Arroyo wants to turn Philippines into retirement haven
Posted: 8:24 PM | May 30, 2006

Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net


PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants the Philippines to be a retirement haven for expatriate retirees, a billion-dollar industry.

At a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, she approved proposals to make the retirement industry one of her administration's flagship projects and appointed retired police chief Edgardo Aglipay as the "retirement czar."

She has also instructed the Department of Budget and Management to allot funds for the Philippine Retirement Authority to develop the industry.

In a presentation in Malacanang, David Paraiso of the Healthcare Coalition Institute said the country has the capacity to support between one million to three million expatriate retirees.

A retiree bringing in at least 1,500 dollars a month means 18 to 56 billion dollars in potential revenue per year.

The global population will see an increasing aging population mostly in developed countries, HCI said.

Aglipay said that currently, foreigners go to Malaysia and Thailand to retire.

He said the Philippines should create a world-class retirement industry with the support of the private sector and the government.

just to post something related.


Retirement villages to earn $40B, generate 4M jobs

By Tessa Salazar
Last updated 10:06am (Mla time) 05/30/2006

A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN selected countries’ demographics in the near future could bring in at least 859,000 foreign retiree arrivals to the Philippines. That number represents less than one percent of the 869.1 million projected retirees the developed world will produce between 2006 and 2015.

Foreseeing nearly a billion retirees looking for a place to spend the rest of their lives, the local retirement industry, especially property developers, are being urged to prepare for at least nearly a million retirees from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, the United States, Canada and other European countries and even former Filipinos or “balikbayans” with dual citizenships looking forward to spend the twilight of their lives back to their homeland.

Housing demand

The main participant, which is the real estate industry, is projected to have 859,000 housing demand either lease or purchase for the next 10 years.

The retirement industry is projected to hit the target foreign exchange receipts at a cumulative $40 billion, with 4 million jobs generated by 2015, making the Philippines a major retirement haven in Southeast Asia for foreigners.

“We don’t have a retirement industry right now. SHDA (Subdivision and Housing Developers Association) is spearheading the creation of the industry. If we’ll not work as a team, we cannot compete with Thailand and Malaysia—two of the main destinations of retirees,” said Noel Gonzales, summit chair and director of the Philippine Retirement Industry. PRI is a private sector organization composed of real estate, health care and lifestyle group.

Industry blueprint

He added that the summit for the retirement industry culminating on July 3 in Shangri-La Makati will create a blueprint for the retirement industry.

Government agency Philippine Retirement Authority and private entity PRI revealed that the other infrastructure necessary for the influx of the retiree market are health and insurance facilities (24-hour clinics, hospitals, airlift ambulance services); 24-hour security arrangements; and recreational, cultural and educational and travel/transportation services.

All these infrastructure and services, the two agencies said, could be integrated into a so-called “retirement village” so that members would have easier access to such services and facilities.

Gen. Edgardo Aglipay, chair of the PRA and Gonzales are scheduled to present plans for the retirement industry to President Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday.

Big 5 developers

Ernesto Ordoñez, incoming president of the PRI, revealed that initially his group has already united the “Big 5” property developers—Gotianun, Gokongwei, Sy, Ayala and Tan—to be part of the group.

Aglipay stressed that the first wave of retirees coming to the Philippines is crucial for the country’s subsequent success in the retirement industry. Thus, he said, it would be necessary to get the support of big names that have the reputation, experience and capability to produce what are needed for the retirement communities.

“They have the condominiums, hospitals, banks, almost everything that a retirement industry needs. It’s just integrating what they have to be able to provide the total retirement services,” he said.

Retirement ‘hotspots’

Prospective retirement “hotspots” have been identified in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These include Metro Clark, Metro Subic, Baguio, Tagaytay, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Cebu, Bohol, Bacolod, Palawan, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

Gonzales revealed that the reasons for the demographic shift favoring the Philippines include pension payment increases in developed countries amounting $1,000 to $1,500 per individual would be insufficient to live on in such countries; family support systems for older people are eroding because of smaller families and a highly mobile population; and the inevitability of mass migration.

Another objective that the groups hope to achieve is the reverse migration of Filipino caregivers.

By 2025, the number of people aged 60 and over will be highest in Japan, Italy and Germany.

120-ha. retirement village

Meanwhile, a retirement village in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, is on the drawing boards as revealed recently by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson to the Inquirer.

Over 120 hectares of rolling hills in Bantay, a town near Vigan, have already been surveyed.

“It will be retirement homes for different nationalities like Koreans, Germans and Taiwanese. And then right at the center of the community would be mall facilities—movie houses and supermarkets,” Singson said.

^^ maganda sana yan. kaya lang sana unahin nila yung infrastructure naten. db theres an imminent power crisis here in luzon in the near future? pano kaya nila yan ma-promote aggressively kung wala naman silang ginagawa sa ibang basic services. publicity..publicity. sana lang...........

double post sowi ... :D

security security security ...
cellfon snatchers, kidnappers, holdupers, hijackers, kotong cops etc ...

our governement should adress this issues first before dreaming of billion of dollars in revenue... :bash:

nakakahiya sa ibang bansa pag may nangyaring masama sa mga retirees na yan ...

" Retire at your own risk! " heheheehe

PS. oo nga pla GMA government has a solution for that suggested by no less than DOJ secretary himself ... i love the wisdom of this old crap ...

...Arm the retirees like the media ... :weird:

WWE wild wild east ....

I smell rotten apples here.


THis is good news. Although they should have done it years ago like Malaysia and Thailand. Better late than never I supposed. Just the vast balikbayans alone looking for retirement places is enough for this project to take off.
There are many places in the country side that could be developed as retirement havens. Most retirees like the countryside better than cities anyways.

I smell rotten apples here.


THis is good news. Although they should have done it years ago like Malaysia and Thailand. Better late than never I supposed. Just the vast balikbayans alone looking for retirement places is enough for this project to take off.
There are many places in the country side that could be developed as retirement havens. Most retirees like the countryside better than cities anyways.

why you do not see those i cited as a security threat? open your eyes my dear... youre love for GMA have blinded you from the clear and present danger ...

I do agree on some plans of GMA govt. like infrastructure, outsourcing scholarships roro projects ... but this retirement thing, they heve to address security problems first... tayo lahat kahiya hiya kapag may nangyari sa foreigners ...

Magfocus na muna sila sa tourism bago dito...

Security is the main issue. There are lots of Fil-Am and foreigners who retired in The Philippines and had established some local businesses with the help of their local spouse. The same goes with foreign investors, they have second thoughts if they think that the administration is on a brink of collapse.

Second, restrictions to foreigners to own properties are considered by some as deterrent of their stay. Too much red tape still exists.

Retirees are coming and going nowadays, but I know I lot of former US servicemen retired in Angeles City and Subic in the 90's and most stayed.

There are lots of gated subdivisions being created outside major cities in metro Manila that will cater to retirees. My brother retired in The Philippines and I might do the same if everything will turn out fine. My second choice would be Mexico.

Bottom line, the retiree’s pension goes a long way on both countries.

I'm sure the govt. has those issues in mind and will find a way to resolve them. ANd i don't know about other pinoy balikbayans but if it were me given a choice between two tropical countries I would pick a country where I speak the language fluently and more familiar with local customs. Some of these countries hardly speak ENglish it's so hard to communicate unless of course the retirees try to learn the local language.

^^that's the advantage of the Philippines over other nations, I mean Thailand maybe good...but there's the language barrier..Malaysia may also be good..but its relatively expensive, Singapore..well..maybe for the richer retirees...

Its good I reckon, that the government has recognized this as a potential source of income....its relatively in its infant stage right?, with the aging population of the developed world...

