How about Philippines?

[moreem]

oops ! another Philippines is better than Thailand but we are all stupid enough to live in Thailand thread !

 

 

[Didierhardy]

19 hours ago, 55Jay said:

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

 

[NoshowJones]

19 hours ago, 55Jay said:

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

Give a Thai a uniform, especially with a whistle attached and ????????☹️???????? well, you know what I mean.

[Older and Wiser]

I see a lot of BS in the replies here about the Philippines. I've lived the last 20 years in the Philippines, but I also have an apartment in Thailand, where I spent almost 3 months out of each year (3 trips), I like both for different reasons. However, the subject is the Philippines, so..........

 

Most of the regulations stated here for Immigration are not new, but have already been in force for many years. 

 

As for security guards, in a country where almost every Filipino has (a) gun(s) and there are sometimes armed robberies, it is commonsense to have a security guard in an establishment that takes money. Apart from that, security guards check bags, backpacks, etc., for weapons or explosives at every entry to shops/malls, assist in parking, give directions to shoppers and are usually friendly and respectful. I've never felt threaten by one.

 

Someone said foreigners can't have a business on a Visitor's Visa; you could never have a business on any visa. Any business most be 60% Filipino owned. You cannot buy land either, but you can buy a condo, provided a minimum percentage of units in a block (I believe 40%) are owned by Filipinos.

 

I don't recommend staying in Manila, too dirty, too expensive and way too much traffic. Also, people in Manila are more likely to rip you off or steal from you. Generally, in the provinces people are more friendly and more honest. I live near Dumaguete myself. I first came here when people would stop in the street and stare at a foreigner, almost 25 years ago. Now you can't walk 10 metres without falling over one.

 

Mostly, they come here to retire. I am not over the moon about this myself, it was much better 20 years ago for me. The huge influx of foreigners have forced prices of land, property, eating out and drinking upwards. On the other hand, there is a huge increase in bars and restaurants, available hotels and apartments.

 

Still, you can get a SML beer most places for around P55 and a meal for P300 or less, unless you eat somewhere like Casablanca or Le Chalet. A case of 24 bottles of SML will cost you P655 or about P27 each. Even wine is cheaper than Manila, I can get a bottle of Lindemans Cawarra (any variety) for P239 a bottle (4 pack, less discount). So, it's still reasonable, compared with Manila.

 

Of course there are disadvantages, despite the anti-red tape law and the citizens charter, it is a long tiring slog for any interaction with a government agency, still requiring endless forms and documents. LTO (Land Transportation Office, issuing licences, vehicle registration), though there has been some recent improvements, is poor. They issue number plates (plate system changed recently), registration stickers and licences, not long ago they had no plates, no stickers and no cards to issue licences; they still have none, or insufficient cards in Dumaguete. I went to Bayawan to get one yesterday. Incidentally, it is 130km from my house and I did it in 1hr and 40mins; about how long it takes to cover 5 or 6 km on EDSA (Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue) in the centre of Manila.

 

 

 

 

[AAArdvark]

Much higher percentage of people who speak English.

[bkk6060]

If one likes many many young cute girls, inexpensive hotels, and lots of bars Angeles city is great.

I like it a lot go there every Songkran. Even played golf last year.

[lopburi3]

11 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

If one likes many many young cute girls, inexpensive hotels, and lots of bars Angeles city is great.

I like it a lot go there every Songkran. Even played golf last year.

Believe it also offers a good choice of international foods - which is not the case outside most large cities.  As food is often a negative comment believe it might be a deciding factor for some - do not believe anyone can rate food above Thailand but there are some good choices in Angeles, probably including Thai.

[bkk6060]

3 hours ago, Kerryd said:

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.

 

Very good post.

It is interesting what motivates people to go to a place.  To change your whole life just because it is easier to get a Visa, I never get it.

The other one I get so many times is "Cambodia is great the beer is only 50 cents".

And they cannot think of anything else good about it but that. Sounds like a reason to go ya think??

Anyway, the Philippines for me is hands down better then filthy Cambodia no comparison.

[bkk6060]

8 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Believe it also offers a good choice of international foods - which is not the case outside most large cities.  As food is often a negative comment believe it might be a deciding factor for some - do not believe anyone can rate food above Thailand but there are some good choices in Angeles, probably including Thai.

Yes, I know of many decent places to eat there.  That comment about the food some make is small box stupidity.

[bkk6060]

10 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Believe it also offers a good choice of international foods - which is not the case outside most large cities.  As food is often a negative comment believe it might be a deciding factor for some - do not believe anyone can rate food above Thailand but there are some good choices in Angeles, probably including Thai.

Double post sorry.

Edited January 4, 2019 by bkk6060

[jaideeguy]

Having lived 7 yrs in the Phil [25+ yrs ago], I found that like Thailand, there are pros and cons.  First thing to consider is 'where' in the country do you want to live.  The cities are all overcrowded, polluted, dangerous and expensive so I chose base myself in the country and lived a simple lifestyle in a native house in the Banaue rice terraces and occasionally indulged in a few of the frills of the city, but had a 20 yr old country girl that made it bearable.

