I receive a lot, I mean a LOT, of emails! That also generally means that I send a lot of emails.
Most of the emails I receive involve people asking questions about living in the Philippines.
Maybe they need to find out how to file for a visa. Maybe some cultural question about how to deal with people or a certain situation in the Philippines. Maybe they just want to find out when are the best months to visit the Philippines. Whatever the question, I answer it if I can, and I usually am able to do so.
Not long ago, a fellow had written and asked a couple of questions. I wrote back with the answers that he needed. When I send back the reply email, sometimes I never hear back from people. Other times, the people write back and simply say “Thank you”. From time to time, I get a reply that is pretty unexpected. On this occasion when I wrote back, within minutes, I got a reply from the man that made me think.
Here is what he wrote:
Thank you for that. I have had enough “fun” here in New York. It’s time to start to live.
My best
Sounds kind of simple, but what he wrote captures a recurring theme that I hear from people writing from the United States. He said he had had “enough fun” in New York. He further said it was time to “start to live.”
Are you living?
I mean, if you are reading this, we know you are alive, but are you really living? Are you enjoying life? Is the life you are living worth the effort that you put into it?
I think that most of us Americans, and perhaps people from other lands, will agree that life is getting tougher. It is getting to be more of a hassle. There are a lot of pressures. The rewards are getting to be less than they were in the past.
So the question is… is the life that you are living worth your effort? I think that more and more people would say that it is not.
Make a Change
Maybe, if you cannot say that your life is worth the effort you are expending, it is time to make a change! Moving to the Philippines may be the change that you need. I guess it really does not have to be the Philippines, but it has been the right solution for me. It might be for you too.
Well?
If you are a person who can answer that yes, you need a change, I have one question for you….
What is holding you back?
I seriously want to know! Leave a comment and tell me!
I dont have the money to support myself there yet and had some issues with the law about 15 years ago and that might stop me from moving there. it was a victimless crime but still shows on my record. it was internet based
Hi Robert – I can understand that!
For the first issue about income, you can still make it here! Get together some money and make the move, then earn money here! It can most certainly be done. I know, because that is what I do!
As for the trouble you had with the law, without knowing what happened it is hard to give advice, but one thing you could do is to liver here on a tourist visa, there is no background check.
Good luck!
thanks so much a tourist visa only last for 30 days or what isthe longest i can apply for??
Hi Robert – Better check into that again! The INITIAL stay for a tourist visa is 30 days… but you can extend it for up to 3 years before you have to leave!
Yes Bob, I do want to make a change like living in the Philippines in my town, I left PI in March 1965 to join the US Navy, hmmm what’s holding me back is the looking or searching for a bride to be for my eldest son Richard Tambalo Gavina, who’s going 45 this July 2016, he’s a pure filipino, born and raised in America, English speaking, been to PI when he was about five years old. I’ve been asking a lot of my relatives and facebook friends to see if they have friends they can recommend, 35 and below of age, child bearing and staying in the Philippines. I and my wife became dual citizens since May 24, 2014, and I’ve been asking the youngest, my daughter who’s still single, to come and stay with us there while she goes to college, as a US citizen, can she possibly stay there to study. I’ll ask you question again when it’s time to fly. Once again, thank you for every help you gave me and to others, my best regards to you and to your beloved family, take care, have a beautiful day/night, God bless
hi Raymundo. Hope you are doing well.
For your son, I would suggest that if you live in the Philippines, you can quickly find a bride for him! It won’t be hard at all. 🙂
As for your daughter, yes, even as a US citizen she can study here, just let her get a student visa. I would think, though, that she would be eligible to be a dual citizen, no?
Good luck to you, my friend!
My wife is from Samal Island and she obtained a degree from a college in Mindanao. When she arrived in the U.S. she had good expectation of gaining a great career in the medical industry. She learned pretty quickly that her college credits (and experience) were not worth the vellum they were printed on even though the school claimed to be internationally accredited. She was pretty disappointed at first that she had to go to college all over again (for four years) just to continue doing the job she loved so much. Your daughter will be much more marketable for employment in many countries if she finishes at a reputable internationally accredited college in the U.S. depending on what her major is.