LOL So while..healthcare professionals are leaving the country...retirees are/will be entering...hmmmmmm hopefully when there's a huge influx of retirees..the health care system would've greatly improved as well.

yeah i agree. It helps that our language of commerce is ENglish. I mean visiting a place if you don't speak the local language, is one thing but if you're going to live long term you'll need to make daily living transactions. If the govt. can fix the peace and order situation , NPAs, traffic, it would attract more filams.

^^gd am marites. aga mo a :)

all i can say is the concept is completely baloney unless you have a land or house in the province, way far from manila. masyadong polluted yung hangin at hindi makakasurvive ang mga matatanda

I'm sure there are foreigners who would want to retire in the Philippines. Why not? The amount of my dollar triples when I am in the Philippines. My only concern is, normally, north Americans usually stay close to their immediate families, particularly the Americans inland. Philippines is just a thousand and thousands of miles from the mainland US, I would love to spend a longer time in the Philippines if ever I will retire but I still would want to be closer to where my roots are and my children/grandchildren. So, I guess it would be the filipino-American retirees are the ones who would give a little bit more thoughts about these.

Another thing that is needed to be considered is the medical health system , although, we already knew that the filipino physicians are very competitive, I would still be leary about seeking medical attention in another country other than the US because of a better technology. Secondly, the medical health benefits will not be covered by the insurance companies, much less if you are under medicare upon retirement.

Maybe other nationalities would consider retiring in the Philippines, like the Japanese and the Koreans because of it's proximity to their own respective countries but as far as I am concern, I think it would be mostly the filipinos living in America would more than likely to benefit on these project.

And yes, I would also agree on the safe/security issues plus the political stability.

Actually old news. The PRA was up during Cory's time and every administration has pushed it for obvious reasons. Problems are pretty much similar to tourism which is primarily lack of knowledge about the country or worse negative image. One thing though is that it's our balikbayans who are also retirees who have been driving a big chunk of the market in condos, etc. In a sense this really is a retirement market.

^^ lots of foreigners would want to retire here... in fact there are several here now.... it's a good choice... they can live like a king in the phils,... even if they were wage slaves in the states...

im going back to the philippines in 2011. i already have a 2 storie rental building in zamboanga. now im saving to build a 4 unit appartment in zamboanga also. i hope to generate a revolving income of at least 30,000 pesos a month once im back in zamboanga with the 2 storie building and appartment. i hope i can do it because im tired of working here in the states. it would be great to go back home to zamboanga.

My 50+ year old tita plans to retire here also after decades worth of work in the United States, eh siyempre naman Filipino!

Philippine Effort to Lure Expatriate Real-Estate Investment From U.S.
By KEMBA DUNHAM
June 5, 2006

NEW YORK -- On a sweltering afternoon last week, dozens of potential home buyers milled about at a reception on New York's Fifth Avenue, checking out swanky properties. But the buyers weren't shopping for New York penthouses. They were eyeing luxury oceanfront condominiums and Mediterranean-style villas thousands of miles away in Philippine resort communities.

The event at the Philippine Consulate here was one stop on a five-city roadshow sponsored by the Philippine government to help its country's home builders market houses and condos directly to Filipino-Americans.

The Philippine economy has been relatively weak. But Manila is hoping that Filipinos living in the U.S. will bring American-style enthusiasm for homeownership to the Pacific Ocean archipelago, lifting the economy in the process. According to U.S. Census data, the median household income for people of Filipino descent was $63,930 in 2004, far above the $44,684 median household income for all Americans.

"The hottest market for Philippine residential real estate is the Filipino-American community, since they have the income and the motivation to acquire condos or houses back home," says Albert del Rosario, the Philippine ambassador to the U.S. "We hope these roadshows will serve to boost foreign investment, sell domestic property abroad and demonstrate confidence in our economy," he adds.

It is the latest twist in efforts by developing countries to boost remittances by expatriates, many of whom are graying in America and thinking about how they want to live out their golden years. Growing remittances to their homelands by immigrant workers in the U.S. and other Western countries have become a vital economic development tool for poor countries.

Last year, about $170 billion of remittances world-wide were sent to developing countries by overseas workers, about twice the level of foreign aid that went to those countries, according to the World Bank. If estimates for remittances that aren't sent through formal channels are included, the total could be more than $250 billion.

Mr. del Rosario says remittances from Filipino expatriates in the U.S. rose 31% last year, mainly because of a marketing push by the Philippine government to encourage the practice. Most of that money went to the expats' relatives. But the current challenge, he says, is to channel remittances into industries that spread the money around and benefit the whole economy. Housing, he says, is one such sector.

Some economists agree. "The impact of house construction definitely has a major multiplier effect on the economy of a developing country," says Raul Hinojosa, an economist who teaches international development at the University of California at Los Angeles. "It creates local demand for labor and for house-related goods like building materials. It also creates an asset market, allowing owners to sell or rent out their properties."

The Philippines isn't the only country trying to use real estate to get investment dollars from expats. Mexico, Jamaica and some other Latin and Caribbean nations have been marketing to expats for years. But the Philippines is specifically targeting potential retirees with large-scale development projects and new communities that include recreational outlets, shopping and entertainment designed to appeal to people used to similar amenities in the U.S.

One such developer is Landco Pacific Corp., of Manila, best known for its high-end beachfront condos and land sales in the mountains. The company estimates that during the winter months as many as 80% of its buyers in some projects are Filipino-Americans. Most of these buyers are tapping the equity in their U.S. homes.

At the Philippine consulate, Landco was showing luxury properties, including some with extra-high ceilings, outdoor Jacuzzis, Asian fusion architecture and picturesque views of the South China Sea. The price: $175,000 to $215,000 -- a bargain by U.S. standards. The company also is developing a self-contained agricultural resort community called Leisure Farms in rural Batangas, designed to appeal to hobby farmers.

Selenna Franco, a 44-year-old accountant in San Francisco who has an eye on early retirement, looked at Landco's beachfront offerings at the San Francisco Consulate's roadshow a few weeks ago. She left her home in the Philippines 18 years ago and soon hopes to spend around $200,000 on a home there, most likely in the booming resort town of Tagaytay.

Ponderosa Leisure Farms project, a residential development in the Philippines.
Ms. Franco says building her dream house in her native country will be a sign that she has "made it here in America." She plans to help organize a home-buying event later this month to encourage other Filipino-American accountants to buy. "When we buy properties there, we're helping our homeland," says Ms. Franco.

The Philippine government isn't just targeting wealthy expats. Several developers in the roadshow offered the chance to buy homes with small down payments and monthly payments as low as $200. Representatives of U.S.-based remittance centers, which allow expats to make easy mortgage payments to the Philippines, also were in attendance.

At the California roadshow, Moldex Realty Inc., a Philippine developer known for its low-priced and middle-market units, was offering "house and lot" packages priced between $17,000 and $28,400, mostly located on the outskirts of metropolitan Manila.

If the Philippine experiment succeeds, more countries are likely to follow. "I think more and more governments in developing countries are going to start paying attention to this," says Dilip Ratha, a senior economist at the World Bank.

My Belgian colleague is planning to retire here in the Philippines. And that's whether we have the infrastructure/facilities or not. I asked her why and she told it's the people.

one big concern is healthcare..
senior citizens have free healthcare in their own country,including medicines.
am sure they'll have enough to pay for private care in pinas,
but outside manila,good facilities are not just there.
let alone med staff to look after them.
maybe some fil dr retirees,nurses,med techs,physios & other in med field will build own hospitals..would be fun to be still doing something for the community..
keep the oldies young lol..

one big concern is healthcare..
senior citizens have free healthcare in their own country,including medicines.
am sure they'll have enough to pay for private care in pinas,
but outside manila,good facilities are not just there.
let alone med staff to look after them.
maybe some fil dr retirees,nurses,med techs,physios & other in med field will build own hospitals..would be fun to be still doing something for the community..
keep the oldies young lol..

