tropicalpenpals.com

Anthony Nicolas who owned and operated the “Hi Joe” Beach resort as well as a market stall and pension house which is known as “Matlag Farm house” in Sipalay City. Had finished his collection for the day and was on route home on a tricycle with his wife and helper when two gunmen waylaid them before opening fire. Anthony Nicolas received multiple bullet wounds to his head and various parts of his body and declared dead on arrival at Sipalay Infirmary.

Its believed the attackers motive was robbery as once they had fired the shots they then left with money believed to be the days takings from the various businesses.

Anthony Nicolas leaves behind three children and currently the only witnesses to the crime were the wife and helper who are currently unable to help with Police enquires due to being in shock.

• Bookmark on Delicious
• Digg this post
• Recommend on Facebook
• Buzz it up
• Buzz it up
• Share on Linkedin
• Share via MySpace
• share via Reddit
• Share with Stumblers
• Tumblr it
• Tweet about it
• Subscribe to the comments on this post
• Tell a friend
• Print for later

John MacDonald, 27 who was a merchant seaman had met Nancy Romero online and while his ship was docked in Manila decided to visit her at her home. Initially upon the visit Nancy Romero introduced someone at her home as her brother but in fact was her live in boyfriend Anselmo Locastales. Everything seemed fine and they went out for a meal with the 3 of them all seemed fine and after they ate they headed off to a Karaoke bar at which point John made public his plans to marry Nancy. This resulted in Lacostales going into a fit of rage when they returned back to the house producing a knife and repeatedly stabbing John and Nancy. After stealing John’s wallet Lacostales fled from the murder scene, neighbours raised the alarm after hearing Nancy’s screams. John was pronounced dead on arrival at Angono hospital which is on the outskirts of Manila.

Nancy,31 on the other hand received wounds to her stomach and arms is currently fighting for her life.

In a bizarre turn of events John had already promised to marry another girl from Mexico and his relatives were unaware of Nancy saying John had planned to marry Michelle Morales Velez next year.

On his Bebo page, Rangers fan John listed himself as engaged to Michelle.

He wrote last year: "Met the girl of my dreams in Spain – Michelle Morales Velez from Mexico. "Life is sweet right now. Got engaged to my baby in Paris, which was great."

Last night, John’s stepdad Gary Gibson said: "He was supposed to be getting married to Michelle next year.

"The reports from the Philippines are not the way it happened."

John’s mum Joanne, 55, said: "He was a much-loved son and brother and was very close to his family. "He spent a lot of time at sea but when he was off on leave, he spent his holidays first visiting family and friends, then travelling, which he adored.

"His death is a tragedy and he will leave a gap in so many people’s lives which will never be filled." John was killed a few miles from the Philippines office of his employers, Trico, who also work out of Aberdeen. He was a second mate on a merchant navy ship and worked on international contracts.

It may seem a cut and shut case but as I said to April my wife the other day every time a foreigner is murdered here the spin of “love triangle” hits the news.. very easy to make a story up and quickly close the case if its all so obvious. Was it a proposal or was it something else maybe if someone can research John’s chat logs they will have the information of the connection.

• Bookmark on Delicious
• Digg this post
• Recommend on Facebook
• Buzz it up
• Buzz it up
• Share on Linkedin
• Share via MySpace
• share via Reddit
• Share with Stumblers
• Tumblr it
• Tweet about it
• Subscribe to the comments on this post
• Tell a friend
• Print for later

With the costs of housing in the Philippines rising at the same time gambling ownership on the survival of marriage many Expat’s simply permanently rent as there is no incentive to buy a house that they can’t own. At the same time I wonder why rent as well especially with the last week looking at the container living concept again.

I have come up with an idea but ideally need feedback before I will take it any further. Basically it would be a case of looking to lease a large lot of land or buy it and tie contracts to it so it can’t be sold. The idea being that people lease long term a percentage of the lot which will have a sited converted container. They own the container 100% or can have it as part of the long-term lease. If they decide to sell the container if owned can be removed or sold to the next tenant.

