禁漫天堂

Hello everyone, Settling in the Philippines, like every new environment, can feel like stepping into the unknown and brings many questions. What makes the Philippines a welcoming destination for expats? Share your insights and experience. Thank you for your contribution.聽 Cheryl, 禁漫天堂 Team - @Cheryl

One would say, choosing the right place/s is important.

This Youtube has an informative visual-record of the popular U.S. expat places, with quite comprehensive fly-overs of each of the cities and areas.

While associated voice-overs for each location can be enthusiastic, they do try to present the social-culture prevalent in each location.

Overall, it's an OK introductory geographical and cultural video for ten of the popular and sensible places for U.S. expats to investigate further.

"Ten Philippine Cities flooded with Americans: Why do they leave America to move here?"

A well-produced visual & social introduction to popular US expat places

Cheers, new expats

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Thanks P1, sort of informative from a bot and I see a lot of the footage/video has nothing to do with the Philippines, Italy, Holland, Greece, South America and the list goes on. Anyone well travelled will see the flaws in what is supposed to be the Philippines,,,,,,I do like the huge lake in Baguio but all my travels there is simply hills and the odd small dam. Perhaps I am wrong and if so stand corrected.

Back to the OP's question, yes the Philippines can be as welcoming as you let into your life.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

Not sure if anyone else has noticed an uptick in videos from expat(/other) vloggers in the PH lately (example: The Filipina Pea), regarding judicial treatment of expats there.聽 Maybe it鈥檚 just the 鈥渟oup du jour鈥� for them now, but a little concerning none-the-less.聽 Things like expats getting in trouble (even being jailed) because their Filipina claims they acted aggressively or simply raised their voice (some even suggesting it never even happened, but it was a ploy to get revenge/etc on their expat partner).聽 Similar videos say to be careful around other Filipinos in general and not to escalate words.聽 One guy even said that he鈥檇 been egged on by a group Filipino 鈥渄runkards鈥� for declining a drink even though he was polite about not accepting their offer.聽 He raised the question of how an expat (being the foreigner here) can truly protect him/her-self, since the system seems to favor the locals.聽 Personally, all of my encounters with the people there have been great, but I also haven鈥檛 stayed for longer than 3 weeks at a time.聽 Again, perhaps it鈥檚 just the topic these vloggers have all latched on lately and nothing to get overly concerned about, but just something to consider.

@mati_steve

You are correct and I have noticed that this is happening more. A British vlogger brought this subject up in one of his videos because聽 it happened to a friend of his then other Vloggers have jumped on the story and put out their own videos on the subject.

It is scary to consider that this can happen if it was just an argument and even scarier to think that the filipina's family and friends would be willing to lie to support such a claim.

@mati_steve

The VAWA violence against women act is pretty ominous. Any woman you are having sex with could jail you on the basis of a serious argument. It applies to everybody, not just expats but that does not say it is "fair". Foreigners are more likely to be targeted because they have money to pay for a big settlement. Also, foreigner's are not necessarily given the same due process as Filipinos. Filipina Pea agrees that this one is a serious problem that could get you jailed over an argument and she and her guest attorney have no solution for it other than to be aware. It could indeed affect some expats' decisions to move here as it puts some at high risk, especially if their partner is after their money; after all, she only needs to complain to the police and you get arrested after which you might pay millions to get the made-up charges dropped, otherwise you are in jail, no bail.

@mati_steve

An interesting observation and one has to disect and unpick variables that could be at play here.

I have been visiting the Philippines since 2001 for business and pleasure and there are many more expats and overseas visitors now than then. Some would say too many lol. Ceterus Paribis more expats more scams.

Another factor is the sheer number of vloggers in the Philippines who need content to sell their product. Like news correspondents they often work in 鈥榩acks鈥� and home in on a given issue sometimes distorting facts from reality.

Because my work takes me to Asia I have visited the country more than I necessarily would otherwise. If I get off the plane in any western country I know that as long as I don鈥檛 break the law I鈥檓 ok. Whenever I alight at Ninoy Aquino international I鈥檓 out of my comfort zone and know that s鈥攖 can hit the fan at any unexpected moment through no fault of my own.