Nice article Bob.
Glad you liked it, Greg. 🙂
I am an “in transition” visitor to the Philippines. I’m 62 and in good health. I own and operate a business in the U.S. and spend between 3 to 5 months here in the Philippines. I am a retired Army Officer and I’ve done the responsible thing about saving for the future.
Having said that, I’m not really ready to fully retire. I don’t come to the Philippines to escape from the U.S. I come here because my life is richer here in the Philippines. I have a loving fiancée and daughter and we are making our long range plans for a bright future.
My point in this comment is that for me, I just live a richer and higher quality of life here in the Philippines. It is a step up, if you will. I enjoy my time in the U.S. and I still have family and friends that are important to me in the States. I’m taking a slow transition in the hopes that the end will justify the means.
Hi Rod – Nothing at all wrong with splitting your time as you are doing. If you enjoy your time in each place, you are probably on the right track!
That was awesome Bob. Really a good article.
Thanks, Jason!
Hi Bob
I am giving serious thought to moving there. I will never be able to retire here in America (texas) due to a bad divorce. But I can easily retire there on my social security. Problem is I have a girlfriend there in PI who is going to nursing school. She’s lived on Luzon San Fernando. Her dream is to come here and I’m having problems convincing her that the good ole USA is not what she thinks it is. Things are getting tougher and tougher here and I’m not liking the direction this country is going. I have told her that we can have a much better life there than here. I might sound a little selfish but this country has lost its way as far as I and many many people here are concerned. I told her we could live comfortably on my retirement and possibly generate some extra income there. I’m sure if she came here it wouldn’t be long and she would miss her family and want to go home. Life here just isn’t what it use to be.
Hi Robert – To be honest, it is doubtful that your girlfriend would be able to come to the USA as a nurse. The US has clamped down on nurses coming in. Now, if you were to marry her and bring her in that way, it could be done.
In my view you are completely right when you tell her that you can have a much better life here in the Philippines.
Wow! Here we go again, blaming the USA!
Instead of giving your girl friend flimsy excuses,
“Things are getting tougher and tougher here and I’m not liking the direction this country is going”.
Why don’t you tell her the honest truth that you can’t afford to live in the USA with your paltry Social Security benefits and “due to a “bad divorce” ie.,
“I will never be able to retire here in America (texas) due to a bad divorce. But I can easily retire there on my social security.” Quotes are from your own comment.
If a guy is down on his luck, why do you feel a need to kick him?
Why don’t I have the right to express my opinion when everybody else does, including you? Isn’t that how you get your “clicks” to this site?
Read more carefully what I wrote. I never said anything about you not being able to express your opinion like others do. I never threatened to stop you from commenting. I only asked you a question. Why kick a guy when he is down? If you don’t want to answer, that is your business, but I just am curious. Do you get some kind of high out of attacking people? Does making others feel bad make you feel superior? I am just curious, it must bring you some benefit, I just can’t figure out what that would be.
What I have expressed is an opinion. If you feel that my opinion is kicking a guy when he is already down, or attacking him, that is your problem.
No problem for me. I just don’t see what you get out of belittling people.
And, no, I don’t have insecurity problems like you do. You have such a big ego, dude, you don’t realize how many people don’t like you and have stopped participating in the conversations. You never impressed me.
John,
You gave the right comment for the information you had at the time, so i totally support you in everything you said. The US may be down, but it far from out. If any country can come back it will be the US. The elections have really lit a fire under America that has not been seen for years. Work hard and don’t give up and there’s a good chance you will be successful.
Thanks for the support, Randy. You may have noticed that this article is identical in theme to the one published on July 2, 2015, that generated 476 comments.
