One of my favorite bloggers, Dave Dewall, is featured in this post. By his own words he is “quirky”.   I call him and excellent storyteller!  I appreciate him taking the time to answer a few questions and really exited about this interview.

Once you read a little of what Dave has written, I promise you will come back for more. What makes an interesting read is someone who has the ability to keep you glued to the page. Dave’s offbeat style is his own and something you won’t get anywhere else!

If you ever had a favorite uncle who could really tell stories, Dave is that man..

If there was anyone in the Philippines who I would love to kick back and have a beer with Dave would be at the top of the list!

Dave Dewall

1. What year did you move to the Philippines and what was going through your mind that made the decision for you?

Moved to the Philippines in July 2009. The main reason we made the decision to move was that I was tired and fed up with my job at AT&T and incredibly bored after almost 30 years with the company. I wanted a change. Took a lump sum payment from my company instead of a pension, invested it. Sold our house in Illinois and since my wife already owned a home and property in the Philippines in the rural province of Guimaras, we decided to make the move.

2. What was the hardest thing that you had to get used to when you first got there?

Lack of privacy and the weather. We had a big home in the States with a huge yard. I was used to having my own room and my “Man Cave,” the garage. Currently we live in one room, the living room which has been converted to our bedroom. My mother-in-law, and at the time, four other nieces and a nephew lived in our house when we moved there. Torrential rains, heat and humidity took a awhile to adjust to. We have an air con in our bedroom now.

3. Where did you meet your wife? If you don’t mind, a little background here.

Met my wife, Melinda, through a pen pal service. Started writing to her in June 1999 when she was working overseas in Taiwan as a caregiver and domestic helper. Proposed to her in one of my letters, and she accepted. Went to the Philippines in January 2000, and we got married four days after I arrived. Took over nine months for her to join me in the States using the Spousal Visa.

4. What is it that you like most about the Philippines?

The people. The laid back life style. Cheaper cost of living. The dollar versus the Philippine Peso exchange rate has gone down since we moved, but we’re still living comfortably.

5 If you could give advice to someone thinking of moving to the PH, what would it be?

Research, research, research. Check out other expat websites or websites of those that have visited the Philippines. Join forums of expats living in the Philippines and ask questions.

6. Explain what you think has made you a successful blogger in this niche? (Yes Dave, I consider you very successful).

Thanks, Randall, for considering me a successful blogger in my niche. I appreciate it. I suppose any success I have had is due to my storytelling ability. I am a little quirky, have a strange sense of humor, and like to try and entertain people along with presenting them some useful information about moving to the Philippines. I don’t sugarcoat my experiences about living in the Philippines. I’ll give my readers the good side and the bad. However, I can honestly say the positive things about living in the Philippines far outweigh the bad.

Make sure you go over to The Philippines Plus, Dave’s site.  He has an endless supply of information about the Philippines.  He has so many stories, useful information and so much more!

Thanks Dave for taking the time to answer some questions..

Unlikely scenario right? Mindanao Bob (Bob Martin) says it aint so!

At the tender age of 38 years young, Bob moved to the Philippines in May of 2000. He came to Mindanao with $100,000 in his pocket hoping to live for many years. I like the way he puts it in his book 49 Ways to Earn a Living in the Philippines, “There are a lot of people who are happy to separate you from your money”.

He took a some of his money and invested in “businesses” suggested by “friends and relatives”. After two years he was looking for a way to survive.

His wife suggested that he try to sell on E-Bay like he did in the States.  Bob is never one to give up easily and he certainly didn’t want to go back to the U.S.  He had to find a way!

Before long he was running 500 to 1000 auctions on E-Bay and launching various internet ventures as well.  Long story short through grit and determination he had become a successful internet marketer living in paradise.

I admire Bob and his body of work.  Just search Bob “Martin” or “Mindanao Bob” on the internet and you will find his work all over it.  I bought his book as many others have.  Interesting? Yes! but what is even more striking is the glimpse you see inside the mind of Bob Martin.

