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steve64
  7/14/2014 05:28 EST

HELLO

Hi . iam wondering any one can tell is it a good idea to retire in the philppinies ? i been there 4 times .and iam shocked by the flith , urine .. noise , i live in australia . . i cant believe how things are there, noise filth , rubbish every where .security officers with guns , shotguns etc. i will be only living on a pension . no other income . i like too know where there is a nice place too retire there a nice beach ?, noo pollution , noo beggars . iam on my own . iam 64 now . i love the beach . but there the ocean is for rubbish and sewage . i was shocked in manila a river ,the rubbish is higher than the water level . i dont understand why the philppinie goverment will not clean the place up .so sad . i see baler seems ok ? can any one tell me is this a good place to retire ? i know a flpina girl for 3 years , she is madly in love with me . but i dont love her . i have not made descion yet too tell her iam thinking about retiring there . she lives in lupon area . thank you .

BrianHuntley
  7/14/2014 08:43 EST

Read up about Palawan....incredible clean beaches and compared to Manila virtually no traffic or pollution...

It was my second choice after Tagaytay but I took Tagaytay because of golf...

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flyboyrd
  7/14/2014 09:18 EST

About Palawan, suggest the book titled "last man out" its incredible account of the WWII Prisoners of war. The island of Palawan played a huge part in the war.

standupguy
  7/14/2014 13:28 EST

Steve64 - I was shocked too when I first went there in 2011. I married a filipina when I was 69 and she was 45 in Nov. 2012. We were both in love with each other after both of us were living a single lifestyle for most of our lives. Where I live in Toril, a burb of Davao, it is pretty clean and with little pollution and I am 5 minutes from a nice beach. The Filipinos burn their leaves every evening (choke). If you have "known" a Filipina for over 3 years, she is expecting that you are a dream-boat come true and that you love her. That's a long time to be hoping for your life to change. It is not fair to her for you to continue the duplicity as if you love her. You cannot feel very good about yourself from that standpoint. Your only option is surgery with kindness. Be honest with her, End the relationship as best you can. You are wasting her time. If you have the financial resources you can live in a nicer enclave for westerners. Davao City area stays over 40 cl. almost all the time. If you can hack the heat, its a cheaper area without the urban grid lock. For me to live there without my wife would be a challenge. As a Westerner, you are hunted by the lovely Filipina's. If they are of good character, you could not find a better mate. But it is Love that they want. If you can find one that you love, then your getting a new life there will be simple (or not). If you are not ready for a love relationship, then maybe the RP is not the place for you since it would be too lonely for you there, You can always get lots of female attention, but to what end?

CAteacher
  7/14/2014 14:04 EST

As SUG wrote, get honest with the girl. You will both be happier. Finding a partner in the Philippines isn't hard, but first you have to want one. Do you actually want a wife? If not, the Philippines may not be the right place for you. I second the recommendation (above) for Palawan. Puerto Princessa City is the provincial Capitol, and it is beautiful, clean, crime free, cooler than many other places, and an inexpensive place to live. There is a small expat community there too.

poochewer
  7/14/2014 16:58 EST

Mate u are going to the wrong places. The Philippines is heaven on earth compared to Australia. My advice is go to the Visayas. Manila is now a hell hole!

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feeniks07
  7/15/2014 07:29 EST

Looking at Manila as a place to live and/or retire is like looking at South Central Los Angeles or San Jose Costa Rica and deciding the entire country is like that. I live in the province of La Union, about 135 miles north of Manila. I love it here on so many levels. While it is not perfect, the cost of living is as low as anywhere in the country. I am on the leeward side of the island of Luzon on the South China Sea, so typhoons are only tropical storms if they come this way. Get away from Manila and look around. I live very well on my income which is about $2500/mo.

brslomo
  7/15/2014 16:06 EST

Feeniks,

I'm assuming that you live in the province because your wife's family lives there. Is that correct? If so, do you have issues with the family and/or neighbors trying to borrow from you all the time? Also any threats or crimes against you becuase you are a farang?

