Second thoughts about living in the Philippines permanently.

[ladislav]

Second thoughts about living in the Philippines permanently.
(Disclaimer: the write-up below is an expression of just one person's point of view and is based on that person's experiences, observations, and preferences. As such it may be different from yours, based on your own experiences, observations, and preferences. Thus, another person may argue with me and say, " Never happened to me, never had any problem", and it is fine. Thus, please post your view and your own experiences, and let the reader then draw own conclusions).

The Philippines is a great place to spend time and party in. It is also a wonderful location for a single person to find great social life. One is never lonely there, there are always people who want to hang out with you. The weather is good, and everything is cheap.
The family structure is great. The people are friendly, and there is little discrimination. It is a happy, romantic country with emotional and easy to understand culture.

If you are a single male, it is a paradise in the sense of meeting very attractive females and having social and romantic relationships with them.
When I was 30, it seemed as an ideal place for me to live in.

Now, that I am 63, I am looking at it from a different vantage point. Especially, now, after extended visits to Mexico and Brazil as well as Ukraine, I am more and more tending to feel that the Philippines is a place to visit, not to really live in.

Some reasons:

1. Some 30% of everything is either missing, not available, does not work or works in a defective manner. There are power cuts, the Internet is either slow or often down, there is sometimes no money in ATM's or they swallow up your card, the cellphone signals are not reliable, and a %% of people are not skillful in what they do and do not know things. Filipinos always brag about how educated they are but the cream of the crop leave the country.
Because of the brain drain, millions of smart people are now abroad and not many who stay can help you with stuff. This makes your life very uncomfortable and, more or less, a struggle.

2. The people are hospitable and nice, but often you end up spending the money. They are not very helpful. Thus, in most cases, it is paid hospitality, paid friendliness or just customer service. Nothing wrong with that as long as you realize how the system works, but it is still not real friendliness.

3. An ever present %% of bad people. These are dishonest, scamming, lying, swindling, treacherous, slandering, thieving, dead-beating, deceptive individuals or groups; they are everywhere, and they prey on others, especially if these are foreigners. These are on all levels of society, and it is not easy to find an honest person. They start with the taxi drivers who do not want to use the meter, who overcharge you and who do not give you change, and end with the so called friends who borrow money from you and then disappear.

Then, petty crime, people breaking into your hotel room and stealing your phone, people stealing your passport which turns your time there into hell.

4. The racial difference. If you are a white (or a black) guy, you stick out. For better or for worse. Sometimes it affords you "honors" and " respect", but also makes you a target for unneeded curiosity, inquisitiveness, as well as being used, set up or exploited. Some 'educated' Filipinos badmouth you and think that if you are in the country, your intentions are bad. The poor ones love you, but they usually expect help from you.

Mixed couples invite stares and comments. And even you alone get stared at and have people make comments about you.

You try to speak the language, and they sometimes make fun of you and demonstratively reply in English(even if English is not your native tongue). Some even start yelling at you that they will not speak to you in this or that Filipino language because you are not a Filipino.

5. The food is great if you are a Filipino, but not always fit for a foreign pallet. Tons of sugar in everything and a taste that is to put it mildly strange. Filipinos love it which is fine, as it is their country, but a foreigner finds it hard to eat sweet hotdogs, sweet spaghettis, banana catchup, etc. Hard to find peaches, plums, raspberries, blueberries, etc. Hard to find bread that is not sweet.

6. Not so visually appealing. If you come from the Bronx or Newark, the Philippines is beautiful all right, but not if you come from, say, Paris. Sure, some places are nice such as Baguio and Intramuros, maybe BGC, but outside of those areas, it is not so nice looking. Then, the beaches are not that great. Boracay is nice, but most of the shore either has dark sand or is covered with mangrove trees and their roots. A great place for the fish to spawn, but not for swimming.

7. Traffic and pollution. The air is not fresh in a big city or even in a smaller town. Smog smudges on buildings and bridges; lots of trash that permanently lies in many places. This makes you feel down on the inside. Then, there is the ever-present noise pollution. People listening to music on the cellphones without headsets, someone is always playing something loud at any time of day or night, both the TV and stereo on at the same time, the wail of the karaokes, etc. When I was young, it added to the party and the freedom feel, but not so much anymore. A clean, safe and quiet place where you can feel at peace is a rare commodity.

Traffic congestion and the slow movement thereof will be stealing hours from your life daily. Unless you live in the countryside.

