My lovely asawa and I recently witnessed a St. Valentine’s Day Massacre at the Guimaras Mountain Resort. OK, I, confess. Maybe only a few turkeys and chickens were actually sacrificed for the buffet dinner. However, Valentine’s Day, 1929, in Chicago, produced a very “Bloody Valentine.” Seven members of “Bugs” Moran’s gang were gunned down. The slaughter was attributed to rival gangster Al “Scarface” Capone.
Read moreSt. Valentine’s Day Massacre: Guimaras Mountain Resort
While we were in Puerto Princesa Palawan, my asawa and I decided to visit the Underground River. Puerto Princesa’s pride is easily the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (or Underground River), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
My friends in the United States recently finished celebrating Labor Day. I used to look forward to the three day holiday when I worked at AT&T. Now, I enjoy unlimited 3-day weekends in the Philippines. In fact, every day is now a holiday for this crusty old American expat.
“Our Island Hopping Disappointment in Boracay.” I must have been asked over a thousand times if I wanted to go island hopping by various salesmen during our four day stay in Boracay. I was getting pissed with all the perpetual pestering.
We kicked off the Chinese New Year with a celebration at the Mango Terrace in Guimaras. The Mango Terrace Pension Hotel, the former Shirven Hotel, is under new ownership and management. The establishment featured an all-you-can-eat buffet at 400 pesos a head, 8.50 U.S. Dollars, this past Monday evening to ring in the Year of the Monkey.
Read moreChinese New Year Celebration at Mango Terrace Pension Hotel in Guimaras
I was inside working on the 2016 updated, revised version of my book, “The Philippines Expat Advisor.” I heard my asawa talking to someone outside. I peeked from my man cave window and noticed it was one of our former workers, Melcher. He had some coconuts. Not surprised, he’s the nephew of the brothers that sold us our property and he’s a neighbor. My wife had sent some leftover Christmas fruit salad to his Mother via our nephew Sherwen the day before. After his visit, I was informed that we would be in attendance for the christening of Merry Joy in the Philippines the next afternoon.
Living in “paradise,” believe it or not, is not always the utopia you might think it is. After over six years of living in the Philippines I thought it would be a good time to compile my “Top 10 Stress-Busters for Living in the Philippines.”
Read moreTop 10 Stress-Busters for Living in the Philippines
It’s fiesta time at our sleepy barangay on the island province of Guimaras. When I first heard my asawa mention that it was time for their annual celebration, I scratched my head (not my butt this time) and wondered out loud: “Why was an Asian country celebrating what I thought was a Mexican tradition?”
What would I have done differently after 6 yrs. in the Philippines?
Read moreWhat Would I Have Done Differently After 6 Yrs. in the Philippines?