Both before I moved here and since, it always struck me as odd watching guys fail in the Philippines. I mean you’re given nearly everything here, how is it possible to fail? Let’s count the potential benefits, shall we. An inexpensive cost of living, so that even retirees on small pensions can more than survive. Cheap entertainment. Sun, sand, ocean and more islands than you can ever explore. Friendly people. Very friendly women. A laissez faire attitude toward most things, including most things legal.
And then it occurred to me that the very options we are given here are themselves the reasons for failure. Having options in life is wonderful but sometimes they’re a pain in the ass.
The retiree who can barely pay his rent in his own country, now can use his new found wealth to get into a bit of trouble. In his own country he’s considered nearly a bum; here he’s considered rich, with all the plusses and minuses that entails.
Are you poor at managing money? In your native country there’s enough social services to survive. Here if you piss away your cash, you’re out on the street.
The guy who likes a couple beers at night can now afford a 6-pack (to chase down his Tanduay). The guy who smokes a pack a day is up to two; cigarettes are dirt cheap. In other words alcohol and smoking addiction among expats is huge here.
The guy who used to drive a motorcycle in his youth or maybe had one for the occasional weekend trip now can ride a bike to his heart’s content; and tear his ass up in the process. The guy who always resented “the man” for his Western rules and regulations can throw his helmet aside here. Not many others (Filipino or expat) in Dumaguete wear them.
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Women probably are the biggest benefit and the biggest pitfall in the Philippines. Marry her, live with her, just date, just date five girls, date a different girl every week, don’t even bother dating. You can do it all, but each option has its possible disasters. Because of the options guys actual think when it comes to women in the Philippines, “I can do whatever I want.” Yeah that’ll work. I’m married; let’s ask Janet what she thinks of that 🙂
I could go on and on but you get the idea. While getting ready to retire and move to the Philippines, if you’re like me you’re making that list of all the benefits of moving here. And all those benefits are real and true. But let’s remember our high school physics; for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. IOW, every benefit can cause an equal and opposite disaster.
And one more thing. Guys move to the Philippines to reduce the stress of their Western lives and it is true there can be less stress here. That is unless you’re building your own house!
I think that it was in 2014 or so that the then Bureau of Immigration Director ran a campaign during annual report time: “Good Guys In, Bad Guys Out. The goal was to rid the Philippines of foreign (mainly American) vagabonds and other undesirable aliens. I don’t know how well it worked because the BI changes directors as often as most people change their underwear, so his successor may not have been as fired up about the project (“ningas cogon”).
Yes, you can get away with a lot of crap here, but an exception is overstaying your visa. And ultimately if a foreigner does go too far with illegal activities, (s)he faces not only arrest, a term in the slammer, but deportation.
Another cause for deportation is involvement in local politics, especially on the side of the opposition. Just ask Sister Patricia Fox, an Australian Nun who was booted out of the country for taking part in political demonstrations.
The bottom in is that alieins here really need to use common sense in conducting themselves. Anything less is just asking for trouble.
Absolutely right – common sense is the key. I guess my point was that even if you have no common sense you can make it here for a while, but sooner or later you’ll screw up.
What about finding a decent job when you are American and in your 50’s? I want to move there but cannot really understand the rules.
Possible but unlikely. Unless you have an online job which some guys here do or teach English, which is again popular here.
Unlikely? There are loads of jobs here. Just do not expect a promotion if you are white.
Not a lot of jobs most foreigners would want even if they could get them. That’s certainly not why most foreigners come here.
If you abhore the Rule of Law… the Philippines is the place to be. And it comes with little or no civil protection should you screw up! Buyer beware?
Right you are Randy. Fortunately the old man in me basically wants to follow the rules – even if there are no rules. I’m not old to stop using my turn signals.
All very true, Dave, especially the part about building a house. Excellent post!
Thanks David. 50-60% done. I think we can make it!
Dave, the Philippines can be a lot like the wild west.
Right Keith. Just as long as I get to be John Wayne or Clint Eastwood.
How true. How true.
I thought about these things, but it’s good to see them in writing. I will now write them down myself so I won’t forget them. Anything else you can think of I should not do so I won’t be the “ugly American” ? BTW I won’t be building a house.
Well we are building a house – that’s how we know it can be stressful 🙂
Less stress? Everything is 100 times harder. And the crime is 1,000 worse. It’s a literal war zone here. And the terrorism. Everyone here treats you like garbage everywhere you go.
Sounds like you shouldn’t be in the Philippines then.
And BTW, just because you changed your name doesn’t mean I don’t know who you are.