About

 
All about me!
 

I hail from the mythical kingdom of Boston, Massachusetts in the idyllic nation state known as America. Prior to coming to the Philippines, I worked as a counselor in both the private and public sectors until I was 46 years of age.  Experiencing just a wee bit of burnout, I started to look around for something different.  The magical Seer of Google led me to consider the Philippines, and after considering my financial state, I thought I’d give it a shot.

I started up the blog shortly after arriving in the Republic, but my lack of internal discipline made for huge gaps in between posts.  Somewhere along the line, I discovered that I really enjoyed doing videos, so most of my attention was focused on that.  Now – with my trusty sidekick, Michell, at my side – we are concentrating on both  the videos and maintaining a solid blog.  If you are interested in visiting, moving to, or discussing anything relevant to the Philippines (well, except politics…) feel free to join the discussion!  Mabuhay!

Feel free to contact us at https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineDreams.

41 comments

  1. Well Howdy Michell and Ned! First off let me thank you for keeping your website politics free! How long has this site been active? You sure know how to keep things a secret. Why aren’t there any links from your Facebook or YouTube sites so more viewers can find this marvelous site? This looks like something from Travel Leisure Magazine. I replied to a newsletter you sent and I asked about why there was no mention of your background but got no reply but here it is. Knowing a little background like you’ve provided here is helpful. Naturally people are going to be very interested in what you two are assembling here. You have brought to the table something unique and special here. Once I discovered this site it reveals that you are committed to create a world class resource here. Every single person who wants to come to the Philippines and build a new life now have a real life couple to learn from as you learn and that is unique. I look forward to seeing how your on line adventure unfolds. I see a great opportunity here for you to do something you love and potentially make a great income. I’m sure many businesses would love to attract more ex pats and tourists from all over the world. Places like that Kamalig restaurant. You played with the pronunciation of that place so much I’ll never forget it. Gees I wonder if that was an ad. Should have been. Salamat! Neil

    1. Having our own site allows us to do a lot more than we could do with blogger. I want to have resources that people can download and access and be able to do more stuff with mulitmedia over time. We will be integrating Facebook and Twitter (et. al.) more inclusively as we move along. Just gonna take it slow, ya know. Thanks for your feedback, Neil!

    2. hi my name is Randy I live in ware Massachusetts and I have always had attraction for the woman from the Philippines I was wondering if there is any dating service or any way of meeting a woman from the Philippines if so I have successfully owned my own company as in one of your YouTube videos stating that money is important in some aspects of the Filipino life and I’d be willing to I don’t know not be cheap but I just want to meet somebody like a Filipino so nice and unlike the woman I meet here.

      1. YOu can try Dating in Asia – it’s free, and it is where I lucked out in meeting Michell. If anyone asks for money, block them. If anyone refuses to use a video call, block them. Just play it smart, Randy.

  2. We like your work. I seen the Trophy. Or have I started to loose my mind? Ok I am back I had to go through my mandatory whipped into submission conditioning. So you might have already guessed the move may not be to far off in the near future. So was the boat already there or did you ship it ? Open water diving certs. Cheaper there I would think ? If you are going to continue to smoke let me know . I will pay for the life insurance If your spouse splits the money. Yea diving and smoking = Short dives. Using the contour of the geography and following the paths of the Typhoons ” East to west” It would seem the West side of the islands may be less headaches. But I have also noticed that the west side China sea is shallow. Every video I have seen shows that you could walk for miles on the flats during low tide. Good for Steamer Clams maybe but bad for boat props. Or do you have a jet drive outboard? Did you ship a container ? If you did how about the tariffs and customs inspection of household goods. Thought about bringing my Harley. Maybe better to disassemble? All of my stuff is vintage 90’s and 80’s but like new. My boat weighs 5100 lbs/w trailer brand new rebuilt 4.3l chevy V6. engine will last twenty years no problem. Have you seen any boats with Volvo or OMC COBRA outdrives . I know anything can be gotten with the right amount of cash. Jovelyn and I have also considered the Coast of Chile. Thanks for all the info. J&J.

    1. Whoa and slow down, James! Import fees on bringing in a bike or boat are very high – 50-60% of the actual value of whatever you are bring. Local boats are pretty much all native pumpboats with a limited number of western style motor and sailboats skirting about. Lots of reefs and shoals, so navigation is a bit of a challenge.

  3. Hello,Ned and Michelle. I would like to extend my appreciation for your blogsite and your you tube site. I very much enjoyed reading your blog and watching your you tube channel. Your documentary of the Filipino way of life is quite accurate and I love the humor infused coming from an American point of view. Yes, we Filipinos have been stereotyped but I honestly believe that it is due to no fault of our own. Nevertheless, I appreciate your honest thoughts about us ,who we are as a people is not what the world knows. Thank you for shedding light on this. I will be in Dumaguete in a month for an adventure trip and I would love to meet you and Michelle and take you out for dinner. God bless you.

