http://www.cocomment.com/comments/davestarr Copyright 2007 coComment.com 2009-11-24T13:04:00.112+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/images/logo4rss.gif http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1233075&comment_id=23929912 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy Even before I read Cathy's comment ... I was going to say you could make a whole blog post out of 'what do you call a market'? They sure have a lot of names. Actually the two most common, palengke and mercado are both Spanish in origin ... mercado translates directly to market and palngke is derivded from place that sells pan de sal ... fresh bread of the day .. some people even think pan de sal is a Filipino word. Both Tagalog abd Bisayan are just loaded with Spanish-derived words ... Ilocano is a much different langaue to the other two, it's roots are very deep in Malay ... my wife who lived in Malaysia several years can 'get by' in both Mayalsian and Illocano and is often struck by similarities. The primary question .. where to shop? We go to the SM Hypermarket an average of once a week to buy both dry groceries and some meats ... like lean ground beef and pork ... they look at me strange but they will leave out the fat if you ask. We also buy hard to find veggies there. Most of our veggies and much of our meat comes to the door from two ladies with a cart ... they've served the family for years ... we buy what veggies and fruit that looks good and the rest we get next time ... they also take orders for meat and fish items and then bring the next vist. For last minute items we send the helper to a 'heavy' sari-sari store about 200 meters around the corner ,,, tey have veggies, canned goods, etc, and across the street from them is the fresh bakery ... there are three small palanke's in the 2 km drive to SM so there's an occasional stop for something the other places don't have ... variety isthe spice of life, indeed. 2008-02-07T02:08:06.501+01:00 2008-02-07T02:08:06.501+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1226785&comment_id=23928660 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy RE Marcelina's property question ... a former Filipibo ... one who gave up Philippine citizenship to become a US citizen and choose not to reaquire Philippine citizenship most certain _can_ own land in her/his own right in the Philippines. There are size limits but their relatively generous for either urban or rural land. No need for some sort of 'deal' involving a minor, just buy in yur own right. Also regarding the medical insurance issue ... as a military retireee family you are fully covered by TRICARE in the Philippines, a real benfit ... TRICARE saves me hundreds of dollars amonth over living in the US. 2008-02-07T01:12:05.243+01:00 2008-02-07T01:12:05.243+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1226785&comment_id=23871918 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy @ Ted Johnson, i found your assertion about Bob being a millionaire in the US interesting. I wonder, a., what makes you think he's not a millionaire now, and b., why would it be easier to be a millionaire in the US as opposed to in the Philippines? I came to the Philippines essentially to retire, but frankly I find (as I think Bob has said also) that it is substantially easier to make money here than in the US. Not an argument, just a conversation-starter. 2008-02-06T05:52:02.227+01:00 2008-02-06T05:52:02.227+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1226785&comment_id=23832907 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy Wow another great comment thread ... nearly every comment filled with 'juice' not 'jabber' ;-) I will pull back/modify/hold in abeyance my comment on 'must carry the passport'. I was actually relying on US law which requires all ailiens to carry their passport but which now does allow substitution of the Green Card ... effectively the same thing as the ACR-I. So maybe, legally, and ACR-I card holder doesn't need to carry his/her passport ... but if the bank says you must, then off you go to get it ... sigh ... nothing is ever really the same from day to day, is it? Buy the way I note that PayPal now makes direct deposit transfers to Philippine banks ... much preferable to yet another ATM card to me. An interesting issue regarding the 13 series visa ... apparently what Klaus is saying is that if one has a 13g visa .. sponsored by a former Filipino and that person then reacquired Philippine citizenship the visa is lost? Hmmm, never thought about that ... very good tip to know ... but when I finally get round to doing my permanent visa it will be a 13A, 'true blue; Filipino-sponsored all the way ;-) 2008-02-05T02:50:14.402+01:00 2008-02-05T02:50:14.402+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1226785&comment_id=23800067 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy Can't think of much in the way of benefits, Bob. becoming a naturalized Filipino citizen does _not_ convey the rights of property ownership ... that is clearly reserved for _natural born_ Filipinos by the constitution. I haven't yet run into the little impase you described at the bank, but that is one of the oft-ignored rules ,,, foreigners must carry their passport with them ... I almost never do and most foreigners I know do not as well ... but if 'cuaght' on the subject, nothing to do except back up 10 and punt. After I am here 5 years as a legal resident ailien, which hasn't started yet for me, I might explore naturalization, but the 'might' is very nebulous. Even if a foreigner becomes naturalized, s/he is still a foreigner, in my view, so why would I bother? I will say that there are afew countries ... China as one example ... where it is a distinct advantage to have a Philippine passport rather than a US ... but certainly the ''blue' passport has unrestricted access to more countries overall. 