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Anyone from Sta Rosa Laguna

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Billygoat993
  1/13/2014 18:18 EST

Canadian here living in Sta Rosa Laguna for almost 5 yrs now. Not easy to live in the Philippines because of how Filipinos look at us or treat as a walking ATM. Life is hard if you have to deal and associate or employ them cause to some no matter how good you are they eat you alive. Its nice talking to expats when we go out for grocery and heating their views since not much to do or talk to here.

joncena
  1/13/2014 20:42 EST

im not in laguna, but I feel your pain. however there are many girls that are not after money only. ive found that most of the 'good girls' are the ones that you don't meet on the dating website.. the ones that are high in the mountains.. the ones that have truly nothing.. but the downside is that she probably will not speak much English. but they appreciate anything and everything you give to them (not only money) but also respect and love

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Billygoat993
  1/14/2014 00:20 EST

Oh I have a wife and kids already I don't care about the girls. Just miss my family and friends in Canada. I want somebody who are not after the money when they make friends with us.

chance2013
  1/14/2014 06:30 EST

I live in Tanza cavity my wife comes from a poor family I have been lucky the family don't ask for anything from me so buy food now and then and gas when they can't afford it. But I know what you mean by walking atm and it's not just girls after your money I found we are going to buy anything in baclaren i stay out of the way or they load up the price skin tax white skin pay more but i still love it here more pluses than minuses. I live in quite a big town with Mcdonald s jollibee and a lot of shops shopping mall good market good transport to anywhere in Philippines . Not sure i like to live in remote area i was in panty island for a while very nice very pretty no traffic but more than 1 hours drive by car to the nearest town took me 3 days to get some decent bananas nah i prefer town life lol good luck to everyone who is living here or thinking of living here its more fun in the philuppines

joncena
  1/14/2014 11:54 EST

well if you already have the girl of your dreams, you won half the battle. its hard to make friends with locals. its possible, but almost everytime I tried, it was all about 'lending' them money. most of my friends now are foriegners from u.k. u.s. and a few other European countries.

Billygoat993
  1/14/2014 14:02 EST

Yeah the skin tax is worst, we do the same thing I stay in the car if my wife needs to buy something or pay something that needs processing or else its triple the price. No relatives of my wife asks for anything as well. They are there in Cavite. We have business here the only problem are my employees stealing. Sta Rosa is like Makati we are walking distance to Robinsons and two other malls. Big universities are here and some Politicians, Actors live nearby which makes the price of commodities expensive esp in their so called Market. Just gets boring cause we can not do anything. We can not say anything to filipinos even if they are wrong or they will milk us for money with a case or something. We just finished building our 680 sqm house which got so big because I wanted the same house like mine in Canada. The Architect ran away with the money so we ended finishing it just late last year. I like Sta Rosa not much traffic all gated community many malls nearby so one will not drive far. But still we go to The fort or Global City and Alabang but I do not like to drive in the Phil.

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Billygoat993
  1/14/2014 14:09 EST

True joncena when making friends its about money. My wife do not get offended when I say or criticize people. She knows its true and she was the one who told me to be cautious. No llaw here so even if they do domething to us we have to shell out money for lawyer and who knows if the lawyer is crooked too. Here you have to wait for bad things to happen than to prevent it. So we stay away from that. Just gets boring when you are always home and no family or friends. Always watching your back. Where do you stay here?

joncena
  1/14/2014 23:01 EST

billygoat.. we are in Davao now. ive tried living where there are no foriegners, but I got way too bored. I usually spend my day at the coffee shop chatting with a few foriegners and drinking coffee/ reading the newspaper.. simple life for me. I don't smoke or drink nor do I go out late at night so I feel very safe here in the Philippines. my fiancé and I are trying to find the perfect city to live in and build a home there.. just not sure where. Davao is nice, but the bisayan language is too confusing for me. I speak and understand tagalog much better so Luzon is probably where we will look

friendie
  11/17/2014 05:38 EST

Hi Billygoat,
i totally understand your comment However i luv hot springs n cool mountain n clear water beach n would like to live near n between them.
Can you suggest any place near laguna which is most ideal?

