I hear this question all the time! “Sir, where are you from?” I’ll reply that I am from the United States, and even tell the person asking that I have lived here for 8 years already. It never fails, though, the next question is always “Sir, when are you going home?” My response to that question depends on the mood that I’m in that day.
If I am feeling a little playful, wanting to have some fun with the person, my response will be “I am home already.” “What sir, what do you mean?” “Well,” I’ll answer, “The Philippines is my home, and since I’m in the Philippines, I am home!” Some people laugh, others still don’t understand.
To be totally honest, when people ask me where I am from, or where my home is, the first thought that comes to my head is either “Davao City” or “The Philippines.” Because, this is my home. I’ve lived here in the Philippines now for nearly as long as I’ve lived anywhere, anytime in my life. Just a couple more years, and this will have been the place where I have lived the longest in my entire life. That’s amazing, don’t you think?
People often ask me when was the last time I went to the USA for vacation, or to visit people there. Truth is, since I moved to the Philippines, I have never gone back to the USA. Actually, I don’t have a desire to go back. Most of the friends that I have there are spread out around the country, and I stay in touch with them via e-mail, or on the telephone. I really don’t have much family in the USA. My Mom is still alive, but she comes here to visit regularly. I have a brother in the States, but he and I aren’t really close. I don’t have any other family there, and nothing making me feel that I need to go back for any reason.
What about you? If you live in the Philippines already, do you go back to your home country often? If you are thinking of moving to the Philippines, do you plan to make trips back to your home country? If so, how often?
The fact is that I really enjoy my life here, and I could not recreate the life that I have come to love back in the USA, so why would I want to go back? I’m pretty happy with the life I have here.
I hope it stays that way!
Hi Bob –
To keep the peace while achieving agreement for realizing the Philippine retirement dream, the asawa ad I have negotiated a "9/3 rotation" – 9 months in the Phils and 3 months back in the States with our sons. (While the apron strings have been released, the motherhood instincts are as sharp as ever 😉 )
The 3 months away will coincide with rainy season, as well as being summertime in the USA. After all, I have to stay warm!
Of course, I am a little devious in negotiating! Was able to argue it down to 9 Phils / 3 USA from 3 Phils / 9 USA, and know that living back in the Phils (after her initial readjustment) will have the asawa not wanting to leave her "new" home for too long. Toss in $$$ concerns for budgetting such annual trips, and that "3 USA" will dwindle down! 😈
Personally, I've used up my patience and desire for life stateside, and wouldn't mind visiting it as a tourist every few years, if that! 😆
Hi Paul – It sounds like you have a good plan there! I agree with you – if you guys like living in the Philippines that 3 month USA jaunt will be less and less as time goes by.
Hi Bob, I think I will also ask you the same thing esp. when your kids finished college. Im sure they have plans to work here since theres more oppurtunity here.
I used to visit Davao twice a year when I married my wife since she have to wait for her visa for almost 3 years. Our last visit was Christmas 2005. We were planning to go to Davao this coming Nov. for my sons first birthday but that has change after I got rob by my wifes sister :). I planned to go to Vegas instead hoping to win the jackpot. I calculated the trip to Davao will cost us between $3500 to $4000 and Vegas trip would probably just cost us around $1500 and I would get to enjoy my vacation without having to face some of my annoying relatives.
I think Im just going to pursue my plan to build four houses in Davao and rent them all out. Hopefully I can finished the project in 5 years time if I work 70 hours a week :). Then I can maybe buy a small farm somewhere in Bukidnon at least a few hours away from my relatives and at the same time I can drive to Davao to check my properties.
For now, I just have to keep on dreaming.
Hi Jeff – I just want to clarify – when you say "there is more opportunity here," where is "here"? In the USA? If that is what you mean, I have to strongly disagree on that. I feel that there is way more financial opportunity in the Philippines than in the USA, and my personal earnings bear that out. I earn much more money here than I ever did in the USA.
In the States, you need to have a lot of money to do entrepreneurial things, get businesses started and such. Here, you can do it on a shoestring.
If my kids want to go Stateside when they finish their schooling, they are welcome to do so, I want them to do whatever the like that will make them happy. Out of my 3 sons, though, I think that it is only possible that one of them will go to the States. The other two, in my opinion won't even consider it. The third one probably won't either, although I think it is possible for him.
Good luck with your plans, jeff.
Im sure the realities of the cost will outweigh the desire to see family but with three sons and hopefully my mom still alive in the US, I will be coming back as often as is practical. My boys should be able to visit us on occasion but my mom will not be able to make that trip by then.
I don't foresee wanting to come back because of anything I would miss here, other than family. I guess time will tell.
I meant USA Bob. I think if we have to look at the statistics of unemployed college graduates in Philippines, I would say USA or working at first world country is better.
In your case is really different since when you move to Philippines, you have the cash to play with plus you have the brains to run internet business type.
I think more and more filipinos are still willing to work abroad because of inflation. The peso is getting stronger but the cost of living there in Phils. and food are going up. I also thought about the cost of building a house. It used to be just 10,000 per square meter but now its like 15 to 20,000. I have been doing some calculation and I think I may end up building a nipa hut house in a first class subdivision hahaha.
Anyway, I am happy for you and Feyma and your kids.
