Tag: Philippines

  • Aussies stranded overseas by pandemic

    Aussies stranded overseas by pandemic

  • The future of Manila by Carlos Celdran

    The future of Manila by Carlos Celdran

    Back in November 2009 we went on a memorable walking tour of Intramuros, the ancient walled city of Manila. Our host was the legendary Carlos Celdran. In this TEDx video Carlos talks passionately about what Manila means to him. For full details you can check out the TEDx web site: http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/The-Future-of-Manila-Carlos-Cel  

  • Natural disaster risks in the Philippines

    Natural disaster risks in the Philippines

    The Philippines is listed as the third most at-risk country for natural disasters in the WorldRiskIndex  2012 report prepared by the University Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn (UNU-EHS) . The top two are Vanuatu and Tonga. The WorldRiskIndex  report addresses the following questions: How probable is an extreme natural event, and will it…

  • Anecdotal evidence?

    Anecdotal evidence?

    The plural of anecdote is not evidence. Anecdotes are unreliable for all sorts of reasons as discussed in The Role of Anecdotes in Science-Based Medicine. However beliefs about cause and effect are rife in our society. Many of the health-related ones became planted in the minds of our parents and grandparents at a time when medicine…

  • Back from the Philippines

    We’ve just returned from a one-month holiday in the Philippines. We didn’t plan to be away that long, but as retirees we can go with the flow these days.

  • Wally Tapia’s 70th Birthday

    Wally Tapia’s 70th Birthday

    A 70th birthday is certainly one of life’s milestone events and Tinet had long been planning a big party for her husband Wally Tapia in Davao. Their two children living in Sydney, Niña and our son-in-law Carlo (along with his tribe) had booked tickets ages ago for a surprise visit. Then the surprise started to gather momentum.…

  • Guide extraordinaire Carlos Celdran shows us Intramuros, the ancient walled city of Manila

    Guide extraordinaire Carlos Celdran shows us Intramuros, the ancient walled city of Manila

    Let me say first up, I don’t like Manila. It is too big, too dirty, has too many people, the roads are hopelessly clogged and there are no visible signs of road rules. There is an astonishing gulf between the rich and the poor. It is largely in a state of decay due to shoddy construction…

  • Holiday to Davao

    Holiday to Davao

    We arrive in Davao (click for map) about 6am after a long trip via Hong Kong and Cebu. Jo and Baby are there waiting. They drop us off at Ken’s hotel for breakfast. On our last trip Ken was just completing his new project, the Viajeros Economy Inn, and it’s now well and truly complete…