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Since I know all the parties mentioned in this thread I will add my $.02.

Two years ago we engineered and metal-roofed a large South East facing garage area with the intent to then add a grid-tied solar array. We spoke with Bryan Pine( Polaris Perry Loos' partner), then The Solar Guy Jeff Davis, and finally with Ken Scales RIP.

I found all 3 to be professional, likable, and informative. I took the time to tour previous installations performed by all 3. I spoke to some of their previous customers.

Since our roof has a single "all day" unshaded face we decided upon the efficient "string inverters" rather than the slightly more expensive "micro inverters" then offered by Bryan Pine. If we had shady areas, or a multi-angled roof we would likely have used the microinverters and had Bryan do the job. Each type of system has it's advantages and disadvantages.

Once the deal with Jeff was agreed on, the panels, inverters, and associated hardware were here( Dauin) the NEXT DAY. We used 66 Seraphim 260watt Poly panels. That's a total of 17.1 kw which we feed into 3 x 5kw inverters.

I wanted to learn as much as I could so I was up on the roof asking alot of questions. Jeff, and most contractors will likely be using subcontractors to do the actual installation work. Some of the workers are great and some are still learning - I don't have a problem with that. I found errors and sloppy work. No surprises there - it's more fun in the Philippines. But realistically that's the case anywhere. To his credit Jeff promptly corrected the problems to my satisfaction. The installation didn't take long.

Getting the permits went quickly. However dealing w/ Noreco took a while plus some creative lubrication.

Over the last 2 yrs various parts of the system have failed. One of the 3 Zever 5kw inverters blew. Jeff replaced it with a new one for free under warrantee. However it took a few weeks to get the replacement part and the tech contractor back here to Negros. They travel all around the country to do installations as needed. There have been a few other less critical items that he swapped out as well (breakers etc) but that's to be expected I guess. There have been no issues whatsoever over the last 5 months.

All things considered:

I would use Jeff "The Solar Guy" again for an installation for an unshaded single faced roof.

I would not hesitate to use Bryan Pine if I had partial shading, different roof angles, or I wanted to individually monitor the output of every solar panel.

I live abroad and did not know Ken Scales had passed away until reading this thread.

I currently use Polaris Power Engineering for misc electrical work at our property. I have never been unhappy with them over 10 yrs.



Notes:

1. The photo shows the roof w/ a few more panels left to install. 22 panels feed into each of the 3 inverters.

2. The cost of solar panels has fallen quite a bit over the last 2 years. The cost of power purchased from Noreco has remained constant at 11p/kwh here in Dauin.

3. Our Southeast facing roof has a 12 degree pitch as recommended for this lattitude. 66 x 260 watt panels fed into 3 x 5kw inverters offset approx 17,000 pesos/month of Noreco bills. Our monthly bills went from 24,000 p to 7,000 p on average.

 

The big problem here is so many people don't seem to care.

They will wear face masks in the city centre, but as soon as you step outside to any barangay the masks come off.

There is a little social distancing in places where it's compulsory and monitored, and almost none of this where it isn't.

The majority say they don't want to their kids to go back to school but will happily let them all round outside and play with others in the local community.

Many Filipinos have told me they are not worried about the virus, just being fined by authorities.

They abide by the ridiculous backrider policy in downtown, but go a few km outside and there are 3 or 4 on a bike without masks, shields or helmets.

Parties/ gatherings everywhere, as long as there are no police nearby.

Might as well just let everyone get back to normal and get on with life. At least then they might stop asking me if they can borrow some money!

 

From what I see this isn't passed yet and isn't being tried as a simple rules change. I doubt it will pass in this version as well. However the thought process is fairly scary. It does continue to show us the same thought process we have seen in the past that the upper class and powerful really don't like us at all but simply want our money. They know they need us but want to make it as difficult for us as possible.

Further a few of these are simply to open to interpretation likely on purpose so they can simply get rid of whoever they don't want for any reason by making a claim.

• Foreigners will no longer be allowed to establish any type of business under a visitor visa.

I'm doubting this is aimed at all at the Chinese but us who end up starting a business in our GF or wife's name to push us out of it more.

• New visa applicants will be required to have a physical and mental evaluation prior to getting an immigrant visa.

What guidelines do they have? Is being overweight, old and starting to break, having any kind of medical condition or disability enough to disqualify us? Mental evaluation, just who can do an honest mental evaluation here and at what standards? To Filipino's all of us westerners have mental issues of a sort due to how we think and challenge things. Plus WHO is paying for these evaluations (us of course) and where along with by whom is what matters. Another way to sucker us for money whenever.

• Entry into the Philippines will be denied for those believed to arriving for the purpose of getting prostitutes or showing "disrespect" to any government official or employee.

