In September 2009 I made my second trip to Naval Biliran. It was typhoon season so I didn’t see the blue skies of my first visit. Instead this time it was overcast and a rained at least part of everyday. (Note to self: next time stay home in the storm season) We had a pretty good time anyway we arrived in Naval in the lull between two typhoons.  Most of the typhoons turn north to the east of Samar and usually just dump rain in the Eastern Visayas. This was one of those times fortunately for us.

On our first stay in Naval we stayed at Marvin’s seaside resort.  Due to the sea being rough and the fact that Marvin’s hosed up our reservation we stayed at another resort this time. The Biliran Garden. This is located a little way up the mountain from Naval just off the road that crosses the island. It is indeed a garden. The grounds are well maintained and have a variety of plants and flowers. The room rates are quite reasonable. It has two swimming pools. (I didn’t want to swim in the storm so we didn’t try them) The resturant had a good variety on the menu. They were out of lettuce but the resturant staff got pretty good at crafting salads for me out of what was available.

The resort area was quiet and restful. I took several walks around the area in between the rain. We enjoyed our time there very much. So I would definitely recommend either of these resorts if you plan a stay in Naval. They offer a good contrast depending on what type of atmosphere you prefer. 

We also walked around the town a little more and took some pictures. We paid a visit to the Provincial Capitol which is along the highway. They were having their town fiesta while we were there. There was a parade which we didn’t get to see much of because we were trying to get up the hill to check in. Due to the stormy weather not too many other outside activities were occurring. I will be back to Naval again. It seems like a nice place to kick back and relax. 

When you are ready to move how do you send the stuff you really can’t live without? There are several methods of shipping goods to the Philippines. If you have a lot of household goods you might want to send an entire container. Unless you have an exemption be prepared to pay an import duty on your stuff. This can amount to several times the actual cost of shipping depending on what you have sent. Be sure you deal with a reputable company that will clear the container through the customs yard for you.

If you have less you might just ship a few (or quite a few) boxes. You can send boxes through the post office or through a number of commercial package companies. (Like DHL or FED EX) These methods tend to be costly because they are sent by air. You do get your stuff faster that way. If you don’t have a lot to send or if you have some things you will need right away you might want to use this method.

Another common way to send your stuff. (Or just to send goodies to your friends and family) is via Balikbayan boxes. These are available in several sizes (custom sized boxes are also accepted by many of the carriers) and travel by surface shipment so the weight of the contents doesn’t usually affect the price. The time it takes to arrive varies due to where it is sent from and where it is going to. From the west coast of the US to Manila is normally three to four weeks. (Don’t ship cheese)     There a number of companies who ship these boxes so you should be able to find a convenient carrier in most parts of the US. Many countries in Europe also have carriers that will ship these kinds of boxes.

So what are you waiting for? Get a box pack your stuff and get over there. 

Well I recently returned from my stay in  the Philippines. Getting around there can be many things but it is never boring. So here are a few pictures of the transportation I used on my last trip.

I flew from Phoenix to LA to Inchon to Cebu. Approximately 24 hours of total travel time. I was fragrant upon arrival. We’ll leave it at that. A few days in Cebu where we moved around by Taxi and Jeepney then we were off to Tacloban Leyte. We flew from Mactan to Tacloban and hired a van and driver to give us a tour. (More on that is coming) We traveled around in Tacloban by jeepney and tricycle. I was told there are taxi’s in Tacloban. I never saw any.

From Tacloban we took a V-Hire to Bool Biliran. Not many tricycles or jeepnys around the town. (None) So you get around on your own motorcycle. Don’t have one? Then switch to manual mode. (That’s right we walked) It is not a large community so not too much trouble walking where you are going.

From Bool we took a mini bus to Naval. The bus drops you off in the market area and from there we took a tricycle up to the resort. We took tricycles in and out of town during our stay and when we left we took a tricycle to town where we caught another V-Hire to Ormoc Leyte.

From Ormoc we caught the Super Cat to back to Cebu our starting point. Whew.

Wait we’re not done. A few days later we took the bus to Bogo Cebu. Tricycles around the town and good old shoe leather express (We walked) got us where we needed to go. Then another bus back to Cebu.

After recovering form all this adventure it was a Taxi back to Mactan Airport for the return to Phoenix. The return took me from Cebu to Inchon. (Then here is a surprise.) Inchon to Tokyo. (always read the itinerary guys) Tokyo to LA and LA back to Phoenix. I arrive home relaxed and refreshed. (Actually I look like I was hit by a jeepny and dragged and I smelled like an old gym locker) International travel is not for the weak.

