A few days ago Bob got home after attending a  meeting with Intel people. He was talking to me about how the meeting went, and continue on saying about the new processors that Intel was creating now. From what I can tell on what he was talking to me about, what Intel created must be really something. He was telling me the speed of it and it was impressive. I’m pretty sure it would be with a hefty price though. Hey, I am not an expert of anything about computers. For me I’m good already as long as I can log in to my computer and don’t have to wait that long to open any sites, and I can surf, I’m already okay with that.

Aaron with Parents

Well, that afternoon when Aaron and Jared came home from school, they went to our room to tell us that they are home. Bob then was talking to Aaron about his meeting that morning. He was telling AJ about Intel’s new gadget thing. I could see the eyes of AJ lit up. I could tell that he’s so interested what was his dad talking about. And Lord have mercy, AJ was talking  to us too about something that he saw on the net about how to increase the speed of his computer to do the games. When he told me the price as if my eyeballs would pop out. It was expensive. And the lingo that he knows about computer I can’t even fathom. As if, it’s out of this world.

I don’t know a thing what he was talking about. My goodness he is not yet in college. His knowledge about computer was already over the top for me. You can tell I am a dummy when it comes to computer. In short I have no knowledge at all. I asked Aaron where did he learn all the stuff about computer, I know that him and his dad talk a lot about computers, but I just didn’t know that he had more knowledge than I expected. He told me “Mom I read a lot on the net when I have time, you know.”  Well I should have known, I saw him on the computer a lot when there is no school. They are allowed to surf the net during weekdays when they have homework from school, other than that no computer during weekdays. During weekends they can surf and play game after homework is done.

Aaron, he is 15 years old but he already had more knowledge on the computer than some other kids his age. He likes to  disassemble and assemble gadget stuff. If I go to the play/computer area upstairs in our house, the center table was just a mess. So many little parts of either computer, radio or some other electronics stuff all over the table. At one point he even fixed their X Box 360. Some of our electronics gadget in the house he will try to fix it before junking it. I don’t really like it, but I guess I have to put up with it for now. That’s how he will learn.

When it comes to troubleshooting on my PC and cell phone I have to rely more on Bob for that. Sometimes AJ will do some too especially upgrading some software. It’s really good to have them around that know a lot about computer. I don’t have to get other people to do it. I hope that Aj will not get tired of working on my pc and his brother’s pc. I think he is enjoying right now since he is learning.

I guess sometime in the near future I will recommend him to work for any of you that have computer problems. He might have his own hotline in the near future 1-800-troubleshoot. Watch out for it!

Cheers!

Since we bought the new washing machine, Bob and I been thinking of getting our carpenter come here and do some work for us outside on our laundry area and the dirty kitchen. We need a good place for our washing machine. The owner of this house already had a place for washing machine, but she did not think for a bigger washing machine though when she had the place built. She was just thinking of the typical washing machine of the Philippines.

The area that she had there was intended for the smaller machine. Really the place that she had in mind was really nice and convenient and it is raised up a step so that the water would drain properly. When we put our machine there the front edge of our machine was hanging off the end of the concrete. Bob and I got scared, whenever the machine will do the spinning the machine might end up on the floor below. That will scare our kids’ pet turtles too, as their home is right next to the washing area. So Bob and I have some plan in mind and wanted to consult our carpenter first.

High Quality Porch Swing – Made from scratch!

So I texted our carpenter Jun Jun for him to come to our house. He texted me back that he might come over the following week. He told me that he might have some work to do at the house of his employer here in Davao. See the employer has big lands and built a mining area and some other stuff somewhere in South Cotabato. So I told Jun Jun since he’s so busy if he can just tell my brother-in-law Jhun what to do and what to buy for the materials then that would be okay for me. He said that he will text me when his employer heads for Davao. Hmmm, that was over a week ago and I still didn’t hear back from him. I talked to my sister and she said that my carpenter really is a busy man and we will just have to wait for now. So I guess will just have to wait for awhile then.

Porch Swing made by my carpenter

I have some other project in mind for him to do as well while he’s here. He built a nice porch swing for a friend of mine over 2 years ago, when I was hired to renovate the house of our friend before. One of the thing he wanted me to do to have my carpenter built a comfortable and durable swing for him. That will be good for his weight (he’s kinda big), height (being he is tall) and good for the weather on the beach since he lives near the beach. So I researched and talked with my carpenter and let my carpenter draw what we both had in mind. When we showed the sketch/drawing to my friend he really liked what we had in mind. So he gave us a go to build it.  It turned out really nice and fancy. He was so happy with the result. I also had my best painter to do the job of staining the wood. I was so ecstatic with the result. I am sharing the photo for you to judge.

