Texas Tim Potter Expat Blog.: Tim Potter Texas Expat 101

Texas Tim Potter Expat Blog.: Tim Potter Texas Expat 101: Tim Potter Texas Say's Do not kid yourself its hard. Beware of moving overseas! It’s tough, confusing, disorienting… and ultimately, extremely rewarding.  So take it one day at a time and learn to walk before you run.

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Adjustment to Life in Texas

After 6+ years in Cebu Adjusting Back

Part 1 of 3

When I left Texas it was in 2007 and when I returned it was 2013.  Many things changed and many stayed the same.  I now have a lovely wife and had two gorgeous children upon my return.  It was all about the same for me as I came back.  The wife had a hard time with it at first.  She now seems to be in a sync yet still misses Lano Del Norte Philippines.  

The journey for us began right at the Airport where we were greeted with open arms.  All our worldly belongings stuffed in 6 suitcases weighing exactly 50 lbs a piece. That and a few dollars in our hands is all we had.  We had all the paperwork in order and breezed through Customs  and Immigration.  This was a relief as we had just spent the last 16 hours in a metal tube with a 1 and 2 year old.  Trying at times would best describe how we felt.

The first impression was WOW as we traveled down I-10 for the first time heading west.  At  points that interstate is 16 lanes wide.  It was sorta desolate at 1 am in the morning.   The speed seemed super sonic in comparison to anything you can travel in the Philippines. We arrived safely at my parents farm and just kicked back and tried to get some rest.  The next morning she was totally amazed at just how flat it was.  The next thing she noticed was the lack of homes and houses piled on top of each other.

We managed to get out that day and see a few sights.  She loved the parks and recreation for the children. Also just loved driving over the roads as they were wide open.  There were no belching trucks or Jeepney's to clogged the roads.  There were no busses or other forms of mass transportation.  It was kinda a shock. She also noticed the lack of socializing on the front porch step.  Lack of interaction between neighbors. We then stopped at one of my favorite places to eat some lunch.  WhatABurger and had a good lunch of course no rice.  That will be the subject of part two of this three part series.  Zol's first overall experience was on of excitement yet hesitant as the world is nothing like the Philippines.

Tim Potter Texas

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Transportation in Philippines

Traveling Around The City Of Cebu via Sugar Land Texas

Living in Cebu or elsewhere in the world, a vehicle can be convenient. But do you really need it? Some will say yes, others are fine without. Just like home.

Some don’t have it because they cannot afford, while others don’t feel they need it. It all depends on what you’re used to, what family situation you’re in and where you live. Others say they're fine without a car until they get one, then they cannot live without it!

If you’re living in Cebu City, the need of a car is usually less. I stayed here for more than a year just relying on taxis and jeepneys. Taxis are very cheap compared to back home, and they are usually quite easy to find. Exceptions are major holidays like Cristmas Eve, closing time at the malls, during rush hours or when it’s raining heavily. Using a taxi means you don’t have to worry about parking spaces, and if there is a minor accident you’re not responsible. Going out for a few beers, you won’t be tempted of driving drunk. You don’t have to worry about traffic fines, registration and insurance.

A 10 minute taxi trip usually cost around 50 peso.  One hour cost about 200-250 peso. Shopping groceries you usually will need a taxi back home. All the major malls have free “delivery” when you shop a few bags. The boys will bring them to the taxi stand, and help you load the bags in the trunk. I usually tip 10-20 peso for this service even if it’s not required. If you’re living in the province, taxis are limited or non-existent, so you’re relying on the tricycles for this service. It is not as convenient for you as a taxi, but it can work out.

Without a large number of bags, you might also be fine riding a jeepney instead, as long as you don’t have to change too often. A lot of foreigners including myself are not afraid of using them, and they are bang cheap, starting from 7 peso a ride. Some foreigners however, never ride a jeepney.

Are you single, or do you have a large family, needing to drive them to school, sport practice etc? Are you usually just going to the gym, malls, bars and restaurants or do you have a more complex transportation pattern? Do you go away for weekend trips quite often? Do you feel safe driving yourself? If you don't and can afford it, you could hire a private driver for 7000-8000 peso a month.

Most expats that don’t have a car have a motorbike instead. Some have both. If you want a motorbike, I recommend minimum of 125cc if you plan to drive a litt longer than just around the province. If it's more for local use, you could also do with less. I bought a Honda XRM for 59.000 peso a few months ago and certainly don’t regret it. I use it every day and would hate losing it. Going to the mall to stock up, I bring a big backpack to stuff the groceries. If you’re comfortable riding a motorbike in the traffic, it’s a great way of getting around whether you live in the city or the province. It’s especially fun when there’s a traffic jam. You can smile and wave goodbye to all the cars you pass.

If you live in the province, I say you need a vehicle unless you are very stationary. Taxis are hard to find, and in many small towns there aren’t any at all. There are usually tricycles or jeepneys around, but if you’re going elsewhere than along the main road it’s not really convenient. Tricycles are not comfortable, and especially not if you’re a big guy. They can be overloaded and slow. Staying in the province, you should at least have a motorbike, but you can do well without a car – I know many foreigners without.

There are some, but not that many guys without a vehicle. Tony Jarman being one of them, and he doesn’t have any problem roaming around town.

Freedom is an important reason for the guys preferring a car. Being able at any time to take off wherever you like, I can understand that argument. Just remember you’re on an island. Bringing your car to another island on the boat can be quite expensive.

