Now this is not the main reason for this article, but I want to explain a little history.

I had dreams of making an income from advertisements on the site. I soon found out, this is a difficult way to make an income online. Most readers of blogs come to read and do not even notice the ads. I then put the “Donate” button on the sidebar and then on the bottom of each post. Some readers have been kind and I do receive a donation at times, but this is not enough to support myself, my family or really cover the time and costs of this site.

I have mentioned my architectural experiences in articles and had a few who have inquired about me doing design, full construction documents for permitting and even managing construction. I have done a few designs and then never went further. I have wondered if my free designs were giving to someone else or not, I never made any money for my time.

I started this site mainly to journal my life as an American living in Davao, hence the name American in Davao.  At first, many of my articles and photos were about my family and my life. Over time, I have developed to write more about how life is here for a Foreigner in third world country.  I try to tell the truth and not “sugar coating” what observations or advice.  There are many wonderful parts to living here, but there are difficulties too. I have tried to assist people to understand how to conduct themselves here and how to be careful in different situations. Many times my wife Elena has assisted too.

Over time, I have had many comments or direct emails asking for advice, information or even assistance. I have helped visitors find accommodations, helped locate restaurants, doctors and shopping. I have had many emails from future Expats-to-be or from men with online girlfriends who were planning to move here and I have offered any assistance I can give.

Last month I was surprised when I received an email from an International Relocation Service. They had a client company sending a representative here to Davao to open a branch office. I was offered the position as a consultant to assist this person find acceptable accommodations such as a furnished house or apartment, obtaining a bank account, services and a list of restaurants, entertainment, attractions and activities.  I would be paid for expenses, mileage and an hourly rate for a preset number of hours.  The hourly rate was good even if I was in the states.

I accepted the offer and then started trying to locate high-end furnished rentals. This was no easy task. It is not like in the states with magazines and classifieds listing all the apartments and houses for rent. There are some websites that individual real estate agents have, but sometimes they do not have decent descriptions, places shown are already rented or the furnishings are not what would be desired. I felt it was my responsibility to visit as many as I could before this man arrived. I did not want to embarrass myself by bringing him to a location and discovering there was problems.

In addition, many real estate agents do not want to show a property to someone in my position with the fear I would steal the business and they would lose their commission. I did locate a few on my own and found some to be below the standard needed and one that was great. I also planned to show him a place that would be good for a temporary   residence until we could find something better.  To make this long story shorter, we found a place he liked and with my wife’s help, we negotiated a good price.

During this process, I received an email from a man planning to come here in the near future and asked, from reading my site, if I offer any services.  I told him I could offer myself and car for transportation around town, help him find accommodations and local attractions he might enjoy. I told him I would not help him find women or clubs where he can find women.

This man replied he was coming to meet his online girlfriend and offered to pay me to drive them to different attractions in the city. He stated he did not want to ride Jeepneys or has to worry about hiring drivers and/or taxis where language could present a problem.

Today I met a person who is somewhat new to the city. While we were talking about these services, he told me, if he had known about me before he moved here, he would have liked to have someone who could have assisted him finding an apartment, finding and purchasing furnishings and even getting services such as cable and internet. He said he would have had no problem paying me for my time assisting him.

Another friend I have made is planning to come visit his girlfriend he met online. Her birthday is soon and asked if my wife would assist him in buying her a present. He sent us the funds for the purchase. Elena was happy to assist. For this, he offered to take us to dinner once here and to bring both of us certain items we would like from the States.

Some people I have met through this site have offered remuneration, bringing me items from the states I might need, or just a nice dinner with my wife. All of these offers have been nice.  Even though I would like to earn a steady income, being able to assist fellow foreigners with needs, information or advice is something I am enjoying and will continue to do so. If there is a way to assist and earn, I am not against that either. From these few earnings and from the donations I have received it makes me feel it was the right thing to keep this site going and continue the time to write articles and answer comments.

It is also all my visitors to my site that shows me this site has a need and a worth.  Even though it is difficult to find items to write the three articles I try to publish every week, I will do so as long as I am able.

Thank you all for showing me my effort and work is appreciated.

With this site, and many readers, I have been asked to get information for some people, answer questions, locate items and also assist people either moving here or once here finding places to rent. I always do my best to help when asked.

About three months ago, one of the readers here contacted me. He was soon to arrive in Davao and asked if I know of a nice apartment to rent on a monthly basis for his stay. He was planning an extended vacation and felt if he could rent a place cheaper than a hotel, and had the ability to cook some of his own meals, he could remain here for a few months. The day he arrived, he emailed me, and then sent me a text. I told him of about the apartelle I posted about on June 30th. Click here to read.
I also offered to meet him at his hotel and drive him to see the accommodations. As soon as he viewed the apartment available, he said he would take it. I drove him back to his hotel where he checked out, brought his luggage down and I drove him back. He became a real friend that day and stayed here 2 ½ months until he needed to return home quickly because of an illness in his family.

Last Friday I was contacted again by an American who just arrived in Davao and with a similar request. This man is planning to live here in Davao but wanted to locate a place to rent, fully furnished with all the amenities including wifi or internet access. I directed him to the article I had posted, and again as in the past, I offered to pick him at his hotel and drive him to see the apartments. I met him at 10 am at a nearby coffee shop and we talked a little, then I drove him and his girlfriend to see the apartment. Just as with the previous person, he liked it right away and I drove him back to check out of his hotel and after we stopped for lunch, I brought him to move in. Just as the first person I met and showed the apartment, we sat for a few hours talking and soon realized we felt comfortable with each other to be friends.

With both these people, they asked to pay me something for my time and gasoline. I told them to give me what they felt they thought was applicable and I was treated fairly.

Also from my time here, and my associations with tradesman and architects, I have been asked for design assistance and to possibly help with getting a house built. Many times someone has needed a painter, electrician, carpenter, mason or other building or repair needs.

Recently a friend replaced an old hot water unit in his shower. The new unit drew more current than the old one and after about a minute of use, it blew the breaker. He asked me if I had an electrician. I contacted my best contact and two hours later, I brought my electrician to his house. The electrician went into the attic, checked the wiring and gave his recommendations, a part list of needs and his fee for labor. My friend agreed and within two hours, the job was done.

Earlier this week, another friend contacted me. He bought a new range with a lift cover and an exhaust fan unit. Unfortunately his kitchen cabinet was too low to even raise the glass cover. My friend wanted to have the cabinet bottom raised, the exhaust fan wired and a hole to the outside for the exhaust outlet. I contacted my carpenter and the next evening brought him to my friend’s house. They discussed the project and my friend also realized with the location of the range, he would have room to add an “L” extension to the lower cabinet between the range and the existing cabinet. My carpenter looked over the project, made a parts list and decided it would take four days with him and a helper. He gave my friend the labor fee and my friend agreed. The project started Wednesday and on Friday I visited the house, most of the work was done and the tile on the cabinet extension was complete. It matched so well, once painted, it would look original. Saturday I met with my friend in the evening and asked about the project. He told me it was done and he was completely satisfied with the work and will keep my friend in mind for future needs.

After we hired our domestic helper, Elena was asked by a few friends if she could get helpers for them. Elena called her sister-in-law and about a week later, she came to Davao with three girls for Elena’s friends.

I enjoy these situations. I get to help foreigners that need assistance and also get to help Filipinos whom I know with their businesses. If I make a commission, that is fine, but not my main objective. Maybe someday it will turn into a real business or someone will offer me a position or a way to earn some income because of our connections.

One thing, because of my background, that interests me is the Architecture of the Philippines.

The original peoples used native resources to build their homes. These were made from bamboo and wood and long grasses for thatching of their roofs. These homes are known as Nipa Huts probably from the use of the Nipa Palm for a building material.

These homes would be placed above the ground on stilts to keep wild animals from easy entrance and ventilation from air passing below the house. The Moro’s on Mindanao would build a similar home but the posts would be places on a rock base used as a type of roller incase of earthquakes. I feel this also helped keeping the termite problem to a minimum.

These homes would usually be a one or two room configuration used for multipurpose. It was a meeting, eating and sleeping room. The roofs were grass thatching and would have a long overhang to help with shade and protection to the areas below.  The floors were usually made of split bamboo which would enable to allow dirt and food scraps to fall through to the ground below.

After the arrival and colonization by the Spanish stone or block wall construction was introduced and the homes had a more Spanish appearance or style and would be larger mansion style. Over time the Chinese style came onto the scene too.

After the Spanish American war the architecture developed into a more functional style with straight lines. Then there was World War II where a lot of the older buildings were destroyed and some others just fell to decay.

These days a lot of structures have a modern look, but with a lot of old style of thoughts.

In America homes have a more spacious look with larger rooms. Many here have smaller rooms in the private areas. The bedrooms are sized to contain the required items, but not extra room for comfort. There are usually no closets or areas for storage. CR’s are narrow and some do not even have a lavatory (sink). There is a shower head but no curb or shower enclosure.

A lot of the upper scale homes, especially the multi-story homes have large glass windows spanning the whole height of the structure. This is beautiful but without operable panels, it lets in light and heat without ventilation.