I think the retirees from US (I do not know about other countries) will still get the benefit of their healthcare. It is part of the petition initiated by the Coalition of Filipino Doctors and medical practitioners in the US for the Philippine government to negotiate retirement and healthcare trade.

I think they are already gearing up with the idea for years now... so healthcare is a on their priority list...

What I am more worried about is the govt. crime prevention program...
I am hoping for their success...

Pagnagkataon napaka swerte naman ng mga pinoy na galing US ... hehehe siguradong makapagreretire sila sa pinas ng walang problema... :D
sino sino ba nasa US dito? :D
----------------------------------------------

http://www.aboutappa.org/HCI.htm

Health Care Coalition Institute
May 5, 2005

Dear Colleagues

I am excited to inform you that our hard work in the Healthcare Coalition Institute (HCI) for the past 4 years have gained the attention of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs through its Filipino American Economic Development Council (FAEDC) initiative. FAEDC is a multi-sectoral work groups that has been meeting regularly since Nov. 2004, in response to the appeal by Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alberto Romulo and Ambassador Cesar Bautista, to Filipinos in America to assist actively in the economic Development of the country.

One of the workgroups, - the FAEDC Healthcare and Wellness Group (FAEDC-HWG) - has tasked the Healthcare Coalition Institute (HCI), of which I am the Medical Director, to articulate and present an action plan to respond to this �Call to Arms�. The result is the attached Petition for �International Retirement and Healthcare Zones� (IRHZ), which I urge you to seriously consider and sign to assure the Philippine Government that the Philippine Physicians in America is now being presented as a National Block. of Influence.

As part of this initiative, on July 11 through July 15, 2005 and arranged through the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, the FAEDC-HWG/HCI core participants will present to the E.O. 372: A Public-Private Sector Task Force for the Development of Globally Competitive Philippine Service Industries and various Philippine government agencies an action plan to develop and administer �International Retirement and Healthcare Zones�. The objectives of the action plan are:

Equip the Philippines with an initial, globally competitive and sustainable model for an "International Retirement and Healthcare Program" in specifically designated and carved-out zones. This includes but not limited to equipping the President (or her trade representative) with a concrete model to negotiate retirement and healthcare trade projects with the U.S. and OECD countries.
Equip the Philippines with an initial set of figures that could be utilized for any combination of the following: estimate the size of the target market and provisioning of retirement, healthcare and ancillary services; justify the level of priority and resources assigned to develop and administer this program; apply for loans to international financing institutions; etc.

What are inside the International Retirement and Healthcare Zones?

1) Business incentives, including tax holidays and loans. Foreign entities could own 100% of facilities. Alternatively, foreign entities could participate in build, lease and turn-over programs. This will be in exchange for hiring local practitioners meeting IRHZ and employer accreditation standards.

2) Operate based on U.S. based performance standards and business practices or better.

3) Collaborative ventures with academia, industry, etc. � domestic and international.

4) Facilities: retirement, healthcare, health tourism, research, academia, financial, IT, retail, transportation, retail, manufacturing and others.

5) Rehabilitation and retiree facilities and programs: courses, hiking, internet access, teach, etc.).

6) Others

Portions of the plan were presented at the Joint Meeting of the House of Delegates and Executive Council and Auxiliary at their Spring Meeting in Louisville, KY on April 30, 2005.

Your participation in this Petition Campaign is crucial to this endeavor. Please review, sign and mail the petition to the Mrs. Yolanda S. Sison, MS, Vice Chair of the FAEDC-HWG, Los Angeles. It is imperative that you provide as much information as possible in the petition because we expect a certain level dynamic interaction with the signatories as we go through various phases of the project. Please note that the Petition is also being circulated among nurses, dentists, medical technologists and other healthcare practitioners.

Sincerely,


Manuel A. Sison, MD
Medical Director, HealthCare Coalition Institute
Chairperson and President, appaEducation Research Foundation

--------------------------------------
The Petition Letter

PETITION TO THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

I, the undersigned, support Healthcare Coalition Institute’s initiative to develop and administer International Retirement and Healthcare Zones (IRHZ) at specifically designated and carved out zones in the Philippines. These IRHZs will include, but not limited to the following:

1) Business incentives, including tax holidays, loans and 100% foreign ownership. Foreign entities could also participate in build, lease and turn-over programs. This will be in exchange for hiring local practitioners and service providers meeting IRHZ and employer accreditation standards.
2) Operate based on U.S. performance standards and business practices or better.
3) Collaborative ventures with academia, industry, etc. – domestic and international.
4) Facilities: retirement, healthcare, health tourism, research, academia, financial, IT, retail, transportation, retail, manufacturing and others.
5) Rehabilitation, retiree and ancillary programs: courses, hiking, support programs, internet access, etc.
6) Others.

Sincerely,

Signature:
Date:
Name:
Profession(s):

Mailing Address:

Phone Number:
FAX Number:
Email Address:
Organizational Affiliation(s):

Enumerate States where you practice:
Medical Specialty: _______________________
License Number (Optional): ________________________________________________
Referrals (Optional):


Please send completed petition to:

Yolanda Sison
P.O. Box 452164
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: (310) 889-7131; Email: ustmafyss@aol.com
FAX: (310) 889-7131, or (626) 917-4825
http://www.aboutappa.org

The Philippines as a retirement haven


THE Philippines, through the initiative of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has taken a bold step that promises to make the country a haven for retirees. The President has declared the retirement industry a flagship project and appointed former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, retired Director General Edgardo B. Aglipay, as the head of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).


Industry sources say that a fully developed Philippine retirement industry could create four million jobs and generate income of billion for the country by 2015. The newly appointed PRA head has noted that the retirement industry has been growing by leaps and bounds in the past few years due to changes in global demographics, specifically aging populations in post-industrialized countries. The PRA estimates that the Philippines can support one million to three million retirees.

There is a need to develop a retirement package that would include health care and retirement villages. The PRA is optimistic that with the support of the private sector, particularly real estate developers, hospitals, and leisure area owners, plans to set up retirement villages in Baguio City, Tagaytay City, Subic, Clark, Cebu, Iloilo, Boracay, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro will push through and start to draw the projected retirees into the country.

We congratulate the Philippine Retirement Authority headed by former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, retired Director General Edgardo B. Aglipay and Personnel, and wish them success in all their endeavors.


Source : http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/06/09/OPED2006060966331.html

I will definitely retire in the Philippines. I will build an empire that will create jobs and uplift the lives of our kababayan. All the knowledge that I'd gain here will be siphoned back to the Philippines.

2015 PROJECTION
Retirement villages to earn $40B, generate 4M jobs

First posted 00:40am (Mla time) May 27, 2006
By Tessa Salazar
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on page B2-1 of the May 27, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

A DRAMATIC shift in selected countries’ demographics in the near future could bring in at least 859,000 foreign retiree arrivals to the Philippines. That number represents less than one percent of the 869.1 million projected retirees the developed world will produce between 2006 and 2015.

Foreseeing nearly a billion retirees looking for a place to spend the rest of their lives, the local retirement industry, especially property developers, are being urged to prepare for at least nearly a million retirees from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, the United States, Canada and other European countries and even former Filipinos or “balikbayans” with dual citizenships looking forward to spend the twilight of their lives back to their homeland.

Housing demand

The main participant, which is the real estate industry, is projected to have 859,000 housing demand either lease or purchase for the next 10 years.

The retirement industry is projected to hit the target foreign exchange receipts at a cumulative $40 billion, with 4 million jobs generated by 2015, making the Philippines a major retirement haven in Southeast Asia for foreigners.

