It’s More Fun In the Philippines!
And it’s true! Just arm yourself with as much information as you can before making the decision to come to the Philippines for a vacation or if you are considering retirement there. Don’t pay too much attention to any of the negative stories you may see on YouTube from disgruntled expats. You are only getting one side of the story. It can be a fantastic place to visit or settle permanently in if you care to learn how to find the good and how to avoid the pitfalls.
There is a wealth of information out there about visiting or retirement in the Philippines so there is really no reason to come cold and unarmed. The information I provide here is based on my experiences since coming to the PI in 2012. Having lived on many different islands and in cities, both large and small over the years I have a pretty good handle on some of the topics you might find interesting.
Way back in 2012 I learned my lessons the hard way, some good, some painful. Bottom line: you ain’t in Kansas any more Dorothy! Had there been any YouTubers back then, vlogging about life for expats thinking of coming to the Philippines, I could have avoided some situations that were not so pleasant once I hit the beach on Cebu Island, the place where my Philippines adventure started.
There are just too many good resources available on YouTube, advice from expats who live here or have visited long enough to know some of the ropes, if not all. Take what you think is of value, and the rest with a grain of rice. The Philippines is a wonderful place to live, I should know, I’m retired here permanently and finally found my happy place.
Don’t take my word for it
If you take one thing away from my story, let it be this: don’t come to the Philippines blind. Please check out the resources at the end of this post with links to their YouTube channel. This is the biggest favor I can do for anyone contemplating a vacation or permanent relocation to the Philippines. This is what we used to call in the Marines, the straight scoop, the most reliable information available about life here without the BS. If I sound too harsh at times, it’s only to emphasize the importance of gathering as much good info as you can before you make the jump.
The Women: Beautiful, Charming & a whole lot more
One after the other, the ladies here are so beautiful it hurts your heart to look at them. Age gap? Not really a concern to a Filipina if she is treated with kindness and respect. The romance scams? Sure, they’re real, but they’re not the worst. Let’s get something straight: Filipinas know how to get their next bowl of rice — and seconds, too. Even though I myself was a victim once, I can’t call a sirens song for money from a Filipina a scam anymore. It’s survival. When your kid’s hungry, everything is fair in love and war. And if you find a woman that captures your heart and makes your loins flutter, a lady you want to call your own and settle down with, just remember, with Filipina comes eggroll, that metaphorical eggroll being her family.
The real danger from the so-called romance scams comes from foreigners themselves thinking they’re clever enough to beat the system. Filipina’s have had years to perfect their wiles and they are good at it. Dating here is not like dating in the US. You cannot keep a secret here, somehow Filipina’s will know if you are seeing multiple women and you will be called on it. Try not to jump in the sack with the first pretty girl you meet. You will find many willing and enthusiastic partners but they come at a cost. I compare it to browsing in a shop filled with fragile items, feel free to touch but if you break it, you own it.
Leave your entrepreneurial spirit back home
Rule #1: Don’t Come Here Thinking You Can Start A Business.
I don’t care if you’ve invented the greatest proprietary widget since the wheel. If it becomes successful here, they’ll find a way to take it away from you, push you out, and leave you holding an empty bag. I’ve seen it all: gold mining ventures, call centers, internet cafés, western-style restaurants — every single one went down in flames. They learned this trick from the Japanese during the war: take the idea, shut out the foreigner, reap the profit.
Take my friend Garry. He was a builder, a contractor, a Monolithic Dome Institute graduate. He came over with an idea for cheap, concrete dome homes that could withstand typhoons, fires, earthquakes. The kind of structures this country desperately needed. Politicians and TV personalities swore they supported him. Years later, nothing. Why? Because it wasn’t their idea. And the truth is, nobody really cares if a family dies in a flood or storm — replacing roofs and rebuilding homes is an industry here. Death and destruction fuel the economy.
Housing? Here, renting is best
Rule #2: Forget about owning or purchasing property.
Houses and lots are sold separately here and land titles can go back generations and are difficult to reconcile, even for Filipinos. You cannot own land in the Philippines as a foreigner. Period. If you try, you’ll lose. You’ll be scammed by attorneys, by real estate phonies, by contractors. If you want peace of mind that your Filipina will be taken care of when you’re gone, set up a savings account in her name and make regular deposits into it. Pay the day to day living expenses while you’re alive. Let her decide what to do with the money later. Don’t burn yourself out trying to chase a deed you’ll never legally own. Renting offers flexibility to move around and experience other parts of the Philippines.
Yes, Cost of living is way cheaper here, but…
Rule #3: Don’t come here broke or half-prepared.
