Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Welcome back to the channel! In today’s Philippines expat update, we are making major progress on the house. We’re diving into some DIY landscaping and exterior painting to level up our curb appeal. Stick around until the end because we’re rewarding ourselves with a thick, juicy Porterhouse steak—easily one of the best cuts you can get here.
Living in the Philippines as an expat offers so many opportunities for home improvement and incredible food. Whether you’re interested in Philippines real estate, tropical garden design, or the cost of living/dining, this update covers it all.
#PhilippinesExpat #Landscaping #PorterhouseSteak #ExpatLife #HomeImprovement #LivingInThePhilippines #GardenMakeover #PhilippinesRealEstate
#PhilippinesTravel #ExpatLife #TravelTips2026 #VisitPhilippines #MovingToThePhilippines #TravelFinance #AmericanExpat #ManilaTravelGuide
Welcome back to the channel! In today’s Philippines expat update, we are making major progress on the house. We’re diving into some DIY landscaping and exterior painting to level up our curb appeal. Stick around until the end because we’re rewarding ourselves with a thick, juicy Porterhouse steak—easily one of the best cuts you can get here.
Living in the Philippines as an expat offers so many opportunities for home improvement and incredible food. Whether you’re interested in Philippines real estate, tropical garden design, or the cost of living/dining, this update covers it all.
#PhilippinesExpat #Landscaping #PorterhouseSteak #ExpatLife #HomeImprovement #LivingInThePhilippines #GardenMakeover #PhilippinesRealEstate
#PhilippinesTravel #ExpatLife #TravelTips2026 #VisitPhilippines #MovingToThePhilippines #TravelFinance #AmericanExpat #ManilaTravelGuide
![How to Fix Low Water Pressure & Clean Filters | Expat in the Philippines
In this video, Jason from Our Life In The Philippines provides a comprehensive guide on maintaining and optimizing a home water filtration system. He shares his personal mistakes, such as using the wrong line sizes and brands, and demonstrates a DIY backwash manifold system designed to extend filter life and improve water pressure.
Key Takeaways for Home Water Maintenance
• Size Matters: Ensure your filter housing matches your main line size. Jason explains how switching from a 3/4 line to 1/2 filters restricted his homes water pressure [01:19].
• Brand Comparison: He recommends Smos filters over Voda due to the Smos brands superior rubber O-rings and brass fittings, which prevent the leaks common in plastic-ported models [01:36].
• DIY Backwash System: Learn how to build a manifold that allows you to reverse the water flow (backwashing) to flush out sediment and sand without removing the filters [07:24].
• Filter Washability: Discover how many disposable pre-filters (pleated and string types) can actually be washed and reused, saving significant maintenance costs [22:50].
Video Chapters & Timestamps
• [00:14] Common Mistakes: Why buying the wrong filter size (1/2 vs 3/4) kills your water pressure.
• [01:36] Equipment Recommendations: Comparing Voda and Smos filter housings and O-ring quality.
• [03:04] Current Filter Setup: An overview of Jason’s 4-stage filtration manifold.
• [04:01] Pre-Filter Types: Comparing foam (5 micron), pleated paper (5 micron), and string (1 micron) filters.
• [05:23] Installation Tip: How to identify the top vs bottom of a carbon filter [05:36].
• [07:24] Backwash Strategy: Designing a T-junction and valve system for easy cleaning.
• [10:02] The Pump House: A look at the 75-gallon air-over-water pressure tank and its operation.
• [12:35] Fixing Leaks: Addressing issues caused by insufficient plumbers tape on plastic-to-brass fittings.
• [15:39] Testing the Backwash: The first trial of the reverse-flow cleaning system.
• [19:08] Pressure Tank Maintenance: How to drain sediment and repressurize the tank [19:51].
• [23:02] Filter Removal: Using the filter wrench and checking the condition of dirty filters.
• [25:24] Washing Filters: A demonstration of how well pleated and string filters clean up with just a garden hose.
• [26:41] Reinstallation: Tips for aligning the gaskets and nipples inside the filter canisters.
• [29:22] System Restart: Refilling the canisters and bleeding the air out of the lines [30:11].
#PhilippinesExpat #WaterFilter #Citihardware #SaveMoney #DIYPhilippines #ExpatLife #WaterPressure How to Fix Low Water Pressure & Clean Filters | Expat in the Philippines](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uoe1jRdiVKQ/mqdefault.jpg)






![Stop Buying Fertilizer! 🌿 DIY Black Gold Chicken Poo Tea
Stop buying expensive chemical fertilizers! In this video, we show you how to create Black Gold—a powerful, organic DIY chicken manure tea that will make your lawn and garden explode with growth. Using items from around the house and simple ingredients, we demonstrate the step-by-step process of turning chicken waste into a bioavailable liquid fertilizer packed with Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
Whether youre growing Carabao grass in the Philippines or maintaining a backyard garden elsewhere, this organic solution is a game-changer for sustainable living.
🕒 Timestamps:
• [00:00] - Introduction to Black Gold DIY Fertilizer
• [01:22] - Step 1: Collecting fresh chicken manure
• [02:14] - Step 2: Preparing the mixing station & tools
• [03:01] - The Science: NPK, micronutrients, and beneficial microbes
• [04:37] - Step 3: The steeping process and aeration tips
• [05:22] - Step 4: Diluting the Liquid Gold (The 7:1 Ratio)
• [07:50] - Step 5: Proper application techniques with a sprayer
• [09:09] - Step 6: Post-application watering (Avoiding Burn)
• [11:10] - Final results and comparison
💡 Key Benefits of Chicken Poo Tea:
• High Nitrogen (N): Fuelled by uric acid for that deep green pop in your grass.