MindanaoBob BBQ Grill

The swing I had in mind for us might be a bit different than what Jun Jun built for my friend. I want an outdoor swing  here in our house. I want that it will be made of like a log kind of wood. I might have it build double that sits maybe 4 people. Will see what Jun would say for my plan. I want it to be build under the tree in our yard. I also want him also to make the swing that can be assemble and disassemble easy that we can bring it with us when we will transfer somewhere. Really, a swing would be a good addition to our yard here. We have a good sized front yard. I might transfer our MindanaoBob Barbecue Grill too in the front after JunJun builds the swing. We like to stay on our porch during afternoon hours. With the swing that would be awesome then.  Just sitting on the swing in the afternoon and hearing the sound of the birds, hmm it felt like living in paradise to me, with a calamansi juice or a mango shake to drink… Great plan…Ha ha ha dream on….

Have to share with you guys my little projects in mind. Thank you for reading.

Cheers!

Starting at the end of June this year, Davao implemented a ban on using non-biodegradable plastic bags. All stores are now being watched if they are using the said plastics. Most department stores/malls have days that they would use paper bags. SM mall they do during Wednesday, the Abreeza during Friday. My only concerns on the SM paper bags it is so thin that even if they double it, it is still not good. If using paper bags, they have to do something first before using that. I don’t think its worth using. Why not use the biodegradable instead of the thin paper bags. Not worth it though for me.

Davao City

We also go to the public market, particularly Bankerohan. We do our shopping for our produce and fish there. We heard from the market stall vendors that they are not too happy with the biodegradable plastic. They said it cost them a lot to buy one plastic. Before, if you buy fish or meat from the vendors, they would double the plastic. Now they would not do it, they said the biodegradable is more expensive. They don’t like it too that the new plastic now would decompose if it stays too long especially under the hot weather.

Pollution from Plastic Bags

Good thing that it will decompose since people here just throwing it all over the place. Seeing the plastics thrown on the side of the road really makes you angry. The paid sweepers of the city can’t keep up with it. I remember when we used to live in Marfori. Early morning I saw those city people sweeping the pavement early in the morning, after the busy hour on the street that area where they were sweeping you can already see plastics, cigarette butts and other stuff on the ground. Just not a good thing to see. Luckily those sweepers came sweeping the area a few times a day. I wished people here were disciplined at the early age of throwing their garbage at the proper place. Davao sometimes has those laws that you don’t just throw your garbage anywhere. But people know how to manipulate the system and they know where to throw and when.

They are also banning the usage of polystyrene foam. After the ban, one night we want to order some food from one of the restaurants just near our house. So I called up the restaurant and I placed my order. When I told them that its TO GO, they would not take my order then, because they said they don’t have containers for take out. So I asked the cashier if I will bring my own container there would they take my order then? They said absolutely. So I order my food and just brought my own container there. It worked out good then. It could be  a pain in the neck but hey it’s  good for the environment. We will try to help out what we can for the sake of good health.

Have to follow the rules here. I guess offenders will pay a fine and maybe attend some community service. If you commit  a lot of times they will put you to jail. You don’t want to be in jail here for sure.

If you are living in other part of the Philippines, is it also strictly biodegradable plastic in your area? Let us know so that people that reads here know already if they ever visit your place.

Stay safe. Cheers!

Since moving to our new house. Bob and I and the kids like to hang out at our porch and the front yard. Luckily we have bigger front yard now and the kids can play basketball, badminton, tumbalata, or just riding bikes. A few days ago while Bob and I were sitting on our porch with the kids and nieces, somebody outside our gate yelled something when seeing us. Bob and I just didn’t hear what the people were saying. I just heard our kids told them we are not interested. Just looking at their hands they were selling something. I don’t usually entertain sellers that much especially it was family time for us.

Bob asked our niece Glenda what was that person saying, Glenda said that they are selling toothpaste, mouthwash and other stuff. I told Bob that we don’t need anything anyway so we don’t entertain them. Bob said he wanted to see what they have, because we need toothpaste at the bathroom in his office anyway. We will take a look and see if we like what they are selling. I told the kids then to call up those sales people and let them come in inside the gate, we want to see what they have.

They were selling colgate products

So we let those ladies sit with us at the porch. We could tell that they are sweating. So Bob then offered them if they wanted to have drinks? The younger lady said no thanks, its okay. But the older lady said that yes we are going to take you up for those drinks. The older lady that wanted to have drinks looks like she was really tired. Bob then told the kids to get some drinks for the ladies. I asked them if they have been walking for a long time, they said yes we’ve been going house to house since this morning here in Matina. I told both of them you guys really have a good stamina to do all the walking and carrying all your stuff  and also under the hot sun. They both gave me a smile. While talking to them a little while, our helper went outside and told me that our merienda (they were cooking banana cut in half and fry them) were ready already. So both Bob and I told our helper to bring out extra food and plate for the sales ladies outside. They were really shocked that we offered. I’m glad we did though, just looking at their plates afterwards they must really be hungry, they ate all the banana we brought out for them.

