A lot of people may wonder I live in Minglanilla over other locations within Cebu. Well there are several reasons. Firstly Aprils family are here, aunts,uncles,parents,cousins something i never had when i grew up due to my parents moving around the world with the British army. So its nice that April has that here and I wouldnt want to take April to an area where she would be too far from relatives. But there are many other reasons that make Minglanilla home. The town is literally 5 minutes from the house by tricycle or car. We have a swimming pool nearby that we can use on a resort. The beach is 5 minutes from the house although its not the best in the area.. but then again I dont like sand on my feet so suits me..(its full of stones). Main thing is though you are central its about as quiet as a province can get within a stones throw of the city. Yes there is the road dust in the morning and evening rush hours but thats about it. There is no constant flow of heavy traffic just general. But the other thing that really makes Minglanilla a great place to live is the fact as soon as you head off the main southern coastal road and head inland within 5 minutes you are literally in a sea of green.. most of the land is either minor developed or untouched. A touch of the real Philippines with the access to all the major facilities within a 20 minute radius of travel you cant really beat that.

You may hear me say V-Hire a lot regarding how to get to places. Basically its a minibus. Normally a Toyota or similar branded vehicle with Aircon and used a lot for commuting from town to town or taking the family out on a day trip. You can hire them directly normally from the driver per day. Its often a cheap and more comfortable option of travel. You can find them at the main bus terminals aswell as other locations.. Advise is negotiate the price. I wont post any prices here because quite simply they will no doubt be moving with the costs of fuels and exchange rates. Making it impossible for me to give you a good idea of price. But a full day hire last year cost me around P2,000 including the fuel.

I know its a short post but its one of the vehicles i havent covered much on and its easier to show once then I can just put V-Hire instead of explaining each time.

 Moalboal is located South West of Cebu city. Famous for its diving its also a great place for the more adventurous with trekking, rapelling, climbing. But mainly for its diving that makes it a top destination with holiday makers.

Diving is available for the beginner right through to the experienced and many diving schools and shops are located in the area. From a 2 day safari to week long programs. If your a keen diver this is the place to go.

I have listed dive shops in the area below :-

• Seaquest Dive Center - In the same location with Sumisid Lodge in the basketball court opposite Nelson’s. It has a beach side location its courses train right upto PADI Instructor level and a PADI Course Director is available on permanent staff.
• Ocean Safari - Locally owned and operated, it is also one of the longest established operations along  the Beach. Daily dive trips, PADI courses. Situated in the basketball court at the central-north end of the Beach. One boat. Also co-operates with Ocean Safari II at Pacitas.
• Savedra Dive Centre - German operated, PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre with two dive shops, one in the central area and one to the south end of the Beach at Mollie’s Place. Offers daily dive trips and PADI courses to Instructor level, Nitrox diving/instruction, tek courses. They operate three boats.
• Neptune Diving Unlimited - Swedish operators, PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre. offering daily dive trips to the local sites and safaris in the Visayan region during the season (March-June). Offers courses to PADI Instructor level, Nitrox diving/instruction. Situated centrally. Second operation in Liloan, southern Cebu. One large boat
• Ocean Globe - (used to be Ocean Safari II). Sorry I have no info about this dive shop at all other than the Japanese-only web site. If anyone would like to send me background info I would be grateful
• Blue Abyss Dive Shop - based between Visaya Divers and Pacitas on the right-hand (sea) side of the track. One boat, Swiss/German run. PADI courses, Nitrox diving and courses
• Visaya Divers - at the south end of the Beach, together with Quo Vadis Resort. German operated with two boats and PADI instruction, Nitrox (IANTD) diving/instruction
• Savedra II - based at Mollie’s Place, satellite operation of Savedra Dive Centre
• Sea Explorers, Moalboal - based at Love’s Beach Resort, an operation with other shops in some of the best diving areas in central Philippines - Negros, Siquijor, Bohol, Cabiliao and Malapascua (northern Cebu). Swiss-managed, two boats

• Diving Operators :-

  • Asian-Belgian Resort - close to White Beach
  • Dolphin House - next to White Beach (the only really good beach in the area) with good access to all the Moalboal dive sites
  • Free Diving in Moalboal/Cebu courses are available in White Beach & Cebu.
  • Magic Island at Tongo Point - away from the bustle of Panagsama with beautiful views towards Badian and Pescador
  • - On White Beach with accommodation and diving. Dutch owner.
  • Sampaguita Resort - Italian-owned resort on Tongo Point, south of Panagsama Beach.

  Many of the shops/instructors speak many languages but not all shops/instructors speak all of them so if you need a specific language you need to shop around. Aswell as the fact Instructors move from one company to another so if you asked for someone by name who was there last year dont be surprised if they say he no longer works there. But forgets to meantion he works next door. Its a very competative business and theyre not about to give up trade. Shop around before making any bookings as you may find a better deal.

