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Filipina Dating

Perry Gamsby, 2009, Streetwise Publications, available in eBook .pdf , 130 pages.

This is the Number 1 best selling book of its kind available for download on the internet today. Since 2004 this book (updated for 2009) has given thousands of men hope and handy hints in their search for a Filipina bride.

Written by Perry Gamsby and his Filipina wife, Amelita, this book makes it very clear that they do not appreciate the term ‘mail order bride’ or MOB. They also go to great lengths to ensure readers are fully aware of the kinds of consequences looking for a partner online can have.

New in the 2009 edition (and available to all previous purchasers of the eBook as a free upgrade) is a fascinating section on the chat cam phenomenon that has changed the online introduction scene in the last few years quite markedly. The book also looks at the repercussions of the IMBRA legislation on US citizens.

If you want word for word templates you can use to write more successful emails, or if you are curious about what to bring when you meet your penpal for the first time, this book covers it. It also has some wise suggestions on safety and success, well worth the US$29.99 asking price.

Visit Filipina Dating for more Info about Finding a Filipina Partner

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Filipina Heart

Perry Gamsby, 2009, Streetwise Publications, available in eBook .pdf , 111 pages.

Filipina 202 takes up where the best selling Filipina 101 left off. This comprehensive guide takes you through the maze of getting married in the Philippines and the often frustrating process of getting her home, ‘migrating your dream Filipina’. The book keeps current by including basic information with the added value of a URL link to the relevant government web sites such as US Immigration.

The book covers the process for US citizens, Canadians, Britons, Australians, New Zealanders and looks briefly at EU regulations. Even for those from other countries but who can read English, there is a wealth of information in the 111 pages. Once again, this StreetWise Guide will save you time, money and headaches.

Visit Filipina Heart for more Info about Marrying A Filipina The Right Decision For You

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Filipina Dreams

Perry Gamsby, 2009, Streetwise Publications, available in eBook .pdf and as a paperback through Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-9806346-3-1 , 295 pages.

This well researched and tastefully written work is a compilation of three separate volumes by Philippines expert, Perry Gamsby. It comprises ‘Filipina 101 – How To Meet The Filipina Of Your Dreams’, Filipina 202 – How To Marry And Migrate Your Dream Filipina’ and the penultimate “Filipina 303 – Making The Magic Last’.

The paperback version is a US Letter size publication that is well laid out and easy to read. All of the url links included in the electronic book of the same title and the three Filipina books it is made up of are included for the reader’s benefit. Although visiting these useful sites (Philippines government, US Immigration and so forth) isn’t as convenient as simply clicking on the hyperlink as you can with the eBook, it does add value to the text and allow the hard copy book to be used in conjunction with the infinite resources offered by the internet.

Although each of the three books that make up ‘Filipina Dreams’ are reviewed separately, having the information from meet to marry to migrate to making it all work in the one book is a very positive thing. It makes this book a reference resource that will be invaluable to anyone looking for a second chance with a Filipina.

At US$49.99 it is exceptional value given the amount of relevant information it contains and the savings in time, money and disappointment it can provide the reader. The original buyer enjoys free updates for the life of the book when purchased in eBook format which might swing a few die hard book lovers across to the newer media.

Visit Filipina Dreams for more Info about Filipina Dating, Filipina Heart, and Filipina Wife

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Philippine Dreams

Perry Gamsby, 2009, Streetwise Publications, available in eBook .pdf and as a paperback through Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-9806346-0-0 , 230 pages.

This is a very interesting book for anyone who is contemplating any involvement with the Philippines, either a vacation or even working or retiring there. It is a bit disjointed in that the first 160 or so pages are an entertaining and often hilarious expose of what life is truly like for foreigners in the Philippines. The second part is more informative with detailed advice on everything from visa’s to domestic helpers, getting work to getting ill and even dying.

The author has had a lot of first hand experience in living in the Philippines and this is obvious as you laugh your way through his attempts to shop, get a driving license or survive the absence of toilet paper in Filipino public restrooms. While there is a very funny chapter on the  local fiesta, there is a more serious side to the book as Perry tells some home truths about ‘mail order brides’, a term he detests by the way.

Overall ‘Philippine Dreams’ is a worthwhile volume to have, either on your hard drive as an ebook or on your shelf as a paperback book. It is informative, updated for 2009 and also a very enjoyable book to read. Formatting and layout is a little amateurish but this does not in any way detract from the invaluable content, which after all is what we buy the book for in the first place.

Visit Philippine Dreams for more Info about Beat Tropical Country

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Philippines Property Primer

Perry Gamsby, 2009, Streetwise Publications, available in eBook .pdf and as a paperback through Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-9806346-5-5, 113 pages.

This has to be one of the most useful books for expats and retirees on the market. It is an excellent first place to look when it comes to getting a good understanding of the Philippines real estate market. The author, Perry Gamsby, makes it clear it is not the be all and end all and that it is, as the name suggests, a primer.

However it is a very comprehensive primer, well written and easy to read as are all of his books and it pulls no punches. Whether you are renting, leasing, buying or selling, this book covers it all for you. There are several common traps explained as well as a good list of what to ask, what to look out for, who pays for what and so on.

There is nothing like your own piece of dirt but in the Philippines foreigners can’t own land. But there are ways around this that are perfectly legal and Gamsby lets you know what they are. This book is comprehensive, well written and up to date and it has the potential to save you a lot of money and misfortune.

