This reminded me of something that happened about a week ago. A driver started after I was. Lately he complained about everything, vehicles having to be brought in and the loss of time on the road and possible earnings, bad or no tips and anything he could complain about. This man is around my age and I was afraid he would explode and go “postal” on one of his customers or in the office.

I started talking to him and explained to him, yes, we have a lousy job with long hours and bad pay. I told him about my last job in Florida, the great pay and how I lost it and moved to the Philippines.
I also asked him if there was any better option for us for employment at our age and being in the state and city with the highest unemployment in the nation.

I told him he needed to learn to enjoy the good parts of the job. Practically every day we have a customer who brings enjoyment to our day. It could be someone from our hometown or from a place, we had visited so we can talk about that. It might be someone who has an interesting story to tell you or something you can learn about life or places. It can be someone who gives you a huge tip just because they enjoy your treatment and safe driving.

I told him how I engage customers in conversation and the stories and jokes I use in the car. I told him how I stock up on bottled water in the morning and offer it to my customers.

I also mentioned, even if he tries to be happy and upbeat but is depressed, it shows through. If he expected to get the best from this job, he has to give some of himself to get in return.

Look, remember the good, and put the bad in the back of his mind. Have fun with the job. Many have told me, especially my wife I am a “talker.” This is true. I love to engage almost anyone in conversation. I learn from the others and enjoy the different views and stories from others. This makes my day go by faster, energizes me and I think my customers enjoy their ride in my taxi too. With their enjoyment comes a better tip too. I have had a $40 tip on a $12 ride one morning. The customer asked me about driving a taxi and I told him about the hours and pay. When he paid me, he told me he wanted to start my day on a good note.

It is defiantly harder to be positive and upbeat than depressed. It takes work and a conscience effort some days, but gets easier as time goes by. Depression is the safest place to be since anything that goes bad just adds and proves the reasons to be depressed.

Maybe from my time in the Philippines and seeing how many Filipinos live and the things I had to do without living there gave me a better outlook on life and needs.

Years ago we would always talk about wanting a better job, now we are happy having a job. Look for the “silver lining” in the clouds and find ways to give yourself and those around you positive look at life and learn to enjoy the little things life and nature has to offer.

At that time, I had filed for Elena’s Fiancée Visa and we were waiting for its approval. Well one day, the developer I was working for laid off 97% of their employees and then declared bankruptcy. I was unable to find a decent paying job so Elena told me to come to the Philippines. We thought with my savings, annuity, and help from her family we would be able to survive decently here.

Therefore, to the disappointment of my family I packed up and moved here to Davao. Since I was not receiving any pension or Social Security, it was not as easy for us as for other expats. I worked for a short time here but for Filipino wages which just covered food expenses for 2 weeks.

As I have written about life here, there are many things I did not like here, but I had to accept them. That is what you need to do and keep your sanity. I thought there was no way ever to be able to return to the U.S. and bring Elena to be with me. With the unemployment at such high levels and limited work in the architecture field for me to go back to my profession, here is where I would live and die.

Recently a friend of mine decided to move back and then file for his wife’s spousal visa. He is much younger than I am and has a father who will allow them to live in their house until he has enough money to get their own place. He currently has seasonal employment for income and will get his wife a job there too. He hopes both of them will be able to locate full time jobs in the future.

This made me start to think, so I contacted my brother and my mother about the possibility of me moving back and then bringing Elena. One turned it into an argument about how it was not feasible and would not help with basic needs if I came. The other was political and said there was a plan to change from a two-bedroom apartment to a one-bedroom unit. This was the nice way to say there would be no room for us.

Well, they made me give up the thought until a few weeks ago. One of the readers emailed me and commented that it sounded like Elena and I could use a vacation and offered us a room in their house in Las Vegas, Nevada. I replied that is was very difficult to get Elena a Tourist Visa but thanked her for the kind offer. She emailed me again and mentioned her husband gave up his business because of the economy problems and they bought a house in Las Vegas. Her husband is a little older than I am and is working driving a taxi. With all the tourism in Vegas, a taxi driver can make enough to live comfortable. This reader offered us a room; rent-free in their home as long as we need to get on our feet and her husband will assist me in getting a job driving a taxi too.

