Why the Beachbody Business is Dominated by Females, and How the Guys Can Still Profit and Succeed

I've been wanting to write about this topic for quite some time now, so coming back from Coach Summit in Indianapolis recently, I felt it was fitting to do so.

My take on COACH SUMMIT INDY 2019

I've been attending Coach Summit since I became a Beachbody Coach in 2011, I have only missed one CS event which was last year. If you do not know what Coach Summit is all about, it's pretty much the SUPER BOWL of all Beachbody Coach Events, it's a game-changing event jam packed with learning experiences, workshops, inspirational speakers, lavish parties, networking, and tons of workouts. Every person interested in having any kind of success, big or small attends this exclusive event.

Beachbody Super Workout - Downtown Indianapolis 2019

Over 20,000 Beachbody Coaches Working Out - Indy 

So with that being said, I had a blast! But one thing that I wanted to point out is that, the girl to guy ratio has definitely changed drastically. When I began my coaching business in 2011-2012, I would say that there seemed to be an equal amount of males and females in the business, but since around 2015, I have noticed a drop in male participation. So my experience with the recent Coach Summit in Indianapolis Indiana was that I realized that this business has become a female dominated business. Is there anything wrong with this? (Read On)

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Now I cannot give you and exact ratio during this event, but visually, it was apparent that it was an easy 50 females (or more) to one male. Now guys, don't get any ideas and start jumping into this opportunity and think that it would be a great place to find your soul mate, it doesn't work that way =)  These women are focused, driven, and thrive on entrepreneurial success, so the last thing they are thinking about is "hooking up", trust me, they will smell your wrong intentions miles away! =)

HOW DID THE FEMALE COACHES DOMINATE THIS BUSINESS?

I'm going to be honest with all of you, because for me, this is a no-brainer. It's called the "Domino Effect". You see, it only takes a few strong women with BIG GOALS to make this happen. For Example, my Coach is amazing! She has pretty much dominated this business since 2012 when she made a decision to be successful. The story was that.......She asked her partner if he could give her ONE YEAR to try to make it happen, and if it didn't work out for her, then she would quit and start bartending again (they were both bartenders) to help pay the bills, and mind you, they had a lot of bills! I'm sure you know what happened next. It took less than a year, and her business began to grow exponentially, and she has pretty much made the Top 10 Coach List every year since then.

You see, she had a goal and above average vision...and instead of just sitting on her ass and having her partner support the family, she busted her butt, retired him from his job, and now they are both sitting pretty living the simple family life with no financial worries.

Bonding Time with my Coach and her family

Now I know what you're thinking....."I know guys that have done that", well I do too. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that in this case, the females were the ones who were more persistent. It was the females in this business who kept going when times got tough. It was the females who did not quit.

Of course I cannot speak for all the men in this business. All I can say is that I am still here, but will also admit that I am not 100% doing what it takes like a lot of the female coaches in this business. I'm sure the male coaches on my team will agree that we all love this business, we love the products, and we understand that this business model is friggin amazing, but there will always be someone else who loves it more than you do, and in this case, again.....it's the females who love it more than anything. Can and will this ever change? It's definitely possible!

SO HOW DID THEY DO IT?

You see, the females have it down to a science. While most of the men are at the gym looking at all of their muscles, and window shopping for their next date, the girls have already done the following:

-  Finished their workout at home
-  Prepared their post workout meal
-  Checked their messages and did some follow ups
-  And for the women with children, they have more than likely served them breakfast and already sending them off to school.

Do you see something that some of us guys are missing? These women are super productive and organized, at least the ones who are HUNGRY for success. While us guys are taking our time and doing one task at a time, the females are running laps around us and doing something called "multi-tasking".

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There are a small percentage of guys in this industry who can pull off what the females do with multi-tasking, and have also been reaping the full benefits of this business along with their female counterparts. The men who understands, respects, supports their female counterparts and does not discriminate against women who have the DNA (determined natural ambition) will ultimately succeed in this business.

WHAT ARE THE GUYS DOING WRONG?

