The Great Philippine Denture Heist
Retirement in the Philippines comes with surprises. This week’s surprise involved a missing denture, a family investigation, and a rat that apparently decided to steal YaYa’s teeth.
My Philippines Retirement
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.
Tipping in the Philippines: Why It’s Not Europe, and Not America Either
European advice about tipping does not travel cleanly to the Philippines. Here, tips are usually not demanded — but they are appreciated, useful, and often a meaningful gesture of respect. I read a travel piece about tipping in, primarily in restaurants, in Europe that basically said this: Don’t tip American-style.Don’t scatter coins on the table.Don’t … Read more
When Prices Rise in the Philippines: Global Costs or Local Greed?
Filipinos know global problems affect prices. What they do not trust is how quickly every problem becomes someone’s excuse to charge more. The truth is not all economics and not all greed — it is a mix of both, and ordinary people pay the difference.
America Can Have Plenty of Oil — and Filipinos Can Still Get Hammered at the Pump
America may have oil, but that does not make gasoline, diesel, or LPG cheap in the Philippines. This country buys into a global energy market, and when fear drives prices up, ordinary Filipinos feel it everywhere.
The Retirement Luxury Nobody Talks About: Less Hassle
One of the best things about living in the Philippines is not just the lower cost of living. It’s the lower hassle. When something goes wrong, somebody usually knows how to fix it, and fast.
Receipts Don’t Rule Here—Relationships Do”
In the Philippines, paperwork matters… but the person who knows the person often matters more. New expats arrive with a comforting belief: “If I have the receipt, I’m protected.” Sometimes, yes. But here’s the Philippines reality check: A receipt proves you paid. It does not guarantee you’ll get results. Because many outcomes don’t come from … Read more
The “Soft No” Dictionary: Philippines Edition
In the Philippines, “no” often wears a disguise. Learn to read it—without turning into the rude foreigner. Every expat learns this sooner or later: In the Philippines, “No” is often considered too blunt.So people soften it. Not to mess with you.Not to scam you. Usually to preserve hiya (face), keep harmony, and avoid conflict. If … Read more
Gold Is King: How Pawnshops Really Work in the Philippines
Philippine pawnshops aren’t retail floors like in the U.S.—they’re fast collateral lenders built around gold. Here’s what expats should expect, why locals assign pawn value to everything, and what “pawn-like” deals to avoid.
The Peso Moves. Here’s Why. (A Straight Answer for Expats in the Philippines)
The peso–dollar rate isn’t random. It moves with U.S. rates, oil prices, and how many dollars flow into the Philippines. Here’s the expat-friendly explanation—and how to budget for it.
The Barangay Reality Check
What local governance actually means for noise, disputes, permits, and peace. If you’re a foreigner in the Philippines, or even a Filipino who’s lived abroad for years, you might assume “government” lives in big offices downtown. Wrong. In day-to-day life, the government you actually deal with is local — and in many places, it starts … Read more