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On February 2nd 1946 a baby came into the world and today he is EIGHTY!

He offers us, in frequent postings here, a set of Spiritual values that we appreciate and are thankful for.

He is called John Boy (@john boy) and I am sure we all hope he has a Very Special Day today on this his 80th Birthday.

 

When my wife is out of town for a soccer match, I have two restaurants I phone order for take outs.
One is Big Billy's Beach Cafe in Bacong. I like their lasagna and chicken cordon bleu, I like the burgers if I dine in. They are right next to the sea, go east at St. Peters from south highway.
Two is Taverna on south highway Dumaguete. I enjoy their chili con carne, pizza (thin crust, best sauce), and schnitzel (choice chicken or pork and either a great pepper or mushroom and onion sauce), and their fish fillet.
Both restaurants have good menus.

 

We went to Mifume (Santa Catalina St., Dumaguete) for the first time in many many years. Still great food, expensive but you get what you pay for.

 

A few of you here are raising a child, and for some of you here, like me, the second time around. There is huge difference with different issues between now and then.
For me, raising children in California in the 70's and 80's had challenges like drugs, having to travel for work and not be around to enforce discipline, job moves so different schools for the kids, teaching them to drive, and do your homework - not so much television.
Now days, social media seems to have the biggest impact. That means more gadgets, chat rooms, peer pressure, girls growing faster than boys, and less focus on school and school work being harder and more homework than before, among other interferences.
Most filipinas want children and some are not completely satisfied is a relationship if it is just her and the old man (sorry but true) For the foreigner, it is a huge responsibility and commitment to become a father (again for most). Both parties need to evaluate the consequences.

 

1. LTO has issued a directive that says all drivers licenses that are up for renewal in July, August and September will remain valid until October 31, 2023 because of the continuing lack of supply of plastic license cards. ( link )

2. LTO has announced that they will start to issue e-Drivers licenses instead ( link )

3. For renewal of your drivers license there's no need anymore to go to an LTO office, applications for renewal are handled through an online platform now ( link )

4. The yearly "smoketest", insurance and re-registration procedure for motorized vehicles has been changed substantially. The smoketest itself has been extended to include a whole bunch of other tests/checks, the results are automatically uploaded to LTO (same when you get insurance), and the registration process is now also online, at the same platform as the link under 3.

Not sure yet how well it works, will try to re-register our car shortly, and try to renew my drivers license also.

Obviously the expanded "smoketest" is a good thing, even if the costs have doubled. Hopefully it will mean owners of vehicles with defects will be forced to make repairs.

[Edit:] Unfortunately for me none of the online stuff works. In order to register at the LTO portal online you need to put in valid ACRI card details, and mine expired somewhere last year. And no, that doesn't mean I did something wrong, I'm in the country on a 1 year BB stamp, which is a "visa-exempt" stamp that you can get when you enter the Philippines together with your pinay spouse. A BB stamp "holder" isn't required to have an ACRI card, under the BI rules, but the LTO portal doesn't know about that apparently.

 

Tuition and books for grade 6 is php 50,000, plus uniforms and class and PE shoes.

Note: Not complaining, just sharing information what a private school can cost in Dumaguete

 

Frontemere Pizza, wood oven. About 1 km north of Dauin market across from Lokal Restaurant, turn at Frontemere sign toward beach on paved road all the way to the beach, turns into dirt road, stay toward the left, road ends at restaurant. My son and I shared a half Margherita half pepperoni pizza p440, 3 juices 1 coke p200. menu just pizza, calzones, pasta, I think they serve beer and drinks. We liked it maybe better than other pizzas here. Bamboo Bob's closed.

 

"There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness and truth"
May peace reign once again as we remember those who gave their lives in the name of freedom.