First things first, I am not an expert on this topic. I am merely sharing my thoughts on the matter. So if you disagree with me, you of course have a right to your opinion, and I will respect that. But to answer the question, "what are the guys doing wrong", this is what i have to say:

-  Ego, especially about the idea that home workouts are only for females, and real men only workout at the gym.
-  The thinking that men are more superior over women
-  The thinking that men cannot learn from women
-  The thinking that home workouts are easy, and don't work
-  Being uneducated in the networking industry, and being set on traditional business practices and ideas
-  Being intimidated by the success of not just females, but everyone around them
-  Not allowing yourself to become humble and accepting of your own faults
-  Not allowing yourself to learn something new. Something that used to work sometimes won't work all the time, so learning to be open and honest is something that all men have to work on

Body Beast Workout at the Hotel Gym

Getting a Killer Workout at home

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Again, I cannot speak for all men, only what I have seen in the 9 years I have been in this business. I also cannot say that it is only the men who deal with the above, I have also seen women with similar issues, but again, the women seem to deal with it, and learn from their mistakes much quicker and move on to becoming successful, while the men tend to never learn, make it more complicated, and just eventually quit.

HOW CAN MEN SUCCEED AS A BEACHBODY COACH TODAY?

If I had the exact answer to that question, then I would probably be a millionaire many times over. All I can say is that there are many successful men in this business, so it is possible. But if I was to give my opinion on the matter, this is what I would say:

-  Don't be afraid to learn from women
-  Do your research on the workouts and nutrition and give it your 100% commitment
-  Get away from the thinking that only men workout at gyms and do crossfit, that is far from the truth
-  Respect the fact that everyone can succeed in this business, it's not just a business for woman, it's for everyone
-  Be yourself, speak the truth, lift people up around you especially the woman who are killing it in this business. What you do says a lot about you and your future business
-  Just MAN UP

LAST WORDS

It doesn't matter if the business that you are in is a male dominated or female dominated business. It's about how you deal with it and make the best out of it. Rather then thinking about who is dominating, why not think about the next person you can genuinely help? Why not think about your success? Why not think about the future of your family?

The bottom line is that, Beachbody is a community of people who just want to live better, and be happier. It's always been that way! It's about transforming into a better human inside and out, and helping others along the way.

Become a Coach Today!

Yes, there are currently a lot more women then men in this business, but when's the last time a man ever complained about too many females? =) Give me a break LOL! Let's quit thinking and start doing! I look forward to your success my friends!

Interested in becoming an Online Beachbody Coach? Feel free to message me for some FREE advice, I'd love to hear from you.

It's time to MAN UP

Learn more about becoming an Online Beachbody Coach

The Vessel New York City - Hudson Yards

Watch Video Below

Spent a few days in New York City to meet with some friends, and I even filmed a wedding.

I visit NYC every once in awhile, and most of the time it ends up being a very short business trip. The last time I was here, I filmed an event in Jersey City and was not able to check out the Vessel, so this time around, I made a point to check it out.

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My good friend Kirin came along with me, and we ended up city trekking all the way from the Upper West Side near Riverbend Park a little south of the George Washington Bridge, and walked all the way down to the Vessel, we ended up doing about 12 miles that day! 

Here are QUICK FACTS about the Vessel at Hudson Yards:

The Vessel is made up of bronze steel and concrete and is a 16-story, 150-foot-high (46 m)[5] structure of connected staircases between the buildings of Hudson Yards. The Vessel has 154 flights, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings that stretch from its 50-foot-wide base to its 150-foot-wide apex, with the total length of the stairs exceeding 1 mile. 

Cost to build: $75-200 million. 

Ticket price: FREE

You can get more information and access online ticketing on their website by clicking here.

I made a quick video so that you can get a glimpse of this pretty amazing structure. If you have any questions, please feel free to connect with me! 

The Vessel New York City - Hudson Yards

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Free Morning Meltdown 100 Workout - All You Need to Know About the Morning Meltdown 100 Program

Sample Workout Video Below

Hey guys!

I just arrived in Gydnia, Poland last night after a long (over 17 hours of travel time from Manila) travel day. Once I arrived, I just relaxed and tried to catch up on some sleep, but this morning I started my day off right with my workout.

