Why Retire in the Philippines/Marinduque Vacations: It's Summertime Here in Northern California

Planning to Retire Soon!

If you are planning to retire in the Philippines soon, I suggest you visit several excellent websites on pro's and cons of retiring in the Philippines. However if you want to retire in the provinces, where life is simple, standard of living cheaper, less traffic congestion and pollution, availability of fresh seafood and vegetables compared to the big cities, my island province is the place for you! If this is your first time in my site, welcome. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on the infringement of your copyrights. The photo above is the front yard of Chateau Du Mer- Our Retirement Home in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

Friday, May 16, 2014

It's Summertime Here in Northern California

Summer has started this week in Northern California. Yesterday's high was in the mid 90's. Today it is also around 95 F and my central air con unit has started to hum vigorously. This reminded me of last week heat and humidity in Metro Manila. However, because of the low humidity here in the Sacramento area, mid 90's is not as uncomfortable if you stay in the shade. Mid 90's in the Philippines with the high humidity feels like you are in the "Gates of Hell". Mid 90's here in Sacramento is not as bad if you compare it to the mid 90's in Marinduque, Philippines.

The weather experts predicted last week that today should have been a 3-digit temperature day, but so far it is only in the mid-90's which is good for my energy and air conditioning consumption bills. The last couple of days, my son has been cleaning, vacuuming and adding chlorine and algicide to the pool. The water looks as inviting as seen in the photo above.

Going back to my previous experiences of spending summer in the Philippines ( month of April and May specifically): I often wondered how was I able to tolerate such unpleasant climate for 24 years of my life. That whole 24 years of my life I called the Philippines home. However, the next 55 years I am calling the United States home. But as the saying goes Home is not a place but in the Heart. Today my wife and I call Marinduque, HOME for only about 3 months and the US home for the rest of the year.

We spent our Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Valentines Day and Mothers Day here in the US last year and this year. It was only the Holy Week and Easter Holidays this year that we were in Marinduque. But we love the Philippines and US equally. It is only during the summer season in the Philippines when the heat and humidity makes me swear not to set put on Philippines soil ever again.

I have two favorite photos that I took here in US celebrating Valentine's and Mother's Day as follows:

Miniature Orchid -Mother's day gift of Ditas and Carenna

My 2014 Valentine Gift to Macrine

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Fruit Trees in the Gardens of Chateau Du Mer

The Mango Tree-I have three varieties in my Garden-The Indian, Guimaras and Carabao Mangoes My caretaker/gardener informed me last month that due to the El Nino drought in Marinduque, two of my Durian trees died in spite of his vigilant watering. One of the tree was attacked by insects that looks like a big fly but yellowish in color that sucks the sap of the seedling. The roots of the other tree was attacked by ants residing in the soil. However, my other fruit trees, the rambutans( 2), the lanzones(2) and the jack fruits ( 2) trees are doing well. The above eight fruit trees were given to me by Retired General Recaredo Sarmiento of Boac and Lucena., about three years ago. General Sarmiento is the “atid” of my wife. “Atid” is the colloquial term for brother. Evidently, Macrine's father, the late Bernardo Jambalos was the Godfather of General Sarmiento during his baptism and comfirmation. Gen Sarmiento's hobby is orchard planting, reforestation and farming. The other fruit trees in my garden are guayabanos, cashew, avocados, starapples, duhats, ates, guavas, mangoes( 3 varieties) and papayas as well as several varieties of bananas . Of the above fruit trees, my favorite is the guayabanos, also known as soursop tree known for its anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties . The following are photos of the fruit trees. The Durian photo is from the web. Note that it almost look like a jack fruit tree, except that the leaves are bigger and shiny. My desire is to have a passion fruit tree in the near future. You are welcome to visit my orchard and flower gardens any time, if perchance you are in the vicinity of The Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center.

The Rambutan Tree and Fruits

The Lanzone Tree and Fruits

The Jack Fruit Tree

The Durian Fruit Tree