First is inflation. I have not tracked the price increases in the two years I have lived here but one item I remember is gasoline. When I first moved here, gas was about 30 pesos per liter. Today it is 43.80 pesos per liter, which is one peso less than it was in the past few weeks. From what I could find, the inflation rate in the Philippines is about 4.6% whereas the U.S. is around 2.6%.

Then since most Expats live from the payments of their retirement, pensions and investments you are at the mercy of your home countries conversion rate to pesos. When I visited here the conversion of the U.S. dollar was at 50 pesos. When I moved here, it was down to 40 pesos to the dollar and lately it has hovered around 46 pesos. Not only does your dollar goes less far once converted to pay your expenses, the imported products you like to buy to make it feel more like home gets more expensive too.

Your lifestyle here is going to be based on that conversion. Some people predict there is the possibility of the conversion to drop to 30 pesos to the dollar since the U.S. dollar value has been dropping in value. As the peso drops, you get less for your dollar after exchanging it to pesos.

Some Filipinos like to see their peso get stronger. However, what does that end up doing to the country and all the people living here? Well, look at this, 14% of the GNP is OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) remittance. The OFW administration requires the OWF to be paid in U.S. dollars. As the peso gets stronger and the exchange conversion gets less all the families get less pesos each month. Then manufacturing and importers are paying more from products purchased from America. Then exported products will return fewer profits.

Another worry in the future is available electricity here. Another site wrote an article that there is less availability of electricity in the Philippines. This is because of the increasing demand for electrical power throughout the country and scheduled moving brownouts might occur in the future to reduce electric consumption.  To fix this problem more power generating plants will need to be built. Who will pay for these new generating plants? Of course, the consumer. Here again will be an increase of cost to live here.

Even though it is cheaper to live here than in our home country, it is still not an easy ride here. With currency conversion rates unpredictable, increase in utility costs and inflation here and abroad life will get more difficult.

I am going to expand this to another article about starting a business and making money here. Look forward to it.

When I am at the mall to get out of the house I usually, have coffee at one of the kiosk coffee bars. At one of them, I have become friendly with two of the young men that work there.

The other day, as I was sitting there with a book to read and kill some time, I was able to learn more from one of the employees. At that time, the coffee bar was quiet and I was the only customer.  The one employee usually comes to my table and likes to talk and joke with me. In the past I had learned he was 25, a graduate of Criminal Justice Degree from the University and waiting to take his Board Exams. That day I learned he was married and had a son about to reach his first birthday.

He was telling me he was sad, his sons first birthday will be at the end of this month and he cannot afford any gift or party. I made him smile when I told him; at one year old a child does not understand birthdays and save for the child’s second birthday.

I asked him if his child has been baptized yet and again he looked sad and told me no, since he cannot afford the Church costs and the party to follow. You might be wondering why they need a party. I think here with such poverty and depression, families need a party and celebration to lift their spirits.

While we were talking I learned he earns the minimum wage of 265 pesos a day, which is approx $5.70 USD. However, after his taxes and deductions he take home about 150 pesos ($ 3.21). With this amount, he has to pay for their boarding house room, 1000 pesos a month, and their food and substance.

I was thinking, how a family of three could survive on such little money. I do not know, but they do. The fill stomachs with the cheapest rice and a little piece of fish or vegetable. Well they do, because they have no choice. With all this difficulty to this man, and many like him, most are open and friendly and do not beg for tips or gifts. They open themselves and offer a friendship for no other reason then being nice.

When I first moved here I was amazed how many times a day many Filipinos eat. They normally have three meals a day. Every meal has a large amount of rice and usually some small amount of a protein or vegetable. Then mid morning and mid afternoon they have a snack. Many times this is a carbohydrate. Bread, noodles, or even both, then again in the evening some more carbohydrates or a banana.

Rice is high in Carbohydrates but little in protein or minerals. Then the poor can only afford the cheaper rice with lower quality and nutritional value. The government has instituted a fortified rice adding iron. This is because of the poor diet many Filipinos are anemic. However, what about the needed vitamins and minerals.

