I am an American Expat living in Davao City, Philippines. I live with my wonderful wife Elena and have 3 nieces living with us while they attend University for Nursing. I am hoping to help people, both Expats and Filipinos as I can and to possibly work to supplement my meager savings. My Blog is my way to journal my life, my experiences and my observations.
54 Comments to “About Me”
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Nice blog
Kevin,
Thanks for visiting and the kind words.
I hope you will continue to visit
Happy to connect with you!
Mindanaoan,
Thank you. I hope you will continue to visit and I will be visiting your site too.
Hi Bruce,
Nice website you’ve got there. I think we share some things in common. You’re an expat writing for expats and I’m a Pinoy writing for expats.
I’ll be visiting your site from time to time.
Thanks,
Carlos V
Carlos,
Thanks for visiting. I hope you continue to read and feel free to comment from your perspective and hopefully we all can get a better understanding of our differences in life and culture.
Hello thanks for visiting my blog.. anyway so your living in Davao that´s my place LOL, I miss Davao now hopefully I can visit this year there!
Shy,
Thanks for visiting my site too. If you come to visit, let me know and maybe we all can meet for coffee.
Please continue reading and commenting. I like to know what filipinos think about my views as a foreigner.
hi bruce,
this is a great site you have here. it is fun to read your thoughts being a American expat living here in Davao. Nice meeting you. hope to learn things from a American.
i’ll be visiting your site from time to time.
zoro
Zoro,
Thanks for visiting and enjoying my Site. KEep commenting on anything you agree or even disagree with.
Hey Bruce!
Now I see why I might have had trouble getting to your site. It changed!
I like the new site and the look. Very attractive. I’m glad you made it to FB. I’ll be stopping by to read your stuff.
Your friend in Florida, Tom
Tom,
Glad you found me. I miss our lunches and visits, especially when your cell phone was quiet.
I hope your surviving there. Keep in touch and tell everyone to visit my site.
Truly a great site Bruce!
Jade,
Thank you again. and Congradulations on the baby. I hope it is a girl and as beautiful as her momma.
thanks for the invite through expatica. i did visit and was pleasantly surprised. i have never been to davao but am looking at visiting within the next 12 months. thank you for loving my country as evidenced by your website. my regards to your wife and nieces. enjoy the hot, smoldering summer! manila is scorching. yaiks!
ManilaGirl,
Thanks for visiting. I am glad you enjoying my site. As you see, since I live here, I try to see things with an open mind.
I enjoy getting comments from Filipinos to see if they agree or even disagree with my views. Please tell your friends to visit.
Hello!
I came across your blog as I was doing some research on Davao. My partners and I just recently opened up a small BPO shop in Davao and are looking to expand throughout the year. I had the opportunity to do some training in November, 2008 and was in Davao a week. I’m hoping to get more time there this year, with a plan to be out there full-time in the next couple of years.
Anyway, I bookmarked your blog and will check in often! Next time I’m out there I’ll have to buy you a drink and have a good conversation…I’m sure there’s much we could learn from you.
TryBPO,
Thanks for enjoying my blog. I look forward to meeting you and taking you up on that drink. Since there is no Rye Whisky here, maybe you can bring some Seagrams 7 to enjoy an old “7&7″ hahahaha
Since I am always looking for a business opportunity, maybe you will have some need for me sometime too.
Also feel free to ask of me any questions you have about Davao, the people and or the culture and I will answer to the best of my knowledge or try to find the answer for you.
Hi Bruce, nice site here, nice appearance to it.
Jonaky,
Thank you. I hope you will continue to visit and comment.
Bruce, my wife asks “where in Davao do you live”..i.e. neighborhood.
Steve,
We live in Bajada, El Rio Area
Great site here. I’m glad you like Davao so much that you decided to stay here. Have a wonderful day
May,
Thank you for enjoying my site. I hope you will continue to visit. I popped into your site but need to spend more time reading your thoughts.