I don’t think there are very many modes of transportation in the Philippines I have not tried at least once. I even rode in one of those pony carts once. (The ASPCA sent me a letter of repremand. Apparently they think since I weighed more than the pony I should have been pulling the cart.) I’ve never ridden a Carabao. Maybe next time. Overall I had a great time and I’m going again next year.

When I was in Cebu City in October of 2008 one of the places I visited was Fort San Pedro. (Cebu City:Philippines Places I Have Visited) It is a historic Spanish Fort located in Cebu City. The Interior has a lot of plants and greenery. There is a small museum on the grounds which I had heard was very nice.  “Sorry Sir closed on Sundays.” OK I leave Monday so we’ll try again.

In October of 2009 I made a point to go to Fort San Pedro. (Not on a Sunday this time but Friday.) I have included a picture of the sign that greeted me on the museum door. Sometimes you just can’t win. It was still a nice visit and a nice place to stroll around.

The normal storm track for most of these storms is to head straight into Samar and then turn north just before it gets there. Dumping lots of rain on Samar and Leyte but not usually doing much damage. (Occasionally though one keeps going straight through.)

Once they turn north they either move along the east coast of Leyte or they swerve and go up the middle. Flooding in Manila is not uncommon during this time of the year but it is not normally so devastating.

A lot of Manila and the surrounding areas are built on the flood plain of the Pasig River. Several smaller rivers also flow through to the north and south. Over the years development in low lying areas and the clogging of the river and drainage channels with garbage have made these areas a disaster waiting to happen. The Manila area and the areas above it received a very heavy rainfall in a very short time and the water had nowhere to go but into the low areas surrounding the rivers.

The government has launched relief efforts and foreign aid is coming in to assist. To date the death toll stands at around 600 and many people are still stranded in flooded areas. It may be quite some time before some of the flooded areas are above water again. I hope the health agencies involved in this operation are taking precautions to prevent widespread illness in the people exposed to all that contaminated water and mud.

Let us hope that the low lying areas will not be developed again to prevent such a loss of life and property in the future. I offer my sincere condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.

Well here are a few more pictures from my trip. I will be loading more in upcoming posts.  Hope you all enjoy them.

In the Cities and larger towns you will see beggars. Sometimes they sit on the sidewalk sometimes they wander through traffic knocking on car windows when traffic stops. It is a sad site to see. However before  you give to these people there are some things you should know. Things are not always as they appear. Many of these beggars especially the children have managers who take most of the money they receive. Often the poor girl with the baby has borrowed the baby from a friend or neighbor so she can get more money. Some of the children begging have homes and are trying to pick up money for snacks or video games. Many of the true street children are rugby addicts (Glue Sniffers) and will spend the money on their habit not on food.

Another consideration before giving money is the people you give too will remember you and they will ask you every time they see you. Sometimes quite aggressively. Also any others who saw you give will also  ask. I normally do not give money to beggars. I will sometimes give them fruit or food. That way at least you know they will eat it. If you offer someone food and they refuse it you know they they are not as deprived as they appear. So what can be done? Giving to individuals in the street does no long term good for them. Also in some places you can be fined for doing so.

Unemployment is high and opportunities are low especially for those who cannot afford education. Wages are very low so many who work are still on the edge of poverty. So this will continue to be a growing problem as the population rises. The Philippine government provides few services to the poor. Religious and Charity groups provide assistance as well. A number of expats with available time and money assist these groups with their work.

I have listed a few charity groups I am aware of  in the links on the right column of the page. There are of course many others if you inquire. Not all charities are created equal so you should look into the services they provide and how the donations are spent before you contribute. I say this because some charities use a very large portion of the money donated for administrative costs. The more used for this purpose the less that makes it where it is really needed. So do a little homework to be sure at least most of your money will be used for what you intended it for. If you don’t want to contribute cash but still want to help look for a charity that accepts volunteers for their projects.

My purpose for this post is not to solicit for any particular organization or charity but just to offer some thoughts about what foreigners might do if they wish to help those around them who are truly in need. While most are not as rich as many Filipinos believe we are it is still possible to make a difference in a positive way.

Well now you’re here and you have a place I guess the next thing to decide is where do we sit. There are furnished apartments available to rent in many places. The furnishings supplied may not be to your taste and of course the rent will be higher on furnished units. The advantage to a furnished place is that it is easier for getting started since it will already have at least some of the things you need. Furnished you will find is open to some interpretation so what is actually furnished will vary widely.

If you decide to furnish yourself you will find a number of options available to you depending on your budget and what kind of furniture you prefer or can afford.

