RETIRING IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Philip,
I hope you made a good choice, but some advice from someone who moved here and experiences and information I have heard, read and seen here, take your time, be sure, visit before the move. Do not just stay in a hotel with foods and life from employees of a hotel that are trained to cater to foreigners. Live at her home or at least stay there as much a possible. Go to local restaurants and shopping. MEet people and think of this big question, Can I live here with less than you are used to, foods not avaliable, differences.
Even though I visited here 3 times and lived in my then fiancees home, once I moved here I found out life was different.
I have written many articles on my site about living here.I hope they will help.

Philip,
I am from Holland and moved here about 1 year ago.
I have a website about my experiences and I am giving tips for expats-to-be.

Jan where is your website?
Thanks
david
ottawa
[email protected]

Hi Mr. David,

Did you received my email? I have endorsed you with our leasing department. You can email them for your inquiries.

God speed.
Jo

I have questions like how much does a middle class house cost matters of that kind.
I have searched for estate agents without great luck so far perhaps i'll have to do it on foot when I go there in Feb next.

I would like to meet up with someone from the iligan or cagayan de oro areas.
Sincerly.

Philip

Hi Mr. Philip,

Good day to you. It depends on the how big and how many rooms you prefer. Hope to see you when you come here next year. You'll like Boracay so much.

God speed.

Hi Phillip,

Bruce and other expats commented on your concern were right about you should visit first the area or staying for couple of days or even months on the area you would want to live in. Because having a vacation and leaving permanently on a place is different.

goodluck!

Hi, Phil:

I think you should try Cagayan de Oro or at least near CDO, and avoid areas near a Cement Plant in Iligan City.

CDO is more secured/peaceful. Just go to Iligan for touring. Tinago Falls is breathtaking.

I've been there 1992-1997.

Hope that helps.

Hi Phil,

I think 6 months is sufficient time to decide upon immersion.  Not only should you get the feel of the environment and culture but most especially your lady of interest.  You have to know more about her from her family, her friends, her co-workers and her neighbors.  Take the time to know her.  It will be mutually beneficial.

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HI Phillip,

Happy New Year! I guess if what you said is still true, you intend to go to the Philippines by February this year. We will be going there as well. I met my American husband online as well and we've been successfully married for 10 years! It does not give you guarantees that yours will be success story, but it's worthwhile to try and take the right steps to make sure that you will be successful as well.

There are areas of consideration you need to think about and decide on and I will give you some ideas and hopefully it will help you.

1. Perhaps by now, you have a deeper relationship with your girlfriend from the time you sent this post. One thing that helped me and my husband, which might be different in your case is that we spent time in prayer and sought God if this is the right decision for us.
Things to discuss with your girlfriend:
1.1 Understanding Filipino culture, you have to find out whether she intends to bring in her parents, siblings or any other relative to live with you, if situation calls for it. Will that be okay with you? In my case, my parents-in-law are going to be living with us when we move there this February. And this is the reason why: We, Filipinos are by nature, caregivers. It is part of our culture to take care of our parents the moment they retire from work. The Filipino parents work hard all their lives so that their children can go to a good school, find a good job, get married and have their own children. As a way to reciprocate their generosity, the children are expected to give something every month to their parents to make sure that they live out their lifestyle without having to work.
1.2 Financial matters: If you are moving to the Philippines, you have to make sure that you have saved up money that will allow you to live on for at least 6 months to a year. $500-$1000 a month allowance if you will live in Iligan will be probably be enough. It is cheaper there, so you are in luck!
1.3 Part of the Filipino culture, which you will later on understand, is that it is hard for them to say "NO". They cannot be upfront in telling that they cannot help you, or they don't know, or I don't want to help you because I don't like you. My American husband,who is so loving is not a very popular guy in my family because he speaks out the truth most of the time . Discuss this issue with your girlfriend, so you will know how to handle her emotions and other relative's concerns if it ever comes up.


2. Iligan, is a very beautiful place and I've been there ages ago, but it is in Mindanao. I am pretty sure that there are some Americans, British, Germans who have already migrated in areas in Mindanao. We are comprised of 90% Christians, 10% muslims and non-believers. The bulk of the muslims are in Mindanao areas.
Mindanao has the most number of virgin islands which I call it that way because most of them is untapped by commercialism. Some areas to consider, Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Ozamis City, Jimenez, Cagayan de Oro. ALways consider looking for a place that is near a good hospital and airport.

3. If you decide to move into the Philippines, you might want to check out availability of jobs for you or set up your own business. British embassy will soon have an office in McKinley HIll, Makati, which is in Metro Manila area. Later on, you might consider moving in there. We are buying a condo now in that area while the prices are low so that we can use that for a local office and place to stay when we're in Metro Area. Let me know when you are ready, and I will give you a tour of that place.
4. Whenever you visit the Philippines, make sure you check in with the British Embassy so that in times of emergency, they will make sure that you are taken cared of. This is what US Embassy does, I am just presuming that British Embassy is doing the same thing.

The information I've given you is probably more than enough from you have asked. But, I just felt that a lot of people needed this information. It is my pleasure to be of help in as much as I can.



Pinay Mentor
worldlinks4.com

I am so thankful for your mail, and you have put me right on a number of things I thought about.

I am going to meet Lina in Manila at the end of February and will go over the issues you mentioned.

Her parents are dead she does have a brother and Sister all right her brother has a job.

Between them the look after a little farm and feed turkeys and chickens for the market.

I really am so thankful for your letter Thank you so much.

Sincerly

Philip

You are most welcome Phillip. If they have a farm, that is fabulous! I will try to see it myself. YOu can live on a farm in the Philippines if you have the land, and you have the market.If their farm is self-sustaining enough for them to live on, that is a great life!. That is exactly what we intend to do when we get there. Find the right location,land, build a self-sustaining retirement community. The world economy can go down, but you as a farmer, can survive and continue to live on what you have in your farm. That is of course,if you create along term, and fully functional farm.

Keep in touch and let me know when you are in Iligan so we can connect with your girlfriend as well. I use skype or google video. If you are not doing that yet, you can see your girlfriend everyday through www.skype.com or go to google and search for video mail and it will work the same way as skype and they are both free. If she does not have yet a webcam, I suggest you bring her one Send me your email and I will send you my skype id or google id.

Be blessed!

Pinay mentor

Thank you so much.
I will now update you, I am going to Manila at the end of Feb she is meeting me there.

I thought about the using the farm to grow veg and the likes for local hotels. However I haven't ask her was it good land for growing food.
I also thought of a glass over a part of it to see if that would work in a small way first.
Herself her Sister and Brother live there and I haven't put my nose into their business so far as far as doing anything with the hill.
I say Hill as I think this is a small farm but I'm sure one could grow veg under glass.

If you ever find out the price of a town house I would like to know.
In the meantime I am going to bring her here to Dublin for a while and I will be getting round all the questions in my own slow time.
I may get some answers to some of those questions in Feb when we meet up.
Her Brother works in a garage and as far as I know the don't use this small farm for anything I will ask her as we know other for a year and both of us are serious about this.

Thanks again

Philip