On my initial arrival mobile phones were not ubiquitous and the average Filipino had to go to an internet caf茅 to access news. All phone owning (yes all) Filipinas now hear about the latest gossip and goings on from people like the Filipina Pea and understand their 鈥榬ights鈥� if a relationship goes tits up. 鈥楻ights鈥� being that the Police will always side with a local over an expat. Alas this is the darker side of life in the Philippines. It is not a country of all smiles and saccharin sweetness.

One could argue that some expats deserve a lesson from treating a Filipina in a way that would not give them a custodial sentence in another country but that is the law even the unwritten law in the Philippines. Simply put you do not piss them off because with their mindset they can 鈥榯urn鈥� on the proverbial sixpence. Filipina women can get incredibly jealous even if they see you look at another woman. Many innocuous disagreements between Filipinos themselves end up with a contract killing.

What I鈥檓 about to say will be taken as a controversial statement. Most foreigners who come to the Philippines are not necessarily the sharpest tools in the proverbial garden shed. This can exacerbate the delicate norms that exist in the local culture. Many struggle with what the urbane laconic revered BBC reporter from the sixties, Alan Whicker, referred to as the 鈥楲ingua Franca鈥�.

A very perceptive & bright Filipina that I dated in the noughties who worked for a top advertising agency in Manila felt that most foreigners 鈥榟ere鈥� were complete assholes. Her words not mine.

The videos you refer to Mati are a double edged sword. They can be informative and indeed many are and give unsuspecting expats and visitors a warning. They can also land you in a great deal of trouble.

@mati_steve You are correct and I have noticed that this is happening more. A British vlogger brought this subject up in one of his videos because it happened to a friend of his then other Vloggers have jumped on the story and put out their own videos on the subject. It is scary to consider that this can happen if it was just an argument and even scarier to think that the filipina's family and friends would be willing to lie to support such a claim. - @Cherryann01

Yes - that was one of the vloggers I had watched too.聽 I can't recall if it was the British guy who lives outside Dipolog, Mindanao with his Filipina wife and their son, but he has made several videos about it.

@mati_steve
The VAWA violence against women act is pretty ominous. Any woman you are having sex with could jail you on the basis of a serious argument. It applies to everybody, not just expats but that does not say it is "fair". Foreigners are more likely to be targeted because they have money to pay for a big settlement. Also, foreigner's are not necessarily given the same due process as Filipinos. Filipina Pea agrees that this one is a serious problem that could get you jailed over an argument and she and her guest attorney have no solution for it other than to be aware. It could indeed affect some expats' decisions to move here as it puts some at high risk, especially if their partner is after their money; after all, she only needs to complain to the police and you get arrested after which you might pay millions to get the made-up charges dropped, otherwise you are in jail, no bail. - @danfinn

This 100%.聽 In the USA and I'm sure most western countries, the judicial system in general (and family courts specifically) have tilted in favor of the woman since probably the 1970's/80's at least.聽 One of the reasons I got a divorce was my ex knew this to be true and threatened to call the police once when I found out she was spending a lot of money behind my back (even though I was calm, civil, and nonthreatening about it - she just got highly defensive that I found out about her scheme).聽 I got in contact with an attorney the next day, who suggested I move out asap.

@mati_steve
An interesting observation and one has to disect and unpick variables that could be at play here.
I have been visiting the Philippines since 2001 for business and pleasure and there are many more expats and overseas visitors now than then. Some would say too many lol. Ceterus Paribis more expats more scams.
Another factor is the sheer number of vloggers in the Philippines who need content to sell their product. Like news correspondents they often work in 鈥榩acks鈥� and home in on a given issue sometimes distorting facts from reality.

Because my work takes me to Asia I have visited the country more than I necessarily would otherwise. If I get off the plane in any western country I know that as long as I don鈥檛 break the law I鈥檓 ok. Whenever I alight at Ninoy Aquino international I鈥檓 out of my comfort zone and know that s鈥攖 can hit the fan at any unexpected moment through no fault of my own.
On my initial arrival mobile phones were not ubiquitous and the average Filipino had to go to an internet caf茅 to access news. All phone owning (yes all) Filipinas now hear about the latest gossip and goings on from people like the Filipina Pea and understand their 鈥榬ights鈥� if a relationship goes tits up. 鈥楻ights鈥� being that the Police will always side with a local over an expat. Alas this is the darker side of life in the Philippines. It is not a country of all smiles and saccharin sweetness.

