A VERY SAD STORY 

THANKS FOR HELPING OUT FELLOW AMERICANS MARK! VERY HONORABLE! 🫡 🇺🇸 IVE WATCHED EVERY SHOW YOUVE EVER DONE, AND IM COMING BACK TO CEBU THIS CHRISTMAS! I AM U.S. MILITARY COMBAT FAMILY MEMBER, PACIFIC THEATER. I SALUTE YOU BROTHER! 🫡✈️🏝

This was a very very necessary story. There are a lot of people who view the Philippines as a paradise but this isn't our country and there is no safety net there at all for foreigners. This isn't even a criticism of the Philippines. No one should expect them to support foreigners when the country is a poor country and can't even support their own people. Every foreigner there needs an exit plan.

God bless you for volunteering .. Keep living and loving and spreading kindness as you are

When I was active duty in the US Air Force one of our squadron members died while deployed by falling out a window. I was assigned as the duty officer to process his stuff and send it home to his family. The procedure was to send home everything as it was. If he had dirty laundry it was to be sent home dirty. This is because it can comfort loved ones because it still has the scent of the person on it. Seemingly worthless stuff may be worthless or it may contain a valuable memory that someone can hold on to. So just because you thought his belongings were worthless didn't mean his family didn't want them. They probably would want practically anything to remember him by. You did great at trying to help this guy, but maybe could have helped the family a little better by actually collecting up his passport and other belongings and sending it to them. Grieving people want something, ANYTHING to remember their loved one by.

Hi Mark, my brother in law died 2021 here in the Philippines. He had gangrene on his toe and the infection spread thru his blood stream and he died. I am surprised this guy is still living. I am heart broken hearing this. You are doing God's work. You are truly an Angel, Mark. I am in tears watching this.

Thanks very much for your work and role in sharing these stories about life - the lives of men on their journey through their own story. We can always do better - and we need to be reminded of how our wellbeing will always been up to us !

Thank You for sharing this It much needed to hear this ! God Bless You , You're a good man for your service to others !

Thank you for sharing the story. Very sad situation. He is lucky he has family in the US that were concerned.

Sad story and an ever important reminder to always take care of one's self.

That man did not value his own life. He was a fool. Given the infection in his leg, it's likely that the bacteria spread via his bloodstream to all the major organs in his body, at which point they would have shut down. Probably in much the same way that bacterial pneumonia will kill a person. Tropical Philippines is the sort of climate that bacteria thrives in. If you get injured, seek immediate medical treatment. It's that simple. 👨‍⚕️🏥🩺💊

Very sad indeed. This is the same gentleman who was interviewed by Gerard Black back in March. He looked like the picture of health and spoke very well. He had just arrived in the Philippines in late 2023. Thanks for doing what you can to help US citizens, Mark.🏝🇵🇭

You call that gangrene. If he allowed his toe to be amputated, gangrene would not have reached his whole leg and possibly his upper torso.

Basic part of your "moving to Philippines plan" should be to have an escape hatch. A ticket home and a couple thousand dollars minimum. You can leave the money with a trusted party (e.g. brother) if you don't trust yourself not to spend it...

Riding a motorbike in the Philippines has to be one of the riskiest things you can do there.

Thanks to you and other expats who try to help. God Bless you

The reality of wrong choices in the Philippines. Thank you Mark for doing a great worthwhile job with the family for the benefit of all involved . Job well done 👍

Such a preventable tragedy. If you are even able to reach one man and make them realize being stubborn(which we are all guilty of as we get older) can kill you, you were successful. I watch a lot of vlogs from men in the Philippines, but you are my favorite. I really appreciated you showing your family it was a real treat.

Sad outcome, thanks for sharing and the help you provide.

So sad and preventable, glad that you’re sharing this story Mark, hopeful you will reach people before they get to that stage, if they are heading down that path. What a sad way to loose a loved one.

The bottom line is, you need to be prepared. Whether at home or traveling abroad. I’ve learned when I’m traveling abroad to always have on me a first aid kit, just in case I encounter any kind of scrapes or small cuts. When I was in the Philippines this year, it was pouring rain and I was .getting out of a tricycle. There was a motorcycle park really close to it and as I stepped out, I cut my leg on some part of the motorcycle. Fortunately, I had antiseptic wipes and triple antibiotic ointment, I cleaned my wound, put the ointment on and covered it with the bandage and I was OK. There is bacteria in foreign countries that our bodies are not accustomed to, and they can wreak havoc on our bodies and if infection sets in can reek havoc on our bodies and possibly kill us. A Motorcycle accident is a totally different thing, make sure you have plenty of insurance and the let doctors do their thing.

80% of expat’s stories from SouthEast Asia are sad

No Expat should be driving motor cycle in the SE Asia, just to be safe, unless you are an experianced rider.

