Here are actual experiences that some expats have had in many different areas.

These are just a sampling  of what is available in the archives of Philippine Living Island Paradise Yahoo Group "PLIP"

 Please remember that in some cases these posts may contain statements or remarks from the poster that you may not agree with.

PLIPTIME takes no responsibility for the posters opinions and PLIPTIME may not agree with these opinions.  With that said  lets move on...,

MAIDS:

Sorry to read about your bitter experiences Tony, however, not every case or maid is the same.

I have lived in the Philippines three different times, totaling eight years. Each and every time my Filipina wife and I have hired house
help, we have hired one of her relatives. not once have we had problems.

I smile at my wife's relative everyday, trust her with the shopping, large sums of money, so she can pays the bills. Not once have my wife
and I had any problems.

It has been my experience, when you treat one with respect, trust them and treat them like a family member, they are going to be more
incline to be in their best behavior.

It all comes down to the individual you are dealing with, their upbringing, mutual trust and respect.

Ken Rice
Ermita Manila


Some other things you may want to think about when hiring a maid. These are from bitter experience.

Use a reputable agency, who'll give a replacement maid at no extra charge.

Take your maid on a months trial period.

Don't employ a maid who's a relative of your wife. Remember, all fair in love and war.

Always employ a maid from a distant province so their family can't visit.

Don't smile at the maid, she'll think you fancy her, even if you're married.

Don't argue with your wife in front of the maid.

Always support your wife in front of the maid.

Don't trust her with money, always ask for a receipt when you send her to buy something.

If you're single, don't come home drunk, you'll probably wake up with her in your bed.

Remember, a maid can become pregnant, even if you've had a vasectomy!

In the first 3 months the maid will be wonderful.

In the second 3 months the maid will start to take advantage and to see how far you'll let her get away with things.

After that, it's better to replace the maid unless she's absolutely fantastic.

Never let your guard down, it can become your undoing.

Maybe better employ your mother-in-law as your maid. Remember outlaws are wanted, in-laws aren't.

Or

Employ a married couple, maid and driver/gardener they'll usually keep each other in-line but never trust them.

Kind Regards,



Tony Gillingham

That's why they are called maids. They don't have what we have, brains. Thus be very literal in instructing your maids. They do know common stuff like ketchup but they don't know what brand taste the best, they would buy it as long as it has a ketchup label on it.

Maid's nowadays don't like homes without cable tv's as it is a must for most of them to watch their ever entertaining channel, cinema one. If I were you better lock that channel up if you would be having out of town trip or on a long day's work if you don't want to pamper your maid with no work the whole day your out.

Choose maids which are not dumb but not too wise to know the prices of all your kitchen appliances, cellphones, cars, etc. as this is a tell tale sign of something sinister; she may be the dreaded akyat bahay gang member coyed maid.

But not all of them are as bad as we thought. It's just a matter of choosing, and by choosing I mean a lot of painstaking research,background and psycho analysis job for the master of the house. The master of the house must be
vigilant enough by double checking the maids personal information as agencies nowadays can no longer be trusted with respect to the maids they furnish to their clients.

To all of you seeking MAIDS, HAPPY MAID

HUNTING!

"Rose" our maid for a few months she did  excellent work we just needed someone full time. Her  salary 1500 peso's a month thats $36.00 US dollars  a month she worked monday-friday from 8 till 6 She cooked,cleaned the house, washed clothes and provided us with a lot of laughs!

 "Janice" (photo below) our current maid is a live in maid her salary is 1800 pesos a month  thats  $42.80  a month (The starting salary for this area is 1500 a month for a live in maid so she's paid more than average ) She cooks,cleans,washes the clothes,cleans up the dogs mess! (thats worth $42.00 a month by itself)and plays security guard at night! But she's off to college next month and were searching for a new replacement.

Member Suggestions/Experiences

On Process for getting Married in The Philippines

Kevin

Hi all
I would like to find out what and where are the requirements I would have to go thru to not only get married but to move and live in the
PI? What visa would be required and possible time frame I would be looking at? Could this whole process be done within a year? is there
any pit fall I could expect to encounter?
I am retired military and have tricare prime medical that I believe would have to be transfered. And what US banks/Credit unions here in the states would have the best services to deal with my retirement pay overseas as well as interact with a PI bank?