One could argue that some expats deserve a lesson from treating a Filipina in a way that would not give them a custodial sentence in another country but that is the law even the unwritten law in the Philippines. Simply put you do not piss them off because with their mindset they can 鈥榯urn鈥� on the proverbial sixpence. Filipina women can get incredibly jealous even if they see you look at another woman. Many innocuous disagreements between Filipinos themselves end up with a contract killing.

What I鈥檓 about to say will be taken as a controversial statement. Most foreigners who come to the Philippines are not necessarily the sharpest tools in the proverbial garden shed. This can exacerbate the delicate norms that exist in the local culture. Many struggle with what the urbane laconic revered BBC reporter from the sixties, Alan Whicker, referred to as the 鈥楲ingua Franca鈥�.

A very perceptive & bright Filipina that I dated in the noughties who worked for a top advertising agency in Manila felt that most foreigners 鈥榟ere鈥� were complete assholes. Her words not mine.

The videos you refer to Mati are a double edged sword. They can be informative and indeed many are and give unsuspecting expats and visitors a warning. They can also land you in a great deal of trouble. - @Lotus Eater

Agreed.聽 I've heard the part about many not-so-decent foreigners coming to the Philippines from multiple folks.聽 Some of these types even think since the PH is considered a developing country it gives them the right to act in a pompous way.聽 My Filipina GF said she witnessed one of these people in City Hardware in Mati City a few months back - loud, boisterous, demanding.聽 Kind of gives the rest of us a bad image.

I've met almost all of my Filipina GF's relatives and they are all great, hard-working people.聽 Of course, first impressions are not always indicative of future events, but it gives me a sense of relief that I have been welcomed into their family.聽 My GF has lived overseas in Europe and Japan, so she's also well-traveled and has a good understanding of cultures can not always mesh perfectly, which is evident when I try to use western satire on her.聽 It's a learning process, but I just have to keep it in check when talking with folks there.

Nothing has been said here about false allegations of domestic violence in the Phillipines that doesn't apply in Australia these days. Unless the allegations are patently false (e.g. defy the laws of physics) they will be favoured over evidence until the matter is dealt with by a judge. So you can certainly be charged by the police and possibly remanded in custody without bail, orders can be granted stopping you contacting people or going to places, simply on the basis of what your partner accuses you of and without any investigation. By the time you get a (fair) hearing before a judge, it can be 12 to 18 months. As I say, this is the situation in Australia right now.

This is a cultural phenomenon, when east meets west. Western men are unprepared for this, no matter how many youtube blogs they watch. They think they are prepared, it's always the other guy who falls into a trap, not them they think.

First you have to examine the psyche of the of the expat. What was their motivation for coming to the Philippines.

Retirement because they financial can't live in their western world? Maybe looking for love or are they going through male menopause?

When I was dating my wife in the states, through work I came across several mature Filipina's, who had settled down in the states. Casually they warned me about Philippine women and to be careful. I really didn't understand this.

After living in the Philippines, I now understand this,So many misadventures of western men came to light watching youtube. It seemed they underestimated the motivation of some Filipina's.

Buyer beware. Yes western men seem they think they can buy their way into happiness.

@mati_steve You are correct and I have noticed that this is happening more. A British vlogger brought this subject up in one of his videos because it happened to a friend of his then other Vloggers have jumped on the story and put out their own videos on the subject. It is scary to consider that this can happen if it was just an argument and even scarier to think that the filipina's family and friends would be willing to lie to support such a claim. - @Cherryann01
Yes - that was one of the vloggers I had watched too. I can't recall if it was the British guy who lives outside Dipolog, Mindanao with his Filipina wife and their son, but he has made several videos about it. - @mati_steve

It was the British guy who starts all his videos with - Good Morning you lovely lovely people. If I remember correctly, he and his friend who was jailed for having the argument were due to go fishing together the day the police came knocking.

Just like anywhere else in the world there different social classes in the Philippines. The perception of 'welcoming' to the Philippines greatly depends who you are interacting with and your relationship with the locals around you. If I were a vlogger I'll try to sell my content for maximum clicks, likely exaggerate/skew some portions.