2008-02-04T06:12:56.878+01:00 2008-02-04T06:12:56.878+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1214458&comment_id=23621203 Dave Starr I was happy to see both the second and first place countries as they are, so far. I lived in Thailand two years and like it fine, but I live in the Philippines now and find it a better place for a Westerner to 'live Eastern'. Nice poll. 2008-01-29T09:38:14.520+01:00 2008-01-29T09:38:14.520+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1213927&comment_id=23601289 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy Interesting, Bob ... you're causing me to re-evalaute my estimate of just how many people there are interested in actually seeing the Philippines ... as opposed to flying into Manila and flying back out a few days later. One think those who haven't yet made the trip might not realize is that domestic air transport in the Philippines is completely different from what we might be used to in the IS. On US airlines it's often cheaper to fly from say Debnver to Manila than from Denver to Great Falls, Montana ... if you aren't flying to Orlando you are going to pay through the nose for dosmesic trips, and you are going to be burdened by all sorts of advance purcahse rules. Here, the competitve local airlines are easy to us bargains ... Cebu Pacific was recently selling Manila to Davao for a peso each way ... those fares are gone, there will be another promo soon ... but the regualr fare on morning or evening (lightly loaded) flights issoemthing like 1,000 or 1,200 Pesos ... $30 or so even at today's atrocious exchange rate. This is the kind of place you can fly to the other end of the country on a whim, no bank laon needed. 2008-01-29T00:19:20.069+01:00 2008-01-29T00:19:20.069+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1206296&comment_id=23502726 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy Wow, another great discussion started here, Bob. I think I learned something from every single comment, and as those who surf around a lot no, that doesn't happen in every group, to be sure. To American Lola, thanks for your reinforcement that it isn't just 'me' sensing the continual us vs them undercurrent. I am no saint, I get mad at things like any other normal person does. I lose my temper at times as well ... but when I look at the overall balance of my life, I am lucky to feel pretty happy to be here. And I certainly value foreign friends I have made every bit as much as Filipino freinds. I have yet to be ripped off in any noticeable way, but i am not naive ... I've been ripped off a time or two in my life and it's quite likely I may get crooked again, someday. I just don't spend my day waiting for it to happen ... life's too short. To Sid, regarding the 'watching over'. Like Bob, this would drive me crazy. What would I need someone to watch over me for? One of the only downsides I have found to living so close to my wife's family is that it can be stifling at times ... people are continually trying to do things for you, making up their own ideas of what you do and don't want to do, etc. If you travel with an open mind and watch what those around you are doing you will have no problem. I was here only a short time when I went to the corner store to get some carrots and potatoes for a stew. A sister-in-law wandered by and came running up to ask "Are you out here all alone"!?, with a shocked look on her face. I realize upon reflection that she meant well, but it really ruined my day at the time ... I've been buying vegetables since I was a little boy, I think I can manage a buying a couple carrots on my own at my age ... and if you make the move, you certainly can too, Sid. Nice hearing from you. 2008-01-26T04:18:31.272+01:00 2008-01-26T04:18:31.272+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1206296&comment_id=23470497 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy Excellent points there, Bob, and thanks for the link. Even long before I made the permanent move I was noted for that very line ... do not expect the Philippines to change around you, you must be in a position to change to suit the Philippines. If I had a dollar for every guy I've heard from who was planning to come to the Philippines and teach them how to do things I'd be a rich man. There are many things in the Philippines that Filipinos don't want to change ... and it doesn't matter if we as foreigners just 'know' we know how to do better ... we're not here to change 'them'. (incidentally, I find an excellent gauge of how well someone will do adjusting here by noting how often they use 'they' and 'them' in their conversation ... or how focused they are on living in enclaves with other foreign residents ... if you're focused on staying away from Filipinos and the Filipino ways of doing things, you have a long row to hoe). 2008-01-25T01:14:02.472+01:00 2008-01-25T01:14:02.472+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1204748&comment_id=23454892 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy Hi Joyce, Wow, thanks alot for all the work you are doing with Entrecard and thanks a lot for the mention of my PhilFAQS blog. Just for truth in advertising (because it's a big deal to some, and I want everybody happy) I am not a Pinoy blogger ... except by marriage ... my Pinay wife is the www.unofficialcook.com I do live full-time in Bulacan, tho, so perhaps I'm a Pinoy blogger wanna be. I've taken Entrecard off my blog, just today, though, so feel free to take me off the list ... nothing wrong with Entrevard for them who like it but it's wayyyy tooo time consuming for me. Be well Dave 2008-01-24T11:41:44.095+01:00 2008-01-24T11:41:44.095+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1028002&comment_id=20072243 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy It really amazes me how little we have progressed in the 60 years I have bene paying attention to this sort of issue. I was pretty mortified the other night while watching the NBN Blue Ribbon hearing to hear Senator Miriam Santiago use a particularly "bastos" term for the Chinese .. equivalent to the "n" word in some circles. When I was a boy I first thought racial and ethnic discrimination was somehtng whites practiced on blacks ... then I traveled the world and I find it happens all over, in all different races and ethnicities .. It's particularly interesting how some Filipinos from one province will hold extremely derogatory views towards those from other provinces, sometimes voicing their disdain quite vocally ... all so-and-sos are thieves, all the women from province x are pom-pom girls, etc. I really and truly don't know the cure ... but ABC was certainly stupid to leave that in the script. 