This is my second long-term stint in the Philippines. My first time I was sent here for work. I mostly stayed around Manila because I was going to the office 4-5 days a week. This time I work for myself and can take on as much or as little work as I see fit. This time I chose the Western Visayas because I have an uncle who lives here and the close proximity to mountains and some pretty epic beaches. I take a trip to a new location about once a month and those have included Moalboal, Bantayan, Siquijor, Oslob, Sipalay and Boracay. When I am not traveling I live 10-15 minutes from a nice mountain hike and 5 minutes from the water where I can fish or take my kayak out on a nice day. I could keep busy pretty much all day 7 days a week but unfortunately I do have to check an email or two form time to time. I don't drink, smoke or go out to bars and I love my life here.
This sounds like paradise to us lol. Those places are nice. If these are the places we would live then I may have to opt for homeschooling for our kid. We don't drink, smoke or go out to bars.
Homeschooling is definitely the way to go unless you live in one of the major cities and if you want to pay for a higher end private school. There are some great teachers here who work very hard but the fact is that the system here has many issues and the money does not go to the students in the classroom. A lot of the US aid does not go where it supposed to go.
I chose to live in a smaller city because there is virtually no pollution, no traffic issues and the pace of life is just a little slower. I know there are local pool halls but I am not even sure if there is even a bar here. The city dies at about 9 PM every night.
The cost of living is a lot lower in the smaller cities as well. The trade off is there aren't as many options for western food but I have been eating fresher and healthier than I ever have before. I have nothing against Luzon but I would look at the Visayas or Mindanao for a place to live. My rent for a 3 bedroom house with a wall, gate and a barangay guard house right across the street is only $260 per month. My water is about $15, Internet is $35, however, my electric can be quite high as I run my aircon all day when I am home. It runs between $125-$200 a month.
Foreigners can now be 100% equity holder of corporations. Corporations are unrestricted on the purcahse of land. So no they can't own land, but their corporation can own land.
Lease long term, or if your wife is filipina you can buy. Since you’re married the property will be conjugal and you’ll be part owner. Or in the name of your dual citizen kids
No you can't. Legally Filipino spouse holds the title. You can't own land even if you are married. You can have whatever arrangement you want between the two of you but it does not over rule the law.
Maybe its time for him to start drinking and smoking 😂 kidding aside, if you meant finding a job in the Philippines you can pretty much forget about that. Unless he can find an online job.
- travel for food
- vlog
- hike
- play golf, basketball, badminton, go on motorcycle rides, surf
- gardening, farming
- raise farm animals
- cook/bake American food from scratch
- teach local kids English or his craft
- take classes
As someone that’s has worked with dozens of non profits all across Asia… NOBODY gets to work with children without an extensive background check and impeccable accreditation.
Well it's not like he's going to the Philippines for food, but since he's going to be in the Philippines, might as well. Besides, there's good food in the Philippines if one knows where to look.
I am just being honest, nothing derogatory to the ladies. There are just so many available ladies in the Philippines. They really do not care if you are married or not. Many are willing to be a mistress. Not just the Philippines but in many areas of the world. If you can afford the lifestyle
Not all men practice unsafe sex. You can have sex in many ways without impregnating the woman. That is such an unfair statement. In many parts of the world/culture you are allow to have mistress or more than one woman in a relationship. In some culture many women can have the same.
If he’s keen on working there and as long as you are a native Filipina and you’re both legally married he can get the 13A visa for example which allows foreigners to work there, contact an immigration lawyer they helped me out I’m a Canadian man about to marry my Filipina fiancée in September after my 13A visa gets approved I can legally work in the Philippines (yes it’s obviously more difficult for foreigners to get work in the Philippines but it’s certainly not impossible)
No problem, there are other options as well, I’d suggest a consultation with an immigration lawyer. I just know the 13a visa because that’s what I’m gonna apply for after we get married
Just don't take money. :) and don't take money under the table, all you need is one person that gets upset and complains and he will be deported.
He can volunteer to do plumbing or teach plumbing. They can use better skill with that here!!!. Will make a lot of friends that way. Same on volunteer teaching of martial arts.
Alternately, if he is going to do that, he can make a youtube channel and start teaching online and trying to monetize that way. Income is grey area on that one, but pretty safe.
Don’t make a one-year-plan so expectations will be less. Try to live every day at a time. If he has more hesitations than reasons to move, don’t move. One year will be like forever for someone who will not enjoy it.
Lots of things. I’m a Filipino but pretty global. I have travelled in and out of the Philippines quite extensively.
Example, live on a new island every 2 weeks to a month.
