living in the philippines 6 Tips For Foreigners Who Want To Move To The Philippines
Foreigners move to the Philippines for various reasons just as Filipinos also move to other countries.
Americans were married to Filipinas and learned to love the Philippines during their first visit to the country.
The Koreans first wanted to learn English and eventually setup a thriving business.
The Japanese chose to retire here after seeing a wonderful place that feels like small city in Japan — reminds them of home without being too far away from it.
Some move to save, others to spend. Some move to escape the heat back home, others to have more of it.
Some move to be close to their families, others to be far away from them. Some move temporarily, others permanently.
Whatever your reasons for moving to the Philippines, wouldn’t it be nice to learn something about the place you want to live in?
The following are some of the most valuable tips you will ever have.
- Learn about the Filipino Culture
First of all, Filipinos are Asians. They have some of the traits, traditions, and cultures shared by other Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, China, and Indonesia.
They have high respect for their elders and they care a lot for them. They can be so shy, they don’t directly look at you in the eyes when you speak.
They laugh when someone bumps his head while going for a jeepney ride.
Second, Western influences are also deeply woven into the fabric of the Philippine society.
You will find names that sound like Spanish or Mexicans. That’s the result of more three hundred (300) years of Spanish occupation in this part of the globe.
The Spaniards brought their religion, among other things, to the Philippines.
The Filipinos love the Americans, too. The Americans brought with them a system of education that became the basis of the one currently practiced in the country.
The Filipinos love anything foreign. As a matter of fact, they love everything that is not made in the Philippines.
The Filipinos speak a number of dialects and languages, too. You could easily guess that the Biblical Tower of Babel was erected here and broken down into 7,000 islands that make up the archipelago.
Both foreign languages and native dialects are spoken all over the country. The poor and the middle class are struggling to speak fluent English.
The rich wants to experiment with Spanish and Chinese-flavored languages. The super-rich just wants the speak the plain Tagalog or Bisaya dialect.
This is just a small cross-section of the Filipino Culture. Learning more about Filipino culture is one of the best investments you will ever make if you don’t want to experience Culture Shock when moving to the Philippines. If your spouse is a Filipino, you get the tip of the iceberg.
2. Get To Know the People
Filipinos are among the most hospitable people on the face of this planet. But of course there are some who are rude, too.
Do you want to setup a business in the Philippines? Did you know that most Filipinas are highly sensitive? You can’t just shout at her and expect her to be back at work the next day.
Are the Filipinos friendly to Americans? You bet. And that makes it easy for you to mingle with them. Not only that, they can hardly distinguish the Americans from other Western races. They think if you are white, you must be an American.
If you can get along fairly well with your spouse or his/her friends and relatives, it would be easy for you to adjust with the rest of the Filipino people.
3.Learn to Speak a few native words
The Filipino Language (based on Tagalog) is the National Language of the Philippines. It is taught in schools and many Filipinos understand it and knows how to speak it. The Cebuano or Bisaya is also widely used especially in the areas of Visayas and Mindanao.
Knowing how to speak a few lines of these dialects is a plus factor in dealing with a Filipino. An American who can speak it becomes an instant celebrity.
One other thing about native language: A lot of foreigners are pissed-off when they join a group of Filipinos (perhaps in a party) only to realize that everyone is speaking in Greek. You have to understand that they are using a language they are most comfortable with just as a Japanese will use Nihongo most of the time. If you want to join the conversation, have an interpreter close by your side.
The following learning materials will prove to be useful in learning the Filipino Language:
4.Know What It is That You Want in A Place
Do you have a clear picture of what it is that you really want in a place? Knowing that is crucial and will save you endless hours of search.
Are you looking for a country living? Do you want easy access to the airport? Do you have kids who are going to school? Consider all things that you want and then search for the city or town that has them.
The Philippines is the same everywhere. Well, more or less.
Baguio — dubbed as the summer capital of the Philippines — is a cool place with an American ambiance.
Davao was once called the Little Tokyo by the Japanese occupants. Manila is one of oldest city in the country and continues to be the center of commerce until these days.
