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So,
you are thinking of
moving
to the Philippines?
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Sure living on a tropical island where the cost of living is low
sounds great. There are many wonderful people in the Philippines
who have done so. But please there is a lot to consider before
taking the plunge. There is a lot to consider.
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The
People
First
of all the Philippines is a poor country, hence many poor people. Sure,
there are poor people every where. From my background, the poor people
in the USA have nothing on the poor of the Philippines. In the US we
have social misfits who have their hands out, get everything, and still
complain that they have nothing. In the Philippines there are 8, 9, …
12 people living in a shack most people would call in humane for a dog
to live in. Thieves here will snatch an earring out of a lady’s ear
just to get a few pesos. Your public restrooms do not have toilet paper
as it will be hoarded by the first user. Sad but true. Life in the
Philippines can be great, but there is a different culture to live by.
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Work
Schedule
Having
work done tomorrow could easily mean next week. It is slow here. Most
people beat by a different Timex. Today and tomorrow are considered
times for politeness. If you are told that the work will be done to day
or tomorrow, good luck.
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Thievery
Watch
your belongs! The smallest of things can and will be nabbed. A simple
small screw can be sold for a small fee.
When you buy a wallet, all pockets and storage areas of this
wallet will be searched. Not by one person but perhaps two or three
others. That will take place before a manager takes a final look again.
Hey, you might stash something in that small wallet that will cost the
store. Amazing.
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And!
Don’t
be a showoff. There are always others watching. Wearing expensive cloths
and flashing your I-pod around isn’t a great idea. People can watch
where you go and live. Perhaps stopping by to say hello. You need to
safe guard your valuables. Even the not so valuable you need to watch
out for. Ladies wearing earrings can have
them yanked from their ears. Sure the earring is only one and
perhaps useless to you. But to some, it might fetch a few pesos so they
can get a bite to eat.
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The
Government
The
government is corrupt. Which government isn’t? But in the Philippines
they are grass roots crooked. There can be 25 people jay waking and the
Police officer will nab you. Why? You have money. Even if you don’t,
you know someone who will. If you get in a business or other dispute
with a native and go to court, no matter your proof, you will more then
likely loose. Bribery and payoffs are common. When you are a foreigner
and they know it, the price will equally rise. All foreigners are
abundantly rich, so spread the wealth. It would be better if you allow
your Filipino spouse or other trusted friend/relative to shop and do
your business for you. Keeping out of the picture can help in the
traditional bargaining process. Once a foreigner is added to the
negotiations, costs do tend to rise. Bargaining can be a part of the
process for mom and pop stores. Don’t expect to bargain at well
established or chain stores.
These
are just a few of the difference that people must adjust for. There
really is a lot of good in the Philippines. But there are a lot of
things that most of us take for granted. To much so for me to list all
here. But joining groups like Living in the Philippines and Living in
Cebu, reading the books Philippine
Dreams, Philippines Property Primer and Making A Living in the Philippines
by Perry are both strongly recommended reads. The country is a safe as
any other. But being streetwise and knowing a bit of any new country is
always highly recommended.
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Philippine
Dreams
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Philippines
Property Primer
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Making
A Living In
The Philippines
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Who
Else Wants to Escape to a Tropical Paradise?
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Ultimate
guide in buying, investing and managing property in the
Philippines
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Guide
to Making Money in the Philippines
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Get "Out of the Rat Race" and Live Like a King for
under a Thousand Dollars a Month in Paradise.
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Avoid
very expensive mistakes. Find out which is best for you from our
ultimate Guide to Buying, Investing, Renting and managing
property in the Philippines |
What you need to know to operate a SMALL BUSINESS, GET
A JOB, or INVEST in the PHILIPPINES
|
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See all of
Perry Gamsby's ebooks here |
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So
you STILL want to move to the Philippines!
Questions?
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What is it about the Philippines that attracts you?
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Do you have a romantic view of life in a tropical paradise?
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Want to escape the Rat Race for a more relaxed pace of
life?
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Are you excited by availability of so many beautiful Filipinas?
THE PHILIPPINES CAN OFFER ALL OF THE ABOVE!...but you need to
be fully prepared to avoid disappointment
The
reality is often different from what you imagined. You may have already
visited many times on holiday, but you will find that living in the
Philippines is very different. No amount of visits will fully
prepare you for the experience of actually living in the Philippines.
To
better prepare yourself and find out more about the reality of living in
the Philippines you need to learn about the experiences of others.
There
are many free resources on the net that you can find using a Search
Engine and common terms such as “Living
in the Philippines”. Some sites you will find seem to view
the Philippines through Rose Colored Glasses and omit all the negatives. On
one popular site about living in the Philippines the owner, who has been
living in the Philippines for many years, will tell you on his page that
the language is easy to learn. Yet this guy has not learnt it
himself in all that time.
There
are also many online forums and groups where you can find others that
share your interest in moving to the Philippines, and can share
information with you. Learning from expats that have the experience
is your best option.
One
such expat has committed his extensive experiences to a number of ebooks
marketed under Streetwise
Philippines. What makes these ebooks invaluable to
anyone considering moving to the Philippines is that he tells it exactly
as he sees it – the good, the bad and the ugly.
These
ebooks will give you invaluable insights and knowledge about what its
like to live in the Philippines
that will save you both time and money. In fact I would suggest
that you will save the small cost of the ebook purchase multiple times
and you will look back on the purchase of these ebooks as one of your
best investments.
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So,
you are really going?
What do I need to do if I'm planning
to relocate to the Philippines?
Moving there
What do I need to do if I'm planning to relocate
to the Philippines? The
first advice we can give is for you to make an exploratory trip here in the Philippines. With this, you will have a
first hand experience of what it is like in the country. We strongly
suggest a visit over here before making a decision if, when and how to
move to the Philippines and where to live once you get here. As you can
tell, much has changed.
Things
to know
So
you are moving. Ok! You will need a multi entry visa at least a year.
Every month you need to renew it and it will cost about $60/mos. You can
stay if you have working visa.
You
cannot settle in the Philippines unless you are applying for retirement
visa, you have a filipina spouse, you have enough assets to support
yourself or apply to become an immigrant which will take a couple of
years.
Working or applying for a job in the Philippines will be a tough journey
for you because of high of unemployment. If you are a free lancer or
still be related to your country as a writer then that will be not a
deal for you as you could support yourself.
You cannot own a property unless you have a filipina wife. You can own a
condominium instead.
It's not a good idea to live and work in the Philippines if you cannot
support yourself.
Living in the Philippines is haven. This place is for people who wants
to retire and enjoy life to the fullest.
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Note:
1. There are many commercial banks in the
Philippines and they will accept direct deposit of your pay. You must be
in the bank to open an account. Direct deposit pay is guaranteed by
third day of the month. If your money is in a bank in the USA and your
DDS is to that bank, and you do not desire to change, no problem. When
you arrive have enough money in traveler’s checks to get you through
the next month. Open an account with a bank near you and deposit a check
for the amount you believe to be your monthly budget, wait 25 days and
the money is clear and can be taken out. I have been doing that for 14
years with no problems. Any questions on this please ask me.
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