10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
Oct 13th 2012, 2:07 am
#1
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Location: Cebu City, Philippines
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10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
Why Philippines?!
The central hub of South East Asia is an archipelago of islands that numbers 7,107 and makes up the country known as the Philippines. Coconut palm trees, turquoise seas, white sand beaches, sunshine and friendly, happy people are all in abundance. The climate offers the usual tropical warmth found in places like the Caribbean, Thailand and Malaysia. What separates Philippines travel from other pleasurable destinations in the world though is that tourists and travellers are yet to penetrate beyond the usual tourist centres of this country. Away from these popular tourist areas, usually along the coast line, there is still so much to be explored and discovered in the interior. The Philippines is a great sea-faring nation that dates back to Magellan’s and Columbus’ time and inter-island transport is inexpensive and has regular schedules – making island-hopping an entertaining past time.
In a recent world study that compared the overall happiness of the people in a nation, the Filipino people came out on top – the ‘Happiest Country in the World’. That is not to say everyone is always happy, but the Filipino approach to life has an enormous emphasis on enjoyment, and when faced with frustration or hardship, they quite easily slouch it off and put a smile on. Everywhere you travel in the Philippines, you are greeted with a warm welcoming smile, “Hi”, “Hello” or “Where are you going?” by passers-by that are curious and excited to see a foreign face in their community. You feel welcome and safe, and can focus on just enjoying their incredible country. Since English is also widely spoken, it is easy to communicate with Filipinos and find yourself in meaningful conversations where you can learn more about their lives.
1. Low Cost of Living — cost of living in the Philippines is lower than in Western countries and other major cities in Asia except for the cost of luxury goods like top-branded motor cars. The monthly expenses for housing, food, transportation and labour costs anywhere in the Philippines are affordable for most retirees. They can live comfortably in the Philippines for £1,200 per month in a furnished home with a household helper.
2. Filipino Hospitality — Filipino hospitality is world-renowned. Filipinos are happy people and have consistently rated high in happiness index surveys. Their family and Christian values, friendliness, cheerfulness and compassion are qualities that will certainly make retirees feel welcome and at home – making it easy to adapt to the local culture.
3. Health Services — Retirees are naturally concerned about keeping healthy in order to enjoy their retirement to the fullest. The Philippines’ medical and health-care facilities are in some cases better than that of the retirees’ home
country. Treatment is affordable and immediate without the need to wait for GP, Consultant and specialist appointments. Health insurance is available through several insurance companies for as little as £50 per month. You can have a full health check-up for as little as £50.00. The diagnostics clinics usually perform the tests starting early morning with blood tests after fasting overnight. The remaining tests follow with results usually available in the afternoon of the same day. The report shows your specific results versus a normal range and if there are any issues you can immediately get an appointment with a GP to discuss them and determine if a course of treatment is needed. Many common prescription medicines in the West are available over the counter at reasonable prices at local pharmacists without the need for a doctors’ appointment.
Filipino doctors are trained in Western medicine and many are trained abroad in affiliation with international medical associations. Filipino nurses’ natural friendliness and competence are sought all over the world and comforting to
every retiree who needs compassionate care.
4. Modern Conveniences — The Philippines provides all the basic necessities and conveniences of modern living. Large shopping malls, modern transportation, Internet and other high-tech telecommunications network are available in all
the 120 cities around the Philippines. Other forms of entertainment like movie theatres, satellite and cable TV channels which include programs from around the world – so you’ll never feel cut-off from the rest of the world and modern life. The magic of Skype permits regular low cost video calls with friends and relatives back home should you feel the need.
5. Diverse Eco-tourism — The Philippines is rich in biodiversity and natural wonders. From the world class white sand beaches fringed with coconut palms of Boracay, the spectacular rice terraces of Banaue, to the beautiful volcanic
mountains of Pinatubo, Apo, Kanlaon and Mayon, the Philippines has over 7100 islands that all offer a piece of tropical paradise.
6. Wellness Centres — Fitness centres and spas abound, offering massage therapy, and other natural and alternative treatments and practices – all designed to restore vitality and promote relaxation and good health. Retirees can avail of annual membership in fitness centres at minimal cost and personal trainers are available to ensure optimum results are achieved. Most of the wellness facilities are run and/or staffed by medical practitioners and offer treatments based on both Western and Oriental medicine.