Baltic Hotel - Gydnia, Poland

My hotel room space at the Baltic Hotel was pretty tight and I did not have any weights, so of course I just made due of what I had =).

Later today I will be checking out the course for the upcoming OCR European Championships since I will be filming the event this weekend. I'm pretty excited to see what the organization here has put together, and also just excited to be in Poland. But I do miss my girls back home!

Arlene working out at home while I'm in Poland

Anyways, the workout that I did this morning is from the Morning Meltdown 100 which was designed by Super Trainer Jericho McMatthews. I did the sample workout which is online now on Beachbody on Demand (Get a 14 Day Free Trial to BOD here). I included the YouTube link for the sample workout if you want to try it out =)

Free Sample Morning Meltdown 100 Workout - 30 minutes!

Start the Morning Meltdown 100 Challenge here

Here are more details on the Morning Meltdown 100 Program:

Morning Meltdown 100 is the first Beachbody program designed to be done in the morning, so you can head into your day feeling stronger and more accomplished. Commit to 100 workouts (whoa!!!), and Beachbody Super Trainer Jericho McMatthews will get you fired up to melt away fat and build your strongest body. Each fierce, fun, 20–30-minute workout features music mixed by a live DJ who follows Jericho’s lead and drives the beats to match her intensity.  It’ll feel like a party and give you the motivation you need to keep going. 

Morning Meltdown 100 Sample Workout in my Hotel Room

The program has not officially launched yet, but here are some dates to check out if you would like to give it a shot:

- July 20 - VIP Early Access (ask me or you Coach)
- October 1st, available to all Beachbody on Demand members
- October 1-14, Online Launch Group with Jericho (contact me to join the fun)

My recommendation to get started with the Morning Meltdown 100 Challenge 

Morning Meltdown 100 - 100 Workouts to Start Your Day!

Message me to join our Online Launch Group

More stuff:

- 100 unique workouts, 20 to 30 minutes per day

- There are two workout modifiers in each workout

- Fitness level is intermediate to advanced

HOLY CRAP, 100 WORKOUTS!!! Let's do this! 

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So now that I got my morning workout and some coffee, I'm off to eat some breakfast and start my day at the OCR European Championships! Have a great day everyone! =) 

How to Choose the Best Beachbody Fitness Program

Free Online Fitness Assessment - Send me a message here

As an Online Beachbody Coach for over 8 years now, one of the questions that I get a lot is, "What is the best program for me"?

You see, when I used to post heavily on social media about my workouts, people just assumed that I knew a lot about health and fitness. But in all reality, I was learning too! Over 8 years ago my brother introduced me to the original P90X workout, and I completed the program, lost 25 lbs, got ripped, and was in the best shape of my life in my 40's! This was the BIG reason why I decided to become a Beachbody Coach, because well......the programs simply work!

For the past 8+ years, I have been doing strictly Beachbody workouts, OCR Specific Training, Hiking and Running. I'm sure that you all would agree that there are a lot of ways to get healthy and fit, and it's all about finding which discipline works best for you, but Beachbody was my way of getting real results with NO SHORT CUTS.

Social Media is a great place to post and inspire for accountability

So when people ask me which workout program is best for them, I always let them know that the information that I give them will basically be Beachbody Health and Fitness options, because that is what I eat and breath every single day. It's what I know, and it's what works for me, as well as thousands of my friends and customers.

With that being said, let me explain to you in my opinion, how to choose the BEST Beachbody Fitness Program for you in these simple steps:

1.  Get connected with a committed Beachbody Coach first. Yes unfortunately, like anything, there are a lot of terrible Coaches out there, some who just want your money, so you have to be picky. To be honest, the best Coaches in my opinion are the ones who stay committed daily and provide you with valuable information to help you make your own choices, even if it's free. But guys, don't take advantage of this free information, these Coaches work hard day in and day out to help you. Don't forget about that.

Surrounding yourself with positive people will change your life

Also,  I highly recommend the Coaches who are still going through their fitness journey. Beachbody Coaches are not all super fit and there's nothing wrong with that. If you are looking for genuine accountability, then you will be surprised to find the best coaches are the ones who still have a lot of struggle in their own lives, and they will do anything to help you because it is a motivation for them.

