Moving to the Philippines to retire Part 2

In my previous article, “Moving to the Philippines and Why”, I talked about Philippines Visas. I also discussed the Philippines’ cost of living. Finally, I covered buying property in the Philippines.

In this article, I want to show my thoughts on the Filipino people. Their culture and other reasons I love the Philippines and the people.

What is it like to be an ex-pat in the Philippines? Why are Western men looking to the Philippines for their new life partner?

Of course, the other consideration is what you want as an ex-pat. This will then give you an idea of the best place to retire in the Philippines.

Metro Manila

Metro Manila region is where you will find Manila which is a beautiful city and is constantly changing.  The current population is just over 14.1million people at around 636 Square Kilometres. When you visit the Philippines, this will probably be your first stop.

If you love the bustling city lifestyle, then Manila will certainly not disappoint you. It lives 24hours a day and is seriously busy.

The government is constantly investing in the area, and development is fast.

The downside to the city (as with other world cities) is that the poverty is very apparent. You will see the very poor on the streets, and the most heart-breaking part is the homeless children. There are, however, social welfare groups that are actively trying to combat this.

Whilst walking around, you will see the remnants of the Spanish occupation, which lasted from 1521 to 1898.

When you move to the Philippines no matter where you travel. You will see the Spanish influence in the buildings and the people.

A famous Filipino comedian Jo Koy has a stand-up act that revolves heavily around Filipino culture. He talks about how hard it is to distinguish between Filipinos and Mexicans. This is due to the Spanish influence.

The Province

If you are like me and want peace and quiet, then it is off to the provinces you must go. Basically, the provinces are the countryside made up of jungle, farms, and most of all beautiful beaches.

The scenery will never get old.  No matter how much you see, you will still find something new.  Look, and you will find the hidden waterfalls, slow and lazy meandering rivers and secret romantic beaches. It is, in my opinion, a small piece of heaven.

What’s the downside?

The only downside is if you like the convenience of popping to the shops. It is also inconvenient if you enjoy a quick trip to the mall to get that item you need. You will need transport and be prepared to drive to the city when you need something.

You won’t starve, though. Your local town will have all the food you could ever eat. It will be fresh but it will be local food. So, if you want western food, then prepare to drive. But, if you only want to eat western food, you need to ask yourself. Is the Philippines the place for you?

Culture

For me, this is the most significant reason for moving to the Philippines to retire.

I believe the western world has completely lost its way. We are in the hunt for the perfect democracy with the perfect inclusive society. As a result, we have developed into a society with no consequences for our actions.

Bad behaviour from children and adults alike is blamed on everything but the individual. They no longer take responsibility for themselves. Minority groups can ride roughshod over the majority in the name of diversity and inclusion.  For me, this is the same as the tail wagging the dog.

Go and visit a Filipino house. On my first visit to a Filipino house, one of my partner’s nephews approached me. He was introduced. Then, he took my hand and pressed it against his forehead.

For a westerner, this was strange.

However, we arrived at the family home of my partner’s parents. All the children, grandchildren and family members lined up. They took turns to do the same with my partner’s mum and dad.

Respect! That is the word. Respect for your family, your friends and your country. If I go to town in the UK, and I want to know the time, I will find someone and say, “Excuse be but have you the time?” For instance, in the USA, they will probably use “Sir” or “Ma’am”.

In the Filipino culture, they will refer to each other as “Kuya” or “Ate”. This means “Older Brother” or “Older Sister”. This happens regardless of where in the world they are.

This respect they have for each other and themselves is, in my opinion, the most impressive part of Filipino culture.

Filipinas

More and more western men are heading to the Far East. They are searching for a partner to share their lives with. Especially with most moving to the Philippines.

When you consider the respect, the family values that all Filipinos live by. You can understand what I mean when I say Filipinas are not only beautiful outside but also on the inside.

If you are lucky enough to have a Filipina partner like me then you will understand the differences between them and the typical western woman. Check this channel on youtube, “The Filipina Pea“

Filipinas are very loving; they care about how they look not only to their partners but also in public.  They also care about how you look, especially in public!  If you think you are going out looking like a tramp guess again, because if you look bad your Filipina will think people look at her as a bad partner and that she is not looking after you properly.

Filipinas although strong women are also proud of their femininity. They appreciate when a gentleman opens a door for them, they appreciate when a gentleman gives up his seat for her and they appreciate it when they receive a nice respectful compliment.

The same behaviour in the west will get you fired from your job, berated in public or even land you in court.

Filipinas have the same rights as the men, as they do in the west and actually appreciate it.

In summary to both articles, I have had enough of being man bashed in the modern western world for being the gentleman my mother was proud of. I have my life’s partner and with the help of this blog, my photography we will be able to build a new life by moving to the Philippines together.