I have heard of many poor families that live on one meal of rice a day and if lucky flavored with a little soy sauce. That meal is mainly carbohydrates and salt. The reason for so many Filipinos suffers from high blood pressure this one. Then add the fried foods and high fat of the meats and you are looking at strokes and coronary problems.

With this insufficient diet and lack of available medical care for the poor, there are more problems for the poor working class.

With the business owners looking to maximize profits and lower costs, the easiest way to save is by taking advantage of the labor force. In the States, many companies think in preventive medicine for their employees since the healthier their employees are the less downtime and delays to get their tasks done. Here in the Philippines, most employees do not receive sick pay and if an employee is absent too often, they are easily replaced.

There are some employers that pay better, help feed their employees and show the needed respect to lifestyle, but from what I hear, these are few. To improve a country and its workforce the people need to be considered.

Looking at China, Viet Nam, Cambodia and how they are getting foreign investments and becoming more industrialized, I hope and pray someday the leaders of this country can learn from example and find ways not to exploit the people but to assist them.

There are many sites with the subject of living, retiring or just visiting the Philippines. Some of these sites make it look like it is the best place to live with no problems attached. They make it feel as you walk off the plane sexy native girls in bikinis will put flower leis around your neck and if you wish, offer you a night in Heaven with them.  Other sites makes it sound like the worst place to live and the only reason they are here is because they could not afford to live in their home country and were forced to move here.  Neither of these scenarios is correct. There are good parts to living here and parts that are that are very different from life we are used to.

Even in the States if you move from one coast to another or even across the State, there are differences. I remember after I moved to California from New York friend berating me for saying often “in New York this….” or “in New York that…” He was right. I was so used to things, life and foods in New York, I had trouble getting used to the differences. Again, when I moved to Florida from California it took time to adjust. With so many people in Florida are from New York, I again got frustrated with things that were not really “New York” style.

You need to remember this is a Third World Nation. There is a lot of poverty. In addition, this is an Asian country and most of the culture has developed with an Asian mentality. It is true this country was under the Spanish rule for many years, and then by America but the main influence is Asian. For many centuries, the Chinese were here and the old Chinese families own much of the bigger corporations.  There is also a large Japanese and Korean influence here.

Many of the hard good products here are manufactured in China. In addition, as most of we know there are many products we would consider substandard.  There are “rip offs” of known products, especially cell phones that look just like the real object. They are much cheaper but unfortunately, they do not work as the original or last.

Even with known foods turn out to be different. Most bread here has sugar and is sweet. Beef and pork are tougher then we are used to. This is because in most of the world pigs and cattle for meat are the males. Also at a young age, they are castrated so there is not testosterone to toughen the meat and the animal is smaller. Here they are hogs and bull meat. These animals are raised to their maximum size and because of this; their muscles are stronger so the meat will be tougher.

Being a nation of many islands fish is the main food protein source. In addition, rice is the main food staple. Most Filipinos eat rice at the three main meals a day. It is not a side dish or about a cup of rice, it is a huge pile of rice on the plate. Pork and chicken are eaten often, but the chickens are small. About pork, Filipinos love the fatty parts and because of this most of the pork, you see has a thick layer of fat.

Clothes in bigger sizes are hard to find and for some reason I do not understand, the size you see is smaller than in the US. I am not talking about small, medium or large. I am talking about things like slacks. In the US, I wore 36-inch waist. Here I need a 40-inch size. I have wide feet. Not only is it difficult to find a size 12, it has been impossible to find a wide or E width.
Traffic is something to get used to here. I have a friend riding with me the other day. He told me he had owned a car and had driven his whole life, but he would never attempt to drive here. Many foreigners hire drivers so they do not have to bother.

So, where are the good parts to living here? Well we all know, the biggest reason is the cost of living.  Even though some items are actually more expensive here, over all the cost of living is cheaper.  Where in the states can you live in a city area and have a nice two to four bedroom house in an upper scale gated community for around $85,000. Where can you go out for a nice steak dinner for $25? Where can you play golf with a golf cart and a caddy for around $30?