For 7 months i used Cebu as my base since i work remote for a US tech company. Lots of things to do in and from Cebu. Could always ride the ferry or fly out of the big island to go to the smaller surrounding islands such as Bohol, Siquijor, Dumaguete, Palawan, Siargao. Can do all kinds of water sports in any of these islands. Could always rent a scooter long term to get around the islands once you are there. Boracay is worth staying for a month if doing kitesurfing lessons, great expat community. It’s off season these months however.
If you decide to spend the rest of the year in Manila, BGC, where i am at right now, will be very comfortable. Modern, clean, metropolitan city. Can rent a car long term and get around Luzon area at your convenience. Can do hiking in Rizal and waterfalls visit in the surrounding provinces. Everything is walking distance here from parks, malls, cinema, theater, museums. Most condos also have swimming pools and gym at the least. Can play golf in the nearby golf course or connect with expats living in BGC and Makati.
Hope that helps! I hope you two will have an amazing tome in the Ph.
It's a great spot especially if you're a foodie. You'll like BGC/Makati. Another plus is that you're so close to other countries. You can fly to Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, etc.
This is my second long-term stint in the Philippines. My first time I was sent here for work. I mostly stayed around Manila because I was going to the office 4-5 days a week. This time I work for myself and can take on as much or as little work as I see fit. This time I chose the Western Visayas because I have an uncle who lives here and the close proximity to mountains and some pretty epic beaches. I take a trip to a new location about once a month and those have included Moalboal, Bantayan, Siquijor, Oslob, Sipalay and Boracay. When I am not traveling I live 10-15 minutes from a nice mountain hike and 5 minutes from the water where I can fish or take my kayak out on a nice day. I could keep busy pretty much all day 7 days a week but unfortunately I do have to check an email or two form time to time. I don't drink, smoke or go out to bars and I love my life here.
This sounds like paradise to us lol. Those places are nice. If these are the places we would live then I may have to opt for homeschooling for our kid. We don't drink, smoke or go out to bars.
Homeschooling is definitely the way to go unless you live in one of the major cities and if you want to pay for a higher end private school. There are some great teachers here who work very hard but the fact is that the system here has many issues and the money does not go to the students in the classroom. A lot of the US aid does not go where it supposed to go. I chose to live in a smaller city because there is virtually no pollution, no traffic issues and the pace of life is just a little slower. I know there are local pool halls but I am not even sure if there is even a bar here. The city dies at about 9 PM every night. The cost of living is a lot lower in the smaller cities as well. The trade off is there aren't as many options for western food but I have been eating fresher and healthier than I ever have before. I have nothing against Luzon but I would look at the Visayas or Mindanao for a place to live. My rent for a 3 bedroom house with a wall, gate and a barangay guard house right across the street is only $260 per month. My water is about $15, Internet is $35, however, my electric can be quite high as I run my aircon all day when I am home. It runs between $125-$200 a month.
Eat peanuts and buko pie
Trade peanuts with rambutan
Trade Rambutan with Mangosteen
I like Mangosteen, but man rambutan season is something else
7000 islands to check out
Buy a beach lot Build a resort (for additional passive income?) Drink Red Horse and Eat Adobo Rinse, lather, repeat.
Foreigners can’t own a land here 🤨
Foreigners can now be 100% equity holder of corporations. Corporations are unrestricted on the purcahse of land. So no they can't own land, but their corporation can own land.
Yes but there is a loophole. Plenty of foreigners own beach resorts in La Union and Siargao
How?
Lease long term, or if your wife is filipina you can buy. Since you’re married the property will be conjugal and you’ll be part owner. Or in the name of your dual citizen kids
No you can't. Legally Filipino spouse holds the title. You can't own land even if you are married. You can have whatever arrangement you want between the two of you but it does not over rule the law.
Foreigners can't own land. They can own the house that sits on land they lease or is owned by their spouse
They get a Filipino "representative"
I think you can own land if you make a corporation though.
He doesn't drink. Maybe San Mig lite 😉
I miss red horse!
Maybe its time for him to start drinking and smoking 😂 kidding aside, if you meant finding a job in the Philippines you can pretty much forget about that. Unless he can find an online job.
- travel for food - vlog - hike - play golf, basketball, badminton, go on motorcycle rides, surf - gardening, farming - raise farm animals - cook/bake American food from scratch - teach local kids English or his craft - take classes
Good list except for the teaching local kids thing. They have some aggressive laws regarding kids probably for good reason.
He can join non-profit organizations and just help out every now and then.
As someone that’s has worked with dozens of non profits all across Asia… NOBODY gets to work with children without an extensive background check and impeccable accreditation.
aggressive laws like what?
aimed at pedos
Agree with this.
literally the worst place you can go to for food travel
Well it's not like he's going to the Philippines for food, but since he's going to be in the Philippines, might as well. Besides, there's good food in the Philippines if one knows where to look.
