My Philippines Retirement is my straight-talk field guide to life in the islands from a Vietnam Veteran Marine who actually moved here. Cost of living, healthcare, visas, culture shock, malls, typhoons, neighbors and second missions for vets—it’s all here. If you’re serious about bailing out of CONUS and retiring in the Philippines, start with these posts.
In the U.S., when the power goes out, we call it a blackout—which makes sense. If it happens at night, everything goes dark, and that’s usually the moment people start imagining monsters coming out of the shadows. Americans even have famous blackouts that live in the national memory. The 1977 Great New York Blackout turned … Read more
Ever notice how what we expats call flip-flops are pretty much the national footwear of the Philippines? Sandals—tsinelas—are everywhere. Jeepney? Sandals.Market day? Sandals.Mountain trail that would make a goat nervous? Still sandals. Not tennis shoes for traction.Not boots for motorcycle safety.Not galoshes for the mud. Just those trusty rubber sandals, slapping along like it’s the … Read more
Most guys on YouTube will tell you why you should retire in the Philippines. I’m going to tell you how I actually got here—mistakes, bad bets on love, busted expectations and all—and why that long, messy road eventually pointed me to Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. This isn’t theory. It’s twelve-plus years of boots-on-the-ground experience from … Read more
Most people think retiring in the Philippines is beaches, cheap beer, and smiling neighbors. That’s part of it—but nobody at the travel agency explains the power outages, visa rules, or what happens when your blood pressure spikes in a typhoon. Here are 10 things I wish I’d known before I made the jump.
Forget the “live like a king in the Philippines for $1,000 a month” hype. This is my actual monthly budget as an American expat—rent, AC, groceries, helper, healthcare, savings and an emergency fund—broken down in pesos and dollars so you can see what it really takes to live comfortably here without relying on a YouTube channel.
n the U.S., malls are dying. In the Philippines, they’re packed. For many expats, these giant, air-conditioned palaces feel like the American malls they grew up with — only busier, friendlier, and very much alive. If you grew up in the era when “going out” meant getting dropped at the mall for the afternoon, you … Read more
Many Filipinas are “wives in name only” — still married on paper, but long separated and building a real life with a new partner. This post breaks down what WINO really means in the Philippines, what foreigners need to know about annulment, and how to approach these relationships with eyes open.
Living in the Philippines taught me a hard truth: over here, “he’s still family” can outrank almost anything. Back home, you burn me three times and you disappear. My Rule (U.S.): Three Strikes, You’re Out Where I come from, adults own their behavior. Ten DUIs? Jail time? Theft? Lying? Dragging your family through chaos again … Read more
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 … Read more
What’s inside the fakes, what’s legal, quick tells on the street, and a simple rotation plan so your watches don’t die in the box. Street finds: a two-tone Sub look and two Daytona looks. Yes, replicas—and yes, good-looking. I’m a watch guy. I rotate them like jewelry—different vibe, different day. In Manila I’m forever offered … Read more