If you are a single man in the retirement age, where can you find a girl and have a relationship from an age of their early 20’s to 30’s? It might not be the exact relationship you think of in the States but you both get what you are looking for. You just need to set your needs and boundaries.

Is living in the Philippines a total paradise? No, but where is there a paradise.

There are differences in all relationships no matter if you are from the same country, same culture, same racial background, same age range or any mix of them. Here you mostly see older retired men with young women. It is not just expat men, even many times you see older Filipinos with young women on their arm.

Here in the Philippines there is much poverty. Many families barely can afford a bowl of rice a day. Many employed Filipinos earn so little income it is difficult to feed and clothe their families.  In the Provinces there is even less opportunities to earn a living. Because of this, many young people come to the cities to look for employment. However, the cities are so over populated; the competition for jobs is huge. Because of this, many families encourage their daughters to seek relationships with men from foreign countries on the internet or through friendships with Filipinas already involved in a relationship with a Foreigner.

Because many men from around the world find a strong attraction to Asian women and since English is spoken here to some degree by, most Filipinos women from the Philippines are very desirable.

There are different ways and reasons foreign men find Filipinas, enter into some form of relationship, and come to the Philippines. Some meet Filipinas in their home country and visit or move to the Philippines after retirement. Some meet a woman on line with the intention of bringing them back to their home country and come here to meet in person and some men move here after retirement to marry a woman they met online or to just play the dating game once they move here.

Now let us discuss a little about the age differences. On one forum site I saw a lot of activity of men bragging how much younger their wife was than their age. I wanted to joke and say my wife is so young, she has not been born yet. OK, it is a fact you see many men in their sixties with women in the early to mid twenties. These men will talk about how well their wife or girlfriend takes care of them. Their women cook, clean and do their laundry. The Filipinas take care of every need the man has and I am not talking about intimate details. The thing is, Filipinas are raised doing these things for their fathers and brothers. Men here are treated on a higher level in most instances. From an early age they are taught how to clean, cook and do laundry. To most, this is their duty.

Now let us look at why these women are interested in older men. I can answer in one word, Security. An older man, especially a foreigner is living on a pension, investments and many times more than one. These men will come here, live in an apartment or house of better quality than where the women family lives. They will eat better quality foods, wear better quality clothes and have a better quality of life. Is this love? To everyone, love has a different definition. Love is a word of a feeling, an emotion; it has no real description except for how each person describes it for himself or herself.

Many times a girl’s parents will support their daughter to use an internet café and if needed, live in another city in a boarding house to be able to find a foreigner husband. The family will expect the girl’s boyfriend to assist in the support of her family.

Some women want a foreign husband and to leave the Philippines, some prefer to stay. Again, each has their own reasons. From what I have learned from discussing this with different people I have met, I feel women who grew up in deep poverty want to escape this country and never look back. On the other hand, women that grew up in a better environment look for the foreigner to move here and upscale their living.

Now I want to discuss the types of women men meet here. Most men are attracted to all young women you see on the street, in the malls and in the bars. Everywhere you go you see many young, beautiful and sexy women. In addition, many of these women are interested in an older foreigner as I mentioned above. Many times young women we know ask if I know of a single foreigner. Then they say if I do know of some, would I give him to them.

One man I know who has retired here was commenting that most of the young women he has met are mostly looking for him to take them out dancing, drinking or meals and never let the relationship escalate to a more intimate level. When he takes them out, they bring a group of friends and he ends up picking up the bill for the whole crowd. He plans to remain in the Philippines. He would marry a woman who is honestly looking for a long-term relationship and not someone to pay the bills for a night out on the town. He asked a group of us, how he could find such a woman. My thought on this matter is this; does he honestly think a female in her early twenties sees an overweight foreigner in his sixties and thinks, “Wow, what a man, I am in love.” In my mind, they see a man and if they feel there is some level of compatibility, she would be content to marry him and improve her life and maybe help support her family.

