i am a filipino and i am impressed with this guy. he finds phils with some negative things behind those edens and smiles but he still stays in the phils. He is obviously engrafted into the filipino culture. i agree with most of the things he said.
RE: Healthy Foods. It’s true that vegetarian restaurants are hard to find in the Philippines, but that’s because healthy food here is usually homemade and made with fresh, locally sourced veggies from home. Traditional Filipino vegetarian dishes aren’t for everyone, they’re often simple and may seem bland compared to more heavily seasoned dishes. They’re usually boiled vegetables, or cooked in coconut cream, or flavored with soy sauce. Many Filipino dishes served in restaurants today are heavily influenced by the colonization period or inspired by Chinese cuisine, which often overshadows our traditional dishes because they’re seen as more "presentable" and are considered closer to Western palate.
Thanks for the video, John. It seems to me that it's becoming more popular for vloggers to paint a more realistic picture of the Philippines. But your before and after photos speak volumes. That was the most impactful part of the video for me. Thank you for sharing. Take care of yourself. Health is first.
This is a pretty honest assessment of Philippines. There are many factors at play like religion, community survival, bureaucracy and corruption and that's just a few off the top of my head. There are many other things going on that you can sense but never fully understand. I like the Philippines and the Filipino people who for the most part are very welcoming people. I do know that if I plan to live there I will have to adapt as the Philippines is not going to change for me.
0:47 "The Philippines is something of an illusion" I beg to differ. The Philippines is a place it cannot give an illusion. Illusion is borne out of misguided perception of people
It's heaven for me.....well almost! Married a beautiful Filipina. Able to retire at age 55 Built our new home on the 1000 sq m lot we had. 100% off-grid solar so no electricity bill. No mortgage/rent. We can easily live off 30K PHP per month. Bought a profitable 2 hectare farm to grow rice. However, when we lived on Manila, we were scammed by the traffic officers 3 times (twice on one day) Scammed two times by the workers on our farm. Managed to solve the issue as we got the local barangay involved. Trust is seriously needed here!
It's unfortunate that you got scammed.. but scammers exist in all other countries. Is the US, there a chance you get shot just because of a traffic violation.
All of John said was accurate. Only ones that dont agree is on denial of how Philippines need to still learn a lot of things. to progress not just outside but most of all inside. Just like other countries. You can only hope for the best
This is great info ,Thank you. I will be there in 2025.You have an Awesome Aire of clarity about on your video's , very refreshening. .Looking forward to learning lots .
Thanks John for one of the most insightful and thoughtful videos I’ve seen about the Philippines in my almost ten years of watching and visiting and now living here…fortunately I did a lot of research and education before coming the first time…still made and make a lot of mistakes but this was a deeper dive which is much appreciated…hope we can meet up sometime when I’m in your neighborhood or your in Dumaguete…my asawa is one of the good ones so I’m blessed beyond measure in my relationship and retirement.
thank you for the kind comment. I really appreciate that. I may be going to your neighborhood for a few days up until the new year and certainly would be happy to catch up anytime you are in Cebu. Feel free to add me on Facebook or send me an email
Its obvious that you try to be very polite in what are you saying coz you are there for good.The reality there is 50 times worse from what you are trying to discribe.Just mind your health, besides the sugar and the fats the seed oils is the worst thing there and the hardest to avoid.You are a real hero that you managed to make business there!
Hey John great video, when it comes to having a business or even just having a helper.Helper.. so many ask my wife for work, but very few will actually work after she hires them, so there's a constant turnover.. when you have a small business it really feels like people just want to get paid but not to have to really earn it..
Philippines is a place where EVERYTHING grows so if you want vegetables, there's a ton of them. What's so hard about finding healthy food? As a tropical country, it has LOTS of very delicious fruits also. Sometimes, expats don't know what they are complaining about. 😊
I lived in cebu city for 7 years, there were all the fruits and vegetables u need at Metro Supermarket or Rustans. But if u live in the provinces then maybe limited good food. But most expats eat junk and just want sex with teenagers.
Big thing is that the Philippines is NOT California or any other place in the US. It is still a developing country, some parts are still 3rd World. I got exposed to the 1st time in 1983 courtesy of the United States Navy. Of course I also got exposed to British Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and many other places around the Pacific and the Middle East. Over the next 3 years I got to visit PI around 6 more times. I saw more than Olongapo (Subic Bay area) Angeles City (Clark AFB), I got to Manila and Cebu. I realized the Filipinos are great imitators, they (pre-computer) hacked Polo shirt, songs, bars, Jeepneys and many other things.
I agree with your insight, just to. add be extra careful dealing with people related to or in relationship with members of the Philippine National Police. Most specially when it involves money or property.
Its my seventh time now in Cebu. Great video and you point out a lot of things which are true for many countries. Keep your eyes open and observe and be patient. Be grateful for what is there. I found salad and bean sprouts and it is a fiesta. At home I am a vegetarian mostly but here almost impossible if you eat outside main restaurants
What a GREAT video!!!! So much truth. I will always respect and admire the culture here BUT there are many things to reconcile with my past foreign experiences and expectations. Expect to learn and adjust to things that are truly different from your past life. Above all else...learn to be happy
Your right had something happen 3 trike drivers sort of over charge me I didnt make a big deal out of but I did quit using them for a while slowly they proved they were sorry and we are good now
Rose color glasses? Whata heck have you been smoking? The infrastructure is bad. There’s no sidewalks for walking. The food is terrible. The condos are low quality, most have cockroaches. Noise everywhere. Wait times are ridiculously long. Bureaucracy everywhere. Traffic is crazy. And on top of it all, I got food poisoning from eating street food.