Elena and I discussed this and we decided this is an offer of a lifetime. This lady and her husband are so kind with this offer and it will give us both a chance to work. In addition, after Elena has immigrant status and living in the States for six months, she will be able to receive survivor benefits when I pass away. Once Elena works for ten years, she will earn enough Social Security credits to collect her own benefits.

We have discussed, once we retire, in all probability will not be able to afford to live in the States, we will probably move back to the Philippines. Because of this, our nephew who married recently will live in our house and take care of it for us.  He will take care of his sisters who live here. His brother’s support will continue to assist them with the expense of this house.

So, with all said, I will be flying out of Davao on May 4 and from Manila on the fifth. The flight will be interesting; the first leg from Manila is on Korean Airlines, which I never have flown before. I will also land in Inchon Intl, Seoul, Korea. At first, I thought I had only a three ½-hour layover in Korea, which is not bad. Then I noticed I land 5:20am and do not leave until 8:50pm. I guess I will know the airport well in that time and have to make sure I have enough books to read while there. So what I thought would be 18 hours total travel time, it is now close to 30 hours.

As soon as I am settled in Las Vegas, I will file for Elena’s spousal visa to join me there. At first, I will need to live as cheaply as possible since I do not want to overstay my welcome and these kind peoples home. I will need to save for a vehicle, furniture, and deposits once we are able to move out on our own.

I hope to be able to keep this site alive with articles of how my life will change and interesting stories of Elena’s live living in America. I hope to find Expats and Filipinos to assist me with this site by writing articles of news and cultural items about Davao and the Philippines.

For those of my readers who have relied on me and this site for information about an Expats life in the Philippines, I hope with others help this site will continue. For those who stop visiting, I understand and thank you for your two plus years of my readership.

If my friends in Las Vegas read this, again Elena and I thank you and feel you both are gifts from God.

I will keep all informed of the process and any other newsworthy items and I always do until I leave.

If you hire a girl in her 20’s you can run into the trouble of them wanting to go out on their days off to drink or find a boyfriend. If you hire an older woman, you can have problems with their family troubles or members coming to your house.

Well with Mira, our original helper, she was 17 and from the provinces. In all the months here she never made any local friends except with our nieces. She never took a day off to go out except with a niece to do some shopping.

We did have a problem once where she wanted to school. We offered her after a year of employment; we would share in her schooling. There are colleges here that have class on Saturdays and/or Sundays. She agreed to this for the time being.

Well recently, she told my wife she wanted to quit and return home to her family. I am not sure of the reason. Maybe she saved enough from her salary that she feels she can go back home and just enjoy life for a while.

My wife contacted her sister-in-law in Surigao again to help find us a replacement. Linda was the one who found us Mira and girls for helpers and nannies for many of Elena’s friends.  This time Linda found us a new girl and brought an older girl to be a helper for a friend.

This new girl is also 17, but talking to her, this is not the first time she worked as a domestic helper for a family; we are just the first family with a Foreigner.

Mira, our original helper has stayed for a week to train the new girl. I also, from our last experience explained to the girl my rules and advice.  I hope all works out well since we have a house full. Me, Elena, 3 nieces and a helper.

Time will tell and I will report back of any difficulties.

As I wrote previously, Filipinos need fewer comforts as most foreigners are accustomed to needing. Just as Americans are accustomed to things Europeans are not, such as Air conditioning. Most Americans are used to bigger homes, bigger rooms and each child in a house having their own room or possibly at the most, two children sharing a room.

Now back to class structure. Even though I have lived in the Philippines for over two years, I have not visited many homes of Filipinos. I have been in homes of a poorer and smaller size. These homes were of some of the construction friends I have.

One in particular is a small two-room home with a CR. Each room is about 10 feet by 12 feet. In this home, there are two adults and four children. I would say they are a poorer type family, but the man works and the wife has a small Sari-Sari store in front of their house.