The big department stores sell furniture there are also numerous retail outlets in town at least in the larger towns. If you are in a remote area the selection will be much less. In addition to purchasing from a store it is also possible to purchase custom made furniture at what are considered in the west to be pretty reasonable prices. There is also native bamboo and rattan furniture as well as moulded plastic for those on a limited budget. The custom furniture places sometimes have retail outlets and sometimes you go directly to the factory. There were some of these places that manufactured exclusively for export but with the economic downturn many now entertain local clients as well. There is quite a bit to choose from if you take the time to look around.

I have heard from several expats that the quality of furniture being sold in retail outlets is not good. I haven’t seriously shopped for furniture myself so I cannot confirm or deny these reports. The items I have seen in the stores have looked nice but I did not closely examine them or give them the sit test. I have a rather tight budget for the moment so I opted for the locally made bamboo furniture. A couch two chairs a table and a floor lamp came in at about P2500. The cushions and the wiring for the lamp were extra but the total cost was still below P4000.

Native bamboo and rattan can often be purchased directly along the road (That’s where I got mine). This furniture is usually available quite cheaply and is often well made and sturdy. Just examine your purchases before you pay for them. (That is often true no matter where you buy. Very few places will accept returns)

Appliances tend to be smaller than in the US though full size models of some products are available. They may be much more expensive than what you would pay at home. The small refrigerator in the picture is a frost free and cost about P20,000 new. Most stoves are LP gas and are just the burners without an oven. Stoves with ovens are available. Keep in mind that electricity is also expensive in the Philippines so smaller appliances might be the way to go unless you really need the larger ones.

So what about a place to live? In the Philippines there are plenty of styles to choose from from High rise condos to native nipa huts. What is available to you depends a lot on where you choose to live. The prices also vary accordingly like all other things the more western features you desire the more it will cost you.  Manila is one of the most expensive places to live especially if you want to live in a condo or an apartment with western amenities.

Houses and apartments are available for rent in just about every City and Town. The High Rise Condos are more limited in availability and are only available in larger Cities. There are exclusive subdivisions with western style houses for rent as well as many subdivisions and residential areas where houses and apartments are available for more modest budgets. If you are looking for a moderately priced place these can be found in most places from P5000 to P25000 per month. The more westernized places in exclusive areas would be P30000 and up. Sometimes way up depending on where you are looking.

Many apartments will have only cold running water. If you need air conditioning you will normaly have to purchase it yourself. Outlets are almost 220VAC so if you bring appliances from home you may need transformers to convert the voltage. Also be aware in some units you may find fewer outlets than you might be used to. Sometimes only one in a room. 110VAC is available in some areas or if you have a house you may be able to have the power company install a transformer. You will of course have to pay for that.

The houses and apartments tend to be smaller than in the US. Bigger units are available if you look. You can usually find something to satisfy your housing requirements.

There are no central real estate listings like in the US. You usually find a place by going to an area where you would like to live and looking around for rental signs. Many people also get referrals from friends about available units near them. There are real estate companies that will help you look but they usually only show the places listed with them.

I only mentioned renting  in this post because foreigners are not allowed to own property in the Philippines. The exception to this rule is for high rise condo units. There are some restrictions on those as well. Condos are usually priced P3.5 million and up depending on the size and the amenities.  Whatever you find and wherever you decide to live don’t expect it to be just like the place you left behind.

I would like to mention I am not a real estate agent so the places pictured here are those typical of types where most foreigners might consider renting. I have no idea if any of the places pictured are actually available or what the exact price for rental would be. In the places I mentioned prices it is just a price range that this type of unit would be in. There are units available below P10000.

For those unfamiliar with apartments in the Philippines I would like to mention a couple of additional things. A lot of places in the Philippines have what is referred to as a dirty kitchen. (this doesn’t mean the kitchen is unclean) It is an area outside the house. Sometimes covered sometimes not where residents do a lot of their cooking and laundry. Most of the apartments I showed have them I mentioned the one I knew that did not. Most houses will also have them.

Cebu City is the largest city in the Visayas. It is the oldest city in the Philippines. It is centrally located which makes for convenient travel to other areas of the Philippines. The Airport located on Mactan Island is an international  port of entry which makes it possible to fly directly into Cebu from elsewhere in Asia. The number of airlines that fly into Cebu is on the increase so there are more connections from abroad every year. There are also numerous inter island flights to take you to other destinations in the Philippines. 

I made my first trip to Cebu City just a couple of years ago after years of plans that went astray. It is much smaller and in my opinion much friendlier than Manila. There is certainly less congestion on the roads and it is easier to travel around the city. There are numerous hotels that cater to foreign guests. I stayed with friend during my stay so I did not visit any of the hotels. There are several resort hotels on Mactan Island. (Where the Airport is located) This isn’t actually part of Cebu City but  it is just a short taxi ride away. There are also several big hotels in Cebu City itself.

