2nd... This is Southeast Asia!

... In the 1st post (prelude), I briefly discussed the Philippines archipelago and geography, its climate, culture, people, and planning. Here is some more to think about:

Financial.

Are you prepared financially to move abroad, and more specifically, to live here in the Philippines? By this I mean do you have the funds to set up residence (goes back to my previous post about about savings) and the income to survive? The one thing I won't do is tell you what it will cost you to live your life in the Philippines. There are other blogs and forums where you might obtain general cost of living ideas for your area of interest. The best source of info will be directly from expats who live in the specific areas that interest you.

As mentioned in Part One of this article, the cost of living will be solely determined on your lifestyle. Another huge factor will be whether you will be supporting "her" family? You might repudiate this suggestion now, but in rather short time, you will learn more than you care to know about this topic when you arrive. The family-based culture in the Philippines is very real and deeply rooted. Family is considered the most important social unit, and strong ties extend beyond immediate relatives to include extended family and even close friends. Filipinos often prioritize family needs and gatherings, and children are expected to care for parents as they age. Respect for elders and close-knit relationships are central values. This tradition shapes daily life, social interactions, and major decisions for many Filipinos.

You need to consider city living versus living in
the province... there is no comparison! I know a
few expats who need their western
"Cheeseburger Fix" on a regular basis and will
spend the money to travel to other islands just
to get to a Big Mac. If you need to have western
conveniences and foods, you should know that it
will drive up your budget considerably. Learn to
eat locally prepared foods and you won't need as
much money for the food budget. I'm not saying I
don't enjoy a good cheeseburger from time to
time. With a little patience, I can make them at
home when the ingredients become available.
My advice here is simple: If you are frugal now
with your fiat, stay frugal with pesos when you get
here. Your money will go much farther and you
won't be easily labeled as an "ATM" machine.

Health.

How healthy are you? Are you bringing health insurance with you or will you be participating in a HMO here? Do you require good medical care to be close at hand? Would you be concerned about hospitals that can perform emergency major surgery? Maybe you are healthy now, but what about 10 years from now? These are all very valid questions because your health should be a high priority in the overall decision process in determining where you choose to live. Medical facilities and services in the Philippines range from "world-class" hospitals in the major cities, to village healers and witch doctors (Kulam) in the province. And province care can be more than a full day away from a major medical facility.

How about exercise? Will you need a place to workout or swim? Have you any respiratory issues? Living with large city pollution may not suit you (diesel fumes, smoke, etc.) Keep in mind that people here make fires for daily cooking, processing of coconuts, clearing rice fields, and burning of trash (which can produce potentially toxic fumes from the burning of plastics and other things). The added benefit to living out in the province or along the coastline is fresh air (depending on wind direction). Living here, you will also be exposed to an abundance of organic foods like fresh fish, fruits and vegetables. Provincial living can be a healthier alternative to living in the city on a processed or fast food diet (and if you need that fast food to live, you might as well just stay home). Here it is much easier to achieve that holistic approach to your overall health.

Housing.

If you're new to the Philippines, your only real option is to rent a home or condo. I would not consider buying a condo until you've had plenty of time to analyze that investment and with a good understanding of the laws of property ownership. At this time, land cannot be titled in a foreigner's name but long term leases are now possible where you can lease the land and build your home (can't take it with you when you pass anyway).

Housing types can range from a basic native Nipa styled huts in the province to sturdy concrete built homes in the city. Depending on where you choose to live can determine whether you even have running water and proper sewage. While electricity is a modern necessity, it's a bonus when you live in an area that doesn't experience frequent brownouts! This is an entirely different issue of profound importance to many. While there is electrical service to almost all areas of the Philippines, the dependability and reliability of that service cannot be guaranteed. Some areas can experience multiple brownouts on a daily basis while other areas only experience outages during scheduled maintenance or weather events. If you need dependable electrical service, say for a CPAP machine or other medical devices, you should make a note of this. Generators can help get through the periods of dropped electrical service but at the price of fuel, it's can be more expensive than the electricity itself!

