and I pay around $80.00 each for $500,000.00 policies. My wifes is high because she is a cancer survivor mine because I am overweight. Any way does anyone have an idea about insurance over there. $160.00/mo will go a long way for living but I certainly would not want to leave my wife broke.).

i study to be a graphic designer i already have my cerificate but i have to finsh to get my AA i like this course because i like computer. i take prozac and i am also dietbetic my doctor is also a filipno doctor here in the states. no not in a support group. my friend all went off to uni and here in the states it hard to make friend because. how you say? unfriend or stay with there own race teacher encource us to exchange number but i have been to college since 98 and have not gotten a number yet.and it takes me so long because i learn slow i am on the gi bill through my dad he is in air force and died disable thought the military that why we get a pension. i also would like to live there in philippine do but i keep changing my mind. What about bring our pet from here can that me i am so attach to my dog.

I'm sure others on the list may have more experience but here is ours. My son, then 15, accompanied me on a trip to meet my Filipina girlfriend, now wife. We stayed several days at a resort which was in the small village of Santa Fe on Bantayan Island. My son was wonderfully received by the local kids. He was something of a celebrity. I have a feeling that not so many foreigners bring their kids with them. I had brought a frisbee which proved a good ice-breaker and resulted in hours of frisbee games and other socializing on the beach. The girls were much shyer than the boys but curious about my son. The kids were constantly trying to get us to go various places - to a cave and to a disco where my son was promised there would be lots of girls. One had a pedicab and doubtless wanted to earn some money but I think they were just happy to spend time with my son. I can't say how these relationships would evolve if we lived there, how lasting or deep the acceptance would be. My main concern was that my son was such a celebrity that he would be spoiled by the undeserved adoration he would receive as a blond kano kid (but his father does not object to the adoration he receives!) It has been our plan to move to the Philippines once my son graduates from high school in June of 2005. My son pesters me to move to the Philippines sooner and not stay in the U.S.for his benefit. I'd be very interested to hear about the experiences of other foreigners who have brought their kids to the Philippines.

I want to introduce my wife and me to the group. She is a Filipina and I am Black American. We have a 7wk son together and I have a 14 y/o daughter from another marriage. We are researching living in RP. We are thinking about Cebu, but are still open. I'm in the military. I have less the 3 years to go to retire. I will be going to ANCOC in July to get my E-7(hopefully). I have a lot of questions about this. My wife knows some things about Cebu but not all. I read a post that mentioned Bogo. How is that place? How are the schools? How is the crime rate? Do they have ""Fox News there"" I like looking at ""O'Riley"", What type of internet service do they have there? How is the Medical? What type of Medical insurance do they have there? Are there any other Black Americans there? There are many more but these will do for now.

The timber industree is much different in the PI than on the Oregon coast. Although knot impossible, you may have some difficulty finding your niche unless you are very open minded and are willing to branch out a little. Things are knot quite the same. In the PI you will be much more apt to find a carabao doing the work instead of a donkey, yarder, skidder, or dozer. Your computerized automated sawmill is often replaced by a chain saw clamped to a table, and sometimes the table is substituted by a stump. There is very little quality planed lumber available in the PI. There are also very few paper mills, which makes even T.P. very scarce. Luckily, there are still some P10 bills available, which will suffice nicely in an emergency. Just remember not to throw them in the commode afterward, it makes them wet and soggy to spend for lunch. To sum it up in a few words, the PI is similar to where the timber industree was in Oregon 60 yrs ago. In many ways, even more primitive than that. They have never heard of a talkie tooter! Bear all this in mind when seeking a giant to fell, and hopefully everything wood turn out ok for you. Thought I wood leaf you with some points to ponder.