“We don’t have a retirement industry right now. SHDA (Subdivision and Housing Developers Association) is spearheading the creation of the industry. If we’ll not work as a team, we cannot compete with Thailand and Malaysia -- two of the main destinations of retirees,” said Noel Gonzales, summit chair and director of the Philippine Retirement Industry. PRI is a private sector organization composed of real estate, health care and lifestyle group.

Industry blueprint

He added that the summit for the retirement industry culminating on July 3 in Shangri-La Makati will create a blueprint for the retirement industry.

Government agency Philippine Retirement Authority and private entity PRI revealed that the other infrastructure necessary for the influx of the retiree market are health and insurance facilities (24-hour clinics, hospitals, airlift ambulance services); 24-hour security arrangements; and recreational, cultural and educational and travel/transportation services.

All these infrastructure and services, the two agencies said, could be integrated into a so-called “retirement village” so that members would have easier access to such services and facilities.

Gen. Edgardo Aglipay, chair of the PRA and Gonzales are scheduled to present plans for the retirement industry to President Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday.

Big 5 developers

Ernesto Ordoñez, incoming president of the PRI, revealed that initially his group has already united the “Big 5” property developers -- Gotianun, Gokongwei, Sy, Ayala and Tan -- to be part of the group.

Aglipay stressed that the first wave of retirees coming to the Philippines is crucial for the country’s subsequent success in the retirement industry. Thus, he said, it would be necessary to get the support of big names that have the reputation, experience and capability to produce what are needed for the retirement communities.

“They have the condominiums, hospitals, banks, almost everything that a retirement industry needs. It’s just integrating what they have to be able to provide the total retirement services,” he said.

Retirement ‘hotspots’

Prospective retirement “hotspots” have been identified in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These include Metro Clark, Metro Subic, Baguio, Tagaytay, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Cebu, Bohol, Bacolod, Palawan, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

Gonzales revealed that the reasons for the demographic shift favoring the Philippines include pension payment increases in developed countries amounting $1,000 to $1,500 per individual would be insufficient to live on in such countries; family support systems for older people are eroding because of smaller families and a highly mobile population; and the inevitability of mass migration.

Another objective that the groups hope to achieve is the reverse migration of Filipino caregivers.

By 2025, the number of people aged 60 and over will be highest in Japan, Italy and Germany.

120-ha. retirement village

Meanwhile, a retirement village in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, is in the drawing boards as revealed recently by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson to the Inquirer.

Over 120 hectares of rolling hills in Bantay, a town near Vigan, have already been surveyed.

“It will be retirement homes for different nationalities like Koreans, Germans and Taiwanese. And then right at the center of the community would be mall facilities -- movie houses and supermarkets,” Singson said.

Hope this happens. It will really be great if FilAms and those US citizens planning to retire in the Philippines can eventually use their US MediCare privileges in the Philippines. :)

I think the retirees from US (I do not know about other countries) will still get the benefit of their healthcare. It is part of the petition initiated by the Coalition of Filipino Doctors and medical practitioners in the US for the Philippine government to negotiate retirement and healthcare trade.

Pagnagkataon napaka swerte naman ng mga pinoy na galing US ... hehehe siguradong makapagreretire sila sa pinas ng walang problema... :D
sino sino ba nasa US dito? :D
----------------------------------------------

http://www.aboutappa.org/HCI.htm

Health Care Coalition Institute
May 5, 2005

Dear Colleagues

I am excited to inform you that our hard work in the Healthcare Coalition Institute (HCI) for the past 4 years have gained the attention of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs through its Filipino American Economic Development Council (FAEDC) initiative. FAEDC is a multi-sectoral work groups that has been meeting regularly since Nov. 2004, in response to the appeal by Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alberto Romulo and Ambassador Cesar Bautista, to Filipinos in America to assist actively in the economic Development of the country.

One of the workgroups, - the FAEDC Healthcare and Wellness Group (FAEDC-HWG) - has tasked the Healthcare Coalition Institute (HCI), of which I am the Medical Director, to articulate and present an action plan to respond to this �Call to Arms�. The result is the attached Petition for �International Retirement and Healthcare Zones� (IRHZ), which I urge you to seriously consider and sign to assure the Philippine Government that the Philippine Physicians in America is now being presented as a National Block. of Influence.

As part of this initiative, on July 11 through July 15, 2005 and arranged through the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, the FAEDC-HWG/HCI core participants will present to the E.O. 372: A Public-Private Sector Task Force for the Development of Globally Competitive Philippine Service Industries and various Philippine government agencies an action plan to develop and administer �International Retirement and Healthcare Zones�. The objectives of the action plan are:

Equip the Philippines with an initial, globally competitive and sustainable model for an "International Retirement and Healthcare Program" in specifically designated and carved-out zones. This includes but not limited to equipping the President (or her trade representative) with a concrete model to negotiate retirement and healthcare trade projects with the U.S. and OECD countries.
Equip the Philippines with an initial set of figures that could be utilized for any combination of the following: estimate the size of the target market and provisioning of retirement, healthcare and ancillary services; justify the level of priority and resources assigned to develop and administer this program; apply for loans to international financing institutions; etc.

What are inside the International Retirement and Healthcare Zones?

1) Business incentives, including tax holidays and loans. Foreign entities could own 100% of facilities. Alternatively, foreign entities could participate in build, lease and turn-over programs. This will be in exchange for hiring local practitioners meeting IRHZ and employer accreditation standards.

2) Operate based on U.S. based performance standards and business practices or better.

3) Collaborative ventures with academia, industry, etc. � domestic and international.

4) Facilities: retirement, healthcare, health tourism, research, academia, financial, IT, retail, transportation, retail, manufacturing and others.

5) Rehabilitation and retiree facilities and programs: courses, hiking, internet access, teach, etc.).

6) Others

Portions of the plan were presented at the Joint Meeting of the House of Delegates and Executive Council and Auxiliary at their Spring Meeting in Louisville, KY on April 30, 2005.

Your participation in this Petition Campaign is crucial to this endeavor. Please review, sign and mail the petition to the Mrs. Yolanda S. Sison, MS, Vice Chair of the FAEDC-HWG, Los Angeles. It is imperative that you provide as much information as possible in the petition because we expect a certain level dynamic interaction with the signatories as we go through various phases of the project. Please note that the Petition is also being circulated among nurses, dentists, medical technologists and other healthcare practitioners.

Sincerely,


Manuel A. Sison, MD
Medical Director, HealthCare Coalition Institute
Chairperson and President, appaEducation Research Foundation

--------------------------------------
The Petition Letter

PETITION TO THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

I, the undersigned, support Healthcare Coalition Institute’s initiative to develop and administer International Retirement and Healthcare Zones (IRHZ) at specifically designated and carved out zones in the Philippines. These IRHZs will include, but not limited to the following:

1) Business incentives, including tax holidays, loans and 100% foreign ownership. Foreign entities could also participate in build, lease and turn-over programs. This will be in exchange for hiring local practitioners and service providers meeting IRHZ and employer accreditation standards.
2) Operate based on U.S. performance standards and business practices or better.
3) Collaborative ventures with academia, industry, etc. – domestic and international.
4) Facilities: retirement, healthcare, health tourism, research, academia, financial, IT, retail, transportation, retail, manufacturing and others.
5) Rehabilitation, retiree and ancillary programs: courses, hiking, support programs, internet access, etc.
6) Others.

