About me
These are the blog pages of Jan, a Dutch expat who decided to spend the rest of his life in the Philippines.
I’m writing here about my experiences in this beautifull country and my life in general. I also like to give some information for other people who like to be an expat in the Philippines, or who just wants to move here.
I will also publish a lot of pictures which I take when going out:
- from the friendly people of the Philippines
- remarkable things I see
- or nice places I’m visiting
The pages are continuously changing. I’m trying to improve my pages all the time.
Would you like to stay updated, just click on the RSS symbol or subscribe to my newsletter. (both in the right sidebar)
My mothertongue is Dutch, and although I’m trying to do my best to write in proper English, I’m not always sure if my grammar or spelling is correct. My humble excuses if that’s the case. Feel free to send me an e-mail to correct me.
Have a lot of fun… 
If you feel like sending me private messages or ask something special, please go to the contact page.
Jan
Filipino time:
Hi there, I am 34. Living outside of Houston, Texas and live a very modest lifestyle. I make a fair living of about $3000 a month (144000 pesos) in the air conditioning/refrigeration industry. I love everything I hear and read about the Philippines and I am planning a trip in the next few months to check it out for myself. Although I am looking forward to a great vacation, the primary purpose/ hope is to find a wife who is from a simple background. This is something I have had trouble here as American women seem much too materialistic for my taste. Dont get me wrong, I think I am attractive and dont generally have a hard time getting dates I just like the idea of having a wife who doesnt require a new car every year. I guess my question is… Where would you recommend I search for such a person? I plan on taking a short trip of 3 months or so first to learn a little and take a year long trip later. Any advise you can give me would be greatly apprecieted.
Thanks for your help,
Jimmy
Thanks for the site Jan,
I apprecviate your energy to help others.
Do you know many business men in the Philippines /..looking for opportunities in Australia.
Thank you,
Mark.
Hi. I began searching for knowledge this past weekend about moving to the Philippines with my asawa of the past 17 years. Yours is the most organized and attractive site I have come across. A definate favorite. My hat’s off to you.
- Tom in California, USA
hi,nice site and i appreciate you for this.im living here in holland and for a few months i stay here i can say that to live in phils.is mich better than here because of the monarchy.and i have a friend over here who are planning to move over there with me together with her family.but then we have started a business that is the balikbayan box so hopefully when everything goes okey we might meet you over there.by the way which part of phils.you are?
have a nice day.
liza
Hello Jan!! My best compliments to you for your great website!!! I`m from Italy…northern part near Milano (Brescia) maybe you have been ther on vacation from Holland?!..Anyway i have been living and working (especially working) in Japan for the past 14 yrs…i discoveredhilippines in 2005 and go back there at least 2-3 times a year, i have a great fiancee filipina, and in a few yrs i plan to retired there, probably in the Olongapo Subic area. Is very inetersting to hear from you coz you are Eropean like me, mostly expat to the Pi are Americans, but i think i like to hear the point of view of a European like me coz culture is close even if we are not from the same country..wishing you all the best for your website and looking forward to read your newsletter everyday!!! Best of Luck and Thank You!!!! Paolo.
Hi Jan
You quoted Epictetus:
?Men are disturbed, not by the things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.”
Yes – but is their opinion of the things that happen not in itself also a thing that happens?
Whereabouts in the Philippines are you living Jan and how long have you been there?
hi jan
i am new to your website and i am married to a filipina
which is we always visited philippines back and froward
i have a business in philippines,which my question is…
is my wife has any right of any of my business in the
philippines… hope you response my mail
thanking you
steve
Just discover your website by accident. Good site. Have a Good Day.
Thank you David.
I have checked your site. It has nice pictures and information about Marinduque. I will add a link to your webpage on my site.
I hope you will do the same in return.
Hi Jan,
Just happened to find your site while visiting Bruce’s site, American In Davao. I’m American, married and living close to Angeles City here in the Philippines. I’m doing a little posting on Bruces site (not as often as I would like) and will try to send a few posts or replys to posts here too. You have a great website and glad to have found it.
Mabuhay and welcome.
Hi Gene,
Thanks for visiting my site. Bruce and I have regular contact with eachother, but we haven’t met personaly yet.
You’re welcome to write something for my website. If you have something interesting, just mail me and I will find a way to publish it.
Jan,
Thanks and will try to get a short post ready to put here. Looks like another typhoon for this weekend maybe. So hope any posting I do will be how the typhoon missed the country or that no dammage was done this time.
Stay dry there and be safe…
gene,
OK, I’ll wait for it.
hoi Jan,
I would like to connect to Jimmy Prince from outside Houston,Texas. Please inform him about my message. Thank you very much indeed.
Groetjes,
paul from holland
I have forwarded your message to him.