Accountability is one of the best ways for succeeding with a fitness goal. Most people cannot get healthy and fit alone, and that is why they join local gyms, group workouts, and beer runs ha ha. But with today's technology, you can get the same accountability and motivation from an Online Beachbody Coach and have 24/7 access to chats, meet ups, tools and training, anytime, anywhere.

Our team has been changing lives for over 9+ years!

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2.  Join an Online Challenge Group or Free Fit Club. If you've never done a Beachbody Workout before, what better way to do it with a ton of people online. There are a lot of online groups out there from Free Meal Prepping, Getting Started, Staying Motivated, and of course a challenge group for every Beachbody Fitness Program ever developed. All of these groups are hosted by Beachbody Coaches, all you have to do is connect with your Coach and he/she can send you a free invite to join the fun. There are even free fit clubs hosted in local community centers, gyms, parks etc. These free fit clubs are a good way to try and learn more about the workouts. From there, it's all about narrowing it down to what your fitness goal is, start a program with a challenge group, and then attend the weekly fit clubs to get that extra motivation and accountability to keep you moving forward.

Having your own Personal Online Coach gives you 24/7 access 

to staying motivated anywhere around the world!

Get Started Now - Choose a Discounted Challenge Pack here!

3.  Stay Committed. This is the hardest part, and why it is so important to connect with a Beachbody Coach. Yes, everyone falls of the wagon, and there is no judging here, we've all done it, we're human. The most important thing for you to know is that whether you are struggling and haven't found the momentum yet, your Coach will always be there to help you recover and restart. Nobody is perfect, not even your Coach. Life will get in the way, and finances might deter you from investing in your health.

It's all about the mindset, and knowing what is the most important thing in your life. When you figure that out, and you begin to surround yourself with the right people, trust me, things WILL change.

Let's face it, no matter what you do, without our health and fitness, you and I are nothing. Our bodies are our temple, if we take care of ourselves, we can have unlimited potential in anything that we decide to do.

No one ever became successful alone!

Check out the 2B Mindset, the Positive Approach to Weight Loss

So anyways, I hope this helps. Once you connect with a Beachbody Coach, they will assist you with the best program based on your needs, lifestyle, and budget.

If you would like assistance from me, simply message me, and I would love to help you. Just send me an email to: arnel.beachbody@gmail.com and just request a Free Online Fitness Assessment. There are NEVER any requirements to purchase anything, and my advice is always free. You can make me your Free Online Coach by clicking here, chat soon!

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Picnic Grove - Tagaytay, Philippines

Picnic Grove Tagaytay

We visited Picnic Grove Tagaytay yesterday! I actually have never heard of this place until Arlene's friends invited us to join them, and it was totally worth it.

At Picnic Grove, the main attraction is the view of Taal Lake and Volcano. The  huts along side the mountain make it to be a very relaxing time with friends and family while enjoying one of the BEST views of Taal Lake.

HOW I TRAVEL 7+ MONTHS A YEAR

Picnic Grove also offers other things like a Zip Line Adventure, Cable Car, Mini Zoo, Shopping, Suspended Bridge, and a restaurant just to name a few. But most people come for the breathtaking view!

Starbucks Tagaytay Domicillo - another great view! 

Here is a quick video that I made of our day at Picnic Grove in only 1 minute. Enjoy, and the next time you are in the area, I highly recommend checking this place out.

HOW I WORKOUT WHEN I TRAVEL

Picnic Grove Tagaytay

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Check out Picnic Grove Tagaytay on TripAdvisor here

First Workout at New Home

We are finally getting settled into our new place in Cavite, Philippines! What's really exciting is that Arlene and I were able to get our first workout in! The home that we moved into about 3 months ago just did not work out unfortunately, and I was never able to get any kind of routine together.

With this new place, we are not 100% settled, but Arlene and I already feel more at home here than our other place in Manila. We will be here in Cavite for at least a year, so I'm very excited to get settled and start having a daily routine. Of course I will still be traveling on video projects when needed, but it's just nice to know that we finally have a place to call home here. 