Dear Cold, ex-pat jobs are few and far between but lucrative if you can get one. You will have to apply outside the country, of course. There is also a slow death in major manufacturing here in the RP. Textiles are known as a ""sunset"" industry as China and Vietam are taking more and more contracts from everybody. The same goes for other industries, but try a few US firms operating here, like Timex and Caltex etc. The Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce can help, do a google search and find their website and all your hopes and dreams will be just a click away! Sorry, got a little carried away there. Being financially stable (and well done, no doubt you worked for it) why not consider renting the house in the US? Your Cebu house is rent free so your living expenses are lower than if renting. If you could squeeze the monthly needs out of the rent you would be set until the big six five rolls around. Meanwhile you could look at ways to lose money here. (I have a nice bar you might wanna think about). Why not re-train? Take the redundancy money when it comes and go and learn something new. I am presently putting myself through a self designed course in becoming a shipwright, ie; I'm building a boat for the first time and thinking about building some more and selling them. Keeps me busy. Maybe if you took a course or two at the local college you could do something you have always wanted to and then apply it over here. The rental income keeps you from worrying about actually making money at it while you fill in your days doing what you love. Plus you don't lose the house in the US and can always sell it if need be

let's say that you will have bout 60,000 pesos every month coming from your pension. this would be more than enough for you and your wife. including all the utility bills. i am from the philippines and sure i know the monthly budgets for every household. depends how many you are in the family. but this 60,000 is more or less good for a total of 3-4 members. you can have it through bank to bank i suppose (pension). it's best to live in cebu compared to other regions. sure you don't wanna live in mindanao. manila? or luzon region, it's kinda populated too. but if in a province i think it's ok.

you can call the company phone (without the simcard) to inquire if it would work in the philippines. this is all i know. if there is a simcard on your phone it won't work in the philippines unless your phone is a tri-band. if it's a tri-band (meaning a world phone), you have to apply for roaming. this would cost you between 89 cents to 1.99 a minute receiving and outgoing calls. are you staying for good in the philippines? then better go to some retail stores and you can purchase another cellphones there. you can get a good deal also.

i still don't know which part of the philippines you wanna stay. but if it will be in cebu email me again and i can give you our family dentist's phone number. believe it or not he only charge (cleaning or extraction) for only 200 pesos.

the article read that 10% may be sent to Clark this was to assist in screening arrivals from affected countries.

sure you can bring your dog with you. there's a charge aboard the plane. whether to live or not to live in the philippines, think deeper. whatever your heart desires follow it and go for it and stick with it.

bogo is considered one of the provinces in cebu.if talking bout school they are not really that high standard a school. better yet, if you want your kid to go to some high standard schools...........it's best in the city. where you can have also high tech access on internets and the like.

i know that one sack of rice ""GANADOR"" is bout 1, 200........... just talked to my mom the other night.

with fox news......... you can have it if you have some cable connections...no problem. you can even have CNN too

try to call insular life insurance company. they have a good deal for this. i am not sure on the plan you woluld choose but i know it's a good one in cebu.

In the states there is not a satellite broadband service that really works. The one they sell requires a land line and it is pretty poor. I run a large computer installation here in San Diego and have been doing this for about 30 years now. This is probably the only subject on-line that I know a lot about

For top quality rice, in Manila we pay 26 pesos a kilo, bought in 50 kilo bags that's about 21.4 cents a pound. There is cheaper starting at about 20 a kilo. We have now found a cheaper way of buying, many companies give sacks of rice (top quality) to their employees as part of compensation, not all employees want it or could get through so much of it, and the sale price is 800 pesos for 50 kilos sold to colleagues they work with. Both red and brown rice is available here, its cheaper, I prefer it, my wife and her family laugh at me as they say it is only for the very poor people. I tell them its much healthier than the white rice and it tastes better but they still will not eat it!

One thing that you must consider is the time of year that you plan on flying over here with a pet. There are some airlines that won't fly pets during the summer months because of the time the pet may be in the cargo bays of the aircraft before the plane departs. It can get very hot for Fido with no air conditioning in the cargo bays.

I feel the same way about my dog, I brought him over. Just go to your Vet., and them what you want to do. they will make sure the dogs shots are current, give him some flea and tick medicine, and a health certificate. Call Cathay Pacific and they will line you up with the forms that have to be faxed to you. you have to send paperwork and $150. to Hong Kong, just because the dog is passing through! Upon arrival in Cebu, it took me about 3 hours to get my dog. If you decide to move over here, I have the best Vet in Cebu......give me a holler.