@@ßhopkinshahaha I can give you more reasons. You are seen as a walking ATM. Everyone has a hand out. Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. They love their paperwork. You want to go to the pool in your condo? Here fill out this paperwork and then go to this other person and then fill out that paperwork. And maybe then you can get permission to go to the pool. I mean, how stupid is that?
NUH? Really. Can't be that bad, heck US was as crazy when I lived there, guys shooting each other in malls, cops stop and beat you up, can't find a place to rent under $2000, inflated food prices, rude people and no beaches around. No baluts either.
I have been married for 19 years, have 17 year old daughter and have lived in Leyte for 15 years-Typhoon Yolanda survivor-HORRIBLE! I watch these expat videos on the Philippines for entertainment only. I doubt I am going to learn anything more about the Philippines then I don't already know. Enough said.
Dude, you are killing it with your latest content. This is spot on IMO. I love filipino food but OMG every time I am in the Philippines I gain 20 kilos. Sugar in everything, piles and piles of rice with every meal, the entire food industry is nothing but carbs! Really enjoed this one sir.
@ so you are saying I can go to jolibee and ask for spaghetti without all the sugar? Lol, doesn’t quite work like that also maybe you missed the part where I said I love Filipino food. That is because all the dishes are laced with tons of excess sugar. Leche flan? Yeah eggs are good for you but the sugar content? Insane. Also I love rice.
@@ScaleAutoGaragego to a DECENT Filipino restaurant because there's no sweet dish there and they serve you with just the right amount of rice, otherwise you will pay extra if you want more. There's no sweet dish in the Philippines, for your information. It's called DESSERTS if you find it sweet. 😊
@ dude, I OWNED a decent Filipino restaurant in Mindanao. I know what goes into the dishes. You think the sauces used aren’t full of sugar? Think again sir.
@@ScaleAutoGarageSpaghetti is not even considered a real meal in the Philippines. It's just a DESSERT. And why would you go to Jolibee for a Filipino food? It's just a copy of an American restaurant, McDonald's and for all you know, it's the only franchise which can beat McDonald's IN THE WORLD. 😊
Thanks for the video. Very informative. I'm coming to the Philippines in January and was interested in your commentary about food as I too am a vegetarian. I'd be interested in more information about food choices and costs in the Philippines.
@WatchCaliforniaExpat Hahaha 🤣😂 I won't say man crush, but I do admire you & respect your example. With that being said, I need to hurry to the Philippines, find my smart, kind & loyal Pinay supermodel
Nice, thanks for the tips. Eating healthy is important for me as well. While I'm not entirely plant based, I do like my salad and veggies. I am currently in Mexico, and sometimes finding food that is not full of garbage is a challenge. I was hoping to at least to be able to find locally grown produce, is that possible?
That is the key to healthier food options in the Philippines. Most every place has markets with locally grown produce. It’s definitely a lot easier cooking at home, but I have found many vegan/vegetarian restaurants with healthy options on their menus.
@@JMgmkh I got that, I lived in Baja for three months, the local markets were terrible. I'm in Oaxaca now, and it's all the fresh fruit and veg I need.
Yes absolutely. I get all my fruits and veges at my local street side fruit/vege vendor and they get them from local farms nearby. Most still even have dirt in them like yams and potatoes they are that fresh. LOL 😅
I think in general Asians don't do just business. They make friends. They take the time to get acquinted with their potential business partner by dining out. After that they talk business matters. I think that is a beautiful approach in dealing with others instead of the unpersonal direct approach. Sometimes that's fine though but it depends on the occasion however in other relations it takes away the human aspect. We're not robots yet so many seem to be driven by some AI program going on auto pilot full speed without any glimpse of romance in their system.
Well you shouldn’t expect anything you are in a foreign country that is a developing country, they will take advantage of off you if you let them , always agree to a price and have a a lot of forward thinking
It’s simple…for your own good don’t…not only can you go to jail or be blackmailed…but I got scammed for an annulment that took over two years and cost me thousands of dollars…luckily my 3 simple boundaries of dont ever cheat or lie or ask for money saved me from even an ever bigger marriage mistake…finally found the right Filipina and it’s over five years now together.
They have better American food choices here in Manila though. Pizzas and burgers I found can't be matched in those places. Plus no one speaks English there and religion is weird.
@@jetd9716Foreigners and UA-camForeign Many people said they could find pizza. Good and high quality steaks and hamburgers in Bangkok. But it's not found in much of Metro Manila.