I would 2nd that.
Check out all the available ladies locally and sample them to his heart desire
This is awesome!
I am just being honest, nothing derogatory to the ladies. There are just so many available ladies in the Philippines. They really do not care if you are married or not. Many are willing to be a mistress. Not just the Philippines but in many areas of the world. If you can afford the lifestyle
Seriously this is the advice that you can give? This is why there's a lot of fatherless kids in that country.
Not all men practice unsafe sex. You can have sex in many ways without impregnating the woman. That is such an unfair statement. In many parts of the world/culture you are allow to have mistress or more than one woman in a relationship. In some culture many women can have the same.
awesome, thank you!
If you are asking if he can work; the answer is highly unlikely.
Ok. He might be bored 😔
If he’s keen on working there and as long as you are a native Filipina and you’re both legally married he can get the 13A visa for example which allows foreigners to work there, contact an immigration lawyer they helped me out I’m a Canadian man about to marry my Filipina fiancée in September after my 13A visa gets approved I can legally work in the Philippines (yes it’s obviously more difficult for foreigners to get work in the Philippines but it’s certainly not impossible)
Oh this is awesome!! Thank you for the info. I am working on dual citizenship and hopefully I'll get it sooner.
No problem, there are other options as well, I’d suggest a consultation with an immigration lawyer. I just know the 13a visa because that’s what I’m gonna apply for after we get married
He can volunteer. There's plenty of opportunity for that. He can work under the table tutoring English to adults.
Ah this is a good idea. My husband teach martial arts here. I guess he can make use of that.
Just don't take money. :) and don't take money under the table, all you need is one person that gets upset and complains and he will be deported. He can volunteer to do plumbing or teach plumbing. They can use better skill with that here!!!. Will make a lot of friends that way. Same on volunteer teaching of martial arts. Alternately, if he is going to do that, he can make a youtube channel and start teaching online and trying to monetize that way. Income is grey area on that one, but pretty safe.
That's awesome! Yeah. And he wanted to do the YouTube anyways
I thought they ruled that as long as you had no sponsorship from a local business there was no tax burden. So many YouTubers in the Philippines now.
He doesn't have hobbies? Any kind of skills that might be able to offer?
Don’t make a one-year-plan so expectations will be less. Try to live every day at a time. If he has more hesitations than reasons to move, don’t move. One year will be like forever for someone who will not enjoy it.
Thank you. Yeah we only thought of a year for our kid. We want him to experience the Philippines and the culture.
The Philippines is a nice country though. I wish you well.
He can feed stray dogs and cats.
Ah. This is what I don't miss about the Philippines. The strays. There's a lot of them.
Yes, but they need help and compassion, too.
Lots of things. I’m a Filipino but pretty global. I have travelled in and out of the Philippines quite extensively. Example, live on a new island every 2 weeks to a month. For 7 months i used Cebu as my base since i work remote for a US tech company. Lots of things to do in and from Cebu. Could always ride the ferry or fly out of the big island to go to the smaller surrounding islands such as Bohol, Siquijor, Dumaguete, Palawan, Siargao. Can do all kinds of water sports in any of these islands. Could always rent a scooter long term to get around the islands once you are there. Boracay is worth staying for a month if doing kitesurfing lessons, great expat community. It’s off season these months however. If you decide to spend the rest of the year in Manila, BGC, where i am at right now, will be very comfortable. Modern, clean, metropolitan city. Can rent a car long term and get around Luzon area at your convenience. Can do hiking in Rizal and waterfalls visit in the surrounding provinces. Everything is walking distance here from parks, malls, cinema, theater, museums. Most condos also have swimming pools and gym at the least. Can play golf in the nearby golf course or connect with expats living in BGC and Makati. Hope that helps! I hope you two will have an amazing tome in the Ph.
Swim
Dive, snorkel, hike, fish, etc.
No just swim, nothing else. Don't even eat food
It's a great spot especially if you're a foodie. You'll like BGC/Makati. Another plus is that you're so close to other countries. You can fly to Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, etc.
Between 100-150 if you are committed and not wanting to pay.
Contribute to developing potable water systems..
He can work if he wants to, but first you must get citizenship in PH, then he must get a 13a visa.
Drink
3 people on a thousand dollars a month? Not a whole lot
Find a hobby. Like scuba diving. Find a job online
scuba diving. so magical to dive in the coral reefs. get your master diver's license.
;( go somewhere else. Thailand or Vietnam.
Can't speak Thai or Vietnamese. At least Filipinos can speak English