When you read through his book a man who’s mind is not confined by convention and who is willing to try anything to make his goals and dreams come true.  When you have to come up with something it is amazing how creative you can be.

I left my job back in January to pursue a part time business full time.  It’s amazing the thoughts, ideas and motivation you can summon when you have no other options.

Life is about what you choose to do.  I have found that anything is possible if you work at it hard enough.  It is my dream to live in the Philippines and am currently positioning myself to do just that.  I want the freedom to travel as I please and have the finances to accomplish it.

Buying Bob’s book was just one of the steps I have taken on my journey to the Philippines.

Take some time and Search Mindanao Bob and see what you come up with.  He is a great resource.

Mindanao Bob Internet Marketing Guru

Janet Brent

I sit here sipping hot tea… been enjoying a new blog called “The Purple Panda”

This blog is different.  She (Janet) is an American born Filipino.  She left Portland, Oregon to discover her roots and maybe a whole lot more about herself.

I first heard about her through another friend, Ashlee Ambirge from “The Middle Finger Project” This is one I follow and just love her writing style and it’s sexy sassiness of course!

Ash

Janet has is currently  somewhere near Manila living extremely modestly giving up comfort for self discovery and ease for a life filled with adventure   How many people do you know who have walked 660 km just in Palawan?

Yes, she is different from most blogs in this niche but I think you will find her entertaining, funny and at the very least, interesting.

I would encourage you to go over to her blog and check it out.  She is young compared to most of the Filipino bloggers I follow but you will find her ideas fresh and you might even learn something.

Oh, yes, Janet has many talents and is available for hire.

Janet Brent

A Sneak Peak At “The Filipino Party”

A Filipino party is a unique experience.  No matter where you are from in the Philippines, it is almost always the same.  Filipino’s know how to have fun!

It’s the first time my wife has seen her cousin in 15 years.  This could be anywhere in the world but this time it is in Alabama.

We arrive in the evening just before dark.  I have never met any of these people.  We are met outside by smiles that have been waiting for a long time.  Have you ever been somewhere and instantly felt at home?  Filipinos make you feel like that.   We enter the house to the sounds of family gathered in the living room and kitchen.  It is a given that the smell of food will be in the air. You just have to be there to experience it as it unfolds.  There is no organization about it at all.

I had discussed with my wife  as to how many people would be at the house that night.  She replied that there might be one more person besides family.   She was right when we arrived but it didn’t take long to see that we were in it for the long haul!  I immediately made myself at home and sat at the table with my new found friend Meo.  He is my wife’s, cousins’ husband, he is   from Bicol in Luzon province.   He is a thin man with a long ponytail.  A hardworking dude with a flair for Photography.  We shared a few beers (with his brother also).  We discussed our lives and generally got to know each other for a while.

It is an experience that is repeated throughout the Filipino community.  Although I am American  I am accepted without reservation in this household.  We engage for sometime looking into the future of the evening and what it hold for us.  While we talk, others in the family begin to move in and the home begins to resemble a family reunion of sorts.  Little did I know it would turn into a night to remember.

Meo led me out to the back porch all the time  eating Pulutan (Filipino for snacks) to an expansive screened in porch that overlooked the road that they lived on.  As new (to me) guests showed up I could tell that this was a place that was a regular hangout for local Filipinos.  I was amazed to find that Meo had buillt a full size Kareoke Machine and it was sitting on his back porch ready for service.  The Filipino Party is a fluid event that has no start and no end, often with guests/family spending the night.   As the night unfolded and people came (and more beer of course), the house was packed and full of music.

One note that I want to express.  There were many children there.  Most children born of Filipino parents don’t end up speaking their parents native language.  I am pleased to report that all young ones here at this house were very fluent in Tagalog.

Continuing on, some were good singers, some were not.  One thing for sure, everyone had a great time!  There was one group singing on the inside of the house (the children) and one group on the outside.

There was an abundance of food as always and friendly conversations flowed naturally all night long.  I guess as an American (random white guy), I appreciate the culture that these folks have.  You know, growing up we didn’t have gatherings like this.  We visited family once in a while around the holidays and that was about it!