He also mentioned he would like a woman that has some higher education and her English is better to easily talk with her and have discussions. I told him this is something I have thought about after hearing this from many men visiting here in Davao. Most of the females with a higher education are employed. They work in an office or a mall. These jobs usually are long hours. Some malls employees work from opening to closing, which is usually 10am to 10pm. If a mall has a midnight sale, these sales people are working even longer hours. Many of these girls are from the Provinces and came to Davao for better job opportunities. They do not make a lot of money and usually share a boarding house room. However, they usually speak better English and have a friendly manor and a happier outlook on life. With the long hours, most of these females go home after work and have no energy or free time to hang out in a disco or bar.

Therefore, who are the females available to party all night, the unemployed? These are the women out there trying to find a “rich” foreigner. They enjoy the drinking and dancing and have learned how to play up to a perspective foreigner. For some this is a way to find a future partner and some it is a business with a few men they are involved with.

Now, my feelings have developed over time here and I realize with the poverty and the high unemployment, this is a way for females to survive. Even the business of GRO’s (General Recreation Officers), females that work the bars. Some are available for extras and some are just there for men to have someone to dance, drink and talk with. Even prostitution is a means for a female, or male to support their family when regular employment is difficult to obtain.

Now I know many of you have other thoughts on this subject and some of you who will tell me I am wrong. This is my opinion and view from living here and things I have notices and heard. I welcome other views and stories. I just ask all comments be respectful to this site, any other visitor’s comments and me.

Well, through the Expat group, Friends of Mindanao I learned of and visited a wonderful and different concept for a well needed charity. This is Balay Sa Adunay Pangandoy or Home of Those who have Ambition.

There is a man, Dennis T. Mabayao who as a seminarian worked doing ministry work at the Davao City Jail and Rehabilitation Center. There he had an opportunity to meet many young boys who, for different reasons were in custody at this facility. Because of poverty and peer pressure, these boys were arrested and incarcerated for crimes, including stealing, drugs or even gang murder.

Dennis realized these boys, once their sentence ended would have no decent life. The pressures that drove them into a young life of crime would be even worse since they now have a criminal record. With this realization, Dennis had a dream that he put into action. With the help of a church organizations support at first, on November 3, 2004 he opened the home. They started with about 14 teen-aged boys, which is the capacity of their location. They were given the land and built a home for the boys.

These boys live in the home, go to local schools for their education and at the home receive spiritual and life skills training. The boys have strict rules of their schooling, studies, and chores at the home. They know if they break these rules, they will be asked to leave the home. Dennis is a kind and loving man but is strict to keep the boys on a straight road to a better life. Dennis had a radio show and an herbal supplement business, but gave this up to be able to have the time needed to run the home. With giving his life to the home and the boys, he expects the best in return.

Presently there are eight boys staying at the home. Two are college students, five high school students and one elementary pupil. They hope they can accept more boys in the future but now their financial resources are limited. The home can accommodate a maximum of 14 boys.

The emphasis of the home is on education and formation. They constantly monitor the boys to make sure that they attend their classes and do their assignments. At the home, the boys must be present for morning and evening prayer and do their scheduled assignments, such as cooking, cleaning, washing and caring for the pets and plants. This all helps to instill a sense of order and discipline to their character.

They regularly conduct group and individual counseling, life skills training lectures, school, and home visitation to observe their performance. They try their best to balance the programs and services so that they can achieve their objectives as stated in their manual of operation: “To provide education, to provide spiritual and human formation and to provide life skills training programs.”

These boys, without the home and the education would probably continue their life of crime, since they will be back in the “unwanted” part of the population. Many street boys who live a life of crime lose their lives due to gang turf wars or vigilante killings.

