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Investing in the Philippines - Newest Business Opportunity For Retirees
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Until recently, the primary real estate investment in the Philippines by a foreign retiree has been a condominium at a resort area - properties operating as Condotels, since a foreigner can take title to a condominium. Favorite areas have been in Cebu, Subic, Puerto Galera, and Boracay. However, this investment either requires taking on debt or the putting up of a large sum of cash as payment in full for the property.

This has become increasingly difficult for retirees as their retirement funds and pension benefits have been severely hit by the worldwide economic downturn. Due to the downturn, the Philippines has become an attractive retirement destination for many foreigners, yet the his funds for investing have been severely diminished. The major driving force for the upsurge in foreign retirees in the Philippines has been the country's low cost of living. So how does a foreign retiree invest his limited excess funds to so as to supplement his pension?

Seeing this need for a retirement income, companies have recently been formed to develop an alternative option for foreign investors - a participation in the rapidly developing organic farming industry by investing in shares of stock in companies they form and manage to develop agricultural lands.

By purchasing shares of stock in small companies which own agricultural land focused on organic farming, a retiree is able to make an investment play in agricultural generating ongoing, residual income to supplement his pension. Foreigners are permitted to own shares of stock in corporations in the Philippines.

One product in particular getting attention by the Philippines government by way of direct financial support and training is the Pili Nut. The Philippines is the only country in Asia with the ability to develop a large commercial Pili Nut industry.

One island in particular getting attention for commercial development of the Pili Nut is Tablas Island in the Romblon province. Investor groups are putting together ventures in conjunction with consultants from the University of Eastern Philippines and the Department of Agriculture.

Do you want to learn more about Pili Nut investment opportunities in the Philippines? I have just completed my new books "Making Money In the Philippines" and "Retirement Living In The Philippines" with sections dedicated to best business opportunities in the Philippines for a foreign retiree..

Until recently, the primary real estate investment in the Philippines by a foreign retiree has been a condominium at a resort area - properties operating as Condotels, since a foreigner can take title to a condominium. Favorite areas have been in Cebu, Subic, Puerto Galera, and Boracay. However, this investment either requires taking on debt or the putting up of a large sum of cash as payment in full for the property.

This has become increasingly difficult for retirees as their retirement funds and pension benefits have been severely hit by the worldwide economic downturn. Due to the downturn, the Philippines has become an attractive retirement destination for many foreigners, yet the his funds for investing have been severely diminished. The major driving force for the upsurge in foreign retirees in the Philippines has been the country's low cost of living. So how does a foreign retiree invest his limited excess funds to so as to supplement his pension?

Seeing this need for a retirement income, companies have recently been formed to develop an alternative option for foreign investors - a participation in the rapidly developing organic farming industry by investing in shares of stock in companies they form and manage to develop agricultural lands.

By purchasing shares of stock in small companies which own agricultural land focused on organic farming, a retiree is able to make an investment play in agricultural generating ongoing, residual income to supplement his pension. Foreigners are permitted to own shares of stock in corporations in the Philippines.

One product in particular getting attention by the Philippines government by way of direct financial support and training is the Pili Nut. The Philippines is the only country in Asia with the ability to develop a large commercial Pili Nut industry.

One island in particular getting attention for commercial development of the Pili Nut is Tablas Island in the Romblon province. Investor groups are putting together ventures in conjunction with consultants from the University of Eastern Philippines and the Department of Agriculture.

Do you want to learn more about Pili Nut investment opportunities in the Philippines? I have just completed my new books "Making Money In the Philippines" and "Retirement Living In The Philippines" with sections dedicated to best business opportunities in the Philippines for a foreign retiree..
Once you understand the rules of how to navigate through the bureaucratic maze to get a business started, the Philippines offers tremendous investment opportunities for those with a minimum amount of investment capital. The banking system in the Philippines is not geared to provide business start up funding to its own citizens, let alone to entrepreneurial foreigners. Consequently, cash is king, and investment capital gets a lot of attention and opens the doors to many business opportunities.

The downside of this is that with this exposure to so many opportunities, one may tend to "jump" into the wrong investment, either out of new born excitement to have one's own business, or out of necessity to provide for one's Filipina spouse or girlfriend and their extended family. Yet, most foreigners retiring to the Philippines have no history of business experience.

I have witnessed too many foreigners who retire in the Philippines with a substantial nest egg, put it into a business requiring day to day oversight and involvement, to include managing Filipino workers, only to quickly find out they are in over their head with stress and negative cash flow.

If you do not have business experience, especially in the business you wish to start, I recommend you wait at least one year and get to know the "lay of the land". Take your time, and you may find what I have found so many find out, that the best business is a Passive investment.

WHAT IS THE #1 BEST PASSIVE INVESTMENT FOR A FOREIGNER?

It is in agriculture, if the investment is properly structured and you are specializing in export oriented crops. The best of all of these is the Pili nut, which is now getting increased government attention and support. Unlike a condo or condotel, where you only own the space between the walls, with agriculture you own the land. Condos and condotels are in a bubble market in Manila, Makati, Ortigas and Fort Bonafacio areas, and they require tremendous increased valuations in the future to realize any kind of reasonable return on your investment.

An agriculture investment is not based on future valuation increases. It can be valued on its annual cash yield. It does not have to rely on future land valuations to generate a great return on investment. Yet, the key with an agricultural investment is to know what land, where, what crops, who is going to manage it, and how, as a foreigner, could you possible own land in the Philippines.

These questions are being addressed by a group of experienced foreign businessmen who are about to launch such investments in Romblon Province, nearby Boracay.

As a foreigner, starting a Philippines business can be a challenging and confusing task. Though things are more bureaucratic than you might find in your home country, the steps which need to be taken are pretty well defined. One just needs to apply patience and recognize it will take longer to get all the approvals and permits than might be required in your home country.

Below are the basic steps to be followed:

1. To form a sole proprietorship, you will need to register at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and apply for a business name. For information on an office nearest to you, go to the DTI website and search for application forms and addresses.

Be aware that the applicant for a business name should be at least 18 years old, and that they MUST be a Philippine citizen.

Additionally, the applicant is required to submit two ID pictures taken within one year of applying for the business name. The applicant's signature is to be placed at the back of each photo.

If the applicant's name seems to be of foreign nationality, he will be required to submit proof of citizenship. Lastly, there is a fee to be paid for processing and documentary stamp.

2. To form a partnership, you also can register at the DTI. However, if the partnership has Php 3,000 (Philippine pesos) or more in capital, you will have to also register with the Securities and Exchange Corporation (SEC). You should consult a lawyer to draw up a legal and appropriate partnership agreement for the business you are starting.

3. To form a corporation, you need to identify a minimum of five (5) incorporators, each of whom must own at least one share of the corporation, and generally (except for corporations formed solely for the purpose of export, or corporations with paid up capital in excess of $250,000 as discussed in Chapter II) foreigners cannot own more than 40% of the total shares outstanding.

The corporation's bylaws and articles of incorporation should be prepared by a lawyer, and then registered with the SEC. Minimum paid up capital is Php 5,000.

Basically, once you have the corporation formed, it takes about 60 days to get all the necessary permits, licenses and approvals to legally commence business.

Do you want to learn more about starting a business in the Philippines, and the best ownership form for you? I have just completed my new book on "Making Money In The Philippines", which has a detailed presentation as to the best form of ownership when starting a business in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, there are 3 business ownership options - sole proprietorship, partnership, and a corporation. Which is best for a foreigner will depend upon the size of the business, your residency status, and whether you are married to a Philippines citizen.

1. Sole proprietorship - this is the preferable business structure for a small business if you are married to a Philippines citizen. It provides full authority in your spouse's name and he/she owns all the assets. However, your spouse also will owe and answer personally to all liabilities or suffer all losses. It is easy to form and simple to register with the government.

2. Partnership - this is a business owned by two or more partners. One with more than Pesos 3,000 capital has to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All the partners have personal liability for the affairs of the business. It is like two sole proprietorships joined together. There are certain benefits for two Philippine citizen partners, but there is no benefit to you as a foreigner.

3. Corporation - this is my preferred form of ownership if the business is going to be anything larger than a small hobby type business. For a small business, you are better off just being in a sole proprietorship.

For a business of any significance (such as a real estate ownership business, a franchise, a significant manufacturing or export business), this is definitely the preferred form of ownership, and you as the foreigner can retain up to 40% ownership, and by having yourself as the sole check signer on the bank account, you effectively control the corporation.

The minimum capital requirement is Pesos 5,000 and it is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The shareholders'

liability is simply limited to their amount of the share capital. There must be at least five (5) incorporators, each of which must hold at least one share. So what you do, for example, is issue 56 shares to your spouse, 4 shares to her relatives, and 40 shares to yourself.

