Retire to the Philippines??????????

A big move for both of you.  I take it that you have visited  the Philippine's many times and understand the quality of life here.

For me as a straight up comparison between Australia and the Philippines:

Electrical goods are more expensive here.
Cars are more expensive here.
To find quality food is hard and expensive here, if not impossible.  (unless you are in Manila)
To find quality anything is very hard.
The Doctors education here is good, but the equipment they have to work with is a long way behind Australia.  I have never visited a dentist.
Labour is cheap here, so home and gardening help is cheap.

So why am i here, i hear you say, i just ended up been here, after traveling solo here for about 4 years and then spending a year here full time as a solo expat, things are good.
What will inflation do here?  I budget on 3% PA for inflation increase.  Also the currency exchange rate may change, may go down or may go up.

I have being married now for 6 months and all is good with my wife, her family is financially well off and never ask for money (both ex government employees on a good pension).  My parents are old and before COVID we used to travel back to Aust about every 4 months.  My parents may only live for another few years  while my wifes family will live for a couple of decades, hence for us being here comes down to be close to family members.

Consider what what you will want when you get old, hospital, physio's hospital's and have a think about it.

Also even though the government has being stable for a long time, the day may come when things turn bad here.  Plus you have rebel groups in the country. 

Hope that this helps.

Good luck with what every you choose, and of course DO NOT BUY a house here until you have lived here for at least 3 years, make sure that you are happy living here before buying property or a even a car.

You can always visit a local government's website as your starting point.

Iloilo City - https://www.iloilo.gov.ph/

General Luna, Surigao del Norte - http://www.surigaodelnorte.gov.ph/general-luna.html

Dumaguete City - https://dumaguetecity.gov.ph/

And you are welcome to watch and/or search the YouTube videos of those foreign millenials who have visited and lived in these places. Millenials may want to become famous online, etc. but their video making skills have been very helpful in getting the info out there - fast.

Examples:

Bought a Car in Dumaguete by an American Bisayang Hilaw - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AzbUEadnVo

Choosing Iloilo as their 2nd Home by British couple Coshan Uncharted - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL5lAuYtMTc
Iloilo City Street Food/Night Life by an American BecomingFilipino- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S97FmO1v5kg


General Luna, Siargao Food Tour by Americans The Endless Adventure - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqSAIh6wLSg

Nobalut4me wrote:

SERIOUSLY considering retiring to the Philippines.  ANY advise is appreciated

For what its worth... before the covid 19 outbreak  I wasn't too sure if I'd made the right decission....but today with whats going on in many parts of the world...there is NO other place I'd rather be especially here where i currently reside a 3rd class province.
(Again I have No pre-existing ailment/condition & financially pretty much ok)
Again OMHO

Hahaha...looks like many of my country residents are having that same  nostalgic feeling too.

https://ph.yahoo.com/news/singapores-la … 19986.html

@pej1111 Yeah, governmental instability is one reason I am considering the Philippines. I never thought it could happen here in the US but its no secret what will happen if the US goes socialist in the next election. In addition to that, I believe the Filipino people are kinder, and more lawful that most people in American cities (I could be wrong). Its generally inexpensive to live there if you aren't the "high maintenance" type.

THANK YOU for the resources. I haven't read/watched them yet but I suspect they will be tremendously helpful. I also have a question that I hope you can help with. One of the reasons I want to retire to the Philippines is because I SUSPECT that MOST Filipinos are kinder and more law abiding than people living in major American cities. That said, I see many homes in the Philippines with fences, gates, walls with barbs, ETC. which is something that doesn't really happen in the US. Which do you think is more indicative of life in the Philippines, the walls and gates or my "impression" that Filipinos are just better people?

Probably the old adage that good fences make good neighbors.  There are a lot more walls and fences now than there were 25 years ago, but out in the province the lifestyle is about the same as it was, little crime, the highways being the most dangerous places to be.

Capitalism and Communism are the two ends of Socialism!! Pretty much as described by Rosa Luxumberg and her partner  Karl Liebknecht! The Protocols of the Wise Men of Zion is a document she brought with her from Russia written by the Orcana the secret police of Czar Nicholos. Reads like todays news lol!

Social Capitalism is the only place the USA has to go and still maintain it's identity. It is the maturation of the cycle! That form of socialism is much more just for all the people!
It will happen and nothing YOU will do about it!

Of course world war would stop all social process on planet for thousands of years

Our Government will resemble the Hindu god Vishnu. Each of our hundred hands will hold one spring of the social machinery of State.

— Protocols, p. 65

A loan is an issue of Government paper which entails an obligation to pay interest amounting to a percentage of the total sum of the borrowed money. If a loan is at 5%, then in 20 years the Government would have unnecessarily paid out a sum equal to that of the loan in order to cover the percentage. In 40 years it will have paid twice; and in 60 thrice that amount, but the loan will still remain as an unpaid debt.

