Well I am here now living in the Philippines, it's snowing back home and nice and warm here lol, I can stop here as long as I need to as I have a pension!
It was my 58th birthday on the 8th of January my mother died the same day from a heart attack I will celebrate her life every time it's my birthday as she told me to go live my live and be happy, thank you mam love you for ever what a selfless woman she was right till the end! X

Thank you Bob, for all your help and some research on my behalf lol nice book!

Welcome to the Philippines Jay-Jay.
So sorry to hear about your Mum. She was so right, ultimately we all have to live our own lives.
As you've got a pension are you looking at an SRRV or considering marrying your GF and applying for a 13A?
Wherabouts have you ended up? There are 7109 islands after all!

I wish you all the best for the future and don't hesitate to ask if you have any queries.

We are living near naga city!
It's snowing back in uk where I live and very cold to I am teasing my friends about I don't know what snow is like it's nice and hot here, got them wanting to come and live here to lol!
What is the criteria to join a bank in the Philippines?
Can I go to any ATM to draw money out? I have told my bank I am in the Philippines now so should be able to use it here!
The pension is not enough for me to meet there criteria for a visa yet buy in 6 years time it will be!

Naga city - bit too far from here for a meet up!
Bank account; We use BPI here for local banking. You can easily set up a savings account which gives you an ATM card, but most banks want you to have an ACR(alien Certificate of Registration) card - which you have to get once you've been here 6 months.
i'll send you a PM with more details.

Once you have an ATM card you can use virtually any ATM to get cash, but will be charged about 20 pesos if it's not your bank ATM.

using UK cards is fine but you'll get charged for foreign use. I rarely use my UK debit card here, primarily for buying online from UK/ USA/hong kong.

So I take it that's the bPi is the bank of the Philippines!
Thank you quiltman! Taxi from naga 200 pesos that's because they say there is a charge at the gatehouse! Going by trike is 150 pesos really steep I think it will be easier if we moved closer to naga which is the next plan now! Got just about all household items as well must of cost us well over 7000 pesos in transport cost at least, there is no jeep near us so when we move there will have to be a jeep because it costs 8 pesos each we could travel all week and not spend 350 pesos which it would cost us for one trip where we live now!
This was never going to be our permanent house in any case but we will have to move to save money and it will cut down on travel time to!

Hi Jay Jay, Welcome! Quiltman gives good advice.
The ATM's of the major banks all accept foreign cards. However you will find that the usual charge is 1.5% or a minimum charge of £1.50 or more. You will also pay a currency surcharge on the currency, about 2.95%. It used to be hidden in the transaction rate. These days if you pay by card in the shops. The UK bank will charge you a £1 and the currency surcharge on top. Watch out too as many stores, charge more for none cash transactions.
Need goods transported? See if any of the local businesses, with transport, will do a deal with you. They are usually only too pleased to earn extra money with little effort.
Remember you can drive for ninety days on your UK licence.

I was just wandering about me driving with my uk licence in the Philippines, 90 days so don't buy a rolls Royce yet then lol!
How would I get a licence to drive a moped or motorbike here?
Thank you all advice is good!

If you want a Filipino Licence, the first one is a little more hassle than the renewal ones, every three years.
You will need:
A drug test, at an accredited outlet.
A visit to the Mayor's office, and chief of police, in the district you reside.
A visit to the medical officer, a few questions, eye test, weight and height. He will open the sealed drug test envelope. Asking about any prescribed drugs you take.
Then LTO office, with your papers. Show your UK licence, which will be returned. Have your photo taken, then a licence will be issued. Upon payment. First licence will cost just over P1000. Renewals just under.
In Cebu, there is a One Stop Licence Shop in SM Mall NRA (North Reclamation Area). It is while you wait (same day) for renewals.
Whatever vehicle you can drive on your British Licence. That is your entitlement, on your Filipino Licence.

Wow thank you that seems to be quite straight forward just lots of places to visit!

I think you will find the Mayor's Office, Chief of Police, and Chief Medical Officer, are all situated within the Town Hall area of most towns. You will not be in any of the places long. Maybe blood pressure and eye test, plus weigh and measure at the MO's.
The longest wait is at LTO. You can always bribe a relative to help you.

LTO? Licensing transport office lol yeah

The cost shown is all in.
Renewal only involves drug test, medical officer and LTO. Very straightforward.
I need to renew mine early next month (4th renewal). The last couple of times I did it at SM NRA. Almost painless, just the queue, which is fast moving. For those more than sixty, you can use the Senior Citizen Line, never many people in that one. Nobody can cheat on that there, as they only need to look at your licence to verify if you are or not.

Riding a motorbike: in some places a helmet is "compulsory" for riders and passengers. In others not.
Be extra careful at roundabouts, those where roundabout rules apply, are usually marked "Rotunda" Not everybody keeps to the rules, even if you do. Fuente Osmena Rotunda, Cebu is really something.

So just over 1000 pesos is all I pay for the first license will be over 60 next time I aplly so does that mean I can use the senior citizens line next time?
Thank you!

Yes the Senior Citizen line is pretty common, in many places. In many supermarkets they have seating on the SC line.
Most Drugstores (Chemists) have them. The only advantage of being older.