Expat Life in the Philippines

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Gambling in the Philippines - A Quick Guide

I was recently talking to a friend in the UK who was considering retiring to the Philippines. I mentioned that I had lived there for a while and intended to retire in the Philippines in the future. However, he confided in me that he had one nagging doubt – he loved to gamble online almost every day, but he had heard that it was illegal in the Philippines.

I knew from experience that this couldn’t possibly be true, and my time running Gamblerspro.com told me there were many Filipinos searching for online gambling sites. What I found is that my expat friend was indeed incorrect. Gambling is legal in all forms in the Philippines, but that the reason for his confusion was several pointed statements made fairly recently by President Duterte.

So, what’s the deal with gambling in the Philippines? Is it legal? Is it safe? I’ll share what I found out here.

A Quick History of Gambling in the Philippines

When I first moved to the Philippines, one of the first things I noticed was the prevalence of gambling in the culture. Since I come from a part of the world where gambling is taboo, I was mildly shocked by how many casinos I encountered, how many people I saw wagering small sums of cash and cigarettes on card games and Mahjong, and by just how much cash changed hands at local cockfights.

It turns out that gambling has a long history in the Philippines. Antonio Pigafetta, who visited the Philippines with Ferdinand Magellan in the 16th century, made reference to how fond Filipinos are of gambling in his diaries. So, gambling goes back a long way on the archipelago.

Although the Spanish tried to stamp it out, even calling it a “consuming cancer” they clearly did not succeed, and gambling is alive and well in the Philippines today.

Yet, in recent times, President Duterte has taken a hardline stance on illegal online gambling operators. This was the source of my friend’s confusion. He mistakenly believed that Duterte had declared online gambling illegal, but as you’ll soon see, that’s not the case.

Is Gambling Legal in the Philippines?

All forms of gambling are legal and regulated in the Philippines. This includes casino games, sports betting, poker, and lotteries.

However, in order to operate a legal gambling enterprise, a license must be obtained from the appropriate government department.

So, which department is in charge? That depends on what sort of operation it is.

Casino Games – These are regulated and licensed by PAGCOR, which is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. This organization also regulates poker and bingo.

Sports Betting – ICLG claims that PAGCOR regulates sports betting in the Philippines, while Wikipedia claims it falls under the purview of the Games and Amusement Board. This requires clarification, but either way, it’s clear that betting on sports is legal and regulated.

Lotteries – Lotteries are regulated by PCSO – Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The above forms of gambling are all legal and regulated. Profits derived from them are spent on national development and welfare programs.

Several games of chance exist in the underground gambling market in the Philippines, including Jueteng, Masiao, and Last Two. These are numbers games which are played on the street all across the country. You won’t find them in legit casinos, though.

Online Gambling In the Philippines

So, it’s clear that most forms of gambling in the Philippines are legal with the exception of a few games. Why then had my friend thought otherwise?

It turns out that President Duterte has made a few flamboyant statements about gambling in the Philippines. He has stated that he would “suppress” the online gambling industry and, a statement translated from Tagalog to English he stated that:

“To hell with the contract [held by locally licensed operators], I told you I do not want gambling, period.”

While an outright ban has not happened, a major crackdown on illegal online gambling operators has, and several arrests and deportations have occurred.

Perhaps Duterte has realized that it’s better to effectively tax the many Philippines Overseas Gambling Operators (POGOs) rather than chase them out of the country? Since they contributed P3.13 billion to the national coffers in 2017, that’s probably a wise move.

Philippines Gambling – Summary

In conclusion, all forms of gambling are alive and well in the Philippines. Gambling generates vast sums of money in the economy, and one only has to visit any large or medium-sized city in the country to find a Casino Filipino or one of its rivals.

Online gambling is also legal. Despite Duterte’s threats to squash it, it’s thriving, and expats and locals alike can play casino games, bet on sports, and enjoy poker tournaments without fear of punishment.

Just don’t try to stream a live roulette game from your webcam without a POGO license. And to my friend, when you read this, go ahead and retire in the Philippines – you’ll love it, and nobody will jail you for playing cards or betting on the horses!

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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Can Foreigners Own Land in the Philippines?

If one does an internet search about buying a home in the Philippines, the results can be more than confusing.

There are numerous articles about how to get around the property laws in the Philippines. None of these articles are truthful.

Foreigner Ownership of Land in the Philippines?

It’s absolutely impossible for a foreigner to buy and own land in the Philippines despite what you might hear to the contrary.

“But, I can set up a corporation and the corporation can own property”.

Yes, you can set up a corporation. You can only own 40% of the Corporation, however. The other 60% must be owned by a Filipino. And yes, it can own property.

However, if you set that Corporation up purely so that you can own a piece of property that you can call your own and build your home on, you are, under Philippine law, operating illegally.

The Philippines constitution reserves all land in the Country for Filipinos only.

Foreigners are not allowed to own land. Period.

To prevent foreigners from trying “clever tricks” to get around the law, the Government and the courts will take the position that if you came up with a clever trick to get around the constitution, then that clever trick is illegal.

And that is basically their blanket way of making anything you might cleverly come up with (to get around the law regarding property ownership) illegal.

Can a Foreigner own Property in the Philippines?

If, what you mean by property is a physical house, then yes – you can. If you mean land than no, you cannot.

There is only ONE exception to this and that is contained in Article XII of the Constitution Section 7 which allows foreign citizens to own land by way of legal inheritance.

HOWEVER, there is only one specific way that this legal inheritance occurs.

You cannot get married, have a will written leaving you the land and then, when your spouse dies, you become a legal owner. That is NOT legal.

Section 7 specifically says:

” Section 7. Save in cases of hereditary succession, no private lands shall be transferred or conveyed except to individuals, corporations, or associations qualified to acquire or hold lands of the public domain”.

And the key words are: “hereditary succession”.

Legally, what this means is that a foreigner can acquire land through intestate inheritance. These are default laws on inheritance which are not transfers of ownership by way of a last will and testament.

In other words, if your spouse does not leave a will regarding that property and if you are the next in line in succession (which means that she has no living parents of siblings), then you will inherit the land. If there are others in the line of succession, you will not. She cannot specifically will it to you as the Courts will view that non-constitutional as it is a way of getting around the rest of the constitution.

Can you Lease?

The law allows for foreigners to lease a piece of land for 25 years and renew the lease for another 25 years. On that land, you can build a house and the house will be owned by you. However, when the lease is over, you either have to demolish, remove or do something to get the house off that land, or the house becomes lost to you.

You can also own an Apartment. The law allows for 40% of apartments in any one complex to be sold to a foreigner. This follows the same 60/40 business ownership law. Essentially, 40% of the apartment complex ownership can be owned by foreigners.

Is Leasing a piece of Land safe?

Yes, and no. Depending upon who you lease the land from, the lease may be valid or may not be.

Here are the risks:

The “landowner” is not really the landowner. Check titles carefully!

The landowner passes away and the inheritors claim that they want you off the land. While that might be illegal, if they lock you out, it is a very expensive court battle to get back in.

The title appears good, but someone else makes claims against the title and demands you leave.

The land title is invalid for a variety of reasons (e.g. it is in a protected area or is in land that has been given to the indigenous people).

If you are leasing land, it is much safer to lease it from a development that was set up specifically for leasing land to foreigners.

One example of such a project is Anahaw Village near Subic Bay.

Or alternatively, you can lease land from a Freeport Zone like Clark or Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Whatever you do, always ensure you obtain a competent attorney to assist you in any lease you might sign.

But remember: If that attorney says that he can get around the law for you, he is not being honest.

Sections 3 and 8 of Article XII of the Constitution restrict the ownership of land by individuals to Filipinos and former Filipinos.

No law can override the constitution.

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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5 Tips for a Healthy Retirement in the Philippines

Retirement is time to enjoy life – when you finally see the fruits of your labour and the hard work have paid off, and now you can do whatever you please for the rest of your life.

That’s all well and good, but many of those dreams also depend on one crucial factor: good health.

Too many people approach retirement and beyond fearing what might happen to their health, rather than seeing their golden years as an opportunity to live healthier than ever before.

So, now that you have all the time in the world, how can you stay healthy, and even increase your health, as you retire in the Philippines?

5 Key Elements to a Healthy Retirement

1 – It Sounds Cliche, but…Exercise!

Retirement is the ideal time to build a new routine, and exercise should be a central part of that routine.

Sure, there are retired folks who take up Thai boxing and run up mountains for the hell of it, but you might have something a little gentler in mind.

If so, consider Tai Chi (an ancient movement and breathing technique which can induce transcendent experiences), Pilates, and of course, yoga.

While these are gentler forms of exercise, don’t be fooled into think they are easy. Yoga, in particular, can be as challenging as you want it to be.

The great thing about these forms of exercise is they all keep your blood flowing and are good for your bones and joints.

Walks on the beach, light jogging, and hiking are also great ways to get in some exercise while exploring the Philippines in retirement.

2 – Drink Freshly Pressed Juice

Juicing has become somewhat of a fad in recent times, but the science underpinning it is rock solid. Juicing is a simple way to get everything your body needs, especially if, like the author, a plate of greens is extremely unappetizing.

There are lots of great juicing recipes, and it can become somewhat of a lifestyle once you get into it. Some juicing proponents drink 3-4 juices a day, getting the perfect balance of nutrients needed.