Changing weather conditions is a very good reason to have your own car. It does change very quickly here, and riding my motorbike in rain is not too funny – and those are the times I’ve really wanted a car. Then it’s the car drivers turn to laugh as they pass me.

Tim Potter

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Reality of living in the Philippines

The Truth about Living in the Philippines

Just my opinions follow - from a guy who has lived here for over 6 years and visited for over 10 years before moving here, Bottom line is that I really love it here. But would I advise every one else to move here - then my answer is no way.

It's not about the Philippines. It's really about you. You can do all the research on the cost of living, starting a business, medical care, blah, blah, blah. My personal take on it now is that those are only things of secondary importance. What's of the first importance? I'd say it's you and your ability to really know what you can and cannot do and how well you can adapt.

Sounds simple enough, but I think most of us spend a good part of our lives not really truly understanding our real capabilities. This is especially true if you come from a developed country. Mostly because in developed countries the government provides all sorts of protections to cover your butt. Living in a rich country is kind of living in a protected shell where a lot of the risks in life are minimized for you. Living in a poor country - well no one's covering your ass except yourself. And are you really prepared for that and capable of that?

Cost of living -

I believe it's cheaper to live in the Phils if you can adapt to the realities of the country. If you can't adapt, then I truly believe that it is much more expensive. If you need to replicate your comfortable lifestyle back home, I think that's going to cost you more - and that goes for food, housing, and other daily living expenses. Ensure you follow my other link to read more about this.  Just Click Here 

Beautiful women -

Sinulog 2013

no doubt that you can find a younger and beautiful woman who would want to be your partner. That's the easy part. It's a lot more challenging to learn to live with one. Can you really handle the age gap, the cultural gap and the social-economic gap that separates you? If you can, then you might be walking around with a smile. On the other hand, if you get irritated by simple behaviors like people pointing with their lips or not answering questions directly, it's going to be a real up hill battle. And if you think a big bank account is enough to keep her happy, that's probably another myth. She's a real person and she has social, individual and cultural needs that need to be fulfilled as well.

Beautiful country -

no doubt the Philippines has some beautiful and pristine places to see. But if you're more of an urban kind of guy, the city is a place that holds the best and worst of humanity. Seeing young kids sleeping and crapping on a filthy street can take a lot of steam out of your retirement dream.

Beautiful people -

Filipinos can be wonderful people. But like anywhere else there are rotten apples in the barrel. And in my opinion in a poor country, there are a lot more rotten apples. I generally remain happy by putting blinders on. Forget the rose colored glasses - that doesn't work - it only tints the crap. You need blinders to block out the crap that your mind/body can't handle. We have a narrowly defined social circle that we live in and pretty much exclude everyone else. So I mostly see wonderful people - not the ones who are trying to pull you down into their crap.

Affordable health care

- yes, healthcare is lots cheaper than the US. But it's a cash economy here, and if you want to access that care you need the cash in hand. As a result, you pay much more out of pocket because there is only a small amount of health care support from the government. If you're in decent health, it works out fine. If you need more frequent healthcare, it can get irritating having to go to pay up front when you're puking your guts out or bleeding to death. Ensure you read my other topic on this same issue. Just Click Here.

Affordable real estate -

I think this one is a mixed bag. In general prices are rising as the country is developing. You can find good deals but you need to look for them. If you have 100K US to plunk down, my guess is that on average, you'd get a better deal back home. But with a bit of work, you could find a nice place here - depending on what you consider nice. And if you're good at real estate, you might actually find some good investments. If you're a nipa hut kind of guy, then you can do it on the cheap. 

So as I said before I love it here. But I've made a lot of changes in my lifestyle. I've adapted in so many ways that I'm not even conscious of. I'm not living on the edge anymore with my retirement income. I'm on social security now and I don't have to touch that at all for everyday living. I've learned how to blend in without speaking the language. I don't need to work to live. Most people assume I'm pinoy or Chinese now. I really am having fun in this country.

But you know, as more foreigners have moved to Davao, I do see more instances of angry foreigners shouting at some poor salesgirl or civil servant. If that foreigner eventually learns to take things in stride he might end up a happy camper. If not ... the Phils is a long long way from home.

If you consider retiring here, here's my take. Do you have the right stuff? If you do, then you probably can live anywhere in Southeast Asia and make a go of it. If you don't it'll be tough. Recently met a guy who lost a sizable amount of change in a bad deal. The guy was able to take it on the chin and keep on going. Kind of like the Energizer bunny. I think that's really what you need to have inside to be happy here. It may have very little to do with the state of the Philippines at all and how the press ranks the country for one thing or another.

It is more fun to be in the Philippines. But it's not something that's given to you when you get off the plane. You have to go and find it for yourself. It's about your state of mind ... somewhat less about the state of the country. 

This was an artictle written by Rainy Mike on Living Cebu Forums.  Read more about the Philippines here and at Living Cebu Forums.

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Philippine Online Dating Scams

Online Dating Scams

This was another great article written by the a member over at Living Cebu Forums.