At the home, to earn income they thought of raising pigs but the location prohibited this type of business. They then tried growing vegetables for sale, but that was not a profitable enterprise. They now have large holding ponds breeding tropical fish and cages for the breeding of parakeets and lovebird pet store distributors. They also have a selection of plants and clay pots for sale, which were donated to the home.
Dennis and his dream are wonderful. Most people look at the cute little faces of the young children and their hearts go out to them, but the older children are ignored and forgotten. With the poverty, broken homes, many older boys end up in crime and then forgotten. Dennis is a man with a dream he turned into reality. He took these boys and gave them a chance to get their education and self-esteem back so they can become productive citizens with a future. However, this dream comes with a price. The support of the home and the feeding and schooling of these boys need the help of others to keep this dream alive.

If you would like to help, use the PayPal donation button on my site. Just leave a comment on the donation that your donation is for Dennis and his dream and the money will be forwarded to him.

alay Sa Adunay Pangandoy or Home of those who have ambition, registered in the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission as Non Stock, Nonprofit organization with SEC Reg. NO. CN 200827995

Please help Dennis continue his dream and give these and future boys a chance in life. Let us make these “forgotten” boys have something they will never forget, that there are people who care. Let us also give them a Christmas they never thought they could have and a future life with Dennis.

Help Dennis and Donate to his Dream

Unfortunately with the class system many large businesses exploit their employees without compensating them in any way. They are over worked and tasked to complete their assignments. Many have to work long hours and weekends to complete their duties with their basic salary.

A problem here is the fact that employment is so hard to find and how employers take advantage. I know someone that had a full scholarship to Ateneo de Davao University with a degree in Marketing. He is in his upper 20’s and has had a few jobs in the sales and marketing areas. Currently he is a sales rep for one of the beverage companies. He has been working there for almost two years and is still at temporary employee status. With this he receives no benefits such as PhilHealth. When we talk, I think in American attitude and tell him I would demand my status upgraded or I will seek different employment. He looked at me and asked where he would find another job. Plus there is a network here where upper managers from different similar businesses know each other. If he interviewed with another company, someone would slip this information back to his company and he could lose his current job.

Some with strong initiative many Filipinos have side jobs that at times are different from their occupation. There are also some that are in constant learning to improve and increase their knowledge and ability.

One good case is my friend assisting me with my 3D Architectural Rendering business. He comes from an average Filipino family. I am not sure of his training but I know he started our working as a graphic artist. With his income, and his families help he went to the University of Mindanao for an Architectural Degree. With his Computer graphics knowledge and architecture he continued to learn on his own and with a network of friends locally and online forums he learned 3d modeling and rendering. Once he was competent in this area he continues to increase his knowledge and abilities and now is learning Flash and video. He is young enough for quicker learning, patience and a desire to improve.

One day we were talking and I mentioned with his 3d modeling, rendering, graphics and architecture knowledge, he could make a great living if he went to America or some other first world nation. He just looked at me and asked why should he leave his home? He helps put his sister through college, and is now married with a child on the way. I mentioned if we could get the rendering business going with a few good clients, we could make good income. I asked him if he has any goals to have a more modern home in a nice subdivision. He looked at me blankly and told me he just enjoys doing well and does not dream that way. I tried to explain it is nice to make goals, not so high they might be unattainable but as kind of stepping stone to improve your life. Again he looked at me confused so I dropped it.

Life here for many Filipinos is difficult, many college graduates doing basic jobs and in many cases not in their chosen profession. The competition for employment is huge and the availability to work abroad is even more competitive. Then there are so many fees involved many cannot afford.

In America, an architectural firm, especially in residential architecture draws the plans and elevations for construction. In house or with associations we would provide all structural, electrical and mechanical plans to give the client a full set of plans to take to the building department for permitting.

The best view the client would get was the black line, no more blue lines or blueprints, elevation drawings showing all four sides of the building. Sometimes we would draw basic interior elevations to show cabinets, built-ins or any specialty carpentry. At times the client would request a colored elevation for marketing.

For high end houses, especially if being build to sell, the developer would hire a company to do a perspective drawing. This style of drawing was usually drawn by hand and would give the look of a 3d representation. There were some specialty graphic companies that would make this perspective drawing look more like a photo, or at least more realistic. These drawings were for marketing brochures or advertisement. There were some 3d modeling programs on computer, but this type of service was expensive and timely.