When you are out about town, you see most Filipinos well dressed and cleanly groomed. They work in the mall, a restaurant or an office. What we do not see is their living conditions. The pride of Filipinos keeps them well dressed. However, at their break time you see them in the small Caranderias spending about 20 pesos for their lunches.
You also need to realize, I am discussing from my experience living in a city, I have little or no experience visiting the provinces where people farm for their existence.
From what I have found on my research, the top 1% of the population earned in a year is more than the bottom 30% of the population earned combined. Also more than 30% of the population earns less than needed to sustain a family.

Many houses are over stuffed with members of their extended family with only one or two income earners. They sustain mostly on rice and carbohydrates with little protein or vegetables. This is because the extended family is never turned away when in need.

You might be wondering when I am going to answer the description of the economic classes here, but for me, this is something I am not qualified to answer. All I can say is no matter how poor the masses are, they are mostly the kindest and welcoming population I have met.

When I am at the mall to get out of the house I usually, have coffee at one of the kiosk coffee bars. At one of them, I have become friendly with two of the young men that work there.

The other day, as I was sitting there with a book to read and kill some time, I was able to learn more from one of the employees. At that time, the coffee bar was quiet and I was the only customer.  The one employee usually comes to my table and likes to talk and joke with me. In the past I had learned he was 25, a graduate of Criminal Justice Degree from the University and waiting to take his Board Exams. That day I learned he was married and had a son about to reach his first birthday.

He was telling me he was sad, his sons first birthday will be at the end of this month and he cannot afford any gift or party. I made him smile when I told him; at one year old a child does not understand birthdays and save for the child’s second birthday.

I asked him if his child has been baptized yet and again he looked sad and told me no, since he cannot afford the Church costs and the party to follow. You might be wondering why they need a party. I think here with such poverty and depression, families need a party and celebration to lift their spirits.

While we were talking I learned he earns the minimum wage of 265 pesos a day, which is approx $5.70 USD. However, after his taxes and deductions he take home about 150 pesos ($ 3.21). With this amount, he has to pay for their boarding house room, 1000 pesos a month, and their food and substance.

I was thinking, how a family of three could survive on such little money. I do not know, but they do. The fill stomachs with the cheapest rice and a little piece of fish or vegetable. Well they do, because they have no choice. With all this difficulty to this man, and many like him, most are open and friendly and do not beg for tips or gifts. They open themselves and offer a friendship for no other reason then being nice.

When I first moved here I was amazed how many times a day many Filipinos eat. They normally have three meals a day. Every meal has a large amount of rice and usually some small amount of a protein or vegetable. Then mid morning and mid afternoon they have a snack. Many times this is a carbohydrate. Bread, noodles, or even both, then again in the evening some more carbohydrates or a banana.

Rice is high in Carbohydrates but little in protein or minerals. Then the poor can only afford the cheaper rice with lower quality and nutritional value. The government has instituted a fortified rice adding iron. This is because of the poor diet many Filipinos are anemic. However, what about the needed vitamins and minerals.

I have heard of many poor families that live on one meal of rice a day and if lucky flavored with a little soy sauce. That meal is mainly carbohydrates and salt. The reason for so many Filipinos suffers from high blood pressure this one. Then add the fried foods and high fat of the meats and you are looking at strokes and coronary problems.

With this insufficient diet and lack of available medical care for the poor, there are more problems for the poor working class.

With the business owners looking to maximize profits and lower costs, the easiest way to save is by taking advantage of the labor force. In the States, many companies think in preventive medicine for their employees since the healthier their employees are the less downtime and delays to get their tasks done. Here in the Philippines, most employees do not receive sick pay and if an employee is absent too often, they are easily replaced.

There are some employers that pay better, help feed their employees and show the needed respect to lifestyle, but from what I hear, these are few. To improve a country and its workforce the people need to be considered.

Looking at China, Viet Nam, Cambodia and how they are getting foreign investments and becoming more industrialized, I hope and pray someday the leaders of this country can learn from example and find ways not to exploit the people but to assist them.

According to Wikipedia there are about 11 million Filipinos working or living overseas. Some have received Residency in the foreign country. From my limited knowledge, in the USA, if you are in the States with a contract work Visa, after 5 years you can apply for residency. At that point, you can live in the States and do not need to submit a work contract to Immigration.

