Former US Ambassador to the Philippines, Harry Thomas, tried to warn everyone. Back in 2011, Ambassador Thomas stirred up a diplomatic row. The former Ambassador remarked that “40 per cent of foreign men who come to the Philippines, including from the US, come for sexual tourism.”
Read moreAmericans Top List of Sex Offenders Barred from Entering Philippines in 2017
Is travel to the Philippines safe? Recent kidnappings and the bullet planting scam at the Manila airport might have you reconsidering a visit to the Philippines.
At my advanced age, 63, I really shouldn’t be taking a walk on the wild side of the Philippines. But that’s exactly what I did the other morning.
Terror-stricken denizens throughout the central Philippines, from Eastern Samar to Cebu City to our own island province of Guimaras, emptied the shelves of local grocery and sari sari stores Super Typhoon Hagupit (called “Ruby” in the Philippines,) rapidly approached the island country, renewing terrible memories of complete devastation created by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) a year ago. Philippine Super Typhoon Hagupit (Ruby): getting ready is key.
Read morePhilippine Super Typhoon Hagupit (Ruby): Getting Ready Is Key
My asawa and I have had a peso savings account with BDO, Banco de Oro, for a couple of years. We established it when my ATM debit card from our bank in the United States expired. At the time we needed to open an account so my sister-in-law from Kuwait, Marjorie, an OFW, Overseas Filipino Worker, could easily send remittances to us. We care for her two children, Shaina and Sherwin. Here’s the story of how BDO screwed up our dollar account in the Philippines.
Read moreHow BDO Screwed Up Our Dollar Account in the Philippines
Readers, an extremely distressing incident involving two of our best friends, American expat Papa Duck, and his wife Anne, occurred recently. Papa D's lovely Filipina asawa was held by Macau police and had to appear before a judge. This event troubled my wife and I tremendously. Papa Duck has graciously allowed me to publish this story as a warning to other foreigners that might be planning to visit this Chinese-controlled territory. 
Read moreAmerican Expat Papa Duck’s Wife Anne Held by Macau Police
Conversion of Foreign License to Philippine Driver's License: My Asawa's Experience is concluded today with this post. My wife had made the trip to the main Land Transportation Office in Iloilo, located in the Jaro District, to have her Illinois Driver's License changed to a Filipino license before her birthday in September. 
Read moreConversion of Foreign License to Philippine Driver’s License: My Asawa’s Experience, Part 2
We’re just now getting “Doomsday Preppers” in the Philippines from the National Geographic Channel. The show explores the lives of otherwise ordinary Americans who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it. Unique in their beliefs, motivations, and strategies, preppers will go to whatever lengths they can to make sure they are prepared for any of life’s uncertainties. I watched the first episode the other night. I found it quite entertaining and even humorous at times.
Photo Source: tokyomango.com
Read moreDoomsday Preppers and Bug-Out Bags in the Philippines
(Here's part one of a guest post from Randy who's sharing his recent adventure to the Philippines. Thanks, Randy! Great story and photos. —Dave.)
Our trip from Tupelo, MS. began early enough at 0200 with a 1.5 hour drive to Memphis International Airport. We boarded an American Airlines flight at 0600 bound for Chicago where we connected to Asiana Airlines for the long two legged trip to Manila, via Seoul, Korea.