It's a little more involved than just a charge on plane. 1- you have to write to Bureau of Animal Industry for an Import Permit address http://www.philcongenla.org/content.asp?FileName=\consular\p ets.ini 2- you have to get health certificate from your Vet. 3- dog must be up to date on all vaccinations. 4- health certificate must be sent to the Philippine consulate office which covers your state. Health certificate will be authenticated, there is a charge of $25.00 for this service. 5- airlines require that health certificate be issued within 10 days of flight. Which could require a second certificate? 6- if on any leg of the trip the temperature is above 85° F pet will not be allowed to travel 7- airline may allow small dogs whose kennel will fit under seat to be brought into cabin, but there is a limit as to how many pets on each flight. 8- if large dog kennel must be large enough for dog to stand, and be able to turn. 9- ex-large kennel will not fit on some planes. So you might have to arrange different flight times. 10- cost for ex-large kennel from Alabama to Manila is $480.00 on Northwest

my suggestion on using lexan i think was misunderstood.I have been a longtime reader but have not found any posts that I need help with. I am early 30's and just married in the Philippines. I am looking to reside in the Philippines permanently but will need to travel to the US about twice a year. Is it possible to have dual nationality/citizenship with the US and the Philippines for a US citizen? Would love to hear from any others who have taken this route if it is indeed possible. Any restrictions on travel or difficulty with documents? Do you then have two passports?

Do you have relatives in these five countries outside of the USA? Please ask them to pass this Survey around and join us! Maraming Salamat. YOS

Ani just got back from Leyte. She like red rice from there. It is ""no so much shiny."" That means to me it is not polished, but maybe it is. Her family pays 950 per month per bag and uses two bags per month. There are a bunch in the family. I have never been able to get an accurate count, but at least eight and a strange or two that I don't know. Sorry about the 200 Kilo bag. That should have been 100 lbs, Iguess.

Both red and brown rice is available here, its cheaper, I prefer it, my wife and her family laugh at me as they say it is only for the very poor people. I tell them its much healthier than the white rice and it tastes better but they still will not eat it! Dear Jon, Ani and I both love the red rice, but she is one of the few Filipinos I know who will eat it. It is much healtheir studies have shown. Sorry in my last message I put 200 kilo bag when correcting my mistake. I meant 100 kilos shold have been 50, not 200 kilos. Jon's post cleared everything up

Dear new members and former ones who have not read the Rules and Welcome New Members link at http://www.livinginthephilippines.com The link on ""Rules. . . , is half way down the page on the left hand side of the main page. Again, that is at http://www.livinginthephilippines.com . *Those suffering from to much e-mail will find out how to manage their mail with little or no problem!* If there is any concern about these rules send them to ModlinP@yahoogroups.com . We reserve the right to limit discussion to topics *we see as on topic* for this list, Living, Retiring, Traveling and doing business in the Philippines. Your comments on the rules are welcome on that list, but not on the Livininginthephilippines1, list. Thank you for understand the necessity for these rules on such a large list, 2,295 or so and still growing. New members coming on every day and almost every day we have resignations. So there are always some new members. Every new member and present member is welcome. And we hope you gain knowledge and provide it to others, within the mandatory guidelines. Thank you for again for your understanding and cooperation, even if you don't understand. And thank you for taking your valuable time to read this and the important messages on the website at http://www.livinginthephilippines.com .

After all that, including my misspelling of ""Welcome,"" I find the link missing. I will delete message and post the ""Welcome, Stop E-mail Overload and *Rules* message.

I read where you can double your money in a year or two by investing in the Philippines. I believe it is on one of Don's main pages. There was no specific information so can anyone tell me how to accomplish this. I plan on retireing in July 2005 and would like to be able to enlarge my nest egg for added cushion. I am planning a trip for July 2004 and will becomming to the Cebu area to see what it is like, although we are fairly set on the Olongapo area for medical reasons, use of the FPO mail system, and being able to bank in American dollars at the Navy Federal Credit Union. Well any feed back will be greatly appreciated.