How about Philippines?

[scubascuba3]

The similar Vietnam thread has been interesting. How about Philippines as an alternative?

 

I'm toying with 6 months Philippines and 6 months Thailand or a a variation of that.

 

Best places for expats?

Places to avoid?

As good as Thailand?

Visa situation?

Expat life, all aspects?

 

Although i like the option of bars I'm more into exercise, Cycling, walking, Trekking

[theguyfromanotherforum]

It seems like every place in SE Asia is becoming difficult. If it's not difficult now it will be in the future. 

[starky]

Do a forum search on this topic you will only find, oh I don't know about a hundred thousand threads on this topic. 

[madmen]

Forget it.
Deported for being rude!!


Borrowed from another poster




 

New Philippines Immigration Reform Act filed. If the recent price increases, violence escalation, infrastructure or lack thereof, and general lack of fair and due process doesn't convince you to go elsewhere, the new Philippines Immigration Reform Act will. It gives wide and vague latitude for Immigration and Police to basically do whatever they feel like with you. Here are a few new highlights:

● Exit Clearance will now be required after 60 days - [MTV] Essentially if you stay in country for > 60 days you need Tax Clearance before you can leave, even if leaving for a holiday - IIRC this is currently 6 Months
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will be cancelled on divorce, relationship abandonment, or failure to provide support for Filipino spouse and family(does not disclose as what extent of her existing family). - [MTV] Scary 
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will cancelled if outside the Philippines more than 1 year.
● Foreigners will no longer be allowed to establish any type of business under a visitor visa.- [MTV] One of the major selling points of PI over TH
● New visa applicants will be required to have a physical and mental evaluation prior to getting an immigrant visa. - [MTV] Speechless
● Entry into the Philippines will be denied for those believed to arriving for the purpose of getting prostitutes or showing "disrespect" to any government official or employee. - [MTV] Some may guffaw at this but anybody who's visited the Philippines for the past 10+ years can tell you about clampdowns in Manila & (especially) Cebu 
● Deportable offenses: engaging in prostitution,  being deemed a public charge, being deemed undesirable, and being "rude" .- [MTV] Speechless
● Foreigners must register within 60 days of arrival and update any changes in said registration within 7 days. - [MTV] TM30/TM28 anybody?
● Also states that the immigration agency can start requiring cash bonds on demand to ensure immigration adherence. Provision perhaps for longer stays?- [MTV] at the moment the only cash requirement outside of visa expenses is if you go for an SRRV Visa, this sounds more like they're going to want to see Funds in the Bank for people who are staying longer on any kind of basis
● Imprisonment offences of not less than 5 years: falsely claiming to be a Filipino citizen, pretending to be someone else or using false documents, making a false statement in any immigration matter,   

[scubascuba3]

Forget it.
Deported for being rude!!


Borrowed from another poster




 

New Philippines Immigration Reform Act filed. If the recent price increases, violence escalation, infrastructure or lack thereof, and general lack of fair and due process doesn't convince you to go elsewhere, the new Philippines Immigration Reform Act will. It gives wide and vague latitude for Immigration and Police to basically do whatever they feel like with you. Here are a few new highlights:

● Exit Clearance will now be required after 60 days - [MTV] Essentially if you stay in country for > 60 days you need Tax Clearance before you can leave, even if leaving for a holiday - IIRC this is currently 6 Months
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will be cancelled on divorce, relationship abandonment, or failure to provide support for Filipino spouse and family(does not disclose as what extent of her existing family). - [MTV] Scary 
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will cancelled if outside the Philippines more than 1 year.
● Foreigners will no longer be allowed to establish any type of business under a visitor visa.- [MTV] One of the major selling points of PI over TH
● New visa applicants will be required to have a physical and mental evaluation prior to getting an immigrant visa. - [MTV] Speechless
● Entry into the Philippines will be denied for those believed to arriving for the purpose of getting prostitutes or showing "disrespect" to any government official or employee. - [MTV] Some may guffaw at this but anybody who's visited the Philippines for the past 10+ years can tell you about clampdowns in Manila & (especially) Cebu 
● Deportable offenses: engaging in prostitution,  being deemed a public charge, being deemed undesirable, and being "rude" .- [MTV] Speechless
● Foreigners must register within 60 days of arrival and update any changes in said registration within 7 days. - [MTV] TM30/TM28 anybody?
● Also states that the immigration agency can start requiring cash bonds on demand to ensure immigration adherence. Provision perhaps for longer stays?- [MTV] at the moment the only cash requirement outside of visa expenses is if you go for an SRRV Visa, this sounds more like they're going to want to see Funds in the Bank for people who are staying longer on any kind of basis
● Imprisonment offences of not less than 5 years: falsely claiming to be a Filipino citizen, pretending to be someone else or using false documents, making a false statement in any immigration matter,   