New subscriber here! I was born and raised in the Philippines and moved in the US 🇺🇸 early 2000s I have to say I lived half of my life in the Philippines and half here in the US 🇺🇸 If I have to choose 1 country to retired without a doubt I have to choose USA 🇺🇸 and for the sake of my American husband also, you know why because of the medical reasons and his right as a human being. Like here in the US I live my life as a human being they treat me good, sometimes there’s discrimination but where ever you go there’s discrimination everywhere. All in all I feel safe here in the US.! In the Philippines back then I grow up in the rural area and when I went to college in Cebu I never wore jewelry’s because of the snatchers, and back then we were slim! now the new generation have a lot of food to eat they are not slim anymore 😂 but some still are slim but during my time in the Philippines Mygawd 99% are slim 😊. Filipinos are more polite not confrontational and not complainers. Americans are straightforward, flexible and open minded. Because of my husband I can’t take the risk to go back in the Philippines and retired there. To all Americans that wants to retired in the Philippines live in a safer place. Do not live in a dangerous area that the kidnapping is rampant please listen to me I’m Filipino. To be continued …….😂
Pure nonsense! 99.9% of Filipinos do not want to have anything to do with foreigners. You look different. You smell different. You dress like clowns. Obviously, you associate with the poorest and lowest and most desperate of the people here. So please don't generalize!
Do not confuse friendless and good social skills with character . Your California woke mentality surely doesn’t work in the Philippines. I live in Massachusetts and had a California supervisor it was as if we were on two different planets regarding issues of formality and boundaries
oh please,,,,another person who rates all Californians or its politics,,,,You are ignorant and have no clue, have u actually lived in California for over 60 years and know the truth? You are one of these guys who get all of his info from Fox or Newsmax,,,Completely uneducated and no clue,,,,You really need help, Its so funny, u are talking about character and social skills,,,,,Look at Trump,, cheated on 3 wives, paid for fun, no wedding vows honored, mocked a disabled man, draft dodger, fact checked lies around 35k, okay to grab women and fun with married women,,,,Now talk to me about character and at least morals,,,yeah,,,,i thought so,,,go away with your ignorance,,,,,Keep all women away for Trumpster
I had a supervisor from Texas, he was racist, and demoralized women...Its as if we were on two different planets,,,He also divorced his wife for younger lady, he also had a temper. So i guess i will judge all Texans like him,,,,People like u should not be able to vote
Your right, I had to change parts of my mentality to succeed in the Philippines. No doubt you also need to change your mentality if you think you can group 39 million Californians into one basket and be naive enough to think we are all the same.
@ your right not all Californians are woke just the ones I have meet in my yearly travels there. What is scary is the amount of people who have left for Las Vegas and Texas due to the absurd prices of gas taxes and regulations. The movie and television industry is also collapsing I think U tube is the future
Expats gets too much respect from Filipinos because they are a friendly people but they get abused in turn. Maybe these expats should live in Korea where people there treat them like NOTHING. Are you an old expat relying on your pension? Have some little respect tool. 😊
Are you vegan or vegetarian? You said plant based protein. So, that’s why I asked. I’m not vegan or vegetarian. I’m Andrew. The rest of your video is helpful. But what about finding employment in The Philippines as a foreigner?
Dont compare your food in america...if youre in the phils...every country has its own cultures ...if you cant adopt the culture ,just go home... nobody force you to stay in the phils....
Food isn’t Philippines high point. A vegetarian restaurant oh my god there was a small one on escario but they closed they were decent and then I went to a buffet vegetarian restaurant in Guadalupe oh it was disgusting. 🤢 so here goes my go to restaurants maya, phat pho, Texas Roadhouse, Kenny Rogers, use to go to Burger King once in a while but it’s been a while, a new one 24 chicken on AS fortuna a Korean chicken place, there’s more but that’s enough. I’m the type that learns as I go. I don’t usually do much planning.
Vegetables grow EVERYWHERE in the Philippines. Surely, you can find healthy restaurants all over the city. The only problem is ignorance in your part, I think. Try Google sometimes 😊
@billyjohnson9166 You need to search that yourself because I'm not vegan. Vegan restaurants even have meatless pizzas. It might be healthy but it doesn't taste as good as meat pizzas. Many decent Filipino restaurants have vegetable dishes. Just ask the waiters what are their vegetable dishes. Chopsuey is a tasty hodgepodge of vegetables. Have you even tried one? Pinakbet, Gising Gising, Ampalaya with egg, Tortang talong, Petchay, mongo, garlic kangkong, stir fried Petchay, etc. 😊
Anyone who’s ever traveled for any significant period outside the Philippines knows: Healthy eating is neither convenient nor affordable in the Philippines. Fact.
'Ethics' - PH culture - Mano: My Filipina girlfriend forced me to do the Mano to her parents when we visited her parents for the very first time (Sept 2010). I know what Mano is and I know why and where it stands for (showing respect to older people). However, in my country we dont do such things at all. We hardly use (almost never) the word respect in our language. So, I did it and thought: 'okay, that was it". But every time, we left the parental home and returned back (same day), I had to do the Mano again. The problem is that while I do the Mano I dont feel respect (emotionally) and rationally even less towards the parents. So, her parents may think I respect them by doing the Mano, I still feel nothing. I never disliked them. I have great fun with her dad. Her mom doesnt speak English that well so communicating with her was difficult if not impossible. What I want to say is this: Doing something (Mano) does not equal the emotion or feeling behind it. I see Filipinos doing the Mano in a very robot-esque way that I really wonder 'do you really respect that person or do you do the gesture because you must do that gesture'?