• Soluble Phosphorus (P): Essential for strong root development.
• Potassium (K): Helps your plants resist disease and handle intense heat.
• Microbes: Builds healthy soil biology by breaking down organic matter.
⚠️ Important Application Tips:
1. Never apply in direct sunlight: The ammonia and salts can yellow your grass if it dries too quickly. Apply in the evening or shade.
2. Dilution is key: We recommend a 7-to-1 water-to-fertilizer ratio to prevent burning.
3. Water it in: Always follow up with a light watering to ensure nutrients reach the roots.
If you found this helpful, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more DIY homesteading and gardening tips from the Philippines!
#OrganicFertilizer #GardeningTips #DIYHomestead #ChickenManure #LiquidGold #LawnCare #PhilippinesGardening #SustainableLiving #OurLifeInThePhilippines Stop Buying Fertilizer! 🌿 DIY Black Gold Chicken Poo Tea](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xqEqfJHyw7A/mqdefault.jpg)
![Expat in the Philippines DIY Cement Planters Two Different Ways
This is part 1 of 2.
Welcome back to Our Life in the Philippines! I’m Kuya Jason, and today we are getting creative with some leftover materials from our new house construction. Instead of throwing away scrap wood and plastic, I’m showing you how we turned them into DIY cement planter molds! 🪴
Timestamps
• [00:00] - Introduction: Jason explains the inspiration for the project: saving money on 1,000-peso concrete planters.
• [00:46] - Form Building: Overview of the materials used, including scrap plywood and decorative vinyl board for a smooth finish.
• [01:59] - Measurements: Details on the planter dimensions (10 bottom, 12 top, 12 height) to create a tapered look.
• [02:37] - Reinforcement: Jason explains using scrap wire and mechanics wire to prevent the concrete from cracking.
• [04:29] - Mixing Concrete: The first batch of concrete is mixed using a dipper measurement (traditional Philippine style).
• [05:21] - Final Ratio: Adjusting the mix to a 50/50 ratio of cement and sand for better consistency.
• [06:23] - Pouring & Smoothing: Filling the forms and using a board to level the surface.
• [07:08] - Screening Sand: A look at why sand in the Philippines must be screened to remove river rocks.
• [08:16] - The Vibration Method: A trick to remove air bubbles from the wet concrete by shaking the table.
• [09:26] - Method Two: Introduction of a different approach using a wooden box and burlap.
• [11:10] - Chicken Wire Support: Prepping the second planter by adding chicken wire to help the plaster stick.
• [11:44] - End of Day 1 Progress: Reviewing the progress of both planters and letting them set overnight.
Building a new home here in the Philippines leaves a lot of sayang (waste) materials, so I decided to put them to good use. This is a budget-friendly way to make beautiful, heavy-duty concrete pots for our garden without spending money on expensive store-bought molds.
[What’s Inside]
• How to find the best scrap materials for molds.
• My simple cement mixing process for local conditions.
• Tips for pouring and setting in the Philippine heat.
Stay tuned for part 2
Unboxing our custom scrap-made planters!
[Support Our Journey]
We are so happy to share our house-building journey with you. If you want to see more DIY projects and updates on our life here in the Philippines, please Subscribe and hit the notification bell!
Maraming salamat po for watching!
#OurLifeInThePhilippines #KuyaJason #DIYPlanters #PinoyDIY #ConcreteProjects #ProvinceLife #ZeroWasteDIY Expat in the Philippines DIY Cement Planters Two Different Ways](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xr5dUCpBvgo/mqdefault.jpg)

![New Grill & Ride to Town in the Philippines 🇵🇭
In todays vlog, I show off the amazing handmade stainless steel grill my wife, Christine, bought for me. We’re heading into town (Camiling) on the motorcycle to find some high-heat paint, grab chicken feed, and navigate the local shops like Mr. DIY and City Hardware.
I also share a very important tip for expats and foreigners on how to avoid the Skin Tax when buying handmade items locally! Plus, stick around to see the finished chicken coop and the Valentines gifts I picked up for the family.
If youre interested in retirement in the Philippines, local DIY projects, or just daily life as an expat, make sure to SUBSCRIBE and hit the bell icon! 🔔
Timestamps:
[00:00] - Intro: A Valentines surprise!
[00:34] - Showing off the new handmade stainless steel grill
[01:45] - The plan: Burning off old paint & prep for steaks
[03:09] - Chicken coop update & building materials
[04:28] - How much did it cost? Price breakdown
[05:40] - Expat Tip: How to avoid the Skin Tax in the Philippines
[06:29] - Motorcycle ride to town
[07:42] - Shopping at Mr. DIY (Hardware & Automotive)
[09:48] - Visiting the local Feed Store for the chickens
[11:00] - Searching for high-heat paint at City Hardware
[13:02] - Mission Impossible? Wrap up and Valentines gifts
[15:05] - Final thoughts & Happy Valentines!
👍 Like this video if you enjoyed the tour! 💬 Comment below: Whats the best local find youve ever bought?
#PhilippinesVlog #LifeInThePhilippines #ExpatLife #HandmadeGrill #PhilippinesHardware #ForeignerInPhilippines #ValentineDay2026 #ChickenCoop #DIYPhilippines New Grill & Ride to Town in the Philippines 🇵🇭](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y43mQ38oWZc/mqdefault.jpg)