Thanks for visiting my site, I actually maintain another one, http://littlenicholas.com. I’ll appreciate if you pass through too because I admit it will indeed take much of your time to read through
Thus, passing through is more than enough. Cheers!
Nice to find you (through a Google News Alert). I’ve subscribed. I’ve been blogging in the Philippines for nearly three years now, up in the cold north country (Marilao, Bulacan). I’ve been to Davao several times and throughly enjoyed it … it’s high on my list of places I might settle in permanently … if I even actually settle down. Keep writing I’ll keep reading.
Dave,
Thanks. I am happy you found my site. I have been a reader and commenter to Bob’s site and know of you and your writings. I hope you continue to visit and comment when you feel you have something to add.
hi bruce thank you so muchh you appreciate about the kadaywan festival here ..davao is very nice place and very peaceful..you love and you like if someday you decide to visit here…god bless you always…
Liza,
I am glad you enjoyed the photos.
I am confused. I live in Davao, decide to visit where?
Hey there!
I have read your blog post about Friendster and Facebook in the Philippines. You have explained well about the comparison of the two leading social networking sites in the country.
I’m happy to hear that you’re staying in the Philippines. Hope you enjoy your stay in the country!
CarPal,
I am staying here until I die. I appreciated you visiting and hope you will continue to visit and read my articles. PAss me along to your friends too. Love the added company online
Aloha from Hawaii Bruce,
It’s been a couple of months since I stopped by your site. Good to hear that things are going well. I will try to stop by more often.
Life in Davao sounds nice.
Take care.
Dan
Dan,
Welcome back, do not be a stranger. Hang Ten Dude…..
Hi Bruce.Found your site when I was looking for a way to get rid of ants, hehehe. I’m also from Davao, Buhangin area. Anyway I hope you’ll continue staying or living in Davao peacefully. I also have a girlfriend who’s hubby is a foreigner, a German, and they’ve been here for quite some time now. Be happy. God bless.
Alta,
I am a peaceful person and try to get along. I also try to learn and understand the differences of our cultures. I used to work on Buhangin. I hope you will continue to visit.
A way to get rid of ants is buy Boric Acid and mix with sugar. There are many recipes online for the mix. The ants think it is food and bring it back to the nest to feed all.
Hi Bruce
I am married with American, and you meet him one time. You have his number? His name is Dennis….. I like your way of making friends with Filipino, Thank you for promoting the Philippines. God Bless
Maria,
I remember the name but I do not remember Dennis face. I meet a lot of people, but if I do not run into them often, I forget.
I am not as much promoting the Philippines as I am telling people what to expect moving here and what to look out for, understand and how to find the best.
I do understand all the concept you made, this is a very helpful site for those who dont know all culture, attitude and language’s that need to learn by the foreign visitor’s. As a Filipino, I know some of the truth is hurtful but I need to accept it, because I am also hurt by my countrymen. By the way, did you able to go in our beautiful Island of Biliran? It is in the heart Philippines, 1 night ride of boat from Cebu to Naval, Biliran and 2 rides of bus from Davao to Tacloban then Tacloban to Biliran. Try to visit, you will see our beautiful island with lots of water falls, beaches, small islands around and the shifting sand in Higatangan Island.
Have a nice day! Tills next time Bruce
wow biliran island sounds like a neat place and close to where I go to visit my family all the time. Are there any hotels to stay in there or does one have to set up a tent?
don;
There’s hotel there where you can stay. If you want to know more about Biliran Island, please visit our beautiful Island in our website: http://www.biliranisland.com
Have a nice visit in our very beautiful and unique place. Just tell me when you want to be there, I can give you a good guide to go around the Island…. here is my mobile: +639264571130
or email me at: mcldenmar1intl@aol.com
Bruce and Family:
If you want to join Don in visiting Biliran Island, thats more great. Its a great experience to stay for few days, specialy in Higatangan Island where the shifting sand is.