Even the title is almost the same, “It’s time to get out”. This one is titled, “Time to start living”. LOL Same soup, different pot.
http://liveinthephilippines.com/its-time-to-get-out/
Robert Patterson…honestly, your gf should NOT take much convincing to stay in the Philippines if she knows she can help herself and her family by staying here.
If she is hellbent on going to the United States, that would be a really serious MAJOR red flag to me. There is a big difference between wanting to visit and see the United States than wanting to leave your country, your family, your friends, and everything you have known to go to another country.
In many of those “I just want to get to America” deals the situation for the American (or whatever other country the foreigner is from) does not work out well.
I have seen it and heard it many times. In fact when I advise my friends on how to meet GOOD filipinas, the two MAIN test are as follows: 1. Does the filipina have a huge huge desire, almost unrealistic, to go to America? If she does, probably not a good sign. 2. Does she constantly ask or hint for money. Another bad sign.
But you will have to find out for yourself on that one. Keep your eyes open.
As far as the nursing deal…she will almost for sure have to go nursing school, if she can get in, when she gets to America. Many, most, of these nursing degrees earned in the Philippines don’t get them anywhere in America.
And finally, maybe if your filipina gf saw all the filipinas I know in America she would change her mind. Because almost all of them want to come back to the Philippines.
There is a big difference in visting America and living in America. Just like there is a big difference in visiting the Philippines and living in the Philippines.
I wish you and your gal the best.
Todd,
We know several Filipina’s who have worked hard and been successful and love it in the US. You can be successful in the US if you are willing to work hard, relocate or retrain. She would have a better opportunity to help her family if she were living in the US rather than just relying on her b/f Social Security.
Actually, many Filipino nurses are eligible for the NCLEX exam which is the standard and deciding factor for practicing in the US. RNs make a heck of alot more in the US than PH so its quite understandable why one would want to practice in the US. Nurses work hard everywhere but have it good in the US.
Bob, Thanks for all your help over the years and with you answering questions and giving me advise that I needed, I made the change coming up on 3 years ago. And have not once regretted the decision to move to the Philippines. And you are right. It was then that I started to live once more.
Luke, it is my pleasure. If I helped you in any way, I am happy about that. Very glad that you are enjoying your life in the Philippines! I am too!
When I was planning my one-way trip to Philippines in 2009, I was also telling to anyone who wanted to listen that the main reason for doing it was the coming SHTF in the world. I even told them that I am expecting this to happen in mid 2016.
This of course invariably fell of deaf ears.
I always remember one person asking me if I was a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Nobody was interested to hear the bad news and be ready to face it… NOBODY…!!!
Now that we are almost there, and the real SHTF situation is about to unfold, I am being called a visionary by those same people.
Today, millions of people can clearly see what is coming… Millions…!!!
Only the blind and the deaf can’t figure it out yet.
I am afraid that coming to Philippines now is already… very, very late, if not too late.
Times are bad in many parts of the world, but I am not so sure I can buy in to your scenario. Whatever happens, I find the Philippines a great place to live!
Yes, Philippines is a great place to live, but unfortunately we won’t escape the imminent world-wide SHTF scenario.
Next couple of months will be the real eye openers.
Here where I live an expat died (70) last week from natural death but a few of us who knew him, we all suspected that he died from extreme anxiety and stress.
Seven months ago, his bank in US stopped his ATM card on which his whole lively hood depended. Reason; suspicious use (three attempts) of his card.
He had to go to Manilla US ambassy to reactivate it which he failed to do because he fell Ill.
Now, just try to imagine what would happen if you, or anyone else runs out of money for several months.
That is our future by the middle of this year.
My opinion only.
Hi PB – I feel for the fellow, that is tough. Unfortunately, such things can happen with finances for expats, and we have to be careful to have backup plans. Tough deal for the fellow, that’s for sure!
I’ve been to the Philippines many times and love the people there. I guess I’ve been fortunate to only meet very nice people. Even though I miss the larger “space” the USA offers, in many other ways I feel more free in the Philippines…maybe its psychological.
