Ardy Sanchez

Ardy is our driver whose services are provided by Lexmark. But he is much more than that. He has been with us since the first night we arrived in Cebu. He is a trusted companion. He goes above and beyond the call of duty to help us in many ways. Some of the extras besides his expert driving skills (which it takes expert skills to drive in Cebu) include but are not limited to: getting water bottle refills (5 gallons), petrol gas tank refills, paying our bills, walking Pedro, and much more.

Carbon Market

Carbon market in downtown Cebu City is the oldest and largest farmer's market and a must see. It is a wonderful place to buy literally anything from fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, flowers, handmade crafts, live poultry, etc. It's a great place to go with friends!

Exploring the Archipelago of 7107 Islands

Bohol and Panglao Islands
We have visited several of the 7,107 Philippine islands. We went to Bohol and Panglao islands in March, July, September, and November 2015. Highlights of the trips included: staying at the beautiful Bellevue hotel resort on Panglao Island, tour of the island which included: Sagbayan Peak overlooking the chocolate hills (220 steps up to peak) and the butterfly dome and tarsier conservatory there, Habitat Bohol butterfly conservatory, Loboc man-made mahogany forest (planted by college student volunteers), another tarsier conservatory, St. Peter's church in Loboc (which was heavily damaged from earthquake in 10/2013), a river cruise floating restaurant, the Spanish Philippine Blood Pact memorial and Bohol Bee Farm. In July we toured the island for the day with Rebecca and Jay. In September we stayed at the Amerela Resort on Panglao Island with cousin Ray and Evelyn. In November we stayed at the Bohol Beach Club on Panglao Island with Jan and Sid. See pictures below.
Malapascua Island
In May 2015 we visited the island of Malapascua. We drove up the east side of Cebu to the northern tip of the island (2 1/2 hour drive) and took a 30-minute boat ride across to the island. Jeff went on a deep (90 feet) dive to a sunken island off the coast where he saw the thresher sharks and we both snorkeled right off the beach. We stayed at Ocean Vida which has a very nice beach. See pictures below.
Camotes Island
We visited Camotes Island for our wedding anniversary in January 2016. See first picture below. We drove an hour Northeast to Danao city and took a two-hour slow ferry. We stayed at the Mangoglong Paradise Beach Resort. See picture below.

Malapascua Island May 2015

Malapascua Island May 2015

Bohol/Panglao Island March 2015

Bohol Island 2015

Camotes Island January 2016

Albert Schweitzer Children's Haven

FoodSharesCebu
My friend Lara Magnusdottir from California (originally from Iceland) and I are involved in an organization which she (Lara) started called "FoodsharesCebu". We have help to form an agreement between a resort on Mactan Island, the Shangri-La, and the Albert Schweitzer Children's Haven orphanage in which leftover food will be frozen and transported to this orphanage weekly. This orphanage is also on Mactan Island, located 8 miles from the Shangri-La. Mactan Island is accessible by 2 bridges to Cebu. In fact, Mactan Island is where the airport is located for Cebu Island. This orphanage is budgeted for 100,000 pesos per month for the 68 children who range from 1 year to teenaged. This translates to $33 USD per child per month, so one dollar a day to feed each child! Hopefully, more resorts with agree to donate food to the other orphanages. That is our goal! See pics of the orphanage below. 
New Plan 2016
My friend Linda and I visited Albert Schweitzer Children's Haven in January 2016 to follow up on the Food Shares Cebu donations since Lara moved back to the US. The person at Albert Schweitzer was different than the lady we talked to before and did not know of FoodsharesCebu and said they have not received any donations from Shangri-La. The Shangri-La Resort has changed management. I do have some exciting/hopeful news. My visit to the Albert Schweitzer orphanage was also to scope out service opportunities for the American Chamber. The lady I spoke to at Albert Schweitzer wants to start a garden there. She has already had an architect draw up plans and will email me the plans. This is a perfect project for several reasons: AmCham is looking for a sustainable project; the orphanage could have fresh vegetables; children could learn about gardening; and the green space would be more aesthetic than all of the concrete rubble. So once I get the plans, hopefully AmCham will provide funding and perhaps some friends can donate their gardeners to install. 

