Life in the Philippines still attracting expatriates

A recent expat survey reveals the Philippines are still a favourite destination for expats.

According to the 2017 Expat Explorer survey, life in the Philippines is still delighting at least 52 per cent of respondents. Over half of those who took part in the popular survey said they were far happier than in their home countries, and 56 per cent of expats with families agreed their children’s quality of life was far more satisfactory than in their countries of birth. The affordability and quality of childcare was praised by 58 per cent of those whose took the survey.

Another plus point of living in the archipelago was the work-life balance, considered better than at home, and just under half of respondents agreed they’d developed a more positive outlook on life in general. Given that expat life invariably includes a stressful period of adjustment, expats in the Philippines reported they were more than happy to immerse themselves in local culture and integrate with the local community.

More than half found the laid-back country was far more welcoming to expatriates than was their home country, regardless of expats’ backgrounds. Given Filipinos’ strong family ties, happy dispositions, innate hospitality and work ethics, it’s no surprise that 61 per cent of those surveyed had positive effects on their lives simply by moving to the country, but other, more unexpected benefits included expats noting they’d become closer to their partners once they’d arrived and settled in.

Improving their physical and mental well-being was also high on the list of positives about the Philippines as an expat destination. For Westerners, the considerable advantage of finding many Filipinos spoke English was a bonus, as was the tropical ambience, scenic beauty and sunny climate. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of life here was the ease of making friends, especially for recent arrivals with younger children.