Quality of life in the Philippines (+ and -)

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I decided to title this post “Quality of life” because things are actually quite different here from what you are used to in America or even Europe and many other countries for that matter. This can be quite a shock to some people especially if the US or Europe is the only place you have known. Your quality of life will definitely change once you are living here in the Philippines. In some areas the change will be more severe than in others, and you will have to adjust to those changes. For some this change will be unwelcome, but for others like me, can adjust to these changes quickly and learn to live with it. I am a very adaptable person and can adjust to new situations without a lot of trouble, even in extreme cases. As I had to in 1970 when I went to Thailand and lived in an open bay un air conditioned baracks. With temperatures in the 100s, that was quite an adjustment but I did fine and slept well. For some, those that do not adjust easily, this place can be a big problem. It is one of the main reasons some people give up and return to the USA. Read on for the rest of this story…

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Photo by Charles Harman Copyright (c) All Rights Reserved

The photo above is of an active volcano, these folks had to be evacuated just after we visited here in 2006 due to an eruption. Notice the cone has rebuilt itself, a sign an eruption may soon occur.

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Not Every Home Has an Oven -

One of the differences you will notice right away is that, most homes here do not have ovens. Only the wealthy Filipinos here will have one. I believe the reason for this, two fold, 1.) electricity is one of the most expensive utilities here in the Philippines, and therefore baking pies and cakes for many is simply cost prohibitive. 2.) Why not just walk down to the main street visit a local bakery and let them do the baking. I mean just about any street and you can find a bakery full of great baked goods. If I desire brownies all I do is send the maid out to buy some at the local bakery or hop on my Honda and go bakery shopping.

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Thanks to: http://www.dinneratsixthirty.com

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Frozen Hamburger Meat -

Another difference here is, you can’t find frozen hamburger patties like you get in most grocery stores or Wal-Mart in the US or other countries. The ones they do have here in the grocery stores and in Gaisano a major grocery and department chain in the Philippines are from China and do not look good to me. They are often brown in color, never have I seen a package that is a nice pink color. I think the reason must be there is no market for burgers here although this is changing. Sure they have fast food chains but the average Filipino does not eat burgers. If I want a hamburger I either have to send the maid to the local fast food restaurant like McDonalds for one or I could hop on a tricycle for 30 pesos and get one myself. And that brings me to McDonald’s. Where does McDonald’s get those great tasting burgers from? Well, they get them from Australia of course, shipped in frozen, and they taste as good if not better than the McDonalds in the US. So why can’t they just import frozen burgers from Australia you ask? Again there is not enough of a market for frozen burgers here is the only thing that makes sense to me. As to McDonalds, not every city has one, if you end up in a city without a McDonalds all you have is big-Mac, a street vender and JolliBee a fast food establishment similar to McDonalds. Restaurants just don’t serve burgers unless you are in one of the larger cities like Cebu City or Manila that has a T.G.I. Fridays or other US stile restaurants. I think eventually you will start to find frozen Australian beef patties in the grocery stores here because Burgers are starting to become a desired item even from the Filipinos, especially the younger Filipinos see below.

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This is the typical burger Pattie available in most grocery stores here, does that look appetizing to you?

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And this is what a good beef patty should look like, not brown but rather nice and fresh looking pink or red color. Suggestion: buy beef from the meat market, have it ground, them make your hamburgers from that.

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Charles in the Texas ball cap, Michael Board, his wife Michelle, and my wife Marianne in a Jollibee in Mandaue City on the main highway and near the main road that takes you across the bridge to Mactan. We have been here several times now.

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Big-Mac has frozen burgers that are thin and not near the quality of the US brands, they also look partially cooked and are a tan color, the taste is just not there either, and they are shipped out of China, who knows what’s in them. Your best choice here is to get fresh ground beef and pork mix it half and half for a tasty burger, and just make them yourself.

They don’t have Subway fast food restaurants here in Cebu City yet but there is one in Manila. Sub-Way is another of my favorites, I miss those great meatball sandwiches.

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Big Mak Not to be confused with McDonalds.

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Big Mak has burger and egg, ham and egg sandwiches.