OUR FIRST WORKOUT

Before we left Manila to move to our new place, Arlene and I were doing yoga for a few weeks to get our bodies ready for a new workout program. We are still undecided on which program we will be doing, but yesterday we did a workout called Transform 20, a program designed by one of my all-time favorite Beachbody Fitness Trainers, Shaun T! 

Start Transform 20 Now - Discounted Challenge Pack here!

I ended up doing the "Stronger" workout, and Arlene ended up doing the 10 minute workout twice. It would be difficult to give my review of the workout because that was my first time doing Transform 20, but I did like it. I don't normally do "step" workouts that incorporate using a step of some sort, kinda reminds me of the old school "Yo Mamma's" workout from back in the 80's ha ha.

To be honest, I am not picky at this point because I just need to get myself moving and back to where I was when I used to run obstacle racing events. No, I am not training for anything, not a race or anything...I'm just training for life, and to be active. I mean I have to keep up with my very active daughter, whoa....she's going to be an athlete and traveler I'm sure =)

I do have to be somewhat fit and have good endurance as I film some of the fastest athletes in the world with my OCRTUBE media project. My ideal workout is something like P90X and running. P90X has always been my "go to", I just love the simplicity of it and the fact that I can do the workouts at home and at the gym. And being totally functional is important to me, I have no interest in glamor workouts, not at all. 

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These days I prefer working out at home because I would much rather be near my family. I work my business at home, and workout at home. For me, every chance that I can be with my family is a plus, because when I travel for work, I can be gone for a full weekend to two weeks or more. And trust me, I miss them so much when I am gone. Let's not also forget my daughter who lives in Florida, I haven't seen her in so long, I'm hoping to see her very soon! 

My new Youtube Channel - Lagalag Mafia

Focused on my life in the Philippines - New Videos Uploaded Monthly

Today, I think Arlene and I will do another Transform 20 workout just to get a better idea on if it is the best program to do together. We will definitely keep you posted, and if any of you would like to join us, feel free to shoot me a message. It doesn't matter what your fitness level is, you can do the same program that we decide to do, or I can also give you a free fitness assessment and help you find the best program for you. It's just always much more fun working out with a group of people from around the world! =)

Free Online Coaching click here!

For more information on Transform 20, shoot me a message or just click here. 

Top 3 Benefits of Having a Digital Business

I know that not everyone see's the benefit in having a digital business. Some people say that it isn't as personal, and that it is disrupting today's society when it comes to building real relationships. This is definitely something to talk about, but one thing is for sure, the wealthiest man in the world, and founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos is KING when it comes to running a Digital Business with that personal touch.

Top 10 Ways to Work and Travel the World

1.  Location Independent - I think that is by far is the best benefit. Having a digital business allows you to work from anywhere around the world. As long as you have wifi, most Digital Nomads can run their online empires from either their laptop and/or smart phones. This is a huge plus for people who love to travel and work at some of the most amazing places in the world.

2.  No Stock - Imagine running a multi-million dollar online business without owning a warehouse or touching a single product? There are some digital businesses that also just work with digital products so there is no need to handle products at all. Whether you have a digital product, or work with a company who ships you products, or just sell a digital service, this is one of the benefits of having an online company, it's all about freedom, and for some...saving the planet!

Learn more about being an Online Health and Fitness Influencer

3.  Less or No Employees - When you're dealing with digital products, there is no need for full on production employees, and for most Digital Nomads who sell digital services, most of the work is done by themselves or outsourced to freelancers who publish their work on sites like Fiverr.com. I have partners in my line of work who create millions of business volume every week with zero to a maximum of 2 employees. Crazy right!

Don't hire employees, outsource to Online Freelancers! Get 20% off Fiverr here!

Working Remotely in Changsha, China

So there you have it, simple and pretty much to the point! Trust me when I also tell you that there are a lot more benefits than the three listed above. If you have any benefits that you would like to share, feel free to post a comment in the comment section, or share it with me directly! =)

Having Multiple Streams of Income

If you are interested in possibly starting a digital business and don't know where to start, give me a buzz and let's talk some ideas, I love connecting with other like-minded individuals, look forward to chatting with you!

