Are you okay with refurbished or second hand items?

October 30, 2014 by feyma

Are you okay with refurbished or second hand items?

The reason I was asking you the questions. Bob’s fridge in the office has been working off and on. We had it fixed and spent big money for it. Just tired of having the fridge taken out and back again.

Finally a few days ago I purchased a small fridge for Bob’s office. We got it from a pawnshop in Matina. Bob told me about the place a few months back. A friend of ours bought a fridge there very cheap and still in good conditioned. Before buying the fridge my niece and I went and shopped around to different appliance centers here in Davao. We saw lots of refrigerators that’s been repossessed. Some people bought fridge for installments. They would pay for only 3 months, after that they skipped paying. So then the appliance center will get the fridge back. The store will not put the items for sale immediately, they usually give two weeks before selling it again to give time for the owner to pay back. If the owner fails to pay for the allotted time then the store will sell it to the public again. We saw lots of the secondhand fridges on one of the appliance store. Only thing most were too big of a fridge for our liking. Plus its way over our budget just for the office fridge. Really the one that we saw on that pawnshop was just perfect for the office that’s why we bought it.

Second Hand – Are you OK with it?

Over the years that Bob and I been living here we have been purchasing some refurbish and secondhand items. On top of my head right now that we purchased, just last year we purchased a used washing machine. The owner said they just used it less than a dozen times because they don’t want to pay high electricity bill. So happy to get it, it’s just like the washing machine I had in the USA that we used to have there, it’s a Whirlpool brand. We also bought 2 air-conditioners along with the washing machine too. We really got a good deal on that.

Other one that I can remember that we purchased secondhand. Bob he likes to have special keyboard that won’t make his hands/wrist sore. I shopped around here in Davao, Gensan, Cebu and Manila for it. Always out of stock, we’re just tired of waiting. I even ordered at the computer store here, they told me its takes weeks for the items to come. I’ve waited and waited still the items didn’t arrive yet until now. So when we look at eBay Philippines/Sulit and those other internet auctions here in the Philippines, we found the keyboard and its used but it’s still in good condition. Way cheaper than the brand new one and it still looked good. I asked the person that owned it, why he’s selling the item? He told me that it’s really from his foreigner uncle and since he is not around in the Philippines anymore and the keyboard just sitting in the closet, he decided to just sell it. Happy to be the recipient for the item. Still in good condition, Bob is using it now.

I guess no different than shopping for ukay-ukay too. They also had good used items there as well. We have few US Surplus stores here too. We even had here just down a few streets from us. It’s good to get excuse to go walking and see the new items they have there. To be honest when I was in the States I’m really into going to Flea market/garage sale/antique shops. I saw lots of good decor there. Happy to buy good and useful stuff there for the house. I guess it shows it’s okay with me to use secondhand stuff or refurbished. Certain items that I’m not going to buy that it’s used by someone else.

How about you are you okay using refurbished or secondhand stuff? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers!

October 2, 2014 by feyma

A Helping Hand – Mission accomplished!

Those of you who have been a long time reader here in our website noticed that I’ve been writing here and doing different stuff over the years. I have been providing services helping people find a place for them to live here. I’m mostly helping people who settle here in Davao City and Samal Island area.

Just these past months or so I’ve been helping people and we’ve become friends over the net. They want me to find a place for them to stay when time for them to live here in Davao. We’ve been corresponding with each other for awhile and I’m passing to them the houses that my agents emailed me. Some house were really perfect for them but it’s already taken before they come here. Luckily my agents have more houses to show. Rental houses are really good during this time of the year. That’s what my agent told me anyway. Really they will tell me the specifics of the houses that they are looking for. I pass that info to my agent. Then I view the house that I think the person I was corresponding with would want. Then I will tell my agent to find me more houses to compare then when the person I’m corresponding with comes.

Feyma

Some people that come here are single guys. They don’t know anybody that will help them on anything. One guy in mind here just came here a few months ago. He didn’t really know anybody here just me and Bob at first. He told me the house that he wants, how many rooms and how much was his budget. So I start asking my agent. Then when I saw the house that my agents gave me I pass it to the guy that was looking. He told me he really liked it and he made an offer even he’s not yet here. The owner of the house told the agent that there’s 3 other people interested to rent that house. I talked to the owner and gave my offer. She told me that she accepts my offer since we talked and saw each other in person. So when the guy came he went to the house directly from the airport. I have the house prepared before he came. I hired somebody to clean the entire house. Even the owner said that it’s clean. It took the whole day for my cleaning people to clean. I also had my kids and my brother-in-law work on something for him at his house. I know that the guy told me that he really appreciated my help. He even gave me something for his appreciation, a Kindle Fire HD. He knows I love to read. You know who you are – from the bottom of my heart “THANK YOU SO MUCH“.