balikpinoy
  1/30/2015 14:10 EST

I live close by near Nuvali. There's usually a group of expats at Solenad 2 at Chubby's. I'm Fil-Am so if you need some advice, or just talk, I'll be glad to hang out and talk.

onil
  2/20/2015 13:27 EST

billygoat.please give an exception..mostly are good...only few look at you as a live atm...not only you even to some ofw

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chance2013
  2/20/2015 19:23 EST

I do get bored here, no one other than my wife to talk to, on a daily basis, that'swhy iI spend way too much time on here, talking in English, there are a few foreigners here but not many, one who is British I get on well with, another guy is just full of bs, and a Danish guy who is a nice guy, but full of crazy ideas lol. So I get a bit lonely I must admit. Its not an easy place to live its as frustrating as hell here sometimes, trying to get anything done is like wading through treacle, internet for example. We had DSL in our house we said we are moving no problem can transfer your line to new address, that was over a month ago, not even a phone call to keep us informed. Called their partner company, yes we can supply in 3 days just pay us 1500, now they tell us they don't have the products needed in stock and have no idea when they will have the stock to install our WiFi, madness. The internet companies have a monopoly if they don't supply you have nowhere else to go. Getting really frustrated now.

cebuexpat
  2/20/2015 19:36 EST

Cant live without internet!
Try a pocket wi-fi. You can get it at globe for P1400 and prepaid minutes good for a month for P1000. You can have up to 10 people to connect and you can take it with you wherever you go so you can get on your smartphone,iphone ir ipad anytime. I love it! The only thing you do is go to globe every 30days to get a load.

Nephi
  2/20/2015 20:43 EST

@Chance, Don't feel too bad with the lack of getting things done or done effectively. I've lived here now for 12 years and STILL it gets frustrating at times. It's just a matter or accepting what is coz it aint gonna change except to get worse. A friend of mine that works for American Airlines has traveled all over the world many times but has a wife from here. He has two thoughts on the place: It's the only place on earth where the cocks run backwards--and--he calls it evolution-in reverse. Both are true and pretty much covers life here in the islands.
On finding other expats to visit with I guess ur on your own. After spending a lot of time here, you'll probably find the expats less desirable to spend time with that anyone else.
If you ever travel North at all, stop into the VFW in Angeles or the one over by Subic Bay. Good people and great food.


Nephi

standupguy
  2/21/2015 06:28 EST

@chance2013 - I'm having the same problem with boredom here in the PH. Our house is walled in on three sides, barbed wire topped, locking gate and steel fence making for a feeling of confinement. The neighbors come out and are very friendly, but only a little English. One Swiss neighbor is a little crazy. I see other Westerners who live a ways away in their gated & guarded confines. Most days, I head off to the beach and go for a long swim for my respite. I can also go to the mall to shop & people watch. My main entertainment and outside engagement is on this blog. I don't mind missing the winter back in British Columbia, but keeping the wood stove going, working on my 105 year old house, gardening, family, friends kill any notion of boredom there. I live near the forest behind 10 acre farms. It's so quiet you only hear the frogs croaking. Though, one location off-sets the other making for a kind of balance. Before retirement during my bachelorhood, I had no time. Now I keep looking for ways to fill the days; my filipina wife being my blessing, and her family are good company too Just another stage of life it seems. Nothing is perfect

nucmedtech62
  2/21/2015 08:16 EST

@standupguy. I agree with you 100%. Retiring here is nice, wonderful and cheap, but the fact there is nothing to do would be the one thing to keep me from moving here. I don't care for shopping or sitting at the club drinking beer all day. While here I made a trip to Tagaytay for 4 days and even my Filipina GF says the place is boring as hell. Nothing to do, no place to go and fighting boredom on a daily basis. Once you see the Taal volcano, ride the horses suffering from malnutrition on one day and then go to Sky ranch and see the starving animals at the zoo the next, you're done. Thank God I was staying at a nice hotel. Anyway, SUG, do you have any past time activities to suggest?