Thank you all for your advice in advance

Jeff

Jim Naga City, Bicol

There are a lot of retired military living here of which I am one. First I would meet her before you decide to get married and make sure
you are right for each other; don't try to do everything all in one trip.

Check the embassy web page for specifics needed to obtain a your capacity to marry from them. http://tinyurl.com/nyvh3 Be sure to
bring a certified copy of any divorce documents and at least one certified copy of your birth certificate. Also I'm told you should not obtain the capacity to marry and then leave the country before getting married. There are other local requirements also such as a ten day
waiting period and attendance of seminars.

As far as visas are concerned initially you will have to stay on a tourist visa until after you are married. At that time you can obtain a 13a visa. The requirements vary depending of if you return to the US after marriage and obtain it there or get one here. It is easier and faster to do in the US but either way there are a number of requirements.

Tricare Prime is not accepted here. You will have to change to Tricare Standard. If you marry, before you wife can use Tricare, you will need to get her registered in DEERS. Depending on your location there are a
few providers that will bill tricare but otherwise you will have to pay the bill first and then submit a claim and you need to use providers that are "certified" my Tricare.

Many of us use a stateside bank where our money is deposited. It is best to use a bank that offers free or low ATM charges while overseas and charges 1% or less on the exchange rate. This is how I do it. We have two joint accounts in the states. A checking and a savings account. They are with Bank of America Military bank but there are some other banks that cater to military that offer similar deals. I use this bank because they provide free checks and five free ATM transactions for each of us each month. In addition I am not charge a conversion fee on ATM transactions but do get charged one if I use the card as a credit card but it is 1%. We also have a joint local dollar saving account and peso ATM account. I use EPCI because they clear my
checks within 15 banking days. Many other local banks will take longer. Around the first of each month I deposit a check in the amount
I expect I will need the following month and withdraw the dollars I deposited the month before. I then have an option of using the bank or a money changer to exchange my dollars for pesos depending on the rate offered. The pesos are then deposited in the ATM account and withdrawn during the month as needed. If additional money is needed we can withdraw it from our US checking account via ATM. If a larger amount is needed I can do an over the counter cash advance at EPCI using my
debit card for up to the daily limit; they charge 100 pesos and the bank charges a 1% exchange fee. Consider using a joint account in the event that something happens and you incapacitated and need someone to
access the accounts.

Carlos Ruiz

First of all, if your divorced, you need to bring all prior your divorce papers. If your a US Citizen you will have to get permission to marry from the Manila Embassy or Cebu consulate. If you get a 13 A there, its a permanent 13A. If you get ithere, they give you a 1 year probationary period, then you have to apply again after 10 months for what I call, the Permanent permanent 13A! Been there, done that Now

Jerry Lames

I might just add that obtaining the permission is a simple matter of going into the Embassy and swearing in front of one of the officers in
the window that you are not married at this time and you are legally able to get married. They then give you a simple document with their
stamp of approval on it, which you had to the city hall if you are getting civil marriage.
Now if you are going to get married in the Catholic church and have been married before it has more complexities to it. You need to obtain documents from your church showing you have been baptized and I think 1st communion documentation. I also think you need to have the previous marriage (if it was in a Catholic church) annulled. Not sure about that part. When I inquired at a local church in Tahanan Village the priest said I would need my baptism papers which I didn't have and
I couldn't get the church where I was baptized in Los Altos California to answer my email requests. Upon telling the priest this he said they could go another route to obtain them, but it began to look expensive so we elected to do the civil wedding instead.

We did a civil wedding 2 years ago and it was pretty easy, they (city hall)have a list of requirements for you to complete, mostly supplying paperwork and then they have you sit through a (in my case) short lecture that a young office worker at the city hall did. I think it
was no more then 5 minutes, nothing serious just a formality. Then the date is set and you return to the city hall and the judge will marry
you at that time they stated on your papers. In my case the judge forgot and or took a holiday so here we were all dressed up and no one
to marry us. They took us to another building where there was a minister and he performed the ceremony. All worked out well with just
a little hiccup, but hey that's the Philippines.

JD

Here are some basics that are needed your first year with marriage plans in mind:

1. Get certified copies of your divorce(s) prior to leaving the USA. These will be needed for US Embassy to issue you "Affidavit in Lieu of
Capacity to Marry" (required by the Phil. govt. to get marriage license). Also, proof of court decree via certified divorce will be required to get your permanent residence visa (13a) 6months or so after you are formally married.

