[ 32 Comments ] Posted on 12.31.08 under Perspectives, Philippine Retirement
KINDLE NEWS FLASH! October 7, 2009. Amazon has announced a new international version of the Kindle which, according to Amazon, works wirelessly in the Philippines and around the world. I have never found having to get my Kindle downloads through USB to be a major inconvenince. To me the biggest news is that Amazon will ship [...]
[ No Comments ] Posted on 10.13.08 under Crime, Perspectives, Philippine Retirement
The on-line narrative of an American who came to live in the Philippines, who engaged himself in the culture and in extraordinary good works, who became disillusioned and finally was killed or committed suicide.
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 10.11.08 under Immigration and Visa, Perspectives, Philippine Retirement
When the foreigner living in the Philippines with his Filipina wife dies, what happens to the wife and kids? There is one too little known alternative for Filipina widows who were married to US Citizens the I-360 Widow/Widower immigrant visa. The widow or widower can self-apply to immigrate to the US after her husband’s death.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 10.01.08 under Iloilo City, Iloilo Public Markets, Perspectives, Philippine Retirement, Shopping
We live in Iloilo City and keep quite close track of our food expenditures. We had read about soaring food price inflation in the Philippines so we decided to see how much our own food expenditures had risen.
[ 7 Comments ] Posted on 09.29.08 under Perspectives, Philippine Retirement
Philippine Driver’s License. Your foreign driver’s license is good for ninety days in the Philippines. After that you’ll need to get a Philippine license. I’ve been driving in Iloilo City since February, 2008 when we bought a new, very basic Toyota Innova. Most days the Innova stays at home. We take jeepneys in the city, sometimes [...]
[ 9 Comments ] Posted on 09.20.08 under Crime, Perspectives
Violent crime against foreigners living in the Philippines is a fact of life. Here are our perspectives and recommendations on keeping yourself and your family safe and enjoying your Philippine retirement.
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 09.18.08 under Perspectives
This was my response to a post from an American who claimed that Philippine women are “better” than American Women: Let me offer my perspective. Please feel free to disagree! I’ve only been married to one American woman and one Filipina but, like everyone else, have observed many other relationships. I don’t think it’s a question [...]
[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 09.13.08 under Heritage, Nature, Environment, Perspectives
Generally I try to be pretty positive but I’ve been so sad to see the degradation of one of Iloilo City’s most beautiful streets, Gen. Luna. Gen. Luna Street was all that most Philippine city streets are not. It was a gracious boulevard with a landscaped median with trees separating two lanes in each direction. [...]
[ 3 Comments ] Posted on 09.04.08 under Iloilo Real Estate, Medical and Dental, Our House Project, Perspectives, Philippine Retirement
Buying rural real estate in the Philippines. Real estate in the Philippine provinces. There are so many beautiful rural areas in the Philippines. I think of the lush, unspoiled area around Lucban, Quezon Province, I think of the spectacular rural landscapes in the hills of Bohol. Closer at hand for us, are the mountains and [...]
[ No Comments ] Posted on 09.03.08 under Iloilo City, Medical and Dental, Perspectives, Philippine Retirement, Services
The Philippines has a totally pay-as-you-go health care system. Your first stop at the hospital (as it is in the US) will be the cashier’s office. You must have money to pay for health care, otherwise you will not get care, will not be admitted to a hospital no matter how dire your situation. A [...]
[ 11 Comments ] Posted on 08.27.08 under Perspectives, Philippine Retirement
Is the Philippines really a tropical paradise for the foreign retiree? For my wife and me the Philippines is a retirement paradise, but it’s the people who make it so.
[ 6 Comments ] Posted on 08.13.08 under Iloilo City, Iloilo Real Estate, Medical and Dental, Nature, Environment, Perspectives
All about Philippine real estate and all about Iloilo real estate – with photos. Foreigners may not own real property in the Philippines, except condominiums. Even though having your “own place” is irresistible, give deep consideration to renting instead of owning. Buying is much easier than selling. There will be a limited market for your [...]
[ No Comments ] Posted on 08.13.08 under Iloilo City, Perspectives, Philippine Retirement
Iloilo does not get nearly so many foreign tourists as places such as Boracay, Cebu, Manila and even Dumaguete and Bohol. Often, I can spend the day in the city and not see another foreigner. Of course, there is a community of resident expats, many who have been in Iloilo many years. Expats hold meetings [...]
[ 12 Comments ] Posted on 08.12.08 under Iloilo Real Estate, Our House Project, Perspectives, Tigbauan, Iloilo
Our new home in Tigbauan, Iloilo where we’ve learned a whole new meaning for “small town” and “rural”.