Visit Philippine Property Primer for more Info about Investing property in the Philippines

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Making A Living In the Philippines

Perry Gamsby, 2009, Streetwise Publications, available in eBook .pdf and as a paperback through Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-9806346-4-8, 275 pages.

For anyone dreaming of an early retirement or just looking to enjoy the adventure of starting over  in a new culture, the problem of how to keep a roof over your head and food on the table looms large. Not everyone has a water tight retirement package and recent events have shown even that is usually no guarantee of a steady income.

For those who are thinking of getting a job in the Philippines, there is a wealth of first hand information here gathered by the author from his own experiences. Perry Gamsby held several jobs while he lived in the Philippines and he explains what was good and what was bad about them, what you can expect and what to forget about. The job market in the Philippines is very different to what it is back home and the author not only tells you why but how you can turn things to your advantage.

If you are thinking of starting a small business, this book lists the traps and pitfalls as well as suggesting some proven and very viable business models. Again Gamsby draws on his own experience as well as pooled knowledge from expats both successful and misfortunate to give you the best chance at success.

There is a section on investing for those who aren’t exactly a Wall Street high flyer. Gamsby is honest with the reader in that this is not his forte but ‘here is what he does know to be fact’. Added to this there are over 100 helpful url links to provide you with the latest information on a range of income earning related topics. All in all this book is a very worthwhile investment.

Visit Making A Living In the Philippines for more Info about getting a job in the Philippines

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Philippines Survival Handbook

Perry Gamsby, 2009, Streetwise Publications, available in eBook .pdf and as a paperback through Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-9806346-1-7, 240 pages.

I have to say I am very impressed with this offering from Perry Gamsby and his StreetWise Publications. The ‘Philippines Survival Handbook’ is far more than just a guide to safe travel or  a self defense manual for visitors to the Philippines. It takes a very holistic and comprehensive view of personal risk management for visitors to (or residents of) the Philippines.

What I liked most about this book was the fact that all of the advice given comes from expats who have lived there for many years and know first hand the pros and cons. Some of the information in the book is definitely the type I would list under ‘Street Wise’. Things like keeping a low profile and how to hide out over night or leave the country quietly if need be. What would the need be? Well how about dodging a shotgun wedding? I told you this book isn’t like anything else on the shelves and a lot of the advice can be used for anywhere in the world, not just the Philippines specifically.

Gamsby breaks risk down into four areas, Nature, Natural, Man Made Indirect and Man Made Direct and these are well thought out and communicated. He also advises on the anatomy of a crime such as robbery or assault and how to detect it before it even kicks off. But he goes further and addresses often forgotten potential threats such as floods and storms, snake bite or dengue mosquitoes and dangerous bus drivers or unseaworthy ferries.

The former Military Policeman, Bodyguard, PI and self defense instructor has been there and done that for the last 20 years in the Philippines and his real life experience comes through on every page. If I had a (very minor) complaint it would be the ‘Aussie’ style sometimes used which, along with the non-US English spelling does cause the odd pause as your North American reader takes in some of the more colloquial phrases. Other than that, it is a superb addition to the all too slim body of knowledge available that might just save your life one day.

Visit Philippine Survival Handbook for more Info about  Personal Safety

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Bob Martin has been living in the Philippines since 2000 and runs a popular social website about living in the Philippines.  He was constantly getting emails from people wanting to escape the rat race and live in the Philippines.   Most of the questions were about how to find a job which is difficult in the Philippines as it has a very high unemployment rate and relatively low wages.   In response Bob wrote 49 ways to make a living in the Philippines.

Bob has been involved in Internet publishing for a number of years with websites selling products, selling via Ebay, blogs selling information and most recently self publishing information in book and e-book formats.  Bob makes a very comfortable living using the ideas found in his book and now wants to share those ideas so that others can also realize the dream of living in the Philippines.

Many of the ideas in the book do relate to the internet and self-publishing.  Most of the ideas in the book require very little investment.  The few that do involve buying real property or investment in a proven business system with guidance and managerial assistance provide.

One thing 49 ways to make a living in the Philippines will not tell you is how to find employment.  As already stated jobs are not easy to find and the pay is generally so low that most westerns could not survive on the pay anyway.   To learn more about find employment in the Philippines check out Perry’s book How to Make a Living in the Philippines.

What you will not find in Bob’s book are get-rich-quick scams which are common in the Philippines.  The ideas he suggest deal with real-world products and services for making an honest living.

If just one of these ideas works for you then it was a very cheap investment.

If you are very serious about moving to the Philippines and making a living then you should get both Bob’s and Perry’s book.  They are very different –Read the review of Perry’s book  How to Make A Living In the Philippines

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Peters, Jens. 2009, Jens Peters Publications. ISBN 978 3923 8213 27 816 pages

Jens Peters was the original author of the Lonely Planet’s Philippines Guide. I first used his guide back in 1988. I believe there has since been a falling out with Lonely Planet and now Jens publishes his guide through his own publishing house.

He is still a leading authority on travelling around the Philippines and his travel guide has been updated for 2009. While some criticise what it misses, there is no argument what it includes is a considerable amount of practical information. It is over 800 pages and yet no guide can ever cover 100% of the country. Things change too often between editions to even try yet once again Jens has given us a very useable guide book.

Where I think some critics fall down is that they misinterpret the word ‘guide’ as ‘gospel’. All travel guides are just that, guides and not definitive works. On that basis, Jens Peter’s Philippines Travel Guide is one of the best available. When you also remember he lives in the Philippines full time and has to do all the updating and research pretty much by himself it is all the more of an achievement

More>>

Philippines Travel Guide

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