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Going back in Time -

To me coming to the Philippines is like stepping back in time to the early 1950′s I imagine a lot of what I see here has not changed much in all this time. Even most offices here do not have computers and the workers are still using old style typewriters and keeping records on paper and paper books. City Senses is taken down in huge bound books. There are plenty of people here who either do not have expensive electricity or do but only for a couple of lights and maybe a TV. Streets are dimly lighted for the most part as are smaller stores. There are a few large chains like “Gaisano”, “Uni Top”, and “Prince Warehouse” that are styled after Wal-Mart; these are usually brightly lighted and full of products mostly from China. The images below are from Cebu City SM Supermarket a truly modern grocery store that resembles Wal-Mart.

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The Family Automobile, Motorcycles -

Most people here do not own a car only the wealthy or working Filipino and foreigners do. The main form of transportation here is the motorcycle, and just about every Filipino owns one. You won’t find many large displacement engines here either, as nearly all motorcycles are from 50cc to 150cc and not much above that. I could special order a Honda or Kawasaki with a larger displacement engine from around 600cc to 1000cc from Japan, but would pay for that in the sale price and import taxes for that motorcycle. Many foreigners here have purchased larger displacement motorcycles and you see them around once in a while. I have seen Harley Davidson’s and other larger bikes here also.

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Personal Computers -

Another thing you notice here is, most people do not own is a personal computer, that’s why you see so many “internet Café’s” here, we even own one in Bogo City which just closed it’s doors this year after more then 14 years of operation. There’s an internet cafe near you, actually one on just about every corner and they all seem to do good business.

Not like in America where Wal-Mart has turned many towns into ghost towns and shut down nearly if not all family owned businesses. You do see a lot of family owned stores and shops here, the free enterprise system is definitely alive and well in all of the Philippines. Many of the stores look like something right out of the 1900′s with names like “Rosekie Drug & General Merchandise”.

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Thanks to Paul James wowbantayan.com

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Quality of Education -

Most Schools here remind me of “little house on the prairie” although they are many rooms. You often see many grade levels in one classroom. Buildings are what we would use for a shed or a business in the USA in most cases.

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School Kids in their uniforms in Medellin Philippines, notice the school buildings in the background.

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Home Construction +

One change I do like is the quality of construction of homes here. And I don’t mean the bamboo homes; I am talking about the solid concrete homes that are everywhere here. Each wall has it’s own foundation of rebar and concrete which is a big change from how homes are built in the US. The walls are hollow block a sort of thin cinder block about 8 inches wide. As the wall is being built the blocks are filled with concrete and steel rebar then the exterior surfaces are covered with several layers of a mortar smoothed out to a glossy finish. These walls are so strong you can try to kick one in and it may break your leg but not the wall. Then the floors are poured with concrete over a flattened and compacted dirt floor; they seem to hold up very well. I had a 2000 square foot home built in northern Cebu in Bogo City built this way in 2004 8 years later it is still solid and nothing has cracked or settled. it has no wood in the construction other than the door frames, even the roof is made of steel angle and I beams and concrete cross members.

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This was our house in Bogo Philippines, it’s all concrete and steel, sold it this year.

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Water Utilities -

In most places in the Philippines water is at very low pressures because water is gravity fed from a large water tank on your roof. Only in the newer subdivisions do you see the US style water towers and pumped water at sufficient pressures to take a shower. Most homes and I do mean most do not even have hot water only a single 3/4 inch water pipe incoming to supply the entire house with a small electric pump to force the water up to the roof and fill that tank. Otherwise it is normally gravity fed into the homes resulting in low pressure. Some people have installed pumps to pressurize the water. In Bogo City, Cebu Philippines, the Bogo Water Department pumps it’s water at high pressure and taking a shower is a lot easier there. the funny thing you will see here is the 3/4 inch steel and plastic pipes running down the city streets and on the sidewalks supplying water to the homes. You can purchase on demand hot warer heaters for your home and they work just find for that hot shower. If you have enough pressure to feed that shower head.

