RETIREES ARE NOT CHOOSING THE PHILIPPINES AND HERE'S WHY!
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- This video outlines some of the reasons why the Philippines is no longer considered one of the best places to retire. It may be offensive to some viewers, but I hope we can all be respectful when commenting. Let us all keep an open mind. I understand that opposing opinions are common, but it is important to maintain respect.
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Hi Paul, I just returned from Dumaguete after a two month’s stay and can confirm all said in your video:
* prices at grocery stores have gone up dramatically to match western ones: chicken drumsticks 228 pesos Kg , spaghetti 157.50 pesos, pork 290 pesos Kg , Arla cheese slices 163.50 pesos and the list goes on…
* noise pollution is as crazy as ever with some motorcycles sounding like jet engines, roosters and dogs all hours, music and karaoke in the evening
* I would add air (smell) pollution to your list, with often livestock breeding (poultry, dogs, pigs) just outside one’s fence wall, even in built up areas….plus the garbage being burnt morning and evening
* garbage, in particular plastic bags, scattered all over
* crazy traffic most of the time…often locals refusing to walk 300 meters, opting the get a vehicle instead
* stray dogs all over…if having a meal at a resto on the beach, be prepared to be surrounded by dogs waiting for food scraps….dogs only by name, often are covered by fleas, sores and ticks
* Hospitals, even private ones are inundated by patients, be prepared for a long wait to be seen or getting a hospital bed….the care one gets is about average if lucky and soon the bills pile up as one is charged for everything…bandages, syringes, rubber gloves, face masks, prescriptions, hospital bed, consultation fees, blood tests, use of equipment, oxygen, nurses…and the list goes on…it may sound familiar to USA patients but not to Europeans, so ensure having a good travel insurance!
* The Boulevard as well as most of the surrounding attractions are overrated: the Boulevard has pitiful grass patches, uneven flooring, bad sewer odour in particular during low tide, beggars, if not using private beach resorts (which are amazing by the way) even Dauin has got little to offer…a 30-45 minutes pump boat ride to Apo island from Malatapay is 3,500 pesos for up to 4 people…
* Resto food is pretty much the same anywhere you go…using the cheapest of cooking oil, killing one’s liver in no time…everything is sweet…from the ketchup to bread, pasta sauce…one can forget healthy eating! In addition, only bottled water is safe to drink so remember it when getting ice into your beverage
* sorry sir, out of stock culture, not being bothered or going the extra mile…customer service is not existing
* overcharging (milking) any foreigner for every pesos they can, and whenever possible, shortchanging
* mediocrity is the best one can expect…corruption is rampant and complaining will lead you nowhere
* cheap quality of goods (mainly made in China for export, meaning they would not be accepted by the Chinese market either), with brass screws rusting, plastic crumbling, light bulbs lasting only days, pipes corroding…there is a reason why they offer to test before leaving the shop
Not a complete list but it will do for now!
Not the paradise most bloggers tend to describe before themselves jumping the boat and moving some other place
All correct, and more
Totally Agree. I lived in Cebu for 16 years. The corruption is the cancer of the Philippines @@paulgriffin6256
Wow you're a can of sunshine lol 😂
Wow. What a list. The sugar thing strikes a cord for me as I am pre-diabetes . Then stray pets, my daughter actually got scratched by a cat in a small restaurant. Then health care again my daughter needed urgent care on a Sunday and we struggled to find one the whole day, in one of the not too small cities. Also the cost of care, in nz maternity costs are free, with a midwife all along. In the Philippines we spent more than 3k, yet doctors and midwife here are still asking why certain things were done a certain way in the Philippines when our first baby was born in the Philippines. You forgot the heat.. man!😂
None of this is the cause of expats, it is the low standard PH people and the horrific government in PH that are not conducive to economic development.
The main thing that stuck out in your video, which was very good, is all the vloggers who paint rose colored glasses views about the Philippines. They do that for money by keeping a fan base of people like me believing it is some type of utopia. I was there for 2 months between September and October 2023. Everything you say is true. I'm an in shape 64 year old and I didn't find meeting women to be easy either. The young ones are nice but not interested in dating unless they're being paid. And so many games online you'll lose your head. Guess I'm complaining now so I'll sign off. Great and honest video.
To avoid most of the crime, you need to be in a place like Davao area. I have lived there since 2017, and was there during the lockdowns and all that crazy stuff, with forced vaccines etc. During these years I changed from visualizing me living permanently in the Philippines, to live part time in Thailand, where I am now.
I know Thailand for many years also, and yes, it is relaxed and relatively safe, but unless you are a beer lover hanging out at the girly bars every night, there is not really much here as for a normal life.
I was hospitalized on several occasions in the Philippines, and in DIgos City, where I have my home, there are many private hospitals, that are basically doing their job.
The crazy thing though is that I got sepsis in January 2021, and nobody dared to admit me nor treat me due the lockdowns and Covid19 hysteria.
It almost cost me my life, but thanks to God and my wife, I live through it. Yes, I was admitted finally, but they did not even want to touch me, much less operate on me, without have several covid tests done.
All the bullshit with how the Government are abusive and show no respect for Human RIghts, their own Constitution of 1987 etc, showed me that this is NOT a place I want to live in permanently.
Live free or die!
Thailand and Indonesia were also subject to similar insane rules and practices, but the FIlipinos and most people in this part of the world seem to be too gullible, and really believe in all the shit and nonsense pushed on them from totally incompetent leaders.
I am currently in Pattaya, Thailand, where I established myself more than a year ago, but I am always happy when I return to the Philippines, where I have my wife and a boy that is soon 6 years of age.
I can meet anybody there and have a meaningful conversation about just any topic.
My wife was with me here in Pattaya for a while, and she really likes it.
But I plan to get them both out from not only the Philippines but from this part of the world, contemplating to move to Sweden (my home country of Norway seem to not like getting their own men back in the country, making so many obstacles that it seems to be an impossible task to bring my new family back there).
Talking about traffic:
Here in Pattaya I have on several occasions almost been hit by crazy car drivers, much more so than in the Philippines, as they have a highway going straight through the city center, and I daily have to use and cross that highway between lanes on my motorbike.
The speed limit is between 60 and 80 km/h, but it is not uncommon to race through the area in much more than 120 km/h. How do I know? Because I drive my scooter at 120 km/hour, and those crazy pick up drivers just pass me at incredible speeds.
A Korean tourist that was hit by a vehicle by walking in Bangkok, was taken to a private hospital nearby, but they refused to treat him, due to him having no guarantuee of financing it on his person, and while in transit to a public hospitale, he died.
Corruption here in Thailand is WAY worse than in at least DAVAO
area, and finding friends among the locals is just not possible, due to language barriers.
Probably the most honest assesment I've heard. I myself love girlybars and beer bars all day all the time. I used to go for 23 days at a time when I was younger, and the pattaya LT was 1000 baht for ll night. I was planning on retiring there, but I think three months in Thailand nad three months in Angeles each year might be enough, and then back to my beach house here.
