Anyone planning to live in the Phils one day?

[pennybarry]

Hi,

I am planning one day to live in the Phils when any children that we have are educated in the UK to a good level, or I get totally disillusioned with the UK lifestyle and stress levels.

Obviously we must have good savings beforehand to support us later and life insurance would be a must also.
We would have to monitor the exchange rates over the years too.

It is a long way off but I was wondering how many other people here want to live over there too?

Brgds

We would love to move there so we are not living in a dream anymore.

And last ... though not necessarily least ... I don't think my body would ever be able to adjust to either the constant humidity or the food (no offence!) - even though the people themselves are lovely!!

Depends upon the place Arth. Try Baguio, Tagaytay, Majayjay and you will not feel the humidity.
My friend bought a farm in Majayjay and really love the place. http://www.costalesnaturefarms.com/ be back there soon!

Hi justchecking.
Thanks for your comments.
Can you tell me how much a good education costs in the Phils?
Are there no internationally recognized schools outside Manila?

Hi Apo! Brent International school is outside Manila. It is in Biñan Laguna, about 15 km. away from our city Santa Rosa.
http://www.brent.edu.ph/

[Steve.r]

For me, I am looking for a new beginning, a re-start. My life here in the UK means nothing to me anymore. Ok, I have family here, one brother and his family, aunts, uncles etc, you know the ones you see at funerals only. But only my parents talk to me, well, they have to I live with them, so not looking back anymore. Since meeting my Mahal in Singapore and my trip to Phils last year, and looking forward to my trip next month, I feel that I am ready to accept a real change. I have traveled over the world, been an expat in a past life, so I understand the challenges of trying to settle in a vastly different place.
My girlfriend already owns a large lot, has a house and a sari sari store which she want to expand. Her uncle is a respected businessman and has offered to help us set up a small farming business alongside his own.
I feel I am at the right time of life to make the move, I guess falling in love opened my eyes to a future that I had always dreamed of.
Ok, I accept it will be difficult, but what if I dont do it? what if I dont make the effort? The last thing I want to do in ten years time is ask myself why I didnt do it.

[aposhark]

........Hi Apo! Brent International school is outside Manila. It is in Biñan Laguna, about 15 km. away from our city Santa Rosa.
http://www.brent.edu.ph/

Thanks for your reply, Penny.
I apologise for my ambiguous English.
What I should have typed was "are there many international schools apart from ones near Manila. On Cebu Island for example?"

[Arthur Little]

Arthur, what about Myrna's immediate family?
I'm not having a go at you, but sometimes we just seem to expect to drag our other halves, from the other side of the globe, to over here.

My wife absolutely loves the Philippines, she dosen't want to leave it really.

Like many here, ideally I'd love to be able to spend time between the two.

Well, Simon ... it's a long story - but, to cut it short (and without wishing to appear in any way ... ... egotistical) let me tell you about Myrna's response to a question one of my friends put to her fairly recently. Asked if she was enjoying being here in Perth, she replied: "Oh yes ... but then, I'd be happy to live anywhere - even in darkest Africa - as long as I had Arthur beside me!"

What a lovely thing to say ... and that's taking into account, the harsh winter we've suffered! Needless to say, I was extremely touched by this beautiful sentiment!

As regards her immediate relatives ... well, Myrna happens to be the 'only girl' in a family of five [surviving] brothers - all of whom are married with their own children - and she keeps in regular touch with them online and via Webcam. Sadly, her parents are now both deceased; she herself had been widowed early, with no kids to bring up.

And ... that's it, basically!

[Steve.r]

as long as I had Arthur beside me!"

You are truely a lucky man Arthur

[aposhark]

.........The last thing I want to do in ten years time is ask myself why I didnt do it.

Go for it Steve.r

You are free as a bird and can achieve whatever you want if you keep enthusiasm in your mind and hard work in your hands.

I for one would be very interested to read here about your continuing venture.

The love of a good woman is worth more than anything.

