Living and working in Philippines

[Eva33]

Originally Posted by roy

an annual cost of living study by human resources organization ECA International said that The Philippines, was placed at the bottom of the survey as the cheapest country to live in followed by Argentina, Thailand and Malaysia.
According to a survey of 32 countries and territories The Philippines has the lowest living costs for expatriates.
Housing in the Philippines is very cheap but expatriates may have to change their citizenship or be married to a Filipino citizen before being allowed to own land.
It is advisable that if one wishes to stay in the Philippines, Manila should be counted out due to the high population count making the city very expensive and congested to live in. Instead it would be ideal to consider the Southernmost part of the country where you could also find cheaper housing units for rent, cheap good foods and transportation.
Rental rates of smaller houses and apartments can cost around 100 euros. Pls consider:
1.Medical Services provided by good health providers are
2. You can own a house and lot for less than(depending on your style) $5,000.00. current exchange rate 44.00 pesos to a US dollar.
3. Excellent American, European, Chinese, Japanese and other Asian and local Foods are being offered very cheap. You pay between $1 and $10 for food (depends on your wise choice) per meal to satisfy.
4. Depending on the location, the temperature range from 10C to 34C all throughout the year.
5. Excellent resorts and vacation places. And many, many more.

Indeed you can stay here permanently with your personal househelps (less than $50), driver (less than $70) caregiver (less than $100) etc per month.
As an added inputs; Foreigners such as as Europeans, Americans, Aseans are aplenty enjoing their retirement.

I am married to a Filipina; we have a five-year-old son. We did live in the Philippines for the last three years. It is true that you can live for very little money in the Philippines, but I would pretend that this "cost of living studies" are often not very realistic. If you have, and want, to live like a poor Filipino, you can do it easily on 200 USD a month. Concerning myself, living as I am used to do in Europe and with one or two trips back per year, I easily spend 5'000. -USD. In Europe this lifestyle would cost about 5'000- €. So actually cost of living is really cheaper in the Philippines, but not as cheap as mentioned above. (A good driver will ask for about 200 USD and a good maid (one who may not run away with your walett), for 100-120 USD. Our costs for food (about 50 % imported), for 5 persons, including the helpers, come to about 750 USD per month. Eating out in a decent restaurant 10-30 USD per person. Renting a upscale house in a good neighborhood is 900 - 1'500 USD per month. Rates for electricity are the second highest in Asia and one of the highest in the world. If you use airco, expect electricity bills for at least 150 - 250 USD a month. Health insurance is cheap, but not very good and there are many string attached in the policies. medication is about the same as in western country, and some are more expensive. Clothe are cheap, if you not buying Lacoste, Lewis, Armani e.g., which are priced the same as in western countries. Of course you can live in the Philippines lodging in a nipa, eating rice and fish and dying from the first infection you catch, for 200 USD a month.....

Of course you can NOT buy a house for 5'000.00 USD as stated above. Maybe some kind of shelter. What a westerner normally calls a house, with a lot of about 150m2, and a minimum of security, costs from 75'000.00 USD upwards. American upscale style houses from 180'000 - 500'000.00 USD.

But one has also to consider if he really wants to live in a third world country, with bad roads, very high crime rate, where as a foreigner (rich) you will be always ask for something, where the difference between rich and poor reaches a disgusting level, where, apart in the good parts of major city, decent health care is difficult to obtain, where, when you need something, it will be most certainly be "out of stock", where to about everything you say or ask, the answer is "yes sir", where social development is about at least 150 years behind, where natural catastrophes (earthquakes, floods, e.g.) are the rule and not the exception, where the tropical climate –between 75 – 95 % of relative air humidity – can be very hard on you, where every year a good quantity of older foreigners dye because they could not reach a hospital in time to be treated, where the mentality is so different, that you will sometime think you are an alien (the Filipino administration does call foreigners “Alien”, where, as most of foreigners do, if you are honest and outspoken, you will pass your time criticizing the country, which seams to do everything possible to commit economic, social and political suicide, where driving a car can be a nightmare……..

