Veritas Newsletter March 4, 2024
– Michael O’Riordan – Senior Consultant

Hello Everybody, I’m going to assume, hopefully correctly, that since you’re reading this, you’re an expat living here, or are a foreigner considering coming to Philippines. Let’s discuss both scenarios.

EXPATS LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES

The following is a general description of our expat clients. Let’s see if you recognize yourself.

• Our client demographic is male, divorced, age 67, has a pension, and meaningful cash reserves.
• Many hope to experience a long-term relationship with a special Pinay.
• You come here primarily but not exclusively, from the United States of America, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
• You’ve become disillusioned with life in the Western world which has become unpalatable for you.
• You’ve experienced a painful divorce that negatively impacted you financially and pained you emotionally. Most of you come from the United States of America.
• You’ve left partly because you believe this great country is imploding from within.
• Some of you will begin a business here.
• Others have sold your home, came here and with part of the sale price bought a home or built your dream retirement home.
• You are a good person hoping to live this final chapter of your life in relative peace and contentment.

When I arrived in the Philippines on January 1 st 2017, I’d no plans on remaining. I hadn’t given any thought to any long- term plans. If I didn’t like it here, I’d simply move on to Vietnam, Singapore, or Thailand.

I arrived in Dumaguete after coming from Cebu by Ocean Jet. Skipping along Rizal boulevard with no material possessions apart from my backpack that had only necessities, I laughed contentedly.

I knew nobody and, unlike many of other expats, had no intention of becoming involved in any special relationship. The phrase foot loose and fancy free seemed appropriate.

Within six months, I was on the faculty of one on the main universities, teaching there and creating new entrepreneur courses, was writing a column Outside Looking in for the Dumaguete Metro Post, and had begun a special relations that still exists today, and is stronger than ever. The point I’m making is we never know what our future holds.

I’d left Ireland at age twenty and worked my way on a Dutch vessel to Holland. Thus began a lifetime of traveling that resulted in me living in countries on every inhabited continent. I’m disclosing this to reveal I didn’t have to face the challenges others have when deciding to leave their country. Coming to the Philippines was simply another part of my journey.

The main challenge most of us faced after coming to the Philippines is adapting to a very different culture. Our initial challenge was understanding and accepting why everything seemed to be so inefficient.

How could it be possible to “get in line” at an ATM machine, wait for perhaps fifteen minutes, then complete the various requirements only to be told the machine was unable to dispense cash.

Why should it take so long to buy even basic items? After standing in line for too long, the person in front produces a credit card that is declined. That creates more delay while a supervisor is found. Unfortunately, she’s on lunch break.

Why is it always like this? The reason is simply because it IS. It’s been that way a long, long time. It works fine for Filipinos. When we expats fail to adapt to that important reality, we are in trouble. As my lady Vhie used respond when I whined about poor service, she’d glare at me while offering no sympathy. “If you leave the Philippines tomorrow, it’s unlikely the President will declare a National Day of Mourning. No flags will be flying at half-mast” A pause, then with a dismissive wave of her arm, “Incidentally, the international airport is only 15 minutes away.”

She used to then go on to correctly remind me that all expats living here are guests of the Philippines. “Accept our ways, or leave.” So much for the shy, submissive Pinay I’d often read about but never once met.

There’s much more to say about the life of an expat in the Philippines but here is not the appropriate forum. There are some excellent vloggers on YouTube you could watch who provide meaningful insight to the lives of expats.

Paul McGill is undoubtedly the most influential and trusted vlogger on YouTube in the Philippines catering to expats and foreigners. Paul’s integrity is impeccable. His insight to life here for expats is unique. The content he provides is important and always meaningful. There’s a solid reason he has almost 100,000 subscribers. His YouTube channel is called Paul in the Philippines. Old dog new tricks.

Mike, of Mike’s Philippine Retirement, also offers significant insights to the experiences of expats living here.

Paul and Mike’s vlogs are also important viewing for foreigners considering coming to live here.

Incidentally, in April, I’m delighted to confirm VERITAS will be launching our own YouTube channel. It’s going to be unique, fun, and informative. I’ll provide more details in our April newsletter.

