Tell me everything you know about moving to the Phillipines
 

I am dead serious about this. That thread from earlier has really got me thinking. Where are decent areas to live? Assume it's just me and all I care about is having decent electricity and air conditioning, a spacious place to live and internet access (preferably high-speed). Just fill my head with every scrap of information you can come up with. This is about as close to planning as I get.

Prices, culture, customs, medical care, transportation, hired help, location, etc, etc, etc.

SpaceAce

Didn't I show you some of those links about houses?
Let me see if I can still find them.

Live like a king! but watch for the Tsunami's :-) j/k

You can just come with me.

SpaceAce

While we're at it, what kind of paperwork and hassle is necessary for me to be a resident there? I'm sure I can check the government websites but I'd like to hear it from people who have some actual experience with the process.

SpaceAce

There's a thread here a while ago discussing the benefits in moving there.

If you are considering of relocating in the Philippines, I would strongly suggest to see it for yourself. You can spend a few weeks and learn how things run there. High speed connection is not a problem, most residential places are accessible to dsl and can be available in a week time.

"Assume it's just me and all I care about is having decent electricity and air conditioning, a spacious place to live and internet access (preferably high-speed)."


Someplace close to Manila !

well i just got back from PI and have been there a bunch of times.

and yes, you can "live" very cheaply, currently usd is about 55 pesos.

but, some things to consider:

1. the PI is a third world country with no property zoning---sure you can build a big 3 story house on the beach for maybe 300-400k that would cost 20 million in malibu, but the squatters right next to you will be living in bamboo shacks, and the natives are too poor to give a shit about the "environment" --- so unless you are living on an inhabited island most of the philippines looks like the poorer parts of Tijuana---in other words no "pride of ownership" because there isn't much ownership.

2. in the provinces you are mostly on your own for protection---you will need security, and a high wall around your estate to make sure everything stays there while you go swimming.

3. yes the women are beautiful, speak some english, and will fuck your lights out---but everything but the girls is dirty, dusty, run-down, and poorly maintained. businesses are poorly run and inefficient. it is the women who do most of the work in the PI---pinoys for the most part are likeable but lazy, so good help is hard to find, unless female---which is OK, unless you need a construction worker.

4. loooooooooonnnnng plane ride from the states.

so there are trade offs.

oh did i mention the women are beautiful and will fuck your lights out? :)

Thanks, this is the sort of thing I am looking for. I appreciate the reply. Can you suggest areas that are less dusty and run down? I don't live a flashy lifestyle and I don't need to build a house on the beach to be happy. I would like a place that's maybe 1,200 - 1,500 square feet and not too far from stores and such. Do you have any clue as to where I should look and what I should be prepared to spend? I'm interested in renting or leasing. If you know of any websites that list rental properties there, I'd love to hear about them.

Thanks again,
SpaceAce

have u considered thailand??

if you want a decent kind of living where you are near to all the shopping mall, nightlife and everything - live in Makati City. This is also the business disctrict in Manila so you'll be ok.

I provided a link of some of the condominiums that you can find in Makati City.
http://www.e-rockwell.com/residential_condos.htm - this is available for lease
http://www.philonline.com.ph/~philpr...cedo_place.htm

I lived in Thailand for 10 years but travelled to the Phillipines 2-4 times a year.

First of all, the P.I. is a pretty dangerous place depending on where you go but cheap as hell. Living in Manila would not be an option for me as it is dirty and the traffic is one of the worst in the World. I found Angeles City (Formerly the location of Clark US Air Force Base) to be the cheapest and best place to live. It's about a 2 hour drive from Manila. You can rent a decent house for about $500 USD a month. Angeles City has a lot of go-go type bars, a casino and a lot of Western restaurants.

I am not up to speed with P.I. immigration laws as the people I know that live there pay off government officials. It's corrupt as hell.......Good Luck

Hey, thanks. I appreciate the links.

SpaceAce

Thanks for the information.

SpaceAce

No problem.....

If I was you, I'd go for a couple weeks to check things out. If this is the case, stay in Manila one night (You will see why). In Manila, for nightlife go to Makiti. It's quite expensive (about $12-15 A DRINK) and around $60-$100 for a whore. Watch you wallet!

