The foreigner "tax" appears to be a real there and I for one appreciate your honesty representing life in the Philippines. It doesn't change my mind, it just helps me prepare.
I'm a permanent resident of Mexico, it's the same here. Locals at a restaurant get the local price and tourist get the tourist price. It's the same in Japan. They have a menu with lower prices for Japanese and a menu with higher prices for the white people.
Thank you for a great video, Mia! Very informative... and your language is just perfect. Its a treat to listen to your calm and good explanations. Take Care!
You are, of course, right about everything you said in this video. I have experienced it firsthand in many places. At times, I would almost rather not buy an item without a clearly marked price because it seems like a way to have ‘dynamic pricing’ or ‘foreigner pricing’. I have also seen a situation where a Filipina was quoted p550 for a taxi ride - until her American boyfriend appeared - then the driver quoted p1000! The couple balked, of course, but the driver insisted all the way up to the point that he removed their luggage from the trunk and drove off! I can’t help feeling that a person is stupid for doing such a thing, but it does seem apparent that some vendors would rather lose business than to sell to a foreigner at a ‘local’ price. My Filipina girlfriend has experienced something similar, at times, from vendors and trike drivers totally in my absence. She becomes quite irritated with it and will sometimes refuse their product or service even if they get back to the ‘real’ price. As for me - I just try to shop where prices are marked for everyone and use metered taxis most of the time. Not everyone is trying to take advantage of others though, so I just try to remain mindful of things so I don’t get taken advantage of that much. Oh - here is another thing: my girlfriend dropped of our laundry once at a new laundry service in Baguio. She was quoted a certain price per kilo… they did not see me at all… by the time we git back home, she received a call from them claiming that the price was ‘mis-quoted’ and they raised the price by 50%! She argued about it - they said ‘if you don’t agree, you can come and pick up your clothes but they are all wet now’… it was ridiculous - we just paid it and refused to use them again. We could only surmise that when they saw my clothes, they guessed that I was a foreigner and they were still intent on charging the ‘foreigner price’.
Lots of poverty, lots of dirt and unsavory air quality, , and corruption everywhere, these are the things that should be considered, not economics. One can live frugally and make it ok with only $1K monthly retirement. But there are lots of men who will overlook those important things in order to get the young Filipina. A decent condo can be rented with $300, the rest is sufficient to pay all other expenses. But are you willing to overlook what's around the corner from your condo? To me it's not worth the cheap living, nor it is worth the young Filipina who will pretend to love you because you provide fro her and her family. This is the reality nobody wants to accept in the Philippines. And, the climate is awful. Super hot and humid outside, like all the time, and freezing cold indoors in many places, best recipe for getting sick all the time if you're an older person. Go to Portugal instead, great weather, great people, great food, and cheap living....and you are in Europe!!!
Exactly, and the mosquitos. You go outside and start to sweat, and some of the air cons are either ice cold or too warm for the settings. But if too cold, i just put on long sleeve inside. Most foreigners just stay inside, or hang out at mall or drink everyday. It gets really boring, and i missed driving my car to many places. Its just about sex with young girls, that is the only reason expats go to the PI.
I totally agree with what you say. This is what I experienced during my stay in the Philippines. The result was that I had an expensive cost of living with less quality. If I want the same quality as my home country then I need double the money. Τhailand is much friendlier to expats much cheaper and offers a very good quality of life
I'm from Croatia, been there, done that. Filipino laws goes in local's favor. Anyone who knows those laws can use and abuse foreigners just like that. worst year of my life. I'm 39 and god am I thankful to get out of there on time. it's a 3rd world country. most beautiful women and worst bureaucracy. I'd rather stay single.
Wow! You are very well versed on what foreigners can expect there in the Philippines. My Pinay wife and our 1 yr old spent the winter of 2017-2018 there. We very much loved our stay there and found many things that you address to be true which is why we decided to remain here in America. I will say the whole world is changing not just the Philippines. I still dream of our times there though. The best thing I loved about the Philippines was the people! Thumbs up!
When it comes to females, So many men refuse to understand that regardless of race and culture all women are the same and want the same from men. Most men don't or refuse to accept or understand leverage and power dynamics
As independent single and frequent (international) traveller, all you need is „how to…, who to employ“, some years of experience in Africa, the SRRV visa and a generous budget / monthly pension / substantial nest egg for the rainy days in your home country whose hard currency equalizes the local inflation. And a Yamaha MT09 SP motorbike (PHP 799k) is actually cheaper to buy here than back home. At the dealership, there is an official cash price for everyone, being foreigner or not. The same is true for high-end Hi-Fi equipment, a trip (with your motorbike) on a 2GO ferry in a private stateroom from Cebu to Manila, a flight from Cebu to Puerto Princesa or to Singapore, a night at the Bay hotel, the occasional taxi, all is very affordable. Of course, those who have a family to take care of and depend on a monthly income of around USD 2k need to be somewhat more careful with their budgets.
Talking about quality of life here in the USA because of the cost of utilities, property taxes, personal property taxes, homeowners insurance, auto insurance, groceries, and many other expenses I will never be able to retire. I personally know people who have retired in the Philippines and have been researching the pros and cons of life there for the last eight plus years. And for me personally, the Philippines is the best option for a good life when I retire, and it is better than my possibilities for retirement in the USA. I don't need much to be happy with day to day life. I don't go to bars and nightclubs, I very rarely eat outside of home (I actually enjoy preparing my own meals) for entertainment my idea of fun is climbing on one of my old Harley-Davidson motorcycles (1978 flh, and 1982 flt) and going for a ride in the mountains or up and down the coast instead of wasting my money in night clubs. I prefer a countryside setting to live in. I don't like life in cities or even small towns. My friends have convinced me to take a serious look at northern Luzon in the mountains (outside of Baguio) and tell me for my lifestyle that it should be a good place for me to check out. I used to be in a hurry all the time running to the next greatest thing, but nowadays it's live for today and enjoy the moment, if you can't do it today then don't get upset because there's always tomorrow or the next day etc... I'm actually looking forward to retiring in the Philippines and slowing down, getting out of the rat race here in the USA. And as far as health care, I'm in reasonably good health, no problems, no medications, and I've already looked into Phil-health, and it is way less than what I'm paying in the USA. The cost of health care in the USA is very expensive compared to the Philippines. As an example in 1991 I had a motorcycle accident and spent three weeks in the hospital, my out of pocket expenses were $ 25,000 USD and that's after my insurance paid 80%. Not including physical therapy and medicine needed until I fully recovered. I'm going into this with both eyes open and for me the positive outweighs any negative in the Philippines. (I'll also add that my younger brother and his wife are also considering retirement in the Philippines, he was in the US navy stationed in Guam and went to the Philippines multiple times and really enjoyed and liked the people and the friendly atmosphere.)
I'm at the same situation as you . Investigating retiring outside the US. I also do not want to live in a large city there anymore than I would live in NYC or LA in the US.
