Life in the Philippines

The Incentives are there. Value for money due to exchange rate assuming your moving from the western world or are doing well in crypto. Girls girls all types of girls or boys if that's your thing. At least that's what I thought when I packed up about 15 years ago.

Now married to a Filipina with our baby daughter and years of experience behind me, I see it all a little differently.

However only a little, as the main incentives still hold up. Many western men/women have had many a run in with western relationships, many get so burned emotionally that they could never consider picking from that genetic pool again.

So it goes for finances, many are sick and tired of living in a consumer culture in a dead end job - working pay check to pay check just to keep a roof over their head.

The Philippines (and perhaps many other south East Asian countries) offer a change from all of this, but as you may have guessed it's not that simple.

First you have to know if you are the right person for this kind of cultural change. By this I mean steadfast, unyielding and stubborn, because you will need these traits to see it through. If you are flakey, scared and not willing to change your life in almost every way, then it's not for you. Keep in mind I said willing to change in every way, not because you will have to-in fact you can have pretty much the exact same lifestyle and better. However you still must be willing because there will be times when life on the other side of the planet will require you to be extremely flexible in frustrating situations and extremely patient and calm in others where you would normally be well within your right to complain.

The last ones I learnt the hard way. I'm Irish and have a bit of a hot head and quick tongue at times although I'm equally as apologetic which has got me out of many a sticky quagmire. Giggidy.

So you want to get out of the rat race. Let me give you an example: you have half your mortgage paid on a shitty apartment somewhere, you sell it and have $40,000. You buy a condo unit in manila for this cash. In two years time it will be worth $160,000 (there is an investment boom going on here) so you buy more rent then out do the same again, teach English or get a contract to run a call centre, or just chill on other investments if you can. Boom one example to get out of the rat race. Keep in mind you can decide to live in tropical paradise with beaches or you can live in the metropolis or both.

There are also many ways to seek a relationship yes there is sex tourism if that's your thing, some places they are tested every 3 days so you are safer from transmitted diseases. It's illegal but it's done in such a way that it is legal if you get me. Or you can look for a relationship and there are many options on websites and what not for that. Yes Ofcourse you have to be careful, don't ever send money and always check them on a live webcam feed for a long time of u plan to visit to take it further.

There are many more nuances to the Filipino culture, which is changing rapidly and continually being modernised by the constant flow of a younger population adding ever more a layer of pride and sophistication long lost to the Filipino from their occupational history.

Right now as it stands, standard and popes have the Philippines rated as BBBB+ which is investment grade. Soon, once the wages increase here they will no longer be a third world country and by 2050 they will be one of the richest nations in the world.

So if your plans are to do what I did and find a nice place to live with a good wife that's cheaper and gets you out of the rat race. It's still possible. You just have to take the big steps. The little ones will follow.

If you are interested in knowing more about about this subject, you know what to do and I'll do my best to get back to you. Keep in mind this is a very brief oversight of my experience and always do your own due diligence.