Albert Schweitzer Children's Haven 2015

Albert Schweitzer Children's Haven 2015

Albert Schweitzer Children's Haven January 2016

Customized Bamboo Furniture Made To Order

My friend Lara and I found a place on the side of the road (with help from my driver Ardy) that makes bamboo furniture. She ordered a table and 6 chairs that cost $65 USD. I ordered 2 TV stands of different sizes, 1200 and 1500 pesos ($27 and $34 USD).  I also ordered and 18 foot ladder for 700 pesos ($15 USD) and a bookshelf for 2500 pesos ($56 USD).  I also had bamboo headboards made for my twin beds. Later I purchased a new dining room table and Lara gave me her table and chairs when she moved back to the US. Beautiful furniture that is made to last! See pictures below.

Che Che Bolcalso

In the Philippines, it is more common than not to have a house helper that could be a live-in helper or someone who comes during the day. Houses are built with helper quarters which include a bedroom, bathroom, laundry room and "dirty kitchen". We moved into our new house on Sat. 1/31 and found a helper Che Che recommended by an expat friend. It is expected that the helper cooks for the staff and us as well as cleaning and laundry (grocery shopping too). We have a driver (Ardy) and security guards (Danny, Egan, Nito) all provided by Lexmark and a gardener/handyman (Edgar). So she cooks meals for all of them during the week. She works Monday through Friday 8-5. And if you want to share recipes with friends you send your helper over to teach your friend's helper to cook the dish and vice-versa. Pretty nifty eh? Any how many of you remember using a clothesline?

Che Che in the "dirty kitchen"/laundry room

Barbette Lominoque

Barbette Lominoque is our relocation specialist (Accurate Relocation Co.) here in Cebu. She helped us initially find our house back in Sept. 2014 and when we moved here in Jan. 2015, she helped us in many other ways such as: finding furniture and setting up house services such as cable, internet, gas, water, electric. She also helped us interview house helpers. We love her!

Fish Port and Wet Market

Yesterday, I visited the wet market with Ardy (driver provided by Lexmark) and Che Che (house helper). A wet market is called such because it is where fresh raw food is sold which requires frequent washing so the floor is alway wet (and in this case "fishy" too so don't wear good shoes). This market is in Mandaue City just slightly north of Cebu City. The fish is brought in at 1 am daily and unloaded at 2 am in the market place (straight from the Philippine Sea). They also have lots of fresh vegetables, fruits and everything needed for cooking such as fresh salt, palm oil, vinegar, homemade condiments like ketchup. Why shop anywhere else? See pics.

Simala Shrine in Sibonga, Cebu known as Cebu's Castle Church

Churches in Cebu

We have attended two Protestant churches: an independent Christian Church (Living Word) and United Church of Christ (Bradford). I am living in a society/culture that is over 80% Catholic and have worshipped at several Catholic churches here including: Adoration Convent of Divine Peace, Basilica del Santo Niño and Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. I'm drawn to the beauty and formality of worship at the Catholic Churches. Having grown up in the Disciples of Christ Church, I find that our practices of worship have many similarities.

Edgar Peñaroyo gardener and handyman

Week 4

I met a friend, Lara, who moved here with her husband, 13-year-old son and dog from California. Lara is originally from Iceland. They were staying temporarily like us in Sophia Suites and found a house in Silver Hills. Lara's husband Tim is working for Lutheran Ministries for Typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) relief in in Tacloban. This typhoon struck in November 2013 during the time Jeff was in Cebu for a business trip. Lara and her family will be here for about one year. Want to hear something cool? There are kids from other countries here in Cebu who go to an international school, Cebu International School (CIS). They are doing a school project and building boats and painting them to look like school buses. You know why? Because there are kids who have to swim 1.5 kilometers from other islands to go to school here! So the kids from other countries are building boats for the Filipino kids so they don't have to swim to school.The kids who swim here to school put all their school supplies and dry clothes in a plastic bag when they swim over in the mornings. Can you imagine having to swim in the sea to get to school? http://yellowboat.org/