I'm enjoying you videos very much, I love your home you have done a beautiful job. I too am a 100 % disabled, P&T combat veteran. After three years of video chats with my Philippina in Manilla. I also signed up for the foreign medical program and was able to get every conceivable vacanation and all dental work completed and the pharmacy gave me a three month supply of all medications. Hope to meet you in person some day.
Thanks Sir Robert! Really appreciate you service Brother. Super glad to hear that FMP is working for you. Would be an honor to meet up some day. Reach out to me on Messenger "Rick Baker" and I bet we can make it happen. Always good to have a cup of coffee with a Veteran!
The garden looks great . We will be waiting for the next updates. It was great to meet the three of you. We will be looking forward to our next visit next year.
Ricky! So glad to see you back. The garden is really producing (pun intended)! It was just a dirt lot when last I saw it. And of course the pool looks so inviting. I am sure you two take full advantage. Yes, you are so right... Differing views on politics, and pretty much all topics, are being met with ridicule and divisiveness. It is a shame we have devolved to this. I am hopeful, though, for a brighter future.
Hey Brother Scott! Always good to hear from you sir. Good to be back, had a lot of talking built up inside that I needed to let out . Yes, the pool is super comfortable, especially on these 100+ Fahrenheit days. Really enjoying all the vegetables and fruit that our little farm is producing. Nothing better than fresh fixings! Yep, crazy happenings back home. Hoping you are right about that brighter future. We need it sooner than later.
I find it best to eat once a day and never eat past 5:00 PM. Being a diabetic, one sugar spike a day is enough and insulin twice a day to try to control it.
I can see how that would benefit you with diabetes. I am finding it helpful with the GERD to just eat a late lunch and skip dinner. As much as I love to eat, the crazy palpitations were just to much .
It's funny Michael, I am actually a very private person, but my mouth just seems to not have a shut off valve when I have that GoPro camera in front of me .
Rick glad to here you are ok. Have you got your net metering installed yet. I am trying to get solar for my home with the same company that did your solar and did they apply for your net metering. I have watched your videos on your solar and may have missed that part. I am looking forward to a update on your solar and did you get more batteries yet. Thank you for your videos
Hey Mike! LES said they were happy to assist me with the Net Metering when I got ready to do it. I just haven't talked myself into going through the bureaucracy yet . Some day, maybe. I was planning on doing a One Year With Solar when the time comes. The system is doing great and I am saving up to get another 200ah battery. We seem to be doing fine without it, but hope to add another A/C in the future and we will definitely need it then. Thanks for watching Sir!
I've fallen behind on my favorite UA-camr's...It's this thing called work! A 4 letter word if there ever was one...lol Your garden is looking fantastic. The tomatoes and lettuce look ready for some Paul Newman's dressing. We'll be seeing you in about 5 weeks. Rosemarie and I are really looking forward to it!
Hey brother! I was there, at work that is, for 33+ years so I can relate. Yep, the garden has far surpassed my initial expectations. Doesn't hurt that I have a master Gardner working for us. I just bring her the seeds and she makes them grow! I remember that few weeks before leaving Texas to come here to see Jenn was the longest 3 weeks of my life. Every single time . But it will pass and then you'll climb aboard the plane and ask, why am I flying 20+ hours, then there is the jet lag, and then you realize you aren't at work and you can enjoy everything the PI has to offer with someone you Love! Hang in there!
I get a little confused when you talk about Tricare and VA stuff. VA I pretty much understand, I'm 40% myself but rarely have used VA care for my coverage. When you talk about being Tricare eligible at 60 you lose me. I retired in 1994 and I've been on Tricare ever since. I turn 65 this year so the great forced Medicare Monster is soon upon me. Here in the Philippines I have switched to the Tricare Overseas Program. Honestly, I have not availed myself to any of the reimbursement entitlements yet so I'm not sure how well that's going to work. Frankly i don't look forward to the headaches of all that. Here in Bacolod, I have been paying 100% out of pocket. No surprises, no delays, excellent care and no paperwork stress (for medical anyways). Blood clots removed, kidney removed, prostate roto-rootered, all out of pocket. Well satisfied with life here and always enjoy your videos and point of view. And very appreciative of that nugget of wisdom you gave me about the 13a affidavits, still finishing that up. Garden looks great. What about plumbing in a couple connections after your pressure tank but before the filter system for garden water? I'm on city water, but still have a full filter system. For yard and garden I have a spigot between the water source and my filter setup. Works great! Keep the vis coming.
