Life in Philippines

Life Drifts on

Very little happening in the Philippines this past week, yes they are gearing up for Christmas a major celebration time for them. Traffic is busier in Dipolog city. They have been repainting the pedestrian crossings, not sure why because most motorists ignore them. Maybe one reason is the paint seems to wear off in a matter of days, and there are no warning signs or beacons so they are hard to see.

I learn something new yesterday as there was another 12 hour power outage and that is that the ATM's don't work unless the banks are open, it was a national holiday so banks where shut and it seems they do not have auto start generators. As I was not able to work online we decided to go shopping but that came to an end due to lack of cash. Oh the joys of being in a third world country.

Jasmin is still awaiting for a legal document to be processed, it would seem some documents went missing and we had to obtain a legal document from the post office to confirm it had been posted. We are now in December and if we do not receive some good news this month all out plans for next year are in jeopardy.

I have finally made contact with my Son after a three year gap, something was blogging wither his or my email address, his news was not good as he has been made redundant, and at the same time I have become a grandfather.

David Ogden
Dipolog city
+639991141149

http://seriouswealth.net

Life in the Philippines - Driving

Driving in the Philippines

I had to replace my Alien Registration card which meant I could not extend my visa in Dipolog city but instead had to travel to Cagayan Del Oro some six hours drive away. We set of early in the morning since the roads are quieter, however were amazed at the number of motor Tricycles and motor cycles some carrying large pannier baskets on the back but showing no rear light and often front lights with either dipped or main beam, It was a case of now you see them or now you don't and the drivers do not seem to care.

Many expats resort to employing drivers to drive their cars, because if you are involved in any kind of accident as a foreigner it is always your fault. The standards of driving are poor to say the least and even the driving instructors do not follow the rules or teach people correctly often cutting corners on junctions which means they are on the wrong side of the road.

Roadworks are virtually unmarked with no advanced warning signs apart from unlit signs men at work or deep excavation one foot in front of a trench. at nighttime one way sections of roadworks become a free for all. One reason we chose a 4*4 pickup truck rather than a car was because it provides better protection and greater visibility but even so one has to adopt defensive driving techniques watching the road as far ahead as possible for hazards.

Thanks to picking up an ambulance on an emergency run we made our outward journey in record time, tailing him at 2 seconds distance which provides a safe stopping distance no matter what speed you are travelling (as the lead vehicle passes a fixed mark you count 1 second, 2 second before you pass the same mark) Of course at time in traffic you find other drivers will cut in taking your safety distance away.

Once in Cagayan we discovered that the immigration office had moved and we got lost trying to find it new location. We asked a policeman who directed us back to where we had started so instead took us my taxi back to within 500 yards of where we had asked the policeman's help.

On the way home we managed good progress until we reached Ozamis but from there onwards was a nightmare with workers heading home and once again hundreds of unlit or badly lit vehicles, at time one had to use main beam to pick them out, added to which were pedestrians some of home sit on the edge of the tarmac outside their houses.

Hopefully we will never have to make this journey again.

David Ogden
Dipolog city
+639991141149

http://seriouswealth.net

Life in the Philippines

Waiting for results

I am not sure that the saying no news is good news, is good, we are still waiting for final confirmation of Jasmin's annulment and this probably now means that we will not have the documents until January with a knock on effect which will delay our movement to Cyprus until the summer.

We have one piece of good news that one of the documents we need is Police clearance here in Dipolog and we have been informed that this can be carried out in Dipolog city rather than having to travel to Manila as we were originally advised, however now the requirement for this document has also been delayed so once more be are back in waiting mode.

One item that I have been actively pursuing is the cost of moving currencies between countries and I have come across a number of options to using banks, which on the face of it can save money. Most banks make a standard charge of around $30 to transfer money, which if you are sending a small amount can make up a high percentage of the cost. In addition to the fixed charge they also earn a margin on the exchange rate. By using an FX broker service you can save between 3-5% on the money you transfer. I have signed up with a couple to find out what kind of saving I can make of transfer between the UK and Philippines and the UK and Cyprus. But in these difficult times even a few pounds per transaction soon adds up.

Postal service has improved a bit, but once again late delivery of time sensitive documents has cost me money. This is a sad state of affairs and needs to be addressed by the Government.

It would seem that law and order is starting to breakdown in Sindangan, where we used to live, with crimes of murder occurring on a daily rather than a monthly basis, not sure if this can be blamed on the upcoming elections which are due next year, which always increases crime figures.

David Ogden
Dipolog city
+639991141149

http://seriouswealth.net

Millionaire Mentoring

Millionaire Mentoring.

When I started out working online many years ago the first thing i did was to find a mentor to guide and assist me in setting up a business. It was an intensive course lasting some nine months at the end of which I had a product that I had produced and could sell. Nowadays there are supposedly thousands of ways of making money online, if you believe what you see online. But in my opinion personal mentoring is the best, because you can share in success and failure and get feedback on you progress along the road to success.

When you learn to drive, you don't just jump in car and drive, you find someone who can teach you, so why is that people spend hundreds and sometimes thousands on a business and don't seek help from a mentor who can guide them to success.

It is far easier to work with someone who has been there before you, notice I said work, because you will still need to work on your success, there are no free rides, but you will be guided along the way. One of the most difficult things is deciding what you need to do to start earning money and this is where Billionaire Ed Mercer can help you. You see Ed Mercer loves to help people, he has already created 35 millionaires and now has taken up a challenge to create an additional 100 millionaires from ordinary people, for a new world record challenge.

He has done the hard part in finding a business which has a great compensation plan and a product that is used everyday. He has joined this together with a marketing system which is attracting hundred of people, to create a business plan. Part of this plan has been to set up an active group of people from around the world,who are prepared to do what it takes to improve their lives and the lives of others. This group shares information and helps one another to the extent that information and advice is available 24/7 if members have a question relating to the business of making money online.

This expanding group of people work together under the mentorship of Ed Mercer and share in the success that Ed's business perception brings. It is a win win situation the group members start to create serious wealth and Ed Mercer can expand his philanthropist help to worthy causes

If you have a true dream you want to follow, Ed Mercer can make your dream come true, the next step is to request further information by completing the form at http://seriouswealth.net and you will be invited to attend the next available live seminar to discover if you qualify to be mentored by Ed Mercer.

David Ogden

http://seriouswealth.net