@@PlateletRichGeli alternate between Pattaya and AC for vacations.
Remember guys; Have an EXIT PLAN, funded, back home. and DO NOT sell your house back home. I lasted 5 years there until the "Paradise Syndrom" wore off. I've heard 70% of expats leave within 5 years. I got back to america without a house. I had sold it. Nowadays thats a BIG PROBLEM. Anymore, in places I'd live, I couldn't pay cash for an outhouse. The prices are nuts. I was only capable of buying a tiny old raiilroad house in a small city/big town nobodys heard of. No Durango, or Telluride, or Park City, or Kanab, no Big Sky, or Whitefish, Sun Valley, or Bend. DO NOT SELL YOUR HOUSE, and have a BOMBPROOF PRE-NUP!
Buying houses is for boomers
Amen. Preach. I second the emotion. DON'T SELL YOUR HOUSE
Bombproof prenup
Wise words.
They say if you make it there for over 5 years you will stay there. Most people leaves withing 5 years. I could only make it for 4 years
Thank you for being one of the very few, who tell it like it is or as you have seen it and experienced it. For a very long time, most of the CZcamsrs I have watched, have omitted many things, that will had saved many retirees the false expectations of a 'paradise' without any negatives. Making someone believe that a place, any place, is a 'paradise', will make that person, then, see and magnify all the negatives, no matter how small, once they get to that 'paradise' they have painted in their mind.
I'll stay in Australia for retirement. However, I'll never commit to a woman here.
Outstanding Paul. The BEST video that I have seen in a very LONG time. Thx man
Thailand is often mentioned as an alternative. I’ve lived in Thailand 7 years now, 6 yrs in central Bangkok, 1 yr in the rural Isaan countryside. While Thailand may have advantages over the Philippines don’t lose sight of the fact that Thailand is a developing SE Asian country as well. Of course the biggest shock for potential retirees is that Thailand doesn’t have anything close to the Philippines 3 yrs on a tourist visa benefit. You may find the visa system to be more complicated and expensive. Driving culture, in addition to driving on the left side of the road, isn’t much better than what I hear about the Philippines. Lot’s of motorbikes and a lot of driving however the hell you want to drive. I drive all the time here and have accepted the driving culture but don’t expect western rules of the road. Corruption and the legal system here is not going to be much different either. A lot of surprising legal issues get settled when the police or village headman suggest an exchange of money. Noise? Bangkok is a big city with big city noise and pollution. The countryside seems to be much quieter than what I seem to hear about the Philippines but don’t think the countryside in Thailand is necessarily quiet. We have dogs, roosters, festivals, early morning village announcements, and bells ringing at the local wat. Thais like their concert size loudspeakers as well. Thai food is excellent but I can’t imagine agricultural practices are much different than in the Philippines. A stupendous amount of plastic is used in Thailand as well. I’ve always found Bangkok to be relatively clean of litter but in the countryside you will definitely see litter. I should add that Thais also have very strong family connections so it is also (mostly) true here that if you marry her you sort of marry the family too. Thailand is a Buddhist country, not a Catholic country, so there is a whole new set of cultural challenges to navigate.
I love living in Thailand and watching Philippine based bloggers long ago convinced me that the Philippines would not be my first choice if I was in the market for a new place to retire to. The usual differences between Thailand and the Philippines still apply. The Philippines has a good tourist visa and English is commonly spoken and I hear the people are nice. Thailand is more modern, good infrastructure, great food, natural beauty, and good value for your money. Yes there is a language barrier but there are Thais that speak English and Thais are nice people too. As always, check things out on the ground yourself before making a decision.
I wrote something similar in my comment on this video.. the biggest thing the philippines has going for it is the beautiful and lax visa policy for us young folks, and the kind and feminine women which are unmatched in my travels and living in over 35 countries
I've been to both Thailand and the PI. Thailand was my first choice for retirement due to the superior infrastructure, modern health care, and higher standard of (expat) living options at a lower cost. However, the visa requirements were a hindrance to gaining my full commitment. And now, with the Thai's shift in foreign income tax law "interpretation," I'm once again looking at alternative locations.
Absolutely spot on. Great video. Air pollution is major problem and no one but you mentions. Keep making these true videos. Thanks man.
I have lived in PI for 15 years and the trash situation is appalling even the cemeteries are dump sties. Farmers use gasoline as pesticides on vegetables. Hitmen can be hired for less than $100. Road safety especially the wheel swallowing drainage ditches and the kamikaze like motorbike drivers. Driving at night is a death wish.
Gasoline as a pesticide is quite the eye opener. No wonder the vegetables taste bitter.
You are 100% on the driving. I once got an FX van from Caticlan to Ilo-Ilo. Holy hell. How I survived it I will never know. The driver must have been going 90mph, and you'd get random dogs wandering in the road and I'm thinking "he's going to slow down now". Nope. I remember the driver helped a couple with their bags, and it turned out they had nicked his mobile from the dashboard. Unbelievable. I got out and kissed the ground when we arrived in Ilo-Ilo. Never again! :)
Driving in the Philippines is different. On the road where I live it’s 60 kilometers per hour. .62 kilometers = 1 miles per hour. So the speed limit is 36 mph. I noticed one commenter said his driver was doing 90 mph! You know fast that is in kilometers? That means he was driving 145 kph. No way dude. The cars in the Philippines aren’t muscle cars. 3 cylinder engines don’t go that fast. Also the highest kph that I’ve seen in the Philippines is 100kph-that’s on the toll roads. Not the local streets.
You guys have tunnel vision ...the PI is super clean ...wanna see real trash go to Napoli or Sicily Italia ....or Albania where trash is burned on the side of roads or ditches 24/7 all year round............We suggest go to Game on Sports Bar and drink a cold San Miguel
All of your points are valid. I have been here 6 of the past 10 months. I developed a cough here in Dumaguete which was pollution related. Using an N95 mask when riding or outside has helped a lot and I have ordered a good quality 3M respirator. I was so excited to retire here but honestly I am now looking at Vietnam and Thailand.
Vietnam is worse for pollution unless you move to small coastal towns but then the language issue will grind you down and other issues listed in this vlog.. I spent 10years there and speak Vietnamese quite well but won't go there when my wife travels back there!
Vietnam? OMG, you better be very very certain you know what you are saying. I lived in Vietnam for almost two years and I have no interest to ever return. My long time friend is leaving Vietnam today as a matter of fact. He's been there 10 years teaching an the place has turned so predatory, anti foreigner since COVID because the people and media kept spreading the CCP China mantra that COVID only came from foreigners. Vietnam is not better than the PI. Thailand? Oh that is a different cow, Thailand and the PI and Vietnam can be all lived in for about the size price range but I rate Thailand 2x better than the PI in so many categories. First, the retirement Visa program is a little more affordable but not dramatically, second, the infrastructure in most of the popular regions of Thailand is dramatically better than the PI. The roads are better, the drivers are better, there are not dogs running around over every inch of the place like the PI. The food is better and cheaper in Thailand than popular places of the PI. But I want to be fair, Thailand is not a perfect place so I don't want to paint it such. Go to Thailand, give it a chance first, I truly don't suggest that you go to Vietnam if you don't know anything about it. Just my advice from someone who lived there.