There are even specific juices to help certain ailments you might suffer from. Juices exist for arthritis, to help strengthen teeth and bones, and for all sorts of conditions you might either need help with or wish to avoid.

Juicers won’t cost a fortune, and with the abundance of fresh, locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables in the Philippines, there’s no excuse not to get into it.

3 – Eat Well and Use Supplements

If you come from a Western country and have retired to one of the Philippines many sleepy islands, you might notice that along with the slower pace of life comes a passion for cooking and food.

When I first moved to the Philippines, I was fascinated by how my Filipino family treated food and eating as an art form. Hours would be spent preparing freshly cooked meals, whereas I was used to a ‘pop it in the oven and wait’ style of eating.

There is no better place in the world to eat well than the Philippines. Fresh produce is abundant and extremely inexpensive.

Since you are retired, you will also have all the time in the world to prepare meals properly.

While you will be able to find the food needed for a balanced diet basically anywhere in the Philippines, you can use supplements to fill in any gaps. You should note that imported supplements will cost a fair chunk of change here, and so it might be better to order supplements online.

It really is possible to eat well in the Philippines. Use that opportunity to eat for health.

4 – Stay Mentally Stimulated

While the body can have profound effects upon the mind, the opposite is also the case.

You need to stay mentally stimulated to stay healthy, and it is quite easy to slip into a ‘do nothing’ routine in retirement.

The Philippines will have English language bookstores everywhere, so this is an ideal time to take up reading.

You will also almost always find friends who can play games like chess, Go and Mahjong here.

Trust me, the first time you play Mahjong against your new Filipino friends, you will have discovered something that can keep you ticking mentally for the rest of your life.

Of course, one of the best ways to stay mentally stimulated is to learn the local dialect. If there is one way to make life easier, get a better understanding of the culture you are living in, and make friends locally, it is to speak either Tagalog, the local language where you are living, or both! Learn Tagalog with any of these products.

Don’t overlook the need for mental stimulation and challenge in your quest for a healthy retirement. It’s just as important as any other factor on this list.

5 – Relax and Unwind

Yup, this is the best part, and you have earned it.

There is no better place in the world to relax and unwind than the thousands of tropical islands the Philippines offers.

Walks on the beach at sunset, snorkelling on colourful coral reefs, or just enjoying a good book with the sound of the waves lapping on the shore in the background are all ways to chill out and enjoy yourself.

Rest and recovery is an essential part of good health, and now that you have finally reached the age where you can retire in the Philippines, you have all the time in the world to do just that!

Summary

Follow the five steps above to enjoy a healthy, satisfying retirement in the Philippines.

While moving anywhere will mean some transition, some challenges, and some adrenaline rushes, implementing the five tips outlined here will keep you feeling great and living longer.

Enjoy your retirement in the Philippines!

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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How to Ship Your Car to the Philippines

There are many reasons why you might want to ship your car to the Philippines, rather than buy one when you are over here.

While the actual cost of shipping your vehicle is not prohibitive, the taxes you will have to pay to import it to the Philippines might make you think twice.

In some cases, the taxes that you have to pay can amount to more than the cost of the car, so it’s essential that you check with the Philippine Embassy in the US before embarking on the task.

Here’s a simple breakdown of the costs involved in shipping your vehicle to the Philippines to help guide you.

Shipping Costs to the Philippines

The cost of shipping your vehicle will vary depending on which shipping company you decide to use, but a rough guide would be between $2,500 and $4000. The cost may be slightly higher depending on your particular requirements and circumstances.

You can use our shipping calculator to get a better idea of the cost involved in shipping your vehicle to the Philippines.

Philippines Import Taxes

The Philippine taxes will be collected by the shipping company and are based on the vehicles usage, weight, and engine size.

Taxes that are based on weight are calculated at a rate of $13.75 or higher.

Here are the latest import taxes for the Philippines:

For a vehicle that can transport 10 or more passengers, the taxes will be 15-20% based on the gross weight of the vehicle and the number of passengers it’s designed to carry.

Private vehicles are subject to a 30% tax based on engine displacement.

If you’re trying to import a vehicle that is specially designed to transport items, then expect to pay 20-30%, based on the gross weight of the vehicle.

Motorcycles taxes are charged at the rate of 30% based on engine displacement.

Shipping Methods to the Philippines

There are essentially two ways you can ship your vehicle to the Philippines. You can either choose to ship it via RO/RO, which stands for ‘roll on, roll off,’ or container.

With RO/RO you or your agent will drive the vehicle onto the ship, and it will sit on the deck with all the other vehicles. It has the advantage of being cheaper, but your car will be exposed to the elements and other passengers.

If you decide to take the more expensive option, then you can ship your vehicle in a container. By shipping it this way it will be more secure and also be shielded from the weather and other potentially harmful elements.

Essential Documents You Will Need

Before transporting your vehicle, you should check that you have all the required documentation. You will have to present your documents at the port of arrival in the Philippines, and if any are expired or missing, your vehicle will be refused.

Here is a checklist of the required documents for importing your car to the Philippines:

Import authority permit (see below)

Owners passport showing arrival and departure dates

Bill of Sale of valid proof of purchase

Vehicle registration

Engine number

Commercial sale invoice

Restrictions on Shipping Cars to the Philippines

As mentioned above, you will need to have a special Import Authority permit, which is only available from within the Philippines. You can obtain the special permit by visiting the Philippine Bureau of Import Service.

You should also note that only left-hand drive vehicles are permitted in the Philippines. Philippine law strictly prohibits the import of right-handed vehicles under Republic Act No. 8506

Before the Bureau of Import Service allows your special permit, you will need to prove that you have lived outside of the Philippines for at least one year. If the car you wish to import is newer than three years, you must have had the car in your possession for at least six months before arriving in the Philippines. For cars older than three years, you must have had it in your possession for at least one year before import.

If the vehicle is older than five years, you are not permitted to import it to the Philippines.

There is also a limit imposed of only one car per family.

Conclusion

If you absolutely have to have your car in the Philippines, then it’s certainly possible, but you should expect to spend some money and jump through a few hoops.

Philippine bureaucracy is famously slow and can be very frustrating at times, so a healthy dose of humility and patience is going to be required.

Take a look at our shipping calculator to get an idea of the costs involved.

Be sure to let us know how you get on shipping your vehicle to the Philippines and either drop us an email or leave a comment below.

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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Top 5 Financial Tips for Foreigners in the Philippines

As a financial advisor, one of the biggest problems I see with foreigners living abroad is financial planning since you don’t have the NSA, 401(k)’s, or Superannuation’s to help you out – you’re all on your own with little or no help from the Philippines or your motherland. For those retired, semi-retired, or thinking about retiring in paradise, here are some helpful hints to keep your finances healthy.

Insurance

Let’s say you get in a traffic accident or get diagnosed with a severe medical condition. A situation like this can set you back tens of thousands of dollars – especially when using expensive expat hospitals – and possibly wipe out your savings. With basic inpatient coverage, however, your insurance provider will cover all the medical bills to help preserve your hard-earned cash.

The same can be said with life insurance. The Philippines is considered a high-risk country by many insurance companies, meaning your provider from home will most likely drop you the minute you move to the archipelago. If you have a family, kids or even a mortgage (debts are inheritable!), a sound life insurance policy will greatly help your loved ones if you were to pass away, become paralyzed, or get diagnosed with a critical illness.

Investing

Just in the way insurance preserves the money you’ve made, investing grows it. Banks in the Philippines have an interest rate of around 3% (which when compared to the West is pretty good). But with inflation also around 3%, that eats away a lot of the real growth you could experience.

Therefore, it may be better to invest. If your investment grows at a rate of 7% per year, due to the magical powers of compound interest you will double your money in just 10 years. There are many tax-efficient investments available exclusively for expat as well, helping you grow your wealth faster.

Tax Planning

This is especially true for Americans since they’re subject to report and pay taxes on their income even if they reside outside of the US. If you’re not reporting your earnings and bank details to the IRS, you can land yourself into some serious trouble and lose a lot of your money in fines.

However, this problem isn’t limited to Americans. The Common Reporting Standard (CRS) has been passed and it will most certainly affect most foreign nationals living abroad. According to the OECD website, the CRS “calls on jurisdictions to obtain information from their financial institutions and automatically exchange that information with other jurisdictions on an annual basis.” Very soon, most foreigners overseas, just like Americans, will be subject to citizen based tax. Start getting your taxes in order soon to stay ahead of the game!

Retirement Planning

Most pension funds require that you live in or work in the country of where the retirement fund is domiciled. So, if you’re living in the Philippines, it may be impossible to keep that fund growing. If this is the case, did you know you can transfer your pension to a provider that will allow you to not only grow but access your funds outside of your home country? Owners of US-based IRAs and 401(k)’s, and those with British pensions are just some of the many approved pension schemes that can be transferred over.

If you don’t transfer your pension, it’ll literally just sit there collecting dust, so get that money which is rightfully yours back into your possession. Furthermore, it could also be beneficial to have your nest egg much closer to home for the purpose of efficiency.

Investing Locally

Investing in the Philippines definitely has its risks, but high risks can come with high rewards. P2P lending is becoming more popular in the Philippines, and some foreigners have gotten in on the action. In regards to property, I personally think the there are some very good real estate deals out there, but there are restrictions on what foreigners can purchase (if you have a Filipino spouse, it will make things easier, though). Opening a business, or investing in another business, can also yield returns.

