Robbie in and around Tacloban

UPDATE - FOREIGNER IN THE PHILIPPINES – CREATING A FUTURE FOR WIFE AND DAUGHTER We have started to develop the approximate 2 hectares of land I purchased for my wife and young daughter. The land was cleared by hand and ploughed twice. There is a guy in this village who contracts out ploughing at 500 peso/hour. So we have planted 1500 plants of string beans. As the plants start to grow they need stakes and need to be tied up. This is manual labor where bamboo is cut and stakes implanted. The rest of the vegetable land has another green vegetable planted Okra and some pumpkin. There is also approximately 4000 square meters planted with rice. 1200 STRING BEAN PLANTS IN SOME PUMKIN- GROWING QUICK Foreigner flying blind I am not sure what profit we will make from this venture as it is all a learning curve. Allot depends on the weather and as it is known we are in a typhoon area although the season is not quite here yet. When the crop is ready to harvest then I ...

The liberation of the Philippines started   with the battle of Leyte. When people visit the Tacloban the concentration of people visit MacArthur Memorial Park which is very significant. When you read the history there are many stories that stand out. This is one of them.   A heroic act by a young man There is another significant hero during these times. His name is Valeriano Abello. From what I have read Valeriano Abello was a boy scout. Before landing by liberation forces in this area one could imagine there would be a large concentration of artillery bombardment on Japanese positions. Valeriano Abello along with friends Antero Zunia and Vicente Tiston paddle out to sea from the beach towards the nearest allied ship. They used white cloth as flags to signal the message that there are civilians around the beach area. They offered to help allied ships in re directing shelling to enemy onshore positions. This most definitely would have reduced the extent of civil...

I have stayed at the Leyte Park Hotel many times before settling in to living the Dulag Area some 35 km from Tacloban City Area. The Hotel was built from my information by the former First Lady Imelda Marcos. In February 1979 construction commenced and the hotel was opened 1980. So there is a bit of history here. The hotel is set on a 6 hectare property which could be described as park like setting. The view from the upper rooms and dining area overlooking San Pedro Bay is magnificent. A PICTURE IS WORTH A 1000 WORDS- VIEW FROM MY ROOM There has been a bit of deterioration over the years and have heard the hotel is up for sale. Still it is a nice place to stay. We stay here from time to time with my wife and daughter if we have business in Tacloban City. The cost of a room is 2700 peso with breakfast for two.   ($54 US) The restaurant is more suited to the Philippines but I have been living here awhile and use to it. The breakfast is basic but fresh fruit and vari...

EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE PHILIPPINES Parents in the Philippines try so hard to give their children the best education they can. There is one thing in the Philippines, the parents will try so hard to give their children a better life through education. In this Dulag Barangay (village) I see the children go to school every day. The children are well dressed and clean. Even being poor they go to tremendous lengths to do the best they can for their children. It is very expiring Before marriage it was always agreed with my wife I would give opportunity to her family the best I can and within my means. Some disappointment from a foreign spouse My wife has 3 brothers. One is a truck driver in Manila and happy doing that work. The second brother wanted to be a policeman but could not pass the entrance exam. We then paid for a security guard course and he is now also working in Manila. The youngest brother wanted to study welding and fabrication but dropped out in his thi...

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY MANILA PHILIPPINES Bonifacio Global City is one of nicest areas to stay and visit in the Manila area. There is great shopping restaurants and other attractions. This is where you will find Philippine people living from the middle class to the rich. The area is very safe from personal experience. I speak to many foreigners, some living in the Philippines and others visiting as tourists. Many have never heard of this city which surprises me! You may here other names like BGC or the Fort. The area, years ago was part of the main Philippine Army Base Accommodation There are a number of hotels within BGC. I have only ever stayed at the  SEDA HOTEL which is very good with great service. Another option is to rent a condominium if you plan to stay in the area for a number of days. Another alternative is to stay just out of Global City. I needed to stay in the area for a month with my family so we rented a 2 bedroom condominium at Cypress Towe...

When visiting the Philippines the last thing to cross our minds is Luxury cars. Living here for 10 years I was quite amazed myself. I first started to notice the presents of luxury cars when visiting Bonifacio Global City in the Manila area. I was walking around the area near St Luke’s hospital and could not believe my eyes. There were 3 dealerships side by side . JAGUAR    FERRARI and MASERATI . I was curious and had to have a look.   JAGUAR,FERRARI,MASERATI DEALERSHIPS SIDE BY SIDE I entered the Ferrari dealership and made some enquiries even though there was no chance I could ever make a purchase. But the salesman was very helpful. I was told the Ferrari in the picture below would cost 20M peso or $400K US. The other model in the show room was more expensive at 25M peso. THIS MODEL FERRARI COST 20M PESO I wondered if there were more dealerships in Bonifacio Global City and yes there are. ROLLS ROYCE , LAMBORGHINI , BMW , and I pres...

INTRODUCTION  I returned from the Middle East to the Philippines after sugary for a serious illness. I received additional treatment at St Lukes Hospital Global City and prospects are good for a full recovery. So you have to deal with the situation at hand. You cannot change the wind but you can adjust the sails. This allows for a topic for what is the hospital treatment is like in the Philippines from someone who has experienced provincial hospitals to one of the best hospitals in Manila. (See full story below) I was working in Egypt on a roster of 6 weeks on 3 weeks off. I was getting stomach pains and just putting it down to bad food or maybe an ulcer. I got very sick and was transported by ambulance and underwent emergency surgery at Port Galib hospital on the Red Sea. This hospital was built to offer tourist to the area emergency medical care. I spent 3 weeks in hospital before being allowed to return to the Philippines under the escort of a doctor. I visited St Luke’...