Perry Gamsby first visited the Philippines in 1988, beginning a love affair with the country and the people that culminated in his marrying a Filipina and moving to Cebu in 2002. For the next four years Perry lived, loved and laughed and all the while learned far more than anyone can, even in a decade and a half of annual vacations and numerous business trips.
Although now back in his native Sydney, Perry remains in daily contact with the Philippines via his two Yahoo Groups, numerous friends and relatives still living there and of course the power of the Internet.
Perry served in the Australian Regular Army and the Australian Army Reserve from 1977 to 1987, as an infantryman, combat engineer and finally as a military policeman.
Honourably Discharged from the military as a Non-Commissioned Officer, Perry was awarded the Australian Defence Medal for service.
In the two decades since then, Perry has been a Security Consultant, Bodyguard, Bouncer, Debt Collector, Process Server, Self Defence Instructor, Martial Arts World Champion, Sales Executive, Sailor, Scuba Diver, Off Road Driving Instructor, English Teacher, Map Editor, Writer, Father and currently a full-time student about to complete his Master of Arts in Writing from Swinburne University of Technology.
Perry has written more than ten eBooks on Philippines related topics, a novel, an autobiography, many poems, some songs, 16 self defence training videos, three self defence manuals, a dozen or more magazine articles, hundreds of newsletters, designed and taught several training courses in sales, marketing, self defence and loss prevention and built and sailed his own boat!
His advice to anyone contemplating anything… “Just do it! After all, what is the worst that could happen?”