With the Philippine economy in relatively good health and posting a GDP growth of 6.8% in 2016 (more than China!), I remain bullish on the country. But, when making any investment locally, make sure there is an element of trust, and realize that there is always a high factor of risk. After all, it’s still a developing country with a history of extreme volatility. I’d recommend having your nest egg in place before taking on any risky investments, and also don’t risk what you can’t afford to lose.

As a foreigner living in the Philippines, there are tremendous opportunities to add zeros to your bank account and raise your living standard due to the low cost of living. But if you’re not managing your wealth properly to actively grow and protect your savings, are you truly maximizing your full potential? Follow some of these tips to stay financially secure in the Philippines and live the good life!

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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How to Live in the Philippines with No Money

‘How to live in the Philippines with no money’ might seem like a ridiculous title for an article, but it’s something that people are searching for on Google almost every day.

From time to time, I take a look at the statistics for this site and like to see how people are finding us. Most of the search terms are pretty obvious and are not too surprising, but when I see something as crazy as this one, I have to sit up and take notice.

The idea that somebody thinks that they can live ANYWHERE in the world for no money is just insane.

Yes, the Philippines is relatively cheap when compared to most western countries, but it is certainly not free. In fact, there are a few things that are more expensive over here.

The one that comes to mind right away is the cost of a car.

When I was living in Hawaii and just wanted an old beater, to cruise around the island, I could pick one up for less than $500.

It didn’t’ look like much, but it was reliable and served a purpose. I could strap my board to the roof and get to the beach, which was all I wanted to do.

I can’t recall ever seeing a secondhand car in the Philippines for less than $1000, though I have noticed car prices going down lately. I don’t tend to follow the automobile market on a regular basis, so if you’re reading this and no different, please post a comment below.

Cost of Living in the Philippines

It’s difficult to say exactly how much it will cost you to live in the Philippines because each situation will be different.

As a rough guide though I’d say a single guy could live over here quite comfortably for between $1000-$1500. If you wanted to live a more extravagant lifestyle, then you’ll obviously need a lot more.

If you’re trying to provide for you and your family then again, you’ll require more money. I don’t have a family so can’t give an exact cost.

If you don’t have a pension or some other means of getting money, then you’ll need significant savings.

There’s no social system for down on their luck foreigners over here, and if you ever had the gall to inquire, you’d get laughed off the island.

Stranded in the Philippines

Being stranded in the Philippines with no money is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. There are no agencies that will take pity on you, and you’ll most likely get zero help from your embassy.

If you’re lucky, they might let you use their phone for free to call a family member or friend and beg for money.

I’ve seen foreigners being so down on their luck that they had to open up a GoFundMe.com page and plead for donations. It’s a sad state of affairs and not a position you would ever want to find yourself.

Conclusion

The idea that a person can live anywhere in the world for free is crazy, and no sane person would suggest otherwise.

You’ll need funds to live in the Philippines and a way to replenish them when they get low. Whether that’s a pension, investment, business or some other money making venture, you’ll need a constant stream of cash.

Also, remember that making money over here is possible, but the kind of returns you’ll get are much lower than what you’re probably used to. There’s plenty of competition from locals, and you’ll find it hard to compete unless you have some skill or service that can not be easily served by a natural-born Filipino.

Do you live in the Philippines? How would you compare the lifestyle over here with what you’re used to? Is it cheaper or are there some things that are more expensive than back in the west? Leave a comment below and let us know.

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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Keep the IRS off Your Back! Advice for Americans Abroad

FATCA, FBAR, PFIC… this alphabet soup of tax/financial related acronyms can certainly send chills down the spines of Americans living abroad. And it should – the US is the only country on the planet (besides Eritrea) that taxes its citizens worldwide, and non-compliance can result in hefty penalties. Luckily, by understanding a few simple guidelines, you can better protect your savings while retiring abroad and never have to worry about the IRS. Here is some general financial advice for Americans retiring in the Philippines and elsewhere.

FATCA

FATCA (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) entered into force in 2010, and it has been reinforced during the past several years. Before, the government was relatively lax on tax reporting for Americans abroad. But today, it’s essential to report all your assets and financial activity every year. To ensure overseas Americans are tax compliant, the US has signed deals with thousands of companies and countries (the Philippines included) to ensure they report their transactions with Americans to the IRS.

That means if you’re making investments, or are earning money, or are using a bank account in a foreign country, those entities will report your activity to the IRS. When you file taxes and don’t report the same activity, the IRS sees that it doesn’t match and believes you are evading taxes. We all know that the consequences for tax evasion aren’t good.

My advice to stay FATCA compliant is to report everything each year via a qualified expat CPA. I stress expat because a CPA back home most likely doesn’t have the qualifications or knowledge to work with Americans living abroad effectively, the rules are very different. Even if you’re making under $100,800 (the current foreign earned income exclusion amount) and don’t owe any tax to the government, you’re still required by law to report everything correctly.

FBAR

The Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, or FBAR for short, is a particular form for reporting foreign bank accounts. The IRS website states that you are required to report an FBAR form if you have “a financial interest in or signature authority over at least one financial account located outside of the United States, and the aggregate value of all foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during the calendar year…” If you have a bank account with $10,000 (or the equivalent in foreign currency) or more, you must report it.

FBAR forms are available online and can easily be done by yourself. The most important thing is just doing it. That being said, having a professional review your info is never a bad recommendation, it’s better safe than sorry.

PFIC

PFIC stands for Passive Foreign Investment Company, and they can be quite nasty! In simple terms, most non-US investments, mutual funds, pension plans, life insurance products, etc., can result in a very high tax on gains each year. There are fantastic, tax-efficient investment products available to most foreign nationals living abroad, something that can add significant value to your golden years, but Americans must be very careful when making investments while retiring/living abroad.

At risk of sounding like a broken record, it may be a good idea to have a qualified expat professional review any non-US investments you possess to ensure they’re not PFICs. If you’re looking to make new investments while abroad, ask if they are PFICs or not. As a rule of thumb, if it’s not US-based, there’s a good chance it’s a PFIC. There are indeed specific, SEC compliant investments available to Americans living abroad, but the options are especially limited when compared to what other nationalities have available.

As you can see, it’s best to ask questions and, most importantly, report absolutely everything – honesty is the best policy. The IRS won’t accept “I didn’t know” as a legitimate excuse. If you’re FATCA compliant, you have absolutely nothing to worry about except working on your tan in paradise!

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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Are the Guys at RTTP Fascist?

As you can imagine, we get a lot of comments on RTTP, and the fact is, we don’t publish them all.

It’s not that we’re drowning in a sea of comments, that would be a nice ‘problem’ to have.

The reason that comments don’t get published is that either, they add nothing to the conversation or have no relation to the article.

To most reasonable people, this makes complete sense but never a day goes by when I don’t get a nasty, hate-filled email from a visitor who’s angry that we didn’t publish his particular comment.

I say ‘his’ because it always seems to be men that take it as a personal insult that they didn’t get to have their voices heard on a mostly anonymous forum.

In 3 years of administrating RTTP, I’ve never had a single hate-filled email from a woman, so I guess that says something.

Let the Vitriol Flow

One such email arrived in my inbox last week in response to my recent article about how I never actually chose to live in the Philippines.

I’m guessing it must have struck quite a nerve with the author as he seems like he was apoplectic while writing his email.

I don’t want to give his warped view of life in the Philippines too much air-time, but here are just a few of the highlights (or should that be lowlights?)

ignorant locals

wild, uneducated kids

too hot, most of the time

don’t understand English (to my desired standard)

women go to work while the men go to cockfights

And the list goes on, and on and on.

I didn’t waste too much time counting all his grievances, but I’d make a rough estimate that there was about 20-25.

Many of his claims I might not necessarily disagree with, but I would argue that most of them could be said about any country in the World.

It was interesting to me how he made mention of the idea that anybody who disagrees with him must be wearing ‘rose colored glasses.’

I’ve spoken about the various color of people’s glasses in another article, so I won’t write about it again here, other than to say that if my glasses are rose colored, then yours are brown colored.

The color of dog shit!

He’d used the contact form on RTTP rather than post a comment, but yet towards the end of the email, he ponders to himself whether his ‘comment’ will make it to the pages of our site.

Three reasons it won’t be making it onto the site buddy.

1. It’s not a comment.

2. It doesn’t comply with our, very reasonable, comment policy, and, most importantly

3. It’s just a long list of things you hate and find objectionable about living in the Philippines as a foreigner.

What I found almost laughable about reading his email was that he’d been coming here from the UK, since 1998 but apparently he hates it with a passion.

Now I don’t know about you, but if I hated something as much as he obviously does, then I certainly wouldn’t be doing it for almost 20 years!

Some (Not So) Friendly Advice

Here’s my advice to him and anybody else that hates it over here and feels so strongly that they are driven to sit down for 20 minutes and write an email to somebody that they’ve never met or conversed with, to make their feelings known.

DON’T KEEP COMING HERE!!!

Seems logical enough, right?

He has a Filipina wife so is that the reason he keeps coming back?

Is life in the UK so shitty that the guy is willing to suffer such terrible hardships, just to make his wife happy?

Having lived in the UK for the first 30 years of my life I can say that that country didn’t suit me, but I was never tempted to spend my evenings flailing my body with a bull whip just to exorcise the demons that were lurking inside.

Reading his email reminded me of something I saw when I was in Cagayan De Oro a few years ago, visiting a friend, and it just so happened to be Easter.

