THAI Family looking to spend some time in the Phillipines away fro trouble

[tezzainoz]

Hi

Thai Wibe 6 year old Daughter and Farlang, a little worried about where Thailand is going, so thinking of spending some time in the Phillipines

Need a web address for a good Phiilipino Foum like the one we have here in Thailand to ask questions we will need to know

and any ideas where is the best place to stay as my self and nmy daughter are white skin in appearance

Noy interested in Angels City as we are a family

Have been told Cebu is probably the best

any advice will be appreciated

[craigt3365]

You think Thailand is crazy, wait till you get to the PI! I'll try to find the video on the election process there. Amazing at the level of security...and how many politicians don't make it very long....err...live very long.

[Pinot]

Guns all over the place in the Phils. Crime is bad. Poverty is worse than here. Thai girl is not going to be happy. The food sucks.

Cebu is nothing special.

I would reconsider the move.

[roamer]

Amused. You're far more at risk anywhere in PP than most places in LOS. Robbery rates very high on foreigners.

[rgs2001uk]

any advice will be appreciated

If you have never been there, dont bother, its a basket case.

Why do you think there are so many Pinoy trying to get to Thailand?

I will NEVER set foot in that country again.

The tales the wifes Pinoy friends could tell you would make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Best avoided, Cambo is better if a push comes to a shove.

[Torrens54]

You are JOKING aren't you?

The expression that immediately jumps into my mind is: "Out of The Frying Pan and INTO The FIRE!!!

[Noi657]

Parts on the Phillipines makes Thailand look like child's play!

[bkkbudddy]

Hello,

My recommendation is to visit Malaysia instead of Philippines!

[bubba]

Even in fashionable Makati, supposedly one of the most secure areas in the Philippines, you will see guards with shotguns in front of 7-11, and paramilitary guards in body armour armed with M-16s patrolling the perimeter of the Shangrila Hotel. Will that help you feel safer?

And Cebu? You might want to consider that typhoons have a certain affinity for the Philippines, as do earthquakes.

And then there is the rampant corruption which is an order of magnitude worse than Thailand, rubbish strewn everywhere, and even a higher cost of living but with lower salaries, at least in Manila as compared to Bangkok. Oh, and then there is the food.....

I know this is an initial foray for information regarding alternatives to Thailand, but as other posters have said here and from what you will no doubt learn as you continue your research, the Philippines is probably not the best option to Thailand if you are looking for safety and a decent place to raise your family.

Edited May 16, 2014 by bubba

[frimu]

The Philippines is a huge country. Puerto Princesa in Palawan might be a boring, but safe choice to live for a while.

I can't confirm it for sure, but crime seems to be lower there.

Plus they don't have earthquakes and typhoons there.

[recycler]

Looking for a change of trouble are you?

Philippines is just the same thing in a different language ;-)

[obnoxious troll]

if you are not going for girls which you dont seem to be, laos, sing if you got the cash, cambo, malaysia are better choices than pi. in that order. indo too is cheap but visa piss you off if you want to stay too long.

Edited May 16, 2014 by obnoxious troll

[NowImEasy]

Baguio city in Northern Luzon is an interesting place. It's a university town with lots of activity.

For a lifestyle similar to Issan, try the islands in the north of Cebu. Some parts were devastated by last year's typhoon, so check out if the infrastructure still exists.

Yeah, there's crime and corruption, so just be careful.

[godden]

YOU could try looking at Subic Bay not so far from Manila with beaches

[ajarnmarc]

Great feedback, as I've never been there.

It does make me wonder though...why when the Pinoy come here,

do they do nothing but complain about Thailand?

Or at the very least, act like they are better than Thai ladies?

Which I don't think they are.

[bangarang]

Malaysia is a much better option. I went to manila and boracay. Boracay was beautiful and didn't experience any problems there but in Manila you armed guards in front of every mall with what looks like AK-47s at the time. I definitely wouldn't feel safe to live in a place that needs that kind of security.

[bangarang]

If you're worried about safety, im guessing you live in bangkok or around? Just come south and you will be fine.