Hey Michael, always good to hear from you Brother! Yep, it confuses me sometimes also. The difference between you and I, and I should have mentioned this so it wouldn't confuse folks, is that you retired from Active Duty which affords you Tricare immediately after you retire. Although I have many years of active duty service, my retirement at 33 years came as a Reservist. And since I was not 60 when I hung it up, I am what they refer to as a Grey Area Retiree. So, not healthcare accept the VA for service connected, Tricare at 60 and as you said, Medicare at 65. Hope that clears it up sir. It sounds like the local healthcare system in Bacolod is working for you though. What could benefit you would be if any of the docs you see will file with Tricare overseas. Medicare wany be of any help to you unless you go back stateside for your care. I could easily just put a faucet right at the well pump since it is right next to the garden, but it takes so much water for our garden, that it does have an impact on the house pressure. It looks like I will be digging a second well with an agricultural flow rate that we will garden with and use for pool water as well. That will relieve a lot of usage on my house well and should put us in a good place all the way around.
@@rickbaker0217 Thanks for the clarification. I was unaware reserve duty got hit like that. Sounds like you have garden watering solution nailed. I hadn't thought about the scale of your need. My lil veggie patch is happy with the single spigot I plumbed in ahead of the filter system. That garden (mini-farm?) really does make me jealous. Looks great.
Hi Rick We are glad you are doing ok after your medical procedures. I must admit when I saw you on the hospital gurney I was worried….. We look forward on your truck update, I think I may have mentioned that I got a small dent in mine about the size and height of a handle bar….hmmm I wonder who hit me. Also you are 100% accurate about driving here! Anyway great Video….I totally agree with you comments about being able to talk with differing opinions. The US has changed so much, so divisive now :( Still hoping to meet one day, maybe I can meet you in San Jose and load up some soil with you
Appreciate the thoughts Kevin. I am headed in a better direction now on the GERD. Sorry to hear about the handle bar dent Brother. It's tough keeping things looking new here when you have scooters, tricycles and bicycles riding right up beside you almost every minute of any drive. It's nuts how quickly our beloved country has changed. Never thought I would see such craziness in my lifetime. Absolutely on the meet up. You know how to reach me. Just let me know time and place and we can make it happen!
Glad to hear you're okay. Regarding the reflux problems you have, did you ever try to put blocks under the head end of your bed, about 10 to 15 cm high? Just a suggestion. Thank you for the LES solar recommendation if everything goes well they'll start installing our solar panels 10 April. Keep well! Edit: maybe you think my remark about the bed is just in jest, it is not. Because of the inclination of the bed in a lot of cases the reflux is blocked. In a signifact amount of cases the patient no longer needs medication.
Jan, yes, have tried it and even went as far as buying an adjustable bed, didn't help with my GERD though. I have some super powerful stomach acid and the flap between the stomach and esophagus is super weak. The meds have been the only thing that have helped these past 30+ years. Just hate to put chemicals in my body, but in this case, the alternative is worse. Appreciate the advise though. Thanks for watching!
Hey Rick, Thanks for the info. Sure won’t get any in the states. Have a question maybe you can find the answer.? If my VA Ins benefits end at 65 and Medicare takes over, what will we do in the Philippines..? Medicare will not cover us overseas… Anything you can come up with would be appreciated… 🙂
Hey Michael! If you are service connected through the VA, you won't loose that ever. You will always be able to use FMP for any service connected medical care you need. Tricare for life simply becomes your secondary insurance to Medicare, which you are correct, does you no good here. What I am not sure of, is if Tricare for Life has overseas coverage like regular Tricare. That is something I will have to research. You can of course, always hop over to Guam or Hawaii after 65 if you needed to use the Medicare for any reason. Hope that's semi sort of clear Brother!
@@edwardlawler9487 can’t recall a specific name. I’ve read various websites and watched several videos about expats moving/living in PI. It may have been a video from last year comparing costs PI vs Thailand retirement. My wife (of 31+years) owns three 200MSq adjacent properties in Bulacan and currently looking to sell to buy other land/home in PI.
@@macgeek2112 I pay for Cigna insurance international covers everything and cost me $97 a year just for myself. I do have Tricare and Va but I use it as secondary
Honestly sir, I haven't looked into private health insurance here so I can't really say. It sounds like Ed has some first hand knowledge though. Hope you can find what you need. I do know there are many available here, so I would think you should be able to find something in your budget that can meet your needs.
I was a hospital superintendent for the Air Force in my last three years of service, so I am super aware and super thankful for those that have made it their mission to heal others!
I have the same thing (GERD), and the medicine they prescribed me doesn't work as good as Prilosec. Is there a place to get these same OTC meds that we get in the states?