I highly recommend Thailand over Vietnam but yeah check out both well
Paul, you have lived it and although it is still a better value despite the increases, we are all seeing the same in the west. While there is some truth to many of the points that you make on the safety, infostructure and more.
Let's hope as a developing country, things will change for the better. This is why BGC is my place of choice.
But meeting a good Filipina still beats most of the Western attitude. I guess it's still the price many of us pay when making our own individual decisions. All the best to you!
I like how you always tell it like it is and don't sugarcoat it Paul. Love the channel.
About 25 years ago thiland was the promised land where EXPATS flocked until reality set in ,then the phillippines suddenly became the promised land and slowly reality is setting in once again ,the next promised land will be Cambodia and the process will start all over again .there is no free ride anywhere in the world ,there is always a tradeoff .
yep, some going now to cambo, laos, sri lanka, and even afrika, lol ..... [*lookin' for the nxt big thing]
Excellent videos sir I agree with you you make a lot of very valid points. I tried the Philippines for 1 year definitely did not like how it is run and did not really feel safe, after you scratch the surface it is really no longer Paradise the amount of pollution alone is outrageous. There is no such thing as food safety whatsoever. And if you want to see what pesticides they're using check out masanto the huge Chemical Company they sell pesticides in the Philippines that have been banned in most Western countries because they cause cancer. It is truly a coconut Republic
I don't know anyone that goes to the Philippines for the infrastructure, aestetics, or even health care. It boils down to the people and women that improves my overall level of happiness in retirement. I think it's the same reason you went to the Philippines as well.
Exactly you’re 100% right on.
True, but when you are affected by poor infrastructure on a daily basis, you will start to care about it.
100%. See the comment I left and I said basically the same thing
That's partly true-i had a 19yr old beautiful flippina gf that I could never afford similar in say,Thailand.
I'm 66yrs.
Over time once the high of the women wears off many expats do care about the noise, the pollution, lack of healthy food choices, poor healthcare, poor infrastructure, heavy traffic, etc. Like many who have commented, be able to be flexible, have an exit plan as most expats don’t last more than 5 years in the PH.
So refreshing to come across someone telling it as it really is, 2 thumbs way up
After many years in the Philippines.. Thailand is my new home. NO stress here. good food. and when my friends want to visit me in my condo, no security guards will harass them. Street food is amazing here, not like in the Pi where it sits in a pan all day hoping someone will buy what ever mystery food is under the pan cover. Rent for my condo at the Riviera Jomtien is $460 a month.. thats with 4 swimming pools, Gym, Free parking garage for car and motorcycle, 5 min walking distance from the beach and 100;s of restaurants. Oh and since I am US Military retired, they also have a newly opened clinic here that accepts the VA FMP program. As well the Bangkok Hospital works with the FMP. Healthcare in Thailand is rated 7th in the world. 10 universities here are VA certified for GI bill. Cost of a 4 year degree is $25,000 or less.
if I weren't married to a Filipina, I'd consider Thailand as a viable place to retire to. I much prefer their cuisine.
Hi! What’s the name of the clinic?
Great video, Paul! I recognize the boardwalk at Dumeguette. I visited the Philippines for the first time, just as it reopened last December (2022). During lockdown, I was introduced to the place by your videos as well as Old Dog, Gio, and the Pea, etc. I was really saddened by the pollution (noise, air, water, garbage). The people don't know enough to respect the natural beauty there. I stayed in Hilamonin, a beautiful area over the mountains from Dumeguette, in Negros Occidental. It's a province just outside of Kabankalan that's dense with sugar cane plantations. They built a road there in the last few years and now people live along it in small, rickety shacks with metal roofs that get blown apart every time a bad typhoon hits. But somehow inside they all have massive sound systems which start to compete with each other before dawn and into the night echoing through the beaucolic canyons and drowning out the sounds of nature. The car I rented had windows etched by acid rain. There was a stream near where I stayed where locals bathed and washed clothes and it was littered with discarded shampoo, soap, and detergent packs. I was surprised to see a beautiful rehab center that was badly damaged by Odette. Apparently there is a glue sniffing problem in the area. I could go on. But the reality of the place did not match the hard sell that a lot of expat vloggers base thier livelihoods on. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's noise. A close second is being murdered.
PEA IS CHINESE NOT FILIPINO SHE IS GREAT PRETENDER
Philippines is a Rock concert daily.. extremely frustrating to deal with.. 😢
I would agree with your last two dislikes, but I would put them in reverse order🤣 I think my loathing of noise pollution would end up getting me murdered by a $100 hitman.
@@briankendall65 Also matters what kind of music they play, if they happen to play a genre you hate, the suffering multiplies by 500%
@@charleswhite758 🤣😵
It’s laziness when people don’t pick their own own trash up and throw their trash away. In the states I remember watching a commercial on tv that viewed a native Indian that talked about picking our trash up from wherever we are to keep our land free. I remember at the end of the commercial seeing a tear run down his cheek. Does anyone else remember this commercial ? It made me aware to throw my trash in a garbage can instead of leaving it on the ground. Still today I always pick my trash up and put it in a garbage can or take it home and toss it away there.
Great Video and I hope you and Mia are doing great. I have visited seven countries in Southeast Asia this year: Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Philippines. I had planned to stay in Philippines for two months and only stayed in Cebu and Mactan Newtown area for two weeks. Two weeks was enough for us based on all the truths you share in this video. I now live in Cambodia and love it, Vietnam is also really good.
Great vid, all your comments and observations where spot on
You made your point very well 👍
Thanks for sharing !
I think your focus and experience is more about the Dumagette and Negros Oriental area. You make some valid points about plastic pollution. But there are places like Iloilo that are clean and different.
Paul, my experience really differs from yours. It depends on where you live and how you live. I live in a subdivision in the outskirts of the Angeles area, and here I have no problem accessing good healthcare from local doctors and private hospitals. I sleep fairly well at night. The cost of renting a home is still way more cheaper than what I was paying in the West. The people are very friendly and respectful. The supermarkets have most of the things I require. If they don’t, I just order from Lazada or Amazon.
There are good private schools and fairly good universities. Don’t forget that thousands of Filipino professionals are highly regarded all over the world and most were educated in the Philippines. And by the way, the visa and immigration situation in the Philippines is much much better than other countries in South East Asia. Yes, places like Thailand have better infrastructure, but their newly implemented tax policy for foreigners as well as their visa and immigration policies make them less welcoming to average retirees.
I do not think the Philippines has lost its luster. Maybe, Dumagette where you reside or use to reside has. But not the Philippines as a whole as a country.
