Expat Living in the Philippines

I get amused at comments expat’s make about the Philippine’s. They will say how GREAT it is and then say things like - expat’s do not usually last here two years - they will say how great the people are then say they are a bunch of thieves - they will say how great the women are then tell you of an expat that has lost everything to a dishonest woman - they are all quick to tell you how merchants cheat foreigners. They always mention  great smiles but most dishonest people smile alot before they screw you.

I have been here for 15 years and find the people are no better or no worse than other people around the world.

It is human nature to take advantages of people who let you. Some ecpat’s do not understand they use Filipinos as much ss they get used. They come for sex and take advantage of poverty. They live cheap many times because they do not pay their house help a fair wage.

Yes, living expenses are less and they are less because most Filipinos live in poverty. Merchants cannot charge first world prices are they would have no customers.

Doctors are not cheaper because they want to charge less. They are cheaper because most Filipinos cannot even afford to go to the doctor now. No one could go if doctors charged first world prices.

Someone pays for lower cost of living. It is those working six days a week for 3 to 6 dollars a day. They are lucky to get a job paying that much.

It is a lie to say you can live like a king in the Philippines on 500 to 800 U.S.A dollars a month. Most expats could not make the sacrifices needed to do that. That is the reason they only last about two years.

Electricity is the highest of any country in Asia. I use one air condition 24/7 it cost around 400 to 500 dollars a month. A decent house is going to cost 500 dollars a month and up. The same brand shoes in the Philippines cost more than in the U.S.A. at the mall.

You may find American products in the grocery store and never find them again. The products supposedly made by U.S.A companies are made in China. Many name brand we purchase in the U.S.A do not even taste the same.

I am very content here and do not desire to return to the U.S.A , but it is not paradise as some (most) expat’s claim. I guess they find it hard to admit they made a mistake moving here.

If you come here and expect to be treated like a Filipino you are going to be surprised. You will always be a foreigner. Family ties and loyalties will always go against a foreigner regardless if the foreigner is right.

Now get mad with me if you like I do not care. But I speak the truth. I have no DOG in this fight. I have a monthly income from a trust fund of 6000 USA dollars a month and can live anywhere in the world I want. I choose to live in the Philippines.ines

Expat in the Philippines - that loves it but does not understand it all

I do not understand, but I am only a guest in the Philippines – so who cares?

I moved to the Philippines over a decade ago. My reason for moving here was to do mission work. I was told EVERYONE spoke fluent conversational English. I also had responsible, loyal, dependable Filipino neighbors in the states. It sounded like a perfect place to work and retire in.

I think I have adjusted to the new culture, new traditions, third world living pretty well, but I cannot get use to the litter. There is a large vacant property across from my house that is owned by a Filipino doctor now living in California. My NEIGHBORS use his lot to dumb their garbage night after night. Not only is it unsightly it breeds RATS!

These neighbors are church going, family orientated people, own homes, children go to college, and some even own businesses. In fact one owns a large agricultural fertilizer business and he used to park his large trucks on the property at night for free without seeking permission. These people are not squatters.

The owner of the property on his visit in 2015 had a four foot block wall fence with four feet of wire on top installed trying to stop the problem. The neighbors just throw the garbage bags over his fence as if it was not there. One neighbor even commented, “I am glad he put up the fence the garbage does not blow in my yard now (and laughed).” It did stop the people from using his property for a parking lot. They now park on the NARROW streets in front of everyone else’s house blocking their gates when they actually have one car space at each house. You cannot address a problem with people that do not even realize it is a problem.

I do not sit on my front balcony any longer because I have to look at Davao’s version of “Smokey Mountain” (without the smoke) in Manila.

Filipinos are known to be disciplined abroad. Most OFWs tend to finish everything at work before the day ends; they are seen as courteous, refined, and well-mannered; and they carefully follow the rules of the company or community where they work and live. This observation is based on my personal experiences.

I do not understand why so many Filipinos lack discipline when in their own country.

Could it be that they demonstrated and won their freedom from martial law and now they take that freedom for granted and abuse it? It is as if they have forgotten others have rights to. The family next door live in a nice townhouse with two full bathrooms (CR’s). The men walk past the downstairs bathroom to go across the street and urinate on the neighbors fence – why? Do they understand that they are vandalizing PRIVATE property or do they just not care about others property? Democracy has limits! We now play a game when going from my home to downtown the one that catches the most men urinating on walls win a free coke when we arrive.