standupguy
  2/21/2015 09:52 EST

@nucmedtech62 - good question. We plan to live here 9 months of the year. When we lived in Matina, Davao, We went to a gym. Now we live 25 minutes further out. My plan is to start drawing & painting again having studied 3 years at the Art Institute of Chicago. There is a lot of imagery here in the PH, not copying Rouseau exactly. I need Aircon & swimming goggles.The beach I swim at keeps me from going insane. Filipino's don't swim. When I front crawl my stretch of beach, I attract a lot of attention & meet quite a lot of Filipino's who are wading. They always strike up broken English chats, even young people. Some who have a head high crawl try tagging along with me for a while. Almost always I am the only Westerner, but even if one shows up, they only speak to me for a minute. The Filipino's are way more friendly.
Our Filipino neighbor runs a betting Pinoy card game where my wife wins about $10 each day, but I don't play. A UK guy is joining his pinay GF who moved to our street. So maybe there's a bit more English chat for me. I have no real plan, just go day by day. I also bring a lot of books to read & considering a Kindle tablet.

nucmedtech62
  2/21/2015 17:51 EST

I agree that living here basically, you'd have to come up with your own entertainment. Growing up in the country back home taught me to do that, but in my years I've explored a lot of things that peak my interest. I guess living here I'd have to learn how to switch those interests into something else. All in all, I have much respect for those who have come here and have lived here for many years. Yes, I still want to live here, but I can't see me staying. But who knows, the place could grow on me and you can always venture out from here.

needfriends
  1/5/2016 00:33 EST

hello I live in santa rosa

charkee
  1/5/2016 09:37 EST

I'm in Santa Rosa, I live near the police station and arch. Been here 2 years.

I'm from California.

zenweasel
  1/6/2016 02:54 EST

I live in Calamba which is not too far from you and we go to the Santa Rosa mall pretty often since it's much bigger/nicer than the one in Calamba.

needfriends
  1/6/2016 07:23 EST

hi zenweasel
thanks for reply the reason I ask because of my american bf I made this account just to find him friends near in santa rosa. he is so bored here in laguna and i want to help him to find an expats friends so he wont get bored here. do you know a particular places where expats hanging around.

needfriends
  1/6/2016 07:25 EST

hi charke the reason why am asking is because for my american bf he so bored here in laguna and i think the only way i can him is to find him a friends.

charkee
  1/6/2016 09:32 EST

I don't find it boring at all. I have quite a few Filipino friends and none ask me for money. I volunteered teaching Spanish in a high school. teach piano and do acupuncture and alternative therapies. My wife was valedictorian of her high school and is never dull. I often give free health care, because .... what else would I be doing?

But I can understand the bordem and perhaps loneliness some may feel

On some of the back posts on this thread: I once offended and angered a young engineering grad by pointing out to him that he was giving some very bad and even dangerous psychology advice. He killed my facebook account and attempted to hack my email 3 times. He has calmed down but avoids me at all costs. His entire family were pretty upset with me too. Mother, father, aunts and uncles too. When you get a Pinoy mad the whole family gets into it too.