You know, Paul, if you keep looking at the country through a NEGATIVE LENS, all you’ll see and experience is BAD things.
I agree, i am somebody that can live anywhere in the world due to being financially free.. the quality of the social life and dating life particularly in cebu but anywhere in the philippines is mindblowingly good and i will deal with the low quality food and crappy sidewalks 😆
do u mind letting us know which city u live in and which private hospital is good in your area?
I agree with all your comments. Save money and remain in the states by moving to rural areas, and keep American infrastructure, culture, and law enforcement.
Excellent video Paul. You are so right. 5 months we've been living here. We have a commitment of making it here a year and then decide if we will stay permanently.
I totally agree with you in that Expat You-tubers create unrealistic expectations to relocating and living in the Philippines. I've been so disappointed in experiencing the negatives that no one ever talked about. I live in Bacolod City and even though I already knew about the trash, it is still hard to conceive that everyone throws so much trash on the ground or in the ocean without a thought. I can truly say that the Philippines is very beautiful, however there are a lot of negatives with living here and dealing with the people. My Filipina wife lived with me in America for 10 years and since we have arrived here, even she commented that the people have changed so much since she left.
Very true, my Filipino wife feels the same way…she was originally from Dumaguete but spent over 40 years in the U.K.
Hello! Born and raised in P.I. but been living here in states for three decades now. Anywho, I agree and disagree with your content. Where you live even here in States it's all about location, location and location and what WE can AFFORD. I'm sure you're aware of that already, and it applies globally too.
I hope that some goverment office workers will see/watch this video for the reason that you made A LOT OF GOOD POINTS AND GOOD OBSERVATIONS. Yes, totally concur with the traffic and the traffic rules, the roads, the internet. So hopefully, they are doing some sort of action now, if they want more tourists to turn up.
I'd still choose the Philippines in a heartbeat, there is no place like home the hubby feels the same way. :)
Pretty much spot on. I tried some smaller Cities but that wailing of dogs is disturbing. I can tolerate the rooster but a dog wailing in misery is hard thing to ignore. Some places you can feel the eyes of someone with bad intentions. So I moved to Makati. Walking distance to Makati Medical. Buy my groceries at Landmark, SM or Market Market. I do not drive or have a scooter. Security is at nearly every doorway of every business. People working for the City sweeping sidewalks. Manicured green areas. If I had to stay in the Province...I would not stay.
Great truth’s Paul…eye opening!!
You make some very good points, I will certainly give you credit for, but I can also tell you where you went wrong. You seem to think (or at least suggest) that all of the 7,600 (or whatever the exact number is) islands in the Philippines are similar to Manila, Cebu, or Dumaguete. They are NOT. Palawan, Mindoro, and Iloilo (to name a few) I can tell you are MUCH cleaner and do not have the trash, plastic, and congestion problems like the places you mentioned. These islands are much cleaner and the people there have very different attitudes towards littering and trash - probably because these locations strongly depend on eco-tourism for income. There seems to be quite a big difference in attitude among Filipinos towards trash between different islands among the peoples there, and it is wrong to generalize for all the islands based on just the few you mentioned.
Other than that, however, you are right about most of the points you made. The influx of foreigners is DEFINITELY raising prices in the Philippines, but the exact increase depends on the specific locale you are talking about. Inflation of prices is definitely worse in some areas than others. Manila, Makati, and BGC for example, have gone absolutely insane, and in some places the prices of condos are even higher than in America! Insane!
Dogs being in the road are definitely a problem on most islands that I have traveled to, but again not nearly as bad in some places as it is in the ones you mentioned. I saw very, very few on the roads on either Palawan or Mindoro.
The public hospitals are quite bad, as you mentioned, and I would definitely agree with you about that - but most foreigners will probably not use those anyway. The private hospitals can be quite nice, actually, but it will depend which clinic, on which island, in which city, of course.
I would highly suggest you travel to some more islands before generalizing about the whole country, based on just Manila, Cebu, and Dumaguete. Again, you were right about much of what you said, but I really think you over-generalized about the whole country based on just a few locations. Anyway, thanks for the video, and good luck with whatever path you choose.
Paul, I think you've very nicely summarized some important issues that people tend to overlook. The noise issue applies both in cities and without, and I would add the filipino penchant for burning all manner of things, including coconut husks, adds to the long list of annoyances. The dumping of plastics is a major issue. I know one expat who when he was away from his house, his neighbours treated his garden as a dumping ground - they literally tossed their rubbish over his fence into his garden. The thinking is, well it's not my garden - out of sight, out of mind is very much a thing. I had considered retiring to Philippines and after many visits and much discussion with my partner (who is filipina), we decided against it. Since 2003 I've been travelling to Thailand and Philippines and since day 1 my strategy was find out where the westerners go, and then avoid it. In Thailand I avoid Silom, Khao Sarn Rd, Sukhumvit and the like, and in Philippines places like Duma and Borocay. That has served me well over the years. BTW if I *was* going to retire I would pick a rented apartment in Manila most likely - and make sure it's on a high floor - much quieter and less polluted, there's always tons to do, and the islands are a short hop away - yes it is a more expensive place to stay, but well worth it IMHO. BTW the main reasons expats go to Philippines are 1) Easy visa renewal in country 2) Low cost (in the provinces) 3) Women. I think it's changing, as you point out, Philippines is not what it was sadly, although there are still some advantages in places like Manila. Each retiree will have to assess the situation based on their own priorities - but I think many expats who retire to Philippines do so because they are out of other options, which is sad. In short, I believe Philippines is a great place to visit (and I have been all over on many trips, and we'll be going in 2024 too), but you have to be sure about it as a place to retire to...
rent has went up all over the world,canada too,
Just got back from Manila after a 45 day stay. My last visit was right before the onset of Covid. There was no comparison between visits. We were shocked by the price increase in food, transportation, and hotel cost. Traffic was horrid with the entire Manilla Metro area one big grid lock. Filth was ever where, for example Edsa Highway had trash stacked on the sidewalk for ten miles or more. Poverty was troublesome with beggars every where. You report is very accurate and in contrast with those bloggers who claim the good life can be had for $900.00 USD a month. My wife is Filipina and we once thought about buying a house some where in Luzon, but after this visit I don't think we would live there. Quite simply Manila is in steady decline and soon will be so undesirable no one in their right mind would live there.
Been here 7 years now. Still a great place for me but yeah the trash really bothers me. There's no excuse for it. I visit filipino friends at their house and in the yard is the ubiquitous plastic littering right next to their front door. Municipalities don't seem to have very robust trash pickup so when filipinos do put trash out in bags for the odd pickup often times the dogs get their first.
Enjoyed the post. I would retire in other places, but I only speak English. I, also, like the religious background of the PI. I will have to give these matters some thought. Thank you.