Sincerely,

Signature:
Date:
Name:
Profession(s):

Mailing Address:

Phone Number:
FAX Number:
Email Address:
Organizational Affiliation(s):

Enumerate States where you practice:
Medical Specialty: _______________________
License Number (Optional): ________________________________________________
Referrals (Optional):


Please send completed petition to:

Yolanda Sison
P.O. Box 452164
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: (310) 889-7131; Email: ustmafyss@aol.com
FAX: (310) 889-7131, or (626) 917-4825
http://www.aboutappa.org

^^oops napost na pala ito. sorry po

Sugarboy,
Sorry OT but do you still want/need Rachelle's info? Let me know since I have her current contact info already. I tried sending it to you via PM but could not because your mailbox is full na daw. I'd be happy to PM it to you again when you have cleared space in your mailbox.
Cheers,
3cr/Boe :)

Hi 3cr. I didn't know that my mailbox was full. Anyway, please resend Rachelle's contact info. Salamat! :)

No problem Sugarboy consider it done. I'll PM you the info today. Hope it helps. :)

I found this article on the web(link to page included) when i was researching expat life in the Philippines and I thought it is interesting and relevant to share in this thread...Expats living in the Philippines have a lot of positive things to say about our country and our people...perhaps we should take some time out and consider what it is that they see that some Filipinos can't seem to appreciate....Please note the title "Insight", and read it as so...

"Insight


Filipinos and Foreigners
Filipinos on the whole are very friendly and open toward foreigners. Actually, there is no country in Southeast Asia where foreigners are so well accepted as in the Philippines. In everyday life, the Filipinos tend to rate foreigners over themselves. Therefore it is very easy for foreigners to receive special treatment which is not the case in the neighboring countries of Japan, China or Thailand.

The Filipinos call their attitude "hospitality". Surely, the people of Thailand, Japan or China are also hospitable. Yet, there is a difference, since the hospitality of the Thais, the Japanese, or the Chinese is more formal.They treat a foreigner with extra politeness, but remain distant. A foreigner is always a foreigner.



Philippine hospitality is uncomplicated. At times, Filipino hospitality may lack the refinements of a long cultural tradition. But definitely, hospitality is a primary and mandatory custom. Their smile is not politely distant, but spontaneous and from the heart.

This attitude makes the Philippines the most preferred destination for foreigners who love the East. Especially for those who want to settle in Asia, the Philippines is often the first choice, not for its business possibilities, but because of what it adds to the quality of life.

But there are two sides to every coin. The other side of the Filipino's openness toward foreigners is a certain lack of indigenous cultural identity. Although the Philippines is located in Southeast Asia, the Filipinos feel much less Asian than the Thais or the Indonesians. The Philippines was long governed from America, as a Spanish colony not from Spain directly but via Mexico, and later by the United States. Indeed, many sociological features of the Philippines resemble a South American rather than a Southeast Asian country.

Filipinos give preference to the West in taking guidelines for their identity. Through some 400 years of colonialism the Filipino Asian identity has been partially destroyed. As a result some claim the people have no other model for their own development now than that of the society, culture and fads of their former colonial masters.

In their attitude to the West, there are two distinct groups in Filipinos: those who admit that they are copying Western identity, and those who rebel against it. Those who openly admit that they want to adapt Western lifestyle have suffered long as being second class in Western society. This suffering has a long tradition. To a certain extent, even the national hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal was an example. For a long time, he fought less for the independence of the Philippines than to make it a full-fledged Spanish province. Even now it is the desire of many Filipinos to be integrated in the Western world, and even to have the Philippines become the 51st state of the U.S.

The second group, those who rebel against copying Western identity, find themselves in a difficult, ambivalent situation. If the person belongs to the educated, intellectual strata of the Philippine society, then he definitely owes his intellectual background to Western education. He was educated in English and uses English to express himself. The chance is high that he even studied at a university in the U.S.



As a student there, he got his intellectual orientation according to American standards, which he cannot deny anymore. So, even when rebelling against Western standards and identity, he still does it along the same Western pattern which he rejects. As a blatant example one may find polemic articles on the relative unimportance that is given to the national Philippine language and yet, those articles are written in English.

Naturalness and Naivety
The fact that the Philippines did not have a chance to develop their nation for centuries has two consequences: a lack of independent identity, described in the previous paragraphs, and a remaining naturalness.

The colonial Spaniards had no interest in developing the Philippines into a complex society such as those existing in Japan, China, or even Thailand. Instead, they wanted to keep the Philippines a primitive country, in order to have easier control and to exploit its natural resources and cheap manpower.

Even now, many Filipinos show a colonial attitude. For example, there is often a rather fatalistic undisciplined attitude toward work. This is not surprising since Filipinos were suppressed for centuries in their productivity as they had no decision over their means of production. They also had plenty of time during those centuries, to learn that they are the producers, who could not benefit from their products.

Some have claimed, that the lack of national identity has its positive side, too. These people say that the Filipinos did not develop the same self-repressive attitude as did for example the Chinese and the Japanese. In these two highly developed civilizations, the people were taught much more discipline in their job and social attitude (punctuality, sense of responsibility, suppression of emotions, respect for social values etc).

Whereas this kind of social conditioning results in efficiency, it should not be overlooked that it was invented by the powers founding and extending the state, less to serve the individual than to suit the state. Social conditioning does not guarantee more joy for the individual, but to the contrary often increases the pressure.

It is a strange ambivalence that colonial oppression can be less harmful to the oppressed than oppression that is generated by a complex statehood evolving from a native society e.g. in China.


The Filipinos see themselves as a fun loving people, and they have reason to do so. They have not been soured by "discipline programs". They have been only so slightly affected by self-repressive mechanisms that to Westerners, they often not only seem fun loving but even child-like.

In order to become familiar with this beautiful country and its people, these characteristics should be kept in mind. The fun loving naturalness and some child-like naivety in many of the simple folk contribute a lot to the undoubted charm of the Philippines.



This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/english/philippines/philippines_insight.htm"

^^Nagpromote na nga di pa marunong mangombinse.

That article can be positive and negative. Sad in the sense that it points out the lack of filipino self-identity and colonial mentality. It is good somehow time because of an advantage a foreigner would get out of a filipino culture because it always favors them so this can be good and bad either .

I don't know, I don't have a strong feeling about this type of promotion using this author's insight alone. I feel he was saying that a foreigner will feel at home in the Philippines because of warmthness of the people but at the same time the people are gullible that he can take advantage of the people and the situation.

Maybe I'm reading through lines there too much. This is just my opinion, I'll see what others have to say about these...

totoo naman lahat ca article na yan, actually its just a fraction of the whole story about the philippines.

its up to them how they would accept it. reality bites ika nga. but then hey, which country has no downside? we are filipinos, that makes us filipinos. different yet similar.

It's a double edged sword. Happy go lucky pero parateng happy go lucky kaya butal ang bulsa at gutom ang bansa.

Retiring in the Philippines is all promising a life of comfort,quality, and where your mighty dollars will go a long long way ,etc,etc.. Okay, that's a very practical and excellent options for some US-pinoys retiring there. But, here are some of my questions though since i've been away for a long time now and not so sure how exactly i would fit there. I don't know exactly our legal system there whether it's being implemented properly or adhered to in its true sense. I appreciated here in the States because you can very easily achieved have a real quite life without anyone bothering you, as long you do things the right way, like you work and pay your taxes and being a good law abiding citizen. Now in the Philippines, we're not ignorant of corruptions with the goverment officials and mobs running monkey business like extortions, kidnapping,etc,etc. What are the chances of running into or having trouble with this type of hooligans there. I wanted to stay away from trouble,but if i see some thing stinkingly corrupt and wrong should i just look the other way and walk on? And if you get involved, what are the chances of being snafu. Please forgive my ignorance but i needed to know because i wanted to live my life where justice and civility are still being upheld.

Better stay where you are. Don't risk your life here.