— Protocols, p. 77

These newspapers, like the Indian god Vishnu, will be possessed of hundreds of hands, each of which will be feeling the pulse of varying public opinion.

— Protocols, p. 43

If any are truly interested in the future read this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Proto … rs_of_Zion

Agree with the Walls/Fences part as only the richer residents would be able to install these in the first place, so if you were to live in the province you'll see much less of these baricades. Its not going to be easy to adjust if you are an expat (1st world) and not being able to speak the local language.
It can be a bit frustrating  here at times with people parking or sitting right in front of your front gate, shouting and laughing which will take some time getting used to. So best be prepared for these inconviniences.
Kindness you say 'maybe' but if Its just a bowl of rice/noodles it doesn't cost very much does it?  and  favours need to be returned...maybe in the form of coconuts/guava that are plucked from the trees so nothing is free here either.
Again OMO

manwonder wrote:

Its not going to be easy to adjust if you are an expat (1st world) and not being able to speak the local language.

Agreed, It's like living in the Penthouse and then moving to the basement. The red tape will mire you down as if you're in quicksand up to your neck.

If you want to get anything done you better have a good mentor. I'm lucky I have two adult sons, so instead of me getting aggravated with the system they take care of things I could never accomplish alone.

What you can  get done in the states in a hour,  sometimes in the Philippines more than a day. That's if you don't give up trying.

For example: I want to bring two packets of tomato seeds from the states (Which you can buy in your local US supermarket.)

Here is what I have to do in the Philippines:

(1) Letter of intent to director to OIC-Chief, NPQSD
(2) BPI Application Form No. 01
(3) Sketch Map (Final Destination)
(4) Brgy. Clearance/Business License
(5) Xerox Copy of valid ID
(6) Promissory letter for inspection of planting site.
(7) Pictures of Final Destination/Planting Site
(8) Payment 300 php for permit.

Do all that and you can have a decent Tomato on your Burger or Salad. I went grocery shopping several days ago, saw one decent Tomato that could top a burger 190 php.

Hi, Nobalut4me (I love the handle!). My wife and I, like you, have been married for more than 30 years and recently took the plunge you're considering, also from the US. For us, it was an easy decision - we couldn't afford to retire in the US on the little we had saved, and she has a large, very nice family here in Cagayan de Oro. I have no experiences in the places you mention, but CDO is working out really well for us. We built a house (a long, difficult process but definitely saved us money over buying) in a large gated community, with a mix of middle-class Filipinos and expats. Once we took care of the furnishings and bought a car, our biggest expense looks like it's going to be food, since we're entertaining her family frequently both at home and in local restaurants. Our monthly utilities (power, water, decent internet, satellite TV and mobile service for 2) looks like about PhP 17k - maybe $350. Better than I was expecting, especially since we run some air conditioners a lot.

We did include a wall/fence on the house, mostly because most houses have them. However, I have never felt in any danger here in the suburbs or in the city. Everyone I have dealt with has been genuinely friendly and helpful - many of them very happy to have some extra work (labor is embarrassingly cheap). Besides the red tape issues noted above, the biggest challenge for me is probably the driving, for which I have decided there is only 1 rule: Don't hit anything or anybody and you will be fine, no matter what you do.

I hope this helps - and good luck!

-- Rich

Hi Nobalut4me, I can understand Iloilo and Dumaguete and your possibilities (I'm still considering Dumaguete as a long-term location), but what makes General Luna attractive to you? It's kind of out-of-the way....

The early stages of retirement in the Philippines is exiting and rewarding but after a few years the expat needs some of his own nationals for conversation and company.                                                                 The wife will always be able to chat with locals but its the expat that will become isolated unless he's chosen a place near to an expat community.  Never mind the social class of expat, but just to be able to meet occasionally and chat is a necessity.                                                                                                             Its a mistake to buy a cheap plot of land purely because of the price. Examine the neighborhood and try to meet the locals,                                                 
There is certainly a class system here and most expats marry ladies from less advantaged families which means that you may find it difficult to socialise with Middle class Filipinos. Owning high end houses and cars does not necessarily gain you access to Middle class Filipino families.                                   Selecting a subdivision that needs voluntary help would be a way to meet your neighbors. From our experience the Filipino is not always willing to work for no pay and so a volunteer is welcome.

My experiences here are.....things are only FREE in 1 direction......from foreigner to pinoy. Yes, they will smile and say thank you, most of the time. But in all my years here, these happy and friendly pinoy take only......but never give or return back. Its kinda sad that the concept of "give and take" just hasn't caught on...........but with things here being so cheap, its easier for us foreigners to accept it......