But besides all this, there are also many nice and friendly people and beautiful ladies.

Ok, so if you want to take all this into account for being able to afford some maids, a nice house, much dining out (but you may get sic; I did end in hospital two times) and a driver, or if your income/pension is so low that you can not afford to live somewhere else, then: “Welcome to the Philippines”!

[roy]

You are right Eva33! but….your expenses depends on your lifestyle and personal preferences. Expect to spend more in big cities. Philippines has more than 7,000 islands to choose from. I give my in-housekeeper’s (all-around) monthly salary is PhP1,500 (roughly 35 US$ at Ph P45 to $1 exchange rate). Kindly google Cagayan de oro city portals for more info.

Nipa house-for-rent are not available but then, if there is any are not for disposal. Instead you can avail condominium, apartments or whole house. The rental (?) depends, which range from PhP2,500 to PhP15,000 a month.

The price of a house that I quoted is located at the rural areas within the city where you could really enjoy peace and tranquility and hear the sounds of birds. Of course it is much more expensive (2M PhP the least if you buy it, house & lot) at a subdivision.

As to crime issue: By rank, U.S. tops the #1 slots with 11,877,218 of the most number of crimes committed followed by UK with 86,523,706. The Philippines was placed at #47 with 85,776 among 82 countries considered.
Per Capita ranking: Dominica tops with 113.822 per 1,000 people while UK at #6 with 85.5517/1,000 people and the U.S. at #8 with 80.0645. The Philippines was not among the list of 60 countries surveyed. For added inputs pls see The Eighth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2002) (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention) at NationMaster - World Statistics, Country Comparisons.

Cagayan de oro is seldom visited by natural catastrophes. Thanks God
Indeed there is no one perfect place for everybody to live, but you will really miss Cagayan de Oro City. Again thank you for your credible comments.

[Eva33]

Originally Posted by roy

You are right Eva33! but….your expenses depends on your lifestyle and personal preferences. Expect to spend more in big cities. Philippines has more than 7,000 islands to choose from. I give my in-housekeeper’s (all-around) monthly salary is PhP1,500 (roughly 35 US$ at Ph P45 to $1 exchange rate). Kindly google Cagayan de oro city portals for more info.

I agree, but I would dare to express that to pay helpers 1.500 Pesos (33 US$ !) a month, even if you give them shelter and food and if this is the local market price, this is not very far from slavery! By doing this you are supporting a social system which for my part, I do find, for the least, not sustainable in the 21st century. I am sorry if this is offending to you, but this is just my sincere opinion. Answering that the poor Filipinos are happy/smiling under this condition, is not a valid argument for me. Filipinos have learned to smile in any circumstances. As an average westerner you will never know what they really feel inside their heart. Would you be happy if your child is dying of infection, just because you cannot afford to buy the antibiotics?

Originally Posted by roy

Nipa house-for-rent are not available but then, if there is any are not for disposal. Instead you can avail condominium, apartments or whole house. The rental (?) depends, which range from PhP2,500 to PhP15,000 a month.

As mentioned in my previous post, this depends your possibilities and your exigences. If you are ready to live like an average/poor Filipino, then there are probably not many places in the world where you can live with less money as in the Philippines. But if you want to live like a middle to upper class European/American, then your expenses will probably not differ much from the ones of a western country. BUT YOU STILL BE LIVING IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY! I am aware that some people are not really concerned about this, but most of them wake up, at least at some point when they, or one of their family members are directly concerned. I do not write this in order to criticize your lifestyle, but in order to avoid that some other foreigners, ignorant about these facts do come here and have some very unpleasant surprises. One Philippine ex-pat site/forum, does go as far as advertising: “living in the Philippines like a king on 1000 US$ a month". This is absolutely dishonest, even if you take the word “king” as a very relative statement.