How do you determine who is arriving for the purpose of hiring prostitutes? Is it a solo male flying in because that is pretty much the only check I can think of to even guess slightly of that purpose. Or is it the destination (sorry, your going to angeles city or cebu city... DENIED).

• Deportable offenses: engaging in prostitution, being deemed a public charge, being deemed undesirable, and being "rude".

By the filipino definition of rude that makes 99.9% of us deportable. Simply questioning a service or business here is deemed rude to them. Saying a Filipino food or other thing is something you dislike... again rude. Also being a public charge, what if a false accusation is made about me and I end up in jail for a day does that qualify? What is the check for what is considered prostitution and does it require proof? How many ex gf's could say we paid them for sex.

• Also states that the immigration agency can start requiring cash bonds on demand to ensure immigration adherence.

This is a big worry because what is the check to ensure its not abused. Can they really just tell any foreigner for whatever reason that they must be cash bonded?

In the end its all the same. Any foreigner who actually thinks they were ever really welcome here in the Philippines by the government or powerful / rich were always fooling themselves. We are a direct threat to them because we disrupt the status quo that keeps them rich, powerful, and in control because through us slowly they lose their grip on the locals influenced by us (usually gf, wife, and family).

 

Hey Dude, That was quite an admission you made about drinking. I have always enjoyed your post and consider you one of the guys that has some clear judgement and thinking here.. still do. I was involved in addiction counseling for over 13 years in the US on a voluntary basis. It was a faith based program, so although I believe in it, I would never push it on anyone. One of the secrets regarding any addition is that the real issue is CONTROL, not alchol or some other form of self-medication. People drink, have high risk sex, spend extra money, and do other crazy things because they are trying to gain control over their life. Start at that point of understanding and you can save yourself years of search for answers on your journey to get where you want to be. Admitting you have a drinking issue does not necessary mean you have to stop drinking. Just control your drinking and not let drinking control you (unles you have a chemical addition). If you ever need one to talk to someone I am willing to talk. I am not a hardliner, and do not think the taking a drink will mean you use your “Sobriety” as some do. Go ahead and attend AA, but do not stop thinking, or buy all their beliefs. You are a smart man who can make up his mine. Like all of us, you have some character defeats, but that does not mean you are weak. Life is a journey and everyday is a step on the path of that journey…. Somedays we are not on the path, sometimes we chose to be lost for a while. You history of facing reality seems to indicate you are honest with yourself and will be able to solve you issues. Do not allow guilt or embarrassment to alter you course to get where you want to go. Good Luck.

 

Cannot confirm that. Outside, yes, all the foreigners, but inside to my surprise many filipino people, families with children, mixed groups, attorneys, local government people, Dumaguete upper class - eating cheese platters, cold cuts, schnitzel - seems Why Not is also popular among the locals also.

 

Well you can all say what you like about, Noreco II but on a general Alert from Azon (my Wife) the linesmen attending work in VALENCIA ( some 8+ miles away from JUNOB) Spotted "Shadow" in the Woods and alerted us Well done you guys, as I write this, he is on his way home to a very relieved family.
What more can I say but Thank you and before anyone decides to make an issue, it is called Family, whether it is Actual or Professional
Thank You Guys

 

To the inventor of the backrider shield:

 

No 2 days are the same but they all start with waking up (hopefully) - around dawn. SO goes and tends to her orchids while I grab a coffee and get online for a couple of hours work then read the news, do the crossword and check out the UK horse racing results.

Asaswa's now in the kitchen making cakes or pies so I go for a wander round with the dogs (2 x Belgian Malligators) and have a word with the cows - at least they look as if they're listening. Back for a 2nd coffee.

Another hour or so of work then another meander - this time talk to the bull. If he looks mean or gets a hard-on I'm gone!

Lunch is a bowl of fruit and the afternoon could be pottering about in the veg garden deciding what to do/build/plant next or drive over to the farm and see how the grass is growing while the malli's get to swim in the river.

Afternoons are flexy, just do whatever suits the day but always finish it with an ice cold San Miguel with the boys.

Dinner is time to crack a bottle of red and put the world to rights.

We only need to hit the bright lights of Dumaguete every 8-10 weeks for shopping so normally make a weekend of it.

And that about sums it up - no clocks or watches, no real routine just take each day as it comes.

It's more laid back in Las Filipinas!

 

If you have enough money to not worry about paying your debts and feeding your family then you can concentrate on whatever makes you happy... therefore money does buy happiness

 

It's very sad for everyone involved. As far as the laws go here the stepson was probably legally entitled to at least 75% of the cars and house.
If the wife had a will, she could have given her foreigner husband the usufructuary right to those properties.
There is probably a lot more to this story. It seems to have escalated pretty quickly.
If you and your wife/girl friend don't have a will you might want to think about getting one written up. It can save a lot of hassles and misunderstandings. Having a usufructuary right can give you a lot of privileges you wouldn't normally get.