Bob:
We will view Manila as our home. I guess that I am "lucky" that my company is US based and I will always have a business reason to go back. However, I am personally desperately trying to reduce my business trave (37 countries, 350K miles, and 250 days last year) and when I am home, I just don't want to get on another airplane. We are putting Rebecca in for a US visa when we arrive in Manila, and it will be her first visit to the States. Honestly, I had the choice to relocate anywhere I wanted, including the US and I want to live in the Philippines… The idea of living in America, quite frankly, scares the daylights out of Rebecca. That will probably change, but I think gradually as she sees a bit of the country… Plus she is very nervous about meeting my family.
Hi Bob
My Filo wife and I have just returned in January form Batangas back to Sydney Australia. We plan to build a house there next year where we can retire and relax for the rest of our lives with her family who will live in the same complex (not the same house).
We plan to stay 9 in Phil and 3 in Aus as we have kids that live here and we can get all our medical supplies cheaper here. Another reason is that we will have property here rented that we need to check on which will be our main source of income.
We feel that we could live comfortably on AU$800 – AU$1000 a month in Phil, this is based on our recent trip. We were staying in a near Lipa City and comparing your article on food prices Lipa seemed a bit cheaper but your right, things are getting more expensive there. I wonder if the looming recession will bring things back to normal? Your thoughts?
Hi Bob, your article did move my soul. Thats How I really feel myself. I have no connection to any country really. I do not even speak any language perfectly. I left Poland when I was 18 and I had to go over the mountins illigaly to get to Italy. I was livng in many countries in Europe and I spoke good Italian, Danish and German but now I live in Australia for about 25 years and I forgot the other languages. Now that Poland is also the "west" and I have been there 2 times since, I have no desire to return there. I am so different. My 2 brothers are citizen of France and the other of Sweden, but I have no connectins with them at all. We all grew apart in different worlds. We are so different.
Next year I will settle with mt Filipina girlfriend in Dumaguette or in Samar and I also will say " Where should I return?, This is my home"
Hello Bob
I got a chance to visit my wifes family in Pozirouibo Pangasin
last month and it was nice, I bought 4098 sq meter lot in the
country and plan to start building my house and opening a store
and a few more buisness I hope to finish here in Kuwait in 3 to 5
years, and the retire in pangasian, Other then visit my family in
Mississippi, I just cant see myself moving back I am more at ease
in the Philipines.
Bob and all,
Presently we go back and forth between PI and US, 6 months in PI
then 2-3 months in US taking care of business, getting annual physicals,
visiting kids and other family members, etc. Sometime between 2010 and
2012 we are planning on being in PI almost permently. When in PI if
anyone asks where I'm from I give them my local address, if asked when
I am going home I tell them I am home.
Rick
Our Plan is for me to commute twice a year (for business purposes) till needed. One of your comments you made I think everyone should think long and hard about, and that was to pre-commit to a 5 year commitment, regardless of how you felt during that time, sage advice Bob, I certainly reflected on that for a bit.
Hi all,
Me and my girlfriend(a filippina) have been dating a while now, and she wants to move back to the PH, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to leave the US. All of my family is here. I was thinking of visiting first and then make the decision.
Any help? What do you think?
Thanks.
Hi Randy C – For me it is not even a matter of cost, it all comes down to desire. I simply have no desire to go back to the USA.
Hi jeff – I think that anybody who is educated, and not confined in too small a box can earn good money here. It's just a matter of education and desire.
Hi John Miele – I understand how you feel when it comes to flying on the plane, and going out for another business trip. When my father was alive, he lived a similar life to what you desire, and is it a tough life to live!
Hi Nicolas – I personally don't think that we will see deflation during any upcoming recession, but who knows? Good luck on your house building plans! I wish you all the best.
Hi Markus – Hearing your story is very heart-warming! All the best to you.
Hi James – Sounds great! I caution you, though, don't jump into business here until you have time to live here for a while and see how things work, and get a handle on how businesses work here.
Hi Rick Austin – Good luck with your plans.
Hi Brian – Thanks for bringing up about the "5 year commitment" thing, I do believe that this is very important!
Hi John Doe – From what you write, it sounds like you have never been to the Philippines before, is that correct? I agree, you certainly need to visit a number of times before deciding if you want to live here. That is very important.
Hi Bob, As regards to visiting the Philippines… I will be traveling for the first time to the Philippines in April. I, too, plan on visiting a number of times before I make the decision permanent. I was wondering, have you heard of anyone having problems with customs for bringing a laptop and similar electronics like a cell phone? I have tried researching this information on the web and have not been able to find an answer specific to electronic devices such as these.
Hi Ray – That is a good plan. Better to check the place out first.
You should not have problems bringing in your personal electronics items if they are for your own use.
I have traveled to more then 20 countries and lived/worked in 9 of them. My first time coming to the Philippines was supposed to be a 3 week vacation. I ended up leaving somewhere around 27 weeks later… ha-ha, it was time to find a new job after the money tree ran out…I have considered this place home since then. Ha-ha as I wrote this I remembered what my friends use to call me "The Drifter". They were right!
Hi Mike K. – Wow, I didn't realize that you were such a Drifter, or World Traveler!
Hi bob,
Nice to know you like to live here in the Philippines. For me as long as you have sustainable small businees here like construction business, franchise business fastfood or waterrefilling station its now, you can aford to live in nice resort subdivision like canyon woods, tagaytay highlands, have a nice and cozy bedrooms with good airconditioning units. Its treally nice, just down waste your money in happy go lucky life. money should be spent wise so not to end as a drifter someday. My life here is simple with small construction business and may be someday will have a residential resort island.