There was a time when online dating carried a negative stigma. Over the years, however, using the Internet to find your future mate has become commonplace. One in ten Americans have used an online dating site or mobile dating app, according to a 2013 PEW Research study, and the largest group searching online for a potential mate are singles 50 and older. But unlike tech-savvy 20- and 30-something online daters, the plus-50s are less aware of the perils that lurk on the web.
One member of that group, who asked that her identity be withheld, is a recently divorced 51-year-old mother of three who told FoxNews.com how she met a man on a popular dating website – but that in a matter of a few days, their online courtship went offline.
The most important recommendation from the relationships experts to stay safe from digital heartbreak or financial ruin is to trust your gut.
“At first, we went out to public places, and it wasn’t until after he spent the weekend at my house that he revealed he was living on his friend’s couch,” she said. “This man was over 50. He made himself very comfortable, very fast. I broke it off. He stayed in my house and I didn’t want him to. He was smoking a joint in my bathroom. He lied about everything.
“After I cut him off, he wrote me a mean text that no one will want me if I’m stingy with money. I dodged a bullet. He wasn’t looking for love; he was looking to be taken care of financially.”
Looking back on the cyber courtship, she admitted she ignored red flags -- like the speed at which her suitor tried to move their relationship.
“I should have known. He went from zero to 90 too quickly,” she said. “I must have been vulnerable. I fell in. It was three weeks total. I would never online date again.”
Another web dater, who also asked that his identity be withheld, is a 52-year-old single man who told FoxNews.com how he clicked with a woman who claimed to be in her final year of medical school. Every day for about a month, they would talk for hours on the phone, constantly exchanging emails and photos. It wasn’t until they arranged an in-person meeting that his cyber-crush claimed emergency after emergency – each, she said, prevented her from traveling.
After a month of “emergencies”, Peter* became suspicious and researched his cyber crush. The woman he believed he was in a relationship with did not exist. When he confronted the woman, she admitted to stealing a friend’s Facebook pictures and creating a false identity because she did not feel her real persona was attractive enough.
Laurie Davis, author of “Love at First Click: The Ultimate Guide to Online Dating,” explained why the older population is at greater risk for being scammed.

“They are not reading the red flags because they’re not using Facebook and Twitter as a digital lifestyle. People who are scamming really prey on people who are vulnerable, and people over 50 are more vulnerable.”
The most common online dating frauds are catfishing – someone who uses social media to create false identities to deceive – and other financial scams.
“Financial scammers are motivated by money,” Davis said. “They try to create a connection with you in the hopes of eventually reaching deep into your bank account. Building a relationship with you is a financial investment for them.
“Catfishers are motivated by emotion. They look to fill a void and create an emotional outlet for themselves that doesn't exist or can't be revealed to others in their life,” Davis said.
Dr. Gail Saltz, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at The New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine, attributed it to lack of digital know-how.
“Frankly, these are the same things that 20-somethings are considering, but 50-somethings haven’t been read the riot act. Know that these scams are out there,” said Saltz, who is a former relationship expert for OurTime.com, the 50 and over singles site. “Being in love online is fallacy. You’re in love with a fantasy. The problem with the digital age is that you have fake friends/romances. Unless you’re spending significant time with this person in real life, it’s not real.”
Out of the 50-and-over demographic, women tend to be more targeted by online dating scammers. A February 2013 FBI press release points to women as the most preyed upon population of online daters.
“Their (cyber criminals) most common targets are women over 40, who are divorced, widowed, and/or disabled, but every age group and demographic is at risk,” the FBI reported.
Females tend to be more victimized due to what is both their greatness strength and weakness: empathy.
“Women are more vulnerable to scams,” said Angela Bermudo, relationship expert for SeekingArrangement.com. “People who are trying to commit fraud on people will go for women who are really looking to settle down, and have more empathy, so sometimes women will ignore red flags, whereas men at the age are wearier.”
Bermudo offered ways to protect one’s heart and wallet.
“When you’re in your 50s, you’re not as aware as the scams that are going on. There’s the mimicking scam. They’ll match you and then there’s an emergency -- they’ll ask for money. If anyone asks you to wire money in the first few weeks of knowing you, cut off communication. If someone asks you where you live, where you work, don’t give away that information readily.
Another tip from Bermudo to outsmart a scammer is to conduct a, “Backwards photo search into Google and it will tell you where that picture came from. A Google search will protect you. Only use dating websites that use background verification.”

The most important recommendation from the relationships experts to stay safe from digital heartbreak or financial ruin is to trust your gut:
If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

Tim Potter Sugar Land Texas USMC Retired







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Expats with Run-ins with the Law

Philippine Expats Run-Ins with the Law

"Tim Potter Sugar Land Texas, USMC-Retired" proposed a question to the Living Cebu Forums.


As you read through many of the more recent topics you see a constant theme of people being anti establishment. This is more then just being upset over an excessive search but a feeling they were

Do the Crime, Do the Time

wronged previously generating their anger. You see this as they discount everything that has now afford them the opportunity to live in the Philippines. Before someone says oh I worked hard for it. So did that Filipino so compare equally the Social Security payout for equal work. Any person that says they will never return to their homeland also leaves to question why not. Never is a longtime. For those that are married sharing your culture with your SO I would think is important. Even if its only for an extended vacation. Maybe I am just a skeptic when a 50 something tells me never, I ask what your hiding. My thoughts.

So this was an interesting topic with several hundreds of views and 30+ replies.  They range from the agreeing to the disagreeing and justifying.  Though to my suprise the majority read like this one:

I plan on being buried here, the operative word is plan.
Why dont I take my wife back to the states at least for a visit?  Mainly because we are raising six kids here, buying property and dont have the extra few thousand that it would require.
Anti American sentiment I read here is mostly about anti Obama, and what the US has/is becoming now...I havent read what I consider to be anti America, mostly anti the direction the country is taking....when I was growing up, (Im 67 now)  there were certain unassailable rights and privacy that are non-existent  now.
As for the reason folks come here, I came here for a girl...that didnt work out, met my wife and stayed.....

Then it seemed you had several rational posts that showed the exact positives and negatives of living in both the west and in the Philippines.   

