Is a Retirement in the Philippines Right For You?
Retiring to the Philippines is not a simple decision. There are many factors that will denote a safe and comfortable retirement where true quality of life comes into question.
FEATUREDTHE PHILIPPINES
RL
11/8/20263 min read
Beauty is Only Skin Deep!
BEFORE YOU RETIRE IN THE PHILIPPINES, READ THIS.
If you are seriously thinking about retiring in the Philippines, don’t make your decision based on a two-week vacation. A vacation shows you the beaches, sunsets, resorts, restaurants, and smiling faces. Retirement is something completely different.
Before you make the Philippines your permanent home, live there for at least a year. Not as a tourist. Live there as a resident. Pay the electric and water bills. Deal with the traffic. Experience the heat and humidity. Live through brownouts, flooding, typhoons, and unexpected problems. Visit the hospitals. Learn how emergency services actually work. Deal with government offices and bureaucracy. Experience the Philippines on an ordinary weekday - not just on a beautiful vacation.
A beach on the island of Samar
The Philippines is a beautiful country. It has incredible natural beauty, a rich culture, amazing food, and some of the kindest and most hospitable people in the world. But retirement is not just about beautiful beaches and affordable living. Your retirement is about your safety, healthcare, financial security, comfort, and quality of life. You need to understand the country’s challenges, including corruption, infrastructure problems, traffic congestion, flooding, power outages, typhoons, earthquakes, and limitations in public services.
The Philippines sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making earthquakes and volcanic activity part of the country’s natural reality. The Philippines is also prone to catastrophic weather events. And when you get older, healthcare becomes one of the most important factors in your life.
The Most Important Questions For Retirees!
What happens if I have a medical emergency? Do I have any special medical needs? What happens if the nearest hospital requires a deposit or payment arrangement? What if I live far away from a major medical center? How quickly can an ambulance reach me? How long will it take to get to a hospital through heavy traffic? Can I afford appropriate health insurance?
These aren’t questions you think about while sitting on a beautiful beach. But they are questions you should think about before spending your retirement there. And they are not the only questions.
This is not to say the Philippines is a bad place. Far from it. One learns to love the Philippines for what it offers. It is beautiful. The people, culture, food, family, and memories. We've spent over 7 years living in country and the Philippines will always have a special place in my heart. But loving a country and choosing it as your retirement home are two different things. You can love the Philippines and still recognize that it may not be the best place for your particular retirement needs.
So don’t fall in love with the Philippines based only on what you see on vacation. Learn to look beyond the beaches and sunsets. Look beyond the inexpensive restaurants. lower cost of living, and the beautiful resorts. Experience the traffic, the power outages, the flooding. Spend some time in the heat and humidity! Learn about the healthcare system and emergency services. Experience the bureaucracy and the infrastructure, the everyday life. Learn and understand the culture.
Then ask yourself honestly: “Can I live this way for the rest of my life?” If the answer is yes, wonderful. But if the answer is no, there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing another destination. Your retirement is too important to gamble on a vacation fantasy. Visit as a tourist, live as a resident. Decide as a retiree. Experience the reality before you make the commitment. Because you only get one retirement. Choose where you spend your golden years with your eyes wide open.