That bad ha...that's sad because some retiring pinoys i spoke to would like to volunteer their time to do and help in someway their needy kababayan there. Basic needs like medical, education,clean water, sustenance,etc,etc. I know the goverment may welcome all this, but what concerns me deep down is if you dig around what the root of the problems are you might open a whole can of worms at magkakalabasan ng baho na.

I think the retirees from US (I do not know about other countries) will still get the benefit of their healthcare. It is part of the petition initiated by the Coalition of Filipino Doctors and medical practitioners in the US for the Philippine government to negotiate retirement and healthcare trade.

I think they are already gearing up with the idea for years now... so healthcare is a on their priority list...

What I am more worried about is the govt. crime prevention program...
I am hoping for their success...

Pagnagkataon napaka swerte naman ng mga pinoy na galing US ... hehehe siguradong makapagreretire sila sa pinas ng walang problema... :D
sino sino ba nasa US dito? :D
----------------------------------------------

http://www.aboutappa.org/HCI.htm

Health Care Coalition Institute
... As part of this initiative, on July 11 through July 15, 2005 and arranged through the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, the FAEDC-HWG/HCI core participants will present to the E.O. 372: A Public-Private Sector Task Force for the Development of Globally Competitive Philippine Service Industries and various Philippine government agencies an action plan to develop and administer �International Retirement and Healthcare Zones�. The objectives of the action plan are:

Equip the Philippines with an initial, globally competitive and sustainable model for an "International Retirement and Healthcare Program" in specifically designated and carved-out zones. This includes but not limited to equipping the President (or her trade representative) with a concrete model to negotiate retirement and healthcare trade projects with the U.S. and OECD countries.
Equip the Philippines with an initial set of figures that could be utilized for any combination of the following: estimate the size of the target market and provisioning of retirement, healthcare and ancillary services; justify the level of priority and resources assigned to develop and administer this program; apply for loans to international financing institutions; etc.

http://www.aboutappa.org

I think this is a great initiative! I just hope that it does not drive the cost of health care also in the Philippines 'coz god knows how they pad those health and medical insurance claims here in the US!

As to that lack of Filipino self-identity article posted above, I still don't buy that shit. Tell that to the marines.

What I want to do if and when I retire in the Philippines, is to be a motivational speaker. I want to learn as much in terms of life experience and equipping yourself to attain your dreams and have a successful life and then, I want to impart that message to my fellowmen. To inspire and educate -- that is my goal.

I will definitely retire in the Philippines. I will build an empire that will create jobs and uplift the lives of our kababayan. All the knowledge that I'd gain here will be siphoned back to the Philippines.
may the force be w/ u :jk:

That bad ha...that's sad because some retiring pinoys i spoke to would like to volunteer their time to do and help in someway their needy kababayan there. Basic needs like medical, education,clean water, sustenance,etc,etc. I know the goverment may welcome all this, but what concerns me deep down is if you dig around what the root of the problems are you might open a whole can of worms at magkakalabasan ng baho na.



I am at risk pero nag eenjoy naman ako dito. hehehe
Basic needs? medical>maraming albularyo dito, yung iba nga nag sasideline na sa mga spa. nurse iniexport na rin
education? marami din titser dito yung iba nga nasa US na tinuturuan ang mga puti paano mag english.
clean water? puede na yung tubig galing sa pasig river...

and i am not kidding :) :)

What I want to do if and when I retire in the Philippines, is to be a motivational speaker. I want to learn as much in terms of life experience and equipping yourself to attain your dreams and have a successful life and then, I want to impart that message to my fellowmen. To inspire and educate -- that is my goal.

Parang si Stephen Covey? Si Anthony Robbins?

Macky,
I understand your concern but I also hope you don't become discouraged. Btw I hope you get a little pick-me-up out of these articles I came across. These articles I'm posting for you are not new but I still found them especially interesting because it's quite flattering to see FilAms and Foreigners alike who are already living in "paradise" seriously consider leaving Hawaii for the Philippines enough to convince them to buy a property/unit in Pinas now with future plans of going back when they retire. Ang sarap malaman at mapakinggan that despite all of the problems and hardships our country is facing, there is really no place like home (the Philippines). May those people who eventually comeback to stay help the country get up on its feet. :okay:

Isle Filipinos fuel boom in real estate near Manila
By Craig Gima
cgima@starbulletin.com

TAGAYTAY, Philippines » Overlooking the crater lake of a volcano high above the heat and humidity of Manila, Dr. Emil and Ellen Suzara have built a home where they expect to live the rest of their lives.

The Suzaras took the profits from the recent sale of their home in Waimea on the Big Island to return to the Philippines to retire.

"The dollar is magnified here," said Dr. Suzara, who was a surgeon at North Hawaii Community Hospital. "You can live like a king and a queen."

The Suzaras, who were both born in the Philippines, are among a growing number of Filipinos from Hawaii and the mainland who are fueling a real estate boom here.

In Kalihi meanwhile yesterday, a steady stream of potential buyers talked with sales representatives from Robinsons Land Corp. about their high-rise luxury condominium projects in Metro Manila.

A sales DVD played on the wall of a restaurant conference room as families, mostly recent immigrants, put down a refundable deposit to reserve units.*

Bobit Pablo, the international sales manager for Robinsons' high-rise building division, said the recent political crisis in the Philippines has not really affected business.

He said Filipinos who were born in the country have grown up with coup rumors.

"In every crisis there's an opportunity," Pablo says with the conviction of a salesman. The unrest means the U.S. dollar will buy more, and the condos he is selling are cheaper today if someone is ready to buy now.

Kevin and Zena Diaz Smith of Kaneohe sold their home last year and used half of their profit to buy a home and lot in Canyon Woods for about $200,000 and the other half for a down payment on a new home here.

On Saturday they put down a deposit for a two-bedroom condominium that sells for about $100,000. The Smiths said once the condo is paid off, they might move to the Philippines with their two children.

"We're living paycheck to paycheck over here," said Kevin Smith, who works at Kaiser Medical Center.

The condo is near a private school and hospital. Smith thinks he should be able to get a job at the hospital, and they could either rent or sell their house here to supplement their income.

His Filipino co-workers at Kaiser are also thinking of moving back because they can now afford a nicer place and a better lifestyle, Smith said.

Smith has been to the Philippines three times, but his wife was born there.

"I was challenged with it at first," Smith said about the poverty, politics, crime and other aspects of life in the Philippines. "But you can't judge a book by its cover," he said. "The culture is incredible; the people are incredible."

Buying real estate in the Philippines is not for everyone, said Bob Bishop, former liaison to the Philippines for the president of the National Association of Realtors.

It can be profitable and worthwhile, but people need to do their homework, he said. Land titles are not always clear, and disputes can be tied up in expensive court battles, he said.

Bishop advises buyers to hire an attorney in the Philippines to look over the contract and investigate the title before signing any deal.

Most developments emphasize security; kidnappers sometimes target Americans for ransom, Bishop noted.

The key in any real estate purchase is to make sure you are dealing with a reputable developer, Bishop said.

Reputation is a selling point for Danilo Ignacio, general manager of Robinsons' High-Rise Buildings Division. The company is affiliated with one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, with interests including airlines, banking, food, hotels, telecommunications and textiles.

Ignacio points out his window on the 32nd floor of the Ortigas Center in Metro Manila at an empty facade of a nearby building.

The project is mired in debt after the Asian financial collapse in 1997, he said.

It is a reminder of what can happen because of fraud or an underfinanced developer.

Robinsons survived the financial crisis and emerged a stronger company, Ignacio said. "We delivered to our customers," he said.

In nearby Fort Bonifacio, a high-rise city is rising on a closed Philippine military base. Shopping centers, office buildings for the booming call center industry, and numerous condos are under construction. Robinsons has two condominium projects here.

Last month, on a tour of Fort Bonifacio, Pablo pointed to where the private St. Luke's Medical Center is being built.