These OFW’s send home in to form of Remittance money to support their family. In 2008, the amount of remittance that was sent to the Philippines was $15.9 billion dollars and represented about 13.5% of the Philippines GDP in 2005.

Most if not all OFW’s have to register with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and follow the rules. Since most OFW’s are hired through an agency, they are registered. One of the rules is they must send home a percentage of their salary. Actually, it is automatically send home from the agency that pays them.  Marine Engineers and Seamen who work on shipping vessels have to send 80% of their salary home to their family. This is not difficult since all their room and board is part of living on the ship.

Many families work hard and save for their children’s education and many look to an education in an area for employment abroad. Also with the Filipino culture of the children, helping to support their family and elders this is a way to improve the family’s life here in the Philippines. Unfortunately, if the OFW is sending 80% of their income home, which leaves them with little to support themselves in the country they are living.

As for the family back home, some use this money to improve their life. They can purchase a better home and save to open a business to increase the family’s income for the future. IF they are able to develop a business that earns a good income, once day the OFW worker can return home and live a better life with their family.

This is not always the case.  Many times this income makes the family back home lazy. They see the remittances as a way stay home and live well. Some use this better life to show off to their friends and do nothing with their life. This is bad for the family, the worker and even the country. Instead of using this increased income to help move a family up to a more self-sufficient family unit, it keeps the OFW slaving away so he does not hurt their family.

The use of family members to support their family and improve their life is a wonderful part of the Filipino culture. In the USA and in other countries, parents support their child through their schooling and hope their child will become a well-paid and productive part of society and support itself from then on. After that, in most cases, the parents go on with their life and the adult child goes on with his/hers. At times, the parent will give assistance with the buying of a home or the start of a business, but not the monthly support.

This is a cultural difference here in the Philippines. It is something you need to understand and accept if living here. As I say, it is not our right to change a culture, but to accept it as a fact of living here.

Unfortunately with the class system many large businesses exploit their employees without compensating them in any way. They are over worked and tasked to complete their assignments. Many have to work long hours and weekends to complete their duties with their basic salary.

A problem here is the fact that employment is so hard to find and how employers take advantage. I know someone that had a full scholarship to Ateneo de Davao University with a degree in Marketing. He is in his upper 20’s and has had a few jobs in the sales and marketing areas. Currently he is a sales rep for one of the beverage companies. He has been working there for almost two years and is still at temporary employee status. With this he receives no benefits such as PhilHealth. When we talk, I think in American attitude and tell him I would demand my status upgraded or I will seek different employment. He looked at me and asked where he would find another job. Plus there is a network here where upper managers from different similar businesses know each other. If he interviewed with another company, someone would slip this information back to his company and he could lose his current job.

Some with strong initiative many Filipinos have side jobs that at times are different from their occupation. There are also some that are in constant learning to improve and increase their knowledge and ability.

One good case is my friend assisting me with my 3D Architectural Rendering business. He comes from an average Filipino family. I am not sure of his training but I know he started our working as a graphic artist. With his income, and his families help he went to the University of Mindanao for an Architectural Degree. With his Computer graphics knowledge and architecture he continued to learn on his own and with a network of friends locally and online forums he learned 3d modeling and rendering. Once he was competent in this area he continues to increase his knowledge and abilities and now is learning Flash and video. He is young enough for quicker learning, patience and a desire to improve.

One day we were talking and I mentioned with his 3d modeling, rendering, graphics and architecture knowledge, he could make a great living if he went to America or some other first world nation. He just looked at me and asked why should he leave his home? He helps put his sister through college, and is now married with a child on the way. I mentioned if we could get the rendering business going with a few good clients, we could make good income. I asked him if he has any goals to have a more modern home in a nice subdivision. He looked at me blankly and told me he just enjoys doing well and does not dream that way. I tried to explain it is nice to make goals, not so high they might be unattainable but as kind of stepping stone to improve your life. Again he looked at me confused so I dropped it.

Life here for many Filipinos is difficult, many college graduates doing basic jobs and in many cases not in their chosen profession. The competition for employment is huge and the availability to work abroad is even more competitive. Then there are so many fees involved many cannot afford.