[Steve.r]

Go for it Steve.r

You are free as a bird and can achieve whatever you want if you keep enthusiasm in your mind and hard work in your hands.

I for one would be very interested to read here about your continuing venture.

The love of a good woman is worth more than anything.

Hard work and enthusiasm + the love of a good woman, never hurt anyone. Of course I will a log of what I achieve, not going to be an overnight thing, and may take me a while to make it work, but having the goal/dream is the first step.

'Never forget your dreams, and a problem can always be solved' is how I look at life now.

thanks aposhark

[aposhark]

Im still looking for the wealthy Filipina thats drop dead georgeous and owns a brewery but in the mean time my guess is the vast majority would like to live in the Phils whilst having the reletively secure lifestyle of the west me to

Keith, if she was "drop dead georgeous and owns a brewery" you may end up being pd and she'd be off

[Sim11UK]

Well, Simon ... it's a long story - but, to cut it short (and without wishing to appear in any way ... ... egotistical) let me tell you about Myrna's response to a question one of my friends put to her fairly recently. Asked if she was enjoying being here in Perth, she replied: "Oh yes ... but then, I'd be happy to live anywhere - even in darkest Africa - as long as I had Arthur beside me!"

What a lovely thing to say ... and that's taking into account, the harsh winter we've suffered! Needless to say, I was extremely touched by this beautiful sentiment!

Will you be staying on the forum, when you move to darkest Africa?

A beautiful sentiment indeed, from Myrna.

Sorry Arthur I wasn't really having a go at you, but just a difficult situation, for many of us to be in.
...It's not always the often assumed case, that everyone is desperate to leave the Philippines. My wife would love it, if we could just live there simply, she's certainly not materialistic & neither am I.

On the other hand, she has never been anywhere else, so maybe her eyes will be opened, to other possibilities.

[Doc Alan]

... Myrna's response to a question one of my friends put to her fairly recently. Asked if she was enjoying being here in Perth, she replied: "Oh yes ... but then, I'd be happy to live anywhere - even in darkest Africa - as long as I had Arthur beside me!"

I'm not surprised Arthur, from all I know about you. I think you have said you communicated with Myrna for a year before meeting her, and I'm sure you would have discussed many times the question of where to live. It's so fundamental to a relationship to have that understanding.

[keithAngel]

Keith, if she was "drop dead georgeous and owns a brewery" you may end up being pd and she'd be off

Palihogd ? Pleased ? " and she'd be off " is a reference to my unstated third wish I take it

[Sim11UK]

Any plans for another 6 month stay out there Keith

I like your income generating ideas.

[Arthur Little]

You are truely a lucky man Arthur

... I am indeed, Steve!

[keithAngel]

... I am indeed, Steve!

Not Arthur Fun here tonight

[fred]

Its almost impossible to say what amount/income would be doable if you wish to try and live here as the factors that it depends on (such as lifestyle and individual needs and wants are endless..
If I can assist with any enquiries regards the specific cost of item/service/accommodation/education etc I will try to answer if I can.
Prof Alan would be a great resource of this type of info as Keith mentioned..

Heres a thought that may stimulate some if your mortgage is near to finished relocate to a good tourist spot if your not already let your house as a tourist let via an agent for the summer (High income)storing your very personal stuff and use the income to fund 6 months initialy in the phils to see if you like it If you do the next season add a winter let and bingo income sorted and max of six months to get it back.

Part two pick a stunning location in the Phils build three smallish decca type houses £25 k ish (or if funds allow a big one for you and several small apartments)apply for permanent residence 13a import a container of carefully chosen household effects with no duty most of which can be found free or near offer on free cycle etc furnish said houses install wireless internet and rent short term to guys from forums like this one at around 10-11000 piso a month plus electric whilst living in one of them (there is a dearth of reasonable priced short term foriegner freindly property) This way you will never be short of an interesting conversation something to do or a pot of marmite

In time you might build more if demand is high or the properties could becomes homes for your kids there are spin offs like motor cycle rental and beer sales lol the part two is doable as a stand alone and could agument a pension you need to be gregarious of course

You do of course need to stay friends with the missus and in my case still find one lol as we cant own property there this way at all no matter what anyone says to the contrary also recieved wisdom says never settle on the same island as your fils family lol blah over

Some sound advice and ideas here in Keith s post btw..