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220 Electrical Grid -

Electricity is not near as clean and spike free as it is in the USA or Europe. In the Philippines brown outs are the rule and last from 30 minutes to 3 hours. The power often fluctuates a few volts up and down and it is can be seen in the house lights dimming and getting brighter. In more recent months, it has improved somewhat and I sometimes we go a month or more without a single brownout, in 2010 they were daily in Cebu City for about an hour each. Power supplied to each home is 220 and only 2 wire not three phase like in the USA. If I am standing on a tile floor and plug in my computer then touch the metal casing I feel a faint buzz from electricity leaking through my body to the floor it’s not a lot but you do feel it and I don’t like that buzz feeling. Ground wires are rarely used here. Be careful if you bring any 110 VAC stuff from the US as you will fry it if plugged into 220 I know I have fried a few by forgetting to use that step-down transformer.

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Washing Machines -

You don’t really need a washing machine here, although one is a help and your maid will love it. They will run up your electricity and water bill. Most go for Php 15,000 to around 60,000 or so. For around $50 a month you can afford to have a maid to wash your cloths, clean your house, and cook for you. If you carry a brief case they will be the one to do that also.A friend of mine a retired California police officer is living on a $1000.00 a month pension and even he has a maid. Enjoy your retirement, come to the Philippines…

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Getting Away from the Stress +

The best part of all this is, if you want the get away from the rushed busy life style with all it’s stress, and just want to lay back and relax you will love it here. Retirement is good here if you have the funds to support life here. If you are having trouble making that dollar stretch the entire month in the USA or Europe, especially you seniors, you will find it easy to do so here. Since it is so cheap to live here your worries are pretty much gone. Living pay check to paycheck is gone and life is once again pleasant. The Philippines is not for everyone though, for the most part it is the retired folks that can exist here. You need to be on Social Security or some form of compensation like a medical pension to have enough money to live here for a sustained amount of time. Rent is pretty cheap here, I only pay around $170.00 a month for a two bedroom living and kitchen apartment. Most young folks won’t be able to find work here either. The young folks that are living here have found a business that makes them enough money to get by like Chris from the UK who owns a 200 man call center in Cebu City, hiring all Filipino workers. I have heard of Teachers and College professors that came here to live and taught at the Universities. The upper education system is all English now. However jobs are mainly reserved for Filipinos, so don’t think you can come here and run out and find a job. Although there are jobs available for English speaking people like in a Call Center. Most Foreigners just start a business and make money that way.

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As to which locations in the Asia are best for retirement, that easy, the one location that affords the most natural protection from the elements is Cebu Philippines. First most typhoons miss Cebu completely and are carried north of here to Luzon and Manila. Cebu is surrounded by large islands so any tsunami’s are cancelled out by them before reaching us here in Cebu, we have few earthquakes and no active volcanoes. Cebu City is the second largest city in the Philippines yet does not have the traffic problems Manila the Capital city does. Crime is much less although as in all cities anywhere in the world, we do have crime, the one thing you can’t avoid.

This sign in Pampanga near the Clark Air Base made me laugh.

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I was invited by Charles to guest post as I am the admin over at RetirePhilippines.com and I just wanted to say thanks to Charles for the invite and will now continue into the post “is the Philippines the place to retire?”

I have been here 4 years already and arrived ahead of the economic collapse of the West in time to get money out of the UK and slowly see it lose its currency value by around 30% on the exchange rates and local prices rise in line with inflation. What has happened since then though is adjustments to things here which many people forget or don’t realise as things start to come from one perspective.

What do I mean? well we notice the price of food going up here in the Philippines but have we been badly affected by fuel price hikes? answer is generally no because most retirees and expats here are either on two wheels or using public transport. The Philippines is also capable of supplying a lot of its own food and due to cheaper rents you can even get a place with a lot big enough for growing your own food. All in all the life is less complicated here which also makes it a lot cheaper. In reality be it the U.S. or UK we are used to travelling miles to get our food from the supermarket and don’t take that price into account. The Philippines on the other hand generally has supermarkets within walking distance or a quick ride which means even if the food sometimes seems more expensive in comparison if you way up all the costs involved with a vehicle in another country your probably getting things on par or cheaper.

Add to that the other things like cheaper medical care for the Americans, can’t beat that on the Brits because its free there are a lot of good reasons to retire in the Philippines. From a British perspective where my gas bill in the winter costs P9,000 a month in comparison here in the Philippines my gas for cooking (no heating here!), air conditioning, rent and all bills except for food comes in at less than P8,000 a month in reality the Philippines offers me a good lifestyle and the ability to live at around one third of the cost of the UK.

