Blog
Stay updated with our latest articles, insights, tips, and comprehensive guides designed primarily for expats planning to settle in the Philippines.
The Filipino Fiesta
Filipino fiestas are community celebrations held in towns, cities, and barangays across the Philippines. They are typically tied to a patron saint, a religious feast day, or a local historical event, and they blend Catholic tradition with pre-colonial customs, family obligation, and social display. Nearly every locality has at least one fiesta each year.
culture 20-12-2025
My Latest Diesel Generator Issue
I was traveling for a couple of weeks in early December for work. One day after I left, the girlfriend texted me with a picture of a puddle of diesel fuel that was accumulating under the new generator we just bought two months ago. Insert profanity-laced, sarcastic tirade here.
diy 20-12-2025
The Filipino “Dirty Kitchens”: Function Over Formality
In the Philippines, the term “dirty kitchen” doesn’t mean unsanitary. It means practical. A dirty kitchen is a secondary cooking area—usually separate from or adjacent to the main house—designed for heavy, messy, smoky, or high-heat cooking. It exists because Filipino cooking, climate, and household life make a single pristine Western-style kitchen impractical.
culture 20-12-2025
Christmas Carolers and Coins: A Filipino Holiday Tradition
In the Philippines, Christmas doesn’t arrive quietly. It announces itself early—sometimes as early as September—and one of the clearest signs that the season has truly begun is the sound of children singing carols, pangangaroling, outside your gate, hoping to earn a few pesos.
culture 20-12-2025
How To Correctly Write a Filipino Address So Your Packages Are Actually Delivered
I had trouble with Filipino addresses when I first got here. So, here's a summary of what I've learned since then.
culture 18-12-2025
Shopping: Filipino Style
If you've lived in the United States, Western / Northern Europe, or a few other places in the last ten years, you've probably become accustomed to, if not spoiled by, online shopping plus delivery within a day, maybe a couple of hours. The situation is more complicated in the Philippines.
expat 17-12-2025
The Filipino Love for Karaoke
Karaoke holds a special place in Filipino culture, functioning as a form of entertainment, social bonding, and emotional expression. More than a pastime, it is a shared experience that cuts across age, income level, and region.
culture 15-12-2025
Renting A Condo In The Philippines
About to sign a condo lease in the Philippines? Check this out.
expat 15-12-2025
Water: Philippines Edition
Drinking water in the Philippines can be a problem—for locals and foreigners. If its good enough for the locals, you still may want to boil it if you are a foreigner.
utilities 15-12-2025
Internet Access: Philippines Edition
There are several options available for internet access in the Philippines.
utilities 15-12-2025
The BER-Months: Merry Christmas!
In the Philippines, the “BER months” refer to the period from September to December — so named because each month ends in “-ber.” While seemingly casual, the term marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season, which is the longest and most culturally significant holiday period in the country.
culture 15-12-2025
20 Things To See In The Philippines
This is a practical Top 20 List of things a tourist should see in the Philippines — mixing natural wonders, culture, history, and only-in-the-Philippines experiences. No fluff, no influencer nonsense.
tourist 14-12-2025