I went to Japan about ten years ago and booked a day city tour in Tokyo. One of the things the guide told us was that there are few litter bins around. They are located outside the 7/11 shops and public parks and zoos, etc but are few and far between elsewhere. She told us the kids are educated at school regarding littering from an early age and this seems to work well because people will take their trash home or carry it until they pass a litter bin.
Thanks Paul for the dose of reality. And the comments below are fabulous further information/confirmation.
I have been associated with the Philippines for 25 years, the last 12 as a permeant
resident. My rare encounters with foreign retirees in the Philippines is that most have never lived outside their native country before coming here.. I do have the advantage of having worked and lived in many countries from West Africa, the Gulf, South and Central Asia and of course the Philippines. There is a common thread for most of the retirees I have encountered. They are running away from something, are intolerant and lack respect and understanding of local customs and practices. Tend to frequent places that are expat enclaves, and I do mean bars and other recreational places.
So in the end it's horses for courses.
Hi Paul, everyone has their own opinions and personal experiences and it great to see some here. As for me, my first trip to the Philippines was 18 years ago and I has no pre-conceived expectations. My knowledge of the the Philippines amounted to "Thiller in Manila" and not much else. You can guess why I came. During those 18 years, my partner and I have split a lot time between both the Philipiness (Leyte) and my home country. So without any pre-comceived ideas upon my arrival back then, I just accepted how things were and never fused too much about anything. We are happy with our life here. Others that don't like, we are not holding you here. Merry Christmas......
Those were facts not opinions. You can still stay there, there are millions of Filipinos in the country and many foreigners still coming and staying, for multiple reasons.😂
Good video. I left Philippines earlier this year after living there for the last 17 years. Just couldn't take it any more for a variety of reasons. Living in Thailand now... it's like night & day. Exponentially better in every way.
How is the "love"? We know in the PH it's purely transactional even if young and for marriage (worst deal). Any better? Are they (and their families) as ruthless for the almighty dollar?
Paul. You are so right I was in Borocay in August I couldn't believe the trash on beach it was everywhere
Paul, I really appreciate this episode. I wish more vloggers would do some of this too. I can only imagine the number of men in the West who pull the trigger and move to PI based on the overly happy view presented by many Vloggers only to be disappointed and move back, all at great financial and social cost back home. PI is still an attractive place for many reasons BUT it isn’t heaven in earth. Though many Vloggers have said as much, they often do it as a side comment, blunting the impact of the message. Thanks again for the honest assessment.
So true. Some have stooped so low as to show video clips of "misbehaving" western women and then saying how great the PH is for the Trad life (where the man is a walking ATM for half a village). They mention the possible downsides (very lightly) and sell you a pound cure (all cope).
THE VLOGGERS AREN'T STUPID MY FRIEND. THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY SELLING YOU THE YOUNG GIRLS AND A PARADISE TO GO WITH IT. NOT BY POO POOING IT. THEY KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR AND BOY DO THEY. NO COMMON SENSE WHAT SO EVER.
Hi Paul
Good video
Missed the "high" level of honesty. Cheers mike.
Thanks Paul....
Regards from beautiful Thailand....
Nice acomodation, great food...resonable prices.and easy to travell ...make me no think about Philippines anymore.
Take care and stay safe.
I have seriously been considering retiring to the Philippines, however for the reasons you discussed and other negatives including scammers, there is not a chance that I would retire or even visit there. Good luck to all expats who want to live their lives there. It is just not for me. I hope the government can clean the place up but I would not hold my breath.
I'm from Colorado but now live in Manila, Quezon City specifically. Love it here. Wouldn't live anywhere else. Would never live on Duma. Manila is where it's at.
Exactly Manila Makati City is the Paradis in the Philippines.
I am staying there for 20 years + 6 months
Way few scammers than other places.
@@jayscott7152 Not too many foreigners in Bicol.
All the good and bad in Filipino character is explained by maturation arrest. The average citizen functions as a 12 y.o, This explains the friendliness, musicality , singing , living for the present, lack of intellect.
Bingo
I don't know i've met good girls from the province and self-sufficient intelligent and hardworking women who are doing well financially in just my six weeks in the Philippines.
What you are talking about the lazy mindset is mostly the men here.
Perfect for Gov control.....
I hate trash. So when I moved on top of our mountain in Carcar I put 2 feed sacks up for trash outside of momma’s store and I started teaching the kids and young people to put it in the sack. It worked and we burn it. I am so proud of the young people
Well done, great initiative
No country is without its flaws. Thailand is often brought up as an alternative place to live compared to the Philippines. I'm currently in Thailand, where I've noticed some huge disadvantages here compare to the Philippines. Medical expenses for foreigners in Thai hospitals can be 3-5 times higher than for locals. Additionally, purchasing a condo in Thailand as a foreigner often comes with a hefty price markup of 50%-100%.
In contrast, the Philippines imposes a less of a "skin tax," though it still exists. One of the appealing aspects of the Philippines, especially for single men, is the opportunity to meet the most opened minded amazing and remarkable women. English is widely spoken in the Philippines, compared to Thailand and just that fact alone makes meeting women much more of a paradise compared to Thailand.
Thailand does have its advantages, such as its modernity, superior infrastructure, and excellent accommodations at reasonable prices, which can be much harder to find in the Philippines by a long shot. While I would happily live in either country, if I had to choose only one, I would lean toward the Philippines because of the warmth of its people. I genuinely love both the Philippines and Thailand.
Hi Paul
I think Retires are still choosing the Philippines.
They just realised Dumaguete is not for them and many more beautiful places to live in the Philippines
he hasn't been to other parts, and just stayed in certain areas .....
Thank you Paul for the very good video (especially the "good sleep / noise" factor ) .
thanks for your very important blog sir paul,, i completely agree with you,,,,
Absolutely bang on Paul.
Great video. You hit all my issues about living here. We live in a beautiful jungle, that people use as their trash receptacle. 4 nights out of the week a bar miles away from us is so loud we can't sleep...even with ear plugs. Apparently, the bar is owned by the father of the mayor who has a reputation of violence. I live in paradise, but it is often hell.
I couldn't handle that at all
Good post. I’m not as pessimistic as you but agree with much of what you say. I thought things would get much better in the last 9 years in Cebu City but what I’ve seen now that I’m here full time is higher prices, more traffic, poorer infrastructure, more noise, and a lot more pollution. I really expected it to improve. Philippines is the only SE Asian country where I think it’s a cultural thing for people to just throw trash on the ground. Is sad. Not like this in any other Asian country I’ve been. For example when I was In Phuket for a month people always threw out their trash and street cleaners out early morning picking up trash and washing streets. Now that I’m here full time I’m ready to leave for more developed reasonably priced SE Asian countries once I stop working in the BPO sector next year. And I agree that too many vloggers painting a more rosy picture but most are vlogging now to help make ends meet. Bloom is off the rose for much of the PH which now lags way behind growing and booming SE countries like Vietnam which is booming.
Great video Paul. Where have you found in this crazy SE Asia that is peaceful and respectful?
