Topics that will be addressed as I progress with this site.

Coming soon

The following is a list of topics that I am writing about and each will be delivered as I complete them.

Airlines in the Philippines
Real estate - Buying a home
Canadian Embassy
Clark Air Base
Cost of living - actual cost 2010
Expat associations
Getting a Phils driver's license
Dining out
Entertainment (other than bars)
Filipino foods
Finding a girlfriend
Getting married
Hotels
Hospitals and insurance
Immigration
Maps of Philippines and Angeles City
Personnal and residential safety and security
Renting an apartment
Shopping 
Transportation
Travel
Weather
Any other topics suggested or that I think of

Opening a bank account in Angeles or Clark

Opening a bank account in Angeles City can be time consuming like many other things we do here in the Philippines. Probably the best ID to open a bank account is the new ACR-I ID card or Alien Certificate of Registration

In the Philippines as in any other country opening a bank account can be difficult. The bank will require several documents to ensure you are who you say you are. But opening an account as a non citizen, non-resident is doable even without the ACR-I. After visiting several banks to learn of their requirements I opted for the Bank of Philippines Island - BPI as the staff I met were more helpful and interested than those in other banks. The bank location was also very convenient for me. Of course if you have lots of money to deposit just see the manager of any bank and things will usually get facilitated.

Another easy method to open a bank account is to ask one of your friends who is well known and connected to a bank manager, that and your passport is usually all you need. To open my account I was asked to provide copies of 2 pieces of ID, in my case my Passport and a Philippines driver's license. The bank also wanted copies of my long term lease and recent utility bills. I had those so within a week I had my bank account and automated teller bank card. My choice was to open a peso account but depending on the bank you can open an account in Canadian or US dollars. I suppose some banks would also handle just about any currency?

The only inconvenient aspect of banking here is that depositing money is only possible in a few selected teller machines so you generally need to walk in to your bank to make a deposit. On the other hand would I want to deposit in a teller machine here. I'm not sure about that.

Driving in Angeles City

When I first arrived in Angeles City and I saw the driving situation I immediately decided that I would never drive here. Driving is not perfect in North America and there is a fair amount of road rage but some attempt is made to control the flow of traffic and enforce the traffic laws. Here it is general chaos until you get used to it.
There are few traffic lights, stop signs and directional signage so you are pretty well on your own. Driving practices range from defensive driving, outright offensive driving and blind driving.

After about three months of using trikes, jeepneys and taxis I convinced myself to rent a small motorcycle to facilitate getting around. I had never driven a motorcycle before and I will never again. During the short two weeks with a motorcycle I was involved in two accidents, both of which left me with scars, bruises as well as long term pain. In both cases my total lack of coordination on a motorcycle were to blame. Back to traveling by trikes, jeepneys or by foot. I must mention that there are many foreigners who drive motorcycles and they seem to blend right in with the locals.

One year later I moved to a gated community located away from Fields, the restaurants and the SM Mall. By necessity I reconsidered driving. This time I bought an old "owner type jeep" that looks more like a tank than a jeep. Well I have been driving this vehicle for over two years and I am quite confident driving in the general chaos that exists here. When in Rome do as the Romans and you can survive. Once you have an idea of what others are doing it is doable. I still have a few problems with the motorcycles passing on the right and on sidewalks, the lack of working headlights, brake lights and signal lights on vehicles, the jeepneys stopping anywhere they feel like it, the pedestrians who don't look before they cross the street, the kids playing everywhere and anywhere, the drunk drivers, the people walking in the middle of the road, the dangerous passing practices, the non respect of the few stop signs, and those traffic police officers who like to pick on foreigners.  As you can see I have adapted well. I even have an almost perfect driving record. As long as you are a calm driver you will do ok. Good luck to future drivers.

Living in Angeles City

Angeles City in the eyes of a North American.

I am a Canadian who has been living in Angeles City for almost 4 years.
My goal is to write posts concerning all aspects of Angeles, Balibago, Pampanga and/or the Philippines in general.

After visiting many other areas of the Philippines my choice has been to remain in Angeles City although I do have a preference for Cebu. 

Life in the Philippines is quite different from living in Canada or the United States and it can take some time to get used to the culture and traditions that exist in the Philippines. Fortunately almost everyone speaks some English and most businesses advertise in English. There are several dialects in the Philippines and although I have tried to learn some Tagalog I have not been too successful at it, probably because I can get by with English, I'm lazy or too old to learn! But if you want to communicate freely and understand what Filipinos are saying learning their language is certainly an asset and is sure to please.