@@haighton I believe this mindset applies to many things in life. You can think of this similar to the religious aspect of the Philippines as well. Do you go to church on Sunday because you are told to or is it a deep down fundamental belief. If religion was a deeper belief and aspects of religion were followed more to heart you wouldn’t see a lot of the things in here. Single mothers, theft, violence towards others and so on. People do stuff because they are told it is the right thing to do but if you don’t feel the purpose behind it then it is just an empty gesture.
@@ScaleAutoGarage, Correct. The problem - for them - is, they still live in a poor 3rd world country. So, something(s) doesnt (dont) add up and do not make sense. A lot has to do with their sub-standard (below par) school system (curriculum) and also with their culture. They dont have to change their ways because I want them to change. I just dont see any progress leading them getting a better life.
@@haighton I completely agree regarding the school system and a lot of the culture. When I married in the Philippines I was required to do some 'training' with the church. Some of the things they told me were absolutely shocking, especially when it came to children and things like dicipline and respect. I recall thinking that if this is what everyone is being told upon marriage then of course it leads to certain outcomes. As for the school system, again, totally shocked. My daughter went through the system up until grade 10 and I could not believe some of what happens in classes. No respect for teachers, talking during presentations, cell phone usage rampant, group projects done by a single person yet the whole group taking credit. If this is what is being taught to the youth, how can you ever expect better outcomes for the future. SMH.
@@ScaleAutoGarage, A guy living in Cagayan de Oro told me (in 2010) that a 12 year old from my country knows much more than a 18 year old Filipino/Filipina. I thought he was joking. Well, he was not. And it showed in real life. They are indeed naive and ignorant in PH. PH teachers working in a PH public school are not teachers. They do police work (in the class room), they are the replacement of the pupil's (we dont call them students when they are still in Kindergarden, Elementary, Secondary school or High School) mothers. Pupils (and students alike) are not taught to be critical thinkers in PH. Classes are overcrowded in public schools. Not because I say so but to join the ranks of a 1st world country, PH has to change a lot in many ways including laws and also their culture. But maybe they dont want to become a 1st world country. But if that is the case, I dont understand why so many Filipinas want to have a foreign (read: Western) boyfriend/partner/husband. BTW: Are there any Filipinos (males/guys) who want to have a foreign girlfriend/wife? Strange, isnt?
@@ScaleAutoGarage, Here is another funny 'incident' between my Filipina girlfriend and me. Location: Cebu City. We are heading to a McD to have a bite. I ask her what she would like to have. Her reply: 'nothing'. Are you sure? Yes, I am. So, I order what I want and return to the table. Before I know it she ate almost all my food. Crazy, weird. PS: I always order a MilkShake at McD. But they dont sell milkshakes. Unbelievable. So, took a Coke instead.
Stop blaming your weight gain by saying healthy food vegetables and fruits are hard to find. You're eating more because it's cheaper for you to pig out.
i am a filipino and i am impressed with this guy. he finds phils with some negative things behind those edens and smiles but he still stays in the phils. He is obviously engrafted into the filipino culture. i agree with most of the things he said.
Nice video...good points to be aware of..planning to check out the Philippines soon😊❤
You should!
I love that you are not doing the ‘introduction’
For now on,you are the only I’ll watch
Great job !!!
I really appreciate it ☺️
RE: Healthy Foods. It’s true that vegetarian restaurants are hard to find in the Philippines, but that’s because healthy food here is usually homemade and made with fresh, locally sourced veggies from home. Traditional Filipino vegetarian dishes aren’t for everyone, they’re often simple and may seem bland compared to more heavily seasoned dishes. They’re usually boiled vegetables, or cooked in coconut cream, or flavored with soy sauce.
Many Filipino dishes served in restaurants today are heavily influenced by the colonization period or inspired by Chinese cuisine, which often overshadows our traditional dishes because they’re seen as more "presentable" and are considered closer to Western palate.
Full on truth ! Love it.
Good stuff my friend. Hopefully we can meet someday. I will be in the Philippines next May
Happy to Danny
Thanks for the video, John. It seems to me that it's becoming more popular for vloggers to paint a more realistic picture of the Philippines. But your before and after photos speak volumes. That was the most impactful part of the video for me. Thank you for sharing. Take care of yourself. Health is first.
This is a pretty honest assessment of Philippines. There are many factors at play like religion, community survival, bureaucracy and corruption and that's just a few off the top of my head. There are many other things going on that you can sense but never fully understand. I like the Philippines and the Filipino people who for the most part are very welcoming people. I do know that if I plan to live there I will have to adapt as the Philippines is not going to change for me.
Well said there's different levels of trust 👏
Thank you
0:47 "The Philippines is something of an illusion" I beg to differ. The Philippines is a place it cannot give an illusion. Illusion is borne out
of misguided perception of people
Thanks for sharing this invaluable information CE !!
Hi John. Hope all is going well for you. Thanks for reiterating those little things that make a Filipino journey a little smoother. Sage advice.
It's heaven for me.....well almost!
Married a beautiful Filipina.
Able to retire at age 55
Built our new home on the 1000 sq m lot we had.
100% off-grid solar so no electricity bill.