Originally Posted by roy

The price of a house that I quoted is located at the rural areas within the city where you could really enjoy peace and tranquility and hear the sounds of birds. Of course it is much more expensive (2M PhP the least if you buy it, house & lot) at a subdivision.

Here a link to a condo in Makati. Please do check the prices! - Sorry, I am not entitled to publish links on this site!- Condos, in a good neighborhood, in or close to Manila, are sold from 2,000.000 (for a 30 sq.m. studio) till 25,000.000 (for a 3 bedroom penthouse or upscale house). With today’s rate exchanges 1,000.000 Ph Pesos are equivalent to 22,100.00 USD. Some of those flats can be rented for between 50,000 - 150,000 Pesos (1300 – 3,300 US$) a month. This is still only about 1/3 of the price in Hong Kong!!! I would pretend that under 30’000 pesos (600 US$) a month it is very difficult to find a place with western commodities, nearby to a bigger city, with constant power and water and with medical services available.

Originally Posted by roy

As to crime issue: By rank, U.S. tops the #1 slots with 11,877,218 of the most number of crimes committed followed by UK with 86,523,706. The Philippines was placed at #47 with 85,776 among 82 countries considered.
Per Capita ranking: Dominica tops with 113.822 per 1,000 people while UK at #6 with 85.5517/1,000 people and the U.S. at #8 with 80.0645. The Philippines was not among the list of 60 countries surveyed. For added inputs pls see The Eighth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2002) (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention) at NationMaster - World Statistics, Country Comparisons

It is not possible to make valid statistics of crime rates in the Philippines. Most minor crimes, which do not involve politicians or celebrities, are not even investigated or reported. Please consider that an important part of the population does not have any ID or even birth certificate. They virtually do not exist! Over 60 journalists have been victims of extrajudicial killings (placing the Philippines only second to Iraq) during the last 5 years. Not a single one has been elucidated (report from Philippine Inquirer). If you report robberies, the police does nothing! This is my very personal experience. Manny time security guards are part of the game and sometime also the police, due to their miserable salaries. The worth of a human life is one of the cheapest in the whole world. The families of victims from the sinking of the “Princess of the Stars” do receive 200,000 Ph Pesos (4,420 US$) each. This is the worth of a human life in the Philippines. No liability will ever be more as this.

Originally Posted by roy

Cagayan de oro is seldom visited by natural catastrophes. Thanks God
Indeed there is no one perfect place for everybody to live, but you will really miss Cagayan de Oro City. Again thank you for your credible comments.

Natural catastrophes can hit about every place in the whole word, but judging from very credible statistics, you have much more chances to loose your house/ belongings or even your life, in the Philippines. You will have trouble finding an insurance company, which is willing to give you adequate coverage.
Just to finish off… Many foreigners in the Philippine try to describe the country in a very positive way. I have the experience that the same ex-pat’s, while at foreigner meetings, do nothing else as bashing Filipinos, the mentality, the politic and about everything. The reasons why many are here, are not really because the country is a paradise.... There are some very positive sides about the Philippines, I did learn a lot here, in both ways….. I have a Filipino wife and she is sharing most of my opinions about her country, as well as many others, prominent, intellectual Filipinos and foreigners. This could be a wonderful country…IF....

[roy]