There are no good beaches in Cebu City partially due to land reclamation. There are some on Mactan Island and also at resorts to the north and south. There are only a few tourist attractions in Cebu City so it doesn’t take long to see the sites. I have included pictures of some of them here.

There are at this time two major shopping malls in Cebu City both have recently undergone expansion. There is another planned for construction as well as several smaller malls and markets. I really enjoyed my stay in Cebu City and also traveled to other nearby areas. There is a Comedy club near Osmena circle we attended the show one evening and had an enjoyable time. There are several other clubs and night spots around the city for those who enjoy the night life.

If you are looking for a place to settle Cebu City is a less expensive area than Manila and has everything most people should need. There are at least two big hospitals and several smaller ones for those in need of health care during their stay.

There is a good sized expat community in Cebu City and the stores have a pretty good supply of imported goods if there is something from home you really want you might get lucky and find it. If it isn’t out of stock. That happens everywhere not just Cebu.

If you are looking for a place to visit or even to settle permanently Cebu City would certainly be worth looking at.

For sure if you have hobbies or interests that require special items that would have to be imported It wouldn’t hurt to stock up. For those who like cooking I have been told that quality cookware and gadgets can be very hard to find. Most spices are generally available but you may have to learn the local name and acquire it at one of the open markets.

If you like to read there are local bookstores but in many the selection is fairly small. So it wouldn’t hurt to bring along a few extra. Electronic items can be quite pricey especially computer and home entertainment items. If you bring your own remember the local power is mostly 220 VAC so you might need power converters.

The selection of products available is sometimes very limited. I recently purchased a camera for a friend because the model he wanted was either not available or was too expensive. Many online merchants will not ship to the Philippines. If they do you may find you have to pay an import duty to receive the shipment. Sometimes just a small amount but for many electronic items the duty is 100% or more of the value.

Generally most items or a reasonable substitute are available in local stores you might just have to spend some time looking around.  If anyone else has some examples of hard to find items I would like to hear them.

26 April 2009

Some other items that it would be a good idea to bring is quality sheets and linens. Good quality ones can be quite expensive and hard to find. The lower quality are still expensive and well… Low quality.

Clothing is usually readily available but if you wear large sizes they can be very hard to find. Clothing can be custom made there pretty cheaply however shoes, socks, and under garments are another story.

 The Philippines is a Beautiful Country that is filled with hospitable people. It is possible to live a comfortable lifestyle for less than in many parts of the world. I have been traveling to the Philippines for over 25 years. There have been many changes and improvements over the years and overall the standard of living of many of the people has risen.

I would however like to add a word of caution. The Philippines is a developing nation and the poor people here tend to be very poor. The Infrastructure in most areas is what those in the West would consider poor. Many areas suffer brownouts due it insufficient power generating capacity. Many roads and bridges are in poor condition due to poor maintenance. Building codes are nonexistent or unenforced in many areas and poor upkeep is apparent in all but a few areas. Public transportation in many areas is inadequate and inefficient as are many government functions.

I am not meaning to paint a gloomy picture to frighten but merely to inform those unfamiliar with the Philippines the kinds of things they can expect to encounter when they visit. For those not accustomed to these things it takes getting used to. This is a big reason why I recommended in an earlier post that people who are unfamiliar with the Philippines visit at least once or twice to become familiar with these differences. Some might even decide the Philippines is not the right place for them.

The culture of the Philippines is a unique mixture of east and west. Like much of the rest of the developing world they face problems with a growing population. They have their own unique way of doing things which may not seem to make sense to the average foreigner. Always remember that you are the stranger with strange ideas not them. There is no place you can go that doesn’t have it’s own set of problems. The question is can you adapt to the differences and learn to appreciate the good things the Philippines has to offer.

Mail: The postal service or snail mail as some of the younger kids call it. The two main disadvantage of this method are the time it takes and the fact that sometimes it may not get there. Especially large envelopes or Cards that might contain cash. Also I know many people, especially younger people just don’t like to write.

The main advantage is it goes everywhere even to remote barrios where the Internet and phones are not available. I like to write letters and cards you can tell a lot about people by the letters they send. If it is necessary to send important papers I use registered mail. It is slower but I have never had a registered letter lost in transit.

For Military Retirees living in the Philippines Limited mail service is available through the military FPO system. No faster than regular mail but less disappearances of items sent. This service is primarily for personal letters, bills, and prescriptions. You can check with the nearest RAO to get the details on this service.  