Minimum up front capital for a corporation is 25% of the subscribed stock, and a minimum of 25% of the authorized stock must be subscribed at the time the corporation is registered.

Do you want to learn more about starting a business in the Philippines, and the best ownership form for you? I have just completed my new book on "Making Money In The Philippines", which has a detailed presentation as to the best form of ownership when starting a business in the Philippines.

For those OFW's and foreigners wishing to start a business, but not wishing to involve themselves with the stress of a business involving day-to-day operations, employees, landlords, inventory, and so forth, there are several available opportunities for foreigners living in the Philippines. Buy fixer upper properties, improve them, then rent or sell them.

1. Buy Fixer Upper Properties, Improve Them, Then Rent or Sell Them. This is a great business for those of you who have experience in your home country in buying, fixing up and renting or selling properties. Over the past 10 years, a lot of people got involved in this kind of business in their homeland.

With the overall economic problems in the world the past couple of years, the Philippines has not been immune, and there are a lot of properties in a state of disrepair, as well as lot of distressed and foreclosed properties.

2. Build An Apartelle. An Apartelle is an apartment building where all but one of the units are rented out long term, and you are left to operate on a nightly or weekly basis, like a hotel - hence the combined name of apartelle. These are common in the Philippines.

This business will require a heavier capital investment, yet with the right property and by focusing in the more rural areas or smaller cities, you can construct a small 4 unit apartment building for Peso 3,000,000 - not counting cost of the land.

You would want to rent out 3 units on a long term rental basis, and keep one for short term rentals - for the many traveling salesmen that frequent the countryside. They like booking into such short term apartelle units rather than the much more expensive hotels in the area.

3. Condotels. I have not given this business my "thumbs up" in all instances. Condotels have been heavily touted and promoted the past several years and there have been many, many new condominiums built in Manila, and now even in Cebu and starting in Davao.

The problem is that although the developers offer great down payment terms (usually around 30% down financed over 3 years) and in some cases carry back the mortgage and finance for perhaps 10 years, the interest rates are incredibly high, and the split of rentals with the management team runs around 50%/50%. There is also always a nominal monthly maintenance fee.

What looks like "cheap" entry point and cash flow out each month, in many cases simply becomes a bet on long term property appreciation - finding someone willing to pay you more for it than you paid for it.

This is because with all the inventory on hand, there is a surplus of condos which have been into hotel type rental pools, but not enough visitors to rent them all.

Consequently, what an investor thought would be a good positive cash cow, turns out to be a continuous negative cash flow - not what a new retiree to the Philippines is looking for to supplement his pension or annuity! This type investment will only drain you pension.

However, having written all this, I HAVE FOUND the past several month two exceptional condotel investments which DO meet my criteria of creating good ongoing rental income.

4. Farming. The likely cessation of the Agrarian Land Reform Program (CARP) will give the rural sector renewed confidence to invest in agricultural production capacity. CARP has held back investment in both production capacity as well as farm acquisition. An end to CARP will mean higher land prices since land will be valued for its higher income producing potential.

However, higher land prices are simply a "serendipity", an added value, to the type of farming business I am writing about. I have found an extremely unique business opportunity, which will generate a great ROI (return on investment) and is completely passive. It has been structured by the developers (all foreigners) to be a one turnkey investment price. The price includes cost of the land, plus all
Clearing, planting, cultivation and harvesting for the first 5 years.

The business has been priced to fit the capital investment budget of the average foreigner retiree, and all landowners will be members of a cooperative which will share the farming equipment (tractors, equipment shed, and others). The farm will be "farmed" by the developer's management team

The hottest trend now is in organic farming, and yet it is only in its infancy stage in the Philippines. There is one export product in particular which has caught my attention - the pili nut. The Philippines is the ONLY country with which produces and processes this nut in commercial quantity.

The current status of the pili is equivalent to that of the macadamia some 30 years ago. It has huge potential to develop into a major industry. They are in demand not only in Hong Kong and Taiwan but also in Singapore, Korea and Austria.

Do you want to learn more about making money in the Philippines? I have just completed my new book on "Making Money In The Philippines", which has a section devoted to these and other Offline/Traditional business opportunities for OFW's and Foreigners living in the Philippines, to include Passive, not requiring day-to-day involvement in the business.
For those OFW's and foreigners wishing to start a business where they can involve themselves in day-to-day activities, the following is a list of the best offline and traditional businesses to start in the Philippines. Some require a bigger capital investment than others, some are going to be more passionately appealing to you than others, some are going to be more comfortable to you than others, some require heavy day to day management, and still others are very passive in nature.

All of these factors need to be considered by you in selecting which one makes the most sense to you - how much money to you have to invest, what do you see yourself having fun doing, what can you get passionate about, and frankly, how much do you really want to be involved in the pressure and stress of a business with day to day operating requirements?

The opportunities are not presented in any 1st, 2nd, 3rd best options basis. There is no particular order to them.

1. Laundry Business. The past few years has seen a strong growth of laundry business catering to both (i) commercial customers such as hotels and other large institutions and (ii) personal laundry customers.

2. Beauty parlor. The youth movement in the Philippines, and their obsession with personal care products, is huge. In 2008, over 60% of the population was under 25 years of age.

Personal care products, such as cosmetics, hair care, and beauty products have strong appeal to youth who are increasingly savvy, product aware, and more willing to pamper themselves. And, regardless of the hard economic times the past year, they are spending more of their disposable income pampering themselves.

3. Day spa/massage parlor. For the very same reasons I set forth above for starting a Beauty Parlor business, a Day spa/massage parlor has tremendous potential today in the Philippines. Ten years ago I never saw spas in the Philippines except at the very exclusive 5 Star hotels. Today the trend is picking up speed throughout the country.

4. Car Wash. Like in other developing countries, in the past 5 years the population of cars has steadily grown year after year. Whereas years ago only the wealthy had personal cars, and the rest of us in the Philippines took taxis, today most cars are driven by the owner himself. This new driver, just like in the USA, Japan, Korea, Australia and Europe, wants a quick car wash, rather than leaving his car the whole day at a service station.

5. Home Bakery. Filipinos continue their love affair with bakery products, regardless of economic conditions. One of the beauties of a home bakery business is that you don't need a lot of new equipment to get started.

6. Daycare Center. If you love children, and enjoy the continuous sound of children around you all the time, then you need to make a business out of it. The trend of daycare centers and pre - schools, which stared in the USA, has now reached the Philippines in the larger cities of Manila, Cebu and Davao, but to a much lesser extent in the smaller cities. In the larger cities, finding good live in household help to care for one's children is becoming increasingly difficult.

7. Food cart - Kiosk. This is a business wherein you have a cart that sells street foods to the masses. This has become a very popular and very lucrative business for someone with a small amount of capital to invest since Filipinos love street foods. Not to mention the fact that the masses would most likely buy food from the streets than from the restaurants where they can just eat the food anywhere as their merienda. Filipinos are known for this kind of food habit.

8. Pawnshop. There is still much space for expansion in the pawnshop business in the Philippines. This industry has had enormous growth the past 10 years, yet it continues to grow at an average rate of 5% per year. Based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), pawnshops provided a total of Php 10.1 billion worth of loans at the end of 2005 (double what they extended in 1995).

9. Medical and Dental Tourism. In the past few years, medical and dental vacations have gone from a tiny niche market to an impressive growth story. From Mexico to India, Costa Rica to Thailand, hospitals are taking advantage of this global trend. And U.S. companies are taking note as well.

10. Water Business. Everybody drinks water. Everybody is concerned about their health. It doesn't come as a surprise, therefore, that the water business remains lucrative. Small and independent businesses still take in profits even if big companies have their own water brands.

11. Export Handicrafts. This is a very traditional business - exporting, and consequently many people overlook the profit in this business. The handicraft business continues to be a solid, niche export business. The key today is to utilize all the internet capability you can with the offline fulfillment required to have the products manufactured and shipped from the Philippines.

A few 'secret' places in the Philippines are developing rapidly with new retirement villages for expats; an investment opportunity overlooked by many due to the lack of media exposure.

One of the best places to retire overseas has to be the Philippines because it is developing fast and opportunities are abundant for expats and investors, especially in Samar, Romblon and Tablas.
The Philippines is known as an overseas retirement haven for both Filipinos and non-Filipinos; cost of living is about 20% compared with the USA and Europe; for US$ 90 per month you have a maid and for $200 a private nurse.