Forget what you see on YouTube — you cannot live like a king on $800. a month unless you enjoy living in the jungle, walking barefoot, wearing a loin cloth, with a bone through your nose. That’s pure fantasy. IMO, If you don’t have at least $3,000 steady income a month, you will be sorry. Most foreigners come here at an advanced age and are accustomed to certain standards of living, air conditioning, good food, and a proper roof over their head. And if you think you’re going to start a YouTube channel and pay your bills that way, dream on. It’s hard work and takes a long time before a channel is monetized and starts to pay dividends.
Law abiding is best way to stay under the radar
Rule #4: Respect the law.
Philippine Immigration is not the joke it has been under JB in the States. Ignore visa rules and they’ll track you down and kick you out. A tourist visa is renewable monthly for up to two years before you need to leave, if only for one day. Retiring here you can qualify for an SRRV which gives you permanent residency but it can be expensive, although military veterans get a big break. Your US drivers license is only good for 90 days here. Warning Will Robinson! If you drive a car here and hit someone — or even if someone hits YOU — it doesn’t matter. You’re the “rich” foreigner, you’re responsible, and you’ll pay. Period.
And forget about self-defense. If you harm a Filipino, even a robber attacking you, you’re done. The courts will never see it as justified. Poverty here excuses everything. Feed your family by stealing? They call it survival. Kill a foreigner? That’s just balancing the scales.
Silence of the Lambs
Rule #5: Check your ego at the airport.
If you’re a raging alcoholic, a loudmouth, a boastful idiot, stay in the States. They might tolerate you there. Here, you’ll be despised. Road rage is for the morons in the US. Filipinos are some of the warmest, friendliest, most charming people on earth — until you cause them harm or make them lose face. Then a blood feud is justifiable homicide, and you’ll never see it coming.
Even the hustles come from unexpected places. I once got hit up in a mall by another American. Claimed a Filipina had scammed him out of everything, and he just needed money for a ticket home. I gave him twenty bucks. Two months later, there he was again, running the same con.
This is the Philippines. The charm is real. The dangers are realer. If you come here thinking you’re going to outsmart the system, the only fool in the room will be you.
Healthcare is good in the PI
If you are concerned about the quality of healthcare in the Philippines, my advice is not to worry too much about it. They have great hospitals and doctors here. Doctor visits and medications are cheap, so are dentists. A lot of prescription meds in the US are available over the counter here. I once fell off my motorcycle and broke my collar bone. Went to the hospital, examined by several doctors, x-rayed, put in a sling, all for the princely sum of $35.00 out the door. Veterans with service connected disabilities can be cared for at the VA Clinic in Manila. (link below)
The jarhead seal of approval
Here are the names of my trusted resources with links to their YouTube channels that I promised you at the beginning of this post. The ones that have my seal of approval and those you can depend on for the straight dope on life in the Philippines:
Mikes Philippine Retirement – A 70 yr old American from Ohio via Las Vegas, happily married to a Filipina, living in Dumaguete. Look beyond his click baity approach (it gets him clicks), the info inside is usually honest and reliable. Mike vlogs regularly about everything from visa requirements to housing, relationships, expat stories and holds regular live streams for his channel subscribers. Here is a sample:
The Filipina Pea – A very charming, seriously cute, and articulate Filipina vlogging from the Filipina perspective, among the many subjects of interest are: discussions with other Filipinas about the age gap question, what Filipinas look for in a man, especially foreigners. Even various topics as sensitive as romance and sex. Here is a sample:
My Philippines Retirement– It’s my YouTube channel and most of what you see on it is about my wonderful retirement life here in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, my favorite restaurants, resorts and sites that I have enjoyed since retiring here and not a channel created for monetization. You won’t see me begging for you to hit the notification bell, like and subscribe to it. Subscribe or not, I’m simply, Rich (Sarge), the old corps jarhead, author of this post and co-founder of the first VFW Post in Cebu, POST 12130 ULYSSES G. BUZZARD MEMORIAL. I served in the US Marine Corps from 1968-72, attaining the rank of Sgt, E-5. One tour in Vietnam, 1969-70. Full disability at 100% with the Veterans Administration, I am well versed in veterans benefits and support for veterans here in the Philippines. I do not give advice to vets other than to share my own experience with attaining disability but instead, direct them to the VA Regional Office & Outpatient Clinic in Manila. There, the experts can answer any questions a vet might have about health care, filing a claim or any other issues a veteran might need help with. Feel free to contact me regarding any questions you might have about my personal experiences and life as a veteran, retired and living permanently in the Philippines: oldcorpsjarhead@gmail.com