Homes and many commercial buildings are painted in bright colors. I was asked once “What do you think of Philippine Architecture?” My reply was “Bright, Bold and in your Face.” What I mean with this is the bright colors, larger gutter and cornice trims. I am not one in favor of the “minimalistic” style of architecture, but also not a fan of architecture that screams “Look at me.” But that is only my opinion.

As I have stated in other articles, I am also a fan of using natural ways to protect and ventilate the homes.

One thing I think is wonderful here, with the carpenters and craftsman, you can have beautiful panel doors made in any design or style you like. There are painters that can paint metal to look like fine grained woods.

As anywhere, if you plan to build, you need to look at different styles, understand what can be done with available materials and the wants verses budget constraints.

The main workload is outsourcing for projects in America. Most of them are Motels such as Comfort Inn, La Quinta, Holiday Inn.

The funny part is the Filipinos work on the American projects and me, an American do the Local projects. I am currently working on 3 houses.

The Architect loves the way I use AutoCAD by using intelligent walls instead of just drawing lines. With the program I can use Door and Window schedules and Area calculations that are part of the drawing and attached to the items. If you change a door window or building size, the schedules update automatically.

I was afraid that being a “Foreigner”, older than most and not a graduate of Architectural school, I would be treated with contempt or as an outsider. It turned out my fears were never realized.

At first everyone called me Sir out of respect, but I tell them, I am just one of them, and just a draftsman and they can call me Bruce.

It is nice, while my car was in the shop, if I didn’t realize it was lunch time, one of the guys I eat with would come over to let me know it was lunch time and to come join them.

One day as I was leaving for lunch the Architect stopped me to go over a design element. I had to stay and let him finish. As I came around the partition towards reception, one of the guys was waiting for me and as we left the building, all of the waited for me to go eat.

Talking to them about it and mentioning how I thought I would be treated, they told me the office is like a family and I am part of it.

Now for the bad parts, here we work 6 days a week. Sunday is my only day off and that is busy taking Elena to the market for the weeks food shopping.

Another thing is I am used to a cubical or office with counter space for the computer and to lay out papers. Here is is like a Internet cafe minus the dividers. We sit on a long table with a hutch shelf, shoulder to shoulder. There is not much room for papers and a lot just have them on their laps.

Here in the Philippines, the Architect is also the project manager on site and has to go out most days to make sure it is built to plans. The Architect has told me he is going to take me with him to learn how to manage a project and will also teach me how to cost out a project. This way if I am ever let go, I could do projects myself.

One thing interesting is I am drawing in metric and the architect tells me to add items in feet and inches. I smile and say, “Oh, 4 inches, you mean 100 millimeters.” before someone writes in and corrects my conversion, all things are rounded except where we dimension.

Well it is a learning process and accepting Filipino style of houses. At times when I comment of something being to small or things I find strange, the architect lets me change to what I feel is more logical. For instance, one Master Bedroom, to go to the Bathroom you go through a door to the walk in closet and then through a door to the bathroom. After commenting he let me change it to have a door to each right from the bedroom.

I hope I did not bore you all too much.

They are in need of someone to help get some drafting for about a month. The pay is not much but it gets my foot in the door and hopefully it can grow to a higher position for a better salary.

My friend would like to have me support him with his marketing role. Also Friday I met with the Architect and showed him how I use AutoCAD Architectural Desktop, not just the basic AutoCAD. In Desktop you draw with 3D walls instead of just lines. Then you insert doors, windows and other items that are inserted into the drawing and become part of the building. Then these items can be put on a schedule that will update if an item changes. This relieves the worry of the schedule not truly reflecting the items on the plan.
There is also an automated area schedule that updates if the size of the building changes.

The architect was very impressed with the quality and speed using this system.

This firm is involved in both local work and outsourcing. Outsourcing is where a company in another country hires a company in another country to do their work.

If you live in the US you know about talking to a customer representative for a company and you hear a strong accent. This is because a lot of companies have their customer service or tech support outsourced to a company in India.

The nice part in the Philippines, most people speak English well. Also since the wage in the Philippines is so much lower than the USA or Middle East you can get qualified people servicing your company for a lot less then hiring staff locally.

This firm has a Civil and Structural Engineer, a MEP Engineer (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) and an Architect in charge of a department with a staff of graduates that are licensed too. In America you see more drafting school graduates or fresh graduates working to get their requirements for their license.

The firm is also knowledgeable of the building and structural codes. They are using the latest software.

If you know of any company in need of the services, please contact me and I will pass the information to the principals.