You sort of need to visit various places and, then, decide. There's lots of cultural differences between these Asian countries, but they are all offering quality living for reasonable costs. You do need to manage your affairs - always leave your savings in your home country though and don't overinvest in your new home.
The problem is a lot of expats hastily make a decision to reside in the Philippines. They make a rush to judgment and end up regretting it. I’ve visited enough countries in SE Asia to make an informed decision as to where to reside permanently. I’ve decided to obtain the Courtesy SRRV as to have the option to stay in the Philippines indefinitely. I have no plans to live in the Philippines all year long because I have assets in the U.S. as well as Guardianship duties. The Courtesy SRRV is a luxury not a necessity for me. I lived in Japan and speak the language, so Japan is an option for me too. Thailand is very modern has world class Dental, Medical, great food, and a fabulous Infrastructure. Thailands tourist numbers speak for themselves. In my humble opinion Thailand is the place for me to settle down permanently.
Thank you young lady for the very good information. Although I've been to quite a few countries and perhaps some day I'll visit your country. Personally, I always do my research before entering any country; knowing that every country has its pros and cons. Great video. Keep doing what you are doing. Cheyenne. Born and bred in America USA...
You're right health care is very important when you're getting older, and we have to be realistic with the philippines, people is beautiful and friendly too ,thank you.
Hello Mia, your English is excellent and so is your pronunciation. Keep up the good work!! I spent the whole month of October 2024 in Davao city. I went to Palawan island and it was beautiful!!
Great video. I really appreciate your honesty and both the pros and cons of living in the Philippines. Btw your English is excellent. Where did you learn to speak so well?
Great video your English is excellent. Your content is spot on. I have visited the Philippines more than 25 times and have experienced everything you said.
Hi Mia, Great to see you back. Beautiful as ever 😊. Great video. You just have to be very careful with your income as a foreigner. I for one refused to pay the skin tax. Also, I will say that most of the Filipinos know that and treat me as a local. 👍😊
So, I do stress about the bureaucracy, Healthcare, price of housing etc...but I'm from California n its so ridiculously expensive here. We pay more for everything than most other states...the price of living in Paradise. So yeah a Red Horse is still $1. Food costs. But it's still cheaper there overall. The typhoons worry me bigtime, I'm cane assisted n me n floods do not mix. Other than that, I can hang. Been there 4 times, I'll be there in a few days. Love being there for Christmas 🎄 😊
If you want to live cheaper than the USA and have a nice filipina partner who speaks english then this is the place. If you cant live without American products, expect to be in stock everyday, are ok with poor or no service, dont mind blackouts for a day, no wifi for a few days, people begging for $$$, family or friends loans never paid back, not much logic used here or common sense, having floods, typhoons, earthquakes, always loud noises like rooster, barking dogs, bad karaoke, loud motorcycles, neighborhood parties until 4 am, bad traffic, counter flowing vehicles then this is the place for you. Enjoy and welcome.
The reality of what you’re outlining to foreigners experiences and expectations, can be very true, because we’re used to the digital world, which simplifies our lives. Moving to another country like the Philippines 🇵🇭 which I did myself 10 years ago, was very different from the west. Over the years, I’ve come to understand everything to the extent, where I’m more comfortable now. Stay blessed 😇 my friend ❤and happy holidays 🎄to yourself and Paul.
YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT! Don't act like you understand everything when you don't understand anything. You don't know the relationship (ratio) of the Philippine peso to the American dollar in the year 1965. Ever since that year, Filipinos, have felt compelled to overcharge Americans to make ends meet. You brag about living in the Philippines for ten years, but you haven't learned anything about the country in ten years ...read a book for crying out loud!
Been there multiple times as my Canadian wife is a Filipina. This vlogger is completely speaking the truth. I would only visit absolutely do not retire there. Just the way they treat animals there made the decision for me.
Thank you for your insight. You're very well-spoken and I could only wish my Filipina wife could communicate as eloquently as you do. You should also mention the weather. Before coming here, we were informed that it would be hot and humid, "but you'll get used to it." That sounded logical to me. However, when every day is oppressively hot and humid, it wears you down. Changing shirts multiple times daily, because you're a sweaty mess, gets old. Even the locals are not comfortable and are NOT used to it. It's something you have to put up with.. This also translates into very high electric bills for air conditioning. I pay an average of 15,000 PHP each month (the high was over 20,000 PHP) to be comfortable. I set the temp at 80F NOT the 72-74F like in the US. Additionally, traffic is crazy here (Davao) with NO RULES. It's maddening. There is no or VERY limited parking. It makes driving all the more stressful. That said, I'm staying... I'm married with a baby on the way. The cost of living is such that we can live comfortably albeit NOT the "dream" lifestyle we bought into before arriving. I haven't seen the foreigner "tax" that you mentioned, even out in the provinces.
Been coming here since early 70s, and was stationed here with the navy. Now live here with asawa of over 40 years. Fixed income of 350,000 P a month. Love the country and its people.
yeah, I think the key is money. If you have the resources, you can live like a rockstar. If you're just scraping by, there probably are better options.
That is a large fixed income (about $6,000 per month) - Of course you have a good life. Many have a fixed income of around $1,500 per month. That buys a very different life experience than the one you have.
Wait and see. The incoming remittance tax that has been announced to be enforced by Thai Revenue office, means many expats will be forced to pay tax on the spending money they bring into Thailand. I have calculated in my particular circumstances, it means up to 25% tax on my money transferred in. A deal breaker and a significant increase in the cost of living in Thailand. We'll see if they force us to lodge tax returns from Jan next year.
Just don't stay in one country year round. That's for fat old disabled men who have given up, usually. It's very easy to be in Thailand for 6 months, then stay in Penang or KL for a bit, then Da Nang or Hanoi and back.
Yes, I have been to the PH and you are 100% correct. I live in a small city in the U.S. and I can live here cheaper than in the PH if you compare like to like.
I think you've done everyone a great service by telling it like it is. Here in the US that type of business practice is predatory and you are correct, police could be called and that business would be fined or be forced to shut down. To take the attitude to deny a sale because they couldn't over charge a customer, is bad business.
Good realistic view of living in a different country. I lived in Italy, oahu, hi and japan. You are right..an illusion indeed. Be happy where you are..
I have been living here in Mindanao for the last 5 years, now on a permanent visa. I have not regretted a moment, I had no problems with getting the visa, yes a lot of paperwork but it took me less than an hour. I live in the province and am loving my retirement with my family and lots of new friends. I just wish i could put a sentence in cebuano 😂😂 together. By the way I haven't seen any 'tourist tax' here in Midsayap.