Doesn't sound good but plenty of expats live there. The guys i know that go there always talk highly of it but are only there for a few weeks

[scubascuba3]

Do a forum search on this topic you will only find, oh I don't know about a hundred thousand threads on this topic. 

Such a boring predictable post, i wondered who would be the first

[lopburi3]

The main expat areas of Philippines are Angeles City (Clark area) which has a deserved reputation as red light area but is also quickly developing as the center for government and a favorite location for Korean expats.  A good choice for international food at reasonable price and for meeting someone (many girls come from other areas in hope of meeting westerners).  Popular with the short term night life visitors but there is a family side available for those that want.  Good medical and access to Manila if required.  Prices both high and low ends.

 

Manila is avoided by many but it is a huge city with areas of attraction and home of many expat workers.  Everything available and good hospitals.  Flooding is often a local problem in many areas and gridlock on streets.  Electric train system not up to requirements.  Best to be where you want to be and not count on commuting.

 

Cebu is second city and very popular with those who want city live but a bit less overbearing than Manila and with good transportation to other areas.  Good facilities including low priced meter taxi's but traffic can be heavy during rush hours as city continues to expand.  Good selection of Condo type living (better security than homes).  Several good hospitals,

 

Dumaguete is probably in 4th place and a bit cheaper attracting older people.  Clean streets but housing limited and medical facilities overstretched (although several being built - in Philippine time).  One modern mall and nice seaside area.  

 

There are expats in many other cities and towns but in most cases food will be limited to Philippine and shopping choice much less.  There are a huge number of almost tourist empty areas to explore for those willing - and they can be breathtaking.  

[madmen]

8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

26 minutes ago, madmen said:

Forget it.
Deported for being rude!!


Borrowed from another poster




 

New Philippines Immigration Reform Act filed. If the recent price increases, violence escalation, infrastructure or lack thereof, and general lack of fair and due process doesn't convince you to go elsewhere, the new Philippines Immigration Reform Act will. It gives wide and vague latitude for Immigration and Police to basically do whatever they feel like with you. Here are a few new highlights:

● Exit Clearance will now be required after 60 days - [MTV] Essentially if you stay in country for > 60 days you need Tax Clearance before you can leave, even if leaving for a holiday - IIRC this is currently 6 Months
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will be cancelled on divorce, relationship abandonment, or failure to provide support for Filipino spouse and family(does not disclose as what extent of her existing family). - [MTV] Scary 
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will cancelled if outside the Philippines more than 1 year.
● Foreigners will no longer be allowed to establish any type of business under a visitor visa.- [MTV] One of the major selling points of PI over TH
● New visa applicants will be required to have a physical and mental evaluation prior to getting an immigrant visa. - [MTV] Speechless
● Entry into the Philippines will be denied for those believed to arriving for the purpose of getting prostitutes or showing "disrespect" to any government official or employee. - [MTV] Some may guffaw at this but anybody who's visited the Philippines for the past 10+ years can tell you about clampdowns in Manila & (especially) Cebu 
● Deportable offenses: engaging in prostitution,  being deemed a public charge, being deemed undesirable, and being "rude" .- [MTV] Speechless
● Foreigners must register within 60 days of arrival and update any changes in said registration within 7 days. - [MTV] TM30/TM28 anybody?
● Also states that the immigration agency can start requiring cash bonds on demand to ensure immigration adherence. Provision perhaps for longer stays?- [MTV] at the moment the only cash requirement outside of visa expenses is if you go for an SRRV Visa, this sounds more like they're going to want to see Funds in the Bank for people who are staying longer on any kind of basis
● Imprisonment offences of not less than 5 years: falsely claiming to be a Filipino citizen, pretending to be someone else or using false documents, making a false statement in any immigration matter,   

 

Doesn't sound good but plenty of expats live there. The guys i know that go there always talk highly of it but are only there for a few weeks

Doesn't sound good is being to kind. It's shocking! 