  Equipment standards for hire varies from shop to shop before you agree to hire anything ask to see it first. Also request to see if the shop has current and upto date safety equipment. E.g First Aid Kit, Oxygen on the boat, Has the boat got communication equipment to keep it in touch with the coast.
  Think about your safety when diving first.
  December 22nd, 2008 by admin in Uncategorized | No Comments

Off the town of Oslob near Cebus southern tip is Sumilon Island it has a Marine Sanctuary, nature park,lagoons,caves, boating cottages. It is 125 kilometers from Cebu City and is in close proximity to Dumaguete.

 Unspoilt beaches of pure white sands and crystal clear waters make this a sun worshipper and beach lovers paradise. The island has an area of 24 hectares and is surrounded by crystal clear waters with varying aquamarine hues. It is the first marine protected area in the Philippines and was made a fish sanctuary in 1974 under the guidance of Siliman University Marine Reserve. During dives, one will find varied marine species and even occasional sightings of black tip sharks. Its Sandbar is well known for its changing shapes and shifting locations around the island, depending on the season. On the island, there is a natural lagoon teeming with high mangroves. There are also natural caves where fishermen used to seek refuge. On the southside, a lighthouse rests on a protected tree park. Beside it is a “Baluarte”, a historical watchtower built as part of a warning system to thwart slavers and marauders in the 19th century.

 Badian is located 97.6km Southwest of Cebu city. Badian came from the name of a plant  called “badyang, which was once abundant in the area. The “g” was eventually dropped and the “y” became “i” as the Spaniards found it difficult to say. Its a pretty rugged area mainly mountains and hills generally commuting is done via jeepneys and tricycles.

Badian has its own “Badian Island Resort And Spa” the resort has its own sandy beaches a natural spa and a diving center for the more adventurous. But the most famous sight in the area is Kawasan Falls one of the many waterfalls in the area that help to make up the Matutinao River. The Kawasans Nature park is the entry point to the river and kabokalan springs is around 2km uphill toward the Matutinao River Canyon.

The trek isnt suitable for the unfit not only due to the heat but the distance and type of trail. It will take roughly 25mins.

You can reach Badian by either hiring a taxi for the day, Vhire or just grabbing a bus from Cebus southern terminal which head this way every hour.

The rafts can be rented and you can head under the waterfalls. One of the must see attractions in Cebu. A real feeling of entering the forest can be felt as you head up the trail to the falls.

Argao is situated 67km south from Cebu City. The name Argao goes back to during the Spanish period and belived to have come from the tree “sali-argaw” that grew in abundance in the coastal area of that time. Argao itself is made up of plains and flatlands in urban and highway areas. While the central area is mountainous and very steep. 

Places to visit are Mahayahay beach and the municipal church. We found it difficult to locate the beach on our visit and it decide to rain heavily. Which cant really be seen from the photo as we are stood under a huge tree.

The church belongs to the San Miguel Archangel Parish. Construction began in 1734 and was completed in 1788 this very beautiful Rococo-Baroque Church  then renovated in 1988 for its bicentennial celebrations.

Getting to Argoa is pretty easy once you hit the southern coastal road just keep going South! Otherwise you can grab a bus from the Cebu South Bus terminal which leaves every hour. Otherwise private hire is also available at the terminal for minibus. But another option maybe just to hire a taxi cab for the day and negotiate a deal. A bit of advice with taxi drivers please take the registration and text it to a friend when you take a journey. Making the taxi driver aware of what you are doing. I dont know anyone personally who has been robbed by a taxi driver as ive found the only robbery is when they try to bump the fare up sometimes but prevention is always better than cure. Another attraction which is a little off the beaten track in Argao is the Riverstone castle which is built from  river stone as you have probably guessed with the name. We found the castle itself a bit of a disappointment from outside so we didnt venture in. So anyone who has and would like to share theyre experience/photos please do!

