Englishman David has been living with his family in Cebu, a province in the southern part of the Philippines, for more than six years now. In his interview below, he gives a whole lot of tips covering topics like getting a visa, going house-hunting, and getting along with Filipinos. Learn about his plans to get to know the country better and why he doesn't regret his decision to move to the Philippines.

David Whittall

-Where were you born?
Bournemouth, England

-In which country and city are you living now?
Philippines, Talisay City, Cebu

-Are you living alone or with your family?
With my Filipina wife and her daughter

-How long have you been living in the Philippines?
Over 6 years

-What is your age?
52

-When did you come up with the idea of living in the Philippines?
I was working in Hong Kong as Engineering Manager – Asia Pacific. Met this Filipina working there as an OFW – Domestic Helper. The Telecom recession from 2000 onwards, put paid to my job in Hong Kong. I was offered a chance to relocate elsewhere in Asia on a 'retainer' of US$1,000 a month. I decided to live in Cebu, Philippines where my Filipina girlfriend came from. It had an international airport with good connections around Asia, mobile phone service and broadband Internet. The cost of living there was a fraction of that in Hong Kong, or the UK . See my blog for more details.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Initially I just kept extending my Visitor Visa. You had to leave the Philippines once a year, then start over again. Recent news offers 2 years stay before having to leave. When my divorce came through, I married my Filipina girlfriend, was then able to get a 13A Permanent Resident Visa. One needs an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR I-Card) costing US$50 – valid for 5 Years for those with Immigration Certificate of Registration (ICR). Other cost is Php310 per year for annual registration.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I have not bothered with medical insurance as the premiums for such are generally high. With the cost of medical treatment being relatively low in the Philippines, although cost of drugs is not, I decided to save the money that I would have paid for such medical insurance, and just pay for any treatment as and when required. Fortunately I don't suffer from any major medical problems and get sick rarely.

-How do you make your living in the Philippines? Do you have any type of income generated?
Initially I tried a homemade 'British Bangers' sausage business, having made some in the UK as a teenager, working for my Master Butcher Dad. This could have perhaps become a viable income generator, but discovered there are far easier ways to generate guaranteed income to live off. I found simply placing money in a 5-year time deposit at Philippines Rural Bank generates monthly tax-free income of 20% per annum. The Philippine Deposit Insurance Company (PDIC) provides a 'safety net' so there's comparatively low risk investment for medium return. Php3M produces Php50,000 a month income – enough for most couples to live off here in Cebu.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
The other major advantage of the Philippines is that 90%+ of the population can speak English (American). This makes it both easy to live here and get by, but lazy to learn Cebuano/Visayan dialect, spoken where we live, or nationally Tagalog. Pilipino 'culture' is more geared to the 'family,' and one really needs to relate to this, to truly integrate. Pilipinos are generally very friendly, happy go lucky people, often smiling and enjoying life, even if they are poor. They are generally conservative, religious (Catholic mainly), and they don't like to complain or raise their voice in anger – foreigners should behave likewise to not embarrass them and earn respect.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Have just returned from a month-long visit to see family in the UK – glad to be back in Cebu , to be honest. People working in the UK don't have time or the money to enjoy life as I do, being retired at age 50 in Cebu, Philippines. We can go to the cinema and watch latest releases every week, eat and drink out at bars/restaurants frequently, play 10-pin bowling regularly, go swimming, sailing in warm, clear blue waters next to palm-fringed white sand coral beaches. Want to take up scuba diving and golf as additional activities. Not really into tennis, but will enjoy badminton more.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
Explore more of what the Philippine Islands (over 7,000 in total) have to offer, by car, motorbike and on foot. Whitewater rafting and kayak trips, caving and visiting waterfalls, rivers, lakes and some fishing perhaps.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
My wife (girlfriend at that time) used her life savings to pay 1/3 deposit on a 120sq meter lot with 2-bedroom bungalow. I paid the balance, offered interest free over 24 months, which @ Php18,000 was not a lot more than renting, and nothing more to pay after that. We have since built a 3-storey 110 sq m 'extension' over 30 months ago, that cost Php1.27M (under £13K or about US$26K). Prices have increased with the introduction of VAT and an increase in the price of steel and cement – calculate a minimum of Php12-15K per sq meter to build now – more for luxurious spec with marble walls/floors, etc. Advice is to rent initially to decide which part of the Philippines, province/barangay and where exactly you would like to consider living (rents can be from as low as Php5K a month unfurnished, through to more general 12 – 18K, with some paying as much as Php50K or more for luxury 4/5 bedroom accommodation with swimming pool perhaps). Get a feel for prices of house and lots, in a subdivision, or as a lot, and perhaps have a house built to your own design/specification for relatively little cost, like we did.

-What is the cost of living in the Philippines?
Difficult to answer really, as so much depends on one's 'lifestyle.' When you hear 32M Filipinos live on less than Php100 (US$2) per day (World Bank 2005 figures), you really learn what living on the poverty line is. Foreigners would probably not be comfortable on much less than Php40-50,000 a month. Having said that, there are those who can live on half this amount, and those who would easily spend 2 or 3 times that amount. Also depends if you have your own house or renting, operate you own vehicle, or use taxis. Another factor is having a wife and possibly children with potential private schooling costs for high school, college and university education. Then there are inevitably some costs associated with the 'extended family.' Generally it is much cheaper (5-10 times depending on items) to live in the Philippines than say the UK, Europe or the USA. Electricity is more expensive, but gas/diesel @ Php32/l is probably not. Beer @ Php65 per liter in a supermarket/depot and Php25-80 in bars is cheaper, and spirits @ Php50 for a liter of local rum and Php70 for a liter of local gin is very much cheaper than in the UK, where it is heavily taxed.

-What do you think about the Filipinos?
Pilipinos are pleasant, friendly, and happy people and generally eager and willing to please. Many perceive all foreigners to be rich/wealthy and a small minority might try and take advantage of this (the so-called 'long nose' tax). Filipina girls are brown beauties, with long dark hair and brown eyes and a lovely smile - cute, warm, sexy and very loving and caring generally. Treat them with respect and they will respect you.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in the Philippines?
The positive aspects about living in the Philippines has to be i) low cost of living and cheap labor for staff and service jobs, ii) warm and sunny weather most of the year, iii) English language spoken and understood throughout mainly, iv) beauty of the Philippine people and their "be happy, don't worry" way of life and the Philippine countryside/beaches itself, v) relatively low crime, vi) high standards and low cost of medical and dental treatment.

The negatives are perhaps i) poor driving standards, and ii) little, or no, enforcement of 'rules' and regulations, iii) poor 'maintenance' and low 'standards' in many cases, iv) rife poverty and exploited employment with no benefits and low wages, v) graft and corruption still exist, vi) prostitution.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in the Philippines?
Some might see the easy going attitude, lack of rules enforcement, corruption, and prostitution as an advantage, a positive aspect.
Perhaps the Philippines might be an even better place if those who think this would just stay away, perhaps?

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about the Philippines?
·Easy, Affordable, Early Retirement in Paradise - My BLOG.
http://www.hi-interest.blogspot.com

·cebu_britclub - My YAHOO GROUP...for British Passport Holder Members only (sorry!)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cebu_britclub

·Living in Cebu
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/livingincebu

·LivingInCebu.com
http://www.livingincebuforums.com

·Retiring-To-Philippines
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Retiring-To-Philippines