James Mitchel

The 2 4 year olds ours & the neighbors. Who don't know what house they live in. But are together all day. Monday shopping from the old market to the Mall in the afternoon. I like to discount shop. 2 waterfalls near here. the beach, ... Read More

It has been 5 years last I was there. But the area near the ferry to Samal island was nice. Just far enough out of downtown so air was good. Close to the ferry. So you could take a taxi there then bus the island for a getaway. So close to the big ... Read More

Figure rent. U.S. $250 to $500 a month gated subdivision. $500 a month is high end living. Utilities on the large side. $250. That is with AC on 24/7 & big screen tv. Food 1/2 of what you pay in America. Basic food few frozen diners here. ... Read More

I am thinking of selling space heaters there myself. Both gas & electric ones. No one else there seems to sell them in the Philippines. Read More

Know yourself. What lifestile you wish. Look around at more than 1 location. I am small town so big cities will not do for me. Know what you want to do once there. Visit the area & see if it has what you want. Get out & make friends once ... Read More

In the southern Philippines. I believe you could make more money in selling both electric & gas space heaters. I soo no compitition there in this business. Much better than selling pigs it would be. Read More

I found out I was wrong. You can own a business here. But you are not allowed to make money from said business here. But as long as it looses money here you are ok. They like to see you spend your money here. Read More

Rent. 23,000 Piso a month. That is high end here. 3 large bedroom + maids quarters, 3 large full bathrooms, veranda upper & lower, 3 a/c units. View of river, mountains city & port, colonial stile home. Gated subdivision. utilities 10,000 ... Read More

If you need ask. I would consider it a 4H program. Some kids did well. Some lost money in doing it. All learned something. Much depended on the market that year. As to price. Much of it was in learning to manage feed so very little loss to the ... Read More

At the big Malls cloths are high priced. Cheaper than America but high priced for here. Filippino's are not for most part fancy dressers. They wear more long pants than me. I wear shorts. There big on flip flops. Better shoes when they go out or ... Read More

You need A/C. Many class 2 cities will do. Smaller cities are cheaper. I would say with internet. A/C. Taxies, imigration & all. Big eater Good food. U.S. $1500 to $2,000 a month. I assume you want a place with large bed & work area. ... Read More

I do agree if done right the walls & floor remain. But how do they get away with so few rafters & cross beams or 2x4s to keep the thin sheet metal roofs on? Or after every typhoon are you to go out. recover your roof. Weave it into your ... Read More

We left the 24th Drove to a uncles. For lunch it was rice, pork knuckle soup, noodles in sauce. Then the men had compititions boating net throws & such. The women got to cooking. 2 fish 1 Tuna 1 billfish each about 4 foot long. Pit roasted. ... Read More

Doing Christmas with Her family. It is Family reunion day. So lots of Her Family will be there. It say's food Lots of Food. That can be good or bad for me. Lots of kids running all over all day & into the night. Candy will be thrown ... Read More

I agree. My neighbors are Muslim. We get along great. over 1/4 the area is Muslim no problems. But in a gated subdivision. As for Philippine food it is good or most. It is the sauces they put on it that is the problem. They do like hot! As long ... Read More

I have met rude expats. The question need ask is did you get along at home before coming here. If not you probably will not get along here also. Philippine driving is a adventure I agree there. Almost as bad as South American drivers. Were the ... Read More

By not owning a pig. You make 1&1/2 pigs a year. + goat & chickens, vegetables & fruit. Some money but you loose a little on that. But a small house for P-10,000 Also rice. I figure this on the wife has 200 meter by 200 meter of high ... Read More

It was never a problem for me. Maybe I traveled to much. So home I had but it was just a place to hang my hat & do the bills before leaving again. But you do need to get out, make friends, do thigs were ever you are in the world. Read More

Not caging a dog makes a big difference. Ours before she died. Stayed in the house till she heard the preschoolers outside. Then she would romp with them or just lay in the shade & watch them. She was good with young kids. At night she sleep ... Read More

I had a good dog. It died 2 weeks ago. I took it to the vet for a shot. I swear he got a airbubble in the needle. It died 6 hours later. Normal shot. She only barked if someone she did not know was in the yard. She was great with younger kids. If ... Read More

We pay 700 a week for a 6 day week. + X-Mass bonus. Live in. She eats the same food as we do. She goes on trips with us like beach & such. So not all work. She is treated more as family. S.S. is 350 a month. We are flexible about her day off. ... Read More

You can not own a business here. Except for a few franchises. Product introduction are most of those. You can not compete with family here who will work for free to help build a business that will start across the street from you once they see you ... Read More

The only thing I see I would invest in here. Would be a business for children if you had them here. Then take a long term slow loss to build it for them. No money for yourself in it. You go in business here against them. They will cut your bottom ... Read More