Many Philippine retirement villages are popping up in places you never read about in the media because it is in a developing stage. However this is exactly the reason why those locations might be the best choice; prices of real estate are still low.

Huge profits are also being made in real estate investment with any new retirement community in the Philippines; however prices are going up as we speak.

As a sideline, 'sustainable organic farming' is developing near the retirement villages; a group of non-Filipinos has started a 50 hectare farm with Pili trees. It is a welcome alternative for the usually offered Philippine investment opportunity - condotels.

The group is expanding their business with honey bees for organic honey and not only the 'bigger players' (they are looking for investors-) can make a good profit but really any expat or retiree who wants to buy a few hectares; this provides for a nice monthly supplemental income.

One of their secrets to success is the fact that they are 'foreigners' who can assist 'other foreigners' in any aspect of starting a business or buying real estate; they think alike. Some expats are interested in a vegetable farm, flower farm, mango farm, goat farm, rice farm, poultry farm, piggery (hog) farm, game farm, dairy farm, cattle farm or bee farm.
Samar, Romblon and Tablas as a few of the best places for retirement overseas because most beaches are comparable with Boracay (a popular tourist destination in the Philippines); the big difference is found in the cost.

You can still secure a fantastic, pristine, clean and private beach fronting land for much less than what you have to pay at Boracay. Samar, Romblon and Tablas have adopted the 'zero waste and zero pollution policy' to safeguard their environment so their future looks bright.

With about one million tourists per year visiting Boracay, investors are now looking at Tablas Island (less than 30 minutes by boat) to develop a golf course and resorts where tourists can 'escape Boracay' and enjoy the quietness of nature as it should be.

Some Philippine retirement communities are focused on 'themes' like Spanish Villas or American style homes while other retirement villages are catering to Japanese, Koreans, Germans, Americans, Australians or other nationals.

Do you envy the life of luxury being enjoyed by people in developed countries, wishing you too could life such a life but lacking the $10,000 of monthly income needed for such a life? Well, I challenge you to consider living in the Philippines, either on a full or part time basis. Retirement is not a matter of age; it is a matter of having enough ongoing income. With a $2,000 monthly income (or pension or annuity), one can truly live a life of luxury. I present how this is done and list the primary expenses of living in the Philippines as a foreigner.

#1 DO NOT LOCATE YOUR RESIDENCE IN MANILA.

Manila is a bustling and exciting city, but full of congestion and expensive real estate, much as any major city in the Western world. The further one gets from Manila, the lower the cost of living accommodations. Of course, there is always the trade off of the more a remote location you to, the less comfort and Western world amenities will you find.

For this reason, I always counsel people to consider the major secondary cities of Cebu or Davao, or the Subic Bay area, or resort or university communities such as Baguio, Dumaguete, Tacloban, and Cagayan De Oro. The cost of housing in these areas is substantially below Manila, yet they have readily available air access in and out of the community, and because foreigners tend to favor residing in these areas, there are more upscale housing accommodations to select from.

The two cities with the most luxurious amenities for a Westerner, outside of Manila, are Cebu City and Davao City.

In these two cities you can expect to pay from $300 monthly for a small apartment to a high of $800 monthly for a luxury house in a gated community with a swimming pool. A similar rental in the USA would could about $3,000 to $4,000 monthly. A similar house in Manila would cost about $1,500 to $2,000 monthly, or more, depending on the location in Manila.

#2 HIRE A COUPLE OF MAIDS AND PERHAPS A DRIVER.

For the luxury life, you will want a couple of maids, one to tend to the cooking and shopping, and another to tend to the laundry and house cleaning. They will do all the grocery shopping (at a lower cost than you could ever get), wash and iron all your clothes, and have your favorite food ready for you at each meal. A real luxury which is completely unaffordable in the Western world on $2,000 per month. Two maids would cost less around $100 to $120 monthly.

A driver would probably be desired should you choose to purchase your own automobile. While living in Cebu City a few years ago, I had a new vehicle that I drove myself, but I found quickly that by hiring a driver for $80 a month, the vehicle was always kept in immaculate condition, and I had someone to tend to the vehicle while I was at restaurants, shopping, or at business appointments. I never had to worry about where to park the vehicle or petty theft or destruction of the vehicle. While living in Butuan City I tend to not use a personal vehicle as much, but I have found it still worth having a driver.

#3 PURCHASE A GOOD INTERNATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

With $2,000 a month income, I would not opt for local Philippine health insurance programs, rather I would purchase an international for foreigners living overseas. Depending on your age and any preconditions, a policy for which you would pay $500 monthly in the USA would cost you round $200 monthly.

#4 ALL OTHER ITEMS

With your housing, maid services, transportation and health care provided for with approximately $1,200 monthly, this leaves you $800 monthly everything else. Utilities (electric, water, phone, cell phone, high speed internet service and cable TV) will add up to around $150 monthly, bring the cumulative total to $1,350 monthly.

This leave $650 monthly for food, entertainment, fuel for your car, travel, personal care items. Groceries will be about $250 monthly, and fuel and personal care items might total $50 monthly, which leaves around $350 for meals in restaurants, entertainment and travel. Eating dinners out a couple of times a week and monthly entertainment would cost around $200 monthly, so you would still have $150 monthly of excess funds for savings.

CEBU CITY OR DAVAO CITY - WHICH TO CHOOSE?

Each is different from the other in many ways, and Davao City living costs are less than those in Cebu City, so your lifestyle there can be even greater.

Cebu has a large population of foreign retirees in relation to its population. Foreigners are drawn to its abundance of beaches and resorts. It is a beautiful city, surrounded by mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Like Manila, it too has its upscale, modern shopping malls, casinos, and a great night life.

Those who love living near the seaside, have interests in diving and other water sports, yet like the efficiency and amenities of a smaller modern city, then Cebu City would be your choice.
Davao City is THE city of Mindanao, and by square miles it is the second largest city in the world. Its population is approximately 1.4 million. Located on the southern of Mindanao, it is the more rural of the two cities, and it has the lowest cost of living. So, if you enjoy the lifestyle of a large city, and want more money in your pocket at the end of the month, then Davao is the place for you.

Davao City does not get large numbers of foreign travelers as does Cebu City, yet for those seeking outdoor adventures, the options are plentiful. Living in Davao is a bit like living in both an urban and a rural city, as the city has modern shopping centers, upscale gated communities and hotels, yet living there you become deeply rooted to the land outside the city.

The important thing in living in the Philippines is to do your research, based on your wants, needs and desires, and tie into someone who has gone before you and can provide you wisdom by guiding you through the array of questions and anxieties.

As an author and consultant on retirement in the Philippines and living in the Philippines, I assist people with an array of family and business matters - from marriage and annulments, to real estate purchases, home construction, and starting a business. Yet some of the most basic questions are sometimes the most important. Below are answers to some of the most basic questions related to a foreigner thinking about living in the Philippines.

#1 If I retire to the Philippines on a full time basis, do I lose my original citizenship?

No, you do not lose your citizens ship by residing in another country, either part time or full time. The only way you lose your original citizenship is by renouncing it. The
Philippines government does not require you to give up your original citizen to become a resident of their country.

#2 Do I need vaccinations to live in the Philippines?

At this time, there are not specific requirements by the Philippines government to enter the country.

#3 Is it safe to live in the Philippines?

If you are alert to where you reside and how you carry yourself, there is no more danger in the Philippines than where you currently reside. The key is to avoid the remote areas of the south known to be involved in military hostilities, and wherever you go, not to present an appearance of wealth and arrogance. I have lived and travelled in the Philippines for over 25 years, both in the north, far west, central and south, and have never encountered security issues, but I am always respectful of the fact that I am in a foreign country with its own set of values and cultural norms.

#4 Can I still get my U.S. social security check?

Yes, you social security check can be sent to a bank in the Philippines. However, I generally recommend you have it sent to your US bank, and then monthly transfer what you need to you Philippines bank account.

#5 Can I get U.S. Medicare coverage in the Philippines?

No, at this time the US government does not provide services outside the U.S for qualified recipients. Rather, one should either obtain membership in a Philippines government health care program, an international health care plan, or self insure
(pay to a provider on an as needed basis - medical care is cheap in the Philippines).

#6 Will I need to learn Tagolog, Ilocano, or Visayan (Philippine languages)?

No, one of the great advantages to living in the Philippines is the English literacy of the population. English is a basic language taught in schools in the Philippines, and everywhere you go, except in the most remote areas of the Philippines, you will have no problem conversing in English. However, learning some basic key words of one of these languages will open many more doors for you, as a stranger.

#7 Can I get a job in the Philippines?