The hospital is a selling point for retirees who fear medical care in the United States could eat up their savings, Pablo said.

Norman Oshiro, president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Food Products Inc., bought a one-bedroom condo at Robinsons' Fifth Avenue development in Fort Bonifacio.

Oshiro might retire in the Philippines, but said he bought the condo more as an investment and a place to stay when he visits Manila. "It's cheap," he said. "It probably went up already."

Oshiro is not Filipino, but is a member of the Hawaii Filipino Chamber of Commerce. Filipino co-workers in his office also bought units on the same floor.

The government, through the Philippine Retirement Authority and other agencies, is trying to encourage overseas Filipinos and foreign nationals to retire and buy property in the Philippines.

A dual citizenship law allows Filipino Americans to buy land and businesses.

Foreigners who buy condos can qualify for a special investment visa that will allow them to stay in the country.

But while foreigners can also own condominiums and townhouses, there are restrictions on the purchase of land.

So far, Robinsons is concentrating its international marketing on Filipino workers in the United States, Ignacio said. But they are starting to look at the market for non-Filipinos overseas.

Pablo said he started marketing units in the United States in late 2004. Overseas purchasers now account for about 30 percent of the company's sales and could rise to about half.

In Tagaytay the Canyon Woods development was originally marketed as a weekend home for upper-middle-class families from Manila.

But about three years ago, purchases by overseas Filipinos accounted for 80 percent of the sales in December, the time of year when many foreign workers traditionally return home for the holidays, said Tony Villa-Real, a director at Canyon Wood.

"That opened our eyes," he said.

Villa-Real opened an office in San Bruno, Calif., to market to U.S. buyers, and he and his wife held seminars on Oahu and Maui last year. They are planning to return to Hawaii to promote Canyon Woods next month.

"For them it's like paradise," Villa-Real said of his U.S. customers. "It's easy for Filipino Americans to adjust. It's like their home away from home."

The numbers of Filipinos from Hawaii who are moving to the Philippines are still small, nothing like the numbers of people who moved from here to Las Vegas for a more affordable lifestyle.

But Dr. Suzara would not be surprised to see more people from Hawaii as neighbors.

"We have casinos here, too," he said.



Economic boom pulls balikbayan back home

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

MANILA - -- Eighteen months ago, Luis Butay, a Hawaii businessman, bought 17.3 acres of farmland in his native country of the Philippines for about $128,800.

Now it's worth almost three times as much.

A real estate boom and government incentives have persuaded a growing number of Filipino Americans to invest in their birth land. The "sick man of Asia" is finally seeing economic growth after decades of martial law, regulated industries and political instability.

The number of returning balikbayan -- those born in the Philippines with citizenship overseas -- has almost tripled since 1981, when 57,798 came back. Last year that number reached 142,753, according to the Philippine Department of Tourism.

Although foreigners cannot own property, the amount of rural land balikbayan can purchase was tripled last year to three hectares, the equivalent of about 71/2 acres. The government also increased the amount of urban land balikbayan could own to 5,000 square meters (6,000 square yards).

"Balikbayan can realize 100 percent profit in one year," said Reynaldo Duterte of RP Duterte Realty in Manila.

"Filipino Americans should look here to invest and retire."

Land in the provinces, including the Ilocos region where most Filipinos in Hawaii were born, is still affordable and a good investment, Duterte said. "Prices won't go down but maybe slow down," said Duterte, past president of the Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines. Still, he predicted at least 20 percent to 30 percent annual growth for the next five years in the provinces.

Prices in Makati, where a glut of condos and office space is expected to flood the market, will level out, Duterte said. Some economists predict Manila could follow the path of Bangkok, where inflated real estate and overbuilding have burst the economic bubble.

The longer-term value of agricultural land will depend on the infrastructure that develops around it, economists say. And that's something you can't count on yet in the Philippines.

Butay, owner of Loulen Hawaii Sports Wear and part-owner of Crown Court Restaurant, is keeping an eye on real estate in provinces like Ilocos Norte.

"I've seen the economy improve every year," Butay said. "The middle class is starting to grow. My friends are rich. The shopping centers are much better here than in Hawaii and the mainland."

Butay bought his property, located in the provinces of Batangas and Quezon southeast of Manila, with other family members.

He uses it to raise chickens -- a profitable business, he said, because the Filipino middle class is more health-conscious about red meat. More poor also can afford to buy it now.

Manny Valin, a Hawaii tax consultant, bought 15 hectares (37 acres) of Batangas land in 1993 with a Philippine partner and plans to house 150,000 chickens in the first stage.

Ten years ago, he probably wouldn't have considered buying land here. But now Valin knows others in Hawaii who also are considering it. Rose Churma, president-elect of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, also said there is growing interest in doing business in the Philippines.

According to the Philippine Department of Tourism, real estate prices started rising about five years ago, Duterte said. But they "went wild" after the sale of land in the military's Fort Bonifacio triggered prices in nearby Makati, and real estate values now sound like the kind you hear in Waikiki.

The skyline of Makati, the financial hub of the capital, is laced with tall cranes and bamboo catwalks, and the always-congested traffic is even worse because of heavy construction. Inch your way a few miles down the city's main artery known as Edsa to the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank, once the only business complex in Ortigas Center. Now a high-rise city surrounds it. And Manila's megamalls are some of the biggest in Asia.

Values in some areas have multiplied five to 10 times: Makati property that sold four years ago for 100,000 pesos, or $4,000 (25 pesos to the dollar) per square meter now goes for 450,000 pesos, or $18,000 per square meter. A square meter equals 1.2 square yards.

The boom spreads in all directions into the countryside. Once-

tranquil rice paddies and carabao paths are now subdivisions and industrial zones.

Agricultural land north of Manila in La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and the Ilocos provinces still sells for 40-80 pesos per square meter, Duterte said.

Cebu is one of the fastest-growing areas. Even in the southern island of Mindanao, which has suffered years of Moslem insurrection and kidnappings, prices are skyrocketing.

Deregulation that allowed foreign banks into the Philippines has loosened up the property market, Duterte said. Interest rates for home and condo loans used to run 27 percent-40 percent but have dropped to 15 percent-17 percent. Most people, however, still pay with cartloads of cash.

Foreigners without Philippine partners are prohibited from buying land but can purchase condos, government officials said.

But constantly changing foreign investment laws and a court system that favors Filipinos still throw up red flags for foreign investors, Duterte said.

Butay agreed that doing business isn't easy in the Philippines because of government red tape, corruption and payoffs in return for security. But with the minimum daily salary in the Philippines roughly equivalent to the minimum hourly wage in Hawaii, and with an educated, hard-working and English-speaking work force, the advantages outweigh the problems. He's planning to open two restaurants.

Specialty of the house: chicken.



Retirees’ low costs earn Philippines top billing

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

MANILA - -- Alex Caday, a retired real estate agent who lived in Hawaii for 20 years, collects about $1,500 a month in Social Security and retirement.

That didn't go very far in Hawaii. But in the Philippines, where he retired in 1989, he can afford two maids to help him and his wife, who also receives Social Security and retirement.

"I'm more secure here financially and socially," said Caday, a U.S. citizen who was born in Ilocos Norte province. "My roots are here. My old friends are here. I have property."

Caday said more balikbayan -- those born in the Philippines but have citizenship elsewhere -- are retiring here, especially since the economy has improved and the security and government have stabilized. But more than balikbayan are eyeing this country for their graying years.

International Living magazine last year chose the Philippines as its top retirement pick after omitting it from the list during the troubled years following the Marcos dictatorship.

"Its combination of low costs for housing, domestic help and medical care coupled with a fine benefits package give it top billing," the magazine wrote.