2. Bring certified copies of your DD214/215 to enroll your new wife in DEERS so she can get her Uniform Services ID Card after marriage.
Also, if you are VA Eligible, your 214 will be required as well to use the VA Clinic services in Manila (For Service Connected Disabilities
Only).

3, Bring certified copies of Birth Certificate as well as a precaution.

Make sure those documents are CERTIFIED. You can get CERTIFIED copies of your DD214/215 by filling out form SF-180 (can be done online). Go to:

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/standard-form-180.html

Upon arrival in the Philippines, your passport will be stamped with a 21 day visa. During that time period you need to go to Philippine
immigration and get a 38 day extension. Thereafter, you will renew your "Tourist" visa every 59 days for the first year. After the first
year, you will be required to exit the country for one day and start the process over again. However, if you get married during that
period, you may apply for a permanent residence visa (13a) based on your wifes Philippine Citizenship. This will allow you to get a permanent Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR Card). Usually, it takes about 6 months to get your marriage certified by the National
Statistics Office (NSO) which is required prior to applying for Perm. Residence Visa. So chances are you will not get your Perm. Residence (13a visa) in your first year. However, there is another method for residency if married to a Filipina; That is simply to take your wife with you to a short visit to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore etc at the end of your first year and come back into the country with your wife. You may then present your marriage license, marriage certificate to immigration along with her passport and you will be given a 1 year Balikbayan (Marriage Visa) that is good for 12 months without having to renew your visa every 59 days as you must on "Tourist" visa.

So there are 2 ways for your marriage to be applied to your status as a foreign resident; The Balikbayan OR the 13(a) Perm resident visa. The simplest by far initially is the Balikbayan and thereafter applying for the ACR-I card through the 13 (a) visa after you return from your first years exit trip.
Banking and Direct Deposit info in the Philippines:

If you are receiving US Treasury deposits (SSDI, SS retirement, VA Compensation, etc.) you may set up a direct deposit account here in
the Philippines. The largest bank (and one of the oldest) using this program is Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI). They have close to 500 branches throughout the Philippines and use a number of US Banks as their corresponding banks for USA based bank accounts (Wire Transfers, Remittance and Direct Deposit). I have used them now for 2 years and am very happy with access to ATMs, no fee withdrawal from my Peso and
Dollar accounts using Visa CC and or ATM BPI cards. Here is their website:

http://info.bpiexpressonline.com/bpiprod/prodserv.nsf/Remittance/RemittanceAllia\
nceUSGovernmentAgencies?opendocument


Military Retirees Activity Offices
For a good read on Mil. Retiree Info, visit the RAO angeles website:
http://www2.mozcom.com/~rao_cabr/

Semper Fi!

Boz in BC

Just an added note- The laws of the RP apply no matter where you marry inside this country.

However, against the advice of my mentor Ron S, we paid 5000 pesos to marry in Makati City. Why so much? For one thing we had the NSO
certified copy within two weeks. They filled out the paperwork for us at Makati City Hall. Aside from that they also processed our PhilHealth, changed the name on my wife's SSS card, took photos, provided a letter from the judge, and the mayor of Makati City. In short we paid more for better service. This was my first marriage so
no divorce papers were required.

The affidavit of legal capacity is required for any foreigner wishing to marry in the RP. They do enforce the 30 day expiration of this document in Makati, but apparently don't in other places. I
don't have any regrets.

I thought both Jim and JD's replies were excellent.

David Lombard (JD)

Hello All. I Got married in San Fernando in June 2006. I am retired Navy. Like what was posted here. I brought certified copies of my divorce papers. did the embassy thing. I read here a few months ago ten copies are required but i found that to be incorrect. I think I needed two. There was a four hour class that was required. We did it the same day but they did try
to schedule us for a week later. Very nice people. We just sat down and discussed a few things with the lady is all. And she gave us the certificate. very painless. Got married at the courthouse about 10 days later. again painless. matter of fact, the judge was
very specific in asking did we ever "grease anyones palm" during the process. we did not.
tricare- only standard is excepted in the phils. i am on tricare prime here in California. when i got back to the states i went to Travis Air Force base and enrolled my wife and kids in DEERS. she and the kids have already been seen by a very nice hospital near san fernando that accepts tricare. got the prescriptions and all. no cost at all. . hope this helps.
side note. i applied for the visa last month here in san fran. went with a lawyer. 3500.00 just got the receipt back today. its a good idea to put some of these posts in a file. it can get confusing.