Hustle and Grind at the Common Space Coworking in Manila, Philippines 

Connect with me here

Northman OCR Challenge - Sandnes, Norway (2019)

One of the BEST things about doing what I do is that I am able to travel to amazing places and film obstacle course racing events. A few weeks ago, I went to Norway to film the Northman OCR in Sandnes. This was my second time filming this event, and I would have to say that I am always looking forward to this time of the year specifically because of this epic event.

SO WHAT MAKES NORTHMAN OCR SO EPIC?

I cannot say enough about the people who organize this event. They understand the importance of taking care of people who ultimately are the ones who take their brand to the masses. From the moment I stepped off the plane, they were there waiting for me hand and foot. I mean, I can go on about everything from the hotel they booked for me, the complimentary food, the hospitality, and just the overall friendly atmosphere and Norwegian experience. They really make you feel important and special.

**Stuck in a rut? Why not do what you love and start earning a living!

Connect with me and ask me how!

As far as why Northman OCR is an epic race, well the location is for one amazing. Set in a park with streams, lakes, hills and beautiful people, it was in my opinion, the perfect place for an event. The race provided the participants with over 80 obstacles within a 9K distance, pretty intense if you ask me. But the thing is, you don't have to be an elite athlete to participate, the Northman OCR Challenge is for everyone, and from my experience, all I saw were happy faces all day! =)

NORTHMAN OCR VIDEO RECAP - 2019

So instead of talking me head off about this fantastic event, I thought that I would just share the official video recap that I did for race. I cannot wait until the next event in 2020. If you are in Norway around May, 2020, I highly recommend that you add it to your to do list, especially if you are an obstacle racing enthusiast, or just that adventurous type! =)

Northman OCR Challenge - Norway (2019)

Watch more OCR videos

Visit and sign up for the next Northman OCR, click here!

Learn more about my OCRTUBE Media Project:

- Follow on Patreon 

- Donate to OCRTUBE via Bitcoin: 3JLd2iJ8e4EoPDZmYYAiYXYYJToiD8YxDz

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- Hire Arnel from OCRTUBE to film your next event for FREE! (Available Worldwide)

TOP 5 Things You Need When You Arrive in the Philippines

I can't say that I've become an expert or anything when it comes to WHAT TO DO here in the Philippines, but what I can tell you is the TOP 5 things that everyone should get once they arrive in the Philippines.

Yes, there are other things that you may need, but I feel from my experience that the things that I will share with you below are the absolute MUST HAVES!  Feel free to comment below if you would like to add to this list =)


1.  SIM Card or Pocket Wifi - Now if you really want to go totally OFF THE GRID, then you probably don't need this. But for most of us, as humans, it's about staying connected whether it be for family and friends, or for safety purposes. To make your life easier when you arrive, grab a sim card (Globe or Smart....I prefer the Smart SIM) from the airport. If you have a phone that does not accept international SIM, then grab a pocket wifi and you can still use your current phone. The airport may not carry pocket wifi's, but you can grab a taxi (#2 on my list) and get one (1200-1500 php or $20-$24 USD for a pocket wifi and you own it) at any SM Mall location, they're pretty much everywhere. Please note that people will try to rent one for you for the same cost it is to purchase one, and they will rent it for only 7 days. Just buy one, and then sell it or give it away before you leave. Once you get to an SM Mall location, ask anyone how to get to "Cyberzone", that's like the section where all the electronics and phones are, and once you're there, simply go to the Globe or Smart store and ask them for a pocket wifi. Again, you will have to buy the device first, and then purchase LOAD to activate it. The LOAD for wifi cost is about 1000 php, or $20 USD, that will be good for literally a month. Keep in mind, the pocket wifi is only good for browsing the web, not too good for watching videos on youtube.

A little ADVERT here:

My fiancé Arlene has a little business that provides LOAD for mobile devices, pocket wifi, and even gaming cards. You can message her on facebook here if you need assistance, Connect with Arlene here to BUY eLOAD

2.  Grab Taxi App - Some people will not like this idea because they would rather take public transportation because they like to live like the locals, and that's all fine and dandy, but if you were to ask any local, they would probably tell you that they would much prefer a grab taxi over a jeepney or motor tricycle any day (if they could afford it). Trust me, it's fun taking public transport around the city sometimes, but there are times where you just don't have all day to wait for the jeepney drivers to drop off a million people before you get to your final destination. Public transport is super cheap, but if you are from the USA, Europe, Singapore etc. the Grab Taxi rates will be super cheap, I mean not as cheap as public transport, but cheap for 1st world standards. I once took a one hour ride from Quezon City to the airport because traffic just completely sucked, and I only paid $10 USD, where else can you ride for that long, for that distance, and only spend that amount?

