We've recently hired a new domestic helper for our household in Guimaras. The crusty old expat, yours truly, issued an "executive order" which proclaimed a new part-time helper was needed to augment our current staff. My “executive order” was not held up in any federal court. (more…)
"More Female Pushers in Iloilo Peddling Shabu." In Western Visayas, the region of the archipelago we call home, 34 women have been arrested for drug dealing. The bulk of females selling shabu (meth) are located on nearby Panay Island, Iloilo province. (more…)
Our new Filipina helper was fired on her first day on the job. We had previously committed to hiring a Pinay whose mother-in-law was reportedly an aswang. But that new domestic assistant never showed up for work.
("You're fired!" graphic source: Meme Generator)
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You can't be a true Filipino if you don't sing karaoke. Pinoys and Pinays take their singing seriously to the extent that people have even been murdered for butchering Frank Sinatra's "My Way" in their local establishments. (more…)
It's a new year. 2016. Maybe you're an expat living in the Philippines considering ways to bring in some extra cash. Should you start a micro-financing business in the Philippines? (more…)
Decades ago I was in the United States Air Force military police. Maybe that's why I always make it a point to be sociable to peace officers no matter where I'm at but especially in the Philippines. I've met quite a few friendly police men and security guards in nearby Iloilo on Panay Island and on our own island province. So I guess it shouldn't come as a complete shock to my readers when I post a title such as the one above: "I Join the Guimaras SWAT Team at Manggahan." (more…)
Regular readers of Philippines Plus know that I excel at doing as little as possible. I've perfected my slothfulness to a fine art after almost six years of living in the Philippines. But retirement in this archipelago comes with a price: notoriety. Thus, many of my stalwart subscribers, especially those that have visited or who reside in the PH, will not be surprised by the title of this post: "I'm Adored as a Rock Star by Pretty Pinays at Manggahan 2015." (more…)
It was to be expected. Our Isuzu D-Max 4×2 Automatic truck has disappeared from Iloilo City. My asawa received a text yesterday from Looney (Tunes), our salesman at the Isuzu dealership. "Ma'am, I'm sorry but the black 4x2 automatic D-Max is no longer available." My wife was on the front porch sorting rice (see lead photo) while Lolo carried on an animated conversation with his favorite dead relative, Fernando, so I took it upon myself to reply to Looney (and since the message was in English and not the native Ilonggo, I could actually decipher the text.)
We had first met Looney when he was at Robinsons Place in Iloilo where the Isuzu dealership staff were showing the latest models available from their establishment. One of the trucks on hand was a black D-Max Automatic Crew Cab. After
Will Lolo's new nipa hut serve as the temporary HQ for the Tom Cat? Regular readers of Philippines Plus will know that The Tom Cat, who has spent time in the Philippines, is an American friend of mine currently living in the Sunshine State, Florida. He is engaged to one of my asawa's thousands of relatives, LenLen, who resides on our island province. LenLen's and The Tom Cat's touching story of how they met can be found in this post from June 2011: Romance at Raymen?
LenLen and the Tom Cat (more…)
I hadn't stepped foot in the United States of American for over five years since retiring to the Philippines. But this past late September, I was back in the USA. It was the return of the American expat. My only reason for my visit was to see my 82-year-old Father who had retired to Las Vegas several years ago.
The view from my hotel window in Las Vegas.
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To celebrate my asawa's upcoming birthday, I had decided we should take a trip and visit some of the best shopping malls in Bacolod City, the Philippines. Now, other than working in our yard and tenderly caring for her beloved plants and flowers, my spouse also loves to shop. What better way for my beloved wife to celebrate than to go bargain hunting and picking up a new pair of shoes...or two.
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