Actually guys, don't give up on the US and Canada to meet an Asian or Latina, both countries are on the verge (supposedly) of deporting literally millions of people over the next few years, including illegals, temporary foreign workers, students, you name it. Here in the Toronto area where I live immigration consultants are now advising their clients to either find a local to marry or claim refugee status (gonna be difficult to do this if you have lived here for years and travelled back and forth to your home country). There are literally thousands of young Philippinas working here now with only temporary status, the same kind of women you find back in their homeland, many are hard working and sweet and no doubt a lot of them would like to find a guy here in the West to settle down rather than go back to poverty in the Philippines. I married an Asian woman here in Canada, we met here and have raised our family here, best thing I've every done.
This was a very informative video. You have to do your homework when moving to the Philippines. You really have to weigh the scale of all the things that are going to be good. And all the things that are going to be different.
Thanks for the frank and honest critique of your country. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Taking off the rose coloured glasses is a necessity for long term expat living. Leave those glasses on for the tourists. I am in Thailand and the proposed changes to tax here for expats (bringing funds in from abroad was never tax enforced - incoming remittance tax) means many of us, who will be affected, are planning to leave if it goes ahead. I have always considered the Philippines and it is a Plan B for me. The zero tax on incoming remittances in the Philippines means my pension money and other income streams could go much further in your country than Thailand. A plan B is important for an expat because governments can change laws at a whim and significantly affect your lifestyle and retirement plans. I am not saying the Philippines will be my 'forever home' either and i know it isnt perfect. Neither is Thailand, Vietnam, etc. None are.
Believe me, there's no place like home Dorothy. I'm 53 y/o, single man, kids are grown-up. Semi-retitired and financially secure. I own my house also. I've travelled enough to understand that there's no place like home and an "emerging" country is what it is. Not quite there yet and the Philippine is exactly that. A nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to settle permanently there. Be mobile, dating and renting a month or two and go visit somewhere else. It's like getting married with the first girlfriend you sleep with. I don't know about you but I glad I didn't.
My experience in the Phil is that many things are in fact much more expensive (like gas or diesel, Grocery Store food, auto parts, land to build upon or develop) than in the US. What would be nice would be to bring with me to the Phil the possibility of better opportunities there for locals like online marketing revenue that can help the standard of living there in the Phil not only for local businesses there in the Phil as a mean to test systems, but also for those cabable of helping in technical opportunities to provide businesses in other more developed parts of the world. My Philippine wife does not understand this nor the opportunities for our family. If I were to move to the Phil I would not be able to provide for the family without a marketing business that is directed to helping businesses in other parts of the world. I don't know how anyone can be prosperous in the Phil.
I am not here for the Women, Because I am Married. I am American and she is Filipina. I love the Culture and the genuine friendliness of the people. Its true some things take longer but you should not bring or try to force your western culture on Filipinos. I have not been a victim of the skin tax. I let my wife do the negotiations, and she is tough I always use a Meter taxi However I always leave them a nice tip because they are treating me honestly. All in all things are better for me, I feel I fit in better here than America, I feel Its more like America was when I was growing up. I really Love the Philippines, the people and Culture.
I understand what you are trying to say, thanks. Yes it is very difficult in the Philippines for many reasons. For me I like a challenge. That’s all I have to say.
In my short time there: The infrastructure is bad. There’s no sidewalks for walking. The food is terrible. The condos are low quality, most have cockroaches. Noise everywhere. Traffic is crazy. Everything is congested. Hard to get anywhere. And on top of it all, I got food poisoning from eating street food. My middle finger is to all the vloggers that lie about how great that place is.
If in your definition of "quality of life" you just think about level of comfort, I might agree with you. In my mind quality of life is about so much more. If you are retired, there are no rush to get things done. Those who have a problems adjusting to a "life in the fast lane" while working, have the same problem slowing down in the west. For some, having a hobby or friends around them might be a good help. Still, information like what you bring here, might stop some of those that will never fit in from trying in the first place. Because it's not for everyone. For others however, it can be just the paradise they look for. And then of course, there are the bull-headed ones that just run on until they hit their head into the concrete wall. When they do, many then complain "why didn't they warn me about this!". Well, now they have been warned.
I think if the Filipino government would set up a good system for foreigners to apply to either visit or live and work there and make it a one day thing and that’s it, this would definitely 💯 % percent be a much more effective and attractive thing and would cause 3 times the approach to want to live and stay there
Retiring in the Philippines can be an exciting and rewarding experience if you only know how to tackle challenges. Cultural adjustment with different social norms and unfamiliar customs. Health care is not that excellent if you don't have enough budget. You need to understand tax implications, residency requirements, and property law. But what is good here, we have lower standdard of living and with a better climate - warm weather which is good for your health. It really depends on your financial capability to live a good life anywhere in the world.
In Canada we don't charge non-white people from other countries more money and if we did it would be front page news of racism. However, it's just fine to discriminate against white people in many places. Mexico does this. There are local prices and tourist prices and the same in Japan. I'm sure most places do it, Egypt, Turkey, India at every corner, and just about everywhere except for high trust western countries where the price is the price. Sometimes if I show the waitress/waiter my permanent resident card in Mexico I will get the local price in a tourist area.
EVERY country has both good and bad in the people, economy, culture, infrastructure and bureaucracy. Both need to looked at because you can't just revel in the good and ignore the bad.
It is hard to wire money to a bank or to get a bank check. Getting a Title for land can take 6-12 months. The only time I get a foreigner tax is at the market. Sometimes. Sometimes when you are invited to say a restaurant everyone expects you to pay. It is a lesson on having patience, and that is something you need to have here. But Paradise it is and beach front is one tenth of the price in Florida. Most importantly having many Flipino friends is the secret to living good here.
It takes minutes to send money from the US to the Philippines, I don't know about large amounts to buy property , but sending a couple hundred via remitly to Gcash takes minutes.
Mia, thank you so much for your video. Right now, my girlfriend whom I'm going to propose to in January and buy her parents a roof in her province house is tampo with me. It's going on full two days ignoring all my messages. I actually don't know the reason and I've apologized 1 million times and even sent her money. What else can I do? She tells me she loves me every day and now nothing....
Not to be mean but if you act desperate that certainly won't help. They hate to be ignored as well. Obviously I know less about the situation than you do but if she is ignoring you I personally wouldn't send her ,oney. I understand it's none of my business but I hope you accept this opinion in the spirit it is meant. Stand you're ground, it's possible it has nothing to do with you.
do not get married!! do not send her anymore money!! You need to set strict boundaries and be prepared to move on from her. Filipinas are no different from western women, imo
I would not like to be treated like an atm machine. That would wear on me from day one. I will stay here in the backwoods of Tennessee by the river. We seem to be getting alot of people moving here also.
Filipinas nice girls. I don't understand mens traveling 10000+ miles just to find girlfriend If you didn't got lucky in the past just quit searching 😂😂
I never knew about the wallet missing but I could tell you a lot of places you go.there' are kids that surround you with their hands out.begging which I understand but after a while it's like enough is enough. Some don't even want ro go out anymore because of it
Foreigner taxes are everywhere. I saw this in Ukraine back in the 1990's. I envision retiring there and staying active in aviation. But there's the rub, aviation there is not nearly as prolific or accessible as it is here and that keeps me from deciding to go.
