The technology that makes retirement overseas feel a lot less overseas.
This article is part of the My Philippines Retirement Hub , a collection of observations, practical advice, and hard-earned lessons about retiring and living in the Philippines.
One of the biggest fears Americans have before moving to the Philippines isn’t healthcare, visas, or even money.
It’s this:
“What happens if I miss my family?”
It’s a fair question.
After all, the Philippines isn’t next door.
It’s roughly 8,000 miles and half a day away from the United States.
The good news?
Thanks to modern technology, I probably talk to some of my friends and family in America more often now than I did when I actually lived there.
Here are the methods I personally use every week from my home in Puerto Galera.
1. Facebook Messenger: My #1 Choice
If I had to choose only one method to stay connected, it would be:
Facebook Messenger
The reasons are simple:
- It’s free.
- Almost everybody already has Facebook.
- Audio quality is excellent.
- Video quality is excellent.
- It works on phones, tablets, and computers.
My Setup
I use:
- Starlink internet
- Initial equipment cost: about $600
- Monthly service: about $63
The connection is fast and reliable enough for crystal-clear audio and video calls.
How I Make Calls
- Open Facebook.
- Click the Messenger icon.
- Select the person you want to contact.
- Press:
📞 for voice calls
🎥 for video calls
That’s it.
No international dialing.
No international rates.
No surprise bills.
Things To Remember
Time Zones Matter
The Philippines is usually:
- 12 hours ahead of Eastern Time
- 13 hours ahead of Central
- 14 hours ahead of Mountain
- 15–16 hours ahead of Pacific
I’ve learned not to call somebody in Arizona at 3 AM unless it’s important.
Facebook Friends
Messenger works best when both people are Facebook friends.
Fortunately, most Americans over 50 already have Facebook accounts.
2. WhatsApp: My Backup System
Not everybody uses Facebook.
For those people, I use:
WhatsApp is:
- free
- secure
- easy
- widely used internationally
The only requirements are:
- both people have WhatsApp installed
- both have internet access
Making A Call
- Save the person’s phone number with the country code.
- Open WhatsApp.
- Open the chat.
- Tap:
📞 for voice
🎥 for video
Done.
Advantages Of WhatsApp
- Excellent call quality
- End-to-end encryption
- Available worldwide
- Works great on Wi-Fi
- Easy video calls
The only downside?
You can’t call someone who doesn’t have WhatsApp.
3. Talk360: Calling People Who Don’t Use Apps
Sometimes you need to call:
- elderly relatives
- government offices
- landlines
- people who don’t own smartphones
- people who hate technology
That’s where I use:
Talk360
This app is brilliant.
The person receiving the call:
- doesn’t need internet
- doesn’t need a smartphone
- doesn’t need an app
- doesn’t even know you’re using an app
To them, it simply looks like a normal telephone call.
Why I Like Talk360
Global Coverage
You can call over:
190 countries
Cheap
Calling the United States from the Philippines costs me roughly:
5 cents per minute
Great Quality
The audio quality is surprisingly good.
Payment
I simply buy prepaid credit using:
- PayPal
- credit card
- numerous other payment methods
The balance never expires.
4. Keeping My U.S. Phone Number
Before leaving the United States, I kept my:
T-Mobile account
Cost:
About $50 per month
This allows me to:
- receive calls from the U.S.
- send text messages
- receive verification codes
- maintain a permanent American phone number
This has been extremely useful for:
- banks
- government agencies
- medical providers
- two-factor authentication
The Truth Nobody Told Me About Retiring Overseas
When I first considered moving to the Philippines, I worried that I’d lose contact with friends and family.
What actually happened was the opposite.
Today I can:
- video call Missouri,
- text Arizona,
- call a landline in Florida,
- and join a Facebook group discussion,
all while sitting on my veranda in Puerto Galera drinking coffee.
The world got smaller.
And for retirees living overseas, that’s a very good thing.
Continue Exploring My Philippines Retirement
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Tipping in the Philippines: Not Europe, Not America
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Why Are Filipinos So Happy and Cheerful?
How family, faith, community, and resilience shape Filipino attitudes toward happiness. -
I Learned More About Defensive Driving in the Philippines Than I Ever Did in America
What driving in the Philippines taught me about patience, adaptation, and letting go. -
Why the Peso Moves: What Expats Need to Know
Understanding exchange rates and why they matter to your retirement budget.
📬 BUNKER NOTICE
Retiring overseas does not mean disappearing from the people who matter.
With the right setup, you can sit on a veranda in the Philippines and still talk to friends, family, banks, doctors, and old Marine buddies back in America.
Technology made the world smaller.
Retirement just gave me more time to use it.
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