So what is in it for me? well it would be a small monthly income for us here but at the same time the containers would form up a small community of Expats for either full-time or part-time usage. This would also mean “YOU” can rent your container out as well. I am mainly looking to keep costs down on the site as this would allow people to use the properties even for a weekend get away if not living there full-time. The main thing the expats would get is a secure home in a community of similar people and all going well near a beach. Secure in the fact its a container but also the ownership is yours it can’t be taken away as the lease is tied to the lot.

My big question is it something others are interested in? I have had 2 other interests since I brought it up with people looking to live on a fixed budget where this would work out as cheap as renting a small room except I am looking at a minimum of 40ft long containers which will offer 2/3 bedrooms, small garden and parking for each container and a roof deck.

• Bookmark on Delicious
• Digg this post
• Recommend on Facebook
• Buzz it up
• Buzz it up
• Share on Linkedin
• Share via MySpace
• share via Reddit
• Share with Stumblers
• Tumblr it
• Tweet about it
• Subscribe to the comments on this post
• Tell a friend
• Print for later

One of the Philippines most beautiful starlets Marian Rivera has just signed an exclusive contract with the GMA Network (Today September 7th). This has sealed deals with the Kapuso network for programs in the forthcoming years.

Present during the contract signing were GMA Executive Vice President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.; Chairman, President and CEO Felipe L. Gozon; Senior Vice President Wilma V. Galvante; and Marian’s manager Popoy Caritativo.

• Bookmark on Delicious
• Digg this post
• Recommend on Facebook
• Buzz it up
• Buzz it up
• Share on Linkedin
• Share via MySpace
• share via Reddit
• Share with Stumblers
• Tumblr it
• Tweet about it
• Subscribe to the comments on this post
• Tell a friend
• Print for later

I mentioned before about the land in the town that will likely still be an empty lot until the people own it die. Similar has happened here near where we live where the last remaining members of a family died with the land just being a vacant lot for generations due to rivalry between siblings. Funny thing is Minglanilla is in the middle of a lot of changes with new stores opening up and lots of new construction going on. That would make the lot the perfect time to sell as the prices are at a premium but we all know that isn’t going to happen.

Today was a new turn in the twist of things that have happened previously regarding relatives and in particular one person. A few months ago the same person said they would block the entrance so we would have to make another entrance. Not that we really care as our Jeepy will hopefully be sold off and on route to Bohol by the end of the week and the multi cab hey if they block it in more fool them as they will have to get it out at some point as I can’t get it started and can afford to abandon it if they get the wall up.

So what is the dispute about and why is it crab mentality?

Basically its nothing more than pure jealousy the apartments have gone up on Aprils parents place, our neighbour has just started a row of 3 houses and where we live our rental is another relative with 3 apartments as well. Crab mentality has left one group of people lagging behind their kin as everyone else has just got on with life and put some effort in to improve it.

This morning I arrived to find the first holes being built to block off the entrance to Aprils parents lot as you can see its just clipped over a foot off the road and “we” use motorcycles and have another location that we live. Bitterness and crab mentality goes a long way yet none of it affects us and goes to show how much it does annoy and stew in the bellies of the people who thought they could ride on my coat but gave it all away earlier due to trying to exploit the situation to the point now I can agree with a lot of Foreigners who say “don’t live near the family” as crab mentality always shines through and here is a perfect example. Aprils parents are fine same as our neighbours who are distant relatives but the aunts and uncles have pretty much tried to make life difficult and squeeze money from the foreigner.. Unlucky for them I prepared for it before I even arrived which is why I threw a few bread crumbs to see if they disappeared and they did at which point we moved. For those cronies thinking they have achieved something today we are here “temporary” as we are relocating once we established a new location. What is going to happen though is the wall is going to annoy the entire neighbourhood “not us” as there are a lot of vehicles that pass on that road who now will struggle to get home. But then again the aunt involved never cared about anyone else before why would she bother now?

• Bookmark on Delicious
• Digg this post
• Recommend on Facebook
• Buzz it up
• Buzz it up
• Share on Linkedin
• Share via MySpace
• share via Reddit
• Share with Stumblers
• Tumblr it
• Tweet about it
• Subscribe to the comments on this post
• Tell a friend
• Print for later