Philippines Living is a collaborative website to share information and photos about living in the Philippines, and living with Filipinas and Filipinos. If you want to live, retire, or visit and want to talk about gardening, residency, crime, culture, dating, marriage, etc, this is your place to do it. We welcome new members to join and contribute. To contribute, you can register, then create a blog or discussion topic, or post pictures, by clicking "Create content" in the left menu. For a list of "forum" discussion topics click "Our Forums" in the topmenu. For all recent posts, click "Recent Posts". New postings appear on the front page automatically.

peter's picture

What Would You Do? (If You Caught a Rare Megamouth Shark in the Philippines)

Submitted by peter on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 05:56
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I just ran across this report of a "Megamouth" shark that was caught and promptly eaten in the Philippines.  Apparently the shark spends most or all of its life quite deep, and so it was not recognized even to exist by scientists until 1976.  Now they've been seen just a few hundred times.  

peter's picture

Hong Kong Writer Blacklisted From Philippines; What's the Take-Home Lesson?

Submitted by peter on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 01:09
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The Philippines is a country where citizens and guest residents/tourists must be very careful.  Free speech isn't like in our home countries, at least not for foreigners.  Here is a case where a journalist was barred from the country for expressing an opinion that the Philippine immigration commissioner did not like.  The rule here are very different from the U.S. where people are routinely barred from visiting based on class and citizenship distinctions, but not barred based on their writings.  I can't say that one is necessarily the more just reason to be barred from visiting / residing in a certain area.

peter's picture

What's the Right Balance in Education Between Local Dialect / Tagalog / English

Submitted by peter on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 07:03
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I just ran across this website: http://mothertongue-based.blogspot.com/ - it raises the question (and answers it!) of how to balance the language of instruction between the local dialect and other languages.  One interesting point is that the effectiveness of learning English isn't necessarily increased by more hours, if those hours aren't efficient in the first place.  Indeed! 

peter's picture

Philippines Nationalization of Legacy-Pyramid-Scheme-Affiliated Insolvent Banks

Submitted by peter on Sat, 03/28/2009 - 03:23
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Philippines Nationalization of Legacy-Pyramid-Scheme-Affiliated Insolvent Banks

What would it be like if you had deposited your savings into a bank, then came by the next year to find it completely boarded up and closed, with only one sheet of paper describing how you could file a claim for a potential payout of your deposit?  Got to be a bummer.  There are probably tens or hundreds of thousands of banks around the world with signs like this. (As always, click "Original" below the picture to see a larger version, if you want to see more details.)

peter's picture

Slack Philippines Economy: More Sales Staff Than Shoppers At The Big Sale

Submitted by peter on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 09:11
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Slack Philippines Economy: More Sales Staff Than Shoppers At The Big Sale

We went shopping for a washing machine earlier this month, but the price tag of 5000 pesos was destined to be reduced to 4500 on the day of the big sale.   We offered 4500 on the spot, but it was turned down by the manager at Mart One Dumaguete.  We therefore waited patiently.  Finally the big day arrived, and we went to the well-publicized sale.  As always, they had many sales staff, just like every other day.  But unfortunately for their business, the total number of shoppers was fewer than the sales staff - just like every other day!  It appears people in the Philippines are not shopping.  The global economy is taking its toll already.

peter's picture

"Snake-Oil-Quality" Electrical Scooter Advertisement

Submitted by peter on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 08:51
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"Snake-Oil-Quality" Electrical Scooter Advertisement

A few days ago I was in Dumaguete and noticed some electric scooters for sale.  They were not exactly flying off the shelves, not the least because they were extremely overpriced.  Scooters that cost $200 in China were $800.  I'm sure there is a story somewhere in that.  But check out this promotional material - a scooter that can go 1000 miles on a single charge!!  Sign me up - but I'll pay after I test it, thanks.

peter's picture

New Hotel in Dumaguete

Submitted by peter on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 08:27
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New Hotel in Dumaguete

When we left Dumaguete, Philippines less than a year ago, this building definitely did not exist.  But now upon our return, it looks finished and snazzy.  I haven't been inside yet.  It's near the market, downtown.

peter's picture

Dumaguete, Philippines - A Nice City -- and a Lodging Recommendation

Submitted by peter on Sat, 03/21/2009 - 07:40
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Dumaguete is where I've spent most of my time while in the Philippines.  It's small enough so that we can live in a peaceful, bucolic setting yet be in the center of town in just ten minutes.

peter's picture

Some Wares Being Sold in Dumaguete Philippines at the Boulevard

Submitted by peter on Sat, 03/21/2009 - 04:10
in

A few guys are always selling stuff on the Boulevard in Dumaguete.  Some DVDs, watches, sunglasses, and prescription medicine.  I'm always amazed by how many people are selling things on the streets.  I hardly ever buy anything from them, but they must be selling to somebody, otherwise they would not be out there, right?

dvds and other things sold on boulevard in Dumaguetewatch and glasses sold on beach

you know you are filipino, if....

Submitted by fred on Sun, 03/15/2009 - 16:49

If any of the following sounds familiar to you, then you're probably Filipino. Admit it, some halo-halo sounds pretty good right about now.

• You answer to "Pssst!!"
• You point with your lips.
• You have relatives whose nicknames consist of repeated syllables like Ling-Ling, Bong-Bong, or Che-Che.
• You have uncles and aunts named Boy, Girlie or Baby.
• In your dining room there's a picture of "Last Supper" - and on either side of it are a giant wooden spoon and fork.
• The furniture in your house is wrapped in plastic or covered in blankets.
• You use shopping bags as garbage bags.
• You have a piano no one plays.

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