Introduction

Mark and Emelie

My name is Mark Schroeder. I am an American living in the Philippines with my Filipina wife, Emelie. We have a pig, two part-time kids (Emelie's nephews stay with us on the weekends), a motor scooter and an internet cafe business.

We live in the small town of Ginatilan, in the Province of Cebu. Though my wife still has a house in the mountains, we rent a tiny house just north of the downtown area, across the road from the ocean. The patch of ocean we call ours is a fish sanctuary in Tanon Strait, the body of water between Cebu Island and Negros Island, about 10 miles east of us.

I first came to Ginatilan in May of 2007. I have a good friend who is Filipina. When she and her husband decided to come here to visit her family, she called me and asked if I would join them. I did, and my life has changed drastically since that time.

I have fallen in love a thousand times here: with my wife, the tropical weather, the forests and the mountains, the beautiful blue and green sea, the balmy weather, the lifestyle, the food, and with the people of this island paradise 10 degrees above the equator.

Evening in Paradise

Swim, Play, Dream

A few months ago, I started writing a diary with the intention of preserving memories. This blog is the result of my desire to share those memories.

I don't write every day. Writing about life takes a backseat to living it and some days are so full of living, I'm too pooped to put it into print at the end of the day.  It's okay. There's no agenda; no deadline. I'm retired from everything but living an enjoyable life.

If you like my blog, please pass it on.

Daghang salamat kaayo!