I worked in different areas of electronics from a technician and field service for telephone answering machines to building closed circuit video security control systems. That was in New York, and then in 1997, I moved to Southern California and was employed at first installing these types of systems. I had put security systems in Hughes Aerospace facilities and was onsite at the Playboy Mansion for 6 months installing a full perimeter security system.

Eventually I moved into the computer field service industry. I started on an old IBM System 3 system installing and service peripheral equipment for Memorex. After they sold their Small Business Systems division I changed jobs and worked for Decision Data whose name to fame was their 96 and 80 column punch card machines. I later moved to working on complete systems for Prime Computers. Eventually I ended up with a company in the Apple and PC industry originally names Corvus and then renamed t Atrix. Since home computers are a throw away industry, the need for many service personnel declined and I knew I needed a new profession.

At the age of 39, I went back to school for an associates degree in Computer Aided Design and Drafting at ITT Technical Institute. Over the next 18 months we learned drafting for every discipline: Mechanical, Electrical, Electromechanical, Civil, Structural and Architectural. Many times the teachers would ask the calls which discipline we wanted to work in. I always answered, whoever is hiring. After the third semester ended, which was architecture and in the need of a job, I sent resumes to all local architectural offices. I received a call from an Architect who worked from his home and offered me sub-contract work. I worked from home and earned some income while I finished my schooling. Eventually he hired me full time. I worked for him for three years doing everything from room additions, renovations to custom homes and development model programs.

After three years and the need to move on and need for a new location, I accepted a position in Florida near where my mom retired to from New York. There I worked for a few firms doing large custom residential projects. With my need to learn and my drive to be better at my profession I ended up at a firm that mainly did production homes. That is the models sold in a development and then adding changes and options for each sold house. Eventually I became a project manager and my client added to their program doing some townhouses and condominiums. With hard work and the close relationship I developed with my client, I was promoted to a Senior Project Manager running at times 8 projects at a time.

Then the start of the housing market downturn began. I could see with the less work coming into the office and since I was not a licensed Architect, my days there were numbered. About that time I was contacted by an employment search firm to apply for a position as Architectural Production Manager for a large home builder. This company was the oldest home builder in America and had been in business since 1952.  Unfortunately one and a half years later because of bad corporate management and their desire to get all the money they could and run, they laid off 97% of the company and then went bankrupt.

With the housing sales dropping, there was not much new design business. Most of the developers were just trying to sell what they had in stock and get save their butts. With this going on, there was not much in the employment opportunities available. With this, and from Elena and me wanting to be together, we decided the best was for me to move to the Philippines instead of waiting for her to receive her fiancée visa and move to the States. So that is what I did.

Now since I am here, and my experience in house design, computer drafting and my associations with a local Filipino Architect, I offer my assistance and knowledge to anyone needing my services. I have a few interested parties and I will see if the current cost of construction here in the Philippines, will fit in their budget to build their own home.

No matter what happens and how busy I might become, I will still give you my life stories, experiences and observations living in Davao. I will also always be here to answer questions and assist anyone needing my help. I hope I did not bore you too much with a non-Philippine article.

Our helper is working out better than I expected. She works hard, is friendly and sociable and even will joke with me.  While at home on her day off, she still does household chores. Since she does not have friends, our nieces will allow her to join them if they go out on a Sunday and will take her to church with them.

Of the three helpers for my Elena’s friends, one did not work out and returned to her Province this week. This girl was only 16 and did not have the attitude to work away from home. From what I heard, the first few days had to be directed constantly and would walk around like in a daze looking at everything. We also found out after, she only attended elementary school and only spoke Bisaya and not much Tagalog. Unfortunately the lady that hired her is not from Davao and is from Luzon. This lady speaks Tagalog. Since the helper did not finish school, her knowledge of Tagalog was very little. Also this girl’s hygiene was bad and had to be told to do her own laundry.

After she was gone, we heard this girl came from a bad family and had run away from home in the past. She also was now homesick and missed her free life with her friends, family and even a boyfriend. As in any employment situation, you never know if someone hired will work out, it does become more difficult if the person is not local and you do not have the luxury of interviewing the person before they make the trip. Then if they do not work out, besides the cost of the travel here, you have to cover the costs of their return trip.