Delivery Service: Fed Ex, UPS, DHL etc. These are faster than the regular postal service and you can ship small items. Certain items are not allowed to be shipped the list varies by country. Check with the carriers about what you want to ship. These items are subject to customs duties so the addressee may have to pay to get delivery.

Balikbayan Box: If you need to ship a lot of stuff this is the way to do it for the least cost. It is usually sent by surface shipment so it will take a while to get there, but the carriers involved take care of the customs clearances so you don’t have to worry about the addressee having to pay to get it. Some companies also ship by air so you get faster delivery but it is significantly more expensive. There a number of companies around the world that ship these boxes to the Philippines.

E-mail: Good for fast communication you can also send pictures. E-mail however is not available everywhere in the Philippines. If the person you e-mail does not have their own computer they will have to use a friends computer or go to an Internet cafe and rent computer time to read and reply. 

Online Chatting: More personal than e-mail because you are communicating in real time. With a web-cam and a microphone it is the next best thing to being there. Has the same disadvantages as e-mail.

Telephone: While the rates have come down in recent years this can be an expensive option. It is a fast way to pass information along. Also phone service is not available or is unreliable in the more remote areas. Even Cell phone service is not universal although it covers most of the areas. In the Philippines the receiver of the call is not charged even on a cell phone it is the caller who pays.

Texting:Texting is a big hit in the Philippines. Anyone who can does. Still not everyone has a cell phone. Texting within the Philippines is fairly inexpensive unless you send three or four hundred messages a day. As with calling it is the sender of the text who pays.

International texting gets a little trickier. It can be much more expensive to send texts. One way to reduce the costs for friends from the Philippines texting you is to obtain a sim card from one of the Philippine carriers that does international roaming. Friends in the Philippines can text to these cards for a very low rate. You will have to check with carriers in your own country to find the best rates for international texting.

Also be advised these Roaming cards are almost always prepaid. With some you can reload by going to their internet site. You can also purchase the SIMs online from some of the carriers. They can be taken out of roaming mode while you are in the Philippines and used to call and text your friends locally.

Those are the most common methods I am familiar with I am sure there are others. I have not covered the options in complete detail so if you have questions or more detailed info please let me hear it. I will find the links for at least a couple of the bigger Philippine Cellphone companies and post them on the links page. If you look and don’t see them I haven’t found them yet.

April 19 2009

There is one category I didn’t say anything about because I didn’t really know much about it. There are several different types of Internet phone connection services. These allow you to place long distance and international calls for a fixed fee. I don’t have detailed information on every company that offers this service so anyone who has knowledge of these please jump right in.

One of them I have had experience with is Magic Jack. It is a small device that plugs into a USB port on your computer you then plug a phone into the other end. The unit is about the size of a matchbox. The unit costs $20 plus $20 for the first year of service.

When set up in the US you get a local telephone number. You can call any number in the US or Canada for free. (OK for $20 a year but you know what I mean) You can also call any other Magic Jack anywhere in the world for free.

I bought one and set it up in the US the procedure is very simple. I then shipped it to a friend in the Philippines. I can now dial a local number and talk to them in the Philippines. Also from there they can call any number in the US or Canada. I have been using it for about a month and so far have had no problems. The connection has been clear and reliable.

Magic Jack will only work when connected to a computer and when the computer is turned on and online but what do you want for $20 anyway? So far I would say it has been well worth the money I spent. It is saving me $30 a month in international calls and we can talk as long as we like.  It also gives you voice mail. I haven’t really used this yet but the feature is active.

The other phone services of this type I have heard about require an Internet connection but the computer doesn’t have to be operating to use it. They also have a monthly service charge. The amount varies per company. Anyone out there use one of these other services?

I am taking a lot of photos on my trips so I have plenty to choose from for my posts. I thought I would make a page for some of the photos that didn’t make it into the other posts. I’ll change them from time to time to keep them fresh. So it’s not always the same old page.

I haven’t spent a lot of time in Ormoc. Mostly just passing through. The majority of that time was spent in or near the Ferry Terminal. If you travel by ferry from Cebu to Tacloban or northern Leyte then you will go through Ormoc. It is not a large city but it is a ferry and freight terminus.

On my next trip through I will try to spend a little more time in the city itself. There is at least one large hotel there the Don Felepe. We had lunch there while waiting for the SuperCat Ferry. It is just a short walk from the ferry terminal.

From Ormoc you can take V-hire or buses to Biliran, Tacloban and the rest of Leyte. I know there are a number of expats who live in Ormoc if any of them would like to add to this short post I would appreciate any additional first hand information. 

On a historical note Ormoc was the main objective for American troops after the Leyte landings. There was significant fighting in that area.