8. The general provincialism and subsequent boredom that gets to you with time. Hard to have a decent conversation with the locals on anything besides the daily life here and now. Try and discuss the apartheid in S. Africa for example. You will get a blank stare. Also, no logical argument to sharpen your wit is possible, as people tend to agree with everything to defend social harmony.

Most people also have not heard of most countries in the world.

Add to it the gossip, the impolite and nosy comments, etc. Some act like real small town folks even if educated. Then, people dress in a very simple manner, slippers, T shirts and jeans, so you cannot dress up as you will look like a freak.

9. Hard to get citizenship and thus, you have no protection of any kind as a citizen. Any local who is a citizen may just see you as a threat, and you are pretty much helpless if he takes action against you. Unless you know somebody.

10. After you have enjoyed the English language and the passionate Latino part of the national character, you will have to come to terms with the SE Asian aspect of it. Secretiveness, slyness, meaningful long silence, killer smiles, evasiveness, pretending, concealment, indirectness, something always going on under the surface, some plans being made that you are not aware of, some hidden conspiracies, furtive activities, etc. etc.

Having said all that, I still find it to be a very good place to visit and to physically spend months at a time in. There are many great things to enjoy.

Thus, it is a good second home for an extended stay. Not so much a permanent home.

[galii]

It's hard to make any country into "home" if you do not establish roots. No wife, girlfriend, children, family. If all you have is some sexpat friends, a few part-time girlfriends and loose attachments, you'll never quite make the place 'yours', Ladislav. Ultimately an elderly nomad, no spouse, no family, no roots nor future, no house, no garden to tend to... will find himself a little lost in this world. It's only natural.

That said, I largely agree with your assessment of the Philippines. It's not exactly the Nirvana some have hyped it up to be. But it can be quite a wonderful place, for the time being. There is a reason, however, for the brain drain you wrote about. There's a reason anyone smart ultimately wants to leave, unless perhaps they're part of the lucky few with ties to the nation's elites. For all others, it's more or less a free-for-all.

Talking about brain chess clubs might be a way to get some brainy friends in the PH:

https://www.facebook.com/p/Angeles-City ... 893446920/
Angeles City Chess Club.


https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057503527419
Negros Chess Club 64, Inc.

[ladislav]

It's hard to make any country into "home" if you do not establish roots. No wife, girlfriend, children, family. If all you have is some sexpat friends, a few part-time girlfriends and loose attachments, you'll never quite make the place 'yours', Ladislav. Ultimately an elderly nomad, no spouse, no family, no roots nor future, no house, no garden to tend to... will find himself a little lost in this world. It's only natural.

That said, I largely agree with your assessment of the Philippines. It's not exactly the Nirvana some have hyped it up to be. But it can be quite a wonderful place, for the time being. There is a reason, however, for the brain drain you wrote about. There's a reason anyone smart ultimately wants to leave, unless perhaps they're part of the lucky few with ties to the nation's elites. For all others, it's more or less a free-for-all.

I do have lots of contacts and people I know, so emotionally, it is home. I was more referring to all the other inconveniences and disadvantages which make like unpleasant with or without attachments. And as one gets older, one starts wondering if the feeling of home is worth dealing with ATMs with no money, the brownouts, the inedible food, the taxi drivers who cheat you, etc etc. Those remain in place whether you have a wife, GF, children, etc. or not. This is why I have the second thoughts.

[kangarunner]

Now, that I am 63, I am looking at it from a different vantage point. Especially, now, after extended visits to Mexico and Brazil as well as Ukraine, I am more and more tending to feel that the Philippines is a place to visit, not to really live in.

Well, it's better late than never eh?

3. An ever present %% of bad people. These are dishonest, scamming, lying, swindling, treacherous, slandering, thieving, dead-beating, deceptive individuals or groups; they are everywhere, and they prey on others, especially if these are foreigners. These are on all levels of society, and it is not easy to find an honest person. They start with the taxi drivers who do not want to use the meter, who overcharge you and who do not give you change, and end with the so called friends who borrow money from you and then disappear.

Yeah I know, I always look at the downsides too. Ever tried looking at the bright side of life?

Mixed couples invite stares and comments. And even you alone get stared at and have people make comments about you.

Something an older person from the 60s or 70s with fixed, old fashioned, backward beliefs would say. It's 2023. What he doesn't realize is that the younger generation doesn't care about this anymore. Sounds like you're stuck in the past.