No mortgage/rent.
We can easily live off 30K PHP per month.
Bought a profitable 2 hectare farm to grow rice.
However, when we lived on Manila, we were scammed by the traffic officers 3 times (twice on one day)
Scammed two times by the workers on our farm. Managed to solve the issue as we got the local barangay involved.
Trust is seriously needed here!
It's unfortunate that you got scammed.. but scammers exist in all other countries. Is the US, there a chance you get shot just because of a traffic violation.
@kikobaliko19 I beg to differ my friend! We know that corruption/scammers is 'endemic' in the Philippines.
I have has to learn 'to be savvy' here.
@@tyremango so your saying scammers/currroptions only exist in pH?
@kikobaliko19 Don't be silly!
I am staying the obvious about the Philippines, unfortunately.
All of John said was accurate. Only ones that dont agree is on denial of how Philippines need to still learn a lot of things. to progress not just outside but most of all inside. Just like other countries. You can only hope for the best
Thank you bro for this video! GOD bless you.
This is great info ,Thank you. I will be there in 2025.You have an Awesome Aire of clarity about on your video's , very refreshening. .Looking forward to learning lots .
Thanks John for one of the most insightful and thoughtful videos I’ve seen about the Philippines in my almost ten years of watching and visiting and now living here…fortunately I did a lot of research and education before coming the first time…still made and make a lot of mistakes but this was a deeper dive which is much appreciated…hope we can meet up sometime when I’m in your neighborhood or your in Dumaguete…my asawa is one of the good ones so I’m blessed beyond measure in my relationship and retirement.
thank you for the kind comment. I really appreciate that. I may be going to your neighborhood for a few days up until the new year and certainly would be happy to catch up anytime you are in Cebu. Feel free to add me on Facebook or send me an email
Its obvious that you try to be very polite in what are you saying coz you are there for good.The reality there is 50 times worse from what you are trying to discribe.Just mind your health, besides the sugar and the fats the seed oils is the worst thing there and the hardest to avoid.You are a real hero that you managed to make business there!
Very good advice Monsieur Smulo, I'll take your advice seriously,I want to go in Philippines in the next years, always be vigilant.thank you.
Hey John great video, when it comes to having a business or even just having a helper.Helper.. so many ask my wife for work, but very few will actually work after she hires them, so there's a constant turnover.. when you have a small business it really feels like people just want to get paid but not to have to really earn it..
Philippines is a place where EVERYTHING grows so if you want vegetables, there's a ton of them. What's so hard about finding healthy food? As a tropical country, it has LOTS of very delicious fruits also. Sometimes, expats don't know what they are complaining about. 😊
I lived in cebu city for 7 years, there were all the fruits and vegetables u need at Metro Supermarket or Rustans. But if u live in the provinces then maybe limited good food. But most expats eat junk and just want sex with teenagers.
Big thing is that the Philippines is NOT California or any other place in the US. It is still a developing country, some parts are still 3rd World. I got exposed to the 1st time in 1983 courtesy of the United States Navy. Of course I also got exposed to British Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and many other places around the Pacific and the Middle East. Over the next 3 years I got to visit PI around 6 more times. I saw more than Olongapo (Subic Bay area) Angeles City (Clark AFB), I got to Manila and Cebu. I realized the Filipinos are great imitators, they (pre-computer) hacked Polo shirt, songs, bars, Jeepneys and many other things.
I agree with your insight, just to. add be extra careful dealing with people related to or in relationship with members of the Philippine National Police. Most specially when it involves money or property.
Its my seventh time now in Cebu. Great video and you point out a lot of things which are true for many countries. Keep your eyes open and observe and be patient. Be grateful for what is there. I found salad and bean sprouts and it is a fiesta. At home I am a vegetarian mostly but here almost impossible if you eat outside main restaurants
What a GREAT video!!!!
So much truth.
I will always respect and admire the culture here BUT there are many things to reconcile with my past foreign experiences and expectations.
Expect to learn and adjust to things that are truly different from your past life.
Above all else...learn to be happy
Your right had something happen 3 trike drivers sort of over charge me I didnt make a big deal out of but I did quit using them for a while slowly they proved they were sorry and we are good now
Rose color glasses? Whata heck have you been smoking? The infrastructure is bad. There’s no sidewalks for walking. The food is terrible. The condos are low quality, most have cockroaches. Noise everywhere. Wait times are ridiculously long. Bureaucracy everywhere. Traffic is crazy. And on top of it all, I got food poisoning from eating street food.
😂😂 make a video man ill watch it
What do you expect from eating street food? Are you stupid?
deserved!
@@ßhopkinshahaha I can give you more reasons. You are seen as a walking ATM. Everyone has a hand out. Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. They love their paperwork. You want to go to the pool in your condo? Here fill out this paperwork and then go to this other person and then fill out that paperwork. And maybe then you can get permission to go to the pool. I mean, how stupid is that?
NUH? Really. Can't be that bad, heck US was as crazy when I lived there, guys shooting each other in malls, cops stop and beat you up, can't find a place to rent under $2000, inflated food prices, rude people and no beaches around. No baluts either.
100% agreed
Some people here think that Filipinos are so friendly, but only if they see you holding a camera
Exactly. They see a camera and they turn into little pathetic children.
with or without camera most of us Filipinos are friendly. sorry for you.
