Could you move to Philippines?

[javadown2 308]

1 hour ago, Kevo said:

Every time I go there I like it less and less.  The first 2-3 trips I loved it.  I couldn't really understand why there are so many OFWs and why everyone wants to leave to other countries, it seemed like paradise, easy going laid back lifestyle.  

 

My last trip, I recently retired from the Air Force and so we decided to take a longer 4-month trip. About 2 months in I couldn't wait to get back.  But, now I totally get why there are so many OFWs and so many desperate to leave.  

 

Before the trip I was kind of thinking retiring there could be an option (after my daughter's out of school, she's only 4 now).  After, I know it's not for me.  

 

I recommend a longer trip like I took before committing to staying there.  

I personally feel different, if you have the income to live there comfortably and don't expect to live and think you are in the US or some other western country then it is a great life. The OFWs do what they do so they can afford to support their families, usually not because they don't like the Philippines life, at least that is what I've gathered from friends and family...and my wife...she would much rather live in the Philippines with the income we have now. 

[javadown2 308]

1 hour ago, jskibo said:

I'm sitting where all those OFWs are the past two weeks (Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Salalah) and I can't figure out why they come here   and I'm just over here 5-6 times a year

I really feel bad for the majority of OFWs who are in those countries, I'm sure they are getting taken advantage of even if they are making more then they would in the Philippines.

[jskibo 588]

1 minute ago, javadown2 said:

I really feel bad for the majority of OFWs who are in those countries, I'm sure they are getting taken advantage of even if they are making more then they would in the Philippines.

I would agree for the majority of unskilled labor, maybe less so for the LPNs and BSNs.

 

I throw out a Magandang Hapon Po or Salamat Po to the restaurant staff and that usually gets a quick head turn and smile.

 

Talked to one that worked in the mall.  They made 3500 AED a month at the store but was paying 3000 AED in rent.....crazy!

[javadown2 308]

11 minutes ago, jskibo said:

I would agree for the majority of unskilled labor, maybe less so for the LPNs and BSNs.

 

I throw out a Magandang Hapon Po or Salamat Po to the restaurant staff and that usually gets a quick head turn and smile.

 

Talked to one that worked in the mall.  They made 3500 AED a month at the store but was paying 3000 AED in rent.....crazy!

Probable got sucked into it and signed a contract with no way out. What is the point of living like that? My wife has some cousins that are Engineers that make really good money over their, but yeah like you said most of the unskilled labor are pretty much at their beck and call. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

Rose has a house there and we are going to add on to it but it will never be more than a vacation home.  I love it there and I want to keep loving it there.  If I had to spend too much time it would all come down to concerns about healthcare and snatchers.  I want to enjoy every moment there so moving there would probably not be a great idea.  I will enjoy it a month at a time though!

[Talako 790]

5 hours ago, cyberfx1024 said:

When I mean running from something I don't necessarily mean the law, but that can be a factor as well. What I mean is that they are running from past relationships, financial issues, some law issues yes. But there some I have met that are social misfits and like it that they can do what they want because they have a fat stack.

 

What they never figure out is that their cloud of misery follows them where ever they go.

[javadown2 308]

2 hours ago, John & Rose said:

Rose has a house there and we are going to add on to it but it will never be more than a vacation home.  I love it there and I want to keep loving it there.  If I had to spend too much time it would all come down to concerns about healthcare and snatchers.  I want to enjoy every moment there so moving there would probably not be a great idea.  I will enjoy it a month at a time though!

That is a good point, and honestly it's best just to do some trial runs and see how it goes...

[Hank_ 9,174]

Friend of mine just got back from a 4th month trial run ... not moving.

[Kevo 69]

5 hours ago, javadown2 said:

I personally feel different, if you have the income to live there comfortably and don't expect to live and think you are in the US or some other western country then it is a great life. The OFWs do what they do so they can afford to support their families, usually not because they don't like the Philippines life, at least that is what I've gathered from friends and family...and my wife...she would much rather live in the Philippines with the income we have now. 

Maybe you're right.  I did meet quite a few OFWs (I'd guess 50 total, men and women) while on overseas assignments.  They did seem very happy to be where they were but I'm sure they miss their families.  

 

But for sure, it's not for me.  I like what John said a couple posts back, good for a month at a time.  And at that maybe once every 5 years.   

 

I do miss the 50 peso haircuts though.  