This is very difficult, unless you have a permanent residency visa, or you are employed by the US government. You would probably not want a job with a local Philippines company anyway, as you would be subject to the pay rates of the local citizenry. Minimum wage in the Philippines approximates $8 per day. If you wish to supplement your retirement pension or annuity, I suggest one start a small business.

#8 Will my ATM card work in the Philippines?

Yes, it is readily accepted at most Philippine banks.

#9 Can I use my credit cards in the Philippines?

Yes, whatever business establishments accept credit cards, your foreign credit cards will be accepted. Based on the amount of your purchase, some merchants may pass on their credit card merchant fees to you. This is always negotiable of course. However, recognize that in the more remote areas of the country, credit cards are not acceptable.

#10 Is the cost of living really cheap?

Compared to the western world, living in the Philippines is very inexpensive. One can live a comfortable life on USD $1,000 monthly, provided on resides in a more rural city.With such an income, it would cover housing, food, entertainment, all utilities, and even a house maid. For an upscale living, especially in the larger cities of Davao and Cebu, the cost would approximate $1,500 monthly. Manila is the most expensive and the most crowded. Foreigners tend to live or retire in cities outside Manila such in Subic Bay area to the north, or Palawan in the west, or Cebu and Davao in the south.

Should you wish more information on living in the Philippines, I recommend my latest book, "Retirement Living in the Philippines" which focuses on the matter of clearly defining the lifestyle you want, the costs associated with it, where to reside, how to budget for it, how to develop a side income, if desired, and in general how to develop and execute a plan of action to retire in the Philippines.

Being an author and consultant on retirement in the Philippines and living in the Philippines, the most common question I receive from foreigners thinking about living in the Philippines is "can I retire on $1,000 per month?" The answer is an emphatic "yes, you can". Below I have listed the key elements of a retirement lifestyle which makes that possible in the Philippines.

#1 LOCATE YOUR RESIDENCE IN A SMALLER RURAL CITY

Recommended are cities such as Butuan City, Dumaguete, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Cagayan De Oro and the likes. These are active and vibrant cities with populations of around 200,000 plus - small, yet big enough to have western restaurants, night life, good communications, reasonable good health care, and certain western amenities. A western style apartment in these cities rents from between $200 to $300 per month.

#2 BUDGET YOUR MONTHLY FOOD EXPENSE TO $300

It is easy to live on a $250 per month budget in these cities, provided you limit your eating out at restaurants to two to three times per week. For a reference point, this $250 amount would translate to an equivalent of about a $700 to $1,000 per month food budget in the USA, depending on how much you eat out, and how quickly you adopt to the many wonderful Philippine foods available.

#3 HEALTH INSURANCE OR HEALTH CARE

You should probably figure on an average of $120 monthly for either heath care insurance or cash payment for health care services. Of course, this could be higher or lower depending on your specific health conditions. However, health care costs in general are significantly lower than in the western world.

#4 ENTERTAINMENT

This will vary person to person, but generally you can plan on $80 monthly for entertainment. This buys a lot of entertainment in the Philippines, especially in the smaller rural cities.

#5 UTILITIES

You can plan on approximately $50 per month for electricity (more or less depending on how much you run your air conditioner), $30 for a telephone land line, $30 for high speed internet service, $5 for basic cell phone service.

#6 OTHER ITEMS

Other expenses you will incur will approximate $150 monthly - for clothing, personal care, transportation, maid service, and others. Taxis and public transportation are readily available and cheap. One of the beautiful things about the Philippines is you can truly design your life to fit your income budget. The important thing in living in the Philippines is to do your research, based on your wants, needs and desires, and tie into someone who has gone before you and can provide you wisdom by guiding you through the array of questions and anxieties.

Being a consultant and author on topics related to retirement in the Philippines, one of the most common questions I receive from (former) natural-born citizens of the Philippines, who lost their Philippines citizenship by being naturalized as a citizen of a foreign country, is "why should my Filipina wife or my Filipino husband get dual citizenship in the Philippines"?

For those who are planning to obtain a job or start a business after they retire to the Philippines, dual citizenship is a must. Whereas there are various residency options for a non (Philippines) citizen to retire in the Philippines, there are numerous benefits to such a retire to acquire dual citizenship in the Philippines. In 2003, the Philippines government passed a law which enables former citizens to re-acquire Filipino citizenship. It is known as the Dual Citizenship Law.

THE BENEFITS OF DUAL CITIZENSHIP ARE:

o Right to 100% own real property - without citizenship, an investor's only means to purchase real property is by way of a corporation, of which he/she cannot own more than 40% of the stock.

o Right to operate a business - without citizenship, an foreigner is restricted to what industries he may participate in, and he must invest a minimum of $250,000.

o Right to practice one's profession - many retirees wish to pursue their profession, but the Philippines licenses to practice professions (doctor, nurse, lawyer, and so forth) are reserved for Filipino citizens

o Right to re-acquire a Philippine passport

o Right to vote in elections

o Immigrant visa can be issued to the citizen's spouse that entitles him/her to permanently reside in the Philippines - this gives the spouse the benefits of (i) obtaining employment in the Philippines, (ii) leasing real property, (iii) ownership of personal property, (iv) can qualify for Filipino citizenship after five years of residency in the country, and (v) can freely enter and exit the country without all the red tape of a non-immigrant resident.

The Supreme Court of the United States has stated that dual citizenship is a "status long recognized in the law" and that "a person may have and exercise rights of nationality in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both. The US Supreme Court ruled that a naturalized U.S. citizen has the right to return to his native country and to resume his former citizenship, and also to remain a U.S. citizen even if he never returns to the United States.

Do you want more in depth information about retirement living available to Expats in the Philippines? I have just completed my new book on "Retirement Living in the Philippines", which provides a comprehensive study of opportunities for fun, adventure, love and great friendships living in the Philippines.

6 Things to Know Before You Retire to the Philippines
By
Level: Basic PLUS

Here is a list of 6 things you need to know before retiring to the Philippines. These are based on my experience over the past 20 years of living and doing business in the Philippines.

1. Where do you want to reside - a major urban city, a rural city, a beach resort area of a mountain retreat? Do your research based on your own priorities of what means most to you - cost of living, night life and entertainment, upscale shopping malls, major sporting activities, and so forth. Of course, a preliminary visit will be essential to narrow the decision down to a specific locale, but first have a general idea of your priorities in lifestyle. Recognize that no place is going to be perfect. All the advantages of major urban living are offset by a higher cost of living. The advantage of a beautiful, remote tropical paradise resort area is offset by inferior medical care and air accessibility.

2. Don't play the comparison game - recognize before you depart for your preliminary visit that there is no other country on earth that is as comfortable and as convenient as the USA. We in the USA are spoiled with creature comforts and convenience. Yet, clearly the USA does not have everything in lifestyle that you want, or you would not be even considering retirement in the Philippines. For example, I love the convenience of the USA, yet, for me, the lifestyle that can be purchased in the Philippines at a fraction of what it would cost in the USA, the high regard held in the Philippines culture for family and personal relationships, and the slower pace of life more than offset the loss of convenience.

3. U.S. Medicare does not provide you coverage in the Philippines - it only covers you when you are residing in the USA. However, unless you have a really major medical issue (in which case, why would you even be considering retiring anywhere outside the USA?), you do not need to worry. There are both Philippines based and internationally based insurance programs for foreigners residing in the Philippines. Further, many retirees simply pay out of pocket for their needs, as the cost of medical care is very inexpensive in the Philippines, and the quality of care is exceptional in Manila, Cebu and Davao.

4. Do not purchase a house or condominium as your initial residence - give yourself to get the lay of the land. For example, if you have followed my advice in item 1 above and narrowed you location down to a major urban city, rent for awhile. Rentals are readily available and provide you flexibility to move quickly should you find the city you thought you would like is not what you thought. Or perhaps, after a few months of traveling about the country, you decide you really want a smaller rural city. Like in other countries, buying real estate in the Philippines (such as condominiums - the most popular purchases by foreigners in major urban cities) is easy, but selling can be quite difficult. There is multiple listing type service as exists in developed countries.

5. Make sure you have adequate ongoing cash resources when you make the move. As a newcomer to the country, it will take time for you to open a bank account and obtain a credit card; you will find it easiest to leave most of your money back in the USA and transfer what you need by way of an ATM machine until you get a Philippines dollar or peso account open. For any interim major cash needs, you can always wire or otherwise transfer funds from your USA account. However, once established, more importantly is the ongoing monthly income you will have. For a major urban city such as Manila, you will need approximately $2,000 a month to live the lifestyle to which you are accustomed in the USA. In Cebu and Davao, you would need approximately $1,500 per month. For major rural cities, the requirement drops to $1,000 per month or less.