@@myrnaramos8921Yes these two☝ don't really know and lack of knowledge about Filipinos. Sad.
I have been married for 19 years, have 17 year old daughter and have lived in Leyte for 15 years-Typhoon Yolanda survivor-HORRIBLE! I watch these expat videos on the Philippines for entertainment only. I doubt I am going to learn anything more about the Philippines then I don't already know. Enough said.
Dude, you are killing it with your latest content. This is spot on IMO. I love filipino food but OMG every time I am in the Philippines I gain 20 kilos. Sugar in everything, piles and piles of rice with every meal, the entire food industry is nothing but carbs! Really enjoed this one sir.
Dude, you can order food without rice and sugar. Didn't you know that? 😊
@ so you are saying I can go to jolibee and ask for spaghetti without all the sugar? Lol, doesn’t quite work like that also maybe you missed the part where I said I love Filipino food. That is because all the dishes are laced with tons of excess sugar. Leche flan? Yeah eggs are good for you but the sugar content? Insane. Also I love rice.
@@ScaleAutoGaragego to a DECENT Filipino restaurant because there's no sweet dish there and they serve you with just the right amount of rice, otherwise you will pay extra if you want more. There's no sweet dish in the Philippines, for your information. It's called DESSERTS if you find it sweet. 😊
@ dude, I OWNED a decent Filipino restaurant in Mindanao. I know what goes into the dishes. You think the sauces used aren’t full of sugar? Think again sir.
@@ScaleAutoGarageSpaghetti is not even considered a real meal in the Philippines. It's just a DESSERT. And why would you go to Jolibee for a Filipino food? It's just a copy of an American restaurant, McDonald's and for all you know, it's the only franchise which can beat McDonald's IN THE WORLD. 😊
Excellent vid
Thanks brother
Baguio city or any part of Cordillera is good for vegetarian.
Appreciate you sharing
Thanks for the video. Very informative. I'm coming to the Philippines in January and was interested in your commentary about food as I too am a vegetarian. I'd be interested in more information about food choices and costs in the Philippines.
Excellent content! Your honesty, humility, intelligence & transparency is attractive (No, I don't have a man crush on you!)
Appreciate it, but I was hoping for the man crush ☺️
@WatchCaliforniaExpat Hahaha 🤣😂 I won't say man crush, but I do admire you & respect your example. With that being said, I need to hurry to the Philippines, find my smart, kind & loyal Pinay supermodel
@@walkerskiilol wishing the best for you in that! Appreciate your support
Very well said, I agree
Nice, thanks for the tips. Eating healthy is important for me as well. While I'm not entirely plant based, I do like my salad and veggies. I am currently in Mexico, and sometimes finding food that is not full of garbage is a challenge. I was hoping to at least to be able to find locally grown produce, is that possible?
That is the key to healthier food options in the Philippines. Most every place has markets with locally grown produce. It’s definitely a lot easier cooking at home, but I have found many vegan/vegetarian restaurants with healthy options on their menus.
Depends on the market. Some good . Some........d.
@@PaulsPhilippineAdventures I’m an omnivore, so meat is on the menu. I do cook at home, only eat out on special occasions, or a date.
@@JMgmkh I got that, I lived in Baja for three months, the local markets were terrible. I'm in Oaxaca now, and it's all the fresh fruit and veg I need.
Yes absolutely. I get all my fruits and veges at my local street side fruit/vege vendor and they get them from local farms nearby. Most still even have dirt in them like yams and potatoes they are that fresh. LOL 😅
When I come back over I would like to discuss starting a business venture if I have time and if you have time. If that’s possible???
I think in general Asians don't do just business. They make friends. They take the time to get acquinted with their potential business partner by dining out. After that they talk business matters. I think that is a beautiful approach in dealing with others instead of the unpersonal direct approach. Sometimes that's fine though but it depends on the occasion however in other relations it takes away the human aspect. We're not robots yet so many seem to be driven by some AI program going on auto pilot full speed without any glimpse of romance in their system.
The Honeymoon period lasts up to two years then you start to see the truth i see this all the time
Much agreed
this is a great knowledge
Well you shouldn’t expect anything you are in a foreign country that is a developing country, they will take advantage of off you if you let them , always agree to a price and have a a lot of forward thinking
Why put off for tommorrow what you can do day after tommorrow.
Question, I’ve met many separated Filipinas online. Still legally married. How or should I pursue a relationship?
@LeonardDeMaio
"How or should I pursue a relationship?"
not with them. Adultery is a crime in PH. It can lead to jail time even for you
It’s simple…for your own good don’t…not only can you go to jail or be blackmailed…but I got scammed for an annulment that took over two years and cost me thousands of dollars…luckily my 3 simple boundaries of dont ever cheat or lie or ask for money saved me from even an ever bigger marriage mistake…finally found the right Filipina and it’s over five years now together.
The ppl are great, the food is great,it's beautiful, but if you go take extra money because ppl will ask for your help
definitely easy for that to happen over here
I’d like to have a small farm and restaurant
Always end a statement with “however” for your own survival….
Same in the west...
But it's different in the Pi. Really !
@JMgmkh people are people...