I know what you mean about sleep quality. I went to Mexico, it's similar to the Fils in some ways. I got an air bnb with a great view of the ocean. The owner lived above, and me in the apartment below. She had a balcony and her dogs stood on it and barked all.night.long! Then the local dogs would come by in the middle of the night and start howling at her dogs... there was no way I could sleep. Then as soon as a hint of dawn all the f-ing roosters started up. I stayed there 5 nights and hardly slept. The stairs from the bnb down to a steep banking had no handrail, just a sheer drop and re bar sticking up. It was similar in the Philippines, accidents waiting to happen all around. Kids with just shorts and no shoes, covered in dirt and sniffing glue bags. I was like wtf, why doesn't anyone do anything about this? I think that the reality is, that if you take away the abundant access to women that you would never get back in your own country that 90 percent would never bother with the Fils. If that's not true then why is it all men that go there?
Thank you for your views. It´s good to hear the "other side." There´s food for thought in what you say.
I’d say give it a try first then see if you like it. Good video
I think that your frame of reference Paul should be expanded to include all of the Philippines backed up by sturdier statistics. Fortunately there are numerous places in the Philippines where a tourist (someone with the ability to travel) can escape to if a certain place such as Dumaguete reached a point of "negative" returns. No sweat! As for "problems," one man's problem might be another one's panacea! It’s all a matter of perspective. For example, regarding foreigners hitting dogs while driving motorcycles, it's a completely avoidable event! Just slow down and watch out for dogs, for God's sake! (Or watch out for God spelled in the reverse). Regarding food quality, eat at places where the food is freshly caught or "cut," such as seaside fish eateries. Regarding "murders," drop the arrogant attitude of a westerner steeped in selfishness and presumptuousness and instead adopt a more egalitarian, empathic and friendly attitude toward Filipinos. And so on. By comparison to the problems in certain western countries with all of the homelessness, constant wars abroad that risk a nuclear holocaust, and frequent public shootings, Philippines seems like an earthy Paradise. Try living in Mexico... lol.
I've moved to the philippines but mexico city is probably the most livable city i've ever been to (I've spent 3 months there in 2023) and i have lived in and traveled to over 35 countries. Mexico city is all of the good things in a US city with very little of the bad.
Mexico city does not appear in the top 100 cities in the world for violent crime and you have 7 US cities in the top 50..
Thanks for the video. Lots of good points, many of which I agree with. With respect to inflation, that is a world wide phenomenon and not really unique to the Philippines. Regarding crime, there were more than 500 mass shootings (Defined as 4 or more people killed) in the States in 2023 so I’m not sure that its fair to suggest that crime is worse in the Philippines than in America. I agree that health care is a problem unless you’re living in, or near the bigger cities (and have health insurance for private hospitals).
excellent video.
I really considered going for a while, but I have seen enough lately to make me question that. Admittedly it sounds wonderful when you first hear about it. The deeper you dig, the worse it looks. The loss of rights bothers me. I can't own land, can't have a gun, and God knows what else. Obviously some guys are able to navigate there and come up with a decent woman, but they spend a lot of time doing it. Which brings us to...is the juice worth the squeeze? I have watched many videos of girls on the street interviews, and you know what? NONE of them mention wanting to date an old man, or even a 50 yo man like myself. If you remove the lure of easy to find wife material, the downsides are adding up rapidly.
Thank you for the honest opinion video Mr. Paul. I hope you and your wife have a good day. 😎
I have been here for 7+ years and you are so right about the environment, the laws, and health care.
The only minor thing that I disagree with is about the girls. They aren't very me , me , me as they are in the West. Here it is family , family, family. Much easier to deal with if you find the right girl and set the rules up front.
What if you're the DINK lifestlye type? Obviously, a no-go. It's only good for Trad types (who want family). Not all of us do.
@@bobbruce4135 Get a vasectomy and just keep quiet about it ? Not so difficult. Not having kids was the best thing I ever did to advance my life. Every loser I know has kids and is divorced. Is that not glaringly obvious ?
I have lived here full time for a year and 4 months now. Here are my thoughts.
- I can't really disagree with anything that you said.
- There is stupidity every day and after living here for months, at times, it really gets to me.
Now, that all being said, it's always going to come back down to a couple of things:
1. Despite the things I don't like, what kind of life can I create for myself? It's still rather be here than my home country in the west.
2. Be flexible, continue to adjust expectations lower, and it can work.
So why am I HERE instead of Vietnam or Thailand? Same reasons. Language barrier in those places is too much for me, AND the visa requirements for my situation don't compare?
Why PH and now south of the US/Mexico border somewhere...well, it's STILL cheaper here, and I mesh better with the people here.
Now, that is ALL subject to change.
My final words: Don't be a whiner. If you can't figure things out and make solutions, you're not cut out for living in another country. Also, I saw a comment that food is western prices. No they are not. I just flew into Chicago 3 weeks ago, drove to MI and spent 2 weeks there. Then I came back to Bohol where I live. Food is much more in the US.
Less, but certainly not as tasty.
It’s a reason for snow birding it also, rather than fully retiring there. I personally think that they will improve, slowly, over time. They will need to clean up the plastics and get more foreign investment.
From what I see, the Island beauty, English language, Christian religion and beautiful women, will continue to fuel foreign visitors against all of these barriers. This will continue to bring capital into the country because the foreigners marry these women and many build families.
We were having breakfast at a hotel near the airport in Manila. I remarked to my wife of how cutely the hotel had their workers dressed. My wife gets the attention of one of the waitresses and compliments her on her uniform and how gorgeous she is. She turn around to strike a pageant pose and give us a 400 watt smile. My god. We both applaud her.
We just don’t see the femininity like this in the US. Men will put up with whatever to be around great women.
Preach. 100% agree. I posted something similar in my comment on this vid.
Right on Paul Lived for a year in PH, other than the prayer time here in Malaysia its very quiet for sleeping purposes. Thinking about checking out Indonesia
It is true. All of the things mentioned will wear you down.. But, finding a soul mate like Mia, can make it all worth while.
I think and choose differently than most. I am a slow traveler. I would never pick on country and live there without seeing my choices and experiencing my choices. In SE Asia I see 7 choices, not one. I also consider risk and consequences of my choices. I am not a black and white choice person. I was turned off in Duma with the excessive drinking by expats and how that effected the community. I wouldn’t live in Duma for other reasons as well.
On the other side the Phillipines has many wonderful qualities for a responsible non drinking happy visitor. Malaysia is a wonderful choice for less cost than the Phillipines. Many other choices with many of the positive attributes the Phillipines has to offer
My son who is 32 has been living with his 27 yr old Indonesian GF for 5 years here in southern California, They live in Indonesia 2 months out of every year, 1 month in winter and 1 month in summer time. Mainly they stay in Bali or with her family in Jakarta and travel around. I was thinking about living in Bali full time, but saw a post from a guy who has lived in East Java for 5 years. He use to live in the Phil's and said living in Kediri, Banyuwangi, Malang or other areas East and Central Java is like living in the Phil's in the 1970's. I don't know if I will do it, but it might be an alternative to the Phil's.