What about those of you who are living abroad but are considering making “the move”? Many folks become overwhelmed by the seeming finality of making “the move.” There is no need for any of that if you approach the process in a calm and organized manner. Regardless of whether you are considering retiring in the Philippines or elsewhere, if you follow the process we recommend to our clients, you can remain objective before eventually arranging at a wise, informed decision.

• How do you begin your process? Much depends on where you are in your life. Are you about to retire? Are you already retired? If so, are you married or divorced? Are you close to your children and grandchildren?
• Your understandable reaction may be “Of course I’m close to my children and my grandchildren!” If so, how often do you meet them apart for the usual holidays? How much would you really miss them, and they you, if you leave your country?
• We find that most of our clients see more of their family after moving here than they did back in their country! It delights them to find their relationships become closer with children and grandchildren than in the past. And it’s also an exciting adventure for their children and grandchildren to visit the tropics!
• Have you a fear of being lonely or waking up one morning screaming “I’ve made a terrible mistake!” If so, all you need to do is arrange the next flight back to your country. What harm has been done? None. What’s important is you’ve discovered leaving your home country was not the correct path for you.

Importantly, we find that very few foreigners who’ve done the appropriate research and came to live here come to the conclusion they have made a mistake. They usually ask themselves why they hadn’t left earlier.

On more than one occasion a VERITAS client who’d planned on initially staying here three months has contacted us expressing deep concern and confusion about their overall situation. When possible, we sit down with them. If not, we do a zoom call. What usually happens is they express their concerns and realize all they really wanted was to talk through their situation. They never reference anything we haven’t already heard from other expats. We carefully listen then, if they wish, we recommend a course of action. It’s never anything dramatic. They usually come out the other side and begin walking in sunshine.

How long should you visit here so that you’ll be able to get a non- vacation understanding of life here? We recommend a minimum of three months.

The following are some notes taken from guidelines we provide for our clients.

1. Inform your bank you will be here for three months. Make sure you will have access to cash and be able to make credit card payments.
2. You will be surprised at the low level of businesses that will not accept credit cards. Always carry additional cash to cover your bill.
3. Have one emergency contact in your country you can be sure to rely on if problems arise here.
4. Initially rent a place for only two nights. Its unwise to pay for accommodation until you are comfortable with it. Many people book for a month then are horrified when they see where are staying. No refunds are available.
5. Re transportation, it depends who you are, age mobility, etc. Most visitors either rent a motorbike (125 CC usually) or a car. While others use the GRAB services in the big cities or tricycle in smaller places.
6. Get an initial 29-day tourist visa at the airport. Subsequently extend it another 2 months.
7. We assist you with accurate pricing. Please do all possible to avoid the unspoken FX (Foreigners Tax) That can add 25% or more to what you should be paying.
8. Assuming you have a relationship with a real estate broker in your country, consider letting him/her know you’ll be away for a few months. If, after being here two months or more sand decide you want to live here, tell the broker to put your home on the market. Meanwhile we can refer you to one of our real estate brokers here so you can learn about your options here. You will be delighted what you discover.

If you come to Dumaguete we will happily meet you at the airport in Sibulan, the ferry or Ceres bus terminal. We will bring you to your accommodation and help you settle in.

There are no charges or fees from VERITAS for these services. We want your experiences to be positive. Knowing you have a reliable resource here is usually comforting.

If you are considering buying a home here, or a site you could build your dream home on, we will arrange meetings for you with an experienced and respected real estate broker and an attorney from our panels.

If you subsequently decide to come live in the Philippines, we will assist you with every aspect of that process. VERITAS is approved as a marketing organization by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). Our visa department will advise which visa is most appropriate for you.

What’s important for you to know is you are never alone and have a trusted resource in the Philippines. We call it the VERITAS Umbrella. Our broad range of services is designed to protect and comfort you. And it does!

I hope the newsletter content justified you taking time to read it.

If there’s any topic you want discussed, please email me at michael@vcg.com.ph.

All the best until next month.