People in general are dangerous the trick is don't make yourself a target
:) also vegetarian living in Cebu have to cook at home 99.99% of the time
Go Google where to find vegetarian restaurant. It helps to think sometimes 😊
I'd be very interested to talk to you more about what you eat over here
MOVE TO THAILAND OR VIETNAM FOR FOOD.
They have better American food choices here in Manila though. Pizzas and burgers I found can't be matched in those places. Plus no one speaks English there and religion is weird.
@@jetd9716Foreigners and UA-camForeign Many people said they could find pizza. Good and high quality steaks and hamburgers in Bangkok. But it's not found in much of Metro Manila.
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN BINGE WATCHING UA-camR REEKAY'S LIFEBEYONDTHESEA
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New subscriber here! I was born and raised in the Philippines and moved in the US 🇺🇸 early 2000s I have to say I lived half of my life in the Philippines and half here in the US 🇺🇸
If I have to choose 1 country to retired without a doubt I have to choose USA 🇺🇸 and for the sake of my American husband also, you know why because of the medical reasons and his right as a human being. Like here in the US I live my life as a human being they treat me good, sometimes there’s discrimination but where ever you go there’s discrimination everywhere. All in all I feel safe here in the US.!
In the Philippines back then I grow up in the rural area and when I went to college in Cebu I never wore jewelry’s because of the snatchers, and back then we were slim! now the new generation have a lot of food to eat they are not slim anymore 😂 but some still are slim but during my time in the Philippines Mygawd 99% are slim 😊. Filipinos are more polite not confrontational and not complainers. Americans are straightforward, flexible and open minded.
Because of my husband I can’t take the risk to go back in the Philippines and retired there. To all Americans that wants to retired in the Philippines live in a safer place. Do not live in a dangerous area that the kidnapping is rampant please listen to me I’m Filipino.
To be continued …….😂
You still can leave unless you married a pinoy already.
Ethics ??? What ethics.
Dont be blinded by the smiles, they all just see you as an ATM.
Pure nonsense! 99.9% of Filipinos do not want to have anything to do with foreigners. You look different. You smell different. You dress like clowns. Obviously, you associate with the poorest and lowest and most desperate of the people here. So please don't generalize!
Wow.....the before pics shocked me.........man tht looks like stress weight.......work related stress?
definitely some work stress, but really more about the vegetarian diet challenges
@@WatchCaliforniaExpatstay away from pizzas and burgers. Start eating healthier bro. Lol 😂
Do not confuse friendless and good social skills with character . Your California woke mentality surely doesn’t work in the Philippines. I live in Massachusetts and had a California supervisor it was as if we were on two different planets regarding issues of formality and boundaries
oh please,,,,another person who rates all Californians or its politics,,,,You are ignorant and have no clue, have u actually lived in California for over 60 years and know the truth? You are one of these guys who get all of his info from Fox or Newsmax,,,Completely uneducated and no clue,,,,You really need help, Its so funny, u are talking about character and social skills,,,,,Look at Trump,, cheated on 3 wives, paid for fun, no wedding vows honored, mocked a disabled man, draft dodger, fact checked lies around 35k, okay to grab women and fun with married women,,,,Now talk to me about character and at least morals,,,yeah,,,,i thought so,,,go away with your ignorance,,,,,Keep all women away for Trumpster
I had a supervisor from Texas, he was racist, and demoralized women...Its as if we were on two different planets,,,He also divorced his wife for younger lady, he also had a temper. So i guess i will judge all Texans like him,,,,People like u should not be able to vote
Your right, I had to change parts of my mentality to succeed in the Philippines. No doubt you also need to change your mentality if you think you can group 39 million Californians into one basket and be naive enough to think we are all the same.
@ your right not all Californians are woke just the ones I have meet in my yearly travels there. What is scary is the amount of people who have left for Las Vegas and Texas due to the absurd prices of gas taxes and regulations. The movie and television industry is also collapsing I think U tube is the future
School Teacher???
Philippinos are fast, very fast in …. Going on and off the ferry 😂 that’s the only thing and ,,, when it’s raining, under the shelter 😂
Expats gets too much respect from Filipinos because they are a friendly people but they get abused in turn. Maybe these expats should live in Korea where people there treat them like NOTHING. Are you an old expat relying on your pension? Have some little respect tool. 😊
@@JoeyZee-vs4kr You have the time to troll all of these comments? How sad your life must be little Joey Z. Hahaha
Are you vegan or vegetarian? You said plant based protein. So, that’s why I asked. I’m not vegan or vegetarian. I’m Andrew. The rest of your video is helpful. But what about finding employment in The Philippines as a foreigner?
Dont compare your food in america...if youre in the phils...every country has its own cultures ...if you cant adopt the culture ,just go home... nobody force you to stay in the phils....
Yes! Look like teletubbies
Rule to know and apply. "LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP" ( you just might leap on a pile of shit)
Poverty,,,,,eating dinner ,,,kids begging,,,,,,clubbing,,,,,,women begging,,,,,,,stray dogs,,,,,,begging
how to escape the poverty ?
You can bribe your way out of almost anything in the Philippines.
bad ethics can be handy 😁
Leave!!!