6. Use common sense - do not leave your common sense at the border once you arrive in the Philippines. It is easy to be enamored by the beauty of the women, the low cost of liquor and other vices, to the point that you agree to things and take actions you would never do back in your homeland. Keep your senses about you, and pay attention to that "gut feeling". You can do all the research in the world, and think you are making all the right decisions. However, at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself "does this feel right". In other words, when in a foreign country, relying on your intuition is very, very important.

For those who are planning to obtain a job or start a business after they retire to the Philippines, dual citizenship is a must. Whereas there are various residency options for a non (Philippines) citizen to retire in the Philippines, there are numerous benefits to such a retire to acquire dual citizenship in the Philippines, to include the right to wholly own real estate, operate a business or practice a profession, vote in elections, and re-acquire a Philippine passport. In 2003, the Philippines government passed a law which enables former citizens to re-acquire Filipino citizenship. It is known as the Dual Citizenship Law.

PROCEDURE FOR GETTING DUAL CITIZENSHIP:

o Obtain application form "Petition For Dual Citizenship And Issuance Of Identification Certificate (IC)" from your nearest Philippines consulate office (either in person or it can be downloaded from their website).

a) Philippine Birth Certificate;
b) Old Philippine Passport;
c) Marriage Contract indicating the Philippine citizenship of the applicant;
d) Voter's affidavit or voter's identification card; or
e) Such other documents that would show that the applicant is a former natural

born citizen of the Philippines as may be acceptable to the evaluating officer.

o Present the original copy and submit a photocopy of your Certificate of Naturalization.

o For each of your minor unmarried children below eighteen (18) years of age, present the original copy and submit a photocopy of the following:

a) The child's birth certificate; and
b) The child's foreign passport

o Attach to the application form two (2) recent and identical 2" x 2" photographs showing the front view. The beneficiary children are not required to submit photographs.

o If the application is found to be in order, pay a processing fee of US$50.00 for the principal application and $25.00 for each child-beneficiary. The payment may be in cash, bank draft or money order payable to the Philippine Consulate General.

o After payment, be sure to sign the Oath of Allegiance and Identification Certificate (IC) prepared by the Consulate and receive a notice of the date and time for taking the Oath of Allegiance before a Consular Officer. Also, affix thumbprints in the spaces provided in the IC.

o After the oath-taking, you will receive the original copy of your notarized Oath of Allegiance, Order of Approval and (IC) issued by the Consulate.

o All approved/completed applications and supporting documents, including oath of allegiance, order of approval, ACR and ICR/CRTV, if any, are forwarded to the BI in Manila.

o At this time, you can then make application for a new Philippine passport.

This is a question I pondered for many years early on in my marriage to a Filipina lady. Men and women each have different "key drivers" of happiness. In addition, every multicultural marriage must deal with the fact that each party in the marriage comes to the union with a completely diverse data base of experiences as to what is morally right and wrong behavior, what is socially acceptable and unacceptable behavior, what are important and significant customs and mores, what is an appropriate conflict resolution style, what is appropriate dress and tone of communication, and on and on - all the myriad of cultural differences which surface (most commonly in times of stress and conflict).

Dictionaries define happiness as being in a condition of enjoyment, or characterized by well-being and contentment. Those are nice pretty words, but when trying to separate fact from fiction as to what is a state of enjoyment, well being and contentment, one must first learn what are those conditions.

A Filipina lady's key conditions of happiness generally are one or more of the following: (i) material possessions, (ii) high academic or professional achievement, (iv) lots of pleasure, (v) recognition, and (vi) strong and harmonious family relations. Whereas Westerners pride themselves on their independence, a Filipina's sense of self is derived from her family. The family is at the core of her existence. To be alone would be considered the ultimate curse.

Yet, a Western man is programmed from his youth onward that true happiness generally comes from one or more of the following: (i) material possessions, (ii) high academic or professional achievement, (iii) a grand reputation, (iv) lots of pleasure, and (v) freedom and independence. It is only after years of "climbing the corporate ladder" and "running the race" that one finally realizes that happiness is not a destination, but rather is a state of being during the journey.

Once we men get past the surface (usually after much self inflicted pain and suffering), we finally come to the realization that the true meaning of happiness is comfort, contentment and joy.

The crux of the matter therefore in WHAT makes a Filipina wife happy comes down to how to serve her so as to provide her attainment of each of the "key drivers" of happiness. It is all about joining into a deeper relationship which creates a condition of comfort, contentment, and joy for her - while still maintaining one's individual uniqueness as a human being. It is all about service. It is all about out serving your wife on a daily basis. Make it a goal every day to serve her in a way that emphasizes family and friends. Her strongest social urge is to be around people. Individualism is a very difficult concept for her to embrace.

A Filipina wife views a Western man as God-fearing, hardworking and deserving of much love, respect and admiration. Consequently, she looks to her husband for high moral and spiritual integrity. As such, she thinks he will be a spiritual, financial and moral leader of a family, providing comfort and protection. The essential in this regard is for the husband to lead in the marriage. Men crave respect, and a Filipina wife will keep her husband happy by showering him with respect, provided he leads and serves her with great sensitivity to her cultural values.

If you are reading this article, I assume you have already recognized the great benefits of retiring in the Philippines. Yet, when faced the decision to leave your home country, friends and comfort of your surroundings, it becomes quite difficult to make the move to this faraway tropical paradise of the Philippines. There are always the doomsayers and negative people ready to tell stop you in your tracks.

How do you overcome the fear and anxiety of such a move, and then make the decision to move forward?

It is a five step process:

1. START WHERE YOU ARE

As with so many important decisions in life, you tend to want to have all the answers and all the information before making the decision. You want the planets all to be lined up in a perfect orbit. You want all your "ducks to be in a row", such that the correct decision is always easy and correct. Life simply doesn't work that way, and if you have been waiting for it to work that way, you probably are a person who has always had a problem making decisions.

Most people get the decision process all backwards. They try to figure everything out before they make the decision. No, you make the decision and then figure it all out. There is something magical about once you decide - all your passion and energy then gets on board to figure out how to get it done. Well, No decision IS a decision - a decision to do nothing.

So simply start where you are, with what information you have, and make a decision to move forward. Make the decision that you are going to retire overseas, and then go about getting information to support your decision. Along this journey, you may find that you need to alter your decision. That is all part of the process, but none of it begins unless you make a decision to move forward, starting exactly where you are - with all your baggage, problems, age, current income level, cash resources, or any other unfavorable circumstances. Simply START.

2. GET A PLAN OF ACTION

All journeys start with a road map, of sorts, of how to get where you want to go. Today, we commonly leave that up to a GPS device when travelling by car. Recognize, however, that purchasing a GPS represents "getting a plan of action". The GPS provides you the plan of action. When putting together a plan of action to retire overseas, it is imperative that

Developing the plan of action is where you start to dig into facts and figures and do your in depth research. This is where you plan out a investigatory trip or two of the country you have put on your "short list" Plan out your source of retirement income - how much will be needed, what is the cost of living in the country, how will you handle any health considerations, and any personal entanglements such as a pending divorce or separation, dependent children still in school, a pending bankruptcy, or perhaps an existing job contractual agreement.

3. ESTABLISH A TARGET COMPLETION DATE

All decisions, backed up by a plan of action, require a completion date to keep them moving forward. Once you start down the road after making the decision, it is important to keep the momentum going. It is all too easy to procrastinate, to tell yourself "someday". Well someday is today - not tomorrow. Once you make a decision, it is critical to put a deadline date on it. Now I recognize that deadlines can change, as subsequent events and additional information unfold. Yet, a deadline creates a sense of urgency to get moving and keep moving on a day to day basis.

4. OVERCOME THE DOOMSAYERS

These dream stealers are everywhere in life, and they are dangerous. Stay as far away from them as you can! In many cases, these are people closest to you. They mean well, but they simply are not dreamers and probably have never accomplished anything significant in their life other than finishing school, getting married, getting a job and having children all their life. Fear can freeze you in your tracks. It takes courage to overcome fear of change and fear of the unknown. Retiring to an overseas country is really an act of "getting out of the box". It really requires getting out of your comfort zone. Yet, on the edge of your comfort zone is where all personal growth occurs. Don't let the lack of money be an excuse; simply make that an element of your plan of action as to which country you choose. Most importantly, let go of what I call your "sacred cow", that one thing you have always been unwilling to give up, yet when you look back you know it has always held you back from personal progress.

5. EXECUTE THE PLAN

Once the plan is all in place, the final act of the decision is to complete the decision by taking action to execute the plan. Here is where personal development to overcome your fear zone and keeping negative thinking doomsayers away from you is critical.