Alan and Sally

Boz, You had much better luck with Makati City Hall than my wife did. She filed her marriage contract with them when she got married in Makati. 7 years later when she went to NSO to have her annulment stamped onto her marriage contract NSO said they didn't have it. She had to hand carry a copy from Makati City over to NSO so they could enter it and then issue her an annulled contract 2 weeks
later. My wife says she is jealous of you for getting in 2 weeks what they didn't do for her in 7 years LOL.

Jerry Lamas

Alan you bring up a good point. If you get married then you should take your official marriage cert with copies to NSO. I don't think city halls will forward them as a general rule and if they do God only knows when they will get there. Better to go direct to NSO and get
them recorded and all other documents corrected with the new name.

Alan Dugan

Jerry,
Actually I think all the city registers are legally obligated to forward births, deaths, marriages and annulments to NSO, but they don't seem to be in any rush. The norm seems to be months, but years and even never does occur quite a bit. In the cities of Metro Manila with most of them having millions of documents to
forward each year I can see how things get slowed down , lost and forgotten. The
smaller towns have no excuse except being lazy. If you want it done quickly I agree hand carry it or pay a good fixer to do it for you.

Ron Speers

Jerry, The civil registrar will NOT let you hand-carry the marriage cert. to NSO. However there is an NSO procedure which most Civil
Registrars are in receipt of whereby the C.R. forwards by courier the cert. to NSO. Inquire from the C.R.

Jerry and Susan

I'm sure it's not the original but it is a certified copy that Susan hand carried to NSO so she could change her other documents and begin
obtaining a new passport with her married name. Now perhaps NSO then takes that and requests verification from the City Hall I don't know. I know she was told to come back in a week or two (CRS) to pick up her changes. I really didn't pay much attention as I've learned (sort of) that there is the right way and then there is the Government way. Not sure they are the same. Lol

Ron Speers

The CR original should have gone to the NSO for national registration. It makes little sense to print NSO certified copies on special fraud-resistant paper if the documents used to produce them arrived via any Tom, Dick or Fixer! But as they say, "In the Philippines, the
law is just a suggestion!"

Boz in Bagio

Hi Alan,
Actually, at first they seemed to be acting us unhelpful as possible. I have only asked to speak with a supervisor once in the Philippines, and that was the time. It was a little hairy.

They somehow got they idea that we would be returning to Hawaii as soon as we were married. I did nothing to discourage this
misunderstanding. We paid all the regular fees first, then met the judge who would perform the marriage. Thankfully he was a basketball
fan, actually graduated from UCLA and his favorite team was the Pacers. I knew I had a Reggie Miller fan on my hands. Things went
better from there.

I would not call this an easy experience. There was a lot of talking in the back rooms. Makati City hall is something like a 15 story tower, maybe more. Anyway it is huge with hundreds of people going every direction. I was the only Kano in sight. This also was not accomplished in one visit. My final "takeaway" was to say we would just wait and get married in Hawaii. Someone brought up the money figure and I paid before it changed again. I have no idea who received what portion of the money but it wasn't a bribe, it was really fee for service. Now the ladies on the front line never changed their flat expressions during any of the visits over that two week period of time. The supervisors were excellent, and they did deliver everything they promised.

On your case I don't think they can do an annulment there for anyone. They have a small NSO desk who can stamp basic documents
there but can't recall which floor. We went to so many floors I lost count and the elevators were not working. I am glad we didn't have to go to the main NSO office in Quezon City. Sorry to hear about your wife's experience. At least it is done, which I what I always say in that type of situation.

 
Enjoying the"Good Life" Retirement in the Philippines. 