I normally stayed at the Hilton by the US Embassy about 2-3 miles from the airport. Then go to the Swagman Hotel on Rojas Blvd and get a bus ticket to Angeles City for a morning bus ride as traffic is a bitch.

I'd stay at the Oasis Hotel in Angeles City, ask for Bruce, the owner. He can help you with great expat information. If you like gambling and a better hotel, they have a Hilton hotel on the old air force base. High speed internet is available everywhere. The drinks in Angeles run a whopping $2 or less. Whores are about $20 but I'd give them $40. You can get lost easy as things are so cheap. Keep your dollars in the hotel safe deposit box. Cheers!

Here's a good American place to eat and talk to the local expats

Kokomo's

The Philippines definitely can use the capital and new business. Come on over, man! The more the merrier. Mabuhay!

i would hate to live some place where i don't know the language

I speak a bit of English so I should be OK.

SpaceAce

Listen to him ^^^ He knows of what he speaks... Ive been to the philippines 25 times in the last 5 years... In fact Im there now... I would stick close to Manila... Alabang is a pretty good location... and yes the women are beautiful LBFM's (Little Brown Fucking Machines)

Is there housing available that won't cost me 25,000,000 pesos, though? I just want to island bum for a couple of years, not become a Philippines real estate investor.

SpaceAce

Just stay within the CBD( central Business District ) in Makati and you'll be fine. For Villages check out Dasmarinas Village adn Forbes park..this is the Beverly Hills of Manila. Houses here range from 2000-5000square meters. There are smaller albeit nice villages around as well. Sanlorenzo Village and Bel air villages have houses that go for around $1,000/mo. When you get to Manila, just get a newspaper and check out the newspaper for ads on houses in Makati and you'll be fine

What if a woman wanted to move to the Phillipines? How safe would THAT be?

if you are a white woman alone you should stay in urban areas.

most pinoys are harmless, but the culture is "female submissive"---this makes the girls very attractive to most men, but also puts attractive women at risk if they are alone.

crimes against women (rape mostly) are so common they are mostly unreported.

I would be happy to serve as your relocation consultant...everything from residential to business setups...and you won't have to worry about any "coups".

Richard
icq: 322574184

my advise is dont go - unless everything in your life revolves around $20 orgies. Other than that, the place is pretty much a shit hole. Lived there for 2 years.

Also - my wife lived there for 2 years - absolutely hated it.

http://fasttrack.alphared.com/jamespersonal/house.jpg

Here is the house that I lived in in Forbes Park. If you are going to move, then spend the bucks and get a good safe place. You can get a place like this for $5k per month

just live in the good ole mother fucking USA (if ur white)

bingo...

check that one :thumbsup

http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/

If you want to make a smart move. Move to some place that is connected to the states. GOD FORBID that something happens and you have to get a regular job, you can cross a border, and be there. But moving back from some place so remote, is a lot harder to do.

If you might be interested in Mexico, hit me on ICQ.

I live just south of the border, and I am i Cali at least 2 times a month,.

is it as cheap as the PI?

if you want to move to PI make sure u buy yourself a bullet proof vest

Philippines is awesome. I went into some of the much more rural areas and you'd swear I was a movie star. Had women and children following me *everywhere* I went, just because I was an American and they'd never seen anyone "so white". The drawback is that since you typically take leaks behind buildings and such, it's kind of difficult with an entourage close on your heels that won't go away.

By prices, three of my friends, 2 hired bodyguards and I ate a feast including beer and as much food as we could eat and it only cost $7 total for all 6 of us. Then the restaurant owner came over and personally apologized for it being so expensive... Pretty cool.

Manilaheat, the forbes house you had was a slight upgrade from the "compound" in Angeles, diba, lol!

Diba - and a lot less dogs around to bit your ass :)

my relative who lives in PI tells me that also. if you're white, you are always VIP whatever places you go. you are GOD there. :thumbsup

no problem man.

Philippines is just like any other country in the world wherein safety is your concern...anywhere.