When it comes to retirement locations in the Philippines, one has many options - major urban cities, larger rural cities, beach resorts, mountain retreats. Each has its own unique and attractive features. The major advantage of retirement in a mountain retreat is cooler weather and a lower cost of living than in the major urban cities. The most popular retirement spots in this category are in (i) Baguio City and (ii) Tagaytay.

BAGUIO CITY

Bauio City, located at an elevation of 1,450 meters in the Cordillera mountain range north of Manila, has a population of approximately 300,000. It is vibrant, woodsy and cool by Philippine standards. Baguio City is a favorite "get away from the heat" retreat. Lush with pine trees and their ever present smell, one would think they were somewhere in northern California. There are throngs of college students in the city. It was initially constructed as a mountain retreat by the US military forces in the early 1900's. The main threat to the beauty of the area is now overdevelopment. There is not much in the way of night life and entertainment, but there is plenty of golf and plenty of cool weather, both of which are the main draws for retirees.

TAGAYTAY

Tagaytay is located approximately 60 kilometers south of Manila and has a population of approximately 60,000 permanent residents. It is a rapidly growing area, due to its proximity to Manila. It sits at about the 650 meter level along a ridge near the extinct Taal volcano - lower than Baguio City, but still cool and blessed with breezes off the South China Sea. A lot of new residential gated communities have sprouted up in this area in the past few years, as many foreigners have found this place to be attractive due to the cool weather and closeness to the big city lifestyle of Manila. Cost of housing is higher here than in Baguio City. During the week, it is a very quiet and relaxed place, but on the weekends it is busy and crowded as the hordes of visitors arrive from Manila.

There are numerous pitfalls to avoid as a foreigner wanting to build a house in the Philippines. Among them are (i) obtaining the services of the wrong contractor, (ii) thinking that since the Philippines is an underdeveloped country there is no limit as to how cheaply you can get it built, and (iii) a lack of understanding that common building materials used in the Philippines are not up to the standards you would expect in a developed country.

The primary problem

All the problems associated with a foreigner building a house in the Philippines flow from a primary problem - rushing out and obtaining the "services" of a contractor or architect who happens to be a friend or a relative of their Filipina girlfriend or spouse. This is an immediate recipe for a disaster!

You run the risk of working with a Philippines contractor who will disappear when the house is incomplete, or the architect will make a ridiculous design on a ridiculous foundation, or still further, the house may look nice when built but immediately thereafter it begins to crack or leak.

These Philippines family friends/relative architects and contractors, who always hold themselves out to be "experts", usually have no office and are unlicensed. Yet, because they offer what seem to be such low prices, foreigners rush in with total trust and launch into construction without even a written contract. Note that many local Filipinos consider it a great source of pride to "fleece" a foreigner.

Specific Tips for a Foreigner Building a House in the Philippines

1. Hire an Philippines licensed architect - you would never think of building a house in the USA without an architect, so by all means in a the Philippines, where you do not speak Tagalog, llocano or Visayan languages, nor fully understand the customs and work habits of Filipino construction people, start things right by hiring a professional, experienced and licensed architect. The highest impact on cost savings is in the planning phase, not in the bidding and construction phase.

2. Get a Philippines contract for the construction - be sure all agreements are in writing, and that you are dealing with a professional, experienced and licensed Philippines contractor.

3. You need to be sure the basics of the contract clearly set forth (i) a detailed description of the work to be done, (ii) specifics as to the materials to be used (as to quality, quantity, weight, color, brand name, etc), (iii) starting and completion dates, (iv) how and when payments will be made, (iv) warranties and guarantees of workmanship, and (v) methods of debris and refuse removal when the work is done.

4. Philippines building materials - this is one of the most critical aspects of a home building project one needs to understand. Probably 98% of all houses in the Philippines are made with hollow blocks. The problem is every Filipino seems to have a backyard family business making hollow blocks. There is no standardization as to the minimum amount of cement to be combined with the gravel and sand to make a strong block. I have encountered blocks which were so brittle they literally broke in my hands.

Be sure you are able to verify the quality of the work. If you have followed the above tip of only working with a professional, licensed Philippines architect and contractor, this will not be a problem

In lieu of hollow blocks, consider use of (i) insulated light weight concrete panels or (ii) insulated concrete forms. These are newer forms of constructing concrete walls in the Philippines, and although they are more expensive, they are roughly ten times stronger and significantly reduce the need for full time air conditioning.

The problem with hollow block walls in Philippines construction are they offer no sound insulation and they absorb and store heat of the day. During the evening, they give that heat back to you. Homes with hollow block are therefore cool in the morning, but by evening time they literally become like an oven, and you are the meal being baked! Further, due to their poor insulation, you will have very high electricity bills. Humidity is high in the Philippines, so air movement is critical.

When it comes to retirement locations in the Philippines, one has many options - major urban cities, larger rural cities, beach resorts, mountain retreats. Each has its own unique and attractive features. The major advantage of retirement in a beach resort is are (i) exciting beach activities, (ii) ongoing "vacation" atmosphere, (iii) great entertainment and night life, (iv) continuous influx of foreign travelers, (v) numerous upscale hotels and related resort facilities, (vi) great airport accessibility, and (vi) yet small populations. In this category of retirement spots, the most popular are (i) Boracay Island, (ii) Mactan Island, (iii) Panglao Island, (iv) Subic Bay, (v) and Puerto Galera.

BORACAY ISLAND

This is the most famous of all the beach resort areas in the Philippines. There are many 5 star resorts on this island and numerous bars and restaurants owned by foreigners. The sand is some of the best in the whole world, and the night life is supreme. However, it is crowded and overdeveloped like Waikiki and Miami Beach. It has a small permanent population of around 15,000 but a large daily population of tourists from around the world. It attracts travelers of all sorts - international sophisticates, Manila urbanites getting away, serious water enthusiasts, backpackers, and late night party animals. The downside of Boracay is that housing costs tend to run on the high side, more like the costs of housing in Manila. However, for a retiree looking for beach resort action, Boracay Island is the place to be.

MACTAN ISLAND

This island is just adjacent to Cebu City, across a bridge, and in fact where the Cebu international and domestic airports are located. Like Boracay, Mactan too has sandy beaches, but not near the quality of those at Boracay. It also is packed with upscale 5 star hotels and resorts. Yet, whereas Boracay is more remote, accessibility is excellent and Mactan Island due to its proximity to Cebu. Additionally, there is a casino on Mactan Island for those who enjoy the addition of gambling to their retirement lifestyle.

Lliving on Mactan Island provides that resort atmosphere, due to all the resort hotels, yet it is close to great medical facilities and upscale shopping malls across the bridge in Cebu City. Housing costs are lower on Mactan than on Boracay.

PANGLAO ISLAND

This island is across a short bridge from the much larger island of Bohol, which is approximately a 1/12 hour fast-boat ferry ride from Cebu City, or a short airport ride from the Cebu domestic airport. Panglao Island has a population of around 60,000 and is generally associated with Alona Beach, a strip of resorts and dive centres on the southern side of the island. Diving is what draws tourists and retirees to Panglao Island.

There are many resorts and the cost of living is substantially less than on Mactan Island. On the down side of course is that the island is more remote and requires a boat or air trip to get to the medical and shopping facilities of Cebu City.

SUBIC BAY

This area has rapidly become a favorite retirement area, especially for retired US military personnel and for Koreans. Until 1992, Subic Bay was the base for the huge 7th Fleet of the US Navy. These days it is in the process of being remolded into a tax free foreign trade zone and a modern tourist destination. A modern new superhighway was completed in 2008 which has cut the travel time from Manila by an hour. This provides great access to all that Manila has to offer, yet permits retirement in a smaller resort oriented community with all that has to offer. The population is now in excess of 200,000. The presence of Koreans is largely due to the construction in 2006 in Subic Bay of a large Korean shipbuilding plant. Housing costs have risen considerably in 2008 and 2009, yet they are significantly below Manila costs. There are lots of retired military people living in this location.

PUERTO GALERA

Puerto Galera, located just a few hours drive south of Manila, has a small population of around 30,000, and is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. Divers especially visit there in droves. Diving is king at Puerto Galera, with drinking close second. Beaches are numerous, but they lack the real resort style white-sand. The area is known for its great diving and its great night life. Watering holes, music and all kinds of nightlife are everywhere in Puerto Galera. Cost of living and housing is on the low end in Puerto Galera, as compared to the other beach resort retirement areas.