100% agree with bureaucracy top of the list even me as a Filipino is no longer happy esp the current situation in this country 😢I am sad and worry the future of next generation in this country.😢
If you take away the availability of women/girls , and the perceived lower cost of living…. There is absolutely NO good reason to move to the PI…, unless you are trying to escape a very bad situation in your home country….
There are losts of negatives and lots of positives from my perspective. Just depending on the individual. Dating here been disappointing for me mostly. Even tho its easy to date. Cost of living is good on a budget with strong currency
I'm from the US and have visited the Philippines 3 times. I love to travel and explore on my own by car. This is difficult to do in the Philippines, most everyone gets around by jeepneys, scooters, and tricycles, only very rich people have their own cars. There are crowds of people all over the roads, makes driving quite difficult. You see fancy malls and churches, right next to people living in dire poverty. Also, the weather is annoyingly hot and humid. You try to find places with aircon or do all of your activities at night. I just visited New Zealand, very beautiful, clean country with a standard of living like the US. It was so easy to rent a car to explore, just had to get used to driving on the left side of the road.
You are correct Mia, if a business openly discriminated against a foreigner, or non White person, here in Canada, then those people would whine they are being ripped off by racists and get the police involved for sure. We also let anyone buy property here, not doing so would be illegal and would result in the police and human rights organizations getting involved, and yet you do not permit the same in your Country. Do you think we should start treating foreigners here in Canada like your people do in the Philippines Mia ??? Should we limit foreign ownership ? Should we have a "skin tax" too ? BTW, I found my beautiful Asian wife right here in Canada, I am a very lucky man indeed. Philippines, no thanks.
If Philippines allowed foreigners buy property I think half of the country or more would be chinese owned. How nice would that be? Caucasian are not the only foreigners in the Philippines. Skin tax exists everywhere where there is no price tags. Bureacracy turned me away from the Philippines.
@davidsim5636 buying a house in Canada is an expensive deal. Buying a house in the Philippines is not. So if foreigners with favorable rates of exchanges can buy up houses in the Philippines that will drive up the price of houses for the locals. That's why it works for them. If you look at London a lot of rich foreigners bought up houses making homes there very expensive. But the buyers are rich they're not just any foreigners. They are millionaires and billionaires. I believe Florida passed a law that prevents Chinese from China from buying property there.
The philippines has promoted available young women and inexpensive life styles for decades. My philippine ship mates tried selling the idea to me back in the 80s. I think at least half of visitors know the living conditions will be a big change from all we see on line and search pricing. However, I agree there is no better teacher than seeing real life. Unfortunately, opinions are formed about a people based on a small group that may not be a good example for either side of the fence.
Every day my GF in Luzon told me to buy a house. Every day for 6 months. I just laughed. Next the whole damn family started telling me to buy a “big house”. Ruined my Bday party. Everyone in her family had their hands in my pockets. I was gone the next day. Never even said good bye.
Brutally honest. A realistic view on all those pipedreams. Living like a king? Try going to the movies when living in the province. You'll just have to stick to karaoke with the neighbours if they'll have you or drink yourself to sleep every night. Or.... adjust and get a great timeconsuming hobby 😊
Last time I went to Lorma Hospital in San Fernando La Union it was $20 US for the visit. My meds were another $20. We rent a 3 bedroom/1bath house for $220 a month. Tarlac area and a gated community. Manila is not our style. My tryke rides are always +P$ 40... said Mr Puti
I think if anyone's thinking of moving to the Philippines they should travel there first and live there for a little bit of extended time a ghost for any other country you want to move into
Any person who moves to another country expecting the SAME things as the country they left is foolish.. Personally I want to retire in the Phils, maybe 6-8 months out of the year to snorkel and enjoy the beach life. I have no delusions that my stay there will feel exactly like home, in culture, foods, transportation, conveniences.
I have watched a lot of those fluff pieces out there on UA-cam. I really appreciate your more frank and honest statements and truths. My girlfriend does not understand when I try to tell her I am seeing the other side and having reservations and doubts. Give up my amazing life, say goodbye to all my friends and family, sell all my stuff, come to another country where people see me as a walking ATM and I get to pay foreigner taxes, deal with government crap and do what with my time?? I also hear that the people there are pretty racist too. Is that true?
The foreigner "tax" appears to be a real there and I for one appreciate your honesty representing life in the Philippines. It doesn't change my mind, it just helps me prepare.
I'm a permanent resident of Mexico, it's the same here. Locals at a restaurant get the local price and tourist get the tourist price. It's the same in Japan. They have a menu with lower prices for Japanese and a menu with higher prices for the white people.
Just view it as a locals discount. It won't bother you after that.
its the same all over asia.
Foreigner "tax" is everywhere, central America, South America... all over.
It is very real. What's more, if you get a girl, as soon as some realize she has a foriegner girlfriend, they will charge her the skin tax too.
I have lived in the Philippines, off and on, for the past five years. Thank you for being honest.
Informative and well spoken.
Thank you for a great video, Mia! Very informative... and your language is just perfect. Its a treat to listen to your calm and good explanations. Take Care!
This was a very good and honest presentation. Good job Mia.
Thanks!
Thank you sir.
Hello Miam it's good to see you and Paul back on UA-cam!
Thanks for watching! 😊
A few months in Mindanao slapped the rose-tinted paradise glasses off of me.
what specifically about it was the worst/hardest to deal with?
I've lived here in Mindanao for 10mo. The rose colored tint is fading quickly 😂
100%
That will do it lol
I hear you
You are, of course, right about everything you said in this video. I have experienced it firsthand in many places. At times, I would almost rather not buy an item without a clearly marked price because it seems like a way to have ‘dynamic pricing’ or ‘foreigner pricing’. I have also seen a situation where a Filipina was quoted p550 for a taxi ride - until her American boyfriend appeared - then the driver quoted p1000! The couple balked, of course, but the driver insisted all the way up to the point that he removed their luggage from the trunk and drove off! I can’t help feeling that a person is stupid for doing such a thing, but it does seem apparent that some vendors would rather lose business than to sell to a foreigner at a ‘local’ price.
My Filipina girlfriend has experienced something similar, at times, from vendors and trike drivers totally in my absence. She becomes quite irritated with it and will sometimes refuse their product or service even if they get back to the ‘real’ price.
As for me - I just try to shop where prices are marked for everyone and use metered taxis most of the time. Not everyone is trying to take advantage of others though, so I just try to remain mindful of things so I don’t get taken advantage of that much.
Oh - here is another thing: my girlfriend dropped of our laundry once at a new laundry service in Baguio. She was quoted a certain price per kilo… they did not see me at all… by the time we git back home, she received a call from them claiming that the price was ‘mis-quoted’ and they raised the price by 50%! She argued about it - they said ‘if you don’t agree, you can come and pick up your clothes but they are all wet now’… it was ridiculous - we just paid it and refused to use them again. We could only surmise that when they saw my clothes, they guessed that I was a foreigner and they were still intent on charging the ‘foreigner price’.