I have noticed since living in the Philippines a lot of Filipino children are growing up with less regard for rules and regulations. Is this because they are getting to be more Westernized? If it is I would not blame it on Western Nations I would blame it on Filipino parents for allowing it to happen.  ‘Po’ and ‘Opo’ were trademark words of Filipinos when it came to showing respect to people older than them. These are the words I seldom hear these days from the younger generation.

 This morning a six year old a few doors from me cried and screamed for over 1 and ½ hours. He beat on the fence gate with a hammer. Eventually the father started yelling at him and then the mother started yelling. Later in the day I ask the aunt what was the problem with the child – he wanted an ice cream from the Nestle peddler. His tantrums happen frequently.  When the tantrum is over the family members think it is funny – they call him “little macho man”. Does anyone think that this little monster will grow up to respect the rights of others – I do not think so. In the States I would have walked down to see if the kid was okay, but it is just a normal occurrence here.

Do some Filipinos not take discipline seriously because they do not see how serious it is? How would they when even their government officials do not follow the rules they have enacted? Under the table transactions; vote buying; VIP treatments in public activities and processes are just among some of the rampant forms of corruption in the government that remove the power of discipline in the society.

Some law enforcers are not being good role models either: Traffic enforcers getting bribed to let violators go and police officers are involved in crimes like kidnapping and drug trafficking. People do not see the need of following rules or even taking the initiative to take steps to improve things, because they know nothing would happen when the movement does not come from the top.

My neighbor was stopped when we were on our way to Mass. He was speeding and ran a traffic light. He bribed the law enforcer to let him go. He laughed and said, “I am glad I did not get stopped by the ONE honest law enforcer in the Philippines.”  I ask him did he realize his 15 and 13 year old boys were in the car and witness what he did. He said, “Father, they have to learn how to survive in the Philippines.”

No matter how good the regulations are if they are not implemented by the powers to be then what good are they? As long as the citizens do not see any danger of not following the laws, they will not obey them. I pray newly elected Duterte will address that issue.  From what I hear in the media he is a tough law enforcer, but we still have rape, drugs, murders, thief’s in Davao. Maybe not as bad as Manila or other places but we still have too much crime. 

I do not know why, but it seems many Filipinos are impatient or believe themselves to be privileged people. I think this is why shortcuts are popular here. Some people, who do not like getting into long lines when paying bills cut in line or go to the front of the line or even use their connections to avoid the line. This is common in the banks or waiting on a taxi. I use to say something until my Filipino friends kept getting on me because I was making the rude person ‘lose face’ – who should care if they ‘lose face’.  They need to ‘lose face’. But, I stopped saying anything because I always looked like the bad guy - the arrogant, ignorant, pushy person who was taking advantage of everyone else seem to be the victim to Filipinos.

Lack of respect indeed seems a problem that some people in the Philippines seem not to mind, although it poses a serious dilemma on peoples values and character. People should consider when we tolerate this disrespectful behavior, it can eventually lead to crime and violence. Clearly, society worldwide today lacks the clear perception about respect.

President Marcos had a lot of faults, but people were disciplined in his time. The economy was healthier than most in Asia. I hope someday politicians and citizens embrace the good of Marcos and avoid the bad. Learn from history do not ignore it and stop making the same mistakes over and over again.

P.S. – I know many Filipinos do not like foreigners making any comments about their country or their people – they are usually the same ones that bash the United States on a regular basis.  I like living in the Philippines better than in the U.S. or I would go home – that is common sense. I regularly point out problems with the U.S. on my blog – I just do not think it does anyone any good to bury our heads in the sand and pretend to the world we do not have problems.

Home Repairs - Big and Small - Davao, Philippines

As an Expat one of the problems I have had over the past ten years is getting someone reliable to do work around my home. Not only is it difficult to find someone reliable it is even more difficult to fine someone who does quality work.

It took ten years, but I think I finally found someone. They were recommended by my neighbor and I recommend them to you. I hesitate to recommend anyone because I have no way of knowing if they will treat you as they did me, but if you hire anyone to do work around the house you are taking a chance so here goes:

Telephone: 09474774683 or 09263885217
Email - geronajulian4@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/trustworthhomeservice

They repair, maintain all household equipment and appliances. They will even do a job as small as changing light switches. They do mason work, paint, repair plumbing, weld, landscape, cut grass, electrical work, repair air conditions and more. Their prices are reasonable!