If you really want to know though... the only place i know of is http://www.philippines-addicts.com/forum/

Edited May 16, 2014 by bangarang

[JimHuaHin]

I agree with most of the above posts ... having visited and travelled throughout the Phillipines numerous times since the mid 1980s, and having not returned this century ... the Phillipines is one country I never want to visit again, or live in ... the level of crime and violence is much higher than here.

And, as noted above, the heavily armed guards around banks and international hotels gives you an idea of what the country is like.

[makecoldplayhistory]

I lived in Manila (Makati) for 6 years (left 10 months ago) and it's a wonderful place. The people are genuinely friendly, helpful and interested in foreigners (not how much they can get from you).

They'll learn your name; not simply call you 'ferang'.

Makati, whilst dirty, has great shopping, schools and places to eat. It's MUCH cheaper to live than LOS and salaries, for foreigners, are much higher than Thailand. There are a lot of weapons like shotguns for 7/11 guards, but a) they're not loaded b ) they'll probably never be used. Those 'gun weilding guards, open the doors, help mothers with pushchairs cross the street and say hello when they see you. I felt safer there than anywhere else. I'd happily walk home quite drunk at 3am. I never once felt uneasy. Of course there is crime and trouble but, unlike the stories I read over here, you have to go looking for it. It's much more unlikely to find you, if you're living a 'family life'.

I drunkenly tried to give a taxi driver 1,000 pesos (about 600baht) instead of 100. When he realised, he gave the money to the guard of my condo to give to me in the morning. Another taxi driver returned an expensive pushchair after my nanny left it in the boot. He didn't even leave his number for a reward. I'm not sure that would have happened in Thailand.

Taxis are cheap and everywhere.

It's not perfect though. The police regularly pull white people over for 'swerving' but a 50 baht fine and they're your best friend. Having said that, when my car broke down, the policeman stopped the tow truck over-charging me, used his own phone to call my wife to tell her why I'd be late (my phone had no battery) and bought me a bottle of water as I didn't have any cash.

The traffic's terrible.

Rent is astronomical - we paid 2,000USD for a 3 bed condo.

Pinoy food isn't great, but fantastic food is everywhere; Japanese, Western, Chinese etc.

Edited May 16, 2014 by makecoldplayhistory

[makecoldplayhistory]

Great feedback, as I've never been there.

It does make me wonder though...why when the Pinoy come here,

do they do nothing but complain about Thailand?

Or at the very least, act like they are better than Thai ladies?

Which I don't think they are.

People like maids and nannys can earn more here and send it home. Similar to what my wife and I are doing - as teachers.

Read through TV to see who complains about Thailand. I think the Pinoy workers miss the friendliness of their home where people don't immediately look upon foreigners as lower than they are.

[obnoxious troll]

yes you dont really need to even leave, if you are concerned move to somewhere like nong khai where you can slip across the border at a moments notice. assuming they dont close the border which they have often done at signs of trouble in the past.

was in hatyai last time issues happened in bkk. not the slightest indication thing were other than normal from there, but you got more bombings in the south now adays so northeast is a better choice now.

lot of thais in penang. both resident and temp fleeing when i was doing same.

Edited May 16, 2014 by obnoxious troll

[ripper15]

http://www.expatforum.com/

Try this site and the Philippine section. Palawan is better in some aspects. In the Cebu area you may find Bohol nicer. If you don't want to go all the way to Palawan, I suggest Dumaguete,nice college town and many farang and cheaper rents. Expect Thai wife to be upset about all the attention you will get from local females. LOL Lots of expats living in Philippines, even with its problems. You might want to also look at www.lifebeyondthesea.com and his youtube videos. Goggle searches of specific areas will give you lots of info. Try and avoid Manila Airport. Awful place. Cebu much nicer.

If you are into clean beaches and scuba or diving you have lots of choices.

Edited May 16, 2014 by ripper15

[mikekim1219]

Go to Yahoo Group and search for LivingInThePhilippines3 forum.