BigMikee
  8/12/2016 00:22 EST

Hi, I am a Brit been living in Laguna, Santa Rosa now for just over 3 years. Happy to have a chat with fellow westerners in the area :)

charkee
  8/12/2016 11:15 EST

I'm American and live near the NBI and police stations in Santa Rosa. I'm not a drinker and I avoid it as I don't want those kinds of problems again.

crossrunner1
  8/12/2016 12:06 EST

I am wanting to move there,,what is the normal monthly income u would need..Paul

Nycvaz
  8/12/2016 14:00 EST

Others have claimed that a single person can live areas outside of Manila on 1000.p.o. USD. Depending on your lifestyle. But to be safe 2000.00 to 3000.00 would give you more flexibility and more options even Manila if that's the kind of place you like. Always rent before you buy before comitting to any one place seems to be the general consensus. I am looking to move there myself in a few years. I just came from a visit recently and hadn't been back in over 10 years prior. It has grown leaps and bounds and the New President seems to be making some huge changes. The question now is if these changes will be to our advantage and will they stick after his term is over. I am hopeful that they will be favorable to us and make the Philippines an even greater place to retire.

Nycvaz
  8/12/2016 14:08 EST

Just from experience in Manila and most public Wi-Fi. I used both Globe and Smart and they were both very crappy in signal strength. The infrastructure seems to be in place and there should be no real reason why such a lousy signal. I believe that the internet companies are throttling the signal strength to get you to upgrade your plans. Even the free wifi at most restaurants and coffee shops are crappy.

charkee
  8/12/2016 18:43 EST

I seem to be the guy that lives on the least here. I live on $350 a month and I think I live well and not in a slum area.

draks
  8/12/2016 19:30 EST

Charkee how the hell do you live on $350 a month? That's 16k pesos do you pay rent water and electric clothes etc etc are you on your own or with a partner we have a lot more than that our only luxury is a helper she cost 3k but we always buy her something clothes or a phone this month

seernai
  8/12/2016 20:19 EST

Hi Good morning Sir , yes you can find some reasonably cheap accommodation if you look around, but check out the area before you commit as sometimes there is a good reason why places are so cheap , as some areas have a high crime rate and cannot rent or sell their properties because of it also some areas are prone to flooding

BigMikee
  8/12/2016 20:30 EST

Hey Paul, running costs really depend on the level of comfort you want. My first year here I slightly overpaid for what I needed rent wise but I had the money at the time and the place was nice. Still in that first year made a lot of friends and after the contract ended we moved from Bel Air 1 to bel air 2 and I now pay half the rent I was before at 10000 peso a month. I do not run my air con but I do have a fan that is pretty much pointed at me 24/7 just to keep cool. Our monthly normal bills are 10000 rent our electric runs around 3000 a month but with air con that would be more. We have a 5mb globe internet and have had very good service from them but I am lucky my girlfriend is merciless on the phone when dealing with them and when we rarely have a problem it is very often sorted by the next day. That runs us about 1700 a month and we have considered switching to PLDT fibre option which is a 50mb up and down line for just under 3000 a month. Water bills are my favorite and run to a few hundred peso. Your monthly food bill is purely down to your needs as there is a wide range of options in the local area with even a deli that stock some overseas items but at a bigger price. I would say if your not looking to live extravagantly you could get by on $1000 a month with local knowledge, $1500 would add some color each month but I think $2000 a month if you do not want to over-spend on rent would give you a comfortable life.

If you would like help in finding a place in the area I call home my girlfriend Jenny is a licensed real estate agent with many options in the rental or to buy market. Here a good agent not only helps while your looking for a house but my Jenny is still very much helping clients with their needs after they have settled on a home. Things like sorting internet and such. Plus I was lucky that in my first month here back in May 2013 I bumped into a fellow Brit about 10 minute walk from my house so what may have taken me 6 months to learn and acclimatise to took only a month. Between Jenny and I if you want that help we would be glad to as new friends are always welcome. Hopefully in the next few days I will be posting some of the property she can offer but if you have a range your looking for please feel free to contact me and we will see what information we can send to you. Mikee

charkee
  8/12/2016 22:04 EST

Draks, I live better than many Filipinos. Rent is 7000Php, utilities are about 2000php including water and internet. We grow our own vegetables and enjoy them with every meal. We don't eat out a lot, no car or personal transport. 3 of us, here, my wife, her 19 year old nephew and myself and none of us suffer deprivations. No floods, not a slum, haven't seen any crime and close to police, city hall and immigration.

trappedinhell
  8/12/2016 23:38 EST

@charkee You're not alone. I'm pretty sure there are other expats who live well below that monthly budget. I live a simple life too; although I indulge in the luxury of having a DSL service and good food, plus having a few beers every now & then.