Much more per day than a live in maid. I will say $10 a day more or less. Does she get a free meal? does she need travel to were you live? You might get a lady who wants a day a week job who lives close for $5 a day. A supper maid from across ... Read More

Mine is a little higher that that for electric here. Around 9,000 a month. 2 air conditioners. 1 small deepfreeze, 40 inch T.V. fridge. lights. But water here is much cheaper than in America. Around $12 a month. In America it was closer to $70. ... Read More

Travel in the Philippines can be exciting . Roads pavement ends for no reason. Begins again for no reason. May dead end at No were. Last weeks trip to Illigan city. They had a festival there. So we went. Rides for the kids, & tent shopping ... Read More

They do think all foreigners are rich. All whites are Americans. All blacks are from Africa & relitives of oil kings. T.V. has a lot to do with this. As they have never seen the truth. I agree it is hard to find a home that they will not ... Read More

I would much rather be here than in America. So not much to miss. Life is what you make it were you are at. It is much safer here than in America. On the streets. Much less crime. It might be the way I was raised. Till out of high school. No ... Read More

I do see one business that would be ideal to build for a child or offspring here. As it would take 10 years or more to become popular with international adds. Read More

He is right you can only own 40%. There are a few franchises that you can own that are exceptions. You would need read up on those. Read More

Customer service here is not good. I have found some that is good. Why I only use 1 computer store here. They charge a little more but have always done me right & been right. If buying at a store make sure it works there. Return is near ... Read More

Might mean in cloth sizes. I wear a 38. They are a little hard to find in the discount bins. A size 40 every now & then. So bigger people would need to buy cloths at the regular stores. Cost much more. But I am a on the cheap side. Bought a ... Read More

I was out to Marawi once. With a Philippine friend. Very shallow soil very volcanic rock just under the soil. Only got one dirty look. Young Muslim girl feeding her fathers fighting cocks gave me a big smile & wave. I took her photo. Her Mom ... Read More

Out just past S&M Mall is safe. If you wish to rent a home. But do not get to far back in subdivisions as to far back getting a Taxi can be a problem. Unless you plan on buying a vehicle. But they are safe. or more town house living I would ... Read More

You can only own 40% Your partner will take you in a partnership. There are a few franchises you can own. You would need check the list here of what they are. But NO do not do such is the best answer you will get. Read More

If you have a round trip ticket. That bis all you need. You have your exit ticket. Were you will have problems is if you go to the local side & buy a ticket to a different town here. Then a pushy sales girl will try to force you to buy a exit ... Read More

No your round trip ticket is your exit ticket. You need buy no other. In 30 days you need go to imigration & renew for 30 days. 2 photos & 2 pages from your passport. Main page & inter stamp. Then next time you can get a 60 day visa ... Read More

On $5,000 a month you will live very well. Or about the same as in America. If you shop at the Malls not that much difference. Eat imported food might pay more. Need a American car? Expect to pay big. My expense has gone up here. But I moved from ... Read More

May tickets you can not buy if going past 6 months or into the next year. Do to airline computers. Only problem I ever had with that. Was at the Manila airport from a pushy counter lady trying to sell me a ticket I did not need. She tried to claim ... Read More

Most news of the internet. Things like a rodeo will be held here Sat. The local kids as they often go door to door to sell tickets. I think the school gets a cut. expat meet on Wend. Read More

You to have noticed that many stores only carry 1 brand as they are the only one who can sell that brand in a area. Or have the rights to sell that brand. Kind of like beer in America. You can only buy it from there distributor. At there price. Read More

It is no do in the Philippines. If you start a business here & do well. In 4 months there will be 4 more across the street doing the same with family help. Lower to no wage help. Next they will check your books. You will do all legal & ... Read More

I shop at the markets with the locals, walk the streets down town, never had a problem in C,D,O. Except 2 try's at pickpocketing me by kids. In 3 years. One at the market one out on New Years. I feel safe here. Much safer than in America by ... Read More

I figure here it cost me 1/2 as much to live as it would in America. I pay 23,000 a month for rent here. That is for a 4 bedroom large house with great view. I run 2 airconditioners. live a good life here. Electric is high here. But water is ... Read More

Ben Franklen. As Ambasador to France brought the idea back to America. So they were called French Fries in America. A new way to cook potatoes at that time. Or fried French stile. Read More

I am more for shopping Uni Tops & the markets. Little more crowded. Never know what you will find, not quit as clean. But much cheaper to buy there. I shop like a local here. Avoid the big Malls. I see few nonnatives do this. Never had a ... Read More

I return to America once a year to do tax's & such. I agree. The best part of the trip to America is getting on the plane to return here. Read More