Joshua, you can find some of the OTC meds at S&R, which is owned by Sam's Club, but you will pay a pretty hefty price for them. I would advise you load up on your OTC's if they work well for you, because finding them in the PI can be super challenging.
Have yet to meet a doctor in the Philippines that will provide you with an appointment. Typically you show up early, get your name on a queuing list and wait for, often times, hours to be seen.
I'm enjoying you videos very much, I love your home you have done a beautiful job.
I too am a 100 % disabled, P&T combat veteran. After three years of video chats with my Philippina in Manilla.
I also signed up for the foreign medical program and was able to get every conceivable vacanation and all dental work completed and the pharmacy gave me a three month supply of all medications.
Hope to meet you in person some day.
Thanks Sir Robert! Really appreciate you service Brother. Super glad to hear that FMP is working for you. Would be an honor to meet up some day. Reach out to me on Messenger "Rick Baker" and I bet we can make it happen. Always good to have a cup of coffee with a Veteran!
Can a veteran sign up WHILE already in PH. Or.... Must sign up from state side?
The garden looks great . We will be waiting for the next updates.
It was great to meet the three of you. We will be looking forward to our next visit next year.
Thanks Dylan and yes, good fellowship with you both. So glad we made it happen and look forward to our next!
Great to hear all your care fell into place and you came out the other end okay!
Agreed Richard! Always best to make it out in one piece! Thanks for watching sir!
Good stuff Rick. Look forward to your future VLOGS. 24 years Air Force!!!!
Thanks for your service Warren! Appreciate you watching Brother!
@@rickbaker0217 Thank you for your 33 years of dedication to our country. Stay well my Brother.
Good to hear you are doing well. Place is looking good! Looking forward-to the upcoming videos.
Hey Barry, always good to hear from you sir! Thanks for the kind words!
Nice seeing you my friend and the home and property look fantastic. Great conversation especially how you ended the vlog. Very well spoken.
Always good to hear from you sir! Thanks, we are getting there, slowly but surely. Appreciate your kind words.
Ricky! So glad to see you back. The garden is really producing (pun intended)! It was just a dirt lot when last I saw it. And of course the pool looks so inviting. I am sure you two take full advantage. Yes, you are so right... Differing views on politics, and pretty much all topics, are being met with ridicule and divisiveness. It is a shame we have devolved to this. I am hopeful, though, for a brighter future.
Hey Brother Scott! Always good to hear from you sir. Good to be back, had a lot of talking built up inside that I needed to let out . Yes, the pool is super comfortable, especially on these 100+ Fahrenheit days. Really enjoying all the vegetables and fruit that our little farm is producing. Nothing better than fresh fixings! Yep, crazy happenings back home. Hoping you are right about that brighter future. We need it sooner than later.
I find it best to eat once a day and never eat past 5:00 PM. Being a diabetic, one sugar spike a day is enough and insulin twice a day to try to control it.
I can see how that would benefit you with diabetes. I am finding it helpful with the GERD to just eat a late lunch and skip dinner. As much as I love to eat, the crazy palpitations were just to much .
Mr. Rick, thanks for sharing your life stories, very enjoyable. I have been on Omeprazole for years. I wish you well, in the Philippines ♥
It's funny Michael, I am actually a very private person, but my mouth just seems to not have a shut off valve when I have that GoPro camera in front of me .
Rick glad to here you are ok. Have you got your net metering installed yet. I am trying to get solar for my home with the same company that did your solar and did they apply for your net metering. I have watched your videos on your solar and may have missed that part. I am looking forward to a update on your solar and did you get more batteries yet. Thank you for your videos
Hey Mike! LES said they were happy to assist me with the Net Metering when I got ready to do it. I just haven't talked myself into going through the bureaucracy yet . Some day, maybe. I was planning on doing a One Year With Solar when the time comes. The system is doing great and I am saving up to get another 200ah battery. We seem to be doing fine without it, but hope to add another A/C in the future and we will definitely need it then. Thanks for watching Sir!
Good to hear everything went well with the procedure, Rick. Have the same issue, and it is no fun! Keep up the great videos!
Thanks Brother Mark! Yep, wouldn't wish this stuff on my worst enemy. Hope all is well with you sir!
Thanks for sharing
My pleasure sir! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the Vid, Good info
Always a pleasure and thank you for watching!
Beautiful property🎉 gardening for food makes me wake up early in the morning in the Philippines. Good luck
Early morning is always the best time in the Philippines. So quiet, cool temps and just down right peaceful! Thanks for watching!
