[smartads] This blog will be an attempt to give the average person an idea of what it’s like for someone who is ‘Americanized’ to live in the Philippine Islands (PI).
I am from Texas and I have relocated to the PI for financial reasons. I was unemployed in Texas for over a year and a half and got tired of living off unemployment and not receiving any job offers. I had been working most of my life and it was really, really getting on my nerves not being able to continue. I had a unique opportunity to move here to the PI and be debt free, so I took it. My wife and I took care of all our bills in Texas, sold our land, packed up and moved. It helps that my wife is a Filipina and we have some very nice relatives here in the PI. They have helped us make the transformation from an American to a Filipino way of life.
Life here is not so bad. We have a couple of small businesses here that make minimal income, but it and my military retirement check get us along just fine. As time goes by and we get more into the small business, it’ll be more than fine. We’ll be able to save my military retirement check for traveling throughout the world, which we plan to start doing in 3 or 4 years. The peso rate is currently at around 45 to 1. As soon as we get settled well, we will have it made. As long as you don’t live high on the hog, you can really live well here for around $1000 per month.
As I continue to blog, I will try to give you some idea of what it’s like to live here. I will tell you some of the things that I miss being here and some of the things I gain. I will insert pictures and videos (as soon as I learn how) of different areas of the PI. I will let you know about how much we pay for utilities, car payments, laborers (this one will blow your mind if you are not already familiar with it) and other things.
There are many things to know about the PI, but the most important one I think is to remember that it is called “The Land of Smiles” for a reason. Although there is rampant corruption in the government here, the regular person on the street still greets visitors with a smile and a helping hand. Yes life here is wonderful so far and I hope I can give you the same feeling I have through my posts, links, pictures and videos.
Enjoy the blog and if anyone knows how I can get a sponsor and possibly make money from the blog, please let me know. The more money I can make the less my wife has to work. Whether I make money or not, I will continue to blog. If I have sponsor though, I’m sure I will blog more often.
Salamat, Paalam (Thank you, Goodbye)
Well I am really interested in learning more about all you have to share about this. I’m looking forward to learning more about my Uncle “The Texan” in the PI!!!
We miss you guys!
We miss you too, Little Baby, lol. I’ll be sharing what ever I can. If I run out of time to tell you everything about the day, I’ll add it on later. I try not to forget anything, but I know I have. I’m going to try to catch up on a slow day around here. Let me rephrase that, on a very slow day. Most days are slow here.