I am looking forward to my longest trip in the Philippines this November. My plan is to arrive, and get married to my Fiance of 3 years. I am smart enough not to buy property there, I will rent a place for 5 months. My Fiance (a widow) has a nice home in Laguna, but my plan is to rent a “rest house” in Tagaytay (less than an hour away) and spend the bulk of my time in those two places.
When I return to the states in March, I will apply for a 13a visa here. What troubles me is the concept of “residency”. US law puts a person through hell with “residency”. If I read the laws correctly, banks will no longer do business with me if I’m a “resident” of the Philippines. I’m assuming a 13a visa would denote residency there? I can always change my address to my brother’s house, but a US address doesn’t denote residency, and if found out, I fear the government could confiscate my funds for any number of reasons. So…that is my major worry…government! Anyone else in this position?
By the way in regards to Palawan Bob’s posts…I have no idea what SHTF means….
Hi Steve – over the years, I have run across a few Filipinos who were less than friendly, and a few who were downright mean people, but the vast majority of Filipinos that I have met have been wonderful people.
ON the issue of “space” I can sometimes miss the “personal space” but if you are talking about “island fever” where you feel cooped up in terms of land area.. that does not bother me.
Like you, I feel very free in the Philippines. The government, for the most parts just leaves you alone and lets you do your thing. I like that.
I am a resident of the Philippines, have been for 16 years now, and I still have several US bank accounts. Banks will do business with you, I would not be overly worried about that.
SHTF? Shit hits the fan.
Thanks Bob. I think you told me before you use a mail forwarder for address purposes. I would probably just use my brother’s address, I pay all bills and handle most correspondence online so probably a minor issue. I would however live my financial life there through ATMs…so I’m absolutely paranoid about the government keeping their mitts off my accounts!
Over the years, I have used a few different things. I used my Mom’s address, but it did not work out well, so I decided to use a mail forwarding company. That worked great. However, I have not had any mailing address for several years, because I just got where I never used it any longer. So, now my address is a Philippine address. Works fine for me! 🙂
I do think that in early years you will want and need a US mailing address, though.
How about start livng in Lake Sebu, Bob?
Nah, that will never happen, Sonny. I am a Dabawenyo. I love living in Davao. I like the conveniences here, etc. There would not be adequate Internet in Lake Sebu for me to be able to keep my business going…
Come for a visit then.
Sonny Esguerra I do get down there from time to time. I’ll have to look you up! I was there for nearly a week in December… doing Santa for SM GenSan. I was also down there a few weeks ago for a meeting with Kablon Farms in Tupi!
I saw that but missed sending you a note. You think Duterte can replicate his Davao feat for the PH?
I can’t really comment on Philippine politics, it is not legal for a foreigner to get involved. Just read between the lines.. I love Davao.. that should answer your question. 😉
Ok. Give me a holler when you’re in town..
Still at the same restaurant in Apopong?
yah. same.
OK! Sounds great!
I don’t agree, life is getting easier. With advances in technology like iphones and computers life is getting infinitely easier, in fact.You don’t even have to go to the post office to pay your bills any more or go to the bank to deposit or take out money. It is much cheaper to buy products like clothes, utensils and virtually everything as well, no matter what country you are in, since China started mass producing.. .Communications is much cheaper as well and the list goes on…
People need to find and follow their passion, that is what creates real living and that is not usually reliant on location.
Jeff Lee Brown for many people technology has replaced their work and thus they cannot afford to take advantage of tech advances. Because of this, life us difficult for them. Other people who are older don’t understand tech.
Most of the people who follow my website are passionate about the Philippines, thus their happiness is somewhat location dependent.
Bob Martin ”many” people Bob? And seriously who can’t afford to take advantage of technology, its as cheap as chips especially as to where it was 5 or more years ago. Some older people aren’t tech savvy but more and more are and it is their choice to get savvy or not. But it is much easier living and more affluent in the West than it has been at any time. Stats back it up.