Having said all that, I still find it to be a very good place to visit and to physically spend months at a time in. There are many great things to enjoy.

Having said all that....eh...I think you should see a psychologist so he can prescribe you some ANTI-COMPLAINER PILLS!!!....Mr. Grumpy. Take it easy pal.

[galii]

The humidity and rainy seasons suck. Always having a noisy fan in the room is annoying.

[kangarunner]

Now, that I am 63, I am looking at it from a different vantage point.

If the below is the type of thoughts that you have in your mind at 63, I think I'll just go ahead and put a gun to my head or drink heavily every day.

3. An ever present %% of bad people. These are dishonest, scamming, lying, swindling, treacherous, slandering, thieving, dead-beating, deceptive individuals or groups; they are everywhere, and they prey on others, especially if these are foreigners.

I bet you're the type to never tip the waiter at a restaurant.

10. After you have enjoyed the English language and the passionate Latino part of the national character, you will have to come to terms with the SE Asian aspect of it. Secretiveness, slyness, meaningful long silence, killer smiles, evasiveness, pretending, concealment, indirectness, something always going on under the surface, some plans being made that you are not aware of, some hidden conspiracies, furtive activities, etc. etc.

I got depressed just reading this shit.

[MrMan]

It can be done, absolutely. Now some things will always be a bit of a pain, such as the food. But for instance I know a Pakistani man who married a Filipina, he "trained" her to cook to his liking. Eventually she became so good they opened a restaurant together, and the food was absolutely delicious. I know several Filipinas who served as OFWs, who had to cook for their foreign bosses. And some of these can cook rather well. So even if a lot of the restaurant and local cuisine is subpar, if you have a lady who can cook, you'll still be fine.

I used to go to church with Filipinos, and they often served a lunch after church. I also went to birthday parties, etc. Filipino food is ....okay... some of it. They roast a big. That's okay. It's meat. But a lot of the food is a bit dull and greasy.... based on my experience with expat Filipinos serving US-standard ingredients. There are a few dishes that are pretty good. My wife cooks Filippino bihun noodles... which I think they call pangsit. It's rice vermicilli. Pangsit are wontons in Indonesia.

Their rice and chicken porridge was pretty much the same as Indonesian bubur ayam, except one was thicker.

But for the most part, Filipino food is kind of boring. It's kind of like England or Spain is in Europe. Some of the food is okay, but they aren't known for their cuisine. We don't see British or Spanish restaurants all over the place like Indian, Chinese, or Italian. I have never heard of Filipino food as fine dining overseas, like you see for French food.

Indonesian food uses much bolder spices and flavors. They have lots of cuisines, but the food is much better than what I had from the Philippines.

[Natural_Born_Cynic]

@ladislav

Damn, you are older than my father.
Anyway cheer up old man,

Here is a quote for you
If you ever feel useless, just remember the USA took 4 Presidents, thousands of lives, trillions of dollars, and 20 years to replace the Taliban with the Taliban!"

[galii]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Kg_PzI40g
Why BGC Philippines is the best city in the world

[Natural_Born_Cynic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Kg_PzI40g
Why BGC Philippines is the best city in the world

Impressive.. This most be Philippine's showcase city.

[galii]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Kg_PzI40g
Why BGC Philippines is the best city in the world

Impressive.. This most be Philippine's showcase city.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sLrryNKu2Q
I Lived in Bonifacio Global City For 2 Years Now - Here's My Experience

[Natural_Born_Cynic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Kg_PzI40g
Why BGC Philippines is the best city in the world

Impressive.. This most be Philippine's showcase city.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sLrryNKu2Q
I Lived in Bonifacio Global City For 2 Years Now - Here's My Experience

Are you the guy on the video OR The Savvy Expat? Just curious.

[galii]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Kg_PzI40g
Why BGC Philippines is the best city in the world

Impressive.. This most be Philippine's showcase city.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sLrryNKu2Q
I Lived in Bonifacio Global City For 2 Years Now - Here's My Experience

Are you the guy on the video OR The Savvy Expat? Just curious.

No I am not that young anymore

[Natural_Born_Cynic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Kg_PzI40g
Why BGC Philippines is the best city in the world

Impressive.. This most be Philippine's showcase city.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sLrryNKu2Q
I Lived in Bonifacio Global City For 2 Years Now - Here's My Experience

Are you the guy on the video OR The Savvy Expat? Just curious.

No I am not that young anymore

OK