Thank you for your service. God bless you

Thanks for being you Mark. It's people like you that make this world better.

Very valuable story and will help many men. Thanks for being willing to share and advise 🎉

A very good story that everyone who is considering independent (overseas) travel should take heed of. Something I love about travel is that it sharpens the senses, it fosters a self reliance. Perhaps this is why many people with military backgrounds are natural travellers. When I’m overseas I find that any deficiencies in my planning, strategy or especially “people skills” are revealed. Recently I was in Japan for a couple of weeks vacation and I’m almost 53 years old and I noticed that when my energy levels started to drop (it was 90’s every day and humid) “they” noticed it. When I was energetic people respond positively but when I started to flag or lose energy I could see a change in peoples faces, they could see me getting weaker. What I’m trying to say is “you” need to be able to look after yourself. Even on vacation people can go downhill fast.

So much for a good Philippino wife. Probably given him the bare minimum so she can keep cashing the checks. If she was smart, she would have done more, kept him alive, and kept getting his money 💰 now she is probably looking for the next American walking paycheck

Hi Mark. Great 👍 video with a great, but sad real story. You did your best and you helped the best that you could. If it hadn't been for you, that expat would probably would never had been found at all. Thanks Mark and keep up the great work.

Good of you to help and share the lesson with us.

Sad story, Mark…usually people who don’t make plans never change their mindset. You could lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. I hope he enjoyed his last year in the Philippines before things went bad. Cheers from Columbia! 💃🏽🕺🏽🇨🇴

Thank you for all you do helping people and their families. God Bless you 🙏🏻

Thank you. You are a Good Man and we appreciate your Service.

Americans in the Phil .pls help its other protect each other GOD BLESS

Great Job Mark ,much respect goes out to U volunteering to look out for expats thru the US Embassy . U did more in one day that alls your trolls do in a year or two ,keep up the wonderful work. Bless U

Your videos always make me think .. deep thinking.. your a person who needs more recognition..

The World's in a bad place. And you know it's bad for some Patriots (from anywhere) when they are being treated so bad by their birthplace, that they flee to the Philippines for a new beginning. When a citizen of that particular Country is treated so badly for where they were born, worse than the one's coming in, that they have to flee or migrate somewhere else to survive or be free.... The World needs to heal. I do understand. Kinda hurts my heart for the Peoples of this World. It shouldn't be like this for us. We're not the problem, but it affects us. Good man Mark, thanks dude.

I visited a friend in Angeles City as she had a stroke. Went to the public hospital to visit. I think I’ve become traumatised I kid you not. The conditions I can’t describe fully. Cats walking around and the cockroaches my god the conditions 😢 I know it’s the Philippines but the chances are that if admitted you will become more ill which has become the case with my friend. Your right her husband had to go and buy the medications and come back into the hospital with them and so on. Your a good man Mark Thankyou for helping the family

I work in the US hospital system. These refusal of care and to self care are tragic. Good on you for trying to help. The lesson I get from this story is a bit broader. Every dude going there to retire needs to think ahead of living will and have a stash of medical emergency funds.

Don’t apologize, these stories need to be told, all the vlogs talk about how great everything is overseas 😅

I was only in Davao for 3 weeks managed to take a trip to the hospital due to an extreme allergic reaction then a week later extreme food poisoning it's been decade since I've been in the hospital before personally it's a very dirty place and motorbike accidents are frequent in the Philippines I'm an extremely healthy and fit person so that has put me off visiting Davao again

Mark, you're a good man.

Very sad! Also going out of your way to send his belongings back would cost more than it’s worth. You did more than asked for, may he RIP.

You did your best mark.

Thanks sharing story. Bless You. You did all u could.

Good story. This is the reality that people try to avoid.

As Americans we fear bankruptcy as soon as we think of emergency room. Thousands die in America avoiding hospitals. No reason to die in Philippine. Emergency room is cheaper than 3 star hotel room.

Thank you for your volunteer work Mark. All the best. Mitch

Thanks for not forgetting about the Brothers. Good looking out Bro Edit: I would've the same for you Po :)

Thanks for helping out Mark. God bless.

Possessions may be useless to others but important to a daughter

These sorts of reality checks are vital to hear.

Important story, important reality check for anyone anywhere. I benefited from listening to this story, sad as it is. Thank you for telling it, and thank you for the work you are doing there. Sincerely, Pete

I'm over being sad for people that choose their own path. What's sad is when someone does something terrible to another.

From all the stories I have heard, riding a motorbike seems to be by far the most dangerous thing you can do in South East Asia.

pretty sad story thanks for sharing

Regarding your health, listen to your body. Generally speaking it will tell you when something isn't right.

thank you for simply explaining these scenarios,,and broadcasting the truth .

God Bless you MARK for what you have done.

Often in the course of life, people realize that they are responsible for decisions they have made. This is harsh reality!