Bob Martin True, but your question and title was general.
Bob, Jeff. Okay if I input an insight from a Pinoy in the p|hilippines? One of the lines i remember in a movie “We’re No Angels” by Deniro and Penn was, ” if it makes you happy maybe you deserve it” Another quote that ended up one ofmy favorites is ” We search for wealth and happiness when all we need is something to be enthusiastic about”. Bob is happy being a Davaoeno. We were friends on the internet before Bob came to the Ph.He is pasionate about his work and his adoptive city. Jeff might want to maximize technology cause it makes things easier for him. I like living in Gensan but find comfort in having a place I can hide for a few Days in Lake Sebu. I think you guys oughta come over one day and see what I mean. I had a cottage near the sea years ago in Mindoro and one of my guests kept coming back, wondering why he did. finally he exclaimed, ” Now I get it! I keep coming back here because there’s nothing here. No TV, no noise, nothing!” sometimes being around nothing and just quietly being with yourself could be renewing, don’t you think?
Sonny Esguerra Ya, thanks for the input Sonny. Everyone is different and to be ”really living” does not mean you have to go the Philippines but for some they will like it more than where they are. But to really life i think you need some clear cut goals that you are passionate about and that usually means more than the goal of living in a nice spot.
There are components in our life that we must be surrounded by, I think. We need to have the outside and the inside of us to be really living. That depends on what a person needs to stay where he is and be happy and pleased with his life. Different strokes for different folks. We are a sum of all our influences and all our experiences and if i might add the things that we need to “breathe” both literally and figuratively. Be it material things or physical or spiritual for some people. This is why there are conquerors, rebels, cynics, tycoons or stoics. If you’re comfortable being you, nothing can nudge you from living fully..
I agree that happiness is not location dependent. For the most part those who are not happy in the states will not be happy in the phils.
I often hear that people want to leave the states because they dont like the direction the country is going. Thats a very general statement. Usually after I dig a little deeper I will find that the vast majority of their “the country is going in a bad direction” sentiment stems from politics.
Either they dont like the immigrant situation, or they dont want their guns taken, or they dont want to recognize gays, etc.
I have no problem with people feeling this way….Its their right as American citizens to moan and gripe. But these same people are for a huuuggeeee awakening if they think moving to the phils will make them feel better.
The immigrant problem? Well I hate to paint with a broad stroke but lots of anti immigrant anger stems from racism….not all of it but definitely lots of it. These same foreigners usually move to the phils and guess what? Now that same hate toward immigrants becomes hate toward filipinos. Im sure some of you who have been around have seen the racist attitudes toward filipinos.
Dont want your guns taken? Well again…if you thought our second amendment rights were being stepped on in the states you better hold on tight because owning any gun in the phils is against the law for a foreigner.
Dont like homesexual lifestyle being forced down your throat? Hahaha. Better just stay out of phils. Homesexual lifestyle is a deep part of the culture.
So think twice before commiting to move half a world away. The grass is not always greener on the other side.
Yep, many people say these things, and will be in for a shock, because most everything you say is true. Rude awakening time.
“What is holding you back?”
Bob, sir. You’ve hit the nail on the head with regards in my life. I went down there and fell in love with the place (after my girlfriend hehe). We plan to marry but I wanted to meet her family and friends before I moved forward in my relationship, in doing so I fell in love with Davao and the Phils. Seeing like you Bob, I’ve little to no family here and as a result, support and my girl has a large network of family and support it was only reasonable to decide to live there. Wow, she was appreciative and happy about it!
So seeing how my current job skill(s) won’t get me a job there or earn much if I could, I had to rethink how my butts going to make money there! 1st thing I did was purchase your book “49 ways to make money in the Phils” and started learning how to code (back end). Coding isn’t for everyone, it requires a high degree of logic skills, patience, and discipline. And to work as a subcontractor (which you can do anywhere so long as you’ve a good internet connection) you definitely need the latter as you work from home.