Hello, I've been here for over 10 years.....Manila, Davao, and Cebu.....mostly Cebu southern province. There are many laws on the books, but this is NOT a lawful country......shortcuts, bribes are every day living here. Criminals and others don't use highways, they know what barangay roads to use to avoid check points. ANY violation of law by foreigners will be prosecuted to the max.......with numerous "fake" eye witnesses hoping to collect. The laws favor Filipinos.....and honestly discriminate against foreigners, sorry to say its really unfair. Even prices of most products are higher for foreigners than locals. Most of the corruption is in the cities, which is why I chose living in the province. As in the US, the farther away from governments hand as you can get.............is always much better. These are the negative things...if you are careful and respectful of local laws and people, you will have NO problem. The people in the province seem to me.......to be more friendly, honest, harder working, have a greater chance of becoming friends.............and are much more thankful for any help or assistance you give them. These are good hearted people.............which is why I have been here for 10+ years.

i would read every post here to start with ( :

Nobalut4me wrote:

@pej1111  I believe the Filipino people are kinder, and more lawful that most people in American cities (I could be wrong). Its generally inexpensive to live there if you aren't the "high maintenance" type.

you would still be wise to not get overly involved with them. smile.good-morning, hello etc. is fine.
and it would be wise to have a wall around your compound with a gate and outdoor lighting.
and remember the old saying "neither a lender or borrower be!"

And (never start a sentence with "and"). So firstly a late welcome to this forum. All the contributors here give their opinions and experiences and many valid for their situation/circumstance/s, that's why we are here and all give sentiments/opinions and honestly based on their/our own situation. Sharing info.
We purchased a beachfront home on a large lot nearly 4 years ago in a quiet area some 25/30 minutes from a good private hospital, 5 minutes from the local wet market/super market, 7/11, jollybee etc. (3 to 4 years searching).

My better half's uncle (security guard for 40 years) advised that we need to erect fences (3 sides unfenced) to keep the criminals out,,,,,,,,, I balked at the suggestion given where we chose to live (remember the research) and nearly 4 years on deal with the local goats wandering in to partake in our vegetable garden and nary a human trespasser.

Frustrating sh*t is sourcing products and credible info here and many times I source products and services from overseas. If you are happy to live the local life? All is here to integrate and live the local life. Nothing else. There are so many business opportunities available for the observant but for an old retiree, I watch. Note.

BTW. no balute for me either and as I type I am watching your current presidential election,,,,,, US,  all will be revealed and then some. Honestly? We have our own problems in Oz and more so in the Philippines but there are countries around the world going through tumultuous changes now because of C-19 taking advantage or simply listening to the people? Post #6.
At the end of the day we all make a decision to move to another country based on what? For me it was my better half and his family, a much cheaper living cost, travel beyond C-19 is unlimited, but if we lived in Oz would be a budgetary consideration.

Weigh up the pro's and con's of living here as most on this forum do, good luck.

Cheers, Steve.

BTW I am watching fervently what happens "now" in the US because it ultimately affects the future of all here as well as mankind.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

bigpearl wrote:

BTW I am watching fervently what happens "now" in the US because it ultimately affects the future of all here as well as mankind.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

I ditto that.

I ditto that too, but it's nice to be a bit removed from it, at least physically, as it plays out in the US. What a mess.

I was ahead during a marathon after the 2/3 mark and wanted to be announced the winner. Unfortunately I was passed after the 2 hour mark and was cheated out of my race at the 25 mile marker.
     Signed,

                        Crybaby Loser

Lat61 wrote:

I was ahead during a marathon after the 2/3 mark and wanted to be announced the winner. Unfortunately I was passed after the 2 hour mark and was cheated out of my race at the 25 mile marker.
     Signed,

                        Crybaby Loser

You forgot to mention one thing: that you had already called your lawyers at the 2 hour mark, and are planning to file a lawsuit against race organizers if you lose.

Please spare a thought for the millions of voters who are hurting now (They all wanted/aspired for something better in these tough times with their chosen politician)....It may/may not have happened but nothing for us to joke about....We all want to see an United America that shines its light to all other developing countries.
As bigpearl says ultimately it affects the future of all here as well as mankind.


Sorry I have a problem with a White Supremist in the White House. Elections have consequences , hurt feelings are part of them. How do you think Democrats felt  after 2016?  It's time us Americans joined the majority of the free world and denounced racism.

Lat61 wrote:

It's time us Americans+All other developing countries to join the majority of the free world and denounced racism.

Agreed ...we hurt too.

Fil-Am Mom wrote:

Lat61 wrote:

I was ahead during a marathon after the 2/3 mark and wanted to be announced the winner. Unfortunately I was passed after the 2 hour mark and was cheated out of my race at the 25 mile marker.
     Signed,

                        Crybaby Loser

You forgot to mention one thing: that you had already called your lawyers at the 2 hour mark, and are planning to file a lawsuit against race organizers if you lose.

