Bayanihan is more than a Filipino tradition. After a landslide struck our property in Puerto Galera, I experienced firsthand what happens when a community comes togetherāand why an American retiree may come to the Philippines alone but doesnāt have to remain alone here.
If someone in the Philippines tells you the party starts at 6:00 PM, does that really mean 6:00? Hereās what American retirees should understand about āFilipino time,ā why it exists, and when being late definitely isnāt acceptable.
Every American retiree remembers their first Philippine Comfort Room. The bucket. The tabo. The missing toilet seat. The trash can beside the toilet. At first it’s culture shock. Before long, it simply becomes another part of everyday life.
Credit cards and digital payments are becoming more common, but cash still runs much of everyday life in the Philippines. Here’s what every new retiree should know about exact change, small bills, tipping, and the mysterious way Philippine coins seem to multiply.
Many Americans think they’ve experienced hot weather before moving to the Philippines. Then they discover tropical humidity. Here’s why the heat feels different, how to stay comfortable, and why air conditioning becomes one of the best investments you’ll ever make.
Most guys on YouTube will tell you why you should retire in the Philippines. Iām going to tell you how I actually got hereāmistakes, bad bets on love, busted expectations and allāand why that long, messy road eventually pointed me to Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. This isnāt theory. Itās twelve-plus years of boots-on-the-ground experience from … Read more