  4. Been watching all Ur video,s. Coming to cebu early March. Want to meet u guys, Henry and mike if possible. We will fly to. Duma. To meet u all.

    George and gretchen

  5. Enjoyed watching your videos….makes me wish I was there now; especially with the brutal winter we’ve been experiencing in NE. I have been to the RPI a handful of times, and it truly is an amazing place. There’s a place on the west coast of Mindanao called Boston…have you been there yet? I just figured being a chowdahead you might have checked this place out already…I know I’d like to see it. Anyway, keep up the good work, and thanks for sharing your experiences in the Philippines. Best of luck to you and your lovely lady!

  6. Greetings!
    Have been married to a Filipina for 31 years and take it from me, they cannot be trained! my wife is very accommodating, but it would be easier to teach a worm to do somersaults then to try to make her do or say something if she is not that way inclined, love what you guys do, what you say is what it is , well balanced and the truth, good or bad.
    as for Michelle, she is beautiful and at 78 years of age all I can do is give a compliment where one is needed, don’t forget to tell her you love her, at least once a day, she deserves it! always look forward to you next video love following your adventures, we have a 29 year old unmarried son and I wish he could find a nice Filipina to settle down with, and be as Happy as I have been, God bless you both, keep up the good work, be happy! Bye…Bye for now…..Claude
    PS we live in Australia!

  7. HI Ned,
    Does Michelle know that her “title” is “side kick”… Robin to your Batman HAAAA. Hope you both are doing great. I really enjoy the videos, “from over yonder”. Thanks for being so open and honest. I know it can’t be easy to let everyone into your life, via the internet. There are a lot of Crazy people on the internet…everyone except ME, of course HAAAA. Take care, Blessing to you both.

  8. I’ve been working in New Jersey since 2001. I’m a Filipino (actually a dual citizen now), divorced, with an adult son in the Philippines. I’m retiring next year. My modest pension won’t allow me to survive in the US financially and I hate the winter. So I’ve decided to go back. I’ve been reading a lot of stuff and I find it ironic that I’m relying more and more on the words and insights of a foreigner to influence my choice of where to settle down in my own country. I’ve watched several of your videos and I’m struck by the candor and honesty and warmth and humor in every one of them, not to mention practical suggestions like what to bring (an open mind especially) and what to do and what not to do. Of course, having grown up, studied, worked and spent all my adult life there, mostly in Quezon City, I know the people and the culture (although not the Bisayan dialect). Impending retirement can be an anxious moment fraught with doubts and uncertainties. I just want to thank you for calming my nerves, opening the door to what looks like a hidden gem of a place, and letting me see some reassuring light. I’m going back to my roots. I would love to see if I can start a new and exciting chapter of my life in Dumaguete.

    1. Thanks for contributing that, Ray. You – of course – will be at a great advantage – you know Tagalog, have dual citizenship (can buy land/property) and already know about all the negatives about living here long term. I have only been here for 22 months, but am still totally loving it. Most of the real problems I have had have been a result of my own stuff – not stuff here.

      1. Thank you for your response, Ned. I do have a couple of specific questions about Dumaguete. My main hobbies (as opposed to vices) are tennis and ballroom dancing. I guess tennis clubs would not be hard to find there but I wonder if some club or hotel regularly hosts ballroom dancing. I plan to visit in February next year and spend two weeks in Dumaguete to get a better feel of it. For a place to stay and to serve as a base for walking around, should I have any preference between Bethel House and Honeycomb Inn? Or would you recommend other hotels?

        1. Yep, there are tennis courts but I have no idea about ballroom dancing. I tell ya what though – if you you know it and can show/teach people, you could probably talk with one of the local hotels to maybe start something up – I would think that would be a good idea for both foreigners and Filipinos!

  9. I have been watching your videos….informative, funny, you all are a great team I think. I just purchased your book…look forward to reading it…and having a reference.

    Hope everything keeps working out…will say though I have been having issues trying to do the “donate” …never have used PayPal…of course I am “polish” so it might be the user that is having issues. If I ever get it figured out…I would like to contribute to your expenses in upkeep of site etc….