Been watching you for a while, hoping to visit you in the near future. Thanks for your respond the other day.
Let us know if you are ever up this way, always enjoy meeting subscribers brother!
I've fallen behind on my favorite UA-camr's...It's this thing called work! A 4 letter word if there ever was one...lol
Your garden is looking fantastic. The tomatoes and lettuce look ready for some Paul Newman's dressing.
We'll be seeing you in about 5 weeks. Rosemarie and I are really looking forward to it!
Hey brother! I was there, at work that is, for 33+ years so I can relate. Yep, the garden has far surpassed my initial expectations. Doesn't hurt that I have a master Gardner working for us. I just bring her the seeds and she makes them grow! I remember that few weeks before leaving Texas to come here to see Jenn was the longest 3 weeks of my life. Every single time . But it will pass and then you'll climb aboard the plane and ask, why am I flying 20+ hours, then there is the jet lag, and then you realize you aren't at work and you can enjoy everything the PI has to offer with someone you Love! Hang in there!
I get a little confused when you talk about Tricare and VA stuff. VA I pretty much understand, I'm 40% myself but rarely have used VA care for my coverage. When you talk about being Tricare eligible at 60 you lose me. I retired in 1994 and I've been on Tricare ever since. I turn 65 this year so the great forced Medicare Monster is soon upon me. Here in the Philippines I have switched to the Tricare Overseas Program. Honestly, I have not availed myself to any of the reimbursement entitlements yet so I'm not sure how well that's going to work. Frankly i don't look forward to the headaches of all that. Here in Bacolod, I have been paying 100% out of pocket. No surprises, no delays, excellent care and no paperwork stress (for medical anyways). Blood clots removed, kidney removed, prostate roto-rootered, all out of pocket. Well satisfied with life here and always enjoy your videos and point of view. And very appreciative of that nugget of wisdom you gave me about the 13a affidavits, still finishing that up. Garden looks great. What about plumbing in a couple connections after your pressure tank but before the filter system for garden water? I'm on city water, but still have a full filter system. For yard and garden I have a spigot between the water source and my filter setup. Works great! Keep the vis coming.
Hey Michael, always good to hear from you Brother! Yep, it confuses me sometimes also. The difference between you and I, and I should have mentioned this so it wouldn't confuse folks, is that you retired from Active Duty which affords you Tricare immediately after you retire. Although I have many years of active duty service, my retirement at 33 years came as a Reservist. And since I was not 60 when I hung it up, I am what they refer to as a Grey Area Retiree. So, not healthcare accept the VA for service connected, Tricare at 60 and as you said, Medicare at 65. Hope that clears it up sir. It sounds like the local healthcare system in Bacolod is working for you though. What could benefit you would be if any of the docs you see will file with Tricare overseas. Medicare wany be of any help to you unless you go back stateside for your care. I could easily just put a faucet right at the well pump since it is right next to the garden, but it takes so much water for our garden, that it does have an impact on the house pressure. It looks like I will be digging a second well with an agricultural flow rate that we will garden with and use for pool water as well. That will relieve a lot of usage on my house well and should put us in a good place all the way around.
@@rickbaker0217 Thanks for the clarification. I was unaware reserve duty got hit like that. Sounds like you have garden watering solution nailed. I hadn't thought about the scale of your need. My lil veggie patch is happy with the single spigot I plumbed in ahead of the filter system. That garden (mini-farm?) really does make me jealous. Looks great.
Hi Rick
We are glad you are doing ok after your medical procedures. I must admit when I saw you on the hospital gurney I was worried…..
We look forward on your truck update, I think I may have mentioned that I got a small dent in mine about the size and height of a handle bar….hmmm I wonder who hit me. Also you are 100% accurate about driving here!
Anyway great Video….I totally agree with you comments about being able to talk with differing opinions. The US has changed so much, so divisive now :(
Still hoping to meet one day, maybe I can meet you in San Jose and load up some soil with you
Appreciate the thoughts Kevin. I am headed in a better direction now on the GERD. Sorry to hear about the handle bar dent Brother. It's tough keeping things looking new here when you have scooters, tricycles and bicycles riding right up beside you almost every minute of any drive. It's nuts how quickly our beloved country has changed. Never thought I would see such craziness in my lifetime. Absolutely on the meet up. You know how to reach me. Just let me know time and place and we can make it happen!
Glad to hear you're okay.
Regarding the reflux problems you have, did you ever try to put blocks under the head end of your bed, about 10 to 15 cm high? Just a suggestion.
Thank you for the LES solar recommendation if everything goes well they'll start installing our solar panels 10 April.
Keep well!