THANK YOU Eva33! I truly appreciate your mannerly, insightful replies. Indeed I considered your criticism to Filipinos as everyone’s obligation especially if one is not doing good for the advancement of his people. Of course I am not offended because in my own way I do criticize people in the government and politicians as well when I was then with the government- the more I am doing it now being retired 8 years ago. And I am glad you are helping me too, a foreigner at that married to a Filipina. I hoped someone would also post their comments.
Surely it is admitted and cannot be denied that Philippines is not as rich as the other country but you can’t deny too that they are more respectful and more educated compared to some other countries you visited that is why you married a Filipina. However, it's depressing (I do mind it-of course I am not referring to you) to see people repeat stuff they heard somewhere, in a bar, towards closing time?
Modestly aside, do I belong to a poor country, I too visited countries in Europe, North America and Asia and I have bad and good experiences so to speak with these countries like you do in the Philippines. I have also friends, relatives in Europe particularly in Germany, Denmark and Switzerland who are permanent residents and giving me both unpleasant and excellent feedbacks. I hate to mention this but some countries became rich because of the money from other countries. Is it Switzerland with their bank secrecy policy that the infamous international criticism of Switzerland's “gold transactions with the Nazis and Swiss banks' handling of wartime Jewish deposits? What about Marcos money”? Some say that the U.S. became rich because of war materials and equipments exported to other countries(?) that is why poor countries became poorer. I don’t know. I prefer not to go on details.
On slave issue: there are more than10 millions’ of Pinoys victimized by human recruitment scammers and smuggling rings. I see also the millions of starving Pinoys in the slums and growing illiteracy of the young generation and are working as slaves (maybe –according to you since they received less remunerations which I disagree ). I won’t say Filipinos are modern slave because everyone are considered slave when they are working under someone, aren’t they? Slave is considered a harsh word for someone who doesn’t earn any respect and being treated shabbily by their owner and slave isn’t a right word to condemn the filipinos that works oversea. But I don’t feel like the idea and i am ashamed that some Filipinos marrying foreigners for their existence and not for love.
Indeed, everyone in this world has been working even overseas and they couldn’t be labeled as someone else slaves because everyone has their own role in producing something good in their industry no matter if you're a skillful engineer or just a hard labor. Both also contribute their time and skill in achieving something especially in work. And certainly too, work is not shame, laziness is shame. No one achieve happiness if they don’t work hard and it’s a shame not to want to work hard.
On the other hand why should the majority of filipinos worry if they are already enjoying life to the fullest even in their hearts?. Maybe they just don’t have the need to be identified as a superior race (remember the nazis).
Really, sometimes I would tend to believe that humans are not nice people no matter what their outer covering looks like.
Lastly, what I am trying to sell is not Makati but Cagayan de Oro City-about 1.5 hours away by air. Makati has nothing to offer but pollution, high crime with very very bad, unstable leadership.
My regards.

[Eva33]

Originally Posted by roy

THANK YOU Eva33! I truly appreciate your mannerly, insightful replies. Indeed I considered your criticism to Filipinos as everyone’s obligation especially if one is not doing good for the advancement of his people. Of course I am not offended because in my own way I do criticize people in the government and politicians as well when I was then with the government- the more I am doing it now being retired 8 years ago. And I am glad you are helping me too, a foreigner at that married to a Filipina. I hoped someone would also post their comments.
Surely it is admitted and cannot be denied that Philippines is not as rich as the other country but you can’t deny too that they are more respectful and more educated compared to some other countries you visited that is why you married a Filipina. However, it's depressing (I do mind it-of course I am not referring to you) to see people repeat stuff they heard somewhere, in a bar, towards closing time?

I really do appreciate your posts Roy. It is not always easy to express criticism even if it is not meant to offend, or just to relate facts and give ones particular view and opinions. I also try to protect foreigners coming here and finding very different circumstances as the ones they read on the Internet. As a foreigner in your country, I just want to give a realistic picture of what tourist’s or retired ex-pats can expect coming to the Philippines. I am aware that the Philippines are a big country, so this is only a very general description, which can differ quite much depending the region and your lifestyle, It is not my intention to criticize Filipinos as individuals or to comment your politics. There are enough Filipinos, which do a very good job at this themselves in the major newspapers of the country. I do not collect my opinions in Bars towards closing time or some other dubious places. The Philippines do have a low cost of living, one just have to consider what you get for your money. You are right about the fact that Filipinos are more respectful, especially when it comes to older people, as the people in the west. About education, it really depends what you mean by the word education. On the other hand it is documented that under certain conditions Filipinos can easily become violent, with less respect for human life, as in other countries - see recent bank robberies e.g. Of course the literate part of Filipinos is very high in comparison to citizen of other third world countries