2007-10-05T13:41:30.906+02:00 2007-10-05T13:41:30.906+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1024712&comment_id=19936745 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy And Laurence sums it up pretty accurately. I didn't bring that up becuase Americans in general get nasty and start throwing around the vipertuitous "C" and "L" and "D" and "R" words. Well you can throw all the politics you wish into the mix if it makes you feel good, but it is just a smioke screen. It ain't politics, it's simple economics. In 11 years the US has "spent itself into the poorhouse" while even the "poor little third-world" Philippines is making millions of US Dollars in savings this fiscal year by paying off loans early and saving interest payments. It's not rocket science, it's what happens when you try to live like Paris Hilton when your income base is the Bates Motel. 2007-10-03T01:12:39.827+02:00 2007-10-03T01:12:39.827+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1024712&comment_id=19936726 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Bob, I've been counseling people for more than 8 years niw _not_ to move to the Philippines based on prices here. To decide upon a retirement location based on cost of living is to decide using the wrong criteria. Many people have argued with me, I've even lost a few freinds over it because thiose fair-weather freinds were not astute enough to realize that the short-term pleasure of a low price quickly fades if the overall quality of life isn't up to expectations. The options for an American planning to retire on nothing more than Social Security or a small pension are extremely limited, Philippine Peso or no Philippine Peso. Since a majority of the oil America burns and a majority of the consumer goods sold in the US are paid for by weaker and weaker US dollars overseas what you are really saying is that the outlook for low-income retirees is bleak ... and I concur. I've also stated many times that the Philippines is a very poor place to contemplate life if you are poor. The average American doesn't even realize just how many plans and programs are in place to insure no one "falls thriogh the cracks" in the US. When I was paying electric bills and phone bills in Colorado there were state-imposed charges tacked on to each bill to insure that people who didn't pay their bill would still be served ... tax those who pay for those who won't/can't. In the Philippines if you don't pay your electric bill, your house gets very dark ... no questions asked. If you show up at a publicly-funded hospital in the US, you'll get treated, insurance or no insurance ... that's why people see those astounding bills of $18 for an aspirin, etc. The hospitals shift the responsibility from those who won't/can't pay onto the backs of those who can. Show up at an emergency room in the Philippines without cash and you'll likely die ... you are not the government's (read tax payer's) responsibility as you are in the US. The sokution, as I see it, is to get busy and make some more money, becuase even with several generoaus pension schemes it's going to get very tight over the next however many years I am granted ... US or Philippines. Fortunately, the online environment makes that a lot easier. It's still, however, much cheaper for Mita and i here in the Philippines ... when I see those figures like $49 for a basic cell phone service and $100 cable bills, etc., I realize how lucky we still are. 2007-10-03T01:00:22.044+02:00 2007-10-03T01:00:22.044+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1023408&comment_id=19853771 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy Hmmm, an ant just crawled across my screen as I was typing this .... actually, no joke .... a couple months ago I had a problem with the keyboard of this laptop I am using and took it to the computer shop ... I stayed while the tech opened it up because I was half-afraid the problem might have been that the machine was crammed full of ants. It wasn't, but not because the ants haven't been trying LoL. Anyone planning to live here had best be able to make their peace with these little buggers and a bazillion of their larger relatives, because you are going to deal with them. You can't eliminate them by sanitation and you certainly can't spray enough poison everywhere. There is a cute ittle "chalk" sold in retail stores that's alleged to be non-toxic and that will "divert" them form their ant highways ... but nothing will eliminate them ... just another part of life. 2007-10-02T00:56:08.157+02:00 2007-10-02T00:56:08.157+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1020447&comment_id=19773891 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy I really don't understand how the Jeepney could _not_ be an important part of Philippine culture. The actual capacity of all Jeepneys is well documneted ... "One more". @ Tom ... I think these folks need to be very ciatious in their "dream" of being a "Jeepney King". Fiest of all, it may not look like it but Jeepneys are highly regulated, by both the government and owner/operator associations. Aside from the usual issues with foreigners owning businesses, no one can just buy a Jeepney and start operating. You must have a franchise for the route you wish to ply ... and in big cities people often wait years for a franchise to become available ... in fact franchises themselves are a very active market commodity ... most jeepney owners rent their franchise from the franchise holder and are at the mercy of price increases or being "outbid" by someone who wants it more than they do. Jeeney profit margins are slim .. fares are very strictly regulated .. and in congested areas the number if daily trips that can be completed is limited. Not saying someone can't make money owning Jeepneys ... but they better know a lot about business in general and Jeepneys iin particular. I know of a number of Americans who have lost their investments ... mainly because they "blow into town" thinking their "superior knowledge" will equip them to "out Filipino the Filipino" who has been running a business for 60 years. seldom works. there are Much, much easier and more profitable ways to earn money in the Philippines. 