I would be embarrassed to tell you how much I have spent over the last ten years trying to maintain my home to only be disappointed every time.  In fact I have spent more than the original cost to build my house. The last exterior painting began to peel off in about 12 months. The upper and lower back deck rotted out in less than two years. The door replacement was a total waste as the door began to have cracks in them within six months. They did not buy enough marble for the counter tops and I have one piece that does not really match. If I had been in the United States I would not have paid and I would have taken them to court, but being a foreigner in the Philippines that is not something I can do. Everything has been a hassle until I found these people. I plan on having them paint the exterior of my house in early 2016 because the work they have done thus far gives me confidence in them. 

Are you thinking of becoming an expat to the Philippines?

I retired and moved to the Philippines in 2005.  I thought I did extensive research on the possibility of retiring in the Philippines to only learn shortly after arriving that the research meant little because the information provided was flawed. 

Article after article stated you could retire in the Philippines on $800 a month and maintain the living standards you had back home.  Many article stated live like a KING in the Philippines on $1200 a month.  One article written by an expat living in Cebu stated you could live well on $500 per month.   Please believe me when I say you had better come and stay in the Philippines for six months before you move here.  You will find that those statements are not true.  They are written by people who are miserable in the Philippines and want others to share their misery or they are suffering from delusion.

Articles also state that EVERYONE in the Philippines speak fluent English and again that statement is not true.  Many Filipinos speak NO English at all.   The majority cannot carry on a fluent conversation in English. 

Do not buy into the myth that you do not have to be concerned about medical care in the Philippines because medical care here is equivalent to First World care.

You will find articles that state you can find everything you need in the Philippines as you can back home – not true!

I remain in the Philippines because I choose to be here.  I do not live here because of economic reasons for if I did I would be miserable.  I keep a monthly report of my income and expenses as I did when living in the United States and I can prove I could not live as I did in the U.S. on $800 a month or like a king on $1200 a month. 

You can live in Manila and enjoy all the things you had back home entertainment, restaurants, medical care, groceries, shopping, etc.  You can live in Manila where the majority of the people you come in contact with do speak English and you can converse with them in a conversation.  You cannot do that on $1200 a month or $1500 a month or $2000 a month.

If you live in one of the many Provinces (which I recommend) you will experience water and electrical shortages.  You will find products on the grocery shelf today that you will not find the next time you shop.  You will be able to shop and move around without speaking one of the many local dialects, but forget about walking up to everyone on the streets and carrying on a fluent conversation.  There most likely will not be a first class hospital in your area and you will have to go to Manila, Cebu or Davao.  You can find a nice place to live starting around $500 a month. 

There are advantages of living in the Philippines, but you must be willing to make sacrifices. To have all the comforts you had back home will cost.  Of course they will not cost as much as they did back home, but they are not as cheap as some would like you to believe.

Keep in mind that you will most likely have to bear all your medical expenses because you cannot use your Social Security health benefits outside the Continental United States.  If you are able to maintain your Blue Cross Insurance you will be required to pay the medical expenses and wait about six months to be reimbursed.

Legal employment for foreigners in the Philippines is extremely difficult and most people from First World countries would not work for Philippines wages.  Opening a business, unless married to a Filipino is also near impossible and competing against the local business owners is very difficult.

I am now 74 years old and in stage 4 or D of Congestive Heart Failure.  My medicine cost me about 8000 peso every ten days.  I just got out of a six day stay in the hospital and the bill was a little over 90,000 peso.  I need air condition in my bedroom 24/7 and my utility bill runs around 10,000 pesos a month.  I am aware the same in the United States would probably be ten times more than in the Philippines.  The insurance co-pay would probably be as much in the U.S. as the total medical expenses I incur here.

I attempted to master the local dialect, but found I could not do well enough to carry on a conversation.  If one can it will make their life in the Philippines far greater.  I would love to be able to go to the park and sit on a bench next to a local and learn about their experiences and their families and I cannot.  Some neighbors who are very good to me and love me very much are embarrassed because we cannot carry on conversations so I am limited to the gatherings I can attend.  I would say language, since I am financially secure, is my greatest problem.

I am not married to a Filipina so the only way I can remain in the Philippines more than three years without leaving the country for 24 hours is put up a $10,000 bond.  I have hesitated about doing that.  I am now faced with a situation that it will be difficult for me to travel again and having no choice but post the bond.