Not many options left in South East Asia. The only real alternative is Vietnam but that comes with its own set of problems 

[BritManToo]

6 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Although i like the option of bars I'm more into exercise, Cycling, walking, Trekking

Almost zero trekking or cycling in PI.

[1FinickyOne]

When I heard that there are armed guards at nearly every store, I lost interest in visiting PPI..

 

Sure, it would likely be ok in the store, but what about if I had to leave the store and... I would be walking about unarmed amongst?? 

 

As to Trekking... I guess you can watch Star Trek wherever you are... 

 

 

[kekalot]

2 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

When I heard that there are armed guards at nearly every store, I lost interest in visiting PPI..

 

Sure, it would likely be ok in the store, but what about if I had to leave the store and... I would be walking about unarmed amongst?? 

 

As to Trekking... I guess you can watch Star Trek wherever you are... 

 

 

they are not kidding about the armed guards, my Filipino friend worked at a very small pharmacy and they had an armed guard there.
and everywhere else

[lopburi3]

Indeed it is disconcerting when you first see all the armed guards - but they are seldom needed.  It does provide basic employment to a large number of people however and the cost is low for the apparent added protection.  

[scubascuba3]

Almost zero trekking or cycling in PI.

I'm not sure that's true, i know one expat who is in a cycle group outside Manila. People may think the same thing about Thailand but its very popular

[AlexRich]

Perhaps the best plan is to move around for six months and try to stay in Thailand for two 3 month stretches each year. So Philippine’s, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia to fill the gap. I also. Spent a month in Bali off season. You will need a bigger budget though, but certainly doable.

[55Jay]

29 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

When I heard that there are armed guards at nearly every store, I lost interest in visiting PPI..

 

Sure, it would likely be ok in the store, but what about if I had to leave the store and... I would be walking about unarmed amongst?? 

 

As to Trekking... I guess you can watch Star Trek wherever you are...

Better than Thai "security guards" blowing their f***ing whistles constantly, for no apparent, practical purpose.  

[sharktooth]

The women have bigger jugs and drink like there is no tomorrow. Yup, that’s my shallow two bobs worth.

[Destiny1990]

Both countries are my favorite in Asia..

Just check them both out see what suits u best.

Jomtien and Cebu are best places however forget about doing any outdoor cycling..

[findlay13]

deleted

Edited January 4, 2019 by findlay13
delete

[findlay13]

16 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Indeed it is disconcerting when you first see all the armed guards - but they are seldom needed.  It does provide basic employment to a large number of people however and the cost is low for the apparent added protection.  

Many many years ago there was an armed guard at a place I used to visit.Robbers turned up, the guard dropped the shotgun and ran away.Of course if I was paid 40 pesos[I think that was the going rate then if I remember correctly] a shift I'd run too.

[Mavrix]

16 hours ago, kenk24 said:

When I heard that there are armed guards at nearly every store, I lost interest in visiting PPI..

 

 

 

 

Did you hear about the episode in Pattaya few years back when a security guard outside Bangkok Bank in Soi Bhoukhao pulled a gun on a farang for parking in the wrong spot?

[Kerryd]

23 years ago I looked at the Philippines as a potential retirement location (along with a dozen other countries in SE Asia and Central/South America). Even went to their Embassy to get information on retirement visas and life in general (back then the internet was still in it's infancy and there wasn't the wealth of information available that there is now).
At the time, PI wasn't the best choice (for me). Even now I'd be hesitant to choose there over here. Had a couple short layovers in Manila 10 years ago - seemed like a poor man's version of Thailand (and all the armed guards everywhere should give you a clue - they aren't there as a tourist attraction).

Like everywhere, you have to decide what you are willing to accept (as far as compromises are concerned) and what you aren't. Like they (always) say, the grass is always greener on the other side (until you get there and start having to deal with all the BS everyone conveniently forgets to tell you about).