Reasons why not to return to USA: a) women suck (not in bedroom but outside it,mostly) b) government sucks no longer servants of the people; corrupt c) populace is rapidly becoming retarded, ignorant and/or violent. d) police state; big brother intrusions into your life-one. e) unfriendly, dishonest, no moral compass, moraless capitalism Reasons to return: a) better shopping; still some consumer protections (best reason) b) flawed but better legal system c) more pollution controls-cleaner air, water d) more legal rights, if you're white and can afford them. e) better medical if you're not poor or have good insurance. f) better postal system, no corrupt customs for out of country deliveries. g) few to no blackouts h) better internet, phone system. I am sure there are others, just my ah*le opinions, take it or leave it.

Then you had the final thing which were the political naysayers that believed everything is just going on a negative slippery slope and can not watch it head in that direction.  

My opinion is that what made America great was the deep and natural distrust Americans has had for big government. Throughout the years, those with the balls to rock the boat changed America - sometimes for the worst, lots of times for the better. Most of the benefits that Americans enjoy today are the result of some unhappy camper rocking the boat and changing the country. I think America would still be a third world country if it consisted only of the love it or leave it flag wavers.

If you look at history - everything from veteran's rights, social security, labor laws, environmental laws, and so forth was the result of people who thought the current establishment wasn't good enough. Some decided to change it. Some were even persecuted for it. But a handful of them saw the changes through. Frankly, I prefer a new generation who continues to challenge authority. They're the one's who will keep America on the leading edge.

As for me, there are lots of benefits to maintaining US citizenship - lots of rights fought for by those who challenged the authority of an imperfect country. Living in the Phils or Oz or Russia or wherever doesn't mean anything. It's just where you live and where the opportunities you want are found. Lots of benefits (and disadvantages) to living in the Phils. On my balance sheet of good and bad, the Phils still comes up on top. It's a global and electronic world society now ... being stuck to national boundaries and brick and mortar is the past.

I'm one of them creatures not likely to ever return home. Not pro or anti-establishment. The best opportunities in life for me are right here and right now. Simple as that. I be a happy clam and smart enough to know it. For everyone else, you go and find your own clam shell and enjoy it - wherever that may be.

The final word for this was said exactly how it should be said:

Staying on the right side of the Law here, is really about keeping your nose clean, not upsetting the wrong people, and living a low profile lifestyle.  It also helps if you know the right people of course.  Fact is, most of the assh*les I've come across in SE Asia are from the West.  Because, God knows, idiots can be exported.

Tim Potter 

Want to marry a Filipina and live in the US

Two Ways to Visa Approval

This is an Excellent Article written by MilesHigh at Living Cebu Forums.  I Blog this noting the realities faced in marriage and the time frames and advice given.

Two ways to get Approved

There are basically 2 choices; marriage in the US (K1 visa – other visas possible but not contemplated herein) or in the Philippines (IR1/CR1/K3, IR1 or CR1 is a preferred category as her LPR is an automatic process; DCF for IR1/CR1 is explained in other thread in this forum).

The advantages I see for the K1 visa route are, inter alia:

1) Divorcing in the US would be as easy as marring in the US (the worst case scenario but be prepared and
2) Your prenuptial agreements would be enforceable as to the US properties/assets, etc. This would not be the case if married in the Philippines.

The above depends on the state you live in – consult your lawyer. As to the prenuptial agreement, there are other, more effective ways (again, depending on the state), e.g., will (holographic or otherwise), inter vivos transfer, trust, but you should consult your financial advisor and/or lawyer – I would be generous as long as she is faithful, however…

My petition was filed on November 10, 2014. After 129 days or 4 months and 9 days (we could have taken an earlier interview date which would have shortened the whole process by 20 days), her passport with K1 visa was delivered on March 19, 2015.

While the petitioner’s presence is not required for the consulate interview, I decided to accompany her since I am here in NCR at least a few days or weeks every month. As they say, the petitioner is welcome to attend the interview… Since our docs are perfect the screening officer only asked my name, address, then her how we met, how long ago, where to live in the US. The Consul’s interview was even shorter, my name and address then he asked her if she has been out of the Philippines and that was it – he said “your application is complete”.

In all, it was painless, smooth process and my experience tells me:

1) Submit perfect docs, no errors to be made;
2) Prepare the perfect supporting presentation (but we were never asked to show any); and
3) The petitioner should accompany the applicant (which, I think, shows the genuineness of our relationship and our intended marriage not fraudulent).

My last comment would be: even though the docs/forms appear to be straight forward and probably you can complete them without any help, I would strongly suggest you consult a knowledgeable immigration agent/advisor/lawyer. As I always say, two (or more) sets of eyes/brain are better than one… Even though I was a practicing lawyer in my previous life, I retained the services of one of the most prominent immigration lawyers in the US to help me (and comfort us during the long wait…

Tim Potter Sugar Land Texas

Living in Rural Cebu Philippines

My Views and Opinions

Written by Guest writer Tobster Living Cebu Forums

I have been living in rural Barili for about two and a half years now and for the most part I enjoy it. I have gotten used to most of the things that bother other members of this forum. Such as...

Rosters.....We have alot, we breed and fight them. I am not a gambler but I enjoy fighting and breeding. I really dont mind and dont really notice the noise early in the morning.

Brownouts.....Get a bit of a storm and a tree will always take out the power. They are always upgrading here so all day brownouts on Sunday are the norm. We get advance notice so we spend the day at the beach. big picnic and cold beer and the kids love it...