Transportation: The Philippines is known for it's sometimes hysterical public transportation system of buses, jeepneys, motorized tricycles, pedal trikes, ferries and boats. There are more ways to travel and get around the islands here than Thurston Howell III had bags of money on Gilligan's Island. The cost of ground transportation here is nominal and mostly a real bargain. But if you choose to live away from the city and out into the reaches of the province, then the convenience of transportation becomes more prohibitive and not so cost efficient. Some expats here purchase their own scooters or motorcycles. We started with a motorcycle and about the ump-teenth time we got soaked from a rain event, we decided to get a car. Now we use both, weather depending. The cost of owning basic transportation (scooter, motorcycle, trike) here is not that great. Buy a car, truck or SUV and the cost goes way up. Fuel prices here currently hover around P51.44 per liter of unleaded gas (about $3.72USD p/gal - price updated as of 9/24/2019) and slightly less for diesel. So while it is definitely cheaper to use public transportation, you will pay extra for having the convenience of having your own vehicle. Owning your own vehicle is like having your own ambulance service, should you need it.

Communications.

Internet and phone. These are two things most expats obviously CANNOT do without. Living in such a far away land used to be a bit of a challenge with extended family members so far away. Today, living abroad does not pose the same inconveniences it once did due to technology advances in audio and video communications that we all enjoy... unless you live wayyyyy out in the province. Take me for example... I spend much time online with researching, writing, blogging, and keeping in touch with family and friends. I rely totally on cell tower communications and we have our days when signals are bad or non-existent. It is because of our location - just outside the envelope of hardwired internet infrastructure. Yes, we must rely on cellular signals for our internet. We do however have cable TV and yes broadband is coming... well, supposedly it's coming. Yes, we do live on the fringe of civilization! If you absolutely cannot make do without spotty communications signals, then provincial living might not be for you. And when brownouts happen, without a good battery backup system or generator, you won't be getting any work done. Period. What do I do when I have no cell phone signal or internet? I'll go spend time in the garden or jump on the scooter and go somewhere to stay cool.

Entertainment.

Do you like going to the theater to watch movies? Do you enjoy the nightlife and have a need for clubbing? Like to shop? You will need to be near a bigger city in order to enjoy all of the above. Or, would you prefer a more laid back Gilligan's Island type lifestyle - sitting on a quiet, deserted beach or enjoying the view of mountains and lowland rice fields? If raising pigs, chickens, and goats is your entertainment, then provincial living is what you are suited for. Many times in the Philippines, most expats develop a hobby or learn something new to stay entertained.

In major cities like Manila, Cebu, and Davao, you can count on having all the modern conveniences and amenities you could want.- from Imax theaters to bowling alleys and amusement parks. But the farther you get from these large metropolitan areas, the more these things disappear, just like in any other developing country. In the philippines, you'll learn that you cannot have your cake (bowling alley, movie theaters, etc) and eat it too (raise goats and pigs). The two are so far removed from each other it But if it's Karaoke you enjoy, or listening to those who do, your in entertainment heaven, because you can find that just about anywhere you go in the Philippines! And if karaoke annoys you like it does me, it's pure hell - all that loud, ludicrous noise until the wee hours of the morning.

Foods.

I will be brief here. I like the food here. I've been a rice eater since first arriving in Guam in 1974. I love ASEAN and Asian foods. It don't matter... Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai... it's all good to me (except for some of the really exotic variations). We cook at home a lot and we like fresh fish and the freshness of the fruits and veggies here. In the Philippines, it's much easier to avoid processed foods. And the longer you are here, the more you will discover what is good and or bad with the food here. Filipino food tends to be salty, greasy, and loaded with sugars, and explains the high incidence of stroke and diabetes here, but cook it the right way with better ingredients and it can be healthy. Do I miss a good pizza and a good cheeseburger here in the Philippines, absolutely I do. Do I miss fast (fat) food franchises? Absolutely Not. Unfortunately though, there is an abundance of comfort foods here like ice cream, bakery shops, pastries, chocolates, street foods, etc., and I just have to walk around with blinders on some days. The bottom line here - If you prefer a western style diet and cooking, you should stay close to the larger cities or just stay in the west. It's that simple.

Expectations.