I can go native in the right pace. As her Dad has a small farm, her Grandmother on her Moms side the big farm. Her a small farm inbetween. So there I have & do help pick mango's, banana, coconut. Eat what they are eating sleep on a mat at ... Read More

I found Citronlla oil bought at Ace hardware. Used in 2 small lamps. Bought at uniTop Will keep mosquitoes out of home those nights with no electric. Or setting out at night on porch. Borax welding flux. Bought at hardware store. Brought to a ... Read More

Eat 3 banana or more a week. Replaces nutrients lost threw sweat. Cold water showers. Wear light colors in cloths. Try to buy cotton cloths. Shop the discount bins for them. Wear a hat air can circulate threw. Stand in the shade were you can. It ... Read More

I have been here 3 years. Had to smack the hand of one little pickpocket at Carmen market once when he put his hand in my pocket. Lots of small subdivisions here. Make sure they have easy acsess to taxi's. To far out it can be a problem. ... Read More

Get out. Shop at the markets. Ride the Jeepneys. Walk to the Sara Sara stores. Nod smile say high. Not long till people are speaking to you here. That is one thing I do not see a lot of expats do. You need meet people. Share there lifestile. They ... Read More

It did not seem to hard to do. We have a daughter here. She soon made friends with the neighbor kids. That led us to knowing all parents who live close to us with children. About the same as America. Kids are Kids were ever. Parents are parents. ... Read More

You need declair them. It is illegal to ship seeds from 1 Country to another as some are listed as invasive. Also virus free. Like Mexican field workers took corn seed back to Mexico & planted it there. It crossed with there corn. Yields ... Read More

I had very little trouble adapting. Maybe because were I grew up we did not have electric till 1969 and was raised in a home with a sheet metal roof with pitcher pump & outhouse. I made friends fast here. I do agree with some loan money it ... Read More

Only if it is your wife, child, who is Filippino can start a business as Filippinos and own it here. A noncitizen can not own a business unless or up to 40% the other 60% Filippino owned. But most will look the other way if you start one that ... Read More

For ink in C.D.O. Have you tried Columbia down town on the centeral? Next to McDonalds? Also they refill at Giasonos. Columbia may take 30 days to get. If they order for you. But they treat me like a king there. True a few piso higher on some ... Read More

Is it safe. Were do you live here? Davao was voted 3rd safest big city in the world last year. In the province crime can be so rare as to go years before hearing of one. In other places this is not true. Manila is high crime in some places. But ... Read More

Davtjo. I live near C.D.O. Wife has property at Nawawan. So out that way often. We should meet some time in Iligan city. I do go there 1 or 2 times a year as she has family in that city. Or need do something there or she does. Read More

That is one great thing about the Philippines you can not work here. So there is no best city to live in. Only the one you like best to live in. Read More

For good shoes, belt, billfold. I found a good cobbler here. He is not cheap. Good shoes from him cost the same as good shoes at the mall. But they last twice as long. And can be resoled for knock around shoes for another year. Wife even likes ... Read More

Door springs the old spring type. Never found here. motor & rod, splits for grill can not find, grill I can find. Learn town & were things are were you live. Learn to shop the market, May not look good but food is better there,fresher ... Read More

Davao you would like. Big safe good shopping many places to pick from to live. Lots to do there. The Drifters English Pub. British place. But once there play some pool talk & you would find out were to find the Canadians is best I could do ... Read More

At the Malls or the better Malls. There you will see European & Canadian & such. It is best to just ask if you can join them for a coffee or such as they are often setting at the little coffee shops & such. Then ask. Read More

Your doing this wrong! If you are moving here. First make a list of what you want in a city or area. Then ask expats and see what fills your list best. Then come vist for a week those city's on your list. See were you will be happy. To ... Read More

On $30,000 a year you can live like a prince in the Philippines. Maybe not Manila. but most places. On that try a 3 bedroom with maids quarters. 3 bath. river & ocean view. Gated subdivision. Maid, girlfriend, good life. With money left ... Read More

As for kidnapped unless in a business and out doing the locals I would think not. I was there about 5 years ago and there were rumors even back then. The peralrfarm was very profitable. But times change. Makes me wonder. Property is high there or ... Read More

That is high. I pay 8 piso to the mall on the jeepney, 6 piso to the taxi stand. 100 piso to the market taxi or around 118 piso if they go the long way. So I give them 120 and always go the short way and they like to pick me up. Help load & ... Read More

Tip what it is worth in there Country or service rendered. I tip the taxi. 20 piso if he takes the short way home. I pay the same if he takes the long way home to run up the fare. So one way they get a 20 piso tip. Or sometimes they get a 2 piso ... Read More