Originally Posted by roy

Modestly aside, do I belong to a poor country, I too visited countries in Europe, North America and Asia and I have bad and good experiences so to speak with these countries like you do in the Philippines. I have also friends, relatives in Europe particularly in Germany, Denmark and Switzerland who are permanent residents and giving me both unpleasant and excellent feedbacks. I hate to mention this but some countries became rich because of the money from other countries. Is it Switzerland with their bank secrecy policy that the infamous international criticism of Switzerland's “gold transactions with the Nazis and Swiss banks' handling of wartime Jewish deposits? What about Marcos money”? Some say that the U.S. became rich because of war materials and equipments exported to other countries(?) that is why poor countries became poorer. I don’t know. I prefer not to go on details.

I agree again! I am also critic of my own country. I am fully aware of the dark side of Switzerland during World War II. On the other they’re where Nazi collaborators in all European countries, including France, Belgium, Holland and of course Spain and Italy. As an Asian country, I do not have to remind you Japan… I did, as a big majority of other Swiss citizen, participate at protest marches because of the Swiss bank concerning the Marcos money and other dubious bank operations. There are many more negative things in Switzerland, but overall we have less corruption, less crime, more social equality, no abject poverty and we are nr. one worldwide in clean air. I also have to mention that Switzerland, opposed to the Philippines, is a country without any kind of natural resources. So sometimes one can ask: why is Switzerland a wealthy country and the Philippines so poor? Also there are quite some “poor excuses for being poor”…. Personally I think that being critic to your one country is better as blind patriotism and being proud just for having a certain passport. The second will definitely make progress more difficult. I would never dare to quote the USA as an example. The numerous atrocities and genocide this nation perpetrated in order to become the world power number one is historic evidence. On the other hand, being honest and realistic, they also did a few good things…

Originally Posted by roy

On slave issue: there are more than10 millions’ of Pinoys victimized by human recruitment scammers and smuggling rings. I see also the millions of starving Pinoys in the slums and growing illiteracy of the young generation and are working as slaves (maybe –according to you since they received less remunerations which I disagree ). I won’t say Filipinos are modern slave because everyone are considered slave when they are working under someone, aren’t they? Slave is considered a harsh word for someone who doesn’t earn any respect and being treated shabbily by their owner and slave isn’t a right word to condemn the filipinos that works oversea. But I don’t feel like the idea and i am ashamed that some Filipinos marrying foreigners for their existence and not for love.

To me, comparing to European democratic, country, the Philippines looks as a country where one part - the rich- are colonizing the other part –the poor; like having taken over from the Spaniards. I could elaborate on this, but this is not my role and if the Filipinos are happy with this system, then everything is OK with me. Filipinas marrying for money? Marrying out of interests other than love happen not only with Filipinas. Two from three, so called “love marriages” concealed in Europe are divorced after only a few years. In Japan “love marriage” is not a tradition. They have one of the lowest divorce rates worldwide. Then: “What is this thing called Love?” We do not really know, and there are so many things we do not know! But in short: Many of the marriages between foreigners and Filipinas are very good and working for many years.

Originally Posted by roy

Indeed, everyone in this world has been working even overseas and they couldn’t be labeled as someone else slaves because everyone has their own role in producing something good in their industry no matter if you're a skillful engineer or just a hard labor. Both also contribute their time and skill in achieving something especially in work. And certainly too, work is not shame, laziness is shame. No one achieve happiness if they don’t work hard and it’s a shame not to want to work hard.
On the other hand why should the majority of filipinos worry if they are already enjoying life to the fullest even in their hearts?. Maybe they just don’t have the need to be identified as a superior race (remember the nazis).
Really, sometimes I would tend to believe that humans are not nice people no matter what their outer covering looks like.