I will say though the term Philippines is over 7,000 islands! so if you head into one location and don’t like it travel around first as so many people I know settled for a few years in a location they weren’t happy with to take a day trip out or a visit to a friend to find less than a few hours away a place they really love. In all honesty the further you are from the cities the cheaper life gets so if your looking for that picture postcard image you have in your head it can be a reality because most Filipino’s are heading to the cities for work leaving the provinces in many cases more and more desolate as the populations drop. I recommend taking a trip to Negros if you come to Cebu and you can see the stark contrast between two islands and two cities.

Another big thanks to Charles for the invite to guest post.

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Marianne and I rent in Lapu-Lapu City for Php 6,500 or around $150 to $160 a month. Renting is pretty cheap here and if this is your first trip over here I recommend renting for a while until you are sure you want to stay here. If you build a home then decide you don’t want to remain here you will end up having to sell the property a time consuming taks.

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For an average two bedroom apartment expect to pay rent of  $160.00 – $180.00 per month. The blue townhouse in the photo above rented for  Php 7,500 and was a two bedroom unit. I have seen some places renting as low as P 4,000 up to around P 10,000. You will need a maid to cook and clean for you, she will run you around $50.00 per month or Php 2,200 Electricity less than $90.00 or Php 4,000 and water around Php 500. There is currently an apartment available here as of October 7th 2011.

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The above photo is of our current apartment renting to 6,700 per month and is a two bedroom unit. There are two units in this little compound. The owner is an engineer for the City of Cebu. His house is the one next to the two apartments.

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Often the quality of the apartments are not what you would expect and are familiar with in the US. Often you see rooms needing paint or repairs. Ours has doors that need repairs one has been punched in by an angry past tenant. Labor is so cheap here, just hire someone to come in and paint it at your expense and of a color of your choosing. You would be surprised how cheap and easy it is to get someone to do this, simply ask around. A quick trip to the local market to locate a paint store where they will custom blend the color you want. You could even add a nippa style bamboo on one or more walls without a complaint from most owners. As long as you left it up when you left but I would check first. You could varnish the nippa to a nice golden color which would make the apartment look elegant.

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This is nippa and it can be glued onto a concrete wall without the wood pieces holding it together. This photo is of a hut built entirely of nippa and bamboo and is only here to show you what nippa looks like.

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Below are photos of a 6 story apartment complex in the Tumulak Village compound renting for Php 4,000. These are not much more than a hotel room, one room, a bath or CR, and a balcony, kitchen is part of the room. The penthouse unit up on top is vacant and has a great view of most of the Cebu Area (see photos below).  The problem I see is the steps are made with a thin gauge steel and will likely rust out before 4 years are up making it impossible to get up to the upper floors. I have seen this happen at another unit we rented that has a penthouse office on the third floor, then another level that had steel stairs that were completely rusted through and this building was only 5 years old.

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This is the Php 4,000 one room apartment in a 6 story high-rise, and it is brand new.

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One single room with kitchenette.

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This is the CR or bathroom.

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This is the penthouse unit going for the same price. The steps to up to another deck where
you can see almost all of Cebu City all the way to the mountains.

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View from the top.

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The old bridge from Mactan to Mandaue City is visible in this photo.

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Looking towards the water and Cebu City.

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Christine, Marianne’s cousin and our maid.

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You can see Gaisano Island Mall at the right and near the center is McDonalds, it the background
is Cebu City and the mountains all the way to the west side of Cebu City. Better view on a clear day.

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Another view of the bridge to Mandaue City and Cebu City, Mountains visible in the west.

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This is another Php 4,000 unit an older building, the rooms are the same size as
the new unit. Although you would definitely need to paint this room.

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This has more Php 4,000 rooms for rent.

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This is one of the units available in the above building, again one single room with kitchenette.

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Front of the above building, little parking space.

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This is a view from the terrace of the above building, other apartment buildings are
visible all around here.

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Apartments all over Tumulak Village.

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And more apartments, can’t figure out why they can’t put in a concrete
road instead of gravel and dirt roads here.