LPG Cylinders are one of the most commonly used sources of GAS for cooking in the Philippines. Ive only recently had a problem with one due to an elastic band being used as a rubber seal. Which has the potential to be dangerous aswell as the fact that when its on its leaking gas as you can smell it throughout the house. But luckily enough we had a new delivery yesterday and got shot of the faulty cylinder. But its a bit of a hidden risk for most people. I would advise anyone if the cylinder is giving off gas or youve just received it just use a bit of soapy water round the valve to see if gas is leaking. Then when you connect up do the same again just to see if you have any bubbles appearing. It may not be a big leak but your either going to lose your gas or have the potential for it to ignite. Either way get it exchanged. They do have the potential to kill or cause injury.  http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MNB000068.htm

One thing that many people overlook when buying a property in the Philippines is the wiring. Although it may not be the first thought on your mind its one of the biggest causes of fire in the Philippines. Ive seen low voltage speaker cables used to run mains straight from sockets or even used as mains cable. The problem you get with low rated cables is heat build up which eventually causes these cables to catch fire. On top of that due to the compact streets and alleyways a lot of these fires get well out of control before anything can be done. So if your looking to buy or lease a property here. Please be aware that its very likely your cables could be potentially dangerous. Best way to deal with the situation is buy from another expat where possible as they are likely to have carried out the repairs/changes of cables in the time theyve owned/leased the property aswell as the fact many mod-cons that wouldnt normally be in a property have already likely been added. Such as electric showers,water tanks, solar heating tanks,electric pump,smoke detectors,EU or US standard sockets,good quality toilet equipment. Ive added a few tips that you may find useful for home or work. If your not sure how fatal these fires can be just do a search on google for “electrical fires philippines”

A few fire safety tips :-

1. Avoid electrical overloading.

2. Unplug all electrical appliances after every use.

3. Check all electrical installations regularly.

4. Check gas stoves and LPG tanks for leaks.

5. Keep children away from flammable liquids, lighters and matches.

6. Avoid smoking in bed.

7. Ensure you have a pre-fire plan at your residence or office.

8. Do not leave lighted mosquito coils unattended.

9. Always take extra precautions while cooking.

10. Never leave lighted candles unattended.

11. Do not throw lighted cigar or cigarette butts on dried leaves and garbage.

12. Strictly obey the no smoking signs.

13. Maintain proper housekeeping to eliminate fire hazards.

14. Check fire protection gadgets or devices of appliances and equipment regularly.

15. Be fire-safety conscious.

Well things have been a little slow recently mainly down to what could be termed as technical difficulties.. I have 3 Toshiba Laptops all bought with OEM versions of Windows. The first one runs on XP and  my last trip I reformatted and setup before I left to find out that my original Key didnt match my version of XP. Being the last date I left my 2nd laptop behind as they are pretty cheap in the UK and a lot more upto date than the machines generally around Cebu (aswell as the 1 year warranty). Well basically ive  had nothing but problems with laptop number 3 which i purchased for work when I went back to the UK. Vista has to be the worst version of Windows ive used. Besides them moving and disabling a lot of features that took a few hours to work out what they did with half of the stuff I use daily. Its severely prone to being hit with viruses. Also the fact that after I bought laptop 3 a Toshiba Equium and spent the whole of  a Saturday installing software and updating Vista i discovered it had a faulty ribbon between the monitor and keyboard which basically meant it kept powering the screen down. Returned to PC world to find out they actually wanted me to “leave it with them”… a 1 day old machine?? Well after losing a Saturday and needing it for work there was no way I was wanting a faulty machine back especialyl when I needed it for work on the Monday so I went into loud mode in the store. Which was ideal timing as the place was full. Manager approaches and I explain the fault and that I know what it is and 2 days of soak testing isnt going to form any miracles aswell as the fact its literally only out of the box. Im after a new machine or my money nothing else.. The loudness paid off I got another laptop and spent the Sunday reinstalling all the software again. A few weeks later virus.. sorted that.. a month later Virus… this one a bit more dangerous it left me with having to manually start windows as it kindly disabled explorer. Eventually over a few weeks I got 90% of my Vista back.. being OEM I had no disks to reformat and with being busy with work I simply didnt have the time either. Everything worked fine until I got home to Cebu. Around 4 days ago the same virus that disabled the laptop from Explorer hit again.. recognised it instantly as it dumps XXX icons onto your desktop for SM and porn. I knew then I was in for a rocky road as last time it messed up my firewall and disabled it permanently. Well it went one further this time it caused my machine to crash every 30seconds. Finally after finding a version of Vista I have reinstalled and here I am. Machine 1 and 2 still need work as 1 is running but with a fake key (Although I do have an original thats attached to the laptop I just need to reformat and start again). Laptop 2 has had someone install bearshare which has kindly written all over the place so that will be the next laptop to repair.. No wonder they give Vista with the Laptops because I certainly wouldnt buy it. If microsoft made cars or planes I wonder what the fatality rate would be??

This is mainly aimed at people looking at renting properties or buying property. Simply because most features you expect in the west maybe missing. Why? because price is critical here. Often the roofing is metal due to keeping cost down, electrics substandard to name but a few things. But then again even if you rent locally you could find things like :-

Shower

This is what a local shower looks like. A tap a bucket to fill with water and a pot shaped scoop to wash with. Very simple but effective the reason for the bucket is many houses dont have a seperate water tank to store water and its very common for water to be off at certain times of the day. This is the way round it. Disadvantage of this type of system is the water is very cold in the morning. But the big advantage is the bigger the bucket the more showers you can have if the water is off.