A DAY WITH "JJ Claire" 

> The Philippine Islands are still a bargain to live on and in. Marinduque is perhaps one of the best bargains still available in the islands of paradise.
We build a home for about $7500. We got the home up and running and furnished with borrowed furniture. We then replaced the furniture and made many changes, [ie improvements], to a small home that we built from the bricks up. We built the home by bringing in
bags of cement, and truckloads of gravel and sand. We built the
home on land that mama got from her father, and he from his father.
The land has been in her family for a long time. Needless to say we
knew, [know], that the title is good. Land can be rented for 25 years or more and the lease renewed a second 25 years if one is not a citizen. Few of us will live beyond 90 or so, so what is 50 years
of rent? I will not speak of luxury apartments or rentals as I do
not plan to exercise that option of providing a roof over my head
and that of my family. Full time house keepers used to be $20 or so
a month. With the increase of wages inside the islands and the
devaluation of the US dollar, we now pay our housekeeper about $50 a month. He watches our property when we are not in the country and we have been blessed with his services.
He is mama's nephew and we are proud of the way he manages to
maintain the property when we are not there. The costs of land for
native citizens varies with the location of the land, as the price would almost anywhere in the world. The land in good areas seems to be cheaper than in Houston, where we still have cheap land. Land back in the interior is even cheaper. Land in the bigger cities, to
my understanding is still more expensive than land in the province.
We feel that we can live well on a minimal cost by living in the
Philippines. We, mama and I, employ a houseboy and a gardener most
of the year. My nephew is given money to employ the gardener. He can either do that work also or pay someone to do the outside maintenance. He has it tough when I am there, easier when we are in Houston. Soon, we plan to retire to the islands full time. By the way, most folks in the islands speak at least some
English. Mariduque lags the bigger cities in the production of students that are fluent in English, but still we are usually able to get our point across in English, on our island. Most employees, if treated well, will prefer to work for a KANO than a Filipino as
we often pay higher and often treat them as well or better than local standards. Most citizens I have employed have been hard working and honest. Folks that do not fit this bill or that need
lots of supervision, are not kept on long term. We find it better to pay a bit more and have loyalty than to scrimp and have problems that are not worth the time and bother to solve. We now pay our gardener 200 pesos a day for a days work a week. We will pay him a bit less for a days work if we work him more often. He is eager for
the additional hours, [days work], and seems to be quite a hard working young man. I am not hiring a college grad, or even a high school grad. I do not expect them to be bright, but I do
demand and expect honesty and almost always get what I pay for.
Mama and I can eat in a first class eatery in Manila, Lucena City
or most big towns for $3 to $10 a person. We can eat far cheaper if
we eat in local eateries, often at less than a dollar for a three or four course meal. Some folks will find that local meals do not meet international expectations, but for mama and I, we enjoy local food to the up most. If I want international cuisine, I often cook it
myself, using local ingredients or purchasing imports as needed to
  prepare the dish desired. I have over 30,000 recipes on my computer. I am hoping to one day find time to organize the recipes and to make a cookbook encyclopedia.  I am not sure how to set the encyclopedia up, but I do have most
of the recipes. The Philippines offers colorful traditions. We find that each
region has its own traditions and way of doing things. We have enjoyed most of the places we have visited. Rural areas will offer a great deal of native artwork, from furniture to tapestries. Large
cities will often have a market that will sell handicrafts to both locals and the international set for what I find is dirt cheap prices. I let mama do the bargaining and things seems to be cheaper than with me buying and paying the Kano tax. Life in the interior
has improved a great deal since I first lived in the islands in the early 1970's.Of course you will not find frigid conditions in the tropics, but in the tropics, the higher up the mountains you go, the cooler it gets. As you move to different areas you will find cultural
diversity in most cases. We find a small place at the cost to be fine for us. Perhaps it is because mama grew up in the area and is well connected. Perhaps we will buy a second place. One will know as we return soon for full time living in the islands of paradise.
 We are considering a small condo on the outer outskirts ofManila. We may also look south. I enjoyed my recent trips to CDO and Davao. Davao is so clean. The outskirt of CDO were beautiful, cool and a real treat to mama and I. As I mentioned, English is spoken in most areas of the Philippines. English is the second official language. Filipino is spoken in many areas, but English will get you by in most areas as well as Tagalog. Most of the people are Christian, the largest