[Seducedbytheseas]

Amazing how many negative posts on the Philippines. Most probably have only been there on a breif trip. I have lived there for 5 years now and own and operate a business in the Manila area. While I choose to live most of my time in Laguna (Phuket), I do appreciate what the Philippines has to offer... 7,107 islands (mostly undeveloped, but clean and beautiful), friendly and caring people that go out of their way to smile and learn your name (without a generalized reference to "farang"), cheap food (although my least favorite in Asia), innexpensive inter-island travel, cheap taxis, lots of entertainment (at least in Manila), beautiful women (not to mention: trustworthy, respectful, sincere), English speaking, educated, etc.

The downside to the Philippines in my mind is: infrastructure (Internet is horrible; cellular communication as well as landlines are antiquated and in need of a major upgrade; airports are third-world, but improving; visible filth in the urban areas; prone to regular typhoons in the Visayas; guns and guards are everywhere.

If you want to find nice, clean beaches and actually buy beachfront land, near an airport, hospital, etc., it is possible to do so for under 3 million Baht. I enjoy surfing and will be buyng a retirement home on Siargao Island (world famous for surfing and fishing). If you would like a safe, clean place to stay, you cant go wrong with Baguio, Boracay or Bantangas.

Everyone has an opinion, but you should go and take a look for yourself to see what it is like before moving your whole family there. Good luck.

[watermanII]

Hi

Might not be what you expect...

Lived there 6 years until it became unbearable...

Unless you stay in Boracay or downtown Makati (Manila), it's hardly a family place...

Lot's of adventure and beautiful, but not really safe!

Guns everywhere...

Cheers

[slipperylobster]

YOU could try looking at Subic Bay not so far from Manila with beaches

It is ok.....I stayed 18 years on Baloy Beach Subic Bay. Do not get into staying at Sta Monica Subdivision nearby...It floods annually...about 4 feet up the wall of your house. The beach is filty in the rainy season...but not so bad after November. In December to April it is crazy full of buses and people from Manila with Karaoke. The town, Barrio Barretto, is a series of gogo bars...(about 10 good ones and the rest trashy dives. SBMA (The old Navy Base, is where you want to rent...if you can afford. You will need a car. Get up at Cubi Point...nice views.) The better beaches are there. Plenty of Farangs in Barrio Barretto and SBMA. If you prefer natural beauty, go to Palawan or Dumuguete. Baguio is polluted...and full of traffic. They have a nice park there and a mall...but I would not live there. Good for a short visit.

I fly into Clark at Angeles.....it just makes sense. 10 Minutes and your at your hotel. Lots of restaurants and sort of a mini patta, without the beach. Not for a family at all.

Yep....you are safer in Thailand....just believe me. Waaaaaaay safer. Everyone should go to the Philippines for a few months, then they would be kissing the Immigration Officers as soon as they got back to Thailand. You have not experienced corruption, theft, vandalism, breakins, poverty, beggars and rude behaviour until you been to the philippines. But it is more familiar...the english, religion, and customs.

Edited May 16, 2014 by slipperylobster

[Strangebrew]

Ok now from the propective one one who actually is living in the Philippines at present. First of all the roads here are terrible Yes there is crime here but worse in Manlia daily shooting there like the wild west. I stay in Subic Bay area so not to bad if you like low water pressure and brown outs. Free port here with new mall some western eateries too. Visa runs are a bitch though once a year must leave country I go every 6 months to avoid 500 pecos exit visa fee. Medical ok schools same. Yes there are hookers here too english speaking cable too. But I myself will be moving back to Thailand Hua Hin quite and safe Must be because King is living there. Rents cheap food good schools safe for the kids some Expats but a heck of alot less knuckleheads. Downside movies all in Thai only but thank god for DVD's. I hope this helps a little good luck.

[cronus]

Hello,

My recommendation is to visit Malaysia instead of Philippines!

Any recommendation where a foreigner would want to live in Malaysia, close to the beach, city with about 250k-750k ppl? Thanks in advance.

[Strangebrew]

Panang pretty nice there if you like muslims.

[jcb2001]

Hello,

My recommendation is to visit Malaysia instead of Philippines!

Agree, It will be extremely difficult for your family to assimilate with the local Philippine nationals. At least life is pretty mundane in Malaysia, or at least that was my experience I found while traveling around Penang with my Thai wife.

Maybe a short vacation to the PI would help confirm our concerns.

I am not aware of any good forums in the PI. Most are for meeting Filipina ladies.