New members of the Philippines forum, introduce yourselves here - 2025

Hello,

My name is Geoffrey, living in Belgium. My father is from the Philippines.  We have contacts and family there, but I want to do everything by myself. I want my family to know me there when everything will be in place. My project: I would like to find a place to rent near a beach in  Palawan (idealy San Vicente) to build or rent (long term) some cottages (made with artisanal materials)for tourism.

If you have any advice to give me, don't hesitate. I am very happy to have found this platform and to be able to exchange with you! Greetings!

GM

What most people forget, is to make a calculation (a business plan) for the investment. The basis is:

1. what product
2. in which quantity
3. at what price

So, in your case: cottages for rent, how many days of the year you can rent them out * Number of cottages, rate per day

Next step is a marketing research. What is already there and how much do they charge for a night. Now you have an idea how much revenue you can make. Then you need to subtract the costs of sale. (Utilities, taxes, cleaning, maintenance, depeciation, interest, ....) This will give you an expected income.

Next you need to consider the construction costs of the cottages, the price for the lot, the taxes, the fees, ...

Now you need to make a calculation. How long does it take to payback the initial investment with the expected income. If this is more than 10 years, it is called a failed investment. So, it is better not to take a loan or in case you have the money to leave it working for you (shares, bonds, saving book, ....)

I have seen many Filipinos here in Boracay who are so keen to make business that they buy condos for 10M PHP on a loan and now they face the fact that they can only make 2500 PHP for the night. Unable to pay the loan back, the bank takes the condo or in case they made the money (as an OFW) they give up the condo and don't pay the association dues.

So my advice to all who want to make business is to make a business plan and a marketing research first.

Andy from Boracay (8 years in the Philippines)

@Andy_1963

I have seen many Filipinos here in Boracay who are so keen to make business that they buy condos for 10M PHP on a loan and now they face the fact that they can only make 2500 PHP for the night.

Forgive my lack of experience here. I live in Dumaguete, far from Boracay and where we do not have banks regularly loaning 10M to real estate investors for condo dwellings.  I very roughly estimate that a bank loan there for 10M for 30 years at 6% would require a payment of around 70K monthly. Assuming every nite gets rented (which Is an overestimation for sure)  the revenue would be 30*2.5k or 75K which would still be a loss considering taxes, maintenance and such. My issue is, with the arithmetic is so simple, even if the investor were so naive as to  not do the simple math to see he is screwed, we also have a registered bank that employs professional loan officers and accountants. This does not require a formal business plan, just a simple arithmetic calculation. My question is, how could any bank registered with BSP agree to make such a bad loan?

@Julien

Hi Julien, JOEY here. Lives in Los Angeles and planning to settle in Leyte in the next couple years!

Hello All,

Roland here, arriving in MNL beginning of March after 6 past visits over the years.  I'm an American raised in Hawaii of mixed Spanish/Filipino/Puerto Rican descent.  I've spent 15+ years living in California, Texas and Nevada, but I'm culturally more Hawaiian with a queer California-kid sensibility.

I'm just retiring and finally receiving Social Security income, enough to support myself in the PI comfortably, so after my wonderful visits, I've decided to move there.  I have lots to figure out, including looking for my father's family (parents never married, havent seen my Filipino father since I was in the 1st grade when he returned to the PI), figuring out longterm passport/visa options, perhaps citizenship through blood possiblities, long term living arrangements, and a lot of serious in-country travel through the islands. 

I just took a 6-month condo rental, but until I actually take posession, I'm still checking out other options. (My interactions with property rental agents/real estate sales people has been an upside-down roller coaster ride with blinders on).

While it is pretty to look at, I don't like the sterile aspect of the BGC life (I think old culture, jeepneys, old-style lechon and not-so-pretty people convey a city's real identity), love farmers markets, the working class folk, and opportunities to learn. I grew up in Hawaii so seeing/playing in pretty beaches are nice but not a real goal of mine). BTW would love pointers on learning Tagalog.

Any help would be welcome.

Aloha,

Roland

Welcome to the forum Roland, enjoy.

There is plenty of info available on this site at most levels and one simply needs to search, any questions ask away and I'm sure many will point you in the right direction with their thoughts and opinions.

Good luck with the move and hope you find what you are looking for.

Cheers, Steve.

Heading from angeles to puerto galera on Feb 22 , Samba beach. , will enjoy meeting people there so if you're around or you want to head out there chat me back

@AlohaGuy

welcome to the Philippines. Regarding long term stay, since you have a pension/social security, getting a visa from the Philippine Retirement Authority like a SRRV should be the best option, since you would not have to pay fees every time you leave the Philippines.

Hi I'm Allen I'm from United States I live in Cocoa Beach Florida when I'm in the states I'm here on vacation for a few months looking forward to meeting like-minded individuals would love to get some local knowledge and share my knowledge as well

Welcome to our forum and the country, Allen.

You say, "I live in Cocoa Beach Florida when I'm in the states, I'm here on vacation.." So, It must seem just like home, in some ways.

In other ways, not. 😎

Hello Harry_Brook,

Welcome to Expat.com 😀

We would love to learn more about you!

What brings you to this forum? Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

Hello all,

I married my wife in 2009 and we have a home and 2 agricultural farms in the Tagum City area. We have 2 boys and I drive commercially (CDL) as well.