I'm sorry to hear about your experiences. It's frustrating when people try to take advantage.
Wow
They really hate foreigners
Lots of poverty, lots of dirt and unsavory air quality, , and corruption everywhere, these are the things that should be considered, not economics. One can live frugally and make it ok with only $1K monthly retirement. But there are lots of men who will overlook those important things in order to get the young Filipina. A decent condo can be rented with $300, the rest is sufficient to pay all other expenses. But are you willing to overlook what's around the corner from your condo? To me it's not worth the cheap living, nor it is worth the young Filipina who will pretend to love you because you provide fro her and her family. This is the reality nobody wants to accept in the Philippines. And, the climate is awful. Super hot and humid outside, like all the time, and freezing cold indoors in many places, best recipe for getting sick all the time if you're an older person. Go to Portugal instead, great weather, great people, great food, and cheap living....and you are in Europe!!!
Exactly, and the mosquitos. You go outside and start to sweat, and some of the air cons are either ice cold or too warm for the settings. But if too cold, i just put on long sleeve inside. Most foreigners just stay inside, or hang out at mall or drink everyday. It gets really boring, and i missed driving my car to many places. Its just about sex with young girls, that is the only reason expats go to the PI.
Europe SUCKS!! Europe is boring as hell. No, thank you.
Go back to the States if you want everything 'perfect', winging sod.
@@dsrrellgriffith1161 you're speaking from you're experiences?
@@kimagangobrit4480 so what??? nobody forces the girls to sleep around
I totally agree with what you say. This is what I experienced during my stay in the Philippines. The result was that I had an expensive cost of living with less quality. If I want the same quality as my home country then I need double the money. Τhailand is much friendlier to expats much cheaper and offers a very good quality of life
Rubbish
Im from uk,if we treat foreigners like filipinos do we would 100% be in prison,no joke
Correct, everyone else treats their racial counterparts differently across the world.
Even if they're living in the others capital city (london).
What do you mean?
I'm from Croatia, been there, done that. Filipino laws goes in local's favor. Anyone who knows those laws can use and abuse foreigners just like that. worst year of my life. I'm 39 and god am I thankful to get out of there on time. it's a 3rd world country. most beautiful women and worst bureaucracy. I'd rather stay single.
Yep. Discrimination and fraud are a lifestyle here.
same here in the US, we do not get to change the price because you are not from here
Thank you for sharing the facts, the truth is the truth
Wow! You are very well versed on what foreigners can expect there in the Philippines. My Pinay wife and our 1 yr old spent the winter of 2017-2018 there. We very much loved our stay there and found many things that you address to be true which is why we decided to remain here in America. I will say the whole world is changing not just the Philippines. I still dream of our times there though. The best thing I loved about the Philippines was the people! Thumbs up!
I always enjoy your posts Mia, good info imho. People should take note as your consistently honest :)
When it comes to females, So many men refuse to understand that regardless of race and culture all women are the same and want the same from men. Most men don't or refuse to accept or understand leverage and power dynamics
What do they want?
@@Goodman849money and security, a better life.
@@Goodman849 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
TAD From Beautiful Florida USA, Your Honesty Is Refreshing.
“Thank You” For The Information.
GOD Bless You… TAD.
As independent single and frequent (international) traveller, all you need is „how to…, who to employ“, some years of experience in Africa, the SRRV visa and a generous budget / monthly pension / substantial nest egg for the rainy days in your home country whose hard currency equalizes the local inflation.
And a Yamaha MT09 SP motorbike (PHP 799k) is actually cheaper to buy here than back home. At the dealership, there is an official cash price for everyone, being foreigner or not. The same is true for high-end Hi-Fi equipment, a trip (with your motorbike) on a 2GO ferry in a private stateroom from Cebu to Manila, a flight from Cebu to Puerto Princesa or to Singapore, a night at the Bay hotel, the occasional taxi, all is very affordable. Of course, those who have a family to take care of and depend on a monthly income of around USD 2k need to be somewhat more careful with their budgets.
Talking about quality of life here in the USA because of the cost of utilities, property taxes, personal property taxes, homeowners insurance, auto insurance, groceries, and many other expenses I will never be able to retire.
I personally know people who have retired in the Philippines and have been researching the pros and cons of life there for the last eight plus years.
And for me personally, the Philippines is the best option for a good life when I retire, and it is better than my possibilities for retirement in the USA.
I don't need much to be happy with day to day life.
I don't go to bars and nightclubs, I very rarely eat outside of home (I actually enjoy preparing my own meals) for entertainment my idea of fun is climbing on one of my old Harley-Davidson motorcycles (1978 flh, and 1982 flt) and going for a ride in the mountains or up and down the coast instead of wasting my money in night clubs.
I prefer a countryside setting to live in. I don't like life in cities or even small towns.
My friends have convinced me to take a serious look at northern Luzon in the mountains (outside of Baguio) and tell me for my lifestyle that it should be a good place for me to check out.
I used to be in a hurry all the time running to the next greatest thing, but nowadays it's live for today and enjoy the moment, if you can't do it today then don't get upset because there's always tomorrow or the next day etc...
I'm actually looking forward to retiring in the Philippines and slowing down, getting out of the rat race here in the USA.
And as far as health care, I'm in reasonably good health, no problems, no medications, and I've already looked into Phil-health, and it is way less than what I'm paying in the USA.
The cost of health care in the USA is very expensive compared to the Philippines.
As an example in 1991 I had a motorcycle accident and spent three weeks in the hospital, my out of pocket expenses were $ 25,000 USD and that's after my insurance paid 80%. Not including physical therapy and medicine needed until I fully recovered.
I'm going into this with both eyes open and for me the positive outweighs any negative in the Philippines.
(I'll also add that my younger brother and his wife are also considering retirement in the Philippines, he was in the US navy stationed in Guam and went to the Philippines multiple times and really enjoyed and liked the people and the friendly atmosphere.)
I'm at the same situation as you . Investigating retiring outside the US. I also do not want to live in a large city there anymore than I would live in NYC or LA in the US.
Get your bike out here 'Mindanao ' and enjoy.🙂
I am thinking of moving there, but now watching your video maybe I will look somewhere else
You sort of need to visit various places and, then, decide. There's lots of cultural differences between these Asian countries, but they are all offering quality living for reasonable costs. You do need to manage your affairs - always leave your savings in your home country though and don't overinvest in your new home.