There was a religious procession that passed by his house, so I went outside to see what all the commotion was.

What I saw almost knocked me off my feet.

In the middle of the procession, there were about 20-30 men with their shirts off, and they were flailing themselves with whips.

You could see the blood flowing from their wounds, and it certainly didn’t look very pleasant.

It looked damn painful, to be honest.

You can read more about it by checking out this interesting article that I found on the Vice website.

Stop the Tangents and Get With It!

Anyway, I digress – which is something I’m prone to do both in life and while writing.

We at RTTP enjoy and encourage reader interaction through comments. It says it right there on our comment policy page, so it must be true.

What we don’t welcome are lengthy diatribes that list all the things that the bitter individual doesn’t like about the Philippines or its people.

My advice to the guy that wrote the email is simple.

If you don’t like it here, then leave and never come back.

If you don’t agree with something that is written on this website, or any website for that matter, post a calm, well thought out comment, and let’s have a debate.

If you feel yourself slipping into a hate-filled tirade, then stop yourself quickly.

Don’t waste our time or yours because, guess what my friend, it will end up in the digital trash bin, where it belongs.

If all of the above fails and you still feel the need to vent your spleen then why not set up your own blog?

If you don’t have the technical knowledge to set up a website, there are plenty of tutorials that will show you how to do it.

If you can’t afford the hosting, then there are plenty of free hosting providers.

WordPress — which is the platform that RTTP and many other popular sites on the Internet use — have their own free blogging solution.

In short, there’s plenty of ways for you to get rid of your anger, but posting on this website won’t ever be one of them.

Conclusion

If you’ve posted a comment and it does not appear on RTTP, then the first thing you should do is to check the comment policy.

For the majority of comments that don’t get approved, not complying with our policy is by far the most common reason.

If you’re sure that you’ve followed the guidelines, then please use the contact form and drop us a quick message.

Once again, we love to get your feedback and welcome reasonable, thoughtful debate, so feel free to reply to this or any other post on the website.

Your feedback helps to make the site better so keep them coming.

You can quickly read the most recent comments and get involved in the conversation by visiting our recent comments page.

If you’re living in the Philippines and can help another reader out, then please feel free.

I’ve been here for over 12 years, but there’s plenty I don’t know about the islands.

No amount of time living here will make a person an ‘expert’ and anybody that claims otherwise is most likely lying or delusional.

Am I a fascist? You decide.

If not wanting to promote hate means being a fascist then color me Trump!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnxQI97e-jU

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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I Never Chose to Live in the Philippines

People have many different reasons for choosing to live in the location they do.

I’m originally from the UK but now live in the Philippines and have done so for the last twelve years.

However, the truth of the matter is, I never really chose to live in the Philippines…

…it chose me.

If that sounds a bit rich and a little bit ‘hippy-dippy’, then let me assure you its not.

Read this article to the end and hopefully you’ll understand what I mean when I say I never chose to live in the Philippines.

Why Do You Live Where You Live?

For some, the place they live is simply the place they were born, and they never had the desire to move.

Perhaps they lack the resources or imagination to live somewhere else.

I make no judgment at all on anybody who chooses not to relocate, as long as they’re happy where they are then I say ‘more power to ya!’.

But the truth is, I know for a fact, that many people live their entire lives in a place that brings them little happiness or in some extreme cases…

…none at all.

For me, moving to the Philippines was something that was born out of a need to be somewhere else.

Anywhere else.

I’d always felt uncomfortable and out of place. Like I had an itch that I could never scratch.

Does that make sense?

I just wanted a place where I could feel happy and relaxed and free from worry and stress. It never seemed like an unreasonable goal to me but yet it was something that I could never achieve while living in the West.

Finding a Wife in the Philippines

For many people, getting married, having kids and settling down is what they think will bring them happiness. If that’s you and you’re genuinely happy then, that’s awesome!

I know that many visitors to this site are interested in finding a wife, and that’s great. I wish them well, and hopefully, someday, I’ll follow suit.

Finding a wife was never my primary reason for moving here.

Having been married twice before, I was never overly concerned with finding a spouse nor does it occupy too much of my time.

That’s not to say that I’m against the idea because I genuinely believe in the institution of marriage.

Committing to another person and promising to spend the rest of your lives together, sounds pretty sweet to me.

It’s just not something I’ve seen too much evidence of in my lifetime and can count the great unions on the fingers of one hand.

The Philippines is also a ‘no divorce’ country and annulments can be expensive and take a long time.

The next time I get married will have to be the last, and so I’m even more cautious than normal.

Negativity is Everywhere

I recently read a comment from somebody on our Facebook page, something to the effect that we – as in Retiring to the Philippines – are lying to our visitors by only promoting the beauty and benefits of living in the Philippines.

Initially, I was mad and was going to post a snide rebuke, but then I stopped myself and thought about it for a moment.

There are indeed quite a few posts on this website espousing a seemingly idealistic view of life in the Philippines for foreigners, but there is also some that point out the dangers and pitfalls that one might encounter.

The fact is that most of the guys that choose to write for our website are genuinely really happy with their lives and grateful to be living here.

That’s not to say it’s all roses and candy and we don’t encounter hassles and things that annoy us.

Of course, we do, and you know what? That’s life!

Whether those things are something that you allow yourself to be defined by is your call entirely, and nobody else’s!

The difference between us and some other foreigners that live in the Philippines is that we don’t try to impose our views or opinions on the locals or their government.

We accept and acknowledge that we are visitors and it is a privilege to be here, and not a right.

As I mentioned above, my reasons for living in the Philippines are to find personal happiness and avoid stress.

For me, it’s working out just fine, but it’s certainly not the traditional lifestyle of an expat in the Philippines.

My idea of happiness may be different from yours and to be honest, I expect it is.

I’ve always been the type of person that enjoys their own company, and I don’t necessarily need other people to make me feel whole.

I was speaking to my stepfather the other day, and I commented that “most of the problems that I’ve had in my life were caused by other people,” and that’s true.

Left to my own devices, I tend to do just fine.

Too Anti-Social to be Sociable?

Somebody over here – a foreigner – once referred to me as ‘anti-social, ‘ and to some degree, they may have been right.

I would argue, however, that I’m not so much anti-social as hyper-selective and cautiously skeptical of people and their motives.

When I am in the company of others, I’m usually the life of the party and am an engaged and inquisitive conversationalist.

The fact that I’m not constantly surrounded by people and for the most part, don’t feel a personal need for permanent companionship, doesn’t make me anti-social.

It just makes me, me.

Conclusion

So to answer the question of why I live in the Philippines, I’d say, because it makes me happy and for the most part, people leave me alone.

That’s it!

Nothing magical and no great secret. It is simply a country and lifestyle that suits me and allows me to live my life the way I want.

Will it suit everybody? I’m guessing not.

Will it suit you? I have no idea.

One thing I can say though is that if you come over here with some pre-conceived notion of how you think things ‘should’ be, then you’re probably going to be disappointed.

I came here because of my need to be somewhere other than where I was, and at the time, it was Hawaii.

I’d also tried Australia, Canada, the Canary Islands and my homeland of the UK. I’d been searching for someplace to call ‘home’ for forty years and now I’ve finally found it in the Philippines.

I had no preconceptions, and I even had to check the map to see where the Philippines was!

That was twelve years ago, and for me, it’s been the best decision I NEVER made.

All the best!

If anything in this article resonates with you, then please feel free to post a comment below. Make sure you read our comment policy though before you do as I’m not a fan of negativity and they will no doubt end up in the trash before they see the light of day.

All part and parcel of working to keep my life positive and make myself a happy and content individual.

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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Returning to the UK with a Filipino Spouse

While most readers of this site will probably be more interested in moving from the UK or elsewhere to the Philippines, I assume there are also readers who are living in the Philippines already, and whom, from time to time, might flirt with the idea of moving home again.

This can happen for any number of reasons. The only permanent thing in life is impermanence, circumstances change constantly, and what seemed like a dream yesterday can grow tiring and stale. I decided last year when my son was born to return to the UK after living in Asia for almost a decade. Of course, my Filipina spouse would be coming with me.

If you’re thinking about this or do so from time to time, there are some things you should be aware of regarding the current visa rules for non-European nationals. Coming home to the UK with a Filipino spouse is extremely challenging, and there are multiple legal obstacles set up to specifically attempt to stop you from doing so.

All of these can be overcome, but being aware of them fully before making any such attempts is a crucial first step. As the old saying goes, you must ‘Know thy enemy’ to defeat him.

A Little Background

My situation is by no means unique, and I wouldn’t be the first expat to decide to return home after a major life event. As it so happens, the birth of my son also coincided with the largest crash the oil industry has seen in decades, which is how I made my bread and butter and how my wife and I had planned to stay in the Philippines permanently.

I had never even seriously considered returning home until these two events took place. However, after carefully meditating upon it for a period of months and visiting home for a trial run for the first time in years, we decided that the brighter future for both us and our son lay in the UK. I have no doubts whatsoever that we made the right decision, even though I do miss the Philippines in many ways.

Enter The Problem

However, we found ourselves in a precarious position. You see, British nationals with non-EU spouses are required to prove their income to the British government to show they can support their families. The minimum income threshold is￡18,600 per year at the time of writing. This increases with every child that you have who isn’t a British citizen.

Thus, the expat returning to the UK finds himself in a strange and frightening situation. He most likely does not have a job at ￡18,600 per year, and until he gets home and re-established, has little chance of finding one.