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Private Tours – M&M Retirement Tours Cebu

Tour Guides: Marianne and Charles Harman
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Hello my name is Charles Harman, your tour guide and your friend while you are in the Philippines. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone waiting for you in the Philippines standing ready at the Airport to pick you up and get you settled into your hotel? I am a Private Tour Guide for the island of Cebu and Bantayan Island in the Philippines. Just let me know when your flight is scheduled to arrive at Mactan International Airport and I will be there to meet you. After you go through customs and baggage claim and when you exit the building, just go across the street to the waiting area Just look for the guy in the Blue TexasRangers Ball Cap with the big “T” on it brought to me by my first tour of Cebu. Private Tour Guide is only $197 ( per day, Per Person, up to 4, Half off for Wife and/or children.) Even though you leave the US alone you will have someone here, almost like family, to help you along on your great adventure. I am a Texan displaced to the Philippines with my wife and three children.  If your wife is with you She goes for half price as do your children, however I am easy we can negotiate a good price for this tour even if you have several family members. Friends need to pay each as one person. Talk to me about your situation whatever it is. The tours start whenever you want that day to start and end I’m yours for 24 hours.  I can take you around to see Cebu City at night,  Don’t worry I won’t turn into a pumpkin at midnight. You can call me any time toll free at 1-571-970-9195, 520-1412 PLDT.

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.$197 Per Person, Per Day – Includes Ground Transportation and Tour Guide

What is the difference in my private tour guide and the majority of the tours you see on the Internet? Basically most tours are a 1 to 4 hour tour of a specific list of places around the city. They pick you up at a predetermined location and time, take you around and drop you off at the end of the tour. If you see something along the way and want to take a look at, most tours will not stop to check it out, I will. I have been on planty of tours like this. What makes my tours so different is the fact that they can be customized on the fly. I will pick you up at your hotel and return you there at the end of the tour. I will be at your disposal for the entire day, that’s 24 hours. That means from when you choose to start your tour be it 6:00 am or 10:00 am, I will be there, and throughout the day more like family meeting you and taking you around. I can take you where you want to go or use a list of places to see (see below). I can customize your tour by your specific interests and desires. Interested in seeing first hand how the Expats are living here?  I can take you around to meet and talk with them. Want to see varous communities, I can do that also. Want to visit beach resorts or malls, that can be arranged as well.  Therefore my tours are very loosely scheduled and flexible. And I can stay with you as late as you want.  Want to take a Christian tour and visit missionaries and churches we can do that also as I am a Christian myself. I am a non smoker and non drinker. I am not easily provoked or prone to anger even on the roads of the Philippines. I believe you will be delighted with my tour.

Update: Take the tour “Go Natural” We, that is Bernard my Brother-in-law who is a Filipino and knows the city, myself and you will use local transportation as in Jeepneys, Taxi, and motorcycle to get around to the various tourist spots in town. Travel as the Filipinos do.

Call me toll free any time:
Cell: 0-923-908-9375,
1-571-970-9195 MagicJack (toll free from USA)
63 32 520-1412 PLDT Philippine Long Distance Telephone
Charles_Harman@rocketmail.com
charles.harman1@facebook.com

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Cebu City Day Tour – Queen City of the South 

• Visit Fort San Pedro Location: South Osmena Boulevard near port area.
• Magellan’s Cross Location: Magellan Street, across from Cebu City Hall, near port area.
• Casa Gorordo Museum Location: Along Lopez Jaena Street
• Santo Nino Basilica
• Taoist Temple in Hollywood hills
• Waterfront Hotel and Casino
• Mountain Trek up the mountains near Cebu City

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Custom Tour of Cebu

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Rick Ryan (Custom Tour)	November 15th, 16th
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Retirement Tour #1 (custom tour) Scheduled on November 15th and 16th 2011. Completed successfully.  Left to right Marianne Harman, Rick Ryan, Charles Harman, last dinner at Pier One in Parkmall Cebu City.

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Retirement Tour #1 November 15th and 16th Completed successfully The Band at Pier One Cebu City

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Larry Haydon has taken my Northern Cebu Tour and had a chance to meet the mayor of Medellin Ricardo Ramirez pictured here.