Kind of like how people come here for a holiday, stay in a hotel, eat in restaurants and basically party the whole time, then decide they want to move here. Many of them actually think that they will move here and live just like they did when they were on holiday, forgetting that they may have blown their kid's inheritance on the holiday and that living in hotels, eating in restaurants and parting everyday isn't as cheap as they thought.
Then they have to start dealing with finding a (cheaper) place to live, cooking their own food (or finding "cheaper" places to eat), doing laundry, setting up utilities (cable, telephone, electricity, etc), paying bills, worrying about Visas and so on and so on.

 

All things they never considered when they were living like kings while on holiday. Meanwhile, when someone asks them about living here, they usually won't mention all the "other" stuff (mentioned about) but will rave about the "good" stuff. 

It could be an effort to help them justify their choice (to themselves) and make the "other" stuff more bearable, but it often gives other people a false impression of what it's like to actually live here.

People (in this forum) often go on about how great Cambodia is. When I visited Angkor 2 years ago, the g/f and I talked to one taxi driver the whole way from Poi Pet to Siem Reap and a different one on the way back. According to them, pretty much everything in Cambodia was more expensive than Thailand, because pretty much everything (except rice) had to be imported from other countries.

Gas, cigarettes, electricity - all (supposedly) more expensive. (But what really killed it for me was how loud the "wedding celebrations" are and how there seemed to be one going on in every other village we went through the whole trip.) Other things come into play as well. Politics (political instability), corruption, crime, lower standards for pretty much everything. You think things in Thailand are bad ?

But to listen to people on the forums - all they ever seem to mention is how easy it is to get a visa. Just like when people talk about other places. Rarely do they mention all the "BS" they have to put up with on a daily basis. As a result people get the impression that the "grass" really is greener in all those other places.

 

Think about it. If it was really that "great" in those other places, then everyone here (or most of them) would have moved there years ago.

But you'll never know for sure unless you go there and experience it for yourself. Living like a "resident" and not a "tourist". If you go there for a week, living in a hotel, eating in restaurants (etc, etc) you won't really have a clue about what it would be like to actually "live" there. Get yourself an apartment and start dealing with things like shopping, laundry, paying bills and dealing with the locals and see how that goes.

 

You may (quickly) realize that the grass was much greener where you were and can't wait to get back there.

 

[Johnnyngai]

" seemed like a poor man's version of Thailand " 

 Kerryd is funny, but he said the truth.    Thailand is third world, and Philippine is fourth world. 

[billmichael]

And imagine you certainly do NOT want to spend five (5) years in a Filipino prison.

[billmichael]

19 hours ago, madmen said:

Forget it.
Deported for being rude!!


Borrowed from another poster




 

New Philippines Immigration Reform Act filed. If the recent price increases, violence escalation, infrastructure or lack thereof, and general lack of fair and due process doesn't convince you to go elsewhere, the new Philippines Immigration Reform Act will. It gives wide and vague latitude for Immigration and Police to basically do whatever they feel like with you. Here are a few new highlights:

● Exit Clearance will now be required after 60 days - [MTV] Essentially if you stay in country for > 60 days you need Tax Clearance before you can leave, even if leaving for a holiday - IIRC this is currently 6 Months
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will be cancelled on divorce, relationship abandonment, or failure to provide support for Filipino spouse and family(does not disclose as what extent of her existing family). - [MTV] Scary 
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will cancelled if outside the Philippines more than 1 year.
● Foreigners will no longer be allowed to establish any type of business under a visitor visa.- [MTV] One of the major selling points of PI over TH
● New visa applicants will be required to have a physical and mental evaluation prior to getting an immigrant visa. - [MTV] Speechless
● Entry into the Philippines will be denied for those believed to arriving for the purpose of getting prostitutes or showing "disrespect" to any government official or employee. - [MTV] Some may guffaw at this but anybody who's visited the Philippines for the past 10+ years can tell you about clampdowns in Manila & (especially) Cebu 
● Deportable offenses: engaging in prostitution,  being deemed a public charge, being deemed undesirable, and being "rude" .- [MTV] Speechless
● Foreigners must register within 60 days of arrival and update any changes in said registration within 7 days. - [MTV] TM30/TM28 anybody?
● Also states that the immigration agency can start requiring cash bonds on demand to ensure immigration adherence. Provision perhaps for longer stays?- [MTV] at the moment the only cash requirement outside of visa expenses is if you go for an SRRV Visa, this sounds more like they're going to want to see Funds in the Bank for people who are staying longer on any kind of basis
● Imprisonment offences of not less than 5 years: falsely claiming to be a Filipino citizen, pretending to be someone else or using false documents, making a false statement in any immigration matter,   
 

And I imagine you certainly do NOT want to spend five (5) years in a Filipino prison.