Just a little reminder, some peoples around are not purely born in Biliran, some are also strangers who choose to live there. Attitude are different, I hope you get me? If you want to visit and do some hiking and overnight stay in beaches, no worries, most of the beaches are guarded properly…but stay away from peoples that are drunk. Just make sure you know who you go with. But all in all, its very wonderful place where you can hide from the stress and busy life. Have a nice day!!!
Don,
If you go, take photos and write a guest article for me.
Maria,
We do not travel much. Cost and Elena afraid of NPA problems. Someday I want to see more of this country.
Bruce:
No NPA in Biliran, nothing to worry about that. From Davao, you can fly to Cebu, then from Cebu you can ride a boat, overnight to Naval, Biliran……
When you have time, just visit the Beautiful Island and you can see what I mean……
I have lived in the Philippines for an accumulated time of almost 1 year. My wife is from Davao city and we have purchased a 2 br. condo there at the Ecoland 4000 Residence.
When we are in Davao this is our home but we also rent our condo during the time we are living in Canada.
Davao is a beautiful and growing city and we look forward to returning next year for a 4 month stay.
Best regards to you and your wife.
Randy and Grace
Randy,
Thanks for visiting and commenting. I hope to meet you for coffee next time your here.
Hi Bruce,
My wife and I have been to several cities/islands including, Cebu, Bohol, Chocolate Hills, Manila, Makati, TAAL, Quezon, Boracay, General Santos, Baguio, Laguna (Enchanted Kingdom) and of course Davao city and Samal Island and perhaps a few more I cant remember. I have to say I have always felt pretty safe but I understand what you mean. A few times my wife has also shared her concerns about going to certain places due to safety concerns. Mt Apo is off limits for me and pretty much anything in Western Mindanao. So any Cotabato region or Zamboanga.
Oh well, we are hoping to visit in Palawan next time we are in Phil.
Cheers!!!
Randy,
Wow, you have seen a lot. If you have any interesting stories to share, I would welcome putting them on here for others to read.
Hi Bruce,
Kind of wish I was back over there away from the freezing weahter here in Scotland. Have been visiting Nabunturan 60KMS north of Davao for many years. Due to celebrate my 21st wedding aniverssary on 29 Dec. Got married in Manila but my wife is from Nabunturan. Visited on my own on 26 Nov and left on 16 Dec 09. Did a bit of motorcycle touring on my brother in laws small bike. Went up to Camaguin Island up to Butuuan and came back via Bukidian. Quite an experience. Took the superferry back to Manila rather than fly. Very cheap and comforable and good food. Best wishes. Don’t worry about trying to get work. Just relax and negotiate cheaper accomodation. It can easily be found.
Ron
Ron,
Thanks for visiting and commenting. Being originally from New York and now here now in the Philippines I would enjoy a little snow and freezing weather for a change.
We have a house and need the space since we have 3 nieces living with us. I hope someday when it is just the tow of us, we can get something smaller and more modern.
looking where i can boric acid here in davao we been to hardware stores & pharmacys no luck thanks much
Robert,
I will email a friend who had bought some and find out where. Then I will email you.
Maria,
I understand, but Elena is always worried for my safety.
Bruce & Elena;
I Understand your point of views. Its ok. Theres a lot of foreigners living there, most are Australian, American, Vietnamese, Chinese and Dutch. Theres one Lady from Agusan who was married with Dutch, they experience hard life in Agusan since they got out of money. Theres one Australian guy name Mr. Douglas who is the helping hand of every foreigner who got to visit there. He is a retired Military. An American who owned a Beach Resort and Hotel. Most Resort there was owned by a Filipino who married with an American, Australian and German. I am not convincing you to visit our Island, I am just trying to tell you that theres a lot of interesting places and peoples you can meet there.
Maria,
We are on a tight fixed income, but I hope to visit more of this country someday. Thanks for the invite.