percentage of our islands population are Roman Catholic and one will
find some Muslims, and almost any Christian group they would want to
find. We have a lot of missionaries on our island, and I have met many on other islands. Finding a Baptist Church or one of any other protestant
 religion should not be difficult. There is a Seventh Day Adventist church across the street from my home. There is a Baptist, a Bible and Christian
Churches within easy walking distances. There are many areas in the Philippines where you should not drink
the tap water, and should find a good source of filtered or distilled water. In most areas, even small rural areas have filtered, distilled, or mineral water is bottled and inexpensive.
We buy 20 liters of water at a time for about 40 pesos or about a
dollar per bottle. Small bottles of water are available about every
place where you will find a vendor selling any type of food, which
is about every public place in the islands. Vegetables should be
well washed before cooking, and in many areas, iodine or chlorine
bleach should be used to soak the vegetables and fruits before the
items are eaten. I eat salads, but mama often passes. She does eat
cucumbers though and we both eat some types of raw vegetables, but
not as much as in the USA. I was told that because our water is neither fluorinated or chlorinated that we should not drink it from the tap. I have been using a filter pitcher with good results. I used to have occasional GI problems with the water, Since I
started using the filter pitcher, I have not had any such problems.
Most areas of the country are safe. Political stability is always in question, but never have I in 35 years question in my safety or that of my family. Despite what you hear, the Philippines is a safe
place to live and enjoy. Cities are generations ahead of many rural areas. Some rural areas, such as Cayagan de Oro are light years ahead of other rural
areas, like my island province of Marinduque. You will find malls
and fast food restaurants in most cities, but these are unheard of in Marinduque. Our area does not have the fine mega malls, the multi- screened cinema houses, or the fine eateries of the big cities. This is all a matter of taste and settling in an area to accommodate your needs and desires. We often go to the mainland, [Lucena City], and
purchase the latest movies already on CD. Most CD's are of decent
quality that they are a joy to view. Some are horrible and I return them the next trip to the mainland and get a replacement. We have no 'Sam's Club' in Marinduque. We are two hours by boat from ACE hardware and many other brand name outlets. More sizable towns in the Philippines offer much of what is found on the average American sales shelf. Some rural areas offer more, some less, but always you see smiling sales persons ready to help. I have been told, in some of the internet sites, that the sales people are all
but worthless in helping with a major purchase. I have to be honest. Most ladies do not know much about appliances, but they are good with clothing. Get the supervisor of the area to assist and s/he, [usually he], will be invaluable for information and answers
to questions you will never even think to ask. The sales people can
also arrange for transportation to outer islands, such as Marinduque, and of course more rural provinces. The local infrastructure in some areas is quite modern. In other areas it is a turn back in time. Highways can be two to four lane concrete or a single lane of gravel and mud. You wait for one car to
pass, so that you can use the same lane to continue. Cell phones are
popular. Land lines and DSL may be less common. Hospitals in the
city can be modern and up to date. Hospitals in rural areas often
leave much to be desired. High speed internet is hit and miss. We
have been pleased over all with our DSL, but we occasionally do have
brownouts and problems. A brownout in either Manila or Marinduque
will disrupt our connection. Above Cagayan de Oro we found there
no land lines and no internet services. Folks text by cell phone. On
our tropical island of Marinduque we enjoy the benefits of DSL
almost every day. Food and alcohol are almost everywhere in the islands. Most areas offer cheap food, and very cheap beer, brandy, rum, and gin. Other
drinks are often available. Soft drinks are everywhere and offered
in different sizes. Foreign fare is available in the large cities.
I was taken by a relative to a nice Mexican Restaurant on a trip to
the islands. We were taken by another relative to a Chinese eatery
during the same trip. Filipino fare is still by far, the cheapest
and most available in the country. The quality of San Miguel Beer
will spoil you, distilled spirits can leave you lacking in smoothness and taste. I wish tequila was as available as whiskey and vodka.
As I mentioned, English is an official language of the islands. English is spoken as a second language, there are few native speakers of English in the Philippines. The Philippines is also a long way from the United States. Doing business at home can require
that you stay up half the night to make a phone call to a company in American. The USA follows the islands by 12 to 16 time zones. Like any country that has a foreign language, learning at least some of the local language can be fun and rewarding. It will also gain a lot