The UK government will give your Filipino spouse a 6-month tourist visa to visit in most cases. However, most expats agree that when returning home with your family this is nowhere near enough time to get settled, find a job which meets the minimum income requirements, and complete the necessary paperwork and gather the required evidence to prove it to the British government before the spouse tourist visa runs out.

It quickly becomes apparent that without a stroke of serious luck, either your spouse will not be able to come with you, or he/she can come but will have to leave and return to the Philippines until the process is complete. Most agree this is absurd and is a violation of the basic right to family life, and even some in the British legal system have agreed, but nonetheless it remains the law and unless your spouse wants to be permanently deported, you will have to comply with it.

So, in a nutshell, the expat with the Filipino spouse will have to either leave their family behind and return to set things up for something which could take a year or in some cases a lot longer to complete, or will have to bring their family, and then send them back to the Philippines while they work on the rest of the process.

The Courts

This has been fought in the British courts, with the initial trial siding with the British citizens and their families. The Court of Appeal, sadly, did not agree, and rules in favor of the Home Office. This case is now in the Supreme Court, but with Brexit and other such political volatility, nobody expects a final answer anytime soon.

The Solution

There are a number of different solutions to this problem, all of which should be carefully considered before any move is made. They are all somewhat absurd in nature and will make the logical man scratch his head in amazement that elected officials could be so utterly incompetent and could create such a mess, but they are nonetheless the only options the expat has.

1. Be or Become a Mac Daddy

If you’re a mac daddy with a fat pension and make more than ￡18,600 per year (more if you have kids), you have no worries. Apply before you come, provide approximately 6 months of evidence, pay the fee, and bob’s your uncle.

2. Job Hunt

You could try to secure a job before you come, particularly if you work in a lucrative field which will easily surpass the income requirements. It can be difficult to convince someone to hire you when you’re not even in the country, have no address there, and are simply promising you will return.

That said, it has been done. It may take a few connections and a little luck, but I would be lying if I said it is impossible. This still leaves you with a slight time issue and at least an extra round of flights to buy.

Sadly, it may also mean time apart from your family if they need to come back to the Philippines for a while in the event that their tourist visas expire before the necessary evidence is collected and the application launched for a spouse visa.

3. Go to Europe

I haven’t mentioned this yet, but this law does not apply to European citizens living in the UK, who are free to bring their families to live here without restriction. Anyone holding an EU Family Permit is able to come to the UK and stay, and your spouse is entitled to get one in many other EU member states, other than the UK.

Many expats returning home take the route. It’s called the Surinder Singh route and involves you picking a country in Europe, moving there, and staying for a period of roughly 3 months while you obtain the Family Permit. Once this is issued, you may return to the UK without hindrance (at least until Brexit takes place).

Most agree this is a major and unnecessary hassle, but again, it is the law. You could also approach it as a final adventure before returning home and turn it into a positive.

4. Surrender Your British Nationality

Yes, I’m dead serious. After contemplating all of the options, this is exactly what I decided to do, exercising my right to Irish nationality in the process.

If you have any other European nationality, you can surrender your British passport and move here with your spouse unrestricted and immediately. Once you get your certificate of renunciation you can apply for your spouse to join you in the UK under the EU Family Permit scheme talked about above. This is legally required to be issued within 3 weeks.

You can get your British nationality back again at a later stage, but it’s costly and there may not be any great reason to do so.

Conclusion

Apart from the conclusion that Britain has gone barmy on immigration, you can see here that an expat returning home with a Filipino spouse does have some obstacles to overcome, but does not have an impossible task ahead.

If you find yourself in this situation and are looking for a way forward, consider the options you have above. I also highly recommend getting in touch with an immigration solicitor as confirming which option is best for you under the guidance of a trained professional is a much better idea than spending endless hours scouring the internet and worrying at night about whether or not it will work.

You do have options to return home with your family. While this punitive and unfair law is current, I still believe that the arc of the moral universe is long, but does bend towards justice. At some point, hopefully, not too far in the future, this draconian law will be overturned.

Returning to the UK is your right, even if you never exercise it, and being aware of these current rules is step 1 to making an informed decision about your future.

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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Is it Still Safe to Retire in the Philippines?

By now most people who keep an eye on the Philippines will have come across sensationalist headlines of blood in the streets and a growing body count since the election of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Naturally, this causes many people concern, and some may be wondering if it’s still safe to retire in the Philippines.

So, are the rumors true?

Yes, to a large extent the rumors in the newspapers are true. People are definitely dying and there is a lot of killing in the streets. However, what newspapers eager to sell copies and run by vested interests won’t tell you is that there is absolutely zero evidence to show it is actually Duterte who is responsible for any of it.

It’s true that he hasn’t exactly discouraged the idea, and at times has crossed the line and actually encouraged it, but the killings could just as easily be the work of panic-stricken drug lords who realize the game is over and who are trying to tie up loose ends.

While there have been failed attempts to link the president to death squads, there is no smoking gun, and until there is, I will stick by the principle of innocent until proven guilty (I know there’s some irony in this, but that’s life).

The second thing that isn’t reported is that in most of the country nothing violent or terrifying is happening at all. Think about how big the Philippines is, and how many towns, cities and provinces there are. Yes, 1 or 2 people involved with drugs are being bumped off every few days, and undoubtedly some of them are innocent, but in the grand scheme it really isn’t that many and like everywhere in the world, if you stay out of it, you generally don’t have anything to fear.

My insight into this is largely due to the fact that I grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and I’m aware of how most of what qualifies as ‘reporting’ is exaggeration and propaganda. I used to walk along the very same streets which I’d seen utterly destroyed on TV the night before, and not notice much of a difference. It’s pretty much the same here – there’s a war going on alright, but there’s absolutely no sign of it, at least from my vantage point.

I will say, however, that I have noticed several positive changes since the election of Duterte. Just yesterday a brand new trash truck pulled up outside my house and emptied the bins, white lines have magically appeared in the middle of the roads, people are actually stopping to let me cross the road, and new electrical pylons are being erected as I write this.

I’m not sure I can connect the two in a direct cause and effect relationship, but change is in the air and it is palpable. From what I can see, it’s largely positive, being that I neither take nor sell drugs and have nothing whatsoever to fear.

I’m not trying to paint the Duterte administration as some angelic Godsend, nor is it really my place to comment on the politics of a country in which I am not a citizen. I will reserve judgment, as it is both polite and prudent to do so, until the results are in and history is written.

For now, let me answer the question this article set out to address – yes, it’s still very safe to retire in the Philippines, and if things keep improving gradually as they have been, it will continue to remain so, long into the future.

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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5 Great Tips to Meet Filipinas Online

So you wanna meet Filipinas online, do you?

Welcome to the world of dating Pinays, some of the most beautiful and caring women on the planet. I’ve been married to a Filipina for 2 years now and life has never been better. In fact, several of my friends have decided to come to The Philippines in search of their own Filipina girlfriend within a few months of meeting her when I took her home to meet the family.

I’ve tried to taper their enthusiasm with a healthy dose of caution – not every woman here is the same as my wife! There are good and bad girls in The Philippines, just like anywhere.

Thinking about how to best advise them and answer their questions about how to meet a Filipina got me wondering – why don’t I just write an article explaining the top points of what I’ve learned after 10 years of dating in Asia?

So, that’s exactly what I did. Here are 5 tips to give you the greatest chances of success when dating Filipinas online.

Meet Filipinas Online – 5 Crucial Tips

1. Take Your Time

This might be stating the obvious, but you’d be surprised how many men sign up for a dating website to meet Filipinas online, who ticks all their boxes, and dives right in without a thought for the morrow.

Love is love, and when it strikes there’s very little you can do. One thing you can do, however, is let time do what it does best and give you some perspective.

The reason for taking your time are twofold.

First, those crazy brain chemicals that have you all over the place, eager with anticipation to fly directly to the Philippines and meet your new lady friend will calm down and level out and think about things clearly.

Second, you need at least 6 months to get to know someone well. I think this rule applies to dating anyone, anywhere.

The rules of online dating are the same as the rules of dating in the real world. Remember the old saying when dating Filipinas online – ‘Wise men say, Only fools rush in!’

2. Be Realistic

If you’re 58, have a pot belly and a few missing teeth, albeit with more than a smattering of charm, recognize the warning signs when a 19-year-old model caliber lady is interested in you. You have to be honest with yourself and honest with the woman you will talk with while trying to meet Filipinas online.

Sorry to take away your ego enhancer, but if you go down this rabbit hole you’re entering a world of hurt. Why is she interested in you when she could easily take her pick of younger men who know the name of Bieber’s latest hit song? You’ve got to be aware that there are lots of very poor, very desperate girls in this country who will do almost anything to survive, including rinse a sucker like you.

Let me be clear: NOT ALL FILIPINA GIRLS ARE LIKE THIS – FAR FROM IT! I’m not being a racist, a misogynist or a prick for saying it. It’s a sad fact of life and I’ve known guys who have been taken to the cleaners in a haze of love and emotion. I don’t want the same happening to you, dear reader.

Set realistic expectations for yourself and always ask ‘What’s in this for her?’ Understanding her intentions is a key part of successfully dating.

3. Look at Her Profile History

Before I settled down and got married I admit I to was interested in finding out how  to meet Filipinas online. During this period of my life, I learned to spot the girls who lingered for a little too long on those sites, and I began to learn that this meant one of two things: she is a serial dater or she has problems and moves from one guy to the next rapidly.