I do not know much about it. I do know there is a Canadian franchise business here looking for Canadians to import and introduce new Canadian products to the Philippines. Your money stays in Canada. You get a exclusive on the products as supply ... Read More

Private flight to Guam a U.S. possetion Not cheap but doable. Or pay up bring the paper work up and do it the right way. Read More

I have found that if you play cards with the locals for sentimo I can often come out a head. Once it moves into the piso range you will loose money every time. About as far as I want to invest here. Read More

Generally Philippine land lines are not worth it for a phone. Use your cell phone one with 2 or 3 sim cards for such. Message home. A land line I think is a little better for internet conection but not that much. Read More

From the U.S. if small. Ship in the express blue envalope from the post office. About 2 weeks to get here. Never tried a large package. I know you can ship a box at flat rate just before X Mass. with all the others from the U.S. by post office ... Read More

Around P$ 5,000 piso a pig average. If you stay small & have scrap to feed them from the farm & your own grain & such. Wife said you go broke if you go to cement floor raising them & need buy all feed. With luck you can make ... Read More

You can do well with the Father In law way here. Buy one small pig. Or more. Stake them out on your ground. They make good rototillers. Have chickens follow the pigs. On ground next to be planted stake your goats out to clear. Once ground is ... Read More

You can live well here on $24,000 a year U.S. Nice home,car, all. Once you are set up & learn how to shop here. $30,000 you are well off here. I do not spend that much here and live very well here. $2,000 a month and you live like a Prince ... Read More

Pot Bread if you have a grill outside is good. We had a porkrib roast last night glazed with sweet & sour sauce, 2 small baked potatoes and a potbread. Turn heat as low as you can on the bread cooking side. Up on the meat side and put 2 ... Read More

I think it is a social thing here. The more you work in the sun the darker your skin gets. So they all wish to look like office girls here. I have the same problem in the sun and I am of German background and light brown hair. Read More

20,000 piso a week is what I spend here and can not spend all of that. I live like a prince here on that amount. 4 bedroom home with good view in gated subdivision. Outside of town up high so good air here most times coming in from the ocean. Read More

I tip a taxi 10 to 20 piso here. Depending on trip. I have tipped 100 piso after asking 10 or more drivers were to find a special item as a finders fee. A 20 piso tip is enough in most places you eat unless going high class. I give the boys who ... Read More

Don't is my advise. It must be over 50% Philippine owned. That leaves you wide open to loose all. If you do start one and do good. The next month there will be a new place across the street doing the same as you. You can not compete as ... Read More

Had little problem with such. But my job before I retired took me world wide. Mostly out and about working with the locals in my job. I have found those that do not get along at home. Do not know how to make friends. Will probably have the same ... Read More

I live in C.D.O on less than that. 4 bedroom with air. large lot, great view. Maid, & girlfriend. Dress well & eat well. Go out often. But you need learn how to shop here. If you hit the malls to shop you will pay almost American ... Read More

Not enough to be worth the work. Maybe p1,000 with luck. Over what you would pay if bought live at the market. And then you still need to butcher it and some loss there. They are great for rototillers if raised right. I bought 2 for my father ... Read More

Mine is some different. But I do spend $2,000 a month here U.S. and live like a prince. Me Her, and her daughter. p90,000 Read More

Figure $2,000 a month U.S. to live well here. You can lease a house for 6 months. Furnished. $300 to $1000 a month U.S. I would recommend smaller towns but not to small. Under a million but over 250,000. For shopping and such. Many beach's ... Read More

From what I see of maids were I live. Maid. Gets up cooks breakfast, gets children ready for school. Takes them to park. From park depart to gate and see older children get on trike to school with bags. Younger children take to school on trike. ... Read More

Hire a older maid who has done such. Live in usually 6 day's on. Pay around 500 piso a month extra over what she would make. If possible go to the better gated subdivisions. And hand out a few flyers to the maid's there. Word spreads ... Read More

It has been some years. I have sent letters in cardboard envelopes. From the post office express mail air. Around 3 to 5 day's to U.S. Chicago IL. You need fill out a custom declaration to send it. Just documents. No problem. But no value ... Read More

Probably I don't live there. Around U.S. $3,000 a month. I live very well here on U.S. $2,000 a month. But Manila is high priced. Were I live we ask why would any one want to live in Manila? But if you like the big city that is were to ... Read More

I figure $2,000 a month U.S. Rent p20,000 a month, 2 bedroom gated subdivision with pool and park. Furnished. Electric, p8,000 running 2 airconditioner's and house cool big screen T.V. water p350 a month. Shopping p5,000 a week. food cloths ... Read More

You need be in a area with good schools. You need walk with them to school. At 10 the older child should be able to take the younger one to and from school on the pedal trike. Cost 5 piso here. each. Make them carry there own bag. To many maids ... Read More