Like one guy he came from the USA. He told me he wants to rent a house near the beach. Even he’s alone he still wants a big house because he had so many things shipped from his house in the States. I found a perfect place for him. I helped him hire people to renovate the house to his liking. I had my carpenter built lots of built-in cabinets with nice moldings. Changed lots of features in the ceilings and put moldings too. Changed doors to French door. Built a nice swing that can carry his weight. Me and my carpenter designed the swing. It turned out really good. I guess my creative side came out on that project with the help of my carpenter and painter of course. Even if it cost him money but he’s so happy with the result. I helped him negotiate the rent too that both the owner and him were happy at the end. It’s been over 5 years now and he is still there renting that house.

Really I’m not just helping on looking for places for them to rent or buy. I’m also helping them going places to find stuff that they need for their house. Really it’s not just about money, it’s also about helping them adjust here. It’s not easy to transfer to a new place and you don’t know anyone. Most people that come here also wanted internet at there house. It’s easy nowadays, so many choices. You can go with any cell phone providers and also other DSLprovider like PLDT & SkyCable. Then I will tell them our experiences with those companies. We tell them what we are using. Most of them would go with the one we’re using.

Right now I am helping a young couple. I found a place for them here. They want to start a business here. They’re asking what’s really a good business. They’re thinking of something about food. Both of them are hard workers. They’re studying what’s a good business for them to start. I’m really wanting for them to succeed because they are a nice and lovely couple. I can really see Bob and myself in them. I’m just praying that they will stay here for good and be successful in the business they will get their hand on. Good luck to you both.

If want to buy land in Samal Island, now is a good time to buy there. I have agents there too. I also know some owners of land there. They email me about the land that whey want to sell there. But my agent usually has tripping to go there and see some lots there. You will have choices for land there the beachfront or the overlooking. Prices there keep going up. Every time I go there the place keeps changing. New building and new subdivision every time, it seems. We own land there that overlooks the City of Davao and Davao Gulf.

If you are coming to Davao, get in touch with me, and I will be happy to help you with the move too!

September 25, 2014 by feyma

Would you buy medicines at Generics Pharmacy?

I was really pondering over this very topic for a long time now. I noticed that a lot of Pinoys will not really buy their meds at Generics drugstore. Reason being they said that they don’t trust the place, Generics pharmacy selling good medicine. They really think that those medicine that were being sold there were all fake. I was shocked with their reasoning. You know who is really the one that doesn’t believe in the pharmacy? The people that can’t even afford to buy medicine.

I was talking to a few of my previous laundry ladies and helpers, they said they needed medicine and I told them to get it at The Generics Pharmacy and even told them the nearest Generics, the location near their house. I could tell the sour faces. I asked them why they acted like that? They said their neighbors said and heard from somewhere that the medicine there were all fake and not good. I told them that we’ve been using medicine from there for a long time and we are still alive and okay. I even told them we know lots of doctors get meds from there. It’s really hard to explain to people when their mind is already made up. As if you’re talking to a concrete wall. I just continue on telling them that it’s their choice, not mine. If they have so much money to buy the branded meds then go for it. To each his one I guess.

The Generics Pharmacy

We are buying lots of our medicine there. I was asking my family what pharmacy they’re buying their medicine from. They told me that they buy majority of their meds from Generics too and one other pharmacy that similar to Generics (I can’t remember the name of the drugstore) they sell cheaper meds also. Some medicine were not available with Generics then we’ll buy it in the other pharmacy like Amesco, HB1, Watson, Rose pharmacy and to name a few are good too. Many other good and reliable pharmacy all over the place the Philippines. Mercury is the famous one here in Davao. I was thinking they’re the first famous pharmacy in the Philippines. I just Googled the company. The largest pharmacy chain here in the Philippines. Founded in mid 1940’s.

If a person is admitted in the hospital here mostly they will give the prescription to the patient’s family and they can either buy the medicine from the pharmacy at the hospital or go out and go to the pharmacy that you are comfortable buying it from. After buying the medicine just drop the medicines at the nurses station where your patient is assigned to. You can buy plenty of over the counter medicines there. Lately all pharmacy now are asking for the prescription for all amoxicillin/penicillin products. Really too bad some people just abuse the medicines. Then they get hooked and it so hard for them to kick the habit off. Not too many rehabilitation places here in Davao for the people that get hooked. I don’t think the government will pay for it. Not even sure if PhilHealth pays for it.

Anyway, is there a Generics Pharmacy in your area? Give them a try. By the way, I’m not paid from the company. I was just thinking too many expats talking about not so much money and can’t afford to buy medicines. So why not try buying at the Generics pharmacy and see for yourself.

Cheers!

August 14, 2014 by feyma

The new update on my old post here!

