Best Posts in Forum: Expat Section

At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,' said the gentleman, taking up a pen, 'it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.'

'Are there no prisons?' asked Scrooge.

'Plenty of prisons,' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

'And the Union workhouses?' demanded Scrooge. 'Are they still in operation?'

'They are. Still,' returned the gentleman, 'I wish I could say they were not.'

'The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?' said Scrooge.

'Both very busy, sir.'

'Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,' said Scrooge. 'I am very glad to hear it.'

'Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,' returned the gentleman, 'a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?'

'Nothing!' Scrooge replied.

'You wish to be anonymous?'

'I wish to be left alone,' said Scrooge. 'Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned—they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.'

'Many can't go there; and many would rather die.'

'If they would rather die,' said Scrooge, 'they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides—excuse me—I don't know that.'

'But you might know it,' observed the gentleman.

'It's not my business,' Scrooge returned. 'It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!'

Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. Scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion of himself, and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him.

 

Well we have made the move from Mactan to Valencia and we are so pleased to have made this change, I have yet to find out where things are situated here but enjoying the adventure.
We shopped in Hypermarket yesterday and I was surprised that some of the items we get on a regular basis are more expensive here, one example is; Hereford C/beef P155 in Mactan and 269 here perhaps a mistake? also 1ltr Tanduay Rum P97 but P110 here,
Tricycles are more expensive here also I believe, in Mactan they cannot get away with overcharging as you can compare their fares to Taxi fares over the same journey, Hypermart to Valencia P150 seems expensive to me?

Anyway having said all of the above I'd rather be here than in Mactan, one really good thing I have observed here and had never thought about before, it was heavy rain on the Tuesday night when we arrived here but next morning there was no sign that it rained the night before, in Mactan we would have been wading through puddles for days after, so living on a hill in the Philippines is a definite advantage as long as you are not in an area that is susceptible to landslides.

Hope to meet some of you soon,

Dave

 

The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general..
The Grandfather replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before:
' television
' penicillin
' polio shots
' frozen foods
' Xerox
' contact lenses
' Frisbees and
' the pill
There were no:
' credit cards
' laser beams or
' ball-point pens
Man had not invented :
' pantyhose
' air conditioners
' dishwashers
' clothes dryers
' and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and space travel was only in Flash Gordon books.
Your Grandmother and I got married first,.. and then lived together..
Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every woman older than me, "mam". And after I turned 25, I still called
policemen and every man with a title, "Sir."
We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.
Our lives were governed by the Bible, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.
Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger
privilege... We thought fast food was eating half a biscuit while running to catch the school bus.
Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.
Draft dodgers were those who closed front doors as the evening breeze started.
Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums.
We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings.
We listened to Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.
If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan' on it, it was junk.
The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam....
Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.
We had 5 &10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.
You could buy a new Ford Coupe for $600,... but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.
In my day:
' "grass" was mowed,
' "coke" was a cold drink,
' "pot" was something your mother cooked in and "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby. "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office, ' "chip" meant a piece of wood, "hardware" was found in a hardware store and
' "software" wasn't even a word.
And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby.
No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap.
How old do you think I am?
I bet you have this old man in mind....you are in for a shock!
Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time .
Are you ready ?????
This Man Would Be Only 70 Years Old Today.
... PASS THIS ON TO THE OLD ONES, THE YOUNG ONES WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

 

We have all had ex-pat friends die here and have heard tales of woe from their wives, girlfriends and families.

This posting attempts to explain what happens after you are gone so you can plan ahead to avoid and reduce the pit falls those you leave behind will experience. The old navy adage, "loose lips sink ships" may apply here.

A. Pay the Hospital and Obtain the Death Certificate


B. Notifying the Embassy

The embassy has to be notified of your death. There are a lot of expenses to be paid so you need to arrange your financials so your next of kin will have money to pay them.

Death of a U.S. Citizen | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

It may take several days or weeks to receive authorization from the embassy to allow the funeral home or crematorium to dispose of your body and there is generally a storage fee while waiting on this authorization.

If you have children or relatives in the States, make a list to assist the embassy in contacting them perhaps to speed things up. Your filipina wife may need to show your marriage license to prove her standing in your affairs when dealing with different agencies.

C. Local Banking Arrangement and Withdrawal

Central Bank regulations require banks to freeze single and joint accounts when a depositor dies and the person withdrawing on those accounts casually or unintentionally says that you have died. The accounts are frozen until BIR notifies them taxes have been paid by that estate. If you have single accounts or local investments, it is likely that money will never find its way to your next of kin when they need it. With FATCA the U.S. IRS may have an interest in your bank accounts also.

SGV & Co. Philippines | Ernst & Young | Accounting Firm

Joint bank accounts

D. You may have lots of stuff but your Filipina wife owns it.

Inheriting can be tough without a will and take time and money.

Inheritance tax and law

shakey

 

Sharing some things I have learned about the local system of government. I have been experiencing a Biased attitude with my local Brgy Capitan and most of the Brgy Hall employees. So I decided to learn about how this all works. Most of this I got from experience and then verified with the head of local DILG
1. The Brgy Capitan is the first in line of people you have to go to for any local disputes. 15 days to schedule
2. Brgy Capitan schedules first a conference with both parties in the dispute with the intent of settling the dispute out of court. The Capitan, and all other employees are not allowed to take sides. If the Capitan is in any way Biased due to relationships or any other reasons he must recuse himself and have one of the Lupon's sit in his place. 15 days to schedule
3. If there is no settlement the Capitan will schedule a Lupon court hearing with 3 or more of the Lupon's in attendance. Again to try to settle the dispute. 15 days to schedule
You have the right to a private hearing , meaning no others present except the people stated on the summons. This allows for you to be heard and to maintain a proper decorum. Pinoys like to stack the Brgy Hall with supporters and cause disturbances when you are trying to speak. This is not allowed by law.
4. Your option is to keep records of the meetings even recording them if you think you need to. Then if you are not being properly treated by the Brgy Hall employees you can have all the information you need to file in writing a letter of complaint to the D.I.L.G. located in the City Hall bldg. Make specific statements stating dates, events, names and your complaints pertaining to each. Try to get a one on one with the DILG.
Example would be Violation of the Anti Red Tape law, not maintaining proper decorum during meetings. Making false statements pertaining to your civil rights. acting in a overtly Biased way.
Submit this with 2 copies to the DILG. One copy will be stamped received and given back to you. the DILG will review your complaint if warranted will endorse it to the Ombudsman in Cebu. The Ombudsman will review it and if they deem it warranted it will be sent back to the DILG for investigation and possible removal from office of all offenders. I hope this can help another expat with the learning curve of their new country.