When it comes to retirement locations in the Philippines, one has many options - major urban cities, larger rural cities, beach resorts, mountain retreats. Each has its own unique and attractive features. The major advantage of retirement in a major urban Philippines city are (i) international airport accessibility, (ii) excellent healthcare accessibility, (iii) all major sports activities, and (iv) secure, upscale shopping, night life and entertainment. In this category of major urban cities are the Manila metropolitan area, Cebu City in the Visayas area of the country, and Davao City in Mindanao.

MANILA

Manila is the capital of the country, and the primary port of entry for every foreigner flying to the Philippines. It is the gateway to the Philippines. For a foreigner seeking quick access in and out of the country, Manila is the place to be. Travel to Manila from California is 15 hours, from Hawaii it is 10 hours, from Tokyo it is a little over 4 hours, from Hong Kong it is less than 2 hours, from Singapore it is 3 hours, and from Europe it is basically 20 hours. Once you are in Asia, sitting in the China Sea, Manila is at the center. Trips to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Indonesia are quick and easy from Manila.

Manila is actually part of a major metropolitan area with an overall population of over 11 million people. So yes, it is crowded overall, yet, like all major cities in the world, there are areas within the metropolitan area which are quite diverse from one another.

Depending on one's retirement income, retiring foreigners tend to favor either the upscale, highly westernized Makati, Ortigas/Mandaluyong, or Alabang areas. These areas have all the amenities westerners are accustomed to, including all the biggest and most upscale shopping malls in the country. Makati is the financial hub of the Philippines, and it is full of western style upscale condominiums with all the latest amenities.

For those wanting an upscale, big city living, with access to the best entertainment, sporting events, unlimited shopping options, and most westernized lifestyle, within easy reach of foreign destinations, Manila is your best choice. The downside is that it is the most expensive than Cebu City and Davao City.

CEBU CITY

Cebu City is located on the island of Cebu in the chain of islands known as the Visayas. It is more centrally located in the country and is a domestic trading and transportation hub. It is much smaller than Manila, with a population less than 1 million, yet its people have a higher per capita income level. It is very pro business, and a more efficiently run city than Manila. It is very progressive and has become a large center of commerce. It has aggressively expanded its airport, which does receive certain direct international flights, though few in number.

Cebu has a large population of foreign retirees in relation to its population. Foreigners are drawn to its abundance of beaches and resorts. It is a beautiful city, surrounded by mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Like Manila, it too has its upscale, modern shopping malls, casinos, and a great night life. Being a smaller city, getting around the city is much easier. It is now only beginning to see construction of high rise condominiums, which are abundant in Manila, and a favorite of western retirees.

Cebu has great medical facilities and it has just recently launched an effort in conjunction with the national government to further develop Cebu as a major medical tourism and retirement center for foreigners.

All in all, it has most of the westernized benefits of Manila, yet a lower cost of living, combined with the presence of many, many beautiful white sand beach resorts. Those who love living near the seaside, have interests in diving and other water sports, yet like the efficiency and amenities of a smaller modern city, then Cebu City would be your choice.

DAVAO CITY

Davao City is THE city of Mindanao, and by square miles it is the second largest city in the world. Its population is approximately 1.4 million. Located on the southern of Mindanao, it is the most rural of the three major urban cities, and it has the lowest cost of living. So, if you enjoy the lifestyle of a large city, but have limitations on your cost of living, Davao is the place for you.

Davao City does not get large numbers of foreign travelers, yet for those seeking outdoor adventures, the options are plentiful. Living in Davao is a bit like living in both an urban and a rural city, as the city has modern shopping centers, upscale gated communities and hotels, yet living there you become deeply rooted to the land outside the city. Just outside the city is Mt Apo with forested slopes and abundance of hiking opportunities, and located on a gulf, it is only a short boat ride to white sand beaches. Most of the land outside the city has been turned over to massive plantations growing pineapples, bananas, and other citrus. The city has a new, great world class golf course, and low rise condominiums are newly being built. It has committed itself to the development of a world class medical center, and is aggressively pursuing medical tourism.

In conclusion, it has been my experience that for a person who wants to retire in a major urban city in the Philippines, the choice between Manila, Cebu and Davao usually comes down to one's pension and/or other monthly retirement income. Manila is the most expensive, Cebu is next, and Davao has the lowest cost of living. Manila is the most cosmopolitan, and the Davao the most rural. All three are attractive spots for a foreigner seeking retirement in the Philippines in an urban environment.

In recent years, the Philippines has rapidly become a premier honeymoon destination. In April 2009, the Philippines was awarded the "Most Popular Destination in Asia" award by professional jurors at the 2009 World Travel Fair in Shanghai, China. Foreigners booking their marriage ceremonies and honeymoons in the Philippines have been at record growth rates the past several years.

What are the Most Romantic Places to Visit?

Insiders, people who live in the Philippines, or those Expats who travel to the Philippines frequently have found many special romantic "getaways" to bask in equal doses of passion, solitude and creature comforts. Frankly, there are so many beautiful and romantic locations in the Philippines, it is extremely difficult to identify the Top 5, Top 10 or even the Top 20. Certain places are more romantic to some than others for very personal reasons.

Nevertheless, based on my over 20 years of travelling to and living in the Philippines with my Filipina spouse, I have come up with a comprehensive list of locations which I continuously find other Expats confirming with me as also being their favorite romantic getaway locations.

The Luxury Locations

1. Amanpulo on Pamalican Island: Rated - 5 Star

This has to be at the top of the list, with rooms starting at $550 per night. This place is the Ultimate beach resort in the Philippines and the Ultimate Getaway for those with the funds to afford it. If you choose to visit Amanpulo, you will be hobnobbing with the rich and famous of the world - jetsetters and celebrities from around the world. This is one of the best known secret locations in the Philippines.

2. Manila Makati Peninsula Hotel: Rated - 5 Star

This is the perfect getaway for those looking for a romantic upscale, city location, with city light views and culture similar to New York City. There are numerous room choices, from superior rooms ranging from $200 to $300 per night, up to suites ranging from $400 to $500 per night. The views in the lobby of the hotel are absolutely stunning, and the room is perfectly decorated.

3. Shangri La Mactan Island Resort (Cebu): Rated 5 Star

This luxurious resort is nestled on 14 hectares of beautifully landscaped coastal land. All the rooms open to excellent view of the ocean. Being on the coast, the resort offers all the normal water sports. You get a lot of space when you stay here. It has been named as one of the "Top Ten Best Resorts in the Asia-Pacific" by Business Traveler Magazine

4. Badian Island Resort and Spa (Cebu): Rated 5 Star

This resort is on the top of the list of Top 10 Island Spas, as featured in a recent issue of Asia Spa magazine. It is situated just off the coast on the far Southwest end of Cebu island, away from the cities and the noise, in a perfectly beautiful romantic destination spot. It is about a 2.5 hour drive from the Cebu airport, but you can request for a helicopter to whisk you to the resort in 30 minutes.

5. Shangri La Boracay Island: Rated: 5 Star

Another plush property from the Shangri-La's group, this resort is located in a northern part of Boracay island. It is in a location secluded from all the hustle and bustle congestion of Boracay, and has its own secluded 350 meters of unspoiled beach and well-preserved nature. This luxury resort features 219 rooms and villas decked out in ethnic Filipino décor, each room connecting to a balcony where you can relax and revel in panoramic views of the beach.

Now, how about the rest of us, we who wish to not so freely roll out the night rates of the above luxury resorts, but wish to find that unique romantic getaway. Well, this list is even harder to select, as there are so many beautiful and romantic locations at the more affordable rates of $100 to $250 per night.

The Budget Minded Locations

1. Boracay's elite row of resorts - Boracay is the best-known tourist spot in the Philippines. Because the northern end of Boracay's main beach is relatively isolated, the more high-end resorts are located there, two of which I recommend as romantic getaways:

Waling-Waling Beach Hotel: Rated: 3 Star

This resort has only 29 rooms, so it is quite private, and guests are treated like family. What gives this resort its unique character is that outdoors is a line of native cabanas filled with over-sized pillows decorated with shells and hanging lamps where you can dine, read, drink, take a nap or simply watch the sea and people walk by.

Friday's Resort: Rated: 4 Star

Friday's, like Waling, is located on beautiful White Beach, but what makes it differ so much from Waling is its somewhat isolated location, which gives it more privacy. It was the first luxury resort built in Boracay

Nami Private Villas Hotel: Rated: 4 Star

Nestled in the hills with a magnificent view of the ocean, the resort features 12 private and spacious villas, each with its own Jacuzzi. The resort is only a 10 minute drive from the main area of White Beach. There is a service center that can arrange activities for guests, such as horseback riding, aqua sports, and golf. The resort is an ideal destination for those seeking a romantic getaway with privacy and seclusion, while still being nearby Boracay's commercial area.

