March 29, 2024

18 thoughts on “Thursday – 4 Nov

  1. Hello UJ. I stumbled upon this site. So, I thought I would write and let you know that there is someone who actually will right back. I like some of your daily posts. I live in Florida but was stationed in Texas while in the Air Force back in the late 70’s and early 80’s for a total of six years. I am retired from the Air Force and now work for the government. I will be retiring in Manila in three years with my Filipina wife. She has a townhouse in Las Pinas (NCR).

    Anyway, I think there are other sites that have been around with more posts and perhaps show up first. That’s just a guess. I note that some of the expat web sites have a hard time getting started. I don’t know why unless it is the limited number of expats in the Phils that bother to post on websites blogs. I also am reluctant to leave my email. My email is swamped from expat blogs and I cannot keep up with them all. Anyway, keep at it. I say never give up your right to have your say. PS: I also love classic rock. I use to be a big fan of Hank Jr. But that was back in my drinking days. “I like Girls” and “All my rowdy friends…” are a couple of the good ones. Loved the Statler Brothers. Just don’t listen to country music much anymore except some old Roadhouse tunes. Also some of the 70’s originators…Willie Nelson, Randy Travis, George Strait, and Alan Jackson were favorites.

    I enjoy some of your info. Keep at it. Love the pictures – keep more of them coming.

    Erny

    1. Thank you for leaving a comment. So many people just look and leave, so I have a hard time trying to figure out if I can do something to improved my site. I also was in the Air Force in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I retired in ’93. We are far from the Las Pinas area, but I have at least been through there a couple of times.
      Don’t worry about me sending anything to your e-mail, I never do things like that. I am not selling anything, nor do I plan to. I do hope to get sponsors on the site in case the readers want to look and/or buy, but I personally will never have anything to sell. I’ve only had this site since 21 Aug, so it’s relatively new. I’ve only been retired here since May this year. From the sounds of your comments, you read quite a bit, maybe all of my posts. I also was stationed in Texas, late 70’s..Webb AFB in Big Spring (1976-1977) (now closed) and Kelly AFB in San Antonio (1977-1981) (now closed). Also Bergstrom AFB in Austin (1985-1988) (also now closed). I’ve got a lot of pictures from my trip down south, and I’ll be putting them in a little at a time. I know all my days are not interesting, but I sure give it my best shot, and I would appreciate you continuing to read and commenting whenever you desire. If you need to know something in particular I will try to find out for you. Thanks again.

  2. Hi JJ! Back from Tambis? You weren’t able to tell me in detail which route you take but I gather that when you reach Abuyog you take the Mahaplag by Sogod [“so good”] to the St. Bernard area. So you wouldn’t be passing SL’s Pacific side of the island. Is Tambis north of San Juan municipality? How far north? You mentioned Catmon, too. Is it east of Catmon? Just trying to get a mental fix of the town.

    How was the trip? No mechanical problems I hope and you’re all safe and sound.

    We’re all “eyes” for the next blog. Keep typing!

    1. Yes we are back, thank goodness. I’ll have more about how we got there in the post later, but for now I’ll tell you that Tambis is like between St. Bernard and Catmon. At least when we turn out of the main road (only road) in Tambis, left is Catmon and right is Tambis II, Bolo Bolo and St Bernard.
      No, no mechanical problems on this trip, everyone safe and sound now.
      New post later tonight, tonight for me.

      1. Got it. Left to Catmon or right to St. Bernard, Tambis, Bolo Bolo. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll check it out. Thanks!

        Salamat kaayo. Maraming salamat. Gracias. Merci.

        1. Just follow the signs to Guinsaugon, you have to pass right through Tambis to get there, because there is no other road.
          If you need anything while you are there, you could ask for Khany and/or Bebie Reonal. They are the cousins there. Their house is the newer looking 2 story house with the sari-sari store connected to it, on the main road, on the left. They’d be able to help you with little things that you might need. Or you could just stop and say howdy.

    1. I haven’t been around a computer Joyce. I told you I’d be gone. Back now. Expect a new post in about 12-15 hours. I’ll have today’s events plus Day 1 of our trip.

      1. Forgot to tell you St. Bernard has about 3 internet cafes right around the farmers’ market. P30 an hour, in half hour increments. I believe Smart is the I/N service provider and I was pleasantly surprised that they’re as fast as their NorthAm counterparts. The cafes themselves leave a lot to be desired but they’re air-conditioned except for one that I know of. The downside is the kids who holler and yell as they play their video games; each pc user has at least 3-5 pals surrounding him; you can hardly hear yourself think. Where they get the extra cash, I’ve often wondered but people may not be as poor as commonly assumed. I have a favorite cafe in St. John/San Juan/Cabalian; not too noisy and comparatively clean. I mean the surroundings are painted in light colors and tidy, although I still bring anti-bacterial wipes and give the keyboard and mouse the works before I settle in. Hahaha. 😉

        Elsewhere where the are no i/n cafes I use Smart’s cell phone connection, hooking the Nokia to the laptop so I don’t have to go blind surfing the net while looking at the microscopic cellphone screen. Same price, 15 pesos for each half-hour or part thereof. But ssslllooowww! So I mainly use it for email, typing my posts ahead of time using a word processor then copying-and-pasting it after I log in. Otherwise I take the 25-minute drive to Cabalian.

        The tribulations of being out in the sticks. 🙁

        1. I don’t normally look for the internet cafe’s while I’m there. We just go there to shop. Next time, if I remember, I’ll get a picture of one or two of those cafe’s.
          I’m sure mga bata will be able to tell me where one or all of them are.

  3. Maybe you should consider opening a peso account. Then just use your ATM to withdraw your money instead of staying and waiting in Line. I do have an account in MetroBank which i monitor here in US. The minimum withdrawal is 50,000 pesos a day….not bad at all.
    Looking forward to your post on the new hotel.

    1. Well long time no hear. I was wondering if you gave up on me. We do have a peso account, but the money I’m getting is my retirement check and it needs to be going to a US bank. I don’t mind waiting in line so much, at least not when the electric is on and the fan is turned in my direction. As far as the hotel goes, I’ll have to wait and see now. The night we were suppose to go was the brownout. I thought we’d go the next night, but there was a big party there. Just waiting on the guy to come here to eat again, probably tomorrow, and we’ll ask once more.

  4. I was suprised when you said you exchanged from dollar to peso at your bank,is it the same as on the street such as western union.In Angeles or Subic
    it was always higher on the street.When my wife and i would ride our motor bike from Calbayog to Catbalogan it would take us 2 hours,another good reason to get a motor bike and is a great ride not much traffic after you get out of Calbayog,faster if you go by yourself.

    1. We just exchange at the bank because there really isn’t any other place here. There is a place inside JustMar that is ‘suppose’ to be like black market prices, but it’s not, it very close to the bank. It’s just easier to get it all done at one spot.
      It could be only 2 hours to Catbalogan, I don’t really remember. I will try to remember to keep track when we leave tomorrow. And we are never by ourselves when traveling.

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