Let's all pray and pray that who ever gets in tries to unite the "United States". Stop the divisions and tantrums and 100% focuses on the current pandemic instead of putting it aside,,,,,,,, 108,000 new cases and 1,200 deaths today, all have families and friends that could have voted and perhaps changed the current outcome unfolding. Will there be any guilt, remorse or simply blame?

OMO.

BTW, sorry for going off topic.

Cheers, Steve.

bigpearl wrote:

Fil-Am Mom wrote:

Lat61 wrote:

I was ahead during a marathon after the 2/3 mark and wanted to be announced the winner. Unfortunately I was passed after the 2 hour mark and was cheated out of my race at the 25 mile marker.
     Signed,

                        Crybaby Loser

You forgot to mention one thing: that you had already called your lawyers at the 2 hour mark, and are planning to file a lawsuit against race organizers if you lose.

Let's all pray and pray that who ever gets in tries to unite the "United States". Stop the divisions and tantrums and 100% focuses on the current pandemic instead of putting it aside,,,,,,,, 108,000 new cases and 1,200 deaths today, all have families and friends that could have voted and perhaps changed the current outcome unfolding. Will there be any guilt, remorse or simply blame?

BTW, sorry for going off topic.

Cheers, Steve.

I am not just hurting. I'm hurting, angry, saddened. I respond in metaphors sometimes to sort of keep those feelings in check, and then cut things short. Otherwise, I would have a long list of things to say, and could end up as "GuestPoster". LOL.

We are all hoping for a united America. But calling lawyers at the 2 hour mark, making insinuations and having an intention of filing a lawsuit is going to divide us even more. It makes me sad and angry. And it hurts.

Always praying for friends and family in America.

Fil-Am Mom wrote:

bigpearl wrote:

Fil-Am Mom wrote:

You forgot to mention one thing: that you had already called your lawyers at the 2 hour mark, and are planning to file a lawsuit against race organizers if you lose.

Let's all pray and pray that who ever gets in tries to unite the "United States". Stop the divisions and tantrums and 100% focuses on the current pandemic instead of putting it aside,,,,,,,, 108,000 new cases and 1,200 deaths today, all have families and friends that could have voted and perhaps changed the current outcome unfolding. Will there be any guilt, remorse or simply blame?

BTW, sorry for going off topic.

Cheers, Steve.

I am not just hurting. I'm hurting, angry, saddened. I respond in metaphors sometimes to sort of keep those feelings in check, and then cut things short. Otherwise, I would have a long list of things to say, and could end up as "GuestPoster". LOL.

We are all hoping for a united America. But calling lawyers at the 2 hour mark, making insinuations and having an intention of filing a lawsuit is going to divide even more. It makes me sad and angry. And it hurts.

Always praying for friends and family in America.

There will always be a divide, that's how the swamp keeps control of the so called flotsam (we the people).

When you have  subjugated the population it will be undivided. Is that what you want?

Look who is pulling the strings (swamp) to the puppets (us).

Enzyte Bob wrote:

When you have  subjugated the population it will be undivided. Is that what you want?

The american institutions will ensure that never ever happens and sanity will prevail....keep the faith.

Omo

There will always be a/the divide amongst people no matter country or beliefs but to move forward there are bigger things afoot than simple politics that are escalating in many countries and have to be addressed now. As an outsider (while some might say to me that I need to stay in my own back yard) many will agree that this current pandemic is changing the global playing field, BTW I look at my country and I'm proud through all the economic hurt that we came out on top and simply ask? How was this achieved? Unity, the menace, the enemy, and the people abided with health and government mandates. Look at the figures. Australia.

We all need to move forward and overcome firstly this pandemic as well racial and social discrimination, I see this in Australia and more so here in the Philippines. We can/will all move forward with a decent government and a lot of humility from the egotistical *ss*oles as well as moderates, all have to stand united or we will all fall.

Who will be the winner? You all know and a new regime. Time to get our houses in order so this doesn't happen,,,,,,, or is it too late?

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

manwonder wrote:

Enzyte Bob wrote:

When you have  subjugated the population it will be undivided. Is that what you want?

The american institutions will ensure that never ever happens and sanity will prevail....keep the faith.

Omo

Faith? Perhaps a prayer to your god? Greater things are afoot for all, slowly watch.

OMO,

Sorry to yet again go off topic.

Cheers, Steve.

Back on topic. Retire to the Philippines? Yep, sit and watch.

Cheers, Steve.

bigpearl wrote:

Back on topic. Retire to the Philippines? Yep, sit and watch.

Cheers, Steve.

Yup will watch out for the election results & try staying in topic... thats after I've watched this movie the 'american gangster' by Ridley Scott.

Oh, nothing like living this drama in real life. 😴 😨😱😠😷
I'd rather be on the beach in the Philippines.