Cebu is a booming city known for its historical traces. And then there are smaller cities, towns, and provinces where all things bright and beautiful abound.
Fresh air and polluted air; serenity and noise; modern lifestyle and traditional living; wealth and poverty. The Philippines has it all. Chose which one you like and you will have it in the Philippines.
5.Familiarize Yourself with the Place You Want to Live In
One of the best ways you can be familiar with a place is by going there. Stay in hotel for a couple of days.
Move around the city or town with your wife, Filipino friend, or fellow traveler.
If you find a place that you like, rent an apartment for a couple of months and observe the place more. Check to see if that is really the place that you wanted to live.
6.Let The Philippines Be The Philippines
One of the nice things about being in a foreign land is that you begin to appreciate the good things you are doing back home.
When you are here, you will find yourself comparing how things are done in your country versus how same things are done here.
Wisdom consists in understanding the differences. Peace of mind starts with accepting what is.
Let the Philippines be the Philippines. Expect some things to be a little different than what you are used to. In fact, expect the unexpected.
living in the philippines people ask
How much do you need to live comfortably in the Philippines?
Cost of Living in the Philippines
The Philippines has a generally low cost of living. International Living reports that you could comfortably live on $800 to $1200 a month, covering housing, utilities, food, healthcare and taxes.
If you live on $800 a month, your $100,000 can spread out to about ten and a half years.
Can a foreigner buy a house in the Philippines?
Foreigners are prohibited from owning land in the Philippines, but can legally own a residence.
If you want to buy a house, consider a long-term lease agreement with a Filipino landowner.
You can also purchase a property through a corporation, provided its ownership is 60% or more by Filipino citizens
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living in the philippines What Every Foreigner Should Know About Real Estate Ownership in the Philippines
Land ownership is among the hottest issues faced by many foreigners who wish to buy real estate properties in the Philippines.
Americans and Europeans are a bit surprised when they realized that they cannot simply buy house and lot packages in the Philippines and have the Land Title placed in their names.
In their countries, anyone who can afford to purchase real estate can do so regardless of citizenship.
Here in the Philippines, land ownership is confined to Filipino Citizens, corporations with at least 60% Filipino interest, and Dual Citizens or Former Filipinos with some limitations
Special Cases for Foreigners
In rare circumstances, it is possible for a foreigner can own land in the Philippines. Consider the following cases:
- Land acquisition before the 1935 Constitution took effect.
- Acquisition by hereditary succession. The foreigner must be a legal or natural heir.
Foreigner Married To Filipino
The most common practice done by foreigners is to have the Land Title in the name of the Filipino (also Filipina) spouse; in other words, have the Filipino spouse buy the real estate.
In the event of death (which will eventually happen) of the Filipino spouse, the foreigner may do any of the following:
- Dispose of the property for a reasonable time and collect all the proceeds.
- Turn over the ownership of the property to legal heirs or children.
- If the couple have no children, pass ownership to the relatives of the Filipino spouse.
Foreign Ownership as Corporate Entity
An alternative method of acquiring land in the Philippines is by forming a Philippine Corporation.
The corporation must be at least 60% Filipino-owned and consists of at least five (5) incorporators — the foreigner being one of them.
The corporation can own the land; the foreigner can own 40% of the corporation. A foreigner who wants to do this should consult a competent lawyer.
Condominium Units can be owned by a foreigner provided it does not exceed 40% interest of a condominium corporation.
This is true, because the land on which the condominium building stands is owned by the corporation and the unit owners become stock holders of the condominium corporation.
Foreign Leasing of Philippine Real Estate
A foreigner or his corporation may also enter into a lease agreement with Filipino landowners.
A leasehold may be entered into for an initial 50-year contract and successively renewable for 25 years, thereafter. It is perfectly legal to own the house or building erected on the leased land.
Need help in purchasing properties to Camella homes Pagadian City /Lumina homes Pagadian City contact me Giovanni Carlo P Bagayas Globe 0916-336-35-18 and Smart 0949-919-05-45
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