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You are never without a risk anywhere unfortunately. We have some Belgian Malinois as well as other dogs, the Belgians are big dogs and quite intimidating.

Not everyone are dog lovers as we are, but our dogs do spend hours at night patrolling around our house; a chained dog that barks is worthless in my opinion on protecting your home and family.

We were some of the first folks to build a home in this area, there have been many more over the years. The area has not been immune to raids for drugs and such so the wife put in a number of cameras around our place.

Funny as she said some neighbors did not like the fact we were installing cameras that also pointed outside of our home and others were happy that someone had a bit of an eye on things.

In my opinion, most thieves or would be thieves are lazy on what they want to target...a Belgian Malinois is a tremendous deterrent.

Obviously my opinion but for those who have met my big boy...I know he will protect my family when I'm not home.

Shawn

 

1)Not every culture sees that as a big deal, instead of taking a picture they should have informed him that was very very bad manors here, to the point of insulting everyone who saw it. He may have been apologetic and grateful for the lesson. If he responded as a jerk, then yes, have at him.

2)as a comparison, let's not forget it is perfectly acceptable to walk by and spit a big wad of snot on the sidewalk in front of this table, AND to p*ss on the wall 10 feet away. Both of which are much more offensive to me than someone with their feet up.

3)Not sure about the link you saw but all of the posts my wife showed me called all westerners "Germs". Insulting an entire group of people on purpose because of one guy's accidental insult.

 

It's sad to see this place get bad reviews. It's like reviewing somebody's party pad. I have always had a great time at La Fiesta, Ralph is passionate about food and a fun guy to hang out with. Leave the tourists to give the reviews. The expats already know what's going on, and a bad review won't keep me from exploring anyways. The business owners here are part of the same small community, giving them bad reviews just puts a bad taste in the mouth of people who may already be on the fence of sticking around due to many reasons (every expat has his/her list). While expats are in these businesses to make money, their secondary reasons are usually to provide a place to hang out with friends. I would rather see these places stay, even if they don't always get it right.

 

A skinny column (proper English), (pillar if you are Scottish) (post if you are a Texan) is only as thick as the wall. Cosmetically you cannot see them because they do not stick out from the wall. Concrete Hollow Blocks (CHB) used here are only 10 cm thick (4 inch).

Walls are weakest perpendicular to their length. Skinny columns do very little to resist the wall falling over because they are skinny

Your 32 cm column is three times as thick as a skinny column would be. Because of the way leverage works this is more than three times as strong. Furthermore because of the size of the larger column the concrete placed in it has a higher probability of consolidating correctly.

Because this has to do with horizontal loading, these issues have more to do with multi-story buildings. If you have a single story home with 32 cm columns you have nothing to worry about.

https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concrete_frame

Its important to note that both wind and earthquake impose horizontal forces on the building, unlike the gravity forces it normally resists, which are vertical in direction.
http://www.understandconstruction.com/concrete-frame-structures.html

 

I wouldn't say the love is leaving, perhaps shifting. My guess is you are listening to a lot of us who have been around Duma at least 5 years and observing some negativity.

Since my arrival to Duma, it appears the number of permanent expats has at least doubled in less than 10 years, the various articles online a few years back, including Duma as one of the top 10 places in the world to retire likely inspired this.

The skyrocketing cost of land has hurt the idea of reasonable affordable homeownership.

The roads are improving but cannot keep up with the ever increasing volume.

Still lots to do here, just more frustration and with the added local wealth, and Asian tourists, overcrowding happens quickly.

But, in the Visaya region, Duma does have a lot to offer and maybe after COVID is gone, it will take some of the abundance with it.

2019 Dumaguete felt like it has reached its capacity for being a quaint and relaxed destination. I moved outside to become "barangized" so to speak, only going downtown when needed.

So JWBobbit, you need to re-visit, say next year, re-confirm your planned lifestyle and expectation especially at your young age, then decide.

Dumaguete is still a great place, as long as you know what you want, and know what to expect.

My 2 Cents...

 

More importantly, where was the auntie who was supposedly, looking after the kid?

 

You are obviously having a bad experience living in a bad location. I've been living in Dgt for a year and a half and would definitely not agree that the whole place is an unhealthy heap of trash. I am just outside the city and have a great view surrounded by beautiful nature and nice neighbors and wonderful healthy air. I can be in the center of Dgt in 15 minutes, and go in almost every day - sure it has it's challenges like traffic and parking and lack of availability of things I would like to be able to get - but, bottom line, I have no regrets about living here because I have managed to find a nice place. I hope you find a place you enjoy.

 

I would suggest the same for those illegal Imports that are continually being driven over by Bulldozers here. Some claim the Criminals will be the one who buys them back at the Auctions, silly when they will be paying double to buy them back again. I know being a member of a few Vintage/ Classic Car Pages here there would be plenty of competition from others wanting to own a cool Luxury Car or Bike! Destroying Cars only hurts those who need the money the most, but let's face it, if the Cars were sold at Auction, and the money went into Government coffers, it would only be a matter of time before that money found its way into fake projects paying the Politicians or Family members exorbitant amounts and those in need would still be in need. Sadly it is what it is.

Yesterday in the City we were in a Tricycle coming home from Silliman Hospital after 5pm. A Traffic Enforcer was standing in the middle of the road trying to direct Traffic, each time he stop one line to try and allow another through, Cars Trucks and Bikes would initially stop, then within 10 seconds would start creeping forwards again blocking the centre of the road. The Enforcer stopped our Tricycle, tried to get the flows moving, then; threw his hands up in the air and waved towards our Driver and said Go! GO! JUST GO! and walked off the road letting everyone go at it, he gave up! How well will Traffic Lights work when the intersection is completely blocked with these drivers pushing their way through regardless of instructions otherwise. They NEED to start issuing FINES for infringements committed.

 

At holy child hospital you can go in and order and pay for your X-ray before seeing a doctor.
Also you get to take the X-ray away with you so as you can show it to a physician of your choosing , unlike Sillimun hospital who keep your X-ray.
Holy child X-rays are also nearly half the price of Silliman’s.
All the above is from personal experience from a few months ago after going to both hospitals.

 

A solid argument I have to agree with. However to me it also comes down to if its a career or a dead end job that sucks down any personal time.

For me I wouldn't date a gal and get serious if she's working a 6-7 day a week job doing the average 10+ hours a day if she isn't willing to quit it. However we also as partners need to think about her future even if we're a bit younger and could still be around for 25-30 years. To me that means sending them to school for a real career assuming they want to and/or are willing after numerous talks. If she's not that its her choice just as its the guys choice wanting a woman who actually has time to spend with him.

Its a huge difference between a gal working 7 days a week 10 hours a day vs one working 5 days a week and 8 hours a day. With the latter we still have time to have some semblence of a life and fun besides work and sleep.

Lastly I'll say the point of working is a two point thing. First being able to put food on the table and second is to have a financially secure future. Working a deadend job that pays 2k peso's a week and no real benefits doesn't put food on the table when your with someone receiving 60-100k peso's a month (or more) and it doesn't give the opportunity for a financial secure future either. This is why the last real GF's I've had plus my current fiancee all have been students for real professions with a future either starting on their own or my starting the financial ball rolling. If she won't/doesn't want to then she's not for me and I'd move on because I want someone who considers the future and wants to be prepared for whatever may happen.