Life in USA has come to a plateau it seams economically and so we have made the decision to come full time to the Mindinao Region. I found you all through chat gpt of all places by asking where I can find like minded people that have moved there families to the Philippines 🇵🇭.

So I’m here just to read and see what has changed since 2020 and wish all the very best.

Welcome to the forum Eanh58.

Plenty to sift through on this site, Can't help you with Mindanao as we live on Luzon. The changes I see are things are getting more expensive but that's a global issue.

Good luck with your move.

Cheers, Steve.

Greetings,

I will be moving next January as a widower. I have friends in Sto Tomas Davao del Norte so just down the road from you in Tagum. I'm a Brit retiring.

Best regards

T.

@Julien

Hii thank you for making this thread/forum i found this forum very interesting 😊

@Eanh58

Welcome aboard!  I've been through Tagum several times on my way to/from Mati and Davao.  Stopped at a mall and the Toyota dealership there.  My Filipina GF's brother-in-law is from Carmen, which is not too far away.  I plan to head back for another visit in September this year, and if things go as planned I'll be moving to Mati in 1Q next year.

Steve

@Julien

hello im also new here looking forward to know more about this forum

@rained

Welcome to the forum, spend the time to read, ask questions and contribute.

Cheers, Steve.

Hi Guys

My name is James and I live in Santa Rosa with my beautiful Filipina wife and 3 kids. Its about an hour south of Manila.

Anyone in the area want to catch up for a beer/coffee or chat send me a message and it would be great to meet.

Good meeting spots are Nuvali which is really nice and green with good cafe's and restaurants.

I have a small scooter which makes it easy to get around and beat the traffic

Cheers

James

Just relocated to manila from USA 6 weeks ago. Many years in the planning. Married to Filipina for 28 years. Both now retired and staying in Eastwood City until our house in Cianta is completed. I am looking for folks in my general area but open to connecting with all that are interested. My hobbies are golf and acoustic guitar and open to new experiences as well.

@thomanjim

Hello there!

We are an American (72) & Filipina (46) living in Pasig City near SM East Ortigas. We have a few small eataries in the Pasig/Makati & Taguig area that specialize in hot wings.

Love to get in touch and see if we could develop something. I can recognize a golf ball 1 out of 15 times, so I'm afraid I wouldn't be the best partner on the course. Trying taking up the sport, but couldn't break a handicap lower than 60! 

Thanks for the reply. We are getting settled in and havent been getting out that much. Visa stuff and house planning but are looking forward to doing some socializing soon. Look forward to meeting!

Hello thomanjim,

Welcome to Expat.com 😀

I suggest you read our guide below to learn more about visas, accommodation, etc

Living in the Philippines: the ultimate expat guide

If you have any questions on any topic, feel free to start a new thread on the Philippines forum.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

Hey! Randy here. I've been blogging and vlogging about daily life in the Philippines and the western pacific since 2012. What's it really like to live on a tropical island? ***

@Julien

Not sure if I am supposed to introduce myself here or if there is another place for it.. but anyway ..

I am George and been here in Cebu since December 3rd. I am planning on staying in the Philippines. Not exactly sure yet where. I will explore different islands and places before I settle down.

My biggest concern is what and where to get decent health coverage here. I am US Citizen, so I do have my insurance back in US but of course not here. I am a healthy person but..

I am retired and possibly will apply for the retirement visa. Any recommendations regarding that?

So I leave it at this for now...

George

Hi,

The healthcare in private hospitals in the Philippines in the major cities Manila, Cebu and Davao is okay and affordable. On the islands it is underdeveloped and hard to get a treatment for a serious desease. There is no good hospital in Boracay and in case of a serious problem I would have to fly to Manila or Cebu.

There is no need for an expensive retirement visa. You can stay as a tourist for up to 3 years and each time you leave the country the counter resets. If you get married here, it is even cheaper.

Happy new year

Andy from Boracay

@uhrigg

Welcome to the forum George, enjoy and ask your questions.

Is this your first visit? Are you single or partnered? Will this be your retirement destination? Did you do any research? The questions are endless and I'm sure there will be more.

Just an observation but if you are concerned about health insurance then don't be too far from a quality private hospital. As others have mentioned there are plenty of private health insurers available here but do make sure your hospital accepts that insurer.

As we get older do make sure you land in close proximity to decent medical facilities and transport

ambulance.

Me/us we only bother with PhilHealth and self fund the balance and as others have mentioned it's relatively cheap here unlike many western countries, PH will save you around 25/30% on the inpatient bill and for me P 17K, the better half and our caretaker are P 6K each per annum.

Outpatient consultations you pay for but saying that my GP costs me P400 and the Neurosurgeon that I see once a year costs me P500......... cheap as chips.

While I agree with Andy and many don't I have no time for the SRRV as I don't see the benefit compared to the very generous visitor visa aside from the 3 year exit requirement which makes us go on a holiday for a week or two. Others complain visiting immi every 2 months but my better half loves it as it gets me out of the house more often, the malls, a nice restaurant, our local immi office I'm in and out in 5 to 10 minutes an the rest of the day is food and lurking. 15 years visiting and living here for 7 of those years and no regrets but I/we researched well where to put boots on the ground.

Good luck and enjoy the Philippines, it's certainly a different beast compared to western countries, you either love it or hate  and move on.

Cheers, Steve.