That in a nutshell, is what’s keeping me sir! I can say however to you and all your readers is that your site, your help, and your writers truly do much for me and others like me to make the leap easier. As an aside, when I did an online search for internet and davao your name came up Bob! ( no wifi, no work for me ) It’s because of that it led me to you and your site. Thanks for all that you do Bob, I wish you and your community the best! God bless.
Hi Phil – Very wise move to come over and meet people, see and experience the place before making a final decision. That is the smart way to do it!
Getting a job here is a losing proposition in most cases. If you can work it out so that you work for yourself, you will be miles ahead. Glad that you got some ideas from the book, and thank you for your support by purchasing the book! That is greatly appreciated. Finding something, like coding, where you can work at any computer in the world puts you way ahead of most people! You are now location independent!
Pretty much, for anything about moving to the Philippines, if you Google it, you will find me, so I am not surprised that my name came up! 🙂
Good luck to you!
Living in a developing aka third world country especially the Philippines with widespread English comprehension, American TV programs ( in the big cities since the 60s), the Filipinos’ adoption of western music and the low cost of living is a nobrainer. The first 6 or 8 years after I signed up with allexperts.com I got less than 100+ questions but from 2007-8 to 2012 I recived 0ver 2300 questions but finally it’s slowed down again partly because I’ve answered nearly every type of question possible. My wife and I have been so very lucky in life rewarded for being straight, honest and helpful sharing what we know with others free of charge. I use to say, our Manila rooms at our Townhouse Hotel Townhouse Hotel / Hostel Manila are free, but guests pay for the information and advice.
Sounds like you are enjoying life, Bill. I am too! 🙂 Congratulations on that.
I have told her my situation here and I am not necessarily putting blame on America itself. No I don’t like where this country is heading. You can thank our government for that. But do not assume that I would be coming there on just my “poultry” social security and don’t assume that her and I have not talked in depth about my divorce, finances etc.
Believe what you want but America is on a downward spiral and if you still live here then open your eyes. I have worked and still do for forty years. Do not pretend you know anything about me or what my girlfriend and I have talked about. I didn’t write my life’s story or what her and I have talked about in detail because I didn’t feel it was necessary…
Thanks Bob but I talk his comments with a grain of salt. He doesn’t know the first thing about me or what my situation is. Maybe someday someone will kick that pedestal out from under him
I wouldn’t even waste a grain of sale, Robert… 😉
No John Reyes it’s your problem. But hey no worries. I’m far from down. I’m working, I own property here and fifteen rental homes. Yes I went through a rough divorce and she did her damndest to destroy me financially, almost did. But I’m still kickin. And like you I have an opinion. America is in deep trouble. Wages are stagnant, cost of living is on the rise and our government is a mess. IF I choose to retire in the philippines it will be because I want to enjoy a simpler life with a good woman.
John Reyes get over yourself and open your eyes
Look, my original comment was based entirely on what you wrote the first time, nothing more nothing less. Am I a mind reader? How would I know about the other extenuating circumstances that you did not tell?
As for America going on a downward spiral, that’s your opinion, not by the majority Americans who are non-quitters, and who stay put in this country to make it an even greater nation than before.
John Reyes I think we got off on the wrong foot here. Yes I took a little offence. We have talked about her coming here and or me moving there throughly. We had talked about her coming here for 5 yrs or so To work and save money to be able to help her family but I believe she has realized it’s not that simple. After doing much research myself here lately we have realized that it could take several years for her to come here and work as a nurse. I am going there in May and we will talk about it I depth. She knows that there are huge cultural differences and that America is not as family oriented as there. Not by a long shot.
I say let’s let bygones be bygones and move forward…
Nobody is quitting here. I have done my time and still at it. But as far as the majority? Not sure I can agree but hey. I’m not sure America will ever be as great a nation as before. 20 trillion in debt and still counting. Socialized medicine (Obama care). Huge joke and mess. The unemployment rate the media advertises is an untruth. I could go on and on. Liberalism and progressives wanting to give it all away. Etc etc etc.