Great video. Thanks from The USA
The problem is a lot of expats hastily make a decision to reside in the Philippines. They make a rush to judgment and end up regretting it. I’ve visited enough countries in SE Asia to make an informed decision as to where to reside permanently. I’ve decided to obtain the Courtesy SRRV as to have the option to stay in the Philippines indefinitely. I have no plans to live in the Philippines all year long because I have assets in the U.S. as well as Guardianship duties. The Courtesy SRRV is a luxury not a necessity for me. I lived in Japan and speak the language, so Japan is an option for me too. Thailand is very modern has world class Dental, Medical, great food, and a fabulous Infrastructure. Thailands tourist numbers speak for themselves. In my humble opinion Thailand is the place for me to settle down permanently.
You put a lot of thought into this video and it shows. Great information and quite helpful. Thank you! 😎
Thank you young lady for the very good information. Although I've been to quite a few countries and perhaps some day I'll visit your country. Personally, I always do my research before entering any country; knowing that every country has its pros and cons. Great video. Keep doing what you are doing. Cheyenne. Born and bred in America USA...
You're right health care is very important when you're getting older, and we have to be realistic with the philippines, people is beautiful and friendly too ,thank you.
When I was in the Philippines last February visiting my G/F we got a ride in a taxi and he tried to charge us more because I was American
Thanks for your honesty. Respect 👊
I appreciate your honesty, thank you😊
Hello Mia, your English is excellent and so is your pronunciation.
Keep up the good work!!
I spent the whole month of October 2024 in Davao city. I went to Palawan island and it was beautiful!!
Great video. I really appreciate your honesty and both the pros and cons of living in the Philippines. Btw your English is excellent. Where did you learn to speak so well?
Very good video. 👍
Great video your English is excellent. Your content is spot on. I have visited the Philippines more than 25 times and have experienced everything you said.
Hi Mia,
Great to see you back. Beautiful as ever 😊. Great video. You just have to be very careful with your income as a foreigner. I for one refused to pay the skin tax. Also, I will say that most of the Filipinos know that and treat me as a local. 👍😊
So, I do stress about the bureaucracy, Healthcare, price of housing etc...but I'm from California n its so ridiculously expensive here. We pay more for everything than most other states...the price of living in Paradise. So yeah a Red Horse is still $1. Food costs. But it's still cheaper there overall. The typhoons worry me bigtime, I'm cane assisted n me n floods do not mix. Other than that, I can hang. Been there 4 times, I'll be there in a few days. Love being there for Christmas 🎄 😊
Thailand 🇹🇭 is a better quality of life. No disrespect to the Philippines but Thailand checks all the boxes for me. 🙏
If you want to live cheaper than the USA and have a nice filipina partner who speaks english then this is the place. If you cant live without American products, expect to be in stock everyday, are ok with poor or no service, dont mind blackouts for a day, no wifi for a few days, people begging for $$$, family or friends loans never paid back, not much logic used here or common sense, having floods, typhoons, earthquakes, always loud noises like rooster, barking dogs, bad karaoke, loud motorcycles, neighborhood parties until 4 am, bad traffic, counter flowing vehicles then this is the place for you. Enjoy and welcome.
You missed moaning 'perfect ' Yanks.🙂
Mia has a message to share . food for thought Mia. glad you are on more frequently again
The reality of what you’re outlining to foreigners experiences and expectations, can be very true, because we’re used to the digital world, which simplifies our lives. Moving to another country like the Philippines 🇵🇭 which I did myself 10 years ago, was very different from the west. Over the years, I’ve come to understand everything to the extent, where I’m more comfortable now. Stay blessed 😇 my friend ❤and happy holidays 🎄to yourself and Paul.
YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT! Don't act like you understand everything when you don't understand anything. You don't know the relationship (ratio) of the Philippine peso to the American dollar in the year 1965. Ever since that year, Filipinos, have felt compelled to overcharge Americans to make ends meet. You brag about living in the Philippines for ten years, but you haven't learned anything about the country in ten years ...read a book for crying out loud!
Thank you Mia....your voice is beautiful 💜
Been there multiple times as my Canadian wife is a Filipina. This vlogger is completely speaking the truth. I would only visit absolutely do not retire there. Just the way they treat animals there made the decision for me.
Thank you for your insight. You're very well-spoken and I could only wish my Filipina wife could communicate as eloquently as you do.
You should also mention the weather. Before coming here, we were informed that it would be hot and humid, "but you'll get used to it." That sounded logical to me. However, when every day is oppressively hot and humid, it wears you down. Changing shirts multiple times daily, because you're a sweaty mess, gets old. Even the locals are not comfortable and are NOT used to it. It's something you have to put up with.. This also translates into very high electric bills for air conditioning. I pay an average of 15,000 PHP each month (the high was over 20,000 PHP) to be comfortable. I set the temp at 80F NOT the 72-74F like in the US. Additionally, traffic is crazy here (Davao) with NO RULES. It's maddening. There is no or VERY limited parking. It makes driving all the more stressful. That said, I'm staying... I'm married with a baby on the way. The cost of living is such that we can live comfortably albeit NOT the "dream" lifestyle we bought into before arriving. I haven't seen the foreigner "tax" that you mentioned, even out in the provinces.
Been coming here since early 70s, and was stationed here with the navy. Now live here with asawa of over 40 years. Fixed income of 350,000 P a month. Love the country and its people.
yeah, I think the key is money. If you have the resources, you can live like a rockstar. If you're just scraping by, there probably are better options.
That is a large fixed income (about $6,000 per month) - Of course you have a good life. Many have a fixed income of around $1,500 per month. That buys a very different life experience than the one you have.
Go to Thailand. All you need is 20k in the bank and you can stay there. 20 times better than the Philippines.
Depends on what retirement visa you get. Prices and amounts vary.
Thank you a lot of people said Thailand is way better than Philippines
Wait and see. The incoming remittance tax that has been announced to be enforced by Thai Revenue office, means many expats will be forced to pay tax on the spending money they bring into Thailand. I have calculated in my particular circumstances, it means up to 25% tax on my money transferred in. A deal breaker and a significant increase in the cost of living in Thailand. We'll see if they force us to lodge tax returns from Jan next year.
CHASING BAR GIRLS AND PROSTITUTES? YOU ARE STUPID!!
Just don't stay in one country year round. That's for fat old disabled men who have given up, usually.
It's very easy to be in Thailand for 6 months, then stay in Penang or KL for a bit, then Da Nang or Hanoi and back.
Yes, I have been to the PH and you are 100% correct. I live in a small city in the U.S. and I can live here cheaper than in the PH if you compare like to like.
Many thanks for this video!
I think you've done everyone a great service by telling it like it is. Here in the US that type of business practice is predatory and you are correct, police could be called and that business would be fined or be forced to shut down. To take the attitude to deny a sale because they couldn't over charge a customer, is bad business.
When you are in the Philippines, you are not in the US. Different rules and procedures apply.
Good realistic view of living in a different country. I lived in Italy, oahu, hi and japan. You are right..an illusion indeed. Be happy where you are..
