We returned home from our Philippine holiday on December 26th. The first shock was having to pay $3 for a baggage cart at JFK. Oh yea, we're back in the US. So now home for about a week, I decided to think about the whole retirement expat thing. 

To start, as much as Filipino's like Americans and American culture, it's not America. Although English is a primary language, and communication is easy, if you move there and expect an exact copy of your life as before (i.e. western culture) you will be disappointed. But just as there are aspects of American life that are not there that may be missed, there are new aspects that many people welcome. 

I for one found people really went out of their way to make sure your happy. An example? My wife and I were shopping for Christmas gifts in a local department store, Shoe Mart mall, a little plug. We found a great casual shirt for my father in law and we found a clerk who was his size. We told this young man who the shirt was for and asked if he would try it on. He did so without question. It didn't quite fit so we moved on. Looking over at his coworkers we saw they were all laughing. We found out later it was a woman's top, but he still tried it on. He wanted us to be happy. Another example? I'm a vegetarian... sort of... I only eat fish and a plant based diet. The Philippines is a big meat eating country. That being said, whatever restaurant we were in, when the waiters found out about my dietary anomalies, they went out of their way to make sure I had exactly the kind of food I wanted. Every restaurant. They want you to be happy. 

There was a recent article in Forbes about the friendliest countries for expats, amazingly, the Philippines wasn't on the list. Filipinos have a warm friendly culture. It really didn't matter where I went in Luzon, people were open and helpful. Family is very important. I liked that. Family members rely on each other, not just for money, although that happens too, but mainly for support, help and friendship. 

I was a minority there, being a tall white guy. Occasionally, a small child would stop in his tracks and look. That was kind of funny actually.  I tried to return the favor by being friendly as well. The concept of the ugly American was not something I wanted to leave with anyone. 

Now the financial part. It's cheap. An average person on Social Security can afford a really comfortable lifestyle. Just read the dinner story from my previous blog. But to review, 14 people out to dinner, shrimp tempura, Blue Marlin grilled, Flounder baked, vegetables, lots of beer, sodas, 14 people.... $100 dollars US. I'm not kidding. Food, clothing, medical care, prescription drugs, all of it a fraction of what we pay in the US. This is why so many people of Philippine heritage move back home in retirement. 

That was all the happy talk, here is some hard reality. In a nutshell, it is a country with around 40% poverty,  and there are terrorist groups. 

Poverty:

Yes, it's there. President Arroyo has tried to lower the poverty rate, but sadly, the Philippines has has not kept up with lifting people out of poverty like China or India.

Terrorism:

The Philippines have worked closely and aggressively with the United States in combating terrorism, and have shown real success, particularly in the southern islands where Al Queda have tried to set up bases there. I personally don't think I would live in Mindanao in the south, but the northernmost islands like Luzon where Manila, Makati City and other urban areas seem fine. But who knows, right. 

So in a nutshell, should we move or should we stay in the US. Well, my wife and I have decided that we really like the family, the lifestyle and the cost of living in the Philippines, but we would miss American culture. What we'll probably do is spend the winter months in the Philippines, and return to the US in the spring. Snowbirds on the other side of the world. Now the only issue about spending 3 or 4 months in the Philippines is being able to take our pets. I don't want our 2 dogs to have to travel 23 hours in a pet carrier. Why can't they be in the cabin with us? I'll bitch about this in my next blog "Let the Fur Fly".