This is another reason for taking your time and getting to know both the site you are using and any ladies you talk to on there.

Be especially aware of ‘Off-On’ profiles. These are ladies who repeatedly delete and reopen their dating profiles. This should ring alarm bells in your head and cause you to ask yourself ‘What’s she up to?’

3. Meet Her in The Philippines

When you do find a fantastic woman who you really could fall for (oh, you will, believe me), at some stage, you will need to meet her to move things forward.

Start with video chats on Skype. This is much better than texting when it comes to getting to meet Filipinas online.

Eventually, however, you’ll want to meet face to face. Coming to The Philippines is a great idea in and of itself. This is one of the most beautiful countries you’ll ever visit, and coming to meet a love interest is just the icing on the cake.

Meeting your lady friend in The Philippines is also a good idea because it will allow you a great insight into her, who she is, and her culture. There are actually many different cultures within The Philippines, so getting to know her city, her island, family and individual quirks is best done here in her home country.

Besides, you coming to The Philippines is much easier with regards visas, travel costs, and other associated factors.

You’ll be glad you did, whether you decide to move things forward or not!

5. Give Her the Benefit of the Doubt

Dating Filipinas online is no different to dating any woman from a totally different culture. You’re going to have misunderstandings and assign meaning to things where there is none. This can lead to communication problems and a breakdown of the relationship.

Always give her the benefit of the doubt and try to see the best in these situations. What you think her actions mean could be totally different in reality.

Of course, there are blatant warning signs (such as asking you to send large sums of cash to her), but there are lots of little cultural mannerisms, expectations, and norms which it would be a shame to let get in the way of a burgeoning relationship.

The best way to deal with these is to seek to understand. If something doesn’t seem right to you or has you scratching your head, try talking to your love interest and asking her about it.

Opening direct lines of communication and seeking to understand one another can only help you decide whether you’re right for each other or not. This is especially true in cross-cultural relationships.

Dating a Filipina Summary

If you meet the right Filipina online you’re in for what could be the most rewarding relationship of your life. I’ve never met a woman as caring, attentive and genuinely happy as my wife, and I would love everyone to find the same in their partner.

Remembering the 5 tips above will set you on the right track and let you go in with your eyes open.

Best of luck in your quest to meet Filipinas online!

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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Philippine 13a Visa Requirements Explained

So you’ve moved to The Philippines, fallen in love and now you’re married. Welcome to the club!

It’s time to take care of the practical side of living here permanently, and one way to do that is to obtain a Philippine 13A visa. This allows you to live here in the Philippines indefinitely and puts an end to those monthly visits to the hot and bothersome immigration office once and for all.

So how do you go about getting the 13A via? Let us explain via this handy FAQ!

Q. Who’s eligible for a 13A visa?

A. Anybody married to a Filipino. If you’re married (either here or abroad), you’re eligible.

Q. Where can I find the relevant law at its source?

A. A quick Google search for ‘Philippine Immigration Act 1940, Section 13’ will bring up the exact law. You can see for yourself exactly what it says. Alternatively click here.

Q. Where can I apply for the 13A visa?

A. You can apply in Cebu, Manila, and Davao. While you can’t apply in any other city as of the time of writing you can ask for further information there and immigration officers will be happy to help.

Q. How long is the visa good for?

A. The first issuance is good for 1 year, after which you will need to renew it. The second issuance is good for 10 years, giving you a long and enjoyable decade of hassle-free living in the Philippines.

Q. Do I have to be married or can I apply while engaged?

A. You’ll need to be married to get the visa, as an authenticated copy of your marriage contract needs to be presented when applying. If you got married abroad this will have to be done in the Philippine embassy.

Q. How long will it take after I apply?

A. Generally, you can estimate about 1 month from the time of application. This can vary so give or take a week.

Q. What documents do I need to submit with the application?

A. You’ll need the following:

A notarized letter of application from your Filipino spouse.

 A notarized general application form (yes, it should be filled in).

An authenticated birth certificate for your Filipino spouse.

 A copy of your passport showing your current visa (date of arrival must be visible).

Proof of savings of a minimum of $10,000 USD.

A clearance certificate issued by the department of immigration.

A barangay certificate attesting to the fact that you and your spouse live together as husband and wife.

Police clearance from your own country if you have been in the Philippines less than 6 months. A clearance certificate from the NBI will also be required if you have been here more than 6 months. Source.

 The appropriate fees, totaling around 20,000 pesos.

Q. What alternatives are there to a Philippine 13A visa?

A. If you’re willing to travel in and out of the country once per year with your spouse you can get a renewable Balik Bayan visa. This will not ever make you a resident of the Philippines but does entitle you to live here with your spouse for a year at a time.

While this is by no means to be taken as expert legal advice, it is a very good starting point information wise when it comes to applying for a Philippine 13A visa.

Whether you’re currently dating and doing your research or are already married and planning to stay we wish you the best of luck and a happy life in the Philippines!

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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The Philippines - Retire In A Tropical Paradise

The Philippines is such a great place to retire, but few do, and that’s a shame. First of all, the people in the Philippines are different from what you may have grown accustomed to. There’s no sulky faces, no complaining.

Instead, the Filipino people are easy going and friendly and smile a lot.

For a first timer to the Philippines, you may just wonder if you have been magically transported to another dimension! Life is much more enjoyable here. The pace is much slower and the attitude towards life, work and love are much more relaxed.

If you want to quit the rat race and retire to a tropical paradise with pristine beaches, cheap living, and beautiful women, then the Philippines is the place for you.

Consider this; What will you get for $1000 in the US? It’s hardly enough to get a roof over your head, much less live a decent, enjoyable life. Why should your retirement years be spent turning every nickel and being relegated to dating divorced jaded women?

Back in the states, I was a 57-year-old man with alimony, two grown kids and I felt old. And I was treated like I was old. No one smiled at me, and I guess not many people gave a damn. Dating meant taking out divorced middle-aged women, who were always complaining about men, despite having let themselves go. Needless to say, I did not enjoy my life. I am telling you this because I think – no – I KNOW that there are many other guys like me.

Well, imagine waking up in a two story house, kissing your wife, and then getting up for an already prepared breakfast by your own chef. Later in the day, I get my driver to take me to my various appointments that I have. In the evening, we eat out in a nice restaurant or get the chef to prepare a tasty meal. I travel at least once a month and never have to watch my money. To me, this is quite appealing.

Of course, having money is only good if you have someone to share it with. Filipina girls are some of the most beautiful, sensual and kind women you could ever meet. Treat a Filipina with respect and she will make your life happy. I want you to think about this also. Are you satisfied with your life now? Be honest? I want you to know that there is another option.

12 Reasons to Retire in the Philippines

Following are 12 of the most popular reasons for an Expat to retire in the Philippines that I have encountered as a consultant on retirement.

1. An Expat can retire with more money in his pocket at the end of the month.

The cost of living in the Philippines is about one-fifth to one-fourth of the cost of living in the U.S. or the U.K Consequently, a retirement pension buys more lifestyle for less money and permits the retiree to even have savings at the end of the month.

2. You can escape those cold U.S. winters.

The weather in the Philippines is similar to Hawaii. Although warm year around, it is a bit cooler during the months of October through March, and then hotter during the period April to September.

3. You can escape the rat-race America and the UK have become.

We all know the pace of life in the 21st century is fast, fast, fast in the U.S and the U.K. However, in the Philippines, things move at a much slower pace, which reduces one’s stress level.

4. You can retire with one or two maids, and a driver.

The cost of a maid is approximately $40 monthly and the cost of a driver is about $60 monthly. Not only does the maid take care of the residence, but she will also navigate the weekly market shopping needs for the best and lowest purchase price for you. Having this kind of value added to one’s life for this small monthly amount of money is unheard of in the western world.

5. After 40 years of toil with no return, working on a job and always “running out of money before running out of month”, retirement in the Philippines reverses this.

Due to the low cost of living in the Philippines, one who retires there will find that due to the lower cost of living, one will always “run out of month before they run out of money”. This is a very delightful experience.

6. You will be able to go to bed every night and wake up every morning free of frustration and anxiety over a lack of money.

When one is continuously anxious about the lack of money, it leads to chronic stress which spills over into health and self-esteem problems. By retiring in the Philippines, due to the lower cost of living you can eliminate this stress from your life.

7. You can have your first and only wife be a beautiful and exotic Filipina. Or if divorced, you can have a beautiful Filipina who completes you rather than competes with you.

Women outnumber men in the Philippines, and due to low per capita income in the Philippines, Filipina ladies are attracted to foreigners with a steady pension income. Further, they are attracted to older foreign men than to younger foreign men. They consider them less likely to philander.

8. You will have great personal relationships that are full of love and friendship and true caring for each other.

Filipinos find themselves by being surrounded with others and having lots of friends. They are not independent people like those from the U.S, rather they are “joiners” and family people. You will develop many warm and lasting friendships while retired in the Philippines.

9. You can live in a male-oriented society, as compared to a female, feminist-oriented society where males are confused about what it is to be a man.

The Philippines culture is one where the man is looked at to be the leader of the family unit. The wife is taught from childhood the importance of being in submission to her husband. The Philippines is a male oriented society.