Water supply...Here its not 24 7 its about 12 6 ie 6 days a week we get about 12 hours of supply....You get used to it and keep a days supply on hand.

Living with the inlaws.......Not too bad but it does have its moments. Mother in laws does everything here gets up at 3am and washes, cleans cooks, gardens, looks after the kids etc. Father in law looks after the chickens and spends the rest of the day doing nothing if he is not with his friends. Wifes sister has a kid to a guy who vanished when she got pregnant. She ended up marrying one of my friends and is now processing her visa.

Locals....In our baranguay most of the people are related to my family in one way or another. So there are alot of people watching my back. Most have only very basic English which means they usually speak Bisaya to me which is OK and slowly I am getting the hang of it.

Driving....Its insane sometimes and I alway drive offensively and I always assume that anyone near me will do the most ridiculous and unexpected things. Hate the peddlecabs with a passion not to mention the buses, V hire, dogs and SUV drivers....

Women here...When the subject of finding a girl comes up, it is often said that one should look in the provences. I am the last person who should be giving advice on women but from what I have seen here the local girls are very domesticated and hard working, but they seem to get pregnant early. Not always the case but there are many girls here who I consider to be good if you are looking for a wife.

Raising Kids. I didnt marry or have kids until late in life. I have a two and a half year old daughter and I came here so I could raise her in a way that mirrors my own upbringing. She can speak bisaya and English very well. I really try to be there for her and spend all day with her. She even swears very well a habit she picked up from me when I am driving and usually the explaintives fly not good but it makes me laugh and my wife cringe.

Business.....We had one that made money but between staff problems etc etc decided it was more hassel than it was worth. The only people I know that make serious money are in large scale farming or supply goods to businesses or own a Jollybee franchise. Me I buy and sell property......buy cheap, improve the lot so its ready to build on then sell it. The selling part is a real pain but it puts food on the table and lets me indulge in my hobbies..........

Lending money.........DONT.....simplely if you lend you zont see it again. I have in the past and usually never get it back. When asked I just say sorry dont have any now... Now I dont get asked so no problems cos I really hate chasing money owed to me....

Insects.........I have been biten by almost every insect that can bite you. Really hate the tiny red ants.

Geekos...Those small lizards are Ok especially when the termites swarm and invade the house.

Food....I am particular with what I eat and sad to say the food here sux........Luckly you can by most western favourites now in Cebu just gotta know where to go...........


Anyway just my opinions about living here............

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Philippine Success in Business

Article Written by Guest Writer Matt Wilkie

Matt Wilkie is a expat living in Cebu, Philippines offering advice and help to newcomers to the Philippines.  Check his latest blogs at Tropical PenPal

Expats Can Do Successful Business In The Philippines.

We are already into year six and our most recent edition of businesses has been BPO24hour.com.

But what I find in the Philippines within the expat community is that there is often a looking for failure or negativity in people starting business here in the Philippines.

In reality though its just as hard here as anywhere else, where I see many people fail over the years is down to market conditions and how things are run. For example giving a business to a family member of your wife with no experience is pretty much guaranteed to run aground very quickly. Yet giving the opportunity to develop a business with you with the same person who has been experienced in something particular and unique can actually blossom.

Understanding where people make money in the Philippines is part and parcel of this and for me its about looking at not only what they do but how they do it. Because getting things like new rack mount servers into Cebu is something that can run aground with corrupt customs officials. At the same time knowing a family member who works at customs or is a regular importer can deal with your headaches. But isn’t that corruption? Actually its the opposite! Because we have already paid all the fees associated with goods but you will often find that “extras” are added in what seems almost random costing. Which in some cases can see a $100 item getting $100 of taxes added to it for no apparent reason. These are part of the problems of doing business in the Philippines.

But doesn’t mean you have to be defeated! Instead look at where these things are and how to fix them, get round them, work with them. Which for me what should be the easiest route is finding an IT company in Cebu who will sell me a rack mount rather than importing my own. Not as easy as it sounds as most computer companies don’t seem to supply them. But workable! Just time consuming in sourcing. Last resort will be a direct import and crossing my fingers with relatives help.

But that gets me onto BPO24hour.com as this venture is blossoming rather quickly and expanding well. It was not a business I had looked to get into as although I know the inside of an office very well from my surveying background I am not telesales orientated. But this gets back to the expats around me and also the local market. There are call center’s all over the place and we seem to be the one furthest South we have come across.

Understanding the local market that if people don’t have to take 2 – 3 bus rides into the city and can earn the same money at a business within 10mins of their house, who will they work for? Because what has happened is initially it took a bit of canvassing for trainees to get people to try us. But once people became aware that we are here the experienced people started arriving.

Now we see that we have both experienced and trainees working side by side. The trainees are learning quickly as they have good coaches and our most recent additions have seen us recruit Quality Controllers with over 3 years experience in the industry from a major Call Center in the city.

For us we see the business is going to continue to grow and with it I am hoping to share the expansion with others who can manage other call center’s under our umbrella. But right now this is one Expat business that is expanding quickly and successful in the Philippines. Oddly enough its not hard to find other call center’s owned by foreigners or foreign backed around Cebu.

Because lets face it who knows your home market best, you who lived there and as a previous consumer or someone who has only seen your country in the movies? Adding this edge is why we openly look to get skilled staff from the expat community but also OFW’s. Having knowledge they can share as well as help develop people’s accents are all part and parcel of developing the business.