Food isn’t Philippines high point. A vegetarian restaurant oh my god there was a small one on escario but they closed they were decent and then I went to a buffet vegetarian restaurant in Guadalupe oh it was disgusting. 🤢 so here goes my go to restaurants maya, phat pho, Texas Roadhouse, Kenny Rogers, use to go to Burger King once in a while but it’s been a while, a new one 24 chicken on AS fortuna a Korean chicken place, there’s more but that’s enough. I’m the type that learns as I go. I don’t usually do much planning.
Vegetables grow EVERYWHERE in the Philippines. Surely, you can find healthy restaurants all over the city. The only problem is ignorance in your part, I think. Try Google sometimes 😊
@@JoeyZee-vs4kr well tell me your favorites.
@billyjohnson9166 You need to search that yourself because I'm not vegan. Vegan restaurants even have meatless pizzas. It might be healthy but it doesn't taste as good as meat pizzas. Many decent Filipino restaurants have vegetable dishes. Just ask the waiters what are their vegetable dishes. Chopsuey is a tasty hodgepodge of vegetables. Have you even tried one? Pinakbet, Gising Gising, Ampalaya with egg, Tortang talong, Petchay, mongo, garlic kangkong, stir fried Petchay, etc. 😊
Yup. Pretty much Hmmm just BAD
Anyone who’s ever traveled for any significant period outside the Philippines knows: Healthy eating is neither convenient nor affordable in the Philippines. Fact.
'Ethics' - PH culture - Mano:
My Filipina girlfriend forced me to do the Mano to her parents when we visited her parents for the very first time (Sept 2010). I know what Mano is and I know why and where it stands for (showing respect to older people).
However, in my country we dont do such things at all. We hardly use (almost never) the word respect in our language.
So, I did it and thought: 'okay, that was it". But every time, we left the parental home and returned back (same day), I had to do the Mano again.
The problem is that while I do the Mano I dont feel respect (emotionally) and rationally even less towards the parents. So, her parents may think I respect them by doing the Mano, I still feel nothing. I never disliked them. I have great fun with her dad. Her mom doesnt speak English that well so communicating with her was difficult if not impossible.
What I want to say is this: Doing something (Mano) does not equal the emotion or feeling behind it. I see Filipinos doing the Mano in a very robot-esque way that I really wonder 'do you really respect that person or do you do the gesture because you must do that gesture'?
@@haighton I believe this mindset applies to many things in life. You can think of this similar to the religious aspect of the Philippines as well. Do you go to church on Sunday because you are told to or is it a deep down fundamental belief. If religion was a deeper belief and aspects of religion were followed more to heart you wouldn’t see a lot of the things in here. Single mothers, theft, violence towards others and so on. People do stuff because they are told it is the right thing to do but if you don’t feel the purpose behind it then it is just an empty gesture.
@@ScaleAutoGarage,
Correct.
The problem - for them - is, they still live in a poor 3rd world country. So, something(s) doesnt (dont) add up and do not make sense. A lot has to do with their sub-standard (below par) school system (curriculum) and also with their culture.
They dont have to change their ways because I want them to change. I just dont see any progress leading them getting a better life.
@@haighton I completely agree regarding the school system and a lot of the culture. When I married in the Philippines I was required to do some 'training' with the church. Some of the things they told me were absolutely shocking, especially when it came to children and things like dicipline and respect. I recall thinking that if this is what everyone is being told upon marriage then of course it leads to certain outcomes. As for the school system, again, totally shocked. My daughter went through the system up until grade 10 and I could not believe some of what happens in classes. No respect for teachers, talking during presentations, cell phone usage rampant, group projects done by a single person yet the whole group taking credit. If this is what is being taught to the youth, how can you ever expect better outcomes for the future. SMH.
@@ScaleAutoGarage,
A guy living in Cagayan de Oro told me (in 2010) that a 12 year old from my country knows much more than a 18 year old Filipino/Filipina. I thought he was joking. Well, he was not. And it showed in real life. They are indeed naive and ignorant in PH.
PH teachers working in a PH public school are not teachers. They do police work (in the class room), they are the replacement of the pupil's (we dont call them students when they are still in Kindergarden, Elementary, Secondary school or High School) mothers. Pupils (and students alike) are not taught to be critical thinkers in PH. Classes are overcrowded in public schools. Not because I say so but to join the ranks of a 1st world country, PH has to change a lot in many ways including laws and also their culture. But maybe they dont want to become a 1st world country. But if that is the case, I dont understand why so many Filipinas want to have a foreign (read: Western) boyfriend/partner/husband. BTW: Are there any Filipinos (males/guys) who want to have a foreign girlfriend/wife? Strange, isnt?
@@ScaleAutoGarage,
Here is another funny 'incident' between my Filipina girlfriend and me. Location: Cebu City.
We are heading to a McD to have a bite. I ask her what she would like to have. Her reply: 'nothing'. Are you sure? Yes, I am. So, I order what I want and return to the table. Before I know it she ate almost all my food. Crazy, weird.
PS: I always order a MilkShake at McD. But they dont sell milkshakes. Unbelievable. So, took a Coke instead.
Stop blaming your weight gain by saying healthy food vegetables and fruits are hard to find. You're eating more because it's cheaper for you to pig out.
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