The Grab Taxi App is like the UBER of South East Asia. And FYI, they don't have Uber in the Philippines anymore, they just could not keep up with the Grab Taxi App which was developed by two Malaysian guys. These guys graduated from prestigious Harvard University and took their expertise back to their country because they saw the issue with taxis in SE Asia, and pushed Uber out of the picture. That's no small feat, so that should tell you something about how cool and important this app is! Yeah, so get a SIM card or pocket wifi, download the Grab Taxi App, and start saving money, and stop getting ripped off by the local taxi drivers who are targeting tourists and backpackers like you.

The Grab App doesn't just offer car service, they deliver food, ship packages from city to city, and oh and they can also provide load for your sim cards! I can't begin to tell you how LIFE SAVING the app is! With the crazy traffic in the city, it is so worth it to spend 49 pesos ($1 USD) for a grab food driver to deliver you lunch or dinner, I'm telling you, you'll be hooked!

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3.  Mosquito Spray - Quick story....I went to a gathering somewhere in the Philippines, and I was sitting there talking and making friends when all of a sudden I noticed that I was the only one getting killed by SKEETERS! If you are not from the Philippines, trust me, you will get eaten up by mosquitoes pretty much anywhere and everywhere unless you are somewhere in the mountains where it can get cold. So get you some mosquito spray so that you can enjoy your time here. If for some reason you can't get any, then stay in front of a fan, the wind will keep them suckers off of you, but just hope and pray that you're not in an island in the Philippines that doesn't have electricity for a half the day, then you'll be in trouble lol. Just buy some =)

4.  Flip Flops - You know how the locals can tell if you're a tourist or not? By your shoes =) Let's face it, it's hot here in the islands, if you don't want sweaty feet, get some flip flops and get comfortable. Of course, you may need your other shoes for other things, but just make sure that you have some flip flops for about 90% of your stay here. If you're hiking, well.....learn how to hike in trekking sandals or hiking flip flops. Yes, the locals hike and do everything with flip flops, so if you are all about living like the locals......well, get some flip flops! =) Want to know where to get the cheapest deals on flip flops? Go to the Baclaran Market near Paranaque, this place is where the Philippines gets all their goods. If you see stuff for sale in Palawan or other places in the Philippines, it's almost 100% sure that they bought their products from Baclaran. So if you want to bypass the middlemen and go direct to the source, go to the Baclaran Market. Other good markets are Divisoria Market (sometimes better than Baclaran) and Quiapo Market for the cheapest in electronics.

If you want to buy filipino branded hiking sandals and flip flops, I recommend going to SM North EDSA and check out the Lagalag Store. Another good local sandal company is Sandugo, They have flip flops, trekking sandals and shoes, as well as trail running shoes.

5.  Open Mind - If you are from the WESTERN Culture, or if this is your first time in the Philippines, you will probably be in shock by the atmosphere, the poverty, and maybe the food. Let's talk about this for a second. When I say the atmosphere, I am talking about a different culture other than your own. If you come to the Philippines with a willingness to learn more about the people and the history of the country, you will have a GREAT experience. Try learning a little words in "tagalog" before visiting. And once you're here, try talking to the locals using filipino words, the people will be more helpful to you. As far as the poverty, it's not everywhere, but it is really bad in Manila. The average filipino worker only makes about 500 php ($10 per day), and those are the lucky ones. There are even more who earn less than that. I can talk forever about how the government here can help these people with education, but that's another blog =). Speaking of education, another thing that you will see a lot here is litter. Now it's not like this everywhere, but again, it's primarily in Manila. I know that the country is getting better at teaching their youth about saving the planet, but they have a long ways to go. If you want to know where the cleanest places are in Manila, it's pretty much the Makati City, BGC area.