There is a sense of belonging in the Filipino community.  There is a closeness that is not felt in all cultures and that is one of the things I like best!

Oh yeah, the exciting part… The local police had to break up the party around 1:30 a.m. due to the noise.  It was a peaceful breakup but it goes to show how Filipinos love their parties!

This is just a common post but I wanted to try in a small way to relay what it is like to experience a “Filipino Party“.

]]> http://thephilippinesproject.com/uncategorized/party-time-philippines/feed/ 0 http://thephilippinesproject.com/travel-to-the-philippines/5-best-reasons-to-travel-to-the-philippines/ http://thephilippinesproject.com/travel-to-the-philippines/5-best-reasons-to-travel-to-the-philippines/#comments Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:03:01 +0000 admin http://thephilippinesproject.com/?p=608

I think often about the Philippines.  Right now I feel as though I am stranded in a foreign country merely waiting for that wonderful day when I can go home again.

I begin to ponder exactly why I am so attracted to such a dirty and wonderful place.  I must give my top ten reasons as to why I aspire to travel, live and fully experience that wonderful exotic country that I have come to love.

1.  WHITHOUT A DOUBT IT HAS TO BE THE ALWAYS SMILING,EVER POLITE, FILIPINO PEOLE.

There is a magically captivating persona that seems to be intrinically woven into the culture of the native Filipino.   Yes, I am biased on this subject however I do have real life  experience to back it up as well.

2.  THE PACE OF LIFE:

Traveling to the Philippines is a step back in time to a place where we in the United States will never be again.  When life was meant to be enjoyed and lived, not to be squandered and wasted.  Time stands still compared to our treadmill that we “enjoy” in the States.

3.   THE FOOD:

I have come to love the food that is so expertly prepared.  It is freshly prepared from fresh ingredients and enjoyes in a family setting that we Americans have forgotten long ago.

In the Philippines a meal is a gathering time for all family members to come together and re-unite as one unit and discuss the days events and share in the joy of each others company.

Cooking is an art born from not having all the most up to date gadgets that adorn the western kitchen and dinner is often prepared over a charcoal stove with loving care.

There is no substitute for a home cooked Filipino meal eaten with your hands in the presense of family.  Just my opinion of course.

4.  COST OF TRAVEL:

Once you get there (if you watch you can get there for $1000.00)  Your expenses will be minimal compared to most countries.  Transportation is cheap once on the ground there and much more exciting that you will get at home!   You can find accomodations anywhere from the most expensive to a paupers budget depending on your finances and taste for adventure.   They have American style hotels in the larger cities or pension houses and local hotels with minimum conveniences based on your preferences.

5. The Ambiance:

There is just something about landing on the ground in the Philippines.  Once you arrive you know you are home.  The heat, the humidity the sights and smells welcome you back like a long lost lover.

I cannot explain the way you feel when you get off of an airplane after you have travelled for 30 hours.

 I do know how I felt the last time I visited the Philippines.

 Standing in line at 4 different international airports, being hassled from the time you arrive at your first to when you get to your destination! Then you realize, “Hey I paid good money for this!”

This was my second trip. When you are beyond tired sometimes I believe you find yourself in a different state of consciousness. The feeling I had after I knew all the security checks were over, baggage collected and customs had cleared us was one of relief and expectation! We were to meet a friend of ours, a first time face to face with a woman we had met online (another story for another day!) Ninoy Aquino, the Philippines largest airport. We were about to make our exit.

We made our toward the doors leading out with luggage in tow. Leaving the comfort of the airport we felt the first blast of our new uniquely Filipino environment!
The smell of the city hit us like an unfortunate fall, the kind that happens so fast by the time that you are on the ground you have to ask yourself “What just happened?”.

 The realization quickened our minds and senses to the reality that we were finally back in the Philippines!

 We labored down the ramp through the crowd hoping to see the woman that was to meet us. This time when I breathed my first of the Philippine air I knew I was once again home in a strange country that I have learned to love! We gazed for a few moments across the road where all the people gathered to welcome visitors and family members. We searched for the new friend we were about to meet, at once she appeared from the crowd in typical filipina fashion, with a big smile and a welcoming wave! This was the beginning of my second adventure to this strange but fascinating homeland of my wife.
Why did I post this? I’m not even quite sure at the moment. The title suggests a silly premise.