The friend of ours that hired her was very gracious and understanding. Even though she was unhappy with the girl, she never complained to us about the waste or time and the cost of the girl. This proves again of the kindness of Filipinos. In the US, we would complain and argue about how we would have wasted our money in a situation like this.

In America, if you need assistance with the house cleaning, most average families hire a cleaning lady or company to come once a week, or twice a month to take care of the heavy cleaning. These people come to your house on the assigned days and to the vacuuming, mopping, dusting and scrubbing of the bathrooms and kitchen. After they are done, they leave. The cost, depending where you live can be around $50.00 USD.

Here in the Philippines, most homes, if they need the extra help hire a domestic helper that lives in the house. Many times they are young, fifteen to eighteen years old. They usually come from the provinces and/or a poor family. Their pay is usually around 1,500 pesos (approx. $30 USD) a month at first. Most of these girls only keep enough from their pay for their necessities and then send the rest of their pay home to assist their family. Besides their pay, they have room and board included, plus you usually pay any transportation costs to come from their province, if you arraigned their employment through a relative who lives in that province.

When Elena decided to hire a helper for the house, she did not want a girl who lives locally in Davao. She had two reasons for this decision.  First was, she did not want a girl that had friends or family to go meet or visit unannounced and the second was security. It would be easy for the girl to tell friends what valuables we have in the house and our schedules for being absent from the home. We have heard stories of items stolen and the helper disappearing too.

To find a domestic helper, Elena contacted two of her sister-in-laws from Surigao Province. One of her sister-in-laws spoke to some of the families she knew and found a seventeen year old girl that had graduated from high school and was interested to come. This girl, Mira, comes from a family of six siblings and is the next to youngest. She has dreams of saving and eventually be able to go to college.

From the moment Mira arrived in the house, she was a good fit. As she entered the house she saw dirty dishes in the sink from lunch. Without saying a word, she put down her bags and started washing the dishes. After we had a snack and Elena showed her where she could put her belongings and where she would sleep, Mira continued to do the basic cleaning of the house.

Now, different homes treat their help differently. If they have an extra small bedroom, that is for the helper. Unfortunately we do not have that luxury, so we bought a folding bed and Mira sleeps in one of our niece’s bedrooms.

Also many families keep a separation between the domestic help and the family. They are sometimes fed cheaper Filipino foods and they are not allowed to eat until the family is done. Or else they have to eat at a separate table. We are different, even though Mira is an employee; she sits with us at the table and shares the same foods we eat. We talk to her as if she is part of the family. Our three nieces treat her almost as a little sister. Is this a good thing or not, time will tell. I have heard stories of domestic helpers, especially if young, those get homesick, or have saved enough money for something they wanted and then quit after one or two months. I have also heard of domestic helpers that were treated as bad as a slave, quit after a month too.

At first she was surprised how we have her sit with us for meals, how our nieces would talk to her and how we did not treat her as just an employee. Sunday is her day off, but since she does not know Davao nor has any friends here, we took her with us the day we went to SM Mall to see the Kadayawan floats. When we first got there we all went to our favorite restaurant. When we sat, we told her to look at the menu and order what she likes. She followed me and our nieces and had the Curry Chicken. She was so surprised we allowed her to join us for lunch and thanked us many times.

Another difference I have seen is in the malls or at restaurants. I have seen domestic helpers sitting in the wait area as the family they work for enjoys a nice meal. I do not know if the helper was fed first, allowed to eat later or had to wait until they returned home.

Now, I know I am new at having a helper in our home, and I am following Elena’s lead at how we treat Mira. I just feel this is how we should treat her. Just as if anyone is at our house, from a friend of ours, a friend of one of our nieces or even a tradesman friend discussing a project. If it is meal time, they are asked to join us to share the meal. If they get shy and say they will wait in the Sala until we are done, we get adamant and insist them joining us.

As always, I encourage hearing your comments, and you can tell me if you disagree with the way we treat Mira, but do it with respect. If you have had bad experiences, good experiences or stories you have heard are welcome. Any overly insulting comments will either be edited or deleted.