10. You can have nurses and caregivers readily available to care for you if desired.

One of the major vocations taught in the Philippines is nursing. Nursing schools and graduates are everywhere, with many of them seeking employment overseas. This generates a pool of highly qualified nurses readily available and seeking employment as personal nurses and caregivers, if desired, at extremely low costs compared to the western world.

11. You can live in a country where travel to exciting and adventurous locales in Asia is inexpensive.

The Philippines is very centrally located in Asia, with just a few hours flying time to Tokyo and Korea, a little over an hour to Hong Kong, a couple of hours to Bangkok, and a little over an hour to Singapore. Airfares are highly competitive and there are lots of daily flights in and out of the Philippines. This makes for a fun retirement life full of travel and excitement, at a very reasonable cost, and with little pain of long travel times.

12. You can live in a country where elders are respected and treated with dignity.

Like other Asian countries, people are taught from childhood the need to respect the elderly. While living in the Philippines as a senior retiree, you will be treated with respect and dignity unlike you can find in the U.S. or U.K. As an elder, you are considered to be wise and someone to listen to and learn from.

The Philippines has so much to offer American men looking for an escape to a tropical paradise. Most will never fulfill their dreams but continue pondering ‘what if?’.

Don’t get stuck. Live your dreams!

This was an  article submitted by a reader of RTTP. If you would like to have your article featured on our site, please feel free to submit it via email and we’ll take a look.

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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5 Things You Better Ask Before Entering a Cross-Cultural Marriage in The Philippines

Last year I got married to my beautiful wife, K.

I’m from Ireland, and she’s from The Philippines. We’re both in our early thirties, and we love each other dearly.

But boy are there some questions I wish I’d asked and some things I wish we’d talked about before we tied the knot!

Don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely zero regrets and I would do it all again in a heartbeat, but trust me, if you’re going to marry outside your own culture, you’d best straighten these things out, because they will come up later, and then you will stare at each other like alien creatures with several foreheads and wonder what the issue is and why the other person doesn’t understand your perspective.

Talk these things out before they become an issue. Then make the decision based on what’s best for both of you.

Here we go….

Gender Roles

Coming from the Western world, I was accustomed to thinking that helping out by washing dishes after dinner and doing a bit of housework would make my wife happy. You can imagine my confusion when she got angry at me and frustrated by the fact that I was ‘in the way’ and ‘not doing it correctly’.

Yes, that’s right, I was being chastised for doing what I thought my wife wanted and what I’d heard my mother and sister wish their husbands would do for them at home. It turns out that in my wife’s culture a man doing housework is unacceptable, and he is expected to do no more than a few things in a marriage: provide, protect, entertain and advise.

I took the opportunity to never have to do housework again with open arms, but I advise anyone entering a marriage with a Filipino spouse to have a serious chat about what is expected from both parties. Never assume that what flies in your country flies here. That’s rule number 1 on the list.

Ask: What is a man expected to do in a marriage? What is a woman expected to do? What happens if you violate the rules or fail to live up to them? Yes, you’ve got to ask these things you would take for granted by marrying in your own culture.

Family Order & Living Arrangements

Again, coming from the West we learn to be reasonably independent from a young age. We are given choices, advised, and generally told to make it on our own after we leave for college or enter the workforce. What then happens when we start our own families is largely our own business.

Not so in The Philippines.

I quickly discovered that my wife’s family expect to be informed of, involved in, and party to virtually every decision we make of any consequence. This deeply frustrated me to begin with, and I admit on a few occasions I wanted to tell them to go and leave us alone.

I’m thankful I didn’t, because the perspective they provide and the different way of seeing things and how they should be done is invaluable and extremely enriching. I personally value gathering different perspectives and analyzing things from multiple angles before deciding on something, but for those who would interpret this as interference or an encroachment on territory, this could cause serious problems in a marriage.

Another shock I got was that when we got married my brother-in-law moved in with us right away. I was gobsmacked and astounded, and I admit a little miffed. I interpreted this as my wife not wanting to spend time with me alone, whereas my wife intended it as someone to help us out with the stressful times ahead with a new baby on the way and me not having a clue where I was or how to even order a sandwich in the local language nor being able or willing to drive on the insane roads here.

As it turns out this move has been immensely helpful, but it could have blown up in the first weeks and months, and if you’re going to be living in your spouse’s country, it’s best to check what the family set up and living arrangements are, and again, never assume it will be the same as home or that the gestures mean what you think they do. This equally applies if you’re husband or wife moves to your country.

Ask: Will you live together without others? If not, who will live with you? Will you be expected to help out with the extended family? In what ways? Will your parents in law live with you as they age? These are all things worth checking and talking about because we can have vastly different expectations in regard to family life and how it should unfold.

Taboos and Norms

If you met your spouse in the Philippines you should already have a good idea of what’s cool and what’s not. If like me, you met your spouse in a third country you both lived in and moved here later, you will be utterly clueless and totally mystified, and will probably cause your spouse some embarrassment as you learn the ropes.

This can be a very entertaining thing, but it can also be annoying and can put stress on you both. Whereas we in the Western world we tend to question authority and ‘just because you’re older doesn’t mean you’re smarter’, in The Philippines questioning an elder in the family is an unforgivable sin and you’ll be seen as an ignoramus if you do it.

This is something you will need to suss out for yourself. Be aware of it going in if possible, and try your best to accommodate it without sacrificing your own values and individuality. It’s a tightrope walk at times, but it has to be done for your loved one and you would expect the same in return.

If you’re going to live here, then do as the locals do, but it certainly helps to know what that is to begin with!

Money

Yes, you knew it was coming, and it is one of the most important factors of all. Money is one of the leading causes of divorce everywhere and before you enter into a legal agreement with someone whereby you will be sharing financial assets for the rest of your life, you need to straighten out expectations and boundaries with the green stuff (it might be yellow, blue or even purple in The Philippines).

In some countries it is customary for both spouses to work and make a financial contribution throughout their lives, whereas in others it is much more the norm for the wife to stop working when there are small children in the equation, for a much longer period of time than you might be accustomed to in your home country.

Likewise, in some countries a spouse will be very understanding if her husband or his wife can not provide temporarily, whereas in others you will be expected to do whatever it takes, right down to leaving the country and working somewhere else where you will not see your children for extended periods of time, to put the bacon on the table.

You’d better talk this out up front. I lost my job once and my wife nonchalantly suggested I go and work in Ireland while she stayed here. I almost exploded at the thought that she found it acceptable for me to be apart from my son as he grew up, until I paused and realized that here in The Philippines there is a massive culture of overseas foreign workers, and while not quite the norm, it is both common and acceptable to have one spouse working in another country and sending back the finances to support their family. Again, those assumptions will get you!

Ask: Who’s going to earn what? What are you expected to contribute? At what times and in what circumstances is it OK not to contribute? Will you be expected to contribute to anyone else in the family? Will they be expected to contribute to you? All of these things need to be asked because you’re going to have to deal with them eventually.

Time

Time, you say? Yes, time!

You won’t realize this until you have children together, but even if you’ve been expatriated abroad for close to a decade like myself, the intensity with which you miss your family and friends back home is probably going to increase when you have kids.

If you live in The Philippines and are close with your family at home, it’s going to be hard for you when you see your little one bond with and have experiences with his or her family. Yes, it’s wonderful, but you’re also going to think about your loved ones back home and how they’re missing out.

You might even begin to feel guilty or sad about this.

You need to figure out where you’re going to spend your time and how to divide it up. This, of course, is going to cause a lot of distress to your spouse’s family if you decide to spend several months at home since you’ll be yanking a key feature of their lives away from them for a while. You need to find ways to communicate your intentions and make sure both your spouses family and your family understand the rules of what’s going to happen going forward and how everyone can be part of the kids lives.

There are real practical elements to consider here, as well as people’s feelings. How much will all this travel cost? Who will foot the bill? How will this affect your budget and financial plans for the future? Can anyone help out if they have expectations or demands and expect you to meet them? Ask these things now, and you’ll be thankful you did later.

Summary

A cross-cultural marriage is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, escapades you will ever endeavor upon. You will be tested to your absolute limits, learn something new every day, and ultimately go to sleep at night probably more confused and mystified than you were the day before.

Yet, you will be richer in experience, wiser, and altogether better off for it. While the challenges are many, the rewards are equally great!

I hope this has been a helpful guide to cross-cultural marriage in The Philippines. It’s only the tip of the iceberg, and there’s a lot more to it than the above, but these are the basics and it’s best to get them out there in the open from day one.

This article originally appeared on Retiring to the Philippines

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New Post has been published on Retiring to the Philippines

New Post has been published on http://retiringtothephilippines.com/guide/about-the-philippines/mindanao-revisited/

Mindanao Revisited

The article I penned here back in September last year certainly provoked some comments.

Some of you asked for further information, and one of you, Mitchell, wrote in with a longish comment that was converted into an article. Mitchell used a young Canadian, Kyle, as an illustration of the safety of living in and traveling around Mindanao.

Let me make three things clear.

Firstly, there is no mileage in this subject becoming a saga. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Second, the sole purpose of my article was to make folks aware of the travel advisories issued by the U.S., U.K. and Canadian governments about travel in Mindanao.

Third, there are many foreigners either living in, or have traveled around Mindanao who have never encountered any threats.

That’s great news! The same is true for foreigners all over the Philippines. Great news, or even good news, rarely gets reported in the media as we are all aware. Can you sense a ‘but’ coming here?