I did not work with or know anybody who did this type of work in America. Then I moved to the Philippines and was hired for about seven months with an Engineering, Architectural and local building firm here in Davao. There I met a young man who started his career as a graphic artist before attending Architectural School.

This man is amazing; with the use of Google Sketchup or AutoDesk 3D modeling and 3D StudioMax he can take a floor plan and elevation and turn it into a 3D model. From this model he can show views that look as a photograph of a finished product or even a video walk-thru of what looks like someone with a video camera recoded their visit to a real home. He has also taken a photograph of a street and inserted a rendering of a building to show how the block will look after the new project is built.

With my contacts and lists of architect firms and developers in America, we teamed up and just opened a website offering these services. Even if you are not in the building trades or an architect, I think you will enjoy seeing his work. If you are in the industry, or know of someone who is, I would appreciate you letting them know about us. We offer amazing work with lower prices than you can get anywhere in the States, Canada, Europe or most anywhere.

The site is BestRender4U and I hope you will enjoy it. This is the beginning, over time we will add more examples and more U.S. style representations. Feel free to comment on your thoughts.

When I was a child, I remember when “Made in Japan” was a label and feeling of cheap, low quality merchandise. There was the “Japanese Transistor Radio.”  As I kid, we knew that anything labeled “Made in Japan” was cheap and would not last long, toys, radios and almost anything else. I remember hearing a story, but do not know if it is true that to combat the “Made in Japan” label, they renamed a city where a lot of manufacturing was done to Usa so they could label their products “Made in USA.”

Well times changed and we now look at items made in Japan as new in technology and quality made, plus cars from Toyota are one of the brands many look for as a lasting vehicle.

Then it all shifted and we looked out for things made in Taiwan. The cheaper and lower quality items were made there. In the 80’s, especially in the car industry, came the Hyundai and then the Kia. At that time, wages in Korea were much lower than Japan so they could make cars cheaper. At first the Hyundai had no power and was structurally weak. Again over time their quality and prices with them improved.

Now living in the Philippines, but also in the rest of the world, for cheap and low quality products we see the label “Made in China.” There were also problems where products for American markets that are made in China having defects and problems. Here in the Philippines, if you want a cheap cell phone that looks like the better models, go buy one of the Chinese “Rip-offs” of an IPod or other copies. With cars, there is the Chery, an inexpensive car. One of their vehicles looks like a Chevy rip-off for a lot less than the original. Living here in the Philippines, if something breaks and you ask why, many times you will hear “Well it was made in China.”

Well, what do you expect; China is emerging as a world leader in trade and investments. Plus the fact that labor prices are some of the lowest in the world, they can produce many things in mass production at lower cost. The unfortunate part is they do not monitor their quality or safety issues. In ten years or so, we might start to see their quality rise up the same we have seen with Japan and Korea.

So, what country will be next? Well the other day we went out to buy a small inexpensive grill. I was curious and looked at the box expecting to see “Made in China.” I was surprised to see, since I had not seen it before, “Made in Indonesia.”

What are your thoughts about good or cheap manufacturing and what countries come to your mind?

After we go home and relax a little and then shower and head out to Gaisano Mall, the nicer mall that is close to our home. Well because of the Kadayawan Festivities as decided to go to SM City mall in Ecoland. SM City is the newest mall in the city with the most modern look to it.

After we had lunch, we headed into the Market. Elena was to start shopping and I was going to buy my cigarettes. As they scanned the carton (ream as called here) a price showed that made me gasp. It was 360 pesos. Prices do vary somewhat and I do not mind a few peso difference but Gaisano charges 313 pesos. Other prices are 314 at Victoria and 316 at the new Robinsons Cybergate.

After I walked out of the liquor and cigarette area and met up with Elena, she was seeing the same problem with food items. A lot of the items are 5 pesos or more higher then we pay at Gaisano. You might be saying, what is the big deal 5 pesos is only approximately $00.10 USD.

