What should retirees know about the climate in the Philippines? Learn about heat, humidity, typhoons, earthquakes, volcanoes, brownouts, and how expats prepare for life in the tropics.
If you want to understand the Philippines, don’t start with politics or economics. Start with food. What Filipinos eat, where they shop, and how they share meals reveals a lot about life and culture in the Philippines.
One of the first things foreigners notice in the Philippines is how cheerful people seem despite economic hardship. After years of living here, I’ve come to believe Filipino happiness is less about wealth and more about family, faith, community, and resilience.
After surviving four years of driving in Cebu City, I learned that traffic in the Philippines isn’t brokenāit’s just operating under a completely different set of rules than Americans expect.
European advice about tipping does not travel cleanly to the Philippines. Here, tips are usually not demanded ā 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: Donāt tip American-style.Donāt scatter coins on the table.Donāt … Read more
Filipinos know global problems affect prices. What they do not trust is how quickly every problem becomes someoneās excuse to charge more. The truth is not all economics and not all greed ā it is a mix of both, and ordinary people pay the difference.
The pesoādollar rate isnāt random. It moves with U.S. rates, oil prices, and how many dollars flow into the Philippines. Hereās the expat-friendly explanationāand how to budget for it.
Palm trees and beaches don’t automatically create happiness. Many retirees discover that loneliness abroad isn’t about locationāit’s about losing structure, routine, and connection.
Discover why the Philippines celebrates the world’s longest Christmas season. From the Ber Months and parols to Simbang Gabi and family fiestas, here’s what expats should know.
Forget the ālive like a king in the Philippines for $1,000 a monthā hype. This is my actual monthly budget as an American expatārent, AC, groceries, helper, healthcare, savings and an emergency fundābroken down in pesos and dollars so you can see what it really takes to live comfortably here without relying on a YouTube channel.