Evaluating the Philippines as a retirement destination

Despite its present political problems, expats living in the Philippines are still convinced they made the right choice.

According to a recent expat survey, the Philippines is all about personal fulfilment, feeling at home, making supportive local friends and living the life they’d dreamed about in a tropical haven. Some 52 per cent of respondents said they were happier than in the home country, and expat parents and their children love the friendly, vibrant local culture. Many referred to the genuinely low cost of living, cheap public transport and inexpensive accommodation, and everyone loves the flavourful local cuisine. Locals seem to always be happy to help and English is widely spoken, a remnant of the American occupation after the end of WWII as well as the result of many Filipinos working overseas for a while in English-speaking countries.

The culture is family-oriented, and expatriates are welcomed as part of the family. Older people are respected, festivities are huge fun and the people show resilience in times of trouble. Most importantly, there’s no discrimination as there is in several other Southeast Asian countries. Right now, the country’s economy is robust and is one of the strongest in the region, with businesses doing well and investors coming in. Although expats aren’t allowed to own any land, it can be leased and a property built, and condos are the way to go for those who prefer to live in the cities. Beach lovers are in paradise, and there’s far less pollution than in other nearby countries. As regards the weather, it’s summer all year round, although tropical storms can cause problems from time to time.

The above sounds like paradise on earth, and for many expatriate residents it is, but nowhere’s absolutely perfect. City dwellers will note the massive overpopulation via the noise and crowd, and there’s no escaping the fact that poverty is s major problem, especially in rural areas. Unemployment, poor services, lack of education, superstition and crime as well as corruption all take their toll, but as a basically third world country, the Philippines has nowhere to go but up. One aspect which needs vast improvement is infrastructure, with basics such as electricity supplies, lack of reliable high speed internet in rural areas, poor roads and infrequent garbage collection all needing urgent attention.