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So the bottom line, you will see poverty here. What you can do to help is NOT by giving them money. If you want to give, then I would recommend that you buy these people food, or maybe do some volunteer work while you are here. I DO NOT recommend giving any beggars, homeless families or children any money, it doesn't teach them a damn thing. It starts with education. Now let's talk food. Im not gonna lie, my favorite food is FILIPINO FOOD, but maybe that's because I grew up eating it. Also, if this is your first time in the Philippines, you probably do not want to eat street food until after a few days. Keep in mind that the people in the Philippines, not all of them, but a huge percentage of them grew up without refrigerators or freezers. You will see markets with meat and seafood on the tables without proper temperatures. Now is this bad? Not for the people of the Philippines. If you have a strong stomach, you may be able to pull it off, but if you are like most people who grew up eating at establishments where proper food preparation and temperatures are required, then you will most likely get sick. So how do you prevent this? I recommend going to proper restaurants, and not any of the street vendors. You will see a lot of American Restaurants as well as local franchises here, so they might be the safest bet for people who have a sensitive stomach. If you want to taste really good and authentic filipino food where the meals are prepared in a safe manner as in the western culture, then I would try the following restaurants while you are here: Diplomacy (at SM Aura), XO Heritage (at SM Aura), Mary Grace (at almost all SM Malls). Other reputable restaurants include: Max's Restaurant, Inasal, the Aristocrat, Lydia's Lechon, Classic Savory, and Kuya J's just to name a few.

So I went off subject a bit, but I hope that you found some of this information useful. Enjoying the Philippines is like enjoying any country or place for the first time. Visit the Philippines with an open mind, try the different food and flavors, travel to places where the tourists don't go, make friends with locals, and just have fun. There are so many beautiful places in the Philippines, and the best way to find out where to go is to ask the locals, not the backpackers, or so-called "Influencers" or foreigners who come here to earn a buck making videos of their journey. Yes, it's cool to watch videos of foreigners (like me lol) making videos of cool places to go, but in order to find some hidden gems, it's always best to have a local friend tell you. Sometimes the best places are just around the corner from where everyone is at, just a couple blocks or a couple dirt roads away from the tourist spot. And remember, it's really not all about THE SPOT, it's about the people you meet along the way.

Hope this blog helps you, and if you have any questions at all, feel free to connect with me, and I will do my best to help you make the best of your stay in the Philippines!

Patungan Beach in 50 Seconds - Cavite, Philippines

Checked out Patungan Beach and Cove in Cavite, Philippines a few days ago. Nice little locals beach. Once my family and I arrived, we found out that we could not actually drive to the beach. The only way to get there was either via tricycle or outrigger boat. The cost for either is 50 pesos ($1 USD) per person round trip. If you have a car, then you would have to park it on the side of the road which is like a highway. When we were there, we saw guards at the front gate, so if you can, I would recommend parking your car as close to the gate as possible. I also paid a local to watch my car until we came back, and I ended up giving her 100 php ($2 tip).

As you are driving to the Patungan Beach and Cove, you will see some locals trying to flag you down with some tour options. I guess it isn't so local if they are offering tours, but it still is a nice place to go to relax, away from the bigger touristy beaches in the Philippines.

Once you get there, or actually once you park, you will be offered tours or things like cottages for the day and overnight accommodations. I didn't really ask about what they actually offered because my family and I were only there for a short time just to relax, take pictures and fly my drone. We took the boat ride from the entrance to the beach cove and it only took maybe 5 minutes, maybe a little over. Taking the tricycle takes about the same time according to the locals there. The boat ride is just a little more relaxing and cool to see the beach from the water.

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Anyways, there wasn't too much to do there but for me, that was perfect. If you just want to relax on a beach and hang with some locals, then this would be right up your alley. It looked like there was a small local village right behind the beach which I wish I was able to walk through there, but maybe next time.

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Anyways, this is just one of thousands of beaches and coves to visit in the Philippines. For me, the small ones are the best ones because it doesn't feel like a tourist trap. I made a quick video below, but I'll be posting a vlog including some clips from Patungan Beach soon. Happy travels, and hope to see some of you soon! =)

Patungan Beach - Philippines 

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