Share
Retirement Appeal of the PH
ReportQuestion
Please briefly explain why you feel this question should be reported.
Why do Western people want to retire in the Philippines?
harrisj
Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.
Why do Western people want to retire in the Philippines?
Answers ( 2 )
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
I have been in the Philippines several times and let me tell you if you like the tropical weather, heat, humidity, balmy nights, endless beaches and warm ocean water it is one of the best places in the world. If you are somebody you needs law and order, social organisation, spick and span streets etc… you might not feel comfortable there long term… Filipino people are very warm and friendly and can be very accommodating, in saying that many are poor and struggle to feed their families and therefore they could see western people as a potential source of income whichever way it may work whether through scamming that person, offering their own body, spruiking their services etc…this happens in most part of poor regions around the world and has nothing to do with the nature of Filipinos. They just want to survive like anybody else. Many people talk about easy ways to find sexy young people over there for their own gratification. Whilst this is true to a certain extent I would hate if a person was to associate the Philippines with easy and cheap sex alone… this would show a very reductionist and ignorant view of the world. Health care in the Philippines is a hit and miss sort of scenario. I personally think I would receive adequate healthcare in places like Manila and to a certain extent Cebu if money was not an issue however I would hate to suffer an acute medical crisis in more rural areas, small islands and minor cities. I have been in govt hospitals in minor cities and private clinic in major cities and let me tell there is a world of difference. I currently live in Australia and overall I am accustomed to advanced health care provision and I can say that in some private hospitals in Cebu and Manila I have received better care than in Melbourne. In saying that you need money for that, and if you don't have it… it is going to be mostly a rough ride for you in the Philippines at least as far as medical care is concerned. Food wise I don't think the Philippines is a popular choice. Firstly due to the availability of ingredients. Local products, although mostly fresh (especially in markets), have a very limited range, secondly if you want to purchase international products it will cost you an arm and a leg, assuming you can find them (if in rural areas, forget about it..). If you are in major cities you can find a large array of restaurants and cuisines and if you can afford to eat out, you will not get bored with the various opportunities…there is a lot of tasty options especially if you are open minded. In terms of maintaining a healthy diet, I believe the Philippines ranks low in this segment. Many locals eat either fast food or fried food with white rice…very little amount of vegetables unfortunately. As a matter of fact rates of obesity have increased in the last decades especially due to the establishing of unhealthy food options like with the opening of fast food chains. You can certainly maintain a healthy diet but in the Philippines it will not be an easy and cheap feat especially if you do not know how to cook or how to shop and rely on others to do it for you. Transport in the Philippines can be highly irregular and in some cases tragic although, for a tourist can be part and parcel of their Filipino adventure. I visited most parts of the country and had little issues moving around however if you want/expect punctuality and smooth journeys you might be in for a big surprise. Also most of the travel, especially maritime, is affected by the current weather. I got stuck several times (weeks..) on more remote islands, because rough seas halthed the crossing of boats and ferries and in some cases even airplanes. So keep that in mind when traveling. In terms of crime, I do know that in some areas crime is rife and dangerous for everybody especially tourists. In saying that I have never felt unsafe in the Philippines whether in the largest cities or smallest islands, at any time of the day or night. I have been in much more developed countries and felt unsafe for most of the duration of my trips. In saying that you should apply common sense. Language wise the Philippines is a very popular due to the large population's ability to converse in English. In saying that, not everyone speaks fluently or can converse at an academic level but you will be able to get by in most places you go without any issue. Further to that I think the accent is sweet and tends to have an American colour to it… Entertainment wise there are many options but then again everyone has their idea of what is entertaining. I am, for instance, not a fan of drinking and night clubbing. As i prefer meeting people in more relaxed settings like restaurant dinners, piano bars, local festivals, trip to local attractions etc…however if you like singing and enjoy the odd Karaoke session you will be welcomed wherever you go. I have never met so many talented singers and musicians all at once like in the Philippines. Most people can sing and many can do so at a professional level. It is not uncommon to hear Karaoake being played in shopping centres where people try the ultimate Karaoke unit from Japan etc… Finding accommodation is not very hard in the Philippines as there are many options. Air Bnb is very popular and widespread throughout the country and a fantastic option if you, like me, like to cook most of your food and enjoy your own privacy, something a hotel room wont be able to to provide. Costs may range from very cheap, few dollars per day, to extremely expensive 2-3k dollars per night stay. It depends on your budget, popularity of location and how open minded you are. If you want to live there you can easily find a cheap 1 bdr condo to rent or even to buy if you can afford it as foreigners can buy apartments. In saying that, many are overpriced for what you get (average 1 bdr apt is around 30sqm with basic amenties). Once again depends on how easily you can adapt. If you want to rent a house or little villa you can do that easily but you will be living mostly among locals and not expatriates (which is not an issue) and some of the neighbouroods can be very noisy 24/7 especially with their roosters screaming their lungs out every few minutes… Going to the Philippines and hoping to find a job is a fool's errand and something you don't want to plan on. Unless you are a foreigner that works for an international company and gets posted in the Philippines, you will struggle with sustaining yourself. However if your job is online and you make a good living out of it, the Philippines could be an ideal place for you even because in many places internet is cheap and easily accessible. Many expats come to the P and open a business, it is not uncommon nor impossible but it can be very challenging and financially dangerous. The majority of the expat-run businesses are pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels etc… mostly around hospitality. In saying that, I found the odd doctor, psychologist, business consultant, RE consultant etc.. but they are a rare breed. I hope I have provided you with a balanced foreigner's view of the life in the Philippines although there is much more to say. I personally would love to retire there and have my dollars work more for me there than where I currently live. Unfortunately if you are married or have children it becomes an extremely hard feat as most non-Filipino women would be against it for various reasons (one being the availability of many young and attractive women) and your children would have very limited opportunities growing up there compared to many other countries. However if you are a single man, have a decent passive income (say around 1500-2000 US dollars a month) and are relatively healthy, you certainly have many options to enjoy the rest of your days on this beautiful rock.
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
I imagine everyone has their own reasons. I think it is a beautiful country with warm and friendly people. What’s not to like. The cost of living for some things is cheaper, for others more expensive (like imported goods). Overall though, I do live better here on my pension than I could back home. Here’s a little anecdote that might shed some more light on the question. I was living in South Korea prior to retiring. I brought my Korean girlfriend with me once for a visit. She had a great time, but on the last night of our stay she broke up with me. I asked her why and she said because we don’t have a future together. She said because I want to retire and move to the Philippines. Who wants to live in a poor country she asked me. I responded that you can live in your rich country and pretend this world doesn’t exist, or you can move to a place like the Philippines and make a difference. I choose the latter. So, living here three years now. I have a full-time helper and several other folks I employ on a part-time as-needed basis. I may not be changing the world, but my presence has made a difference in their lives at least.