I'm 64. I retired at 57. I've been married to my Filipina wife for 6 years. Since our online wedding during COVID, we've lived on her family's compound on the island of Mindanao. We've dealt with every situation you can imagine: visa runs, grocery lines, banks, buying cars, insurance claims, car repairs, and so on. There are things I love about living here and things I dislike, but that's true anywhere you choose to live. I love the people, the beaches, the mountains, the food. I dislike the traffic, the humidity, the mud after the rain, the mosquitoes, the ant bites. But I choose to be here. I love my wife, I love my daughter, I love her whole family. They're kind, helpful, caring people. Living in the Philippines isn't for everyone. If you don't have A LOT of patience, the Philippines isn't for you. Brownouts, blackouts, Wi-Fi down, internet down. Because of flooding in our area, we built our house 14 feet up on concrete pilings. Everything included, it cost 25,000 US dollars: buying the lot from a family member, clearing it by hand, and the builders were family and friends. The house is 600 sq ft with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, a kitchen, dining room, living room and balcony. Fully furnished. All concrete. So if you want a simple life, you can have one. Just don't come here trying to change the way life is here. You're a visitor. Respect the people, respect the culture. Have a happy life.
Such a positive outlook
I've lived here 17 years and had a similar experience, but I wish I'd settled in the province instead of Minglanilla. I saved up to buy a home before adding my wife to my retirement, and paid off the house in five years before adding her. I took a big cut in benefits, but she'll have income for the rest of her life when I pass! We still live comfortably. Love it here, love the people, love my family. Couldn't ask for more. I've taken good care of them, and they've taken good care of me!
You can have Western amenities living in the province too. Our house is fully air-conditioned, with Starlink, Netflix, solar power and smoked brisket BBQ. Live the lifestyle you choose.
$25,000 (1.5M pesos) for the lot and the house? That's impossible
I agree with what you said. I love my wife, my family and her family very much. Right now we're in Australia, going back and forth when we can. When I retire at 67 or 68, we plan to split our time between here and the Philippines. I've seen the houses posted here; could you share your finished prices so I can see what to expect for our money? We'll build our second home in the Kasibu area of Nueva Vizcaya. It's our little paradise in the Philippines. My perfect, peaceful place in the early morning.
Excellent. You seem to have adapted really well. Could you sell me a chunk of your patience? I badly need it, and I'd pay good money for it.
Lots of foreigners end up homeless, so be careful… not all Filipinos are nice, especially when they need money..… I'm just being honest …. I spend more in the Philippines than when I'm in California.. I spend 1,000 dollars every 15 days or more, but I choose to because I love my relatives, classmates and friends… they just don't have money, but they're full of love 🩷🩷🩷🩷…..😊 So you can choose money and be alone in CA, or stay in the Philippines surrounded by people who care about and love you. 🥰
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