Trusted Philippines Resources

Why I’m Pointing You to Mike and Pea

My friend Mike came to the Philippines in his late 60s, traveled the islands, then settled down in Dumaguete and married a wonderful Filipina. He’s living the good life and has spent the last few years vlogging about the Philippines—candid, practical, and no fluff.

Here on my site I’ll share my own lessons from 15 years of coming and going—what actually worked for me. But instead of reinventing the wheel on every topic (visas, housing, cost of living, healthcare, banking, and more), I’m happy to feature Mike’s YouTube channel and urge you to subscribe. If Mike covers it, you can take it to the bank.

What Mike’s videos cover

• Visas & immigration basics (and the gotchas)
• Housing: rentals vs. buying, neighborhoods, true costs
• Cost of living: what expats really spend
• Healthcare: options, insurance, expectations
• Day-to-day life: safety, transport, SIM/banking, culture

I follow a lot of PH vloggers. Mike’s channel is the most honest I’ve found about what life here is really like—the good and the bad—told in plain English with real numbers and real stories. He can be a bit click-baity at times but that’s to be expected if you want to get eyes on your videos. People love drama, scandal, scam stories, if it bleeds, it leads. But unlike others who can’t live up to the click bait within the context of their video, Mike provides solid information.

→ Subscribe to Mike on YouTube (highly recommended)

Note: No affiliation, just respect for straight talk and the hard work it takes to produce informational videos, ones designed to help people avoid expensive mistakes.

Here is a sample of his work:

Why I’m Pointing You to The Filipina Pea

For the Filipina perspective on topics like age gaps, what women look for in a partner, and whether dating a foreigner makes sense (and when it doesn’t), The Filipina Pea is the clearest voice I’ve found. She’s Filipina, smart, witty, and eloquent—and she explains culture and context in plain English.

On my site I’ll keep sharing what I’ve learned over 15 years here. But if you want the inside track from a Filipina’s point of view, start with Pea’s channel.

What the Pea covers (and why it matters)

• Age-gap realities: expectations vs. red flags
• What Filipinas value: character, commitment, family respect
• Cross-cultural dating: etiquette, communication, meeting the family
• Money & boundaries: support vs. dependence, fairness, transparency
• Long-distance & marriage: visas, timelines, paperwork basics
• Myths vs. facts: what’s normal here—and what isn’t

I’ve watched a lot of channels. Pea tells it like it is—the good and the uncomfortable—in a way that actually helps people make better choices.

→ Subscribe to The Filipina Pea on YouTube (highly recommended)

Note: This is the Filipina side of the story. Pair her insights with on-the-ground experience and common sense for the full picture.

Here is a sample of her work: