My Vision: My vision is to have an organization others can comfortably seek, upon needing help concerning moving to Cebu City, or elsewhere in the Philippines. They can do this knowing, without question, that they are dealing with people who will be straight up with them, not 'selling' only the positives about the Philippines, but by delivering the truth about it. You see, I recently posted on a Yahoo Group, something that I have said I don't know how many times previously. Please read on:

"What gives us (the expatriates who are presently living in the Philippines) the right to 'sell' only the positives about living in the Philippines, while trying to get others to come here to live? Why not be truthful with them by supplying both our positive and negative experiences and knowledge, thereby allowing them to make a complete and thorough evaluation of this information themselves? That way, after they sell everything they have and move here to live, they won't be as shocked by the culture and what happens here."

I continued on with, "For me, the positives of this country far outweigh the negatives. That is why I chose to come back to reside here myself. I had missed being in the Philippines since leaving it a number of years ago. I kept feeling as though part of me, somehow, was left behind. Now, I may go back to the states at some point to visit. But, I the Philippines is my home."

I believe in the above statements with all my heart. Unfortunately, there are some people here that believe otherwise, solely because they really don't care about those (you) who are going to come here to live. After all, why should they? It's not their problem. No, it's not their problem if you are totally and completely unhappy in this country after you arrive here. Furthermore, it's not their problem when you realize how difficult it may be for you to return to your home country, thus starting from scratch all over again. I don't want others to encounter situations like that. I want them to have as much information in their hands as possible, in order to make the right decisions concerning their possible future living here in Cebu, or living elsewhere in the Philippines.

I know how much the Philippines means to me. However, it may not be for everyone. I realize this and want to make every effort to help those who are coming here, in order for them to decide for themselves whether it's for them or not. In fact, I both this site will assist you in that decision.

You may remember back when you were starting out on your own, perhaps in your first business venture, or even when you first moved out on your own from living with your parents. I know very well you wouldn't want to go through that all over again. I certainly wouldn't. I don't want you to take steps back either. Furthermore, there are others who live here here and feel the same way.

You don't deserve a line of crap a mile long to be given to you, that may give you a false impression of the way things are here. No one deserves that, especially when they are making life changing decisions which could also affect the lives of their family members as well. That is a major reason as to why I started this site.

Joyce C. Hall (founder of Hallmark Cards, Inc.) wrote in his autobiography, "If a man goes into business with only the idea of making a lot of money, chances are he won't. But if he puts service and quality first, the money will take care of itself. Producing a first-class product that meets a real need is a much stronger motivation for success than getting rich." I agree with him 100%. We will always put service ahead of money, just as my father, Jessie Lewis Petrea, Sr., did during his lifetime. - Paul Petrea