 The point is not the smell of an emerging nation but memory that it invoked. I guess what I am trying to convey is that all that is known, learned, and experienced by a person is not the sum total of reality. Whoever you are, wherever you are, however your grew up shaped the person you became. Your environment, your parents, your peers, shaped how you view the world and what you consider to be the truth about the world you live in.
My greatest desire is to help people. Truth is one of life’s greatest gifts. Look around at your very familiar surroundings. I want to enable folks just like you to uncover the fact that your personal reality, your personal flavor of the truth is not the final authority. There is a vast sea of humanity located in different countries, cities and neighborhoods. They wake up everyday just like you and have hope for a better existence just like you. Beautiful cultures with different points of view and experiences that have the right to not only exist but to thrive just as we do!

Dateline January 8, 2011,  on CNN  Please click the link to view.  

   

I have spent a lot of time in the Philippines.  I have a lot of memories from there.   

   

I know there are troubles everywhere in the world.  It is funny how the U.S. is still considered a 

 safe country.  

I think this is my third post on this subject, (and my last for a while).  If you watch the video on the 

 link above you will have to admit that while it is “big news”, it is not all that uncommon here in the 

 states. 

On the other hand:

I have freinds that live in the Philippines right now and have for years that lead simple quiet happy 

 lives in a safe enviornment.  Let me introduce you to a few. 

Dave Dewall 

Dave Dewall

He is an American living in Guimaras (Central Philippines).  Guimaras is an Island paradise where 

 they grow the best Mangoes in the world.  He enjoys life with his Wife of many years after 

 retirement from ATT. 

Please click on his name and it will take you to his site.  Dave has a funny, sarcastic writing style 

 (which I love).  He always manages to bring a smile to my face and he writes about the craziest 

 stuff!  

Dave is a personable guy who quietly works away on an island in the Philipines that most people 

 have never heard of.  Talk about getting away from it all! 

Charle Harmon:   

Charles Harmon

 Charles is one of the smartest guys I know.  He lives in Cebu Philippines and makes a living as a 

 webmaster for several companies in Texas.  He lives with his wife and a couple of small kids.  He 

 makes his living with his computer and enjoys the lifestyle of the Philippines.   ]]> http://thephilippinesproject.com/uncategorized/america-safe-and-secure/feed/ 0 http://thephilippinesproject.com/travel-to-the-philippines/france-modifies-travel-advisory-for-the-philippines/ http://thephilippinesproject.com/travel-to-the-philippines/france-modifies-travel-advisory-for-the-philippines/#comments Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:00:04 +0000 admin http://thephilippinesproject.com/?p=602

I can’t believe France is taking the lead on this!  France has never been my favorite country politically but I certainly welcome their relaxation of the travel advisory.  I feel it is time for the U.S. to step up and smell the coffee!  It pisses me off!, I mean the arrogance of the U.S. to issue the warnings to it’s citizens about the Philippines. 

A recent survey came out about the most dangerous American Cities.  Guess what?  St. Louis Missouri (about two hours from my house) was voted most dangerous.

I want to warn everyone who is even thinking about traveling to the Philippines.  Don’t go!

Haven’t you heard about all the kidnappings there?

The U.S. State Department has issued warnings to U.S. citizens about traveling to the Philippines.

The Philippines has had at least five terrorist related incidents this year!

Let’s take a step back for a minute and examine something.  How do we define dangerous?  Could it be maybe how many murders are carried out in a country?  That would be a fair barometer as long as we are spouting stats and scaring the hell out of people. 

Let’s compare the murder rates of say.. I don’t know.. the U.S. and the Philippines.    Oh, wait, this can’t be true!  Did you know that this year there have been almost 10,000 more murders in the U.S. than in the Philippines?   Oh, well then, there must be more people in the U.S. than in the Philippines so that’s why the number looks like that.  Ok, well, 310 million in the U.S. and the Philippines?  94 million. 

