Back in 2016 I was travelling to Doha in Qatar and looked on line for a guide. This Pinoy guy called Chester replied and sent me a very glossy itinerary. We spent a week together and got on really well and when I discovered his passion was Graphic Design I hired him! He has worked for me ever since. That is 6 years now. He produced handouts for my work at the Oil & Gas Academy in Bahrain, my Birthday, Christmas and New Year cards, Calendars, E books, Banners etc.
Chester when I first met him in 2016 in Doha, Qatar
It was Chester who set up this blog and my vlog , as well as my previous Blog in Bahrain ( BritinBahrain, sadly no more) . He helped with my move here to Palawan setting up endless spreadsheets, comparing costs of medical insurance, preparing costings for my new house and so on.
Chester and I having dinner in Manila on 1st April 2022
When I finally arrived in Manila he came to stay at my hotel and had dinner and took me for my first meeting with the Philippine Retirement Authority in Makati. I then travelled back with him to Marikina where his mother ( who was an OFW in Bahrain, and who I met many times) had made us her legendary Beef Caldaretta. After that we filmed a vlog touring Marikina ( Chester in Marikina) .
Chester with his dog in Marikina
Even though he is a long way away ( he lives with his family in Marikina) he has become a part of my family- providing advice and information for my "anaks" , giving me helpful hints for my Pinoy cookery ( buy lots of Garlic and Ginger) and translating documents from Tagalog into English as needed. He even contacted Dip Ed on my behalf for a blog I had written about a special school for indigenous kids here in Palawan. Sadly they did not reply to him either- Sara , you have your work cut out! Chester is planning to visit us all in Palawan this October and I have promised to take him to El Nido.
A recent selection of the 100 Vlogs that Chester has edited for me
It was always part of the plan that once I retired and moved here to Palawan I would learn how to edit my own vlogs, and his role would diminish. Now that time has come . He has edited all the videos I took in my first month back here touring Palawan and created 20 new Vlogs in my first 5 months here. Chester commented the other day that it will be strange to come and visit all the places he has edited my Vlogs about but never been to ( Port Barton, El Nido, Brookes Point etc.) When I was leaving Bahrain my many friends there and in the UK asked me to record and share those first exciting moments- surprising Elay on her 18th, Grecil on her 21st and Jhoanna on her 22 nd Birthday. He helped cover the big move to the Blue house, and the arrival of my new Labrador Puppy.
My new puppy, born on April 8th 2022
Chester Delos Santos asked what I was going to call him.
I had always joked that I would call him "Bagets" or "Sariwa" so I could walk on the beach calling out " Sariwa" or "Bagets" and then if anyone commented just say " I was calling my dog!"
However there was only one name I could call him, so that I never forgot my good friend and business partner, from Marikana, Chester.
It was always a joke on my vlogs that I would feign waking up ( one of TJ's ideas) and say " What time is it Chester?"
Chester the dog sleeps in my room so when I wake up now I say " What time is it Chester?"
But I only get " woof" as a reply! Chester, the Human, says I should teach Chester the dog how to tell the time.
"My priority right now is to train him to pooh and pee outside" I replied!
So for those of you who have not met Chester ( the dog) here are some pics:
Julios and Chester at the Blue House
Chester likes to sleep a lot ( both of them, but the dog does not snore)
Thanks to Jhoanna who finally got one of Chester awake and sitting up
Several of my friends from my UK days have commented how much Chester looks like my old dog in the UK ( who I had to give away in 1996) called Trixie. So for those of you who never saw Trixie:
Trixie Mystery Dining with me in Scotland in my Little Chef Red Sierra Estate in 1990
So I want to end by thanking Chester (the human) for all his hard work for me over the last 6 years and for creating The British Kabayan and taking it from 0 to 26,000 readers on the blog and from 0 to 165 subscribers on You Tube. It has been an incredible journey full of love, laughter, anger, frustration and tears. Of brown outs, Internet outages, digital detox days and the sale of his laptop to bring his mum home after the airline cancelled her flight. We have covered Earthquakes Typhoons, Floods and COV 19 ( with a little pink and "Let her lead" thrown in .)
Luis Castro who will be advising The British Kabayan
I would like to introduce you to the new member of TBK team- Luis Castro. I met Luis , who lives in Puerto Princessa through his Facebook page where he was a friend of Arjen ( who I commissioned to paint a portrait of Rodel). I met them both for Lunch when I arrived in Palawan and we set out a plan which involves him giving me a tutorial on how to get the most from my Cannon Camera , I bought it with my leaving money from Bapco, but never found out to use it fully ( or read the manual!). He will then show me how to use different styles for my vlogs in the filming ( you can see Luis' work by clicking the link below- I asked him to film and edit a vlog for Jhoanna's 22nd Birthday and my Housewarming party)
Jhoanna's surprise 22nd Birthday Vlog by Luis
You can see a more detailed portfolio here:
Finally he will help me purchase some additional camera equipment, Go Pro, Drone and some video editing software. Then our final workshop will be on how to edit my own vlogs.
Arjen back in 2020 when he was just 16
Joining me on my journey will be talented painter Arjen Abubakar who is also starting up a Vlog with help from Luis. I first met Arjen through an article I read online in Palawan News back in October 2020 when I was in Bahrain and was so impressed I commissioned him to do a painting of my friend Rodel for my new house. I wrote a blog about him back then which you can read by clicking the link below:
Arjen Abubakar, A Cuyunon artist emerges
Our first training session is on 17.8.22 after I get my camera back from a lengthy and expensive repair in Manila ( lesson one- handle your cannon with Care and never drop it on the floor!) .
I am really looking forward to learning from Luis and editing my own Vlogs. As usual it would be great to have your feedback over the coming weeks
As one Chester hands over to another it's time to say Ingat Palagi and Kita Kits. However Chester ( dog and Human) will not be leaving TBK completely. Chester the Hooman is already working on Chester the dawgs 2023 calendar which we will release monthly through our Facebook page next year. As I am tied up here in Palawan with the dog , Chester the Hooman is kindly representing me next week when he will register me for my SSRV with the PRA in Makati Manila, and also Chester is working on a Big Christmas party I am planning for my Anaks in December. He will also update the Blog ( we have a new Festive Video at the top of the Blog ready for September 1st , and he will be here in Palawan in October to finally meet his namesake . Maybe we could give the two Chester's a Cameo appearance in one of our Vlogs Luis. Just like he has in our Christmas card!
The two Chester's and my Anaks feature with me in my 2022 Christmas card!
May I be the first to wish you all Maligiyang Pasko!
Hello, I am The British Kabayan! Feel free to read my stories.
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