Good point regarding the drinking in Duma. One consideration for Expats is who you will live around. In many of these place the expats are below the median. Nobody knocking it out of the park in their home country will relocate to the Philippines. In fact, folks doing moderately well at home won't move there. So who's left? Not the best. Those are the guys. Not life enhancing. We're talking 1-5 on the 1-10 scale.
Thank you for your honest take on the phils.
Very interesting. The viewers can now debate or comment. Greetings from Switzerland
Awesomely true video well said.
Thanks for ur honest insight. I am here at the moment dipping my toes in so to speak. Having lived in Thailand for 7 yrs ,was contemplating moving here, but not a chance having seen how things are : (
Thanks for the real perspective on what is sold as paradise isn’t always so….i was actually thinking of moving there to retire like most, but the cost of living per month seemed just as high or higher than here in Canada, air fare there is outrageous and I wanted to at least make a couple trips there for a month or so stay before I made the final move, for now I will stay where I am till maybe prices go down again
Thank you for views of expanded and renovated Dumaguete boardwalk.
We have been living in Valencia for almost 2 years now. One of the biggest problems facing the Philippines is corruption. The UN even admonished the Philippines several years ago about the rampant degree of corruption here. Many/most public officials engage in some degree of corruption. This corruption stifles business innovation, regulation compliance and overall societal improvements. There also exists a "cultural immaturity" relating to customer service, environment issues, trash throwing, lack of skilled driving and adherence to best driving practices. Several other Asian neighbors are pulling themselves out of third world existences and improving all the time, except for the Philippines. The food here is not good at all. Probably the least attractive in all the Asian nations, lacking in quality, taste and imagination. Inflation here over the past 2 years has been quite steep. I hope someday that the leaders in Manila, realize that to a large degree, that foreigners and visitors are greatly stimulating this economy and to begin improving these things as a way to say thanks to the visitors.
The mayor that married us was so corrupt, she is now doing 48 years in prison. Plus, she turned a blind eye to the fact I didn't do my 10 day waiting period, only 8 but nothing 2 bottles of Italian wine couldn't fix. Twist off caps of all things. Annulment would be great!
I endorse everything you said. Very realistic
Every Pilipino should get a government paid trip to Japan during their school years to learn how to live properly .
LOL right, but Japanese people hate, absolutely hate foreigners. THey are just so fake nobody nows how much they hate us. The Japanese society is so ingrained with rules and politeness it will never SHTF because even in the post tsunami, noboy looted. In the US you got all kind of naggers running around stealying TV's instead of looting for water, then when they're thirsty with their 80 st inch TV they stole they call for Coast guard and gubment to save them. 15 years later still bitching about Katrina aid in Baton Rouge.
thanks paul. good info.
mjr
tokyo
I’ve visited 44 countries and all have positive and negative attributes. Pick the top two or three things you want most in your life, and focus on attaining them. There is no place that’s perfect…although I keep looking;-)
Hallelujah finally real video about the Philippines.
I’m traveling to Dumaguete on the 16th of January. My first time
Finally conveying a important message about the Philippine. I watched many bloggers voice their opinions, how great the Philippines is. Vacationing there for 3 and 4 weeks each time. You cannot know or see the actual daily living, until you stay there 3 to 6 months. I’m glad I only had three large luggage when I arrived there. I was sick of my stomach for 4 days the 1st time , the second time I was sick for 6 days. I lost 20 pounds. I left New York city, where super markets get you checked out within 5 to ten minutes. costumer service here are efficient. When I go to a Resturant and don’t have to worry if I’m going to be sick, after consuming a meal. My condo In Quezon City is paid in full. I’m back in New York City and I don’t think I return to the Philippines again. The Philippines has to catch up to higher standards before the country can grow and be a place where people want to live. Health care would have to improve , food industry, customer service, pollution and traffic. Most Filipinos settle in the United States never return to the Philippines, only to vacation and see their families. A low percentage return to the Philippines.
I've interviewed over a hundred filipinas and 80-90% of them have no desire to move to the united states or the west and would prefer to stay in the philippines with their family
@@Re3iRtH when I was there, many women there just wanted someone loyal and responsible. What I was conveying is once anyone moves to the USA and have the opportunity to work and find the freedoms to go have a roof over your head and eat anything you want. They send money to support their family .. take vacations .. twice a year .. get paid for sick days from their employer. Go to any hospital and get medical attention. You have all different culture foods here. Not too many go back to stay. I’m know a few that have gone back to the Philippines, but the majority stay here for a long time. Some relocate to other states within the United States.. Is it perfect here ? By no means … I think my experience in the area I stayed was a bad experience. Making a choice to move to the Philippines can be difficult. If you live in an area that’s congested with traffic and stress. We cannot eat the same foods as a filipino can. Unless it’s prepared correctly. I guess home cooked meals would help an expat. The drinking water can be a challenge for our bodies. I have traveled to the Philippines 5 times. The Philippines is not a country that I would settle in. For the expats that moved there and like it, that’s great… but they best have money saved and not live above their means. They will be broke, there is no safety net to get you back into the USA.
Good video. You got all the main points, but there is more as mentioned here in the comments. Honestly, it's pretty easy to see that this is clearly not for everyone just by watching a few hours of videos from the street from various places in PH. The lack of infrastructure is appalling, the noise, poverty, food quality, lack of customer service. Health care is certainly important for those in retirement, it's not worth gambling with that.
Perhaps it depends on where you are coming from. If you live and rent in some downtrodden area with little savings and are dependent on your retirement check, then maybe all these items do not seem that bad in relative terms. However, my place in the hills here in the mountain west is quiet, peaceful, within easy reach of some great hiking and skiing and still within a short drive to all services and shops one could possibly need. Yes, it is getting expensive (both in terms of real estate and cost of living), but there is always the possibility of spending time in a low cost area abroad when retired for extended periods while maintaining a residence here, especially when you downsize to minimize costs.
I'm glad you posted this video, Paul. I was wondering how much things have changed over there since so many Westerners seem to be going there. It looks to me like I might need to reconsider ever moving there now.
WHAT HE SAID IS AS REAL AS IT CAN GET, HE SPEAKS THE TRUTH. THIS GUY SHOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT BUT IN TODAYS WORLD HE'D LOSE AS EVERYONE MUCH PREFERS THE LIES.
@@TRICK-OR-TREAT236. Why all caps? It feels like you are yelling.
Thailand would be my choice for retirement, however they have introduced a number of impediments in recent years, like registering frequently with the authorities, requirement for health insurance (a good thing) and in 2024 a new taxation law that looks at worldwide income differently than before. That might drive the less well off towards the Philippines. I personally believe that the best approach is to visit for a few months each year, but retain a place in your home country.