Yes, I remember when I first visited here and compared prices in America and thought everything was so cheap, I had no problems buying anything I wanted.  But, when I visited the Philippines, I was still employed and making a decent salary. Then when I moved here, at first I continued that thought about the prices.  Well, after you have lived here for a while and on a fixed income, a peso here and a peso there add up.

Even with restaurants, when you first move here, and have not gotten used to a more Filipino style of eating, you go to the more continental style of restaurants and have no problem spending 400 to 500 pesos for an entrée. To you, 500 pesos is only about $10 and you will think about how the same plate of food would cost so much more back in your home country. This is true, but for me, at those times I had a job and was making a lot more money too.

Now, if you were smart in the old life and invested, saved and built up a nice investment portfolio and your receiving you’re Social Security and maybe other pensions, that is great. But most foreigners who have moved here did not do that and have a smaller monthly income. Many move here without visiting before and had heard or read from others that you can live here on $1000. Yes, you probably can, but you will not have a large home, or even a 2 story townhouse. With that income you will be living in a small apartment with the basic needs.

One of the best ways and hardest thing to do is change your mind set to a peso mentality. What I do, since I still at times convert the amount into dollars is I think about what I pay for lunch here or there. What I spent before at another place or what else I need to do that week. If I spent a large amount on the weekend, I eat home or eat at an inexpensive place if out lunchtime.  For instance, lunch for 2 at McDonalds it will cost close to 300 pesos. There is a Chinese style Filipino restaurant around town named Mandarin. There 2 people can have a nice lunch for 200 pesos or less.

Just as I talked in the beginning about going to the Palengke to do our shopping for meats, fish, vegetables and fruits. There prices are less than the Mall markets and I notice the quality of the fruits and vegetables are much fresher too.

Some will also think, well I will spend more now and reduce my lifestyle as time goes on. You need to consider costs of things that will pop up; medical, family emergencies especially if you’re married or living with a Filipina, her family tree extends in many branches and they all will come to you for help. Then there is always the change of the peso conversion. When I visited here the rate was 50 pesos to the dollar but when I moved here it was down to around 40. Now it has been staying in the high 47 to lower 48 ranges. You need to put money aside for those times the rate drops and we can just hope it never drops and stays down, then we will all be living on a diet of rice and dried fish.

I know, as reading this, you might wonder how this affected all of us. Well, when investors and perspective homeowners stopped buying, the housing developers stopped building. When they stopped building, the employees were not needed. Then the subcontractors that did the construct, the plumbing, the electrical and the rest of the trades had no work. So the contracting companies had to lay off their workers. Also at that time, the suppliers were not selling to the contractors, so they needed to lower staff or at the worse close up their businesses. With all these workers being laid off, they have less money to spend at the malls and markets to these businesses had to lower staff too.

Now you might ask, what has this have to do with the Philippines. Many Filipinos work abroad. The term here is OFW’s or Overseas Foreign Workers. Many of these Filipino are contract workers with only a work visa. These workers send money home to help support their families in the Philippines. When employment was high and employers could not find Americans to fill the positions, the Government allows hiring through the work visa programs.  Eventually, if the layoffs and unemployment grows there will be more Americans available to fill these positions, many contracts will not be renewed and these OFW’s can lose their jobs and status to stay. If this happens, these Filipinos will return to the Philippines and the support for their families will be gone.

There is another problem how this economy crisis can affect Americans and the Philippines. As we get older, companies hiring look for the younger generations to fill the positions and less to the older applicants. There is a term “un-hirable.” This sometimes means you are too old to be desirable to be hired. If you’re in your 50’s or early 60’s companies will look at longevity. Why hire someone who is not going to stay and grow with a company in the long term. Many of these people, who know about the Philippines and the lower cost of living, will start thinking of moving here. This is not a bad thing by any means except many people who move here do not realize how live might be better and how it can be worse. In previous articles I have written about many of the differences living here. I hope they do not just pack up without visiting, seeing how life is living here as a resident and not relaxing in a hotel.

With this site and many others online, I hope people considering a move here will take the time to read and research to better understand.