All anyone can ever wish for is to live out a relaxed and comfortable lifestyle during their Golden Years. All I can say about that is this: When you begin packing your bags, do not pack your suitcases with an abundance of expectations. Leave them behind. Much has been talked about how some expats arrive here with huge expectations or with the idea that they can make a difference and affect positive change in people's lives once they move here. Some expats just can't let it go and they become miserable... to themselves and to the people around them. Foreigners are not going to change the Philippines, it's just not going to happen! Period! It has been said that "The best way to avoid disappointment is not to expect anything from anyone."

What to Bring.

Wow! If you've read this far, then maybe you are serious about moving to the Philippines. Here is where a little knowledge goes a long way. Many expats have learned that is the simple things in life that make the world go 'round...like a good deck of Bicycle playing cards or a good dual voltage electric shaver. That reminds me... do you like your aftershave? (Bring extra!) If you have computers and electronic components, also make sure they are dual voltage. Quality kitchenware, pots & pans, good cutlery and cooking utensils would all be a good choice. A good set of hand tools - metric and SAE - would absolutely come in handy. How about a hand-held cheese slicer? A good therapeutic pillow? Cork screw? Yes, yes, and yes.

Even if you can find certain things here, the quality of locally produced (or China) items are questionable. If you have a real need for something of quality, then I suggest you ship them in a Balikbayan Box. Power tools, appliances, and anything else that is not 220V, SELL IT or donate it to charity. Because if you bring it, you will not live very long. While some guys are thinking "I'll just get a transformer!" I will only say this... you or someone else WILL burn it up eventually! It WILL happen...it's just a matter of time until your 110V bread machine gets plugged into a 220V outlet. Excuse me while I laugh now at your future mistake....Bawaahaaaaaaa! There, that was exhilarating.

Do go out and get yourself a good quality battery charger ("D", "AA", "AAA") and a good supply of rechargeable batteries before you head this way. Again, make sure it's dual voltage. Battery shelf life here is always a gamble and replacing batteries can get expensive. I've bought batteries one day only to replace them the following day! My next suggestion going forward is to visit the many forums on living in the Philippines and you will get a better feel for what to bring from many other expat's perspectives. Personally, we shipped our entire household (I'm glad we did) but in one year's time, I have lost my air compressor, an electric drill, portable drill battery charger, coffee pot, flatbed scanner, and a mismatched transformer. These days, I hide my remaining 110V tools. Like I said, it will happen!

The Significant Other.

Okay, I saved this for last. The one thing (mentioned briefly) that will have the biggest influence on where you settle will be your "Significant Filipina" (or Filipino if you swing that way). If you already have a gal you're waiting to meet, trust me on this... they will have their own set of "wants" and "needs" which they to have been seriously planning (she probably began planning before you). Seriously! It will be like an ongoing slo-mo train derailment as your entire well-intentioned plan is methodically destroyed. The odds of getting exactly what you planned for are no longer in your favor. When trying to match all of your important needs and living requirements up with her wants and needs (dreams). "Her" choice will most likely not fit within the parameters you worked so hard to define. All future expats will deal with this situation at some point. Because of the cultural influences, family ties are very important and most times and everything else aside, she will dictate where you will eventually settle - close to or alongside her family.

The Solution! For those who have not been hooked by a pretty Pinay yet, there is yet another approach... a better way. Come to the Philippines for a visit or extended stay, search out your chosen spot on the paradise map, and then let that special person find you in your chosen location! Trust me, of all the things you could ever accomplish here, this plan will work and it will be by far the easiest.

In Summary

If you have made it to this point, you possess some semblance of determination. I hope you can assimilate from what I have presented here, that there is so much to consider in planning a move abroad and choosing where to settle. By no means is this article an all-encompassing checklist. Moving here to live is much different than simply dreaming of laying on some white sandy tropical beach with unlimited umbrella drinks and enjoying tropical sunsets every day. It requires a certain motivation and a commitment to planning. It requires a long-term determination and a steady-as-she-goes approach to achieve your goals. And above all else, if you have never visited this land, your planning should include a visit or three. It will require a complete adjustment of your mindset. It's going to require change. Big Change!

Without any premeditation and all the encompassing thoughts, and without possessing an open mind, you could already be programmed for failure. Accomplish all of the above, and your dreams may just become a reality, with a slightly improved chance more likened to your own terms.

Disclaimer: Three years in country and 27 additional years of marriage to a filipina were included in my research before I retired to the Philippines. In retrospect, I should have taken my time.