Singlelooking
  8/13/2016 04:20 EST

Immigration paperwork is easy in the Philippines. If you stay a whole year it costs about 500 US.

And if you have 1300-1600 US per month, you can live very well indeed.
It's easy here, no worries!

Just remember not to trust ANYONE with your money!
They will rob you in a second!
Specially women. Friends etc.

Singlelooking
  8/13/2016 04:27 EST

Immigration paperwork is easy in the Philippines. If you stay a whole year it costs about 500 US.

And if you have 1300-1600 US per month, you can live very well indeed.
It's easy here, no worries!

Just remember not to trust ANYONE with your money!
They will rob you in a second!
Specially women. Friends etc.

ACEPoolPlayer
  8/14/2016 08:02 EST

BigMkee,
I think it's important to note that you apparently live in Makati, Metro Manila. So you are telling everyone it's possible to live in Metro Manila for $1000-$2000 a month with rent being 10T-20T pesos a month. I believe this is definitely possible if you look around hard enough. I lived in Metro Manila for 15 years. There are all kinds of possibilities if you look around.

BigMikee
  8/14/2016 19:51 EST

I do not live in Manila, I live in Laguna , Santa Rosa about 1hr drive by car from Manila. It is what a westerner would classify as the suburbs. I find it very good as you are not as smothered as I feel whenever I have to go to Manila

poochewer
  8/15/2016 17:36 EST

Clarkee, I live very happily on the same amount and we have everything house, 2 motorcycles, four wheel drive.in a plush subdivision on a beachfront.
I totally believe you, and I cannot believe how these others are spending thousands. I could not spend that if I tried.

draks
  8/15/2016 20:06 EST

Poo you live in a plush area two bikes and a 4×4 on $350 a month?
That's 16000 php how do you do it?

draks
  8/15/2016 20:09 EST

I know I seem nosey but would love to see a breakdown of weekly expenses, we must be doing something wrong

CMcKeez
  8/21/2016 04:59 EST

Good day BigMikee

We are looking at moving to Philippines in a few years, we are planning on a visit to Philippines soon, will be wonderful to meet up with you and Jenny to find out more. How would we go about it as I would like to keep my personal details confidential.

lblampman
  8/21/2016 18:15 EST

Hi CMcKeez,

Just scroll to BigMikee's post a few above yours. Just under his name is a link to send him a Private Message here on the forum. Then you can, as the name implies, exchange information privately.

Les

DonyaMaria
  12/29/2016 10:37 EST

Hi there, needfriends! I share the same sentiments with you as we just moved in to Sta Rosa near Nuvali. We are from Pasig and my British partner works nights in Makati. He has got a social life there but as soon as we moved here, he didn't have any more drinking sesh with other expats. He's only 34 years old and we don't usually see foreign guys when we go out.

Johnnybighood
  2/4/2019 22:21 EST

Good morning....I’m a French Canadian living 15 minutes from Nuvali 4 months a year....I’m semi retired and I spent winter here in the Philippines since few years with my Filipina wife....

charkee
  2/4/2019 23:41 EST

I'm in Santa Rosa. I live near the arch and NBI.

deejay1952
  2/7/2019 05:55 EST

Hi BG. I'm from UK , we are living at Mount Malarayat at the mo. Just started building a new house at Ayala greenfield. Not to far from St. Rosa so we could meet up sometime. Dave B

Saints0429
  11/28/2019 07:05 EST

Hi , we just move in Nuvali Sta Rosa,

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