Edit: maybe you think my remark about the bed is just in jest, it is not. Because of the inclination of the bed in a lot of cases the reflux is blocked. In a signifact amount of cases the patient no longer needs medication.
Reflux problem? Try drinking baking soda water. Mix baking soda and water.
Jan, yes, have tried it and even went as far as buying an adjustable bed, didn't help with my GERD though. I have some super powerful stomach acid and the flap between the stomach and esophagus is super weak. The meds have been the only thing that have helped these past 30+ years. Just hate to put chemicals in my body, but in this case, the alternative is worse. Appreciate the advise though. Thanks for watching!
@@rickbaker0217 too bad it didn't help. And yes, medication is better by far than doing nothing about it.
Good video!
Were you at Anaconda/Speicher Burn Pits? Me too...
No sir, the one that did me wrong was at Al Jaber.
I’m envious In times of food shortages , they can make anything taste good!
Glad you are doing well. 👍
Thank you and thanks for watching!
hi Rick, thank you for the video ... I was wondering .. can you use medicare over there? I was under the assumption that you couldnt>?
You can't. You would have to hop over to Guam, Hawaii or stateside if you want to use Medicare after 65.
@@rickbaker0217 Thank you that is what I thought..
Hey Rick,
Thanks for the info. Sure won’t get any in the states.
Have a question maybe you can find the answer.?
If my VA Ins benefits end at 65 and Medicare takes over, what will we do in the Philippines..? Medicare will not cover us overseas…
Anything you can come up with would be appreciated…
🙂
Hey Michael! If you are service connected through the VA, you won't loose that ever. You will always be able to use FMP for any service connected medical care you need. Tricare for life simply becomes your secondary insurance to Medicare, which you are correct, does you no good here. What I am not sure of, is if Tricare for Life has overseas coverage like regular Tricare. That is something I will have to research. You can of course, always hop over to Guam or Hawaii after 65 if you needed to use the Medicare for any reason. Hope that's semi sort of clear Brother!
Thank God, you are okay! Enjoy life! You have a beautiful place!
Thank you Maria! Appreciate you watching!
I've read somewhere that best coverage/VIP-level insurance for expats in PI costs $3k/yr. Any truth to that?
Name of the insurance you are referring too?
@@edwardlawler9487 can’t recall a specific name. I’ve read various websites and watched several videos about expats moving/living in PI. It may have been a video from last year comparing costs PI vs Thailand retirement.
My wife (of 31+years) owns three 200MSq adjacent properties in Bulacan and currently looking to sell to buy other land/home in PI.
@@macgeek2112 I pay for Cigna insurance international covers everything and cost me $97 a year just for myself. I do have Tricare and Va but I use it as secondary
Honestly sir, I haven't looked into private health insurance here so I can't really say. It sounds like Ed has some first hand knowledge though. Hope you can find what you need. I do know there are many available here, so I would think you should be able to find something in your budget that can meet your needs.
you should thanks for your doctor and nurse in the philippines they give their best
I was a hospital superintendent for the Air Force in my last three years of service, so I am super aware and super thankful for those that have made it their mission to heal others!
Is there a VA hospital in the Philippines
Clinic for veterans with service connected disabilities read the website to get the full rundown
As Ed said, Clinic only. The FMP is a wonderful benefit to have here though!
I have the same thing (GERD), and the medicine they prescribed me doesn't work as good as Prilosec. Is there a place to get these same OTC meds that we get in the states?
Joshua, you can find some of the OTC meds at S&R, which is owned by Sam's Club, but you will pay a pretty hefty price for them. I would advise you load up on your OTC's if they work well for you, because finding them in the PI can be super challenging.
@@rickbaker0217 that is excellent advice. I will just have to have my family send me care packages from time to time.
So at Clark Medical Center you don't have to make an appointment Correct?
Have yet to meet a doctor in the Philippines that will provide you with an appointment. Typically you show up early, get your name on a queuing list and wait for, often times, hours to be seen.
@@rickbaker0217 just found out I can make an appointment at the Embassy for check up. Thanks
@@rickbaker0217 just found out I can make an appointment at the Embassy for check up. Thanks
Grow mongo beans to liven up your rice fields.
That's what were doing right now for the next 6 months in Maguindanao.
I am currently surrounded by Mongo beans, but I don't plant rice here. Focusing on just about every other vegetable you can think of though.
i know you can adopt our culture at first its hard but only strong people has the GUTS TO LIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES WEAK PEOLPLE CANNOT MAKE IT
I try to be very resilient, but it is a good thing I have a strong Filipina to keep me moving in the right direction .