[Arthur Little]

Will you be staying *on the forum, when you move to darkest Africa?

Aha ... that's a dark secret! Staying *IN a tree house, I should imagine! But seriously ... it'll depend on whether there's internet access in the jungle for a cheeky monkey like me!

[triple5]

If I can assist with any enquiries regards the specific cost of item/service/accommodation/education etc I will try to answer if I can.

Any tips on finding a one bed furnished apartment in davao city next month would be much appreciated, and how much should I expect to pay for one?

[Arthur Little]

I'm not surprised Arthur, from all I know about you. I think you have said you communicated with Myrna for a year before meeting her, and I'm sure you would have discussed many times the question of where to live. It's so fundamental to a relationship to have that understanding.

You're right, Alan ... we DID; and it IS! And so, after three weeks spent in one another's company, Myrna decided to relinquish a lucrative and successful teaching career spanning 22 years ... which, I admit, greatly perturbed me at first. But such is the "tug of the heartstrings" that we each recognised our respective destinies lay together - wherever that might be, and whatever sacrifice(s) it would entail.

And so it came to pass ...

[Troubadour]

I am paying for the education of my children in the Philippines. I do not know if Immigration would allow them to settle in the UK. Also I am unsure if there is a future available for them in the UK. If they get on ok at school in Phili then they may well have the option of the USA or emerging China (if the US continues to tank as it is).

Personally I find the UK to be the most overpriced nation of uptight petty-minded fools that will not abandon a sense of overimportance born at a time when we had an empire.

If I was Scandinavian, Dutch or some other less evil nation I would stay where I am, but as things stand I will emigrate the first chance I get.

OK, so maybe you live longer in the UK, but what is the point if you are not happy

[keithAngel]

I am paying for the education of my children in the Philippines. I do not know if Immigration would allow them to settle in the UK. Also I am unsure if there is a future available for them in the UK. If they get on ok at school in Phili then they may well have the option of the USA or emerging China (if the US continues to tank as it is).

Personally I find the UK to be the most overpriced nation of uptight petty-minded fools that will not abandon a sense of overimportance born at a time when we had an empire.

If I was Scandinavian, Dutch or some other less evil nation I would stay where I am, but as things stand I will emigrate the first chance I get.

OK, so maybe you live longer in the UK, but what is the point if you are not happy

Evil or not your kids if you are a Brit have the right to British Citizenship and regardless of where they go to school or eventualy want to live this would give them access to the UK and all of Europe

[fred]

Any tips on finding a one bed furnished apartment in davao city next month would be much appreciated, and how much should I expect to pay for one?

Damn..If you had said one bedroom unit in Cavite then I could have been of more help..
Here in Bohol one bed units go from anywhere between 7 to 15k monthly..Probably around the same in Davao.

[keithAngel]

Triple 5 I would suggest you join local forums in the phils and ask that give your duration and budjet

[jimeve]

Any tips on finding a one bed furnished apartment in davao city next month would be much appreciated, and how much should I expect to pay for one?

short stay or long stay? look round the city when you get there. expect to pay 5000 peso per month, depends on location etc

[triple5]

Thanks for the advice fellas

I'll be there a couple of months. 5k a month sounds good. Is it best to use an estate agent or just check local ads?