If by frequent reporting you mean the 90 day reports - that has been the case long before I moved to Thailand 7 years ago. Health in insurance is a requirement for some but not all long stay visas for retirees. The most popular "retirement" visa is the O visa and it has no insurance requirement. I do recommend insurance but you can easily retire to Thailand without insurance. The tax law changes are still a bit of a mystery. It is not clear how this will affect the typical western expat but the situation is the type of uncertainty that could deter anyone who is considering Thailand. I suspect it will become clearer in the next 3-4 months.
I get 90 day holiday medical insurance with my bank for €14 a month! Seems better to do it that way keep life interesting
@@martypoll I was contemplating buying an Elite Visa and only bringing sufficient funds into Thailand to cover my needs. I’d planned to only bring in dividends paid on investments in the previous tax year, so that no tax liability would arise. We don’t know the full details of the tax reforms but it is clear even now that I would be taxed on whatever I brought in, irrespective of the year earned. There also appears to be some confusion over bringing in funds to say, buy a condo. If that is taxed I think it’s game over for Thailand.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing. I’ve been in and out of the Philippines going on 40 years. The problems you’ve identified are on point, but they’ve always been here. CZcams and expansion of social media has increased the level of awareness. Pick and choose your locations wisely. This is not a bad place really. But yes, to a foreigner used to a certain lifestyle, don’t expect it to be the same here. Stay safe!
I agree. Those issues have been there for more than 3 decades.
Yes but you can't argue that traffic is much worse.@@JunBermz
Old footage or are you back in PH now?
Osmo Pocket 3?
Great night footage.
Thank You for calling it as you see it and making it known. As far as night noise goes, the solution is fairly easy. Just use ear protection which is normally available in any pharmacy or hardware store.
Hey Paul, love your vlogs❤ Jennifer and I have been subscribed for a couple months now. This video especially hits home with us as our CZcams channel, Disciples of Tao, is all about improving the situations here in the Philippines. We teach and promote biochar composting and organic farming, well-being with our humanistic philosophy, and fitness with yoga, meditation and HIIT workouts. Hopefully 🍀 we can all connect sometime and become a force for positive change. Great vlog❤
Appreciate your harsh but fair assessment, Paul. I'm planning a trip to PH later this year and your observations give me something to think about. Especially the noise issue. Expats always say "it's PH, get used to it." To that I say, why? I'll go to PH, stay a few weeks in different cities, and decide if this is where I want to retire. If not, there's always Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore to choose from. Great video. Subbed!
You're right, many are moving away from the Philippines... I thought it was my imagination 😊. I think increased costs are the core reason. Inflation is the elephant in the room and nobody wants to talk about it. I'm planning on my costs doubling every 10 to 20 years and to have approximately a 5x budget 30 years from now. Maybe you should try to discuss it and solicit ideas for a inflation hedge. I think it's a good idea to have a rental house in the US to offset increasing rental house costs in the Philippines.
I like living in gated community here in Subic. The Philippines has what America does not. It's not a little America. For instance, you don't have the freedom to defame somebody, be rude, smoke marijuana or second guess the wisdom of getting a vaccine. Those people should go elsewhere and be happy.
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH THE OTHERS ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT TO HEAR. FOR THAT REASON I JUST SUBSCRIBED. I SAW ALL OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED A LONG TIME AGO. SIMPLY BY WATCHING ALL THE VIDEOS AND USING COMMON SENSE. THE NOISE POLLUTION ALONE WOULD HAVE ME JUMPING OUT THE WINDOW. MOST EXPATS COME FOR THE YOUNG GIRLS PERIOD & THINK THEY CAN PUT UP WITH THE REST. I CAN'T BLAME THEM FOR WANTING TO FEEL YOUNG AGAIN BUT THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY FOR THAT. I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY. VLOGGERS MAKE THEIR MONEY PRAISING THE PHILIPPINES NOT POO POOING THEM. THEY KNOW THAT VERY WELL TOO. YOU WILL DEFINITELY GET THE HATES ON THIS. I'LL MAKE A PREDICTION HERE. 😂 🤣 😂 YOU WON'T SEE ONE LIKE ON THIS COMMENT. 😂 🤣 😂 THANKS BUDDY.
Why all caps? Seems like you are yelling.
CAPS ARE NICE. THEY HAVE NO VOICE BUT IF THEY DO ............ WHY ARE YOU WHISPERING ? L.O.L. @@Kevin-G-7
The Duma boardwalk boulevard lookes as clean as I never saw before.... They cleaned because you were going to do this vlog? :)
Your right your video is all difficult to hear if your from the Philippines. I think there is always 2 sides to a story. People consider to retire in places like the Philippines and other 3rd world country in SE Asia is because of many reasons, number one is cost of living. Now compare that to leaving in U S or European country most of the people would be on the street because their social security or retirement income will not be enough. Glad you put these video out. I will share what I learned when I visited Hawaii, what the local folks told me. Visit and go back where ever you come from. Because when people like you stay in places like the Philippines problem like you mentioned occurs for the local people.
In Sweden, they have created a power plant to generate electricity by burning garbage. Something like this would be so helpful in the Philippines for generating electricity and cleaning up the place. Sweden is having an issue of running out of trash to burn now.
Why didn't we think of that decades ago? Such a win-win situation
it"s about time that some of the CZcamsrs are finally speaking the truth about the Philippines its nothing like what people think it is sad!!
did you watch his videos from the past him and gio were those guys lol
HUSH ! YOU'RE RUINING THEIR DREAM THEY HEARD ABOUT FROM ALL THE OTHER VLOGGERS. 😂 🤣 😂
wow coming from you with a youtube account name with 'PHILIPPINES' on it 😂. are you obsessing over the philippines? or y'all are just jealous of us?
I live in BGC primarily for the healthcare. Any major problem I get on a plane and fly back to USA. I also don’t get involved with any business or government organization except for immigration when I need a renewal of my visa.
Straight shooting! That’s why I’m going to tour all of Southeast Asia for about six months to a year. Then back to the states to either rent my house out and return to Southeast Asia with a possible side trip to Mexico and Portugal just to check those places out too. Then back to my favorite spots in Southeast Asia to decide if I want to live long-term I’m just going to slow travel each of the places that I enjoyed. Hopefully solo. But if I happen to meet someone along the way, maybe she would like to travel with me. Solo traveling, some of the footsteps, that CZcams channel side trip life has set sounds more exciting than moving somewhere on a permanent basis and hopes to find happiness I’m just going to perpetually travel for a few years I’m retiring at a fairly young age of 59. No need to be in a hurry to settle down somewhere. Especially somewhere like Duma, and expect to like all of the noise and pollution and problems of living in a Third World country.
That was very informative i did like it lots of truths i could sit and talk to you for awhile love to have a long conversation with you
Retired expat from the US living in Thailand 5 1/2 years.
All good here. Would never even consider visiting the Philippines.
Love to visit Vietnam. Going again next month.
Good luck!!