My Move to the Philippines

 So glad to report that this week we have arrived in the Philippines. Not a complete move but working towards someday doing just that. We have spent the first few days just adjusting to the time difference and visiting with friends we haven’t seen since last year.

I have been to Jollibee and Chow King, my fave places to eat, a couple of times already and it seems that there are more Starbucks here than anywhere I’ve ever been. Aside from that I’m finally figuring out the Internet Providers and prices. I’ve already been to Mall of Asia, Manila Bay, and Market Market and will share pics with you guys when I get them uploaded.

A strange occurance is the amount of Americans I’ve seen here this year. Although I’ve only been away for a year the amount of foreigners I have encountered in our little suburb of Manila suprises me. I have seen many younger Americans in the malls and places I’ve been. I guess the secret is out!

Visas for visiting and living in the Philippines are one of the first things I researched. Legal talk and government regulations are generally hard to read so I researched many of the ex-pat sites especially www.liveinthephilippines.com. I have settled on going with the tourist visa which will permit me to stay in the Philippines for two years at a time if renewed. I don’t plan on staying two years without leaving the country until possibly I get too old to travel. I plan on visiting Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand every so often and of course we will visit the states to see our family. But in my later years I will not travel out of the country as often so then it will be a concern.

My second option would be to take advantage of the balikbayan visa which lets former citizens and their spouses stay for one year with a renewal option of one more year. It is not a guarantee that it would be granted to me but from what I read nobody has been turned down.