Again my opinion and you have yours. Truce? Peace…
Throughout the whole thread, I never felt that I was at war with YOU, Robert Patterson, but, yes, Peace!
As I understand it, the point of the string was about starting to live life. For me, I live with my neighbors here in the Phils. I don’t drive into my garage and close the door and stay inside until the next morning when it is time to go to work. Here, family and neighbors are very close knit and it is much like the older times. Our kids play together and we help each other out. Our life in the U.S. has almost become too convenient. We lose that interaction that is vital to true life. That is why I will retire here in the Philippines.
So true, Rod. It is a nice life here, I have no complaints!
Hi Bob,
Probably for me what is holding me back is family. My father is 77 and has had 3 heart attacks and a stroke. The thought of leaving and possibly never seeing him again is a problem for me. I do realize that my wife’s mom is the same age, but I guess I am selfish. One of my many flaws. On the other side, I am concerned for my two boys 11 and 8. I am not sure of what kind of a future they would have in the Philippines.
Peace
Jay
Hi Jay – I can understand that. Leaving family behind is hard. Problem is, anytime you ever make the decision to move there will be family you will leave behind, but if you are particularly close to somebody it can be quite hard. So, I can understand waiting.
The flip side is the issue with your kids. Your kids are at the age that leaving would not be too hard on them, in my opinion. If you wait until they are much older, though… it will be very difficult. I personally, feel that my kids have a great future here in the Philippines. There is a lot of opportunity here. Opportunity in the US is, at this point in history, a bit less in my view.
It is certainly a peraonal choice, though.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your well thought out response!
The central question would be summed up in an article, “Filipino vs USA: Land of Opportunity”. I only wish I were capable of writing such an article. I respect that you are finding opportunity in the Philippines, but you seem to me to be the exception not the rule. Millions of Filipinos leave the Philippines to work abroad, because of a perception of little opportunity in the Philippines. It seems most expats living in the Philippines are living off money: social security, pensions, investments, etc., from abroad.
I am not saying you are wrong and maybe I could go to the Philippines and do well and my boys when I am gone. It is just hard for me to see the Philippines as the “Land of Opportunity”.
Good article! It gives people something to think about.
Peace
Jay
Hi Jay – Think about this…
Is there Gold in Smith Creek? If there are 10,000 people who would love to get some gold and 9,999 are too lazy to try, or not smart enough to learn how to pan for gold, but 1 person strikes it rich by panning 1,000 ounces of gold from the creek, is there gold? Well, 9,999 have not been able to get gold, but only 1 out of 10,000 got gold…. do you still wonder if gold exists in the creek? It is proven that it is there, because if it did not exist, that one person would not have been able to find any. He was smart enough, ambitious enough and resourceful enough to find it. The others were either lazy or stupid, but the gold still exists.
Now… substitute “opportunity int he Philippines” with the word “gold” in the above paragraph, and you might look at it differently.
Of course moving to the Philippines is a major life decision, although you can always go back. It is a personal decision and cannot be taken lightly, though. But, I personally don’t think that opportunity is a consideration one way or another.
Hi Bob,
Thanks again for clarifying your position with your analogy! I of course agree that there is opportunity in the Philippines for people who possess certain skills and knowledge like yourself. You are living proof and I am sure you know others. You are also correct in that one really does not know what one is capable of until one tries. Will I try? I don’t know right now. I want to and like you said even if I fail I could return to the USA, but I am not an independent person since I married and started our family. I am part of a family team. Thanks again for the information. I hope you are well there.
Peace
Jay
I am planning to make the change… What is holding me back right now at this moment is… waiting for retirement. I am happy to announce that my waiting will be complete in September 2017 and soon there after I will “Start to Live” 🙂
Wow, coming up quickly! Congratulations on that!