A little over 2 years ago I posted a story (The unexpected company) of these 2 young girls named Arnie & Irish who were at our gate asking for our recyclable plastic bottles. My kids not only gave them the plastic bottles, they also fed those kids. We even brought those kids to the dentist. So lucky that we have a very generous dentist named Dr. Lourdes.

Anyway, a month or two ago my kids and my niece told me that the mom of Arnie & Irish had another baby. I just said “really”? To be honest what can I say. Arnie the oldest girl was kind of embarrassed seeing my kids and that they had another baby. But Irish was the talker and blabbed about they had a brand new baby. When my kids asked them where’s their mom? Irish said that their mom was working again to be a laundry lady not long after giving birth. She has to help the husband make some money. The husband’s job, he gathers plastic bottles and cardboard boxes for recycle and sells them.

Arnie & Irish

A week or so ago. I was outside with my kids. We were cleaning our front yard cutting the grass in front. The oldest brother of Arnie came to us. He knows that we don’t know him. He really introduced himself that he was the older brother of Arnie & Irish. He told us that he is getting the fish in the canal in our area. So we asked him are you guys eating those fish? He said “NO”, he is selling those to like owners of a coi pond.

Really seeing him really makes us miss those 2 girls. Arnie really is embarrassed to swing by at our house now after their father got mad at their mom. He was so jealous that his wife comes home just a little after dark to finish up her laundry job here at the house. He was accusing his wife of having somebody. It was getting ridiculous that I told the mom of those kids to tell the husband that “She will not be working here if he had job to support them”. Honestly I don’t even need her here at the house. I already had a laundry lady, but I just want to give her a job instead of handing her the money.

I don’t think the oldest kid is in school now. They used to be in school before. But I think their kids now had to help their parents make money and take care of the younger siblings. Some people here let their kids even the 9 year old kid take care of the younger siblings at that age. The parents sometimes will ask the neighbor to keep an eye on their kids while they go to work. Lucky for our laundry lady, she had her parents and siblings near her house that her mom takes care of her kids while she’s working for us or her other jobs.

I’m still hoping for the best for Arnie & Irish family. Hopefully at the end they will just move to the province since the mom’s family had a small farm land there anyway. I think the wife wants to move but the husband likes to live in the city. In my opinion it will be good for them to be there and they will grow their own food. Crossing my finger.

August 7, 2014 by feyma

A personal note!

I’m writing and sharing about our personal life story of Bob and myself. It’s almost time for our 24th year wedding anniversary. I was just pondering what to write this week, and it hits me while getting something in Bob’s wallet. He wants me to check on something for him and I had to get his id (driver’s license). Something fell out of his wallet, it was behind his driver’s license. When I picked it up, I remembered that Bob had his reminder of our first meeting.

“It’s his boarding pass from his flight from Manila to Cebu” to meet me for the first time.

Bob’s Boarding Pass from Manila to Cebu – July 26, 1990

Wow, as I was staring at the boarding pass, its just so worn out. It showed the time that it stayed in Bob’s wallet. It was there for 24 years already. No matter how many times Bob changed wallets over the course of our marriage that boarding pass remained in his wallet. Looking at it as if it’s just nothing but for Bob it’s really important to him. For me; It really showed how he loved and valued me. For the kids; They think it’s a sweet gesture of their dad to their mom. It will be in that wallet forever, I’m pretty sure of that.

I gave Bob a Tagalog-English dictionary upon meeting him for the first time. I was thinking at that time that he should learn the Tagalog instead of Bisaya since Tagalog is taught in school and spoken in the main island. He still has that dictionary and he lets the kids use it for school. They had to promise that they will take care of it. Really, Bob rarely opened that dictionary since my parents never spoken to him in Tagalog. At that time it’s hard to find a Bisaya- English dictionary or Bisaya-Tagalog-English dictionary unlike now that they’re all over bookstore and the internet. So thankful now that he did learn our local dialect. So proud of him for that.

I was graduating in college when I met him. Bob gave me a Sony Walkman when we first met. One of our regular phone conversation I was talking to him about my project with my classmates, it’s sound systems with bunch of LED’s and with walkman. It was really hectic schedule for me being graduating and with my on job training and the touring of the radio stations. My teachers were just happy that I made it through being the only girl in class out of 200 students.

I took 2 weeks off from school when Bob came. I talked to all my teachers that I would be in GenSan for the entire time. I took exams later when I get back from Gensan. My classmates didn’t know that I am marrying Bob. They just thought I went home to be with my parents. But my teachers they knew though. Luckily they didn’t make a big fuss about it. LOL.

To you my Wonderful Husband : Honey, Wow 24th year of marriage. I’m so grateful for your love for me and our kids. So happy for the time we’ve shared. Thank you too for being so kind to my parents before they passed, you really showed you loved them. Thank you for the wonderful years. We’ve been through a lot but we managed to be strong and talked it through. I love you so much. I thank God for you!!!