Which gets me back to the title Expats can do successful business in the Philippines, but often they don’t advertise it and often take a back seat. There are many reasons people do that here and some are for safety others could be that they simply don’t see the advantage of the limelight. Privacy is often something people like to have and as one of the biggest money spinners in Asia at the moment is technology related either via call centre’s, web design, SEO and other’s one thing they don’t need is a person. As most are based on results and internet trading. Not Joe Blogg’s from Kentucky which is what gets me back to negativity on business.

The fact is many expats come here and decide to open a small business with high expectations and little business knowledge. In reality though those with business knowledge and experience generally don’t talk too much about what they are doing. Quite simply they don’t need to they just get on with it.

After several years in the Philippines I can honestly say that most people would fail in business in their home country never mind here. The emphasis comes about by many looking to expand their pension income or looking to keep idle family members busy (idle as in available). Throwing money at idea’s doesn’t work especially if its then given to someone else to deal with. But even worse when no figures or planning has gone into it, which is often the case with businesses in the Philippines that expats do.

Which in conversations with talking to people who have already been here over a decade and are very successful in business you find they did exactly what we do. Initially they chipped away at things on a small scale until something clicked. Some of our businesses make good money others broke even, but its all been about logging the information and experienced gained. Not all projects will be successful but they won’t all fail either.

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Philippine Bubble Man

 What is up with people and there warped sense of reality.

I have lived in the Philippines for the past 6 years and people still amaze me.  I belong to several internet forums and groups.  People that are planning to come here and live build this sense of a grandiose life and that the troubles of the worlds do not exist here. 

There is this constant comparing of the Philippines to the US.  They compare the city life in the US to the city life in the Philippines.  When you can not even compare.   However for the sake of arguing lets do a comparison.  Los Angeles County which is more populous then 42 states and Metro Manila (NCR Region).  So I will start with something simple.  Population Los Angeles County has 10 Million people and population density of  800 per sq km.  Metro Manila has a population of 11.5 million people and population density of 16,000 per sq km.  This type of population in a small compact area leads to crime, poverty, theft and poor services.  Compare if you will yet there is nothing to compare.

What I have found over the years is that if you are looking for city life and want a cheap inexpensive city there are better option the world over.   The true beauty of the Philippines is not found in the cities but the more rural remote locations.  There is a cost when you move out to these areas.  However if you are looking for beaches, parks and fresh air.  These are the places.  Not in the cities where population over run has affected everything.  

If you are a person that bores easily and can not find happiness in the simple things then this type of living may not be for you.  Yet the province is a place where you can kick your feet up read a good book or just talk with neighbors.   It has a feel of small town America to it.  This relocation to the province is not one to take lightly.  As simple services are just not available or of poor quality.  Internet, Phone, Hospitals, Grocery stores (that cater to western needs) are all lacking when you step out there.  They are adequate yet not optimal.  So you must be committed to this new life.  

For all those that say that Cebu or Manila are no better then major US cities is hog wash.  This is a third world country and it is that way for many reasons.  They are over populated, polluted and dirty.  So before you step off the plane you should know what life is going to be like.  There are many that have made choices to live there in the cities and will tell you a different story.  These are your Philippine Bubble man who justify that decision.   So come enjoy life but know what you are getting into with a third world country.  

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CFO Experience Cebu

Prior to Filipinos getting a passport they must complete a class from the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO). 

The CFO office (Click here for CFO website) is fairly easy to find in Cebu Philippines.  It is located directly across from San Pedro Park or Independence Park.  We arrived at the CFO office at 7:00 am as there are only 12 slots for the entire Cebu and Mindanao region.  We sat in the CFO office with a number from 7-10 till our number was finally called.  At 10:00 we received the papers to complete the application and registration.  We were asked for the documents to file for the registration at this time.  You are required to have two valid IDs and either a Passport or NBI clearance.  This gives you a total of three valid ids required to registrar for the class.  You must have copies of all three IDs that you will use. They have no facilities to make copies so be prepared.   The form is very hard to make out who goes where and what goes where.  Saving you the issue Petitioner is not the person that is registering for the class.   That is the spouse or fiancee.

We completed the registration portion and had to wait for pictures.  After this point they then take an hour for lunch and inform you to come back after lunch.  The spouse or fiancee is not invited to come back after lunch.  They informed me that class takes about 3 hours to complete so arrive back at 4:00pm to pick up your significant other.   That is exactly what I did however they were not done.  So I sat outside and just waited.  The classes ended at 5:00pm and they still had an interview to be completed.  This goes based on your number when you arrived.  We were number 8 of the 12 and had to wait for that to be completed.   The interview had no worries it was a painless process and completed fairly easily.  Some additional documents were required so it is best to have those documents when you arrive.   My wife was asked for my divorce decree, and pictures of our wedding.   We have a spousal visa or direct counselor filling.   Those with other types of visas were required to prove a relationship.  They were required to show additionally proof.  She completed this around 7:30pm and we had to wait another 30 mins for the release of the document.   So then we were off and to the house with the CFO document in hand.

I am not sure what happen and can only speculate so take this for what it is.  Speculation.  There was a female that arrived just prior to us.  Completed the class and then went to the interview.  When she left the interview she was in tears.  Crying and really upset and stormed out of the building.  She did not stay to receive the last steps of getting the CFO document.  So this signaled to me that this is not just silly requirement and can have a serious impact on if and when you go to that other country.

So 12 hours and much waiting and sitting we were done with the next step in this long drawn out process.