Do you have a big fence around your house?

I'm also wondering if you drive in Phils or do you have a driver? If you do drive, is it a car or motorcycle?

Hope you don't mind all the questins and thanks in advance for your answers.

BRS

standupguy
  7/15/2014 19:52 EST

In the "province", did you mean Mindinao. We have only a few of my wife's relations that are on good terms with us due to some serious inappropriateness. The nice relations are out of town. We don't get requests for loans from neighbors. Once we gave 200 PhP to a woman who had 9 children and no food who was squatting on the property across the street. If you load a relative any money, make it a small sum since then you are not out of pocket a lot since they won't come around again and ask for more I don't suppose. If they do, its a good reason to say No. We lock up at night, but sometimes leave our gate unlocked and open during the day. It's a safe area where we are. Chief of Police lives 5 minutes away.

feeniks07
  7/15/2014 21:44 EST

By "province" i mean anywhere outside of Manila. Some cities and towns outside of Manila are still noisy, dirty, congested, etc, like Dagupan and even San Fernando in this area. I call them mini-Manilas. I live in a small town in La Union, about 135 miles north of Manila called San Juan.

feeniks07
  7/15/2014 21:57 EST

I live in the province because it's my preference. I met my GF here. Her sister lives in a nearby province but her family is from Surigao. We will marry soon. In my area neighbors don't need my money. I give my GF money to send home to support her child. My fence is modest but the house is very secure. Crime is very low but these nicer areas are subject to burglary. I don't drive since I don't qualify for that much credit yet, so it's tricycles and jeeps for transportation.

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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

William RussellWilliam Russell

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
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brslomo
  7/16/2014 12:30 EST

Thanks for your reply. Very interesting.

Regarding your mode of transport (tricycads and jeepneys) do you always travel with your wife or sometimes alone.

If you travel alone, do you sometimes feel that people are sizing you up for the purpose of robbing or assaulting you or do you feel pretty safe?

Thanks again for your input.

danielbaxter
  7/16/2014 12:47 EST

brsiomo I ride long distance and shorter commuter buses without worries. Obviously be careful for pickpockets as one would do in any crowded place. The local buses can be packed like sardines! Jeepneys and trics I also have little worries about.

My one concern is for taxis, which I avoid whenever solo. If I take one I always take a photo of the license plate and the drivers dashboard ID, and send it to the wife, and I make sure the driver knows it.

My major safety concern is with the long distance buses to the countryside! See my recent post on bus company safety records. When I take a night bus to S Bicol or up to the Cordillera I always give one or two Hail Marys, close my eyes, and pray I make it there safely!

standupguy
  7/16/2014 19:21 EST

In and around Davao I never got that feeling that I was being checked out.. Just watch out for the tricycle drivers who are looking at the beautiful filipina's instead of where they are going. I caught an older cab driver out of Davao headed for Toril, and I had to yell at him to stop nodding off. Everyone was passing us and though he was sticking to his lane his eyes were closed mostly with occasional peeking after I started yelling at him.
I would not hire a driver and feel safer driving myself if headed out of town.

feeniks07
  7/16/2014 22:09 EST

Never had that feeling. Don't be paranoid. Most Filipinos are happy you are here. We are an asset on several levels. I travel alone and with my GF (not married yet) and i always feel safe unless i find myself in a questionable area. Then i carry myself with confidence, not looking like a potential victim.

poochewer
  7/17/2014 02:35 EST

Feemixs07 is spot on. Very good advice. Don't forget most of us come from countries where u certainly should be paranoid, but in Philippines u really have no worries.
Don't forget, we always hear allot about the bad things, and most people don't talk much about the good things.
They love it that we are here in their country it's true.

tropofruit
  7/21/2014 21:20 EST

steve64
I sent you a PM about our place in San Juan La Union

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