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32-520-1412 (PLDT Cebu Philippines)

0-923-837-8509 (Cell Philippines)

571-970-9195 (USA TOLL FREE CALL)

Charles_Harman@rocketmail.com

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When I first came to the Philippines in 2004 I had my own tour guide with an Air Conditioned (Air-Con) 14 passenger van used to take us all over the place. Many trips to Cebu City from Northern Cebu. His rate back then was around $85 per trip. And that was usualy just to one place. One trip was from our house in Bogo, down to the Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City and back. Php 4,000 for each trip.

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Mactan International Airport Baggage Claim Area just after going through Customs and Immigration’s.

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This is where I will pick you my Private Tour travelers just down to the left outside the Baggage Claim Area.

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Luxary at affordable prices – Goldberry Suites near the Mactan International Airport.

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There are plenty of five star beach resorts on Mactan Island and Cebu Island.

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For the Private Tours, you have the option of choosing a 2010 air-conditioned sedan at no extra cost or a nice air-conditioned van for the additional cost of $150 per day (leased). These are nice new Toyota Hi-Ace 14 passenger vans and are very comfortable and you have plenty of room.  (See photo of both at the new website, link below).  The structure of this tour is very loose, pretty much up to you where you want to go as long is it is on the island of Cebu. I will make some suggestions on the new website. I pick you up from the airport, Baggage Claim Area, transport you to and from your hotel and around the island of Cebu. I will be the guy holding up a sign that reads M&M Retirement Tours. At the end of your stay I will take you back to the Airport for your flight home.

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Map of Cebu, Main route runs along the east coast and is all two lane road.

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M&M Retirement Tours Main Web Site

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OK It’s Your Turn, So what do you think?

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You couldn’t pay me a million dollars to do this, I’m afraid of heights.

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Does that look good or what…. Have not had this here yet, probably will never find it at least not like it is in the USA…

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Troubled Intersection, One of Many in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City.

We have a major intersection in Lapu-Lapu city near where I live that crosses another major intersection. (see photo above) During rush hour this intersection is impossible to negotiate from any direction due to heavy congestion of motorcycles cars and bicycles.  When the traffic cop stops the traffic in one direction, all the motorcycles squeeze out from between cars in the lanes and converge on the opposite lane completely blocking that lane. I was in a friends Suzuki multi-cab at the opposite end waiting for the traffic cop to allow us to cross the intersection. My friend said look there all the motorcycles have blocked the oncoming lanes so no one can get through, there was traffic wanting to make a right turn but could not due to maybe 25 or more motorcycles blocking the lane. We noticed one car was actually halfway up on the curb trying to get around the corner. When the traffic cop finally let us proceed, we crossed the intersection and found ourselves right up against a wall of motorcycles, and I mean we were right up against them. They had  just begun to move forward, we had to stop and wait for them to go around us. Personally I think this should be illegal, and the police should station several traffic cops at troubled  intersections like this and start ticketing these motorcycles. I bet that would put a stop to that bottleneck. It makes the traffic on the other lane stop because cars can’t make that right turn and you have a traffic jam. If the first motorcycle that moves over to the oncoming lane gets pulled over and ticketed the next would think twice about proceeding into that lane. If there are many already standing on the oncoming lane the cops should converge on them and start ticketing them, I bet most would move out of the way rather quickly and hopefully think twice the next time, to avoid getting a 200 peso ticket. You want revenue for your city here’s one small way to make some and get traffic flowing a little smoother.  In most countries you would not be allowed to do this yet here the traffic cops just sit there watching it happen while doing nothing about it. This intersection is a huge hazard just waiting for a fender bender to happen. And one crazed motorist could plow into these motorcycles taking out several at a time, not a good situation. I hope someone reading this is able to do something, but presume the situation will replay itself at each similar intersection throughout the city. Another thing that would help keep this from happening would be to install steel fencing in the center of these intersections keeping traffic in line. In other areas of Cebu City they have installed these fences to prevent people from running across the streets. Several deaths have occurred due to people being run over because they were standing in the middle of the road. Why can’t they install this type of fencing at these troubled intersections to prevent these motorcycles from even getting out of line and getting into the oncoming lanes especially areas that are not truck routs. If they did the cops could easily corner them and ticket them, they’d be trapped by the fence. The only problem I see with the fence idea is traffic wanting to make a right then an immediate left would have to go down the street and turn around to make that turn. But during the day you are not allowed to make a left into this intersection either you have to make a right and go down and turn around and come back to cross the intersection. This no left turn is in effect until 8:00 PM nightly, so I say why not the fence.