Yes, you can get a live-in housekeeper for 1000 pesos a month if you do not mind taking advantage of the poor.  I personally cannot and will not do that.  I did not move here to take advantage of the Filipino people.  Many foreigners living here seem to take pride in living comfortable lives on the backs of the poor, but I cannot in good conscience do that. 

If you are not married to a Filipina you cannot own land.  You either buy a condo or put the property in a Filipino’s name and that is extremely risky.  I have bought a home and put it in the name of a Filipino and have a twenty-five year lease.  I was advised that even that lease could be broken if the Filipino goes to court and proves he needs the property back.  A problem could arise with his relatives if he should die before me.  I do not choose to live in a condo because I have animals and I do not want to make rent payments that will benefit no one except the landlord.  You also must remember that you have monthly maintenance fees in a condo and you have no control of how high those fees may eventually be.

There is much to consider before leaving home and retiring in another country.  The laws back home no longer apply and you must comply with their laws, customs and traditions.  White skin in a brown skin country does not necessarily buy you instant respect and it shouldn’t.

I have no regrets that I moved to the Philippines and I believe if you come and stay six to twelve months before you move here you will neither.

 

Be Sure You Know What You Are Leaving Behind!

I made a mistake leaving what was familiar because I became bored and unsatisfied with what I had.  I allowed the desire for gratification to replace love.  I thought new people, new culture, new traditions and a new adventure would bring back the excitement I experienced when I was younger.  I have since learned, what I should have already known, nothing can replace the familiar and bring you the comfort that old friendships bring to one’s life. 

I have now lived in the Philippines for over five years and I still feel as if I am living out of a piece of luggage, a permanent tourist. Being a tourist is great for a break, but it is a sad way to live.  I own a house and have a few new friends, but home will always be Houston, Texas.  I have had some expat’s tell me that they feel the Philippines is now their home.  They accuse me of not doing enough to make it my home.  As time passes I usually come to realize these people, usually men, did not experience true happiness, respect and love where they came from.  They gave up nothing to move to the Philippines.  They did not leave true friends, people they were really bonded to.  They came to the Philippines to escape and or make one more attempt to be important or feel fulfilled.

Some sarcastically say if you are not happy here why stay, go home!  Have you ever heard the saying, “You can never go home again.”  Friends move on with their lives and you have not been a part of the changes that have taken place.  I tore up once and left and made a mistake, why do it again?  I would never do that unless I knew for sure things would be as they were and there is no way to guarantee that and quite frankly I think it is impossible. You see I have no reason to and never wanted to forget my friends or have them forget me and when I left I acted without realizing that would happen.  I allowed gratification to take control of my decision making.

I have good memories that mean nothing to people in the Philippines that were not a part of them.  I came to the Philippines thinking I could do charity work among the poor.  It is difficult to work among people you cannot communicate with.  It is not true that everyone in the Philippines speaks fluent English.  The vast majority of the poor people speak NO English.  Not many of the middle income people speak conversational English.  There are over 700 dialects in the Philippines.  I do not care how intelligent you are it would take you years to learn to speak one of the dialects correctly and if you come to the Philippines when you retire it is simple mathematics, you generally do not have years to learn a new language. 

If you are like me and love people and are truly interested in people it is difficult not to be able to participate in their daily lives because of a language barrier.  This does not seem to be a problem for some expat’s because they obviously do not care about anyone, but themselves. They sit in the coffee shops and bars with their five or six expat friends and do not attempt to truly integrate with Filipino society.  If that works for them I am happy for them, but it does not work for me.  There is no better treasure in this world than loyal friends and friendship cannot be based solely on people speaking the same language as you.  I have had several expat's say to me, “I do not have anything in common with this person or that person, but I need to be around people that speak English.”

A valued friend from back home stays in touch with me weekly.  He recently had the opportunity to meet up with two of his high school friends.  They no longer live in the same cities, but they have managed to meet recently over several weekends.  They had some apprehension of getting together in the beginning, but now they are happy they did.  They can share in memories they all participated in building. Never underestimate healthy friendships because I can assure you acquaintances can never take the place of true friends. 

It takes courage to ‘stay with it’ – not to move on when things are not going your way.  I now must ‘stay with it’ in the Philippines.  I now understand you cannot live on your likes and dislikes alone.  If you are living by your emotions alone, you are being held hostage to your own needs; “If, however, a person chooses not to fill a hole he or she perceives they have in their life with new relationships or new projects, but see the old ones through, life can transfer to a new and higher level – the ‘spirit’ realm” (Iain Matthew).