The other thing you will notice on this photo and the next is that there is water filters on both taps regardless. I havent found anything in the water that I would call a real threat to health but have had several pebbles. Which makes you wonder if a pebble can get into the water whate else can.

Electric showers are available and pretty reliable but I strongly advise getting your earth bonding correct and also a full inspection of your electrics to make sure the system can take the strain of the extra current. The other thing you may have noticed is there is only one tap. There is no hot water. The easiest and cheapest way round this is to add an exterior tank to a sunlit area and you will receive free hotwater. Ive noticed the tank at the house we are currently renting has been moved which is why we now have cold water 24/7 instead of hot 50% and warm 50%. But you cant have everything.. There is two ways to receive water to a house generally and most places have access to both. One is a deep well which taps into the underground waterways which has a major advantage its free! generally its low in pollution and likely to be as good if not better than the tap water. We currently have only the deep well water which is pumped up via an electric pump into a tank then we just fill it as we need it. An example of what is called an E-Pump is shown below :-

Not the prettiest objects but saves using a hand pump each day to get the water out. Add a tank with adapted ballcock to automate the pump and you wouldnt need to get upto the pump to regular. Cheap to run and if its maintained regular will run for literally years. Ive worked on motors as part of my previous work and to be honest the older ones are better than a new one. Why? Because the internal blades and many other components now are made of plastic where before they were metal. So if you take into account heat generation from the pump in motion its life cycle due to component failure is very much reduced. Ive worked on military motors which are fully metal many are over 30 years old but the new ones are lasting 1 - 3 years. Although supposed to be direct replacements. So if you find a good motor that looks a little old but all metal components its likely to outlast a brand new one.

Another thing people dont realise is getting used to Aircon in hot climates. But if you use Ceiling fans or wall fans they are much cheaper and also involve less cleaning and running costs. As you find bacteria build up often causes minor coughs and sore throats and at the worst case scenario legionaires disease if not maintained. The wall mounted ones I find dont take up to much space and you dont get the shadows at night of spinning blades next to the ceiling or wobbling of light that you get with ceiling oscilating fans. Either way you should also add at least one small battery backed fan to your list of essential items. Its only when you find you havent bought one in a powercut do you realise how hot it gets quickly and how much you miss the item. Try and get one with a larger battery compartment as you should be able to use motorcycle batteries which are easy to come by and also test it regular as a lot of batteries are resold as new here. Something to be aware of. Its not just street vendors but often where you least expect it. The fan shown here cost less than £10.00 but ideal for keeping things cool during the night if theres a power cut aswell as the fact it has a built in light and very compact.

Another thing people dont realise is Gas is fed from tanks not from mains in the majority of locations its cheap one bottle will last you several months but the big problem is many of these bottles wouldnt pass safety standards in the West. Currently the one we are using at the moment is missing a seal which is spilling gas when connected. Its been repaired locally with an elastic band. Not the best solution to a very dangerous problem. Ive seen the damage done with a fire extinguisher would hate to see the damage done with one of these tanks going off. Anyway getting back to my point. These are connected to your cooker via a hose as there is nothing else in the house that requires gas.

Another thing people forget to take a look at is security on a property before buying. This is a picture from one of our windows. This is a typical layout in the Philippines “on request” before you rent get them to fit a mosquito grill and security grill. They may ask you for 2 - 3 months rent in advance to cover the costs. But its worth it mosquitos are a major problem not only for irritation but Dengue is still a big problem in Cebu and other parts of the Philippines. Malaria is supposed to be virtually none existant but to be honest I wouldnt be so sure as many of the figures arent accurate due to the majority of population finding medical fees too expensive so the death registry is unlikely to be accurate. Getting back to the design. The metal grills are good security and if designed well look very artistic and in keeping with the house. My father inlaw makes them so if you ever want some made please drop me an email. The mosquito mesh is either metal or plastic depending on whats used. Generally it keeps 90% of the pests out but ants are the biggest problem everyone seems to face and an ongoing battle. The louvre type windows work well especially if you have open fields or above ground level to allow air to flow through the house. Means you dont need Aircon during the day and depending where you are maybe no aircon at all.

Hope  you found the information useful. But one thing i will add is all western things are available but at a cost. Not only buying costs but running costs. A house without Aircon can have a bill as little as P500 a month. But a single Aircon unit can add as much as P2,000 per unit. So if you can get by with fans give it a go. Try for a few days the first couple of days will seem too hot but with the fans your body will adapt. Saving you in the wallet especially if your here long term.