I received a 200 peso ticket recently because I was in the left lane that should cross the overpass but should have been in the right bypass lane, as I was going into the bypass lane. I was nice to the traffic cop because I realized I was in the wrong an paid the ticket later. But why don’t they place these traffic cops at these congested intersections so traffic can move more smoothly instead of the bridges looking for people in the wrong lane. I was actually trying to get into the right land but could not due to traffic beside me that would not allow me to get into the lane but I am not one to argue with a cop about anything just be nice and get through it.

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Just looking at it made me gain 10 pounds, but soooo good....

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Allow me a bit of distraction.

Go with me while my mind drifts off.

I sit here (U.S.) on a Saturday morning longing for my next adventure.  By adventure, I mean a place that will change the channel in my mind.

Change the channel from the daily news, hectic work schedule, stress from working in a corporate setting.

Change the channel  (in my mind) to the sound of “white noise” caused by ocean waves rhythmically washing up on white sand.

To the sound of happy children, laughing in the distance without a care in the world.  Change the channel to the beauty of the filipina  being everywhere to behold.  Don’t forget the smiles, oh yes, the beautiful smiles of the people of the Philippines.

When you are surrounded by smiling people it is like the perfect buffer zone, insulating you from the troubles and cares of this life and the problems you have left behind.

Let me take you to a place I often visit in my mind.

A place of magic where even the memory of your troubles simply drift away

Boracay Philippines

Imagine yourself reclining in a chair made entirely of Bamboo.  You body rests against the handcrafted native furniture.   You relax as you fade into the tropical heat.  Leaning back in the chair under gently swaying palms,  your toes enjoy the luxury of the sugary white sand.  You look out from the refuge of the shade, taking in the breathtaking vision that is  Boracay Beach.  Not too crowded, not too loud, just a place to let your body and mind go limp as you re-charge yourself  feeling almost human for he first time in years.

You think to yourself “I’m a little warm” so you decide to go for a dip in the tranquil blue waters on Boracay.

The white sand sticks to your body, moist from a little sweat.  You anxouisly yearn for the refreshing waters.  You feel the warmth of the sand engulfing your feet as you stroll through the shade.  Your body breaks away from the safety of the palms and you feel the sand is strikingly hotter but still tolerable as you know that the ocean is but a few steps away.

The heat of the tropical sun makes the prospect of wading into the waters seem like a distant dream!

Nearing the water you feel the wet, soft, saturated, sand under your feet clinging like wet cement.  Your feet and ankles begin to experience the refreshing therapy of the ocean as you wade deeper and deeper into the clear blue oasis, easing your mind from any cares that formerly held sway over you.  Going  further you feel yourself boyed by the strength of the ocean, at the same time your spirit soars as you realize at last you are in paradise.

You immerse yourself in the blue waters, experiencing the silence and peace that comes from drowning out the world you have travelled from. Coming out of the water you are refreshed like at no other time in your life!

Turning back to  the shore your eyes are satisfied with  various scenes of beach life in Boracay.  You are now totally rejuvenated by the sea and heading back to shore.  Feel yourself growing heavier with each step as the sea releases you and gravity begins to take over.  This time the the hot sands of the beach don’t seem quite as hot as you head back to your chair.  The warm breezes that drove you to the ocean now cool you and make you comfortable as you take your place back in the chair.

Hey! Look!  Someone placed a couple of ice cold San Miguel beers right beside your chair.

Yes, this is really living!

Oh Wait!  I’m still at home!

My mind just keeps drifting off…

“Dreaming Of Boracay”…  was brought to you by Casa Camilla, Boracay Philippines

This is a guest post by Randall at the Philippines Project

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Does the Philippine Government want you to come to their country to retire? That’s a resounding yes, they even created a government entity just for that purpose, it’s the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).