7. International Cuisine —Filipino food is mainly influenced by Spanish, Chinese and Malay cuisine. However, over the centuries, the Philippines has also adopted culinary styles and flavours of the cultures that have come in contact
with Filipinos – ie, American, Japanese, Indian, Mediterranean, European and other Southeast Asians. Apart from the local cuisine, the Philippines also has restaurants offering authentic dishes that foreign palates have learned to adopt with – either for fine dining or fast food joints.
8. Religious Freedom — In general, all religions are respected and freely practiced in the Philippines. Whilst more than 80 percent of Filipinos are Catholics because of the 300 years of Spanish colonization, other variants of Christianity thrive in the Philippines – together with Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and other Evangelical Churches. Being a religious nation, Catholic and Protestant churches abound – with Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu temples also available in some places.
9. Tropical Climate — The climate of the Philippines is tropical and maritime, similar in many respects to the climate of the countries of Central America. It is dominated by a rainy season and a dry season. The summer monsoon brings
heavy rains to most of the archipelago from May to October, whereas the winter monsoon brings cooler and drier air from December to February. Generally, however, the weather is fair throughout the year – which is particularly important for retiring people who can no longer tolerate the cold season and avoid winter depression.
10. Ease of Communication – There are about 150 to 175 dialects spoken around the Philippines – with Filipino as the official language and spoken by most. English is also widely used throughout the Philippines and most Filipinos are conversant in English as it is the medium of instruction from primary school on-wards. International schools can be found in most major cities, most daily newspapers are in English and foreign news programs (BBC, CNN, etc) are available. More importantly, legal documents are written in English and language interpreters also abound and are available through the Department of Tourism.
Places to Live in The Philippines
There are more than 120 cities in the Philippines and several market surveys arrive at similar results in the ranking. CEBU!
Why CEBU?!
1. International Airport means I can travel direct to Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, China and Japan without a stop-over in Manila
2. The friendliness of the people, less traffic congestion than Manila, world class shopping and international cuisine
3. The combination of verdant mountainous interior and beautiful coastline offers a wide variety of landscape scenery and leisure pursuits.
I enjoy motorcycle rides, hiking and jogging and the climate, terrain and infrastructure provides for all these types of outdoor pursuits.
The central hub of South East Asia is an archipelago of islands that numbers 7,107 and makes up the country known as the Philippines. Coconut palm trees, turquoise seas, white sand beaches, sunshine and friendly, happy people are all in abundance. The climate offers the usual tropical warmth found in places like the Caribbean, Thailand and Malaysia. What separates Philippines travel from other pleasurable destinations in the world though is that tourists and travellers are yet to penetrate beyond the usual tourist centres of this country. Away from these popular tourist areas, usually along the coast line, there is still so much to be explored and discovered in the interior. The Philippines is a great sea-faring nation that dates back to Magellan’s and Columbus’ time and inter-island transport is inexpensive and has regular schedules – making island-hopping an entertaining past time.
In a recent world study that compared the overall happiness of the people in a nation, the Filipino people came out on top – the ‘Happiest Country in the World’. That is not to say everyone is always happy, but the Filipino approach to life has an enormous emphasis on enjoyment, and when faced with frustration or hardship, they quite easily slouch it off and put a smile on. Everywhere you travel in the Philippines, you are greeted with a warm welcoming smile, “Hi”, “Hello” or “Where are you going?” by passers-by that are curious and excited to see a foreign face in their community. You feel welcome and safe, and can focus on just enjoying their incredible country. Since English is also widely spoken, it is easy to communicate with Filipinos and find yourself in meaningful conversations where you can learn more about their lives.
1. Low Cost of Living — cost of living in the Philippines is lower than in Western countries and other major cities in Asia except for the cost of luxury goods like top-branded motor cars. The monthly expenses for housing, food, transportation and labour costs anywhere in the Philippines are affordable for most retirees. They can live comfortably in the Philippines for £1,200 per month in a furnished home with a household helper.
2. Filipino Hospitality — Filipino hospitality is world-renowned. Filipinos are happy people and have consistently rated high in happiness index surveys. Their family and Christian values, friendliness, cheerfulness and compassion are qualities that will certainly make retirees feel welcome and at home – making it easy to adapt to the local culture.