Bananas are a common Filipino snack

Anyway, they showed us what they were selling. It was toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and soap. A lot of them they combined the products in package like a small tube of toothpaste a toothbrush and a small bottle of mouthwash for 75 pesos. The big mouthwash half a liter for 250pesos. We wanted to buy toothpaste but they are out of the big tube of toothpaste, all they have was a combo the 75pesos. So I just bought the mouthwash then. While they’re eating I was asking them how would they get paid. They told us that they were paid 15 percent of all the items they would sell. The owner of the product will not give them money for food and fair. So I asked them for that day how much did they sold so far? They said that they sold 1500 pesos each. So they got like 225pesos each for their share. I asked them if it were enough earnings for the day since they have to buy their food and they have to pay for there fair? They said sometimes their earnings were lucking for the food and the fair. I asked them do you think its worth it? They said if they sold a lot then it will be worth the while, but sometimes they also lost some money for food and fair. I told them you have to be good in talking to really earn big time. I told them to not be so shy and really talk to people so that they can sell the products that they have. I said just try to convince people to buy your product. They seem happy after they left at our house, I guess with full stomach and lighter load to carry.

If you see people like that in your neighborhood try to see their product it might be worth buying and your helping them at the same time. Try to be cautious too some are rip offs. Use your instincts!!!

Cheers!

We’ve been living back here for 12 years now. Have been traveling before all over Mindanao and other parts of the country. We noticed before that Davao has the worst taxis that I knew. If you guys travel here in Davao City, you will remember some of the old and junkie looking taxis we have here in the city before. But you just have to ride on it because we just have no choices unless you have your own vehicle. I remembered the taxi driver would say that sorry ma’am just go to the other side to enter or get out because the handle just fell off. Most of the taxis at that time were all surplus from Korea or Japan. Lots of it they converted from the right side driving to the left. Some of it the wiring’s were visible.

New Davao Taxis

One time I was riding the taxi with a friend that came here for a visit. Man, she was so scared to enter the taxi seeing how bad looking it was inside. My friend said wow, I’ve never been to this kind of taxi before and its pretty filthy. She had no choice but to ride in it, unless we would walk from the house to SM. I could tell the relief on her face when we got to our destination. But at that time we also had some descent taxi though, but it’s just limited (just few were running).

I remembered like around 7 years ago the city had a big conference and the invited guests were from all over the world. Being the taxis were not looking good and look so old, the city rented a bunch of taxis from Cagayan de Oro just to cater to those guests. Started at the time the city maintained quite well on the cleanliness here.  I mean even the Bankerohan Market at that time was really cleaned. People that I met and knew at that time were really impressed.  They started planting bunch of flowers on the pathway in between the main road. They still are good until now. And improving some other areas too with nice planter boxes.

New Mabuhay Black Taxi

Over the past 3 to 4 years the taxi situation is improving here. The city told the owners of the taxis that all non air-conditioning taxis will be eliminated. They want all air conditioned taxis running around the city. The Mabuhay and Holiday already had units that’s going around the city. Finally in a year or 2 after the city told them all the non-air taxis were gone. That’s when the Blue taxis were born, they really are nice and clean looking taxis. Then another one the Orange taxis were here now too.  Another company owned a taxi. It’s white taxi and they had plenty of them. They had there hub near the San Rafael area. Some were even parking at the shoulder of the highway. I think they are still building for a bigger hub. A month or 2 ago Bob was telling me about a Black taxi, that they will be coming here to Davao city. That they are going to be a nice and good looking taxi.   Finally yesterday I saw one passing by when I was waiting for a jeepney. I was shocked, it really is looking neat and nice. I haven’t ridden to one of them yet. I will try to ride one of this day and tell you guys what I think.

Been shocked to some of the taxis that I’ve been riding here. They even have TV inside the taxi. Only bad thing the driver was just showing boxing game inside. Ha ha ha, I was thinking of home and garden show. lol. Kidding aside the taxis here now really look good and clean. I’m so happy for that, and you don’t have to fight now to get a taxi. We have plenty now going around the city. Now I can say that taxis here can compare to the taxis of the other cities in the Philippines. We even have a few SUV’s type kind of taxis.

Feel free to share what you think. Have a good and enjoyable visit here in the Philippines!

Mabuhay!