Hi,
I'm a 38 year old geek that has a dream of living by the beach while spending the time with the familily and starting an online business from home and programming with my laptop from the pool, I don't like drinking, party or other women, I like going to secluded beachs, kite surfing, diving, running and going to the gym.
People complain about the attitude of Filipinos that they are lazy and not serious etc... I live currently in UAE and I work with a lot of indians, pakistanies and filipinos, no surprise for me, the fact that the people around you are lazy and not efficient has good and bad parts, as they say... "in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king", it is a matter of patience and understanding that in less developed country things go at a different pace, I assume that.
I've been programming all my life for different banks around the world, including US, UK, Japan and Middle East... This last one is where I met my wife from the Phils, my wife is the same age as me, the family is well off when I visit them they usually are the ones inviting me not the apposite, then no issue with an ATM family as I read here, we have a 3 years old baby and planing to go for another one.
I managed to save some money during the years and I'm good at investing it, I can get 4-5 thousand USD per month with my investments, then I won't depend on my success on my online business it will be like a hobby and a chance to make some extra money.
I'm also planing to buy a lot in a subdivision to build a villa... my question is where... I love El nido and Coron, but that is too isolated and laid back to have kids there, Manila doesn't look appealing to me, it is too dangerous and the nice beaches are too far...
I'm thinking in Cebu, maybe a subdivision in Mactan or Liloan area... I need a decent school near, that is another issue... I see that local schools are cheap even the good ones 100-200 USD per month, but the ones with European curriculum are pretty expensive, 1000 USD per month, that is a bit too much, is it worth it? I'm not a big fun of expensive education being myself a self-learner and having studied in average public schools back in Europe, I will send my children to university in Europe for sure once they grow up.
I visited Davao a few times, but I'm not 100% convinced I think that Cebu has nicer spots around and it is safer.... I Can go to Bohol, Malapascua, Dumaguete (Or just live in Dumaguete), Bantayan etc...
I read a lot of bad things about the Philippines and I stayed the Phillipines around 4 months in total, I believe that in the next 10-20 years there will be far more opportunities in Asia than in the Western countries and online education will be very available.
I could go and retire in Europe, but given that I'll be taxed heavily (In the Phils I won't be taxed for my income coming from abroad) and life is much more expensive I don't think that it will be worth it given that I really like south east Asia to enjoy my time with the nature and water sports.
What do you think? Anything I'm missing or it could work out well? Anyone living in the area that can advise on the different areas to live, subdivisions, schools? I'm planning in going to Cebu in a couple of months.
Thanks!
I'm a 38 year old geek that has a dream of living by the beach while spending the time with the familily and starting an online business from home and programming with my laptop from the pool, I don't like drinking, party or other women, I like going to secluded beachs, kite surfing, diving, running and going to the gym.
People complain about the attitude of Filipinos that they are lazy and not serious etc... I live currently in UAE and I work with a lot of indians, pakistanies and filipinos, no surprise for me, the fact that the people around you are lazy and not efficient has good and bad parts, as they say... "in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king", it is a matter of patience and understanding that in less developed country things go at a different pace, I assume that.
I've been programming all my life for different banks around the world, including US, UK, Japan and Middle East... This last one is where I met my wife from the Phils, my wife is the same age as me, the family is well off when I visit them they usually are the ones inviting me not the apposite, then no issue with an ATM family as I read here, we have a 3 years old baby and planing to go for another one.
I managed to save some money during the years and I'm good at investing it, I can get 4-5 thousand USD per month with my investments, then I won't depend on my success on my online business it will be like a hobby and a chance to make some extra money.
I'm also planing to buy a lot in a subdivision to build a villa... my question is where... I love El nido and Coron, but that is too isolated and laid back to have kids there, Manila doesn't look appealing to me, it is too dangerous and the nice beaches are too far...
I'm thinking in Cebu, maybe a subdivision in Mactan or Liloan area... I need a decent school near, that is another issue... I see that local schools are cheap even the good ones 100-200 USD per month, but the ones with European curriculum are pretty expensive, 1000 USD per month, that is a bit too much, is it worth it? I'm not a big fun of expensive education being myself a self-learner and having studied in average public schools back in Europe, I will send my children to university in Europe for sure once they grow up.
I visited Davao a few times, but I'm not 100% convinced I think that Cebu has nicer spots around and it is safer.... I Can go to Bohol, Malapascua, Dumaguete (Or just live in Dumaguete), Bantayan etc...
I read a lot of bad things about the Philippines and I stayed the Phillipines around 4 months in total, I believe that in the next 10-20 years there will be far more opportunities in Asia than in the Western countries and online education will be very available.
I could go and retire in Europe, but given that I'll be taxed heavily (In the Phils I won't be taxed for my income coming from abroad) and life is much more expensive I don't think that it will be worth it given that I really like south east Asia to enjoy my time with the nature and water sports.
What do you think? Anything I'm missing or it could work out well? Anyone living in the area that can advise on the different areas to live, subdivisions, schools? I'm planning in going to Cebu in a couple of months.
Thanks!