Most people who move to another country to retire are going to die in that country. And it will probably be from a malady that could have been cured in the US/Canada/Europe, etc. That's part of the tradeoff we accept when we make that choice to get on the plane and go. I'll be making the same choice in a couple years, and I gladly accept the tradeoff. We're all doing this because we don't want to die in a nursing home, mostly alone, mostly forgotten. Hopefully the man in the story really enjoyed that last stretch of his life in the Phils.

MARK. IT'S GOOD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO REACH OUT AND GIVE A HELPING HAND TO THAT POOR GUY BEFORE HE PAST ON.. SOME TIMES THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO, AND YOU DID YOUR BEST.. I ENJOY WATCHING YOUR CHANNEL. KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK.

I've been here for 7 years, police come and check on me almost monthly..

Mark, great advice. I think us AMERICA 🇺🇸 citizens really need to avoid the alcohol 🍸 especially as we get older in the Philippines. It inhibits our brains 🧠. Also cigarettes 🚬 and of course drugs. The Philippines 🇵🇭 can be paradise or you could have drama. I believe for the most part being blessed with a great Filipina will keep you on point 👉. I agree, medical, financial issues, you must plan to return to America 🇺🇸. Or really plan things in the Philippines 🇵🇭. Thank you for this sad advisory story Mark.

A sad story, but also very good advice.

Do you ever have videos about guys who actually came to the Philippines prepared and are successful?

I unfortunately see this in the USA. I’ve had vets come into the VA hospital with wet gangrene of the foot and osteomyelitis in the bone with not much support network and severe neglect. However at least once they get to the va life saving treatment can be given but in the Philippines I just don’t see them having the resources.

What a sad tale. God bless you for trying to help. Best wishes to you, Jen, and Rogan.

You are a good and honorable man Mark! This is a tragic situation and my thoughts go out to this man's family. Thanks for sharing!

Sad story, but a good one to tell 👍

A lot of us watch your channel because we daydream about leaving our current messed up situation and the grass seems greener over there.

Each Of us Can Make The Most Of The Health We Have. One Day, of Course We Will Die ---- But Not Without First Having Lived And As We Live, We Will Still Shed Tears --- But Will Always Return To a Place Of Peace. Stay Safe and Healthy Sir. God Bless. 🙏

You're doing God's work sir...I know the man's family aappreciated your efforts even though the man passed away...

You are doing a wonderful job! What happened to the widow?

Very sad indeed. But it seems like some of the decisions this gentleman made directly contributed to his sad demise. Mark, you're a saint for helping as much as you did. At least you helped connect the man and his daughter again, however briefly. Imagine if you hadn't had been there at all? RIP to the gentleman and many lessons learned for us all.

I carry a bag and I have a medic bag inside my bag with gauze, triple antibiotic ointment, tape, antibiotics and so many other necessities for our health.

I learn a lot from the downer stories. Don't mind them at all. 👍

Very conversational voice and good story telling 😊nice to listen to

We really send our best and brightest to the Philippines.

PH is a paradise... for bacterium 😢

Very sad to hear about your compatriot. RIP.

Very good information. What we all need to hear. Thank you.

Thanks for posting this! A needed wake-up call for those who need it!

Don't count on the US Embassy to do anything to help you. The DMV is more responsive.

Very sad story Mark. Thank you for helping.

Geez, Philippines immigration will be denying thousands of tourists visa extensions soon

That was a sad story. That was so kind of you to help.

Great share. You did well helping this guy and his family 👏

Good job Mark your a blessing.

That's a very valuable job you are doing there as a volunteer, Mark! Probably not the most pleasant one as all these guys you are helping are in some sort of trouble, but I'm sure it's very rewarding at the end of the day.

Good man you get points in heaven for this fantastic work!

thx for the story, you are a good person to do what you were able to do.

You do you know Mark those things happen we all know that it's terrible to have your life interrupted trying to help somebody in dire need but I'm sure the family very very much appreciated your leg work.., very sad but it was very interesting story... We truly believe these things need to be put out there... I firmly believe we firmly believe there's no such thing as Paradise anywhere.. kiss that baby for us..

God bless you for your efforts to help him, Mark.

Ur a good man im a vet and flew to manilla to go usa embassy...they refused even let me in building!!! Thats usa!!!!anyway i give up..no more ph or asia...going back usa never leave again....usa usa usa usa!

Thanks for sharing Mark.

Specialist told me they don’t amputate toes bc most families can’t afford hospital costs. They do half a leg instead bc family can’t afford a further complication years later.

Thanks for sharing Mark. RIP, Sir.

Mark you look dashing with your hat on

It maybe a downer, but it’s a vital caveat. “Don’t let things go.”

It's my understanding that you can't send a person's ashes through the mail as it's considered human remains. So to recover them would be yet another huge expense. And thank you for helping your fellow man...