[keithAngel]

niether you should have as little involvment as possible if your girlfriend/wife can do it all it will be cheaper in any case if thats not possible the cheapest versions will be known by expats living there im not sure what your plan is time wise 5000 a month might get you a 2bed row house unfurnished depending on supply and demand but dont count on it unless jim knows specifics count on having to stay in hotel guest house while you look tour areas in a cab it took me 18 days of focused looking in cebu and my then lady was very good in communication skills so I xcould talk about criterior no one had any idea about room sizes it wont say in the adds

in the phils people put signs out if you see something you like in an area you like get a native speaker to phone and inquire

once your seen befor prices are known whity tax will be added

just seen your there for two months unless you have a firm offer befor you go you would have to be a favouritte of the gods to get what your looking for

Please dont base your budjet on those figuers if you found somthing for 15000 you will be lucky i will make enquireys but it will be a week at least befor im back remind me

[triple5]

niether you should have as little involvment as possible if your girlfriend/wife can do it all it will be cheaper in any case if thats not possible the cheapest versions will be known by expats living there im not sure what your plan is time wise 5000 a month might get you a 2bed row house unfurnished depending on supply and demand but dont count on it unless jim knows specifics count on having to stay in hotel guest house while you look tour areas in a cab it took me 18 days of focused looking in cebu and my then lady was very good in communication skills so I xcould talk about criterior no one had any idea about room sizes it wont say in the adds

in the phils people put signs out if you see something you like in an area you like get a native speaker to phone and inquire

once your seen befor prices are known whity tax will be added

just seen your there for two months unless you have a firm offer befor you go you would have to be a favouritte of the gods to get what your looking for

Please dont base your budjet on those figuers if you found somthing for 15000 you will be lucky i will make enquireys but it will be a week at least befor im back remind me

Really? Whys that because its peak season? Already found a little pad for 7k a month, but its a bit far from downtown. Not sure my budget will stretch to over 15k a month

[keithAngel]

Really? Whys that because its peak season? Already found a little pad for 7k a month, but its a bit far from downtown. Not sure my budget will stretch to over 15k a month

No thats great if you found one already I just remember how long and how frustrating it can be but you are clearly loved by the gods and well done please post details about the propert and how and where you found it ?

I got this just now from a brit living in Davao

Hi Keith,
For low cost he could try www.elriopad.weebly.com they have small studios available,and onsight caretaker.
Only 10 mins ride to Victoria Mall Shopping centre,which is handy as the BOI office is opposite the Mall,handy if extensions needed.
City centre is about 15 mins ride away.

I've never stayed there personally,so can't tell you anything more about the place.
He needs to get booked in as soon as possible,cheap monthly rentals are not easy to come by in Davao City.

[triple5]

This is it - http://profiles.friendster.com/107501838

Cant remember exactly how i found it. they got a few ads on sulit and other places. Last time I was in davao chatting to a guy from england said he rented a 3 bed house for 12k a month downtown, sounds very cheap Something inbetween would be ideal.

[keithAngel]

power will probably extra if there is air con can add 2-4000 a month maybe a bit for water cable internet?seen the pics ?do you have to pay a deposit befor you go? if so how? remember its the internet

[justchecking]

Hi aposhark - I lived in Cavite which was just outside manila - so when i said Manila, I also meant nowhere close!! My husbands closest city was Bacolod and I didn't find an international education provider there - not sure about Cebu as it has international airport and business centre and seems to have a good expat community - then maybe. I agree with the desire for an education that could provide access to work or Universities across Europe and the world....so same sentiment i think as yours and a couple of others - my daughter only has british citizenship so was not legally alowed to attend a local private school - only an international school on s student visa and they are around $8000 I believe - so not cheap at all, after all they are aimed at business-based expats with company expenses!

Troubador - nowheres perfect and like you say we are limited by our background, but I still feel my daughter is better off with an internationally valued education. i think you have to be married to the mother for themn to be entitled to a british passport (which you may well be!)

Arthur - what a lucky man

As for cost of living - we did it on a budget of around £350, but it no luxuries or home internet - as keith angel says have a healthy budget when you go and then skim off the unnecessary costs - the only import food I bought was cereal for my daughter!

SteveR - go go go for it - and enjoy, after all you only ever regret the things you don't do!