It’s been nearly a week since Typhoon Odette hit the Visayas region of the Philippines. Bringing Cat 5 winds and an ocean full of rain it devastated many parts of the country and was gentler to others. The following are my experiences and general impressions at this point in time. “What me worry” Dumaguete rarely … Continue reading “All I want for Christmas” – is Power
Every country in the world is dealing with the Coronavirus in different ways. Here in the Philippines, the concern is just as intense as it is in most other countries, but as a developing nation the impact is different, as are people’s needs and behaviour. By the numbers: As of yesterday’s count there are 202 … Continue reading Corona Times and the Philippines
I just posted a picture of a completed and functioning bathtub in the house that we are building , jets and all, and there were enough oohs and ahs that it was time to tell the complete and bizarre story. There were only a few things I had to have in our new house; two … Continue reading The Bathtub Saga
We have officially started the last week of the house portion of the project. Our target was that the house itself would be completed by September 30 and that October would be reserved for issues outside the house: completion of the wall and spikes, completion of the shop, completion of the canal, etc. We “might” … Continue reading House Project – The Good, Bad, Ugly – and Ugliest
I should once again make clear that I am not a contractor and know little about house construction in the U.S. or the Philippines. I should also say again that despite any complaints I might have, our workers work hard and, let’s face it, work hard for small pay. The following are more layman’s observations. … Continue reading Why the Hell Would You Buy a Lot in the Philippines – More Tips and Landmines
While I have a lot to say (complain about) when it comes to building a house in the Philippines, this may not be the right time and place to do it. It’s been an exceedingly difficult, stressful and expensive job. If anybody ever hears me considering doing it again by all means hit me upside … Continue reading Why the Hell Would you Buy a Lot in the Philippines – Part 6
It was the beginning of November and our house (or at least the wall) was being built. Janet and I discussed what if anything we should do for our crew for Christmas. I asked the question, “Should we give them a little cash?” Other suggestions included a bag of simple groceries. Janet proposed that she … Continue reading We “Poisoned” Our Workers 🙂
Here’s an addendum to my interminable series, Why the Hell Would You Buy a Lot in the Philippines. The most common question I get asked is – how much? Now, if you’ve followed this blog much you will notice that I try very hard not to talk specifics about money. I suppose it’s the generation … Continue reading How Much Cash for a House in the Philippines?
Here’s an update on the two lots we purchased in the Philippines! You can see the previous posts on this series here: https://www.marriedafilipina.com/2018/07/why-the-hell-would-you-buy-property-in-the-philippines-part-1/ https://www.marriedafilipina.com/2018/07/why-the-hell-would-you-buy-a-lot-in-the-philippines-part-2/ https://www.marriedafilipina.com/2018/08/why-the-hell-would-you-want-to-buy-a-lot-in-the-philippines-part-3/ https://www.marriedafilipina.com/2018/08/why-the-hell-would-you-buy-a-lot-in-the-philippines-part-4/ The house that Janet built for her family in Alcoy, Cebu is complete! The project started about a year ago with the purchase of the lot. The building of … Continue reading Why the Hell Would You Buy a Lot in the Philippines – Part 5
We live in a “nice” neighborhood, but it’s urban. It’s one of the attractions; it’s a pleasant, slightly upscale area that’s close to downtown and all the action. So it’s not unusual for homeless people to wander up our street. The other day a young man, clearly stoned and/or psychotic, stopped in front of our … Continue reading What to Do About Crime – Cultural Differences and the Bolo