    And also irish…the irish side all started out in Chicopee Mass., if my mother still alive though she would say it was the polish side that was screwing up…

    Thanks for the site…

  10. Hey Ned,
    Videos are great….I appreciate all the good info you and Michelle provide as I am planning a visit soon to the Dumaguete area…
    …I have a couple questions about the place you rented early on…was hoping we could talk bout it via email as I planned on staying there as well….
    thanks…

  11. HEY NED..I’VE BEEN TO CEBU JUST ONE TIME..I FOUND IT OVERCROWDED, POOR WORKING CLASS, NOT CLEAN…HOT AND WILD DRIVERS..I WAS A TRUCKER FOR MY LIFE’S WORK..I NEVER SEEN DRIVING LIKE IN CEBU..SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS THIS>>IS DRIVING WILD-IN DUMAGETTI..ALSO IS VALENCIA COOL ENOUGH TO BEAT THE HIGH PRICE OF ELECTRICITY..IS VALENCIA A SAFE PLACE FOR A RETIRED MAN (69 YEARS OLD) TO LIVE…IS DUMEGETTI A CITY THAT A WESTERN MAN CAN DRIVE..ALSO ARE THERE ENOUGH RENTALS TO GO AROUND??I AM MARRIED TO A FLILPINA FROM CEBU..NURSE BACK GROUND (58 YRS OLD) SHE IS PROTECTIVE OF ME..I HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES,,,MY NAME IS DONALD AGRIPPA..I AM A FAN OF PHILIPPINE DREAMS..I FIND YOU INTERESTING AND HELPFUL TO ALL..DONALD

    1. SOME PLACES OF VALENCIA ARE COOL ENOUGH NOT TO USE AC. IT IS SAFE FOR A RETIRED MAN TO LIVE. DUMAGUETE CAN BE A FRUSTRATING PLACE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE TRAFFIC. APARTMENT RENTALS ABOUND. I AGREE WITH YOUR TAKE ON CEBU – I AM NOT A FAN OF BIG CITIES, BUT IT DOES HAVE NICE MALLS. THANKS, DONALD!

  12. I spent several years of a short (12 years) Navy career at Cubi P./Subic Bay and like you seem so have, came to love both the place and the people. I even married one who turned out to have some things in her past that made it impossible for me her to get a U.S. visa when I left. I visit vicariuosly via you YouTube posts. Unfortunatley my health and finances keep me from going back to stay.

    1. I know quite a few black guys having relationships with Filipinas here. The one thing that is somewhat offputting is when you hear the term “ni%%erman” tossed around casually among some Filipinos. First time I heard I was like, “What did you just say?”

  13. Thank you for the website. I have been to the Philippines 3 times. (Manila and Davao twice)
    i’d like to visit Cebu. I am looking for a place to settle down with my girl and have a family. Any suggestions where in Cebu we should look? Any suggestions on other areas to investigate? I am looking to live a simple life. I ‘d like to be in a safe area, good schools, decent public transportation, access to nice beaches, or something green in general. We will be on a fixed income of a monthly budget of no more than 30,000 Pesos in the begging and up to 45,000 once we have kids. Hopefully we will buy a house or buy some land to build a house. So I am not including rent. Thanks in advance for your ideas.

  14. Hi Ned and Michelle
    My girlfriend and I just arrived in Dumaguete today after renting near Toledo in Cebu for 5 months
    We are looking for a place to rent, prefferrably furnished….any tips would be greatly appreciated

  15. love your take on the country I feel it is very balanced and well informed. I love the blogs, i visit Cebu often where my wife lives You and your wife are great orators and interesting. Thanks again.

  16. Kumusta, Ned,
    I have in the past lived in, visited, and generally kept up with the Philippines since the early 1980’s.
    I have been married to a Filipina for over 35 years, and counting so I like to think I know a thing or two about the country and how to get around.
    Love your site so far. Especially like that you don’t try to sugar coat everything.
    There are certain situations that arise for a foreigner in PI that locals don’t know, or can’t express to foreigner’s satisfaction. You seem to have a decent grasp of some of, or even most, of these type of situations.
    One thing I would advise most foreigners is try to learn some Tagalog before you arrive. Most locals do not expect you to understand the language and are pleasantly surprised when they find you do understand the country’s national language. Just don’t announce to anyone and everyone that you do understand the language. It can keep you out of some bad situations if you understand what is being said, without the offending party realizing it.
    Through the years I have visited a number of the different islands. With that being said, I plan on retiring to the island of Palawan in a, relatively, short time frame.
    Keep up the good work.

  17. Ned,
    I wanted to ask your advice on the internet there in the PI. I’m moving to Calapan, Mindoro on December 2. What are my options to in getting the most reliable and fastest speed?

  18. Ned, I’m a beantowner myself. Recently discovered your channel going back several years. Keep up the great work, and continued happiness. BTW, dieting is the toughest thing I’ve done in my life….so hard. ??

    Sam

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