Wait, that means the murder rate in the U.S. is about .04 per 1000 people.  So I looked at countries listed from top to bottom and found that we (U.S.) were listed 24th of 62 countries on the list.  Guess what?  The Philippines is not even on the list?  How could this be true?

I learned a long time ago not to believe everything I hear.  Do you know that there are people travelling all over the world right now and they are releativly safe?  One blog I read almost every week is one called “Wandering Earl” . This guy is amazing.  He lives from the income he derives from his laptop and globetrots all over the world.  He is right now in Syria.  He has found it to be one of the most welcoming places (and pro American by the way) of all the countries he has been too!

I know of several Americans living in the Philippines full time such as Dave Dewall.  He lives on an island calle “Guimaras” with his wife and enjoying life to the fulles and writes about it often.  Dave has a funny, practical view of life in the Philippines as an American.

I have found Filipino’s to be the most warm, friendly people in the world.  I love to go and visit!  The economy is getting better, and the U.S. dollar goes very far.  Right now the exchange rate is about 43 pesos per one U.S. dollar.$40.00, a meal can be had for one dollar on the street.   I took my whole family to the movie in Iloilo for about $12.00.  That was about 12 of us!

You can always find reasons for not doing something.  Fear should not always be your guide.  Remember we had over 3,000 people killed in a terrorist attack in Manhatton and we still go to see the place.  I’ve been there twice! 

Dare to live your life and get outside of your comfort zone. 

If you liked this post, please subcribe via e-mail and you will get regular updates!  If you are looking for a little adventour in your life maybe we can travel to the Philippines sometime soon! 

I had the great opportunity to see the Bayanihan last Saturday night.  If you ever get a chance to see them you must go! 

The talent of these fine dancers is amazing.  I was awestruck by the fact that no matter where you look on the stage, there was something to amazed at.  It was truely an entertaining night.

The origin of the term bayanihan can be traced from a common tradition in Philippine towns where community members volunteer to help a family move to a new place. The process involves literally carrying the house to its new location. This is done by putting bamboo poles forming a strong frame to lift the stilts from the ground and carrying the whole house with the men positioned at the ends of each pole. A muralby Filipino National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco illustrates the process. The tradition also features a small fiesta hosted by the family to express gratitude to the volunteers.

I got this next excerpt from Wikepedia: 

The Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company is the oldest dance company in the Philippines.^[1] A multi-awarded company, both nationally and internationally,^[2] Guillermo Gomez Rivera has called it the “depository of almost all Filipino dances, dress and songs.”^[3]

The company was founded in 1957 by Helena Z. Benitez and debuted May 27, 1958 at Expo ’58, the Brussels World Fair responding to the request of then President Ramon Magsaysay.^[4] Since then they have made at least 14 major tours to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, US and the Middle East. It has performed in 6 continents, 66 counties and 700 cities worldwide.^[4] They perform folk dances from throughout the Philippines and from other countries.^[1] The group takes its name from the Filipino word bayanihan which means working together for a common good.^[2]

In appreciation and recognition of their pioneering efforts and international success in the realm of Filipino dance, the people of the Philippines through the 10th Congress enacted R. A. 8626 declaring the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company as The Philippines National Folk Dance Company.^[2]

^{There is alot of information that could be gathered about this fine dance company, however, until you go see them in person you will never know how good they are.}

^{They are a little expensive to see but it was worth every penny!} 

^{I like the explanation of the term “Bayanihan”.  It is all about working together for the common good.  I witnessed this as I made my way to the back of the building at the end of the show.  All the actors pitched in and helped load the truck.  You won’t see that in many companies.} 

^{I am always amazed at the resiliency of the Filipino people and have noticed the “Bayanihan” in action during footage of natural disasters displayed across T.V.}

^{If you ever notice, after a flood or other similar calamity, you will see some smiling Filipinos working to get back to normal without complaining about their circumstances.}

^{I guess that is why the Philippiines is dubbed “The Land of A Thousand Smiles”.}