I do not know about superior races, which is kind of a crazy concept, but I know about some people feeling inferior and I am wondering why? Personally, I have the opinion that it is not good for a nation to have to export their working force, often the elite, to other countries in order to have a sustainable economy. It does produce much individual misery. This foreign workers are often considered as second-class citizen being underpaid.

Originally Posted by roy

Lastly, what I am trying to sell is not Makati but Cagayan de Oro City-about 1.5 hours away by air. Makati has nothing to offer but pollution, high crime with very very bad, unstable leadership.
My regards.

Which Cayatan de Oro, there are at least three in Philippines? Northern Luzon, Mindanao... ? I found Makati to be quite nice. Crime and security matters in Makati are generally considered much more positive as in the rest of the country. I do agree about the terrible pollution, but there are many other positives sides to big cities. I mean this is really a matter of taste, lifestyle and priorities.

[oddball]

I think it is 'Positive' posting when the negative side of a particular country is explained in an enlightening manner , too much advertising is on the 'Upscale' side of actuality percieved by an unfortunate visitor/immigrant . This approach also tends to bring out a more honest opinion by respondents , at an early age i was taught to always ask 'Why' and when the answers ran out , to approach another source . Colin .

[roy]

Good Day Eva33

I am glad we are in the same direction. I'm happy too that majority (as you told me) of Filipinas married to foreigners are having good marriage. In fact my sister in law is married 30 years ago to a Swiss banker now in Shaffhaussen (spelling?). My three cousins also were married to Swiss nationals now in Bern and Zurich. My 2 nieces also married to German nationals and many KABABAYAN friends married to foreigners. They are happily married.
By the way Cagayan Oro is a City of Northern Mindanao. Regards to your family.

[Eva33]

GOOD! Schaffhausen. You spell German better as I do with Tagalog
Best wishes for you and your family.

Originally Posted by roy

Good Day Eva33

I am glad we are in the same direction. I'm happy too that majority (as you told me) of Filipinas married to foreigners are having good marriage. In fact my sister in law is married 30 years ago to a Swiss banker now in Shaffhaussen (spelling?). My three cousins also were married to Swiss nationals now in Bern and Zurich. My 2 nieces also married to German nationals and many KABABAYAN friends married to foreigners. They are happily married.
By the way Cagayan Oro is a City of Northern Mindanao. Regards to your family.

[SamarIslands]

There are other places other than the Metro area that is better suited for an ex-pat like me. I used to stay in makati but I could not take the pollution and especially the traffic so I transferred to Samar where the beaches are among the best I have ever seen. Right now, we are around 100 ex-pats from 30 different nations - living a very good and harmonic life in this Paradise.
With clean environment and a fantastic nature where amazing, pacific islands and white, sandy beaches are the frames around our very secure life here.
With the lowest crime rate - and population - in the country is it very safe too.
the wild life is unique and here are plenty of fish like huge Blue Marlin, Tuna and others plus huge 5 kilograms lobsters and much, much more to be caught and served.
We go islands-trips together, we have barbecue evenings, we go river trips to the amazingly beautful water falls, some do caving in the largest and deepest caves in SE Asia and so on - we are not bored at all, with other words.
Our cost of a good decent living is max 20 % of what it is in EU and USA - we can even live for 10 % if we have too.
We do have Universities and airport plus ports nearby too.
A maid is from US $ 50 per month - a nanny too.
Nurse from US $ 100 per month and the same for a good cook or local chef.

[roy]

Philippines has the only retirement program in the world that have nine components integrating housing, healthcare, insurance, lifestyle services, transportation, safety and security, finance, human resources and management. International standards were given ample consideration in the accreditation process. For added readings pls go to pra.gov.ph
Other informative site: Philippines : Gov.Ph : The Official Government Portal of the Republic of the Philippines