But after 4 yrs, the city called me and luckily I found a nice place with an outstanding view, got a long term lease that I was able to cash out on when I discovered the falang friendliness of LOS [in the yr 2,000] and decided to say good-bye to the Phil. 

Thailand seemed to be a lot more 'falang friendly' at first until I had to deal with the immigration, heat, communications, etc. After 15+ yrs there married with children and up to my neck with the frustrations of aging and dealing with a good medical system for an aging guy that lived a wild life and was not the young and healthy guy that I used to be, I came down with a virus that even the best specialists in CM's best hospitals were ignorant of, I decided that I was better off back in the US and dragged my Thai family back with me.  Lost big bhatt in the transition. Bad timing to sell a house and 3 properties, plus the cost of hiring an attorney to do the immigration thing [luckily before king Trump tightened it all up].

 

Sorry, got longer than I had planned, but bottom line..............

 

'It's all paradise until the mosquitoes find you!!'

 

a side note for anyone looking for alternatives to LOS is to consider Ecuador.  Good source of info from users is https://www.numbeo.com and if I was 20 yrs younger, I would be there now.  Bearing in mind that I discovered that 10+ yrs ago and it's a different world all over the planet and 'the walls are going up as well as the cost of living' globally!!

[don long]

Lived there n gf from there if you have no need for Internet and or cell service go. The hosing costs are much more than thailand and quality of life sucks

[Tony125]

4 hours ago, Kerryd said:

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.

 

Went on short trips to Cambodia and Laos and similar to what you said ,actually had some vendors apologise to me for price of post cards telling me "we have to import we not make them here."

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, Older and Wiser said:

I see a lot of BS in the replies here about the Philippines. I've lived the last 20 years in the Philippines, but I also have an apartment in Thailand, where I spent almost 3 months out of each year (3 trips), I like both for different reasons. However, the subject is the Philippines, so..........

 

 

If you don't mind me asking, given how long you've stayed in the PI, what kind of visa are you on there now?  And any different types in the past?

 

And, for whatever visa you have now, how are the rules for that now compared to what they've been in the past?  Thanks!

[elgenon]

When I saw the sign on the door of bars that said no guns, I wondered who there had one. Not where I want to be.

[55Jay]

I spent quite a bit of time in Subic/Olongapo in the late 80s, and used to shack up with "my"???? honey-ko a small apartment when I was in Po' City.  Also in and out of Pattaya a number of times during those years.

 

My impression then was Thailand "seemed" to have its chit together a bit more than the PI on some levels, including operating basic infrastructure on a day to day basis.  I certainly felt more culturally foreign and isolated in Thailand compared to the PI.

 

Having looked at several of these LOS -v- PI threads over the years, the overall trend seems to put Thailand slightly ahead of PI as far as livability goes.  That's nothing against the PI, nor championing Thailand.  Pros and Cos, as always.

[thecyclist]

23 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Almost zero trekking or cycling in PI.

You gotta be kidding me :cycling is very popular over there :Cebu city, for example, has plenty of biking groups. 

Dumagueta is a great base for trekking and biking, nice town, no traffic jams, small expat community, a short ferry ride from the beautiful island of Cebu, so, when ever you feel like a bit of nightlife Cebu City can be reached in 2 days of biking(fit rider) or 1 day(superfit) 

[rosst]

On ‎1‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 3:49 PM, 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,   
 

Oh Please, do your homework, it is proposed legislation, it will not pass, nothing like the bullshit posted here, I am back in Perth for a holiday, four years in the Philippines, like everywhere there is good and bad, the good is the excellent visa processes , the food is not as good but after you are used to buying and ordering to your taste, it is fine.  The single worst aspect for me is the bloody noise from the ubiquitous Karaoke and sound sytems, utterly crazy.

I like it, I am in the Visayas, I don't like Cebu or Manila

[BritManToo]

48 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

Having looked at several of these LOS -v- PI threads over the years, the overall trend seems to put Thailand slightly ahead of PI as far as livability goes.  That's nothing against the PI, nor championing Thailand.  Pros and Cos, as always.

You're right, but in the last two years my currency lost 20% against the Baht (from 52 down to 40), but only 3% against the Peso (from 69 down to 66).

The Philippines is now considerably cheaper than Thailand.

Edited January 4, 2019 by BritManToo

[StreetCowboy]

On 1/3/2019 at 4:19 PM, BritManToo said:

Almost zero trekking or cycling in PI.

On a recent Strava challenge, there were 402 participants from Philippines, compared to 569 from Thailand.

 

In comparison, there were 3496 in Malaysia, and I would say cycling is very popular in Malaysia.

 

Given the much higher populations of Philippines and Thailand, 402 might be considered low, but not 'almost zero'.