3. Health Services — Retirees are naturally concerned about keeping healthy in order to enjoy their retirement to the fullest. The Philippines’ medical and health-care facilities are in some cases better than that of the retirees’ home
country. Treatment is affordable and immediate without the need to wait for GP, Consultant and specialist appointments. Health insurance is available through several insurance companies for as little as £50 per month. You can have a full health check-up for as little as £50.00. The diagnostics clinics usually perform the tests starting early morning with blood tests after fasting overnight. The remaining tests follow with results usually available in the afternoon of the same day. The report shows your specific results versus a normal range and if there are any issues you can immediately get an appointment with a GP to discuss them and determine if a course of treatment is needed. Many common prescription medicines in the West are available over the counter at reasonable prices at local pharmacists without the need for a doctors’ appointment.
Filipino doctors are trained in Western medicine and many are trained abroad in affiliation with international medical associations. Filipino nurses’ natural friendliness and competence are sought all over the world and comforting to
every retiree who needs compassionate care.
4. Modern Conveniences — The Philippines provides all the basic necessities and conveniences of modern living. Large shopping malls, modern transportation, Internet and other high-tech telecommunications network are available in all
the 120 cities around the Philippines. Other forms of entertainment like movie theatres, satellite and cable TV channels which include programs from around the world – so you’ll never feel cut-off from the rest of the world and modern life. The magic of Skype permits regular low cost video calls with friends and relatives back home should you feel the need.
5. Diverse Eco-tourism — The Philippines is rich in biodiversity and natural wonders. From the world class white sand beaches fringed with coconut palms of Boracay, the spectacular rice terraces of Banaue, to the beautiful volcanic
mountains of Pinatubo, Apo, Kanlaon and Mayon, the Philippines has over 7100 islands that all offer a piece of tropical paradise.
6. Wellness Centres — Fitness centres and spas abound, offering massage therapy, and other natural and alternative treatments and practices – all designed to restore vitality and promote relaxation and good health. Retirees can avail of annual membership in fitness centres at minimal cost and personal trainers are available to ensure optimum results are achieved. Most of the wellness facilities are run and/or staffed by medical practitioners and offer treatments based on both Western and Oriental medicine.
7. International Cuisine —Filipino food is mainly influenced by Spanish, Chinese and Malay cuisine. However, over the centuries, the Philippines has also adopted culinary styles and flavours of the cultures that have come in contact
with Filipinos – ie, American, Japanese, Indian, Mediterranean, European and other Southeast Asians. Apart from the local cuisine, the Philippines also has restaurants offering authentic dishes that foreign palates have learned to adopt with – either for fine dining or fast food joints.
8. Religious Freedom — In general, all religions are respected and freely practiced in the Philippines. Whilst more than 80 percent of Filipinos are Catholics because of the 300 years of Spanish colonization, other variants of Christianity thrive in the Philippines – together with Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and other Evangelical Churches. Being a religious nation, Catholic and Protestant churches abound – with Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu temples also available in some places.
9. Tropical Climate — The climate of the Philippines is tropical and maritime, similar in many respects to the climate of the countries of Central America. It is dominated by a rainy season and a dry season. The summer monsoon brings
heavy rains to most of the archipelago from May to October, whereas the winter monsoon brings cooler and drier air from December to February. Generally, however, the weather is fair throughout the year – which is particularly important for retiring people who can no longer tolerate the cold season and avoid winter depression.
10. Ease of Communication – There are about 150 to 175 dialects spoken around the Philippines – with Filipino as the official language and spoken by most. English is also widely used throughout the Philippines and most Filipinos are conversant in English as it is the medium of instruction from primary school on-wards. International schools can be found in most major cities, most daily newspapers are in English and foreign news programs (BBC, CNN, etc) are available. More importantly, legal documents are written in English and language interpreters also abound and are available through the Department of Tourism.
Places to Live in The Philippines
There are more than 120 cities in the Philippines and several market surveys arrive at similar results in the ranking. CEBU!
Why CEBU?!