Negative Image of Mindanao

It was a coincidence that the timing of my article was preceded by the kidnapping of foreigners at the resort in Samal Island in Davao del Norte.

Kyle mentions similar travel advisories on his blog Becoming Filipino –

He says,

At first they definitely put a little bit of fear into my life. I was a little more cautious and fearful then my usual self. There are so many negative thoughts thrown around about Mindanao on a daily basis, through media, internet and in general chit-chat that it would be hard not to have a little fear when you hear that word.

“That word” he was referring to was “Mindanao.” I agree with him. It’s ludicrous to label the whole island as some kind of lawless wild-west frontier.

However, the ‘but’ you may have sensed coming is that terrorists do operate in Mindanao and some of them specialize in the ‘kidnap for ransom’ of foreigners.

Since the Samal kidnappings another foreigner was kidnapped in Dipolog. The victim was an Italian, a former priest and a pizza parlour owner at the time of the kidnapping. Clearly, the kidnappers believed that he was wealthy and someone would pay a ransom.

He has never been heard of since.

The British and Australian governments state clearly on their websites that they will not negotiate with terrorists. It is my understanding that the U.S. Government has a similar policy. It seems that if you are foreigner and kidnapped here in the Philippines no one in authority gives a flying fig! ‘You were warned’ is probably the unofficial government view.

No Room for Complacency

It’s abundantly clear that Kyle and Mitchell make a valid case for over-hype of the Mindanao ‘problem’.

Life carries on. It may carry on for you as a foreigner living or traveling in Mindanao, but there ought to be no room for complacency.

Despite the picture painted by Mitchell and Kyle, a kidnap for ransom could happen to any foreigner. It is foolish not to accept that risk exists as a fact even if you are in Iligan or CDO, or even further afield.

The latest intelligence warnings from western governments spell out that certain groups plan to extend their kidnap operations further away from their base in southern Mindanao.

Kidnap for Ransom Groups Operating in North Mindanao

This is what the U.K. government is currently advising:

[I]t appears that the information as of late October 2015 indicates that kidnap for ransom groups may be planning operations in North Mindanao including the islands off the coast.

That advice stood as of 1/2/15. Indeed, it has been suggested that these kidnap raids could extend to the coastal areas of southern Negros Island and Siquijor.

It matters not one iota how much you smile or mingle. If a terrorist group sees you, a foreigner, as an easy target for kidnap, then no amount of smiley faces will prevent that happening.

The editorial preamble to Mitchell’s article included a reference to high and moderate risk assessments throughout the Philippines. It correctly pointed out that the official Philippines intelligence agency had rated Boracay as a higher risk than much of Mindanao. There was good reason for that which is beyond the scope of this article.

Before that Philippines government assessment lulls anyone into a false sense of “security”, I must point out that Samal Island near Davao, was the scene of the recent kidnapping of a group of foreigners on 21 September, 2015. Yet, Davao del Norte and Samal Island are in the “moderate” classification and Boracay rated under “high” risk. Go figure!

This Samal kidnapping was the one referred to in my original article. To all intents and purposes those foreigners have disappeared just like most of the other kidnapped foreigners over the past five or six years.

Lightning Can Strike Anywhere Anytime

I stress once more I accept that you guys who know and live in certain parts of Mindanao feel safe. Surely the operative word is “feel”. The comments section of both articles on this site contain sentiments to the effect that, “there are plenty of foreigners now living in X, Y or Z” (therefore all is fine).

Of course, that is the case, but entirely misses the point of the warnings. The unspoken part of the warnings surely is, “lightning can strike anywhere, anytime.”

Response to Comments

In answer to Jay Alexander’s questions in his comment following my original article, I would say this as general advice based on my 30 years’ experience in law enforcement (these views are entirely my own opinion).

The advice applies wherever you live or choose to live in the Philippines –

Find a house to live in a secure sub-division in an urban environment. The more remote and isolated your home is, the more likely you will be targeted by criminals.

Keep a low profile.

As a foreigner, you are not legally permitted to own a firearm. There is nothing to stop you having access to one owned by say your wife, in the event of a life-threatening situation. The consequences of you using that gun are impossible to predict.

The notion of fostering good relations with a PNP officer is not a bad idea, but, can you trust him?

The guard/attack dog is a great plan.

No matter how ‘native’ you intend to go, you will always be a foreigner!

Your valid question about the victims’ lifestyles is difficult to answer in full as I simply do not have the facts at my disposal. The reports of the kidnappings of the foreigners in Samal Island in September 2015, Canadians, Norwegian and a Filipina, say they were simply doing their normal thing at the holiday resort.

The most recent government travel advisories are to be found here:

UK Government Foreign Travel Advisories

UK Government Terrorism Advice

US Government Travel Advisories for the Philippines

Australian Government Travel Advisories for the Philippines

If any of you are interested in a full and detailed current account and history of insurgency in the Philippines then I thoroughly recommend further reading:

Philippines government document National Security Policy 2011 – 2016

Terrorism – a Problem in the Philippines, Michelle Celebrado

Current Terrorist Groups and Emerging Extremist Armed Movements in the Southern Philippines: THREATS TO PHILIPPINE NATIONAL SECURITY , Rommel C. Banlaoi

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Nose Bleed! Nose Bleed!

‘Nose bleed’ is an expression you soon hear as an expat when mixing with Filipino friends or the family of your spouse or girlfriend.

Many of your Filipino acquaintances will make an effort to speak in English with you, assuming you as the foreigner, are from an English speaking nation. However, don’t be at all surprised after thirty minutes or so if they revert to speaking in their regional or national tongue. Occasionally, the odd Filipino will make zero effort to speak in English in your company.

I noticed this within a few short weeks of arriving on the shores of the archipelago. Every time I was socializing surrounded by Filipinos all would speak in English for a time before reverting to Ilonggo; the language of Negros Island also known as Hiligaynon. Except for one guy, who flat refused to talk in English.

After a few months I decided to query this phenomenon in a most pleasant way. Laughing and joking with a smile on my face, I asked two of the family group about this. They laughed and simply said, “Nose bleed”.

Essentially the expression is used whenever Filipinos encounter somebody that speaks English fluently. Alternatively, it is used by Filipinos when they encounter something difficult like an exam, an interview, when trying to solve complex problems, or when reading a document containing technical words. Examples of those types of documents would be those found in the medical or legal professions where English is the lingua franca.

Personally, it does not faze me when experiencing the sudden switch from English to the native tongue. I know of one expat who finds it annoying and even interprets it as a sign of rudeness. I don’t agree with that – it’s simply a Filipino thing just like surfing Facebook on their cell phones even during a meal! Vive la difference!

Filipino or Tagalog?

The use of language in the Philippines is an interesting subject. For example, from my own reading I am still uncertain whether Filipino or Tagalog is the official language of the country. It depends on the source of your information.

And, did you know that there are some 120 to 175 languages in the Philippines, depending on the method of classification?

It also appears that the subject of language is capable of causing spleens to vent. A recent article in the Inquirer titled “Filipino is no longer Tagalog” by Marne Kilates, deals with the evolution of Filipino, the national language, since it was proclaimed as the basis for the development of the national language in 1937. Much of this piece is about a misconception among Filipinos that the national language is “out to kill [off] the native and regional languages”.

Living Language

In the same article, Almario, one of the prominent defenders of the national language extolled its virtues owing to it being a “living language”. The article then goes on to explain in detail about the history of the Filipino alphabet (abakada) with its addition of consonants such as F and V. Then later as Rizal added the vowels E and O to the native 3-vowel, 17-sound vocabulary the argument runs that abakada was “no longer ‘pure’ Tagalog”.

It was the 1987 Constitution of the Republic that first called the national language Filipino. It also added 8 letters to the abakada so it became more “inclusive of the sounds occurring in the Philippines’ other native languages”. This marked the change from the Tagalog/Pilipino abakada to the Filipino “alpabeto”. Almario concludes with the proposition “[T]hat’s why the Filipino language is no longer Tagalog”.

Venting of Spleens

The venting of spleens was to be found in the comments section of the article –

Bull! Filipino is still Tagalog, pure and simple, not this kind of stupidity fostered by Almario and his gang. What are the sounds this megalomaniac is talking about? KWF has no strategy/program for developing Filipino. The F and V sounds and the orthographies they are developing for the other languages do not make Filipino. But the structure, the syntax, the vocabulary of Filipino should define the national language. What words, idiomatic expressions, phrases in the other languages have been incorporated in Filipino? For one, where is balay that is common to Ilokano and other Visayan languages?

Followed by –

Listen to UKG or TV Patrol for a minute or two and you’ll be amazed at the words they have introduced into Pilipino, new words like “problemado”, “tensionado”, “inorderan”, “klnumpirmahan”, etc. I suggest the anchors and support personnel take some time to read “Florante at Laura”, “Banaag at Sikat” or “Ibong Mandaaragit”. It’s a shame.

It all reminds me firstly of why Latin is now a ‘dead language’; secondly it is also harking back to the days when the ‘language police’ in England used to wring their collective hands at such Americanisms as “alphabetize”.

It’s what people who collect records do to their collection. Until relatively recently, British people would have just called that putting the records in alphabetical order, or having a tidy-up, but now many of them use this apt expression for it, even if it does come with that troublesome z on the end.

Anyway (if you are British, anyways if American) a living language, whether Filipino or English, has to be better than a dead one, even if it all gives us nose bleed!

If you would like to read the full article that inspired this post you can find it here.