[bkk6060]

32 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You're right, but in the last two years my currency lost 20% against the Baht (from 52 down to 40), but only 3% against the Peso (from 69 down to 66).

The Philippines is now considerably cheaper than Thailand.

I do not think about it much but checking it has gained for the US dollar.

Was under 45 about 4 years ago now over 52.

Was over 54 a few months ago.

Easy to get a really nice Western meal for 300 p.  6 bucks!

For those interested one hour of a ladies time can be had for 1000 p or less.  So, figure it out.

I do not think Phil's is better then Thailand but it ain't terrible.

Much better then Vietnam or Cambodia I think.

Edited January 4, 2019 by bkk6060

[rvaviator]

On a recent Strava challenge, there were 402 participants from Philippines, compared to 569 from Thailand.
 
In comparison, there were 3496 in Malaysia, and I would say cycling is very popular in Malaysia.
 
Given the much higher populations of Philippines and Thailand, 402 might be considered low, but not 'almost zero'.

Where in Thailand do you cycle ? Yes cycling in Malaysia is very popular ... Penang in particular - gets a bit tedious going around the island ... but several large events overall in that country ...


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[BritManToo]

35 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Much better then Vietnam

I enjoy Vietnam, PI and Thailand ....... Thialand has just got much more expensive due to the exchange rate.

The other two have stayed around the same.

[fordguy61mi]

I have a few military buddies that retired there. They said it was still the dirty third world country it was when we were there in the Marine Corps in ‘82. Not much has changed. I think Thailand is a lot better option.

Edited January 4, 2019 by fordguy61mi

[pgrahmm]

1 hour ago, fordguy61mi said:

I have a few military buddies that retired there. They said it was still the dirty third world country it was when we were there in the Marine Corps in ‘82. Not much has changed. I think Thailand is a lot better option.

I've spent a lot of time there & cannot disagree....

 

That was a kind assessment....

 

Have very well off family there & to a person, they prefer Thailand....They are here every chance they get.....

[baansgr]

Angeles has an international airport and easy links to Manilla with the P2P system.

Good malls with Marque and SM and newly opened Robinsons.

Far cheaper Western style food prepared far better than Thailand. Flipper food is also very good and cheap although most say its not but as they havnt even bothered to try it.

Hotels similar price but apartments or if inclined to buy also a lot cheaper than Thailand, a two bedroom house in Angeles can be had for less than US$ 20,000 although ownership laws are similar restrictions to here.

Dentistry and health far superior to here although needing a prescription was indeed a blast back to reality and the price 3 times of here for simple amoxycillan

English language provicency 100,000,000 % better than Thailand

Visa as easy as 123 with none of the BS you get here

For boozers and smokers its a paradise compared to Thailand with prices at least half of here, not forgetting its still a 24/7 place to party.

Hands down a winner in every way for......OH and the women, you can actually have a relationship, go to the movies and talk about the film after, unlike the monetary contract relationships going on in Thailand

[Hummin]

On 1/3/2019 at 4:00 PM, 55Jay said:

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

Thai security? 

 

????

 

where are they

[scubascuba3]

Angeles has an international airport and easy links to Manilla with the P2P system.
Good malls with Marque and SM and newly opened Robinsons.
Far cheaper Western style food prepared far better than Thailand. Flipper food is also very good and cheap although most say its not but as they havnt even bothered to try it.
Hotels similar price but apartments or if inclined to buy also a lot cheaper than Thailand, a two bedroom house in Angeles can be had for less than US$ 20,000 although ownership laws are similar restrictions to here.
Dentistry and health far superior to here although needing a prescription was indeed a blast back to reality and the price 3 times of here for simple amoxycillan
English language provicency 100,000,000 % better than Thailand
Visa as easy as 123 with none of the BS you get here
For boozers and smokers its a paradise compared to Thailand with prices at least half of here, not forgetting its still a 24/7 place to party.
Hands down a winner in every way for......OH and the women, you can actually have a relationship, go to the movies and talk about the film after, unlike the monetary contract relationships going on in Thailand

What's the main bar street called there? i was just looking on streetview but nothing much came up

[chicowoodduck]

As with everything, your mileage will differ.....just depends on what you can stand and for how long?  Corruption, crime, traffic, etc., it can be a pure shi* storm even in the quiet spots in the road....carry on soldier....????

[chicowoodduck]

8 hours ago, thecyclist said:

You gotta be kidding me :cycling is very popular over there :Cebu city, for example, has plenty of biking groups. 

Dumagueta is a great base for trekking and biking, nice town, no traffic jams, small expat community, a short ferry ride from the beautiful island of Cebu, so, when ever you feel like a bit of nightlife Cebu City can be reached in 2 days of biking(fit rider) or 1 day(superfit) 

Short ferry ride from Cebu??  I must have take the wrong one....seemed like days at sea and an arrival time in Dumagueta in the dark.....once that was over, enjoyed my stay in the city.....pretty laid back and with a good vibe.....????