or respect from most of the natives if you do make this attempt. In an emergency however, you will almost always be able to make your self understood in English. In recent months, the peso that floats against the US dollar has been worth more, and the dollar worth less. The peso has also gained against the British Pound, the Eur o, the Australian Dollar, and the
Canadian Dollar. Don't forget, a strong peso makes for a strong host
country. In rural areas the dollar will go farther, but services available
are often less. Almost all services, with the exception of the Internet, are cheaper than in the USA. Some areas of Cagayan de Oro have Internet cafes charging 10 pesos an hour. Some areas of Manila have DSL for about PHP 1000 a month. I pay PHP 1995 per month for decent Internet and feel the price is well worth the cost. I find
this far better than waiting to use the internet at a local cafe in
the town proper. The cost of the cafe would be far less than the p1995, but we would not have the convenience and enjoyment of being on line 24 hours a day. I now use VOIP at $25 a month and find the service for domestic calls and faxes in the USA to be excellent. In
most areas housing costs are far lower than in the USA. Some areas
will take more getting used to than other areas. Gated communities,
like in the USA, are available, but another writer will have to clue
you in on those. I live in a small house
> with two baths, warm water showers, three bedrooms, a sala, a dining area, a kitchen and a dirty kitchen for almost no cost at all. As I already noted, I built the home mortgage free for about
$7500 or less, and have upgraded almost monthly since. Mama owns the
land, the home sits on a little over 3 acres of paradise. Property
taxes are about PHP 2000 a year, about $50.00 a year. Insurance is nill, driving costs even cheaper. Our neighbors envy our little bungalow, but there are many large, fine mansions in the country that would make my home look like a salt box. Buses, jeepneys, and tricycles can get you just about anywhere, be it across the road or across the country. Many areas have good airline service. Mass transportation is cheap. I recently took a bus from Manila, near a cousin's home, reserved the two front seats, and
was dropped off at my door in the province. The bus was barged on a
boat from Lucena to the port in Marinduque. The cost was php 500, or
about $11 each. The bus was clean, comfortable, and air conditioned.
The boat had bunks and was air conditioned. The a/c worked so well I
caught a nasty cold. Will any of the islands be right for you? This is hard to say. You will not be able to drive here to find out. The country has 7,107
islands; the ten largest islands contain 90% of the population. We are the 13th island in size. We island hop, and travel. We enjoy domestic help and rural family life to the fullest. The Philippines
offers me everything any country could even attempt to promise. I enjoy more cool areas, but mama has land here, as well as family, so we opted for this tiny remote island, about 40 % larger than Guam. We have a diversified climate on the island. I may investigate a plot of land on the mountain soon. For landslides, we are on the warning list. For now I am staying on the coastal plain, but as I mentioned, I may look for a second home in either Marinduque, Manila or one of the southern islands. We have occasional electric
brownouts, but we can also drink the tap water, [but we are warned
not to]. We made trade offs with needs vs. desires and stuck it out here on our tropical island. We are not alone, as our 960 square kilometer island is home to an additional 218,000 people in 6
towns. Would we have enjoyed Mexico, Central America, South America or
another area more? We will never know as we have found paradise here
in Marinduque. Now if I can just find a trucker to bring in 20 loads
of fill, get a fish pond dug, build a piggery, drill a well, and find a man with a carabao and a plow willing to plow my upper field for corn and peas, I will indeed be a happy foreigner. Also, mama will be a happy ''wife of the foreigner''. Come, take a look, take a real look, and stay a while if you can.
We were forced from our retired life style in December of 2006. We had seen earthquakes and lots of typhoons and rain. We left when over 90 percent of our islands natives woke up without a roof over their heads due to a cat 5 typhoon. We have since returned to work and have enjoyed Houston and our home here. We do caution folks
that life there will now cost more both because of the increased costs in the islands and because of the rise of the peso again our US dollar. We will soon be old enough for SS. Mama and I will also sell our home in Houston and head for the islands and use the
islands as our base, instead of using Houston as our current base.
We can travel to most areas of Asia with minimal cost. Travel to the USA for an occasional visit is not out of our range of expenses. We feel that living a western lifestyle in Marinduque
will cost us about $1100 to $1300 a month. My SS will be able to cover than. We hope this post has been of benefit to readers. Jerry Olson asked me for a budget. I submitted one. We do not
rent, as I mentioned, we own. Rental of our home here would be about 5000 to 7000 a month. What I did not include on the budget was cable. We have over 40 channels, many in English, for about 300 pesos a month. There are two cable companies and two phone
companies to choose from.

  Blessings to all...
  JJ