2. El Nido Resorts in Palawan: Rated - 4 Star

El Nido is home to enchanting vistas of white sand beaches, huge limestone cliffs, tranquil lagoons, and reefs teaming with life. The scenery is simply stunning, the water some of the clearest I have ever witnessed, and they are really secluded - on the north end of Palawan. There are two major resorts making up the El Nido Resorts - Lagen Island Resort and Minoloc Island Resort.

3. Pearl Farm Beach Resort: Rated - 5 Star

Located in the southern part of the Philippines is the Samal group of Islands, an archipelago consisting of nine islands which stretch out over a land area of 28,000 hectares. Samal is a beautiful, tranquil and exotic island with a coastline adorned with white sand beaches, abundant marine life, rock formations, mangroves, and landscape elements of coconut palms, flowering plants and fruit-bearing trees. The area is blessed with various natural attractions and flourishing flora and fauna.

4. Pansukian Resort: Rated 5 Star

This is a beautiful, uncrowded (only 8 Villas) resort in Siargao, an unspoiled island in the southern Philippines, also known as a surfer's heaven. There is a world famous surf break known as Cloud 9 north of General Luna, the main city on the island. The Siargao Cup surfing competition is held in late September or early October each year. Siargao is east of Cebu and northeast of Butuan City in Mindanao.

5. Surf Camp - Calicoan Island, Samar: Rated: 4 Star

The Surf Camp is an idyllic tropical getaway situated in 'abcd' beach, Calicoan Island's prime surfing area. The eight luxuriously appointed cottages are inspired by Thai, Balinese, Indonesian and Filipino architecture. All are equipped with air conditioning, hot water, satellite tv, minibar, safety deposit box and intercom. The resort features an infinity pool with an unparalleled view of the Pacific Ocean.

6. Sonya's Garden - Tagaytay: Bed and Breakfast

You can't believe that tucked in a small road outside Tagaytay City is this delightful place filled with rare flowers, and where you can have lunch or dinner and stay for the night in it cottages lovingly built and uniquely furnished by its owner, Sonya Garcia. It is the closest that you can get to an English "bed and breakfast" in the Philippines, but with a bit more style and personal service.

7. Bohol Beach Resort at Panglao - Bohol Island: Rated: 3 Star

Panglao is a small island virtually attached to the main island of Bohol, connected by two bridges of just 50 meters in length. All major beach resorts are located on Panglao with its pristine white beaches and clean seawater. Panglao is also the destination of choice for many divers. Alona Beach is where all the big hype is about Bohol (and the higher priced resorts - one great one which is Alona Palm Beach Resort).

8. The Manor at Camp John Hay - Baguio

What makes staying here so special is that it is located in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. Baguio, located at 5,000 foot elevation, was originally constructed as a mountain retreat by US military forces in the early 1900's. Now, its cool temperatures (average of 19 degrees Celsius year round) draw Manila visitors in large numbers when the lowlands are sweltering. The city's character is shaped by the throngs of young college students. It is the most accessible and preserved pine forest area in the Philippines.

Wondering what it would be like to be married to a beautiful Filipina?

There is no escaping the exotic beauty of a Filipina. How confusing it is though that on the "outside", the Philippines appears to be on one of the most Westernized countries in Asia. English is prevalent everywhere you go, and most all signs are in English. Filipinos have taken to the Western culture voraciously, in dress, slang, fast-food, movies and music, and so forth.

Yet, underneath this veneer lies an Asian soul. Filipinos share many of the same values and attitudes with other Asians. If you fail to realize the façade of the English language, and the Filipina lady will act, react and think like a Westerner, you will commit many social and personal relationship blunders that could have long lasting effect. What specifically are some of the differences in the culture and nature of a Filipina wife?

1. The Filipina has been taught since childhood to be faithful, sincere, grateful and obedient. Culturally, from her mother, her aunties and from the church she has been instructed in the skills and duties to please a man. Instinctively she knows how to keep him content and how to create a comfortable atmosphere in the home. Strongly ingrained in their being is the respect for their parents as being most sacred.

2. A Filipina wife understands that in a family, as in any living organism, two heads attached to the body creates a monster. They therefore cherish and heavily value a man who leads. They are very comfortable following and allowing the husband to make the final decisions. They realize that at the end of the day, after all discussion has been had regarding a decision, it is the man's responsibility to lead, and their responsibility to follow.

3. The Filipina is still very conservative. She knows that she must be faithful and respective to her husband. She will never have another man in her life while she is married.

4. In a dispute situation, the Filipina will go out of her way to avoid any direct confrontation. She will not "get in your face"; rather, she will hide her feelings behind what appears to be a genuinely friendly smile, or she will simply go silent on you. She will hold inside her true thoughts and feelings. The downside of all this is that anger builds up, and then she will respond at a time and place, and in a manner, a Westerner would never expect. The one thing above all to remember is that a Filipina, at the end of the day, is Asian and is a very sensitive lady.

5. The Filipina wife emphasizes a smooth relationship with her husband. Harmony at all times is her goal, and loss of face must be avoided at all times.

6. Yes, the Filipina is very exotic. She has a seductive quality that captivates and hypnotized the Western man's eye. I fell in love with my Filipina wife the first moment I laid eyes on her, and I love her more today than I did 20 years ago. It is an amazing experience.

Do you want to learn more about the Filipina and culture and values of the Philippines? I have just completed my new book on "Retirement Living in the Philippines", which has a special section dedicated to the matter of interpersonal relationships with Filipinos and particularly, marriage and courting relationships with a Filipina.

PassportIn 2003, the Philippines government passed a law which grants its naturally born citizens who lost their citizenship through naturalization in a foreign country the opportunity to re-acquire their Philippines citizenship. Getting dual citizenship under this program offers numerous advantages to both the Filipino and his/her entire family.

The Advantages

1. One who re-acquires Filipino citizenship can vote in elections in the Philippines.
2. One can own real property
3. One can practice his/her profession
4. One can own and operate a business
5. The citizen's spouse can get an immigrant visa that entitles him/her to permanently reside in the Philippines - come and go, avoid exit clearances, entry fees, etc.

Ownership of real property is a significant advantage, as existing law in the Philippines restricts ownership of real property to its own citizens. Although a foreigner is permitted to take title to a condominium, he/she cannot take title to real property (land and a house). A foreigner can lease land from a Filipino and then take ownership of a house on the land, but this type of transaction is extremely rare in the Philippines. Thus, through re-acquisition of his/her Philippine citizenship, the Filipino is once again able to purchase real property, with no restrictions.

For those wanting to retire to the Philippines, the ability to run a small business or practice one's profession is a strong benefit. Through dual citizenship, retirement in the Philippines can be the start of a new chapter in one's life, as a business person or a professional. Ownership of business as a sole proprietor or as a wholly owned corporation is severely restricted, unless a foreigner makes a significant investment ($200,000 as a minimum).

Without citizenship, a foreigner wishing to operate a business in the Philippines is limited to forming a corporation, of which he/she can only own a 40% interest. As a dual citizen, the Filipino re-acquires the right to wholly own his/her business. Thus, a foreigner married to a Filipino with dual citizenship can take 40% ownership of a business and keep it in the family by his/her dual citizenship spouse taking the remaining 60% ownership.

Other than being in an immigrant status, there is only one way a person carrying a foreign passport can reside in the Philippines for any significant amount of time, and even then it requires the foreigner to be married to a "Balikbayan" (a returning Filipino who was born in the Philippines). A Balikbayan and his/her spouse can visit and reside in the Philippines for up to one year, after which they must exit the country, and then re-enter should they wish to stay another year. This must be repeated on an annual basis

Balikbayan status is not an immigrant status, but rather a special non-immigrant visa status. Yes, one can enter without a visa and stay for a maximum of 21 days, and then get a renewal for another 38 days, followed by two month extensions for about USD $100 per extension, up to a maximum of one year. There is also a special retiree visa program permitting unlimited stay status, but it does not permit real property or business ownership.

There are only two ways for a foreigner to be registered as a non-quota immigrant and those are (i) be the spouse of a Filipino citizen who was never became a citizen of a foreign country, or (ii) be the spouse of a former Filipino citizen who has re-acquired his/her citizenship by obtaining a dual citizenship status. If desired, the door is open after 5 years residency for the foreigner to also obtain dual citizenship.

With a dual citizenship status, the Filipino has the best of both worlds - citizenship in the Philippines and all the rights that attach to that plus citizenship in his/her other country (e.g., Canada or USA) and all the rights that attach to that status.




 

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