I have been living here in Mindanao for the last 5 years, now on a permanent visa. I have not regretted a moment, I had no problems with getting the visa, yes a lot of paperwork but it took me less than an hour. I live in the province and am loving my retirement with my family and lots of new friends. I just wish i could put a sentence in cebuano 😂😂 together. By the way I haven't seen any 'tourist tax' here in Midsayap.
Actually guys, don't give up on the US and Canada to meet an Asian or Latina, both countries are on the verge (supposedly) of deporting literally millions of people over the next few years, including illegals, temporary foreign workers, students, you name it. Here in the Toronto area where I live immigration consultants are now advising their clients to either find a local to marry or claim refugee status (gonna be difficult to do this if you have lived here for years and travelled back and forth to your home country). There are literally thousands of young Philippinas working here now with only temporary status, the same kind of women you find back in their homeland, many are hard working and sweet and no doubt a lot of them would like to find a guy here in the West to settle down rather than go back to poverty in the Philippines.
I married an Asian woman here in Canada, we met here and have raised our family here, best thing I've every done.
This was a very informative video. You have to do your homework when moving to the Philippines. You really have to weigh the scale of all the things that are going to be good. And all the things that are going to be different.
Thanks for the frank and honest critique of your country. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Taking off the rose coloured glasses is a necessity for long term expat living. Leave those glasses on for the tourists.
I am in Thailand and the proposed changes to tax here for expats (bringing funds in from abroad was never tax enforced - incoming remittance tax) means many of us, who will be affected, are planning to leave if it goes ahead. I have always considered the Philippines and it is a Plan B for me. The zero tax on incoming remittances in the Philippines means my pension money and other income streams could go much further in your country than Thailand. A plan B is important for an expat because governments can change laws at a whim and significantly affect your lifestyle and retirement plans.
I am not saying the Philippines will be my 'forever home' either and i know it isnt perfect. Neither is Thailand, Vietnam, etc. None are.
Thank you
I could never adjust to eating Filipino food daily.
I taught my Filipina wife how to cook the food that I like. She still cooks food that she likes.
some truth for a change. thanks
My wife moved here to be with me; I hope to return the favor one day. We've been here 23 years, and I think she'll be happier there.
Believe me, there's no place like home Dorothy. I'm 53 y/o, single man, kids are grown-up. Semi-retitired and financially secure. I own my house also. I've travelled enough to understand that there's no place like home and an "emerging" country is what it is. Not quite there yet and the Philippine is exactly that. A nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to settle permanently there. Be mobile, dating and renting a month or two and go visit somewhere else. It's like getting married with the first girlfriend you sleep with. I don't know about you but I glad I didn't.
How are you doing today?
My experience in the Phil is that many things are in fact much more expensive (like gas or diesel, Grocery Store food, auto parts, land to build upon or develop) than in the US. What would be nice would be to bring with me to the Phil the possibility of better opportunities there for locals like online marketing revenue that can help the standard of living there in the Phil not only for local businesses there in the Phil as a mean to test systems, but also for those cabable of helping in technical opportunities to provide businesses in other more developed parts of the world. My Philippine wife does not understand this nor the opportunities for our family. If I were to move to the Phil I would not be able to provide for the family without a marketing business that is directed to helping businesses in other parts of the world. I don't know how anyone can be prosperous in the Phil.
I am not here for the Women, Because I am Married. I am American and she is Filipina. I love the Culture and the genuine friendliness of the people. Its true some things take longer but you should not bring or try to force your western culture on Filipinos. I have not been a victim of the skin tax. I let my wife do the negotiations, and she is tough I always use a Meter taxi However I always leave them a nice tip because they are treating me honestly. All in all things are better for me, I feel I fit in better here than America, I feel Its more like America was when I was growing up. I really Love the Philippines, the people and Culture.
yeah, America has turned to 💩💩
I understand what you are trying to say, thanks. Yes it is very difficult in the Philippines for many reasons. For me I like a challenge. That’s all I have to say.
In my short time there: The infrastructure is bad. There’s no sidewalks for walking. The food is terrible. The condos are low quality, most have cockroaches. Noise everywhere. Traffic is crazy. Everything is congested. Hard to get anywhere. And on top of it all, I got food poisoning from eating street food. My middle finger is to all the vloggers that lie about how great that place is.
You convinced me. I will never visit the Philippines.
If in your definition of "quality of life" you just think about level of comfort, I might agree with you.
In my mind quality of life is about so much more. If you are retired, there are no rush to get things done. Those who have a problems adjusting to a "life in the fast lane" while working, have the same problem slowing down in the west. For some, having a hobby or friends around them might be a good help.
Still, information like what you bring here, might stop some of those that will never fit in from trying in the first place. Because it's not for everyone. For others however, it can be just the paradise they look for.
And then of course, there are the bull-headed ones that just run on until they hit their head into the concrete wall. When they do, many then complain "why didn't they warn me about this!". Well, now they have been warned.
Sounds like Gio is having so many challenges in the Philippines. All these things you mentioned are easily fixed.
I think if the Filipino government would set up a good system for foreigners to apply to either visit or live and work there and make it a one day thing and that’s it, this would definitely 💯 % percent be a much more effective and attractive thing and would cause 3 times the approach to want to live and stay there
Me thinketh we all., really appreciate your........ honesty!@?😉
Retiring in the Philippines can be an exciting and rewarding experience if you only know how to tackle challenges. Cultural adjustment with different social norms and unfamiliar customs. Health care is not that excellent if you don't have enough budget. You need to understand tax implications, residency requirements, and property law. But what is good here, we have lower standdard of living and with a better climate - warm weather which is good for your health. It really depends on your financial capability to live a good life anywhere in the world.
When I first visited the The Philippines 24 years ago, there was one price for all.
In Canada we don't charge non-white people from other countries more money and if we did it would be front page news of racism. However, it's just fine to discriminate against white people in many places. Mexico does this. There are local prices and tourist prices and the same in Japan. I'm sure most places do it, Egypt, Turkey, India at every corner, and just about everywhere except for high trust western countries where the price is the price. Sometimes if I show the waitress/waiter my permanent resident card in Mexico I will get the local price in a tourist area.
Tks. much
25 years ago for $10,000 I could of bought half an island from my wifes family. But I'm not living in that climate
EVERY country has both good and bad in the people, economy, culture, infrastructure and bureaucracy. Both need to looked at because you can't just revel in the good and ignore the bad.
It is hard to wire money to a bank or to get a bank check. Getting a Title for land can take 6-12 months. The only time I get a foreigner tax is at the market. Sometimes. Sometimes when you are invited to say a restaurant everyone expects you to pay. It is a lesson on having patience, and that is something you need to have here. But Paradise it is and beach front is one tenth of the price in Florida. Most importantly having many Flipino friends is the secret to living good here.
There is a reason every country in Asia has developed before them
It takes minutes to send money from the US to the Philippines, I don't know about large amounts to buy property , but sending a couple hundred via remitly to Gcash takes minutes.