1. International Airport means I can travel direct to Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, China and Japan without a stop-over in Manila
2. The friendliness of the people, less traffic congestion than Manila, world class shopping and international cuisine
3. The combination of verdant mountainous interior and beautiful coastline offers a wide variety of landscape scenery and leisure pursuits.
I enjoy motorcycle rides, hiking and jogging and the climate, terrain and infrastructure provides for all these types of outdoor pursuits.
Oct 13th 2012, 2:54 am
#2
*********
Joined: May 2008
Location: Up in dem hills.........
Posts: 1,458
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
Spam police are going to get ya!
Oct 13th 2012, 3:03 am
#3
Just Joined
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Joined: Oct 2012
Location: Cebu City, Philippines
Posts: 12
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
im not spamming.. why? is it a crime to advertise philippines? 
Oct 13th 2012, 11:07 pm
#4
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Joined: May 2012
Location: asia ,philippines
Posts: 109
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM ,MONTY PYTHON!!??? love it here .......
Oct 14th 2012, 3:36 am
#5
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Location: Cebu City, Philippines
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Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
hahaha im glad to know that love it. my boss is an english man as well and he is the living proof of this..
Oct 14th 2012, 5:36 am
#6
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
Posts: 2,863
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
anyone who writes all that must be spamming. But to be honest with you I got bored after a couple of paragraphs and then just skimmed to the bottom . I have to laugh at the mention of Filipino cuisne as well . On all my travels I don't think I have ever seen one restaurant dedicated solely to Filipino food which says to me that it isn't that great . Or it's the best kept secret around . Loads of people say how the food is rubbish and the people there have a very bad diet .
Also , IMO if ever there was a bad luck country then the Philippines is it . Constantly afflicted by natural disasters .
If it's so great there why do they all want to leave ?
I'm a bit negative about the place so feel free to correct me.
Also , IMO if ever there was a bad luck country then the Philippines is it . Constantly afflicted by natural disasters .
If it's so great there why do they all want to leave ?
I'm a bit negative about the place so feel free to correct me.
Oct 14th 2012, 12:15 pm
#7
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Joined: Jul 2012
Location: Philippines
Posts: 76
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
[QUOTE=meeshelldee;10328268]im not spamming.. why? is it a crime to advertise philippines? [/QUOTE
Its not spam but does look like it at first. Are your bosses into real estate management in Cebu?????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????.
[/QUOTEIts not spam but does look like it at first. Are your bosses into real estate management in Cebu?????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????.
Oct 15th 2012, 3:52 am
#8
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Joined: Oct 2012
Location: Cebu City, Philippines
Posts: 12
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
googly
[quote=meeshelldee;10328268]im not spamming.. why? is it a crime to advertise philippines? [/QUOTE
Its not spam but does look like it at first. Are your bosses into real estate management in Cebu?????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????.
>>yes sir, He married a Filipina and fell in love with CEBU.
[quote=meeshelldee;10328268]im not spamming.. why? is it a crime to advertise philippines? [/QUOTE
Its not spam but does look like it at first. Are your bosses into real estate management in Cebu?????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????.
>>yes sir, He married a Filipina and fell in love with CEBU.
Oct 15th 2012, 7:07 am
#9
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Joined: Jul 2012
Location: Philippines
Posts: 76
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
Ah ok.
Oct 15th 2012, 8:20 am
#10
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Location: Bohol via Dubai, Muscat, Karratha, Brisbane, Doha.
Posts: 263
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
Nothing wrong with promoting Cebu. Its beautiful apart from the city.
Oct 16th 2012, 1:11 pm
#11
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 228
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
Looks like cut and paste to me. Only been to Cebu 1 time and liked what little i saw , yes a place to go back to
Oct 17th 2012, 2:30 am
#12
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Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
Its actually a Column from our website for expats. I don't know if its allowed to attached a link here.. so im actually being careful.
Oct 20th 2012, 3:16 pm
#13
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 228
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
no that's good reads like wow Philippines etc etc etc yet another bunch of know it alls but of course we always need another expat site to tell us how cheap it is to live here oh my god live like a king in the Philippines
Oct 21st 2012, 1:44 am
#14
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Joined: Jul 2012
Location: Philippines
Posts: 76
Re: 10 Reasons To Retire in The Philippines
If you read the post it was actually written by a filipinA or on closer inspection a filipinO!