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

20 hours ago, javadown2 said:

Sounds like good times, I'm seriously working on a way to work from the Philippines so we can move there. I don't want to wait either until I retire! I'm not sure I want to be a landlord but it would be a good investment since the housing prices seem to be going up very fast (In Cagayan de Oro city) and yes we will be settling in Mindanao, i don't have a problem with the area. 

My wife is from Albay region near where the "Mayon Volcano" is .  I spend most of my time in Davao City and let her visit her family.

 

I spent most of my first 8 years in Davao City area, so it's like home to me.  I have also warmed to some place in and near Manila.  I have spent a few trips in Cebu area, but just not a fan of Cebu.  It seems very dirty especially from car pollution.  

 

And too many guys from Australia are there, they are pretty cool guys, but they have almost ruined Cebu for Americans.   Cebu is the only place i get approached by prostitutes in the day or night who solicit me for company.

 

 

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

19 hours ago, Kevo said:

Every time I go there I like it less and less.  The first 2-3 trips I loved it.  I couldn't really understand why there are so many OFWs and why everyone wants to leave to other countries, it seemed like paradise, easy going laid back lifestyle.  

 

My last trip, I recently retired from the Air Force and so we decided to take a longer 4-month trip. About 2 months in I couldn't wait to get back.  But, now I totally get why there are so many OFWs and so many desperate to leave.  

 

Before the trip I was kind of thinking retiring there could be an option (after my daughter's out of school, she's only 4 now).  After, I know it's not for me.  

 

I recommend a longer trip like I took before committing to staying there.  

There are some negative things about Philippines I don't like.

 

Constant barking dogs, roosters,  Tricycle noise, people begging, not being able to find your favorite foods, Pizza suxs in PHiippines. Being a constant target since you are a kano, noise and air pollution,  traffic.

 

Me I don't think I could live there full time.  It's awesome to take a one month trip and vacation, but living there full time I don't think I want to.

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

Another topic I hear Expats who have moved to Philippines talk about is personal safety.

 

If someone gets embarrassed or they loose face they would easily kill you or hire a hitman to take you out.

 

If someone thinks you have money,  getting robbed is a issue

 

Fighting in Philippines, is a unfair if you are American.  People will gang up on you, people will stab you with a knife in the back, they don't do the one on one fight, from what I have seen and heard the people don't fight fair in Philippines.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

11 minutes ago, Chris Duffy said:

There are some negative things about Philippines I don't like.

Constant barking dogs, roosters,  Tricycle noise, people begging, not being able to find your favorite foods, Pizza suxs in PHiippines. Being a constant target since you are a kano, noise and air pollution,  traffic.

Me I don't think I could live there full time.  It's awesome to take a one month trip and vacation, but living there full time I don't think I want to.

I have done a month in the Philippines and I enjoyed it but by the end of it I was ready to go back to work. The people begging do get me angry after a while because you see the Lumad do it all the time on market days. They are allowed to ride the Davao Metro Shuttle for free, so they go from town to town begging for money. The see this Kano and automatically send the kids over to beg for money.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

9 minutes ago, Chris Duffy said:

Another topic I hear Expats who have moved to Philippines talk about is personal safety.

If someone gets embarrassed or they loose face they would easily kill you or hire a hitman to take you out.

If someone thinks you have money,  getting robbed is a issue

Fighting in Philippines, is a unfair if you are American.  People will gang up on you, people will stab you with a knife in the back, they don't do the one on one fight, from what I have seen and heard the people don't fight fair in Philippines.

I have heard and seen that myself as well. You see that a lot as well on tv how a Expat gets gunned down and robbed a few times a year. The last one I saw was in Palawan and the gunmen killed the wife, kid, and the expat. I was offered to go to a ####### fighting ring with some guys and my wife was like "hell no you are not going to that".

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, Chris Duffy said:

My wife is from Albay region near where the "Mayon Volcano" is .  I spend most of my time in Davao City and let her visit her family.

 

I spent most of my first 8 years in Davao City area, so it's like home to me.  I have also warmed to some place in and near Manila.  I have spent a few trips in Cebu area, but just not a fan of Cebu.  It seems very dirty especially from car pollution.  

 

And too many guys from Australia are there, they are pretty cool guys, but they have almost ruined Cebu for Americans.   Cebu is the only place i get approached by prostitutes in the day or night who solicit me for company.

 

 

 

Your wife is from Luzon, I thought she was from Mindanao?   Mayon volcano is on Luzon