Sigh. It’s a common problem among some of my expat friends in Guimaras, the tiny island province we call home. “Philippines: Wanted: Hard-Working Domestic Helper” is today’s topic that deals with the issue of in-house assistants.
lolo
Conclusion: Clash of the Filipina Maids
The 21-year-old Filipina that we were considering to hire as a part-time maid left for her home after an interview with my wife. I then contacted my sister-in-law to inquire about a 60-year-old lady who was also looking for a job.
It’s the Day of the Dead in the Philippines
It’s two days before All Saints Day, or “Araw ng mgba Patay”, the celebration of the Day of the Dead as it is called in the predominantly Catholic Philippines, and observed by Catholics worldwide. My wife, her Mother, sister Alida and our niece Michelle traveled to Jordan Municipal Cemetery in Guimaras to pay our respects to relatives that have long since left this earthly domain.
Lolo Wins 300M in a Cockfight!
I was astounded to hear that Lolo wins 300M in a cockfight. Convert the pesos to US Dollars and that’s still over 6,500,000 US Dollars. I almost fell out of my rocking chair when I heard the news!
Our New Home in the Philippines is Nearing Completion
Our new home in the Philippines is nearing completion. Floor tiles are now being laid throughout the house, windows are being installed this week, and once the tile work is completed, our new doors will be installed. The project has been going on for five months now and all indications point to a move-in date in July.
Read moreOur New Home in the Philippines is Nearing Completion
The Island Hoppers of Guimaras
The Philippines is an archipelago comprised of 7,107 islands. Traveling by banca boat (see following photo) is an unrivaled means of checking out some of the islets and enclaves which is something my asawa and her relatives, the island hoppers of Guimaras, did one recent Sunday. 
A Restful Day at Raymen Beach Resort
It’s hard to beat a cold bottle of San Mig while relaxing at a beautiful beach resort in the Philippines.
The “Americanization” of the Two Lola’s
I don’t like people that butt in line. Regular readers of “Philippines Plus” might recall past rants involving my issues with Filipinos, well-known for “Filipino Time,” who are nonetheless in a hurry and push ahead of others in a queue. I’ve been living in the Philippines for close to six years now, and while the vast majority of Pinoys and Pinays are polite, respectful and friendly, there are those that believe it is alright to practice “line jumping.” So when a middle-aged Filipina butted in front of two senior ladies the other day at Robinsons Supermarket Package Counter, this incident sparked the “Americanization” of the two Lola’s (Grandmothers.)
Facebook Crackdown Hits Guimaras
Call me “Old School.” I am a crusty old expat at age 63. In the Fifties, when I was growing up in a sleepy small town in Central Illinois, the latest high tech gadget in our household was a black-and-white television set. We got five channels from St. Louis on that old wooden box: KSD, the NBC affiliate, KTVI, offering programming from ABC, KMOX, backed by CBS, and independent station, KPLR, which featured one of my personal favorites, The Three Stooges, and the Public Television station, KETC, which I rarely watched at the time since Mr. Rogers creeped me out.