The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) is a government owned and controlled corporation which was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 1037, which was signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, on 04 July 1985. On 31 August 2001, through Executive Order No. 26, the control and supervision of PRA was transferred to the Board of Investments (BOI) from the Office of the President.

PRA is mandated to attract foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens to invest, reside and retire in the Philippines with the end-view of accelerating the socio-economic development of the country, contributing to the foreign currency reserve of the economy and by providing them the best quality of life in the most attractive package. More Info on their Page here.

SRRV – Special Resident Retiree’s Visa – Benefits for this visa are, being able to live, work and study in the Philippines, with the ability to travel outside and reenter the Philippines any time you like.

Exemptions from:

• Income tax over your pension and annuities
• Exit and re-entry permits of the Bureau of Immigration
• Annual registration requirement of the Bureau of Immigration
• Customs Duties and Taxes with regard to the importation of household goods and personal effects up to US$7,000.00
• Travel tax, if you stay in the Philippines is less than one year from the last entry date
• I-Card

As an SRR Visa holder, the PRA (Philippine Retirement Authority) can assist you in obtaining basic documents from other government agencies. These include, but are not limited to:

• Alien Employment Permit
• Driver’s License
• Tax Exemption/Extension Certificate
• Tax Identification Number
• National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance

A retiree who applies for a Special Resident Retiree Visa (SRRV) has the option to enroll to the program based from his retirement status.

Retirement Option and their Required Time Deposit

1.       With Pension – 50 years. Old and above – the required time deposit is US$10, 000.00 plus a monthly pension of US$800.00 for a single applicant and US$1,000.00 for couple

2.       Without Pension

• 35 to 49 years old – US$50, 000.00 time deposit
• 50 years old and above – US$20, 000.00 time deposit
• Former Filipino Citizens (at least 35 years old, regardless of the number of dependents – US$1,500.00)
• Ambassadors of foreign countries who served and retired in the Philippines, current and former staff members of international organizations including ADB (at least 50 years old) – US$1,500.00

3.       A resident retiree can bring with him, without additional deposit, his spouse and a child who is unmarried and below 21 years old or if the spouse is not joining, two (2) children (provided they are unmarried and under 21 years of age.) Additional children with the same qualifications may also be allowed to join the principal retiree provided there is an additional deposit of US$15,000.00 per child. The said time deposit however, is subject the same and conditions with that of the principal deposit. This does not apply to former Filipino Citizens.

Note: The PRA Accredited banks agree to accept any acceptable foreign currency equivalent to the requisite amount for deposit in the accounts, provided that it shall be credited to the account as the United States Dollars or Philippine Pesos equivalent.

Register Here

This is not the only way to retire here. I came here with my Filipina Wife and received a Balikbayan Visa stamped on my passport when I arrived here with my wife. You must travel with your wife and she must be a Filipino citizen to qualify for this visa. When your year is up, you can leave the country and take a short 5 day trip to Hong Kong, Thailand or any of the Asian countries, remember you are already in Asia so the trip is only 3 or 4 hours out to most Asian locations including Japan and China.

If  you arrive here by yourself and wish to remain here you will end up with the standard 21 day visa, of which you show up at Immigrations on or before your 21th day and get a 59 day visa. If late you will face a small fine. This visa is updated every 59 days and that will run you around P 6,000 each time, it used to be 1,500. This equates to P36,000 or $130 per year. This can get expensive, especially if you have a limited budget but not really too bad and you can do this year after year. When I arrived here in April of 2004 I did this for 2 years before moving to the US. If you want to leave the country and you have been here for more than 6 months you must get a “Exit Permit” This can be filled out at the local Municipality in your town and needs a photo attached.

More information on this can be found at the links below.

Living and Working in the Philippines
(Visa and Immigration Matters)

Travel.State.Gov US Embassy Manila

Giant Lizard discovered in the Philippines, it's a dragon...

Please Join this site, the link is on the right sidebar under “Meta”. Also please leave a comment so I know you were here, and answer the questions: What did you think of the information presented on this site? and Is there anything else I should include? If you would like to include some of your own information I will post it for you, send it along with any photos to mchfun@gmail.com – Thanks Charles

Charles Harman Charles_Harman@rocketmail.com 571-970-9195

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