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Good Eats in Cebu Philippines

A few Good Restaurants that are cheap and good in the Philippines

I have lived in the Philippines for the past 6 years and all of that has been in Cebu.  What I did find hard was where to get a good meal.  What places have the best food and I having those western taste buds would actually enjoy.   I will try and compare and show you some great places to get those fine eats.  I am not one to eat out to much however our friends over at Living In Cebu Forum have a assisted me in complying this list.  If you have a favorite please assist others and add a comment.    Now these are not your run of the mill places.  They are hidden but not obscure to find.  You can find your typical greasy spoon in the malls and plenty of pizza joints.  Yet these are worth extra trip to enjoy some home grown flavors.

Yet I will try and break this down a little bit for you.

La Lagrima Tacqueria - is a new arrival run by a man out of California.  Excellent selection of Mexican foods and the price seems great and so does the quality.  Directions to the place - On Gov. Cuenco, coming from Cebu City, it's maybe fifty meters past BTC on the same side of the street. The name is La Lagrima Tacqueria, but the sign is small, not lit, and not brightly colored -- you won't see the place from the street. I found it because I was walking from BTC

French Bakery -  They have a very nice selection of food.  The quality of food is good and so is the price.  they are located in SM Mall Cebu and it is worth a stop in you are shopping.  

Mama Maria's Pizzaria - They are located in the IT Park Ayala and server a very nice bolognese pasta that is cheap and inexpensive.  They are also open 24 hours which is a huge benefit to those that crave a midnight snack.

Ilaputi's - Looking to get your grub on with a few burgers and fries well this place has that covered.  The Fries are not the best in the world however the burger is one of the best in Cebu.  They are also located in the IT park.

La Maison Rose  This is a little more upscale and has great ambiance the food is just awesome.  Looking for a quite place that is good and not going to break the bank.  Well here is your answer.  They are located in Lahug Cebu.  

Lighthouse Restaurant - Serving Filipino favorites and you will be hard pressed to find a better place then this for fine Filipino Dining.  They are located on Mango and Country Mall.  

Oyster Bay Restaurant - If seafood is an on the menu this is a nice place to eat and fish always seems fresh.  

The Price is reasonable and the portion are nice size.  They are located on Plaridel in Mandaue 

Now there are a few higher end places that are good and will set you back just a bit.  However for that special occasion they are worth it.

 David's Steakhouse - Probably the best place to get a steak in Cebu.  They have some killer mash potatoes and fries.  Located  Across the street from the Sarrosa Hotel on Cabahug Street. 

Marco Polo has a wonderful Sunday Breakfast Buffet that is very good and one of the best I have had anywhere.

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Fire in Philippines

Latest Fire Tondo, Manila

Fires in the Philippines seem to happen as often as Mondays.

Life is hard here for the majority of Filipinos as they live life hand to mouth.  Though this is a tropical environment fires seem to happen every week.  Killing hundreds and displacing thousands.  I wonder sometimes if it is not a way to move the urban poor from their dwellings to make way for new construction.  There are non-profit organizations that protect the urban poor and the land they have squatted on from eviction.    Yet the majority are proven to be accidental and could have been prevented.

So what are the causes of these fires. 

There are two main causes that I see that are directly relating to all these fires and directly related to living in poverty.  

I was doing research on this issue and came across an article that had a lot of points.  Yet everything that is mentioned is beyond the price range of the urban poor.  They do what is called spider electricity.  Where one person has a meter and they then resell that power to every individual using extensions cords.  They do not cook with approved LPG regulated ranges if using LPG at all.  Most use wood of some form to cook on a daily basis.  So while the article does reflect the result of such action it never does address the problem.  So many times the Government and other agencies attack a result instead of looking at the issue.   One thing that was not mentioned was the fact these home are built so tightly together the inability of a firetruck or other rescue vehicle to render service is impossible, add in the delay because of traffic.   Then the dated and obsolete surplus fire equipment tend to put more lives in danger then they are are actually going to save.

Electrical Connections

As many large fires in the Philippines are caused by faulty electrical connections, electrical overloading, and wiring problems, it is extremely important to ask a licensed electrical engineer to conduct fire safety inspections in homes, offices, and establishments to avoid serious problems on electrical connections. Conducting regular checks and maintenance work prevents possible threats of fire. While it is possible to save a few bucks by having things checked or repaired by a non-licensed electrician or technician, such may even increase the risk of fire caused by long-term electrical system problems.
Don't overload electrical circuits by putting lights, gadgets, and other electric and electronic appliances beyond the capacity of the electrical system. It is also an ideal practice to unplug all appliances and gadgets after use or after charging.
Another important fire prevention advice that involves simple lifestyle practice: proper usage, storage, and maintenance of electric and electronic appliances. Make sure electric cords are free from breakages. If plugs and fuses need repair, don't use metal items such as staples or nails to fasten the cords and don't replace blown fuses with coins, wires, or any other metal. Use applicable replacement materials and ask a professional to properly fix frayed wirings and problematic electrical fixtures.

Cooking

A number of fire accidents reported in the Philippines also involve improper (or lack of) maintenance and other connection problems with LPG tanks. These are generally used by the Filipino households for cooking. As a fire prevention measure, always check the connections and conduct maintenance procedures on gas stoves and LPG tanks. Check them for leaks and always seek professional help for any serious concern. It is also important not to leave the stove open beyond cooking time (sometimes, people forget to turn off stoves before sleeping, leaving the house, or doing other things). Don't put any flammable material near the stove and make sure children and pets won't have easy access to them as well.

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Philippine Drug issue

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Does the Philippines have a drug issue?

It is almost impossible to sit and compare one country to the next.  I am from Sugar Land Texas and currently live in Cebu.  Yet the problems with drugs face both of these countries differently.  Poverty in the Philippines has led it down a path of abuse of drugs and alcohol.  Yet not the designer recreational drugs that plague the US.