[Guderian]

I wouldn't want to live in Angeles, it's like a poor man's downmarket version of the worst bits of Pattaya. Subic Bay isn't far away though and it's quite nice, Olongapo and Barrio Baretto.

 

I'm interested in having a closer look at the Batangas area, some nice spots there like Tagaytay and Lipa. I've driven through the area numerous times on my way to and from the port at Batangas to get the ferry to and from Mindoro (I had friends who ran a hotel just outside Sabang), but I've never stopped to look around. The best areas are quite high up with stunning views and a cooler climate.

 

And then there's Davao City, supposed to be the safest place in the PI for expats. I gather that the traffic can be pretty awful as in most Filipino cities, but land seems reasonably priced so you should be able to build a nice house. Not sure about shopping though, one guy who'd recently been there told me the selection of imported food is better than in Thailand, while other's have said that there's littel imported stuff available.

 

One thing for sure - wherever you live in the PI you won't have to pay the totally daft Thai taxes on imported wine and spirits. I'm so fed up with this in Thailand, I like a glass of good wine with my meal in the evening but I can't abide the awful fruit wines. 

[RuamRudy]

19 hours ago, kenk24 said:

When I heard that there are armed guards at nearly every store, I lost interest in visiting PPI..

 

Sure, it would likely be ok in the store, but what about if I had to leave the store and... I would be walking about unarmed amongst?? 

 

As to Trekking... I guess you can watch Star Trek wherever you are... 

 

 

A huge overstatement there. While most banks have armed guards outside,  the types of stores that most expats would use generally have no more than an unarmed security presence. 

 

I have lived in Manila for 5 years without any issues. Sure there are many places I would not go alone, but that could be said of most big cities. 

[madmen]

A huge overstatement there. While most banks have armed guards outside,  the types of stores that most expats would use generally have no more than an unarmed security presence. 
 
I have lived in Manila for 5 years without any issues. Sure there are many places I would not go alone, but that could be said of most big cities. 

I honestly can't think of any where in bangkok that I wouldn't go alone. There is no danger zone I have heard of

[lopburi3]

3 minutes ago, Guderian said:

I wouldn't want to live in Angeles, it's like a poor man's downmarket version of the worst bits of Pattaya. Subic Bay isn't far away though and it's quite nice, Olongapo and Barrio Baretto.

Five years ago would likely agree on Angeles - but Fields Ave is only a small area of the city now and on the old airbase very upmarket facilities are built and being built and even in the red light areas new building is going on from my understanding (remote as it is).  Subic/Olongapo seems to be the cheap destination now and mostly old facilities.  But as mentioned Angeles might be considered a meeting place - move to seaside locations after finding right person.

[RuamRudy]

19 hours ago, madmen said:

Forget it.
Deported for being rude!!

I guess I must be on borrowed time then. Like in most cities in Asia, drivers in Philippines have an arrogant assumption that pedestrians have to get out of their way - except in the area I live, Bonifacio Global City, where drivers are required by city ordinance to give way to pedestrians. Unfortunately many drivers find it inconceivable that they should observe pedestrian crossings which leads me, regularly, to cursing them in a very loud, vigorous manner. Other than a few responding in kind, I have never had any issues in this regard.

 

To be fair, a business partner was once charged by the police with calling a Swedish boat owner a 'sh!t' but nothing significant came of it. 

[NoshowJones]

19 hours ago, madmen said:

Doesn't sound good is being to kind. It's shocking! 

Not many options left in South East Asia. The only real alternative is Vietnam but that comes with its own set of problems 

I think just about every country has problems with the ordinary people always being bullied by their government just because they have the power, and I believe the Thai government is one of the worst where bullying expats is concerned.

As for some, although a very small minority, of Thaivisa members with their disgraceful attitude of "if you don't like it go home", the good still outweighs the bad in Thailand compared to the UK.