Hi Jan,
)
thankyou for all your info you have posted,also time and effort.I am currently looking at renting a property in Philippine’s for myself and asawa,troubles i’m having is not being able to view as being so far away.My problem is i am a paraplegic (paralysed from waiste down)due to a road traffic accident.Problems i am finding is suitable housing,can manage with virtually everything and don’t need anything to make life easier apart from a large bathroom with lots of space and bath tub,and of course wide doorway’s haha.We come to Philippines twice a year but because of my disability i would have to stay in 5 star Hotel cos of the problems i mentioned earlier.Also here in Uk i drive my own car with the adaptions of a hand contro that is connected to the brake and accelerator pedal.Do u know how i would go about converting a car in the Philippines to drive ? like you have said already,no fun sitting in the back of your own car,i’m sure you could understand i have a few more issues than the normal foriegner that move’s to Philippine’s.So any info if u have it would be appreciated.Many thank’s in advance,and keep up the good work that you do.
Hi Rick,
Thanks for visiting my website, I hope you like it.
I am affraid that answering your question will be difficult. To convert a car for you I guess you have to contact a few car dealers or importers.
You did not mention where you would like to live in the Philippines. Driving in Manila is a hell. I’m not sure if it will be easy for a person like you to drive here. You need six eyes for not to make accidents. Driving in the provincial area is less stressful and easier.
One other thing is that you will need a place to live here. I suggest that you find a lot where you can build your own house with wide doors etcetera. Most ready made houses have a lot of steps, are not weelchair friendly and small in size.
The costs for it varie a lot depending on your needs and wishes.
Dear Jan,
I am a licensed real estate broker here in Makati and I am thriving to close deals and sign contracts with expats. I am maintaining an office in Makati and has agents, it is not easy because we rely on commissions only.
Can you please be of help and refer us to your friends who are foreigners and are looking for a professional realtor to find them a place to stay here in Metro Manila.
I am trying to look for ways and means for us to expand our network and I strongly feel that you can be of help.
I am looking forward to hear a favorable reply from you. I can sense that you are a blessing to us.
Many thanks in advance.
Sincerely yours,
Jeannie
My website doesn’t allow free advertising. Contact me if you like to advertize on my pages.
Hello Jan, i had been enjoying your website reading the articles. You have a nice and simple design here making it easy to check things, also adding pics on the comment section is a plus. As i have a growing interest in writing and travel, i would be happy to share my experiences when a corresponding topic will appear. Thanks for coming up with this nice website.
Be well.
Miles,
I would be happy to hear more stories from you. I like the idea.
If you are interested I can publish one or more travel experiences from you as a guest blogger. In that way you write the story and make the pictures. I can publish it in a separate section on my website.
I think that would be great, i will have a place where i can polish my writing skills since i am still new with this thing called “blogging”, i do have some interesting places to write about and share here specially those which are not frequented by the typical tourist, will be preparing my materials, just tell me how and when.
Jimmy,
Good for you to stop by on my website.
Unfortunately I cannot help you in finding a Filipina. I do not have experiences in this for a long time. I am married already for more than 21 years.
However on the Internet are a lot of websites where you are able to have a first contact with a Filipina who is looking for a man like you.
check also these websites:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Biggest-Mistakes-You-Should-Avoid-in-Meeting-Filipina-Women&id=2526466
http://www.filipinadreams.blogspot.com/
http://www.philippineangels.com/
and ther are many more. I would like to express here that I do not have any experience with those websites and I will not take any responsability about it.
Any way, good luck in your search!
Mark,
Thanks for the compliment, but I have to disappoint you: I do not know any business men in the Philippines in your industry.
Tom,
Thank you for the compliment.
I must congratulate you in thinking of your plans to move over here.
You won’t regret it. And maybe we can meet someday having some San Miguel together.
Paolo,
Nice of you to stop by on my site. I’m doing my best to give good information about the Philippines.
If you have syuggestions or stories to tell, just mail me and we can settle something. If you have personal questions: I’ll be happy to answer them to my abilities. Good luck.
The quote is from Epictetus, not mine. I think that everybody who reads it, can have his mind mingling around and become a Philisophic himself.
If you read my blog well you can read that I’m living in Antipolo City, on the borderline with Marikina City. I came to live here last year October.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for visiting my website.
I will send you a personal mail with answers to your questions.
hi jan,
good that i have found this website and i have some questions for you since, i know it would be a good help.
My fiance, who is a dutch, and I, a filipina is planning to get married sometime this year. We are planning what to do in order for him to stay here and pass permits easily. we are also thinking of a good business that would help us in living. I would like to know what did you do regarding staying here for a long time and would it be easy for him to be granted a residence visa once we get married and have children here? thanks
Marjorie,
Thanks for visiting my site.
I understand that you are planning to get married. Is that going to be here in the Philippines? or in Holland?
Once you are married, both of you can come to the Philippines and will receive a ‘balikbayan’ visa at immigration which lasts for 1 year. It can be prolongued for another year in the Philippines.
Once you are married you can also apply for a 13a resident visa. You can do that already in the Philippine embassy in Den Haag, Netherlands.
Setting up a business is not as easy as in Holland. You and your partner should read my post about that.
There are many more things to think about, because moving to the Philippines is a giant step for a foreigner. Think about it very well and inform yourself. There are many websites where to find a lot of information.