Mia, thank you so much for your video. Right now, my girlfriend whom I'm going to propose to in January and buy her parents a roof in her province house is tampo with me. It's going on full two days ignoring all my messages. I actually don't know the reason and I've apologized 1 million times and even sent her money. What else can I do? She tells me she loves me every day and now nothing....
Do not propose?
Not to be mean but if you act desperate that certainly won't help. They hate to be ignored as well. Obviously I know less about the situation than you do but if she is ignoring you I personally wouldn't send her ,oney. I understand it's none of my business but I hope you accept this opinion in the spirit it is meant. Stand you're ground, it's possible it has nothing to do with you.
do not get married!! do not send her anymore money!! You need to set strict boundaries and be prepared to move on from her. Filipinas are no different from western women, imo
Maybe she just loves your money?
Be a Man and get rid of her...
I would not like to be treated like an atm machine. That would wear on me from day one. I will stay here in the backwoods of Tennessee by the river. We seem to be getting alot of people moving here also.
Filipinas nice girls.
I don't understand mens traveling 10000+ miles just to find girlfriend
If you didn't got lucky in the past just quit searching 😂😂
I hear you, that is why I am not trying to live there....visit maybe...not live...Thank you...
I've heard of being swarmed by young kid's and then your wallet is missing.
I never knew about the wallet missing but I could tell you a lot of places you go.there' are kids that surround you with their hands out.begging which I understand but after a while it's like enough is enough. Some don't even want ro go out anymore because of it
NEVER BELIEVE ALL THE BULLSHIT THEY TELL YOU OTHERWISE YOU ARE SILLY!!
That happens in Rome and Florence, too. The "Gypsy Children".
I won't you now 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉in USA ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Foreigner taxes are everywhere. I saw this in Ukraine back in the 1990's. I envision retiring there and staying active in aviation. But there's the rub, aviation there is not nearly as prolific or accessible as it is here and that keeps me from deciding to go.
100% agree with bureaucracy top of the list even me as a Filipino is no longer happy esp the current situation in this country 😢I am sad and worry the future of next generation in this country.😢
If you take away the availability of women/girls , and the perceived lower cost of living…. There is absolutely NO good reason to move to the PI…, unless you are trying to escape a very bad situation in your home country….
There are losts of negatives and lots of positives from my perspective. Just depending on the individual. Dating here been disappointing for me mostly. Even tho its easy to date. Cost of living is good on a budget with strong currency
I'm from the US and have visited the Philippines 3 times. I love to travel and explore on my own by car. This is difficult to do in the Philippines, most everyone gets around by jeepneys, scooters, and tricycles, only very rich people have their own cars. There are crowds of people all over the roads, makes driving quite difficult. You see fancy malls and churches, right next to people living in dire poverty. Also, the weather is annoyingly hot and humid. You try to find places with aircon or do all of your activities at night. I just visited New Zealand, very beautiful, clean country with a standard of living like the US. It was so easy to rent a car to explore, just had to get used to driving on the left side of the road.
Its not always the same case its totally up to how your life style is
You are correct Mia, if a business openly discriminated against a foreigner, or non White person, here in Canada, then those people would whine they are being ripped off by racists and get the police involved for sure. We also let anyone buy property here, not doing so would be illegal and would result in the police and human rights organizations getting involved, and yet you do not permit the same in your Country.
Do you think we should start treating foreigners here in Canada like your people do in the Philippines Mia ??? Should we limit foreign ownership ? Should we have a "skin tax" too ?
BTW, I found my beautiful Asian wife right here in Canada, I am a very lucky man indeed. Philippines, no thanks.
If Philippines allowed foreigners buy property I think half of the country or more would be chinese owned. How nice would that be? Caucasian are not the only foreigners in the Philippines.
Skin tax exists everywhere where there is no price tags.
Bureacracy turned me away from the Philippines.
@davidsim5636 buying a house in Canada is an expensive deal. Buying a house in the Philippines is not. So if foreigners with favorable rates of exchanges can buy up houses in the Philippines that will drive up the price of houses for the locals. That's why it works for them. If you look at London a lot of rich foreigners bought up houses making homes there very expensive. But the buyers are rich they're not just any foreigners. They are millionaires and billionaires. I believe Florida passed a law that prevents Chinese from China from buying property there.
Would love to have a Philippina wife who is honest and loyal but the two I've talked to tried scamming me ....Very discouraged.
Probable the best thing is to go through an agency that deals with immigration.
The philippines has promoted available young women and inexpensive life styles for decades. My philippine ship mates tried selling the idea to me back in the 80s. I think at least half of visitors know the living conditions will be a big change from all we see on line and search pricing. However, I agree there is no better teacher than seeing real life. Unfortunately, opinions are formed about a people based on a small group that may not be a good example for either side of the fence.
So you don’t think I could retire there with a Filipina wife and be happy?
Mia, YOU ARE THE PRIZE "WE WANT"
Every day my GF in Luzon told me to buy a house. Every day for 6 months. I just laughed. Next the whole damn family started telling me to buy a “big house”. Ruined my Bday party. Everyone in her family had their hands in my pockets. I was gone the next day. Never even said good bye.
Brutally honest. A realistic view on all those pipedreams. Living like a king? Try going to the movies when living in the province. You'll just have to stick to karaoke with the neighbours if they'll have you or drink yourself to sleep every night. Or.... adjust and get a great timeconsuming hobby 😊
Why do ppl compare php with the USA? You should be comparing with Thailand Vietnam Cambodia Malaysia
Everything you said I believe
Last time I went to Lorma Hospital in San Fernando La Union it was $20 US for the visit. My meds were another $20. We rent a 3 bedroom/1bath house for $220 a month. Tarlac area and a gated community. Manila is not our style. My tryke rides are always +P$ 40... said Mr Puti
i found that if you behave like a filipino then you don’t get a skin tax. amping
I think if anyone's thinking of moving to the Philippines they should travel there first and live there for a little bit of extended time a ghost for any other country you want to move into
Any person who moves to another country expecting the SAME things as the country they left is foolish.. Personally I want to retire in the Phils, maybe 6-8 months out of the year to snorkel and enjoy the beach life. I have no delusions that my stay there will feel exactly like home, in culture, foods, transportation, conveniences.
When I see something I like I will explain to my wife and she will go buy it. No smart phones in the past but now day taking a photo would work well.
Thanks!
I have watched a lot of those fluff pieces out there on UA-cam. I really appreciate your more frank and honest statements and truths. My girlfriend does not understand when I try to tell her I am seeing the other side and having reservations and doubts. Give up my amazing life, say goodbye to all my friends and family, sell all my stuff, come to another country where people see me as a walking ATM and I get to pay foreigner taxes, deal with government crap and do what with my time?? I also hear that the people there are pretty racist too. Is that true?
You shouldn't sell everything; you should try living here for 6 months to a year before committing.
Thank you for your contribution. I appreciate it.