2007-09-29T03:47:19.343+02:00 2007-09-29T03:47:19.343+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1016151&comment_id=19724724 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy What wonderful responses have come in on this thread ... I really appreciate reading about other's who have had similar relationships with their in-laws. Another thing I've learned from my "married" family is a real sense of closeness. Just recently daddy's elder sister (and the last of his siblings) passed away and I got introduced to the whole funeral home/graveside ceremony/visitation process. In my experience, when someone passes away in the US it's often a little perfunctory process ... again, my experience only. Here, the number of people who show up and the sincerity of their good byes was humbling. There's a different definition of family here than at least some of us are accustomed to. If the loss of a family member comes (as it will at times to all of us), do not pass up the chance to actively participate ... don't feel shy because you're the foreigner, you didn't know the person that that well, etc., all the natural excuses that come to mind ... join in the process, it's been an eye-opener for me. 2007-09-28T04:42:08.330+02:00 2007-09-28T04:42:08.330+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=1019266&comment_id=19722834 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy Nice news, Bob ... I never read an article like this without a silent prayer that those guys always at odds with their in-laws will somehow find common ground and learn how wonderful "her" parents can be as well as their own. I hope both mom's have a nice visit ... they have much more time to get to know each other this way, rather on just a short "check-in/check-out" day trip. You're very wise to have that large house ... never any way to know in advance when having the space to sparre wil make for a great family event. Best things in life are so often unplanned. 2007-09-28T03:48:49.670+02:00 2007-09-28T03:48:49.670+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=512022&comment_id=9397444 Dave Starr Hmmm, just to add some info to the hunt, it appears the problem might be relates to CoComment. My comment above sat more thna 2 hours without a response, I turned off coComment, refreshed the SM page and reposted ... instant gratification. 2007-02-28T05:23:12.144+01:00 2007-02-28T05:23:12.144+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=512022&comment_id=9393996 Dave Starr Don't think it's related to the Top Commenters implementation but there is some kind of distinct issue with the comments in general. Most of the time when I log in the "normal" way ... I read your comments on the OpenID issues .., and have some of my own, have no idea whey you are actually uisng it, makes MBL look secure ;-) ... anyway. the server just sits there afyter I click the Add Comment button and doe snothing ... even an hour later nothing will have happened. A few weeks ago I pressed the button more thna 100 times and the next day saw that my comment had actually gone through ... twice, sorry 'bout that. It's aWordPress infrastructure, so sthings should work the same as other blogs (using Windows XP and FireFox 1.5.0.10 .... wonder what's up? 2007-02-28T04:22:12.666+01:00 2007-02-28T04:22:12.666+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=452574&comment_id=8156587 Dave Starr Wow, the saga goes on and on ... wonder why allegedly (ok actually) smart people, at least judging by their income levels, wold participate in this absolutely loose and ungoverned security mess. To give Yahoo! free control and all the screen real estate, for free, just so they can put a 'toy' on your pages that htey won't pay for? Gues that's why I'm only bush league. I've seen at least three bloggers of consequence in just the past day or so ask for what is desperately needed, a control over who comes into an individual's "friend" list or "posse" and, of course, not a single reasonable answer ... why make a product that is decent and works when the "follow the leader" community just loads the code anyway? OMG if Microsoft had produced this monstrosity the eruptions would be heard 'round the world. Interesting. 2007-02-04T15:18:15.198+01:00 2007-02-04T15:18:15.198+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=davestarr&conv=452574&comment_id=8156289 Dave Starr Wow, the saga goes on and on ... wonder why allegedly (ok actually) smart people, at least judging by their income levels, wold participate in this absolutely loose and ungoverned security mess. To give Yahoo! free control and all the screen real estate, for free, just so they can put a 'toy' on your pages that htey won't pay for? Gues that's why I'm only bush league. I've seen at least three bloggers of consequence in just the past day or so ask for what is desperately needed, a control over who comes into an individual's "friend" list or "posse" and, of course, not a single reasonable answer ... why make a product that is decent and works when the "follow the leader" community just loads the code anyway? OMG if Microsoft had produced this monstrosity the eruptions would be heard 'round the world. Interesting. 2007-02-04T15:05:08.817+01:00 2007-02-04T15:05:08.817+01:00