The penalties for drug possession in the Philippines

   The law prescribes the death penalty for drug traffickers caught with at least 0.3 ounce of opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine, marijuana resin, or at least 17 ounces of marijuana. The Philippines has imposed a moratorium on the death penalty, but drug offenders are still punished harshly if caught – the minimum sentence is 12 years in prison for possession of .17 ounce of illegal drugs.

These laws are harsh and possession of drugs in the Philippines is not a joke.  The prisons are a far cry from the luxury accommodation the west provides for criminals.  Yet this keeps these types of drugs out of the system and prevent a vast majority of the drugs from the streets of the Philippines.

So what is plaguing the nation?

The Philippines has a population explosion and there are children roaming the streets at all hours of the day and night.   They have a name for these kids "Rugby Boys" no that is not a sports accolade but a type of contact cement that is inhaled.  They inhale this contact cement for the instant high and for the properties to take away hunger.   The effects of this inhalant abuse can suffer brain damage, kidney and liver failure, sight and hearing loss, muscle weakness, leukemia  and death. Recently the Philippines has been attacking the issue with adding mustard oil to the contact cement to counter act the aroma of toluene which is the product that gives the high.  Yet even with the additives they have just moved on to other inhalants to  vice using Rugby.  Many paint products contain the same active ingredients and have the same long last effects on the youth of the Philippines.  It is a cheap high that you see to often on the streets of Cebu Philippines.

 The other problem that faces this nation is the use of alcohol.  A recent world health report said that 5 million Filipinos are regular drinkers.  That is out of country that has only 90 million people.  With the relative low cost of alcohol and spirits'   It provide an escape from the realities that surround the country.   The government has again stepped into try and curb this with a new sin tax.  This tax has raised the prices on tobacco and alcohol by about a third.  So only time will tell if this has a dramatic effect on the country. 

The Good and Bad 

The good is the Philippine Government has taken action to control this and the effects of these action will be seen in the future.  They have implemented plans and action recognizing the issue of drugs in the country as a whole.  This seems to take care of the result of the problem but fails to address the causes of the problem.  There still are little social welfare programs and programs to help the nearly 1.5 million street children in the Philippines.   These issues should be addressed and need immediate attention.  So yes steps in the right direction but more should and could be done to help the children of this country.  A country with all the potential in the world can not destroy its youth which are the future.  

Philippine Transportation Experience

First hand account of getting from Cebu Philippines to Toledo Philippines.

Pictures of Zol and I

Tim Potter from Sugar Land Photos and the likes. 

I thought I would give you the first hand account of how I traveled and the accurate cost to travel these distances.   

We left the house around 8 am and headed down the hill.  We live up about 1 Km from the south road.  Which is the main road that connects all of Cebu Philippines.  Once we arrived down it was easy to flag down a bus.  The buses will pull over almost any where to allow people to board and get on.  Now the bus has no air conditioned and was fairly old.   The bus had to stop for diesel and fill the water tank.  I know you are going to ask what the water tank is for.  We are traveling over the mountain to Toledo Philippines.  They have a system where the water leeches onto the breaks to prevent hot brakes.  If hot bakes become present on the bus it will be unable to stop as the peddle gets spongy.   

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After this brief stop we continued on our journey picking up passengers along the way.   We also picked up people selling everything from hard boiled eggs to juice.   This is about a 60 mile journey over the mountain and from our location.  The cost was fairly low at 60 pesos per person and took about 90 mins to complete the journey to Toledo Philippines.  

Once we arrived in Toledo we had to go a little bit further to the province that her family was located in.  This was another 20 miles down the road.   Since I was traveling with the whole family I decided to get a tricycle and do a special so it is just us on the tricycle.  This is commonly known as a Pacquiao named for the famous boxer and national hero Manny Pacquiao.  This part of the journey was 180 pesos.  How that is calculated is a Tricycle has 6 seats.  You must pay the going rate to the destination for all 6 seats.  

So we arrived and attended the wake for our Aunt and were treated very well.  

Doing the same thing in reverse to get to the Bus terminal.  When we arrived there we took a V-hire to return to Cebu.  This is a little more expensive however when you travel with 2 kids and bags it makes for a situation.  The cost from the bus terminal in Toledo to Cebu City Philippines is 100 pesos of $2.50 per person.  I did not want to be all crammed into the V-hire so I purchased extra seats.  The children under two can ride on your lap.  However I purchased 4 seats.  Thus we rode back in comfort and a little room for the children to stretch out.   Bad news for us was the Air Conditioning about 3/4 way through on the V-hire broke.  Lucky it was a cloudy day and the heat was not that bad.  No refunds or anything for this lack of service it is just grin and bear it.   

Once we arrived in the terminal there are porters everywhere.  I know most people think this is a bother.  They hound you as soon as you get off the V-hire or bus.  However for Zol and  I and the two kids it is a God send.  They grabbed all the bags and strollers and carried them to the taxi stand.  In addition loaded them in the Taxi for us.  Also since most vehicles are LPG they are unable to make the climb to the house.  So we needed a Gasoline Taxi.  The porter also went and flagged down a proper taxi for us.  He did all this for 40 pesos or 1 dollar.  I could have given much less yet it was worth every peso to me.   I had the exact same service in Toledo as they loaded up the Tricycle and helped us get off the bus.  So it was just awesome.  

So there you have a first hand account using several forms of transportation in the Philippines.  

Enjoy.

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