Vernette Umali-Paco, chief executive officer and general manager of the Philippine Retirement Authority, said President Fidel Ramos holds the authority "close to his heart."

And with good reason: Foreign retirees bring hard cash.

The authority has become self-supporting with almost 5,100 retirees from 50 countries joining its membership association. Its assets last year reached $3.2 million, and members invested hundreds of millions of dollars more in the country.

About half of the authority's members are from Taiwan, followed by mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, the United States, Great Britain and South Korea. Of the total, 180 are balikbayan from the United States. The average age is 56-58, and most set up businesses in the country and continue to work.

To get a special retiree-resident visa, which doesn't require re-entry permits, foreigners ages 35-49 must invest $75,000; those over age 50, $50,000; and balikbayan, $1,500, in listed banks for at least six months. The money must stay in the Philippines as long as the retiree does. All members pay an application fee of $1,500 to $2,000 for the special visa.

They also can buy up to $7,000 in tax -- and duty-free personal items and cars without the costly value-added taxes. Any retirement pay coming into the Philippines from outside is not taxed.

Umali-Paco said, however, that financial incentives are not the main reason people move to her country. "They come for the kind of life," Umali-Paco said. "They don't like cold weather. They have an affinity with Asian cultures. They can play golf and travel.

"Health facilities are not as excellent, but more important is the quality of care. Nurses show genuine concern, and 24-hour care doesn't make you sick over the cost. It's personalized."

She said retirees have to carry their own health insurance, but the authority hopes to establish a plan as well as build a retirement facility, probably by the sea.

The Japanese media has paid special attention to the Philippines as a retirement haven.

The Japanese government is worried about how it will take care of its huge and growing gray population.

Kung sa good time lang siguradong marami diyan. But once you reach a certain point or age in life medyo iba na rin ang trip mo. One of them is, i would like to join or form a bikers(motorcycles) group that would cruise around all over the remotest provinces while making good contact with the local people and at the same time enjoy the scenery, food, and traditions of those provinces.

3cr, Oh no, i'm not a bit discouraged at all.

^ Kung matanda ka na, baka matagtag ka niyan sa biyahe.

Parang si Stephen Covey? Si Anthony Robbins?

But with more of a personal touch. I am not into coming up with a money-generating self-improvement empire. I am into touching people's lives personally and have a positive and lasting impact on them.

Kung sa good time lang siguradong marami diyan. But once you reach a certain point or age in life medyo iba na rin ang trip mo. One of them is, i would like to join or form a bikers(motorcycles) group that would cruise around all over the remotest provinces while making good contact with the local people and at the same time enjoy the scenery, food, and traditions of those provinces.


Marami na ring bikers dito. May riders club din sa company namin. Meron ding mountaineers.

^ Kung matanda ka na, baka matagtag ka niyan sa biyahe.



But with more of a personal touch. I am not into coming up with a money-generating self-improvement empire. I am into touching people's lives personally and have a positive and lasting impact on them.


Meron ka bang free service? Try ko muna. hehehe.

Seriously, maganda yang goal mo sa buhay. makatulong sa kapwa pinoy.

That's all very good news I hope pinoy expats when they return also share and invest their new knowledge, skills, and wealth where it will have the greatest multiplier effect at the same time improving the environment of their new retirement place.

What I want to do if and when I retire in the Philippines, is to be a motivational speaker. I want to learn as much in terms of life experience and equipping yourself to attain your dreams and have a successful life and then, I want to impart that message to my fellowmen. To inspire and educate -- that is my goal. But with more of a personal touch. I am not into coming up with a money-generating self-improvement empire. I am into touching people's lives personally and have a positive and lasting impact on them.
Wow walanjo si Lili pala ay may mala"Oprah"ng aspirations! Good for you ayos yan "Ate Lili"! HiHiHi... :righton: :okay:

I have to agree with DoggMann. Many folks in their retirement years would like to unwind, kickback and retire from the grind of the busy life. Many will find it hard to imagine retiring back there just to start a new career of changing the world by creating jobs.

Having said that, retirees would like the sense of security on their lives and belonging. After all, we all know retirees have the money available to them in a daily/mthly basis and that alone is enough to raise awareness. If I cannot be guaranteed that, I might as well go back to where I used to live and spend majority of my time in the place where I worked. I will just be in the Philippines as a frequent tourist, staying in hotels and major cities.

Lili, i think you're a perfect candidate for a talk show host like 3cr said. Why not? You have the beauty, charm,wits, and sense of humor. You posessed all the qualities and personalities of a great talk show host. I think we have a star waiting to be discovered here. If you want to do a sample project like that, i can help you . I think it will be fun and exciting. What do you think ha ?

^^ Haha! Salamat @macky and @3cr (Boe). Pinahihinog ko pa yung sarili ko para talagang may 'K' (with a capital K) na ako. :wink2:

What I want to do if and when I retire in the Philippines, is to be a motivational speaker. I want to learn as much in terms of life experience and equipping yourself to attain your dreams and have a successful life and then, I want to impart that message to my fellowmen. To inspire and educate -- that is my goal.

I had an occupation before which was somewhat like this. Just won't go into detail. ;)

retiring in the philippines is still the best. but i will try to go home at the age of 46. i like to enjoy life with out having to worry about going to work from 9 to 5.

philippines is the best place for filipinos with money. why stay in america if you can have a nice life style in the philippines. most filipinos in america who dont want to go back home are the janitors, housekeepers, the low income filipinos because they can't save money even working here in states. i have a white_american friend who is married to a filipina. he told me his filipina wife doesn't want to back home to the philippines anymore. i know why because she can't save money here in america to have a good life style in the philippines. she works at washington club as a cleaning lady. i knew her husband from high school. his 35 yrs old and they got 2 kids and still staying at his parents house because he only likes to work part time. but what is funny is she likes to go back home to the philippines for vacation and pretend she is super rich here in america. in her mind people in the philippines think they are super rich here in america because she got a white husband. but in reality they live in a trailer at his parents house back yard with thier 2 kids. if people in the philippines only knew how hard life in america also. most filipino balikbayans from america only like to show the good part of america. if you are a filipino with money, philippines is still the best place to live not america

even so when they retire they will get a montly pension right? enough to live on in the PHils albeit modestly but i think comfortable enough.

philippines is the best place for filipinos with money. why stay in america if you can have a nice life style in the philippines. most filipinos in america who dont want to go back home are the janitors, housekeepers, the low income filipinos because they can't save money even working here in states. i have a white_american friend who is married to a filipina. he told me his filipina wife doesn't want to back home to the philippines anymore. i know why because she can't save money here in america to have a good life style in the philippines. she works at washington club as a cleaning lady. i knew her husband from high school. his 35 yrs old and they got 2 kids and still staying at his parents house because he only likes to work part time. but what is funny is she likes to go back home to the philippines for vacation and pretend she is super rich here in america. in her mind people in the philippines think they are super rich here in america because she got a white husband. but in reality they live in a trailer at his parents house back yard with thier 2 kids. if people in the philippines only knew how hard life in america also. most filipino balikbayans from america only like to show the good part of america. if you are a filipino with money, philippines is still the best place to live not america

As you said, not everyone is like that. Life is what you make it in America.
Bust your butt to work and you'll be compensated properly here in the US.
Those who complain to have a hard life in the US are those choosy ones who complained a lot. Even a minimum wage earner here can save whatever he wants, not a lot but enough. It all depends on each and everyone's lifestyle if they can afford to showoff or just live enough a frugal life to save for their future. There are more long term benefits and medical insurance assistance here in the US than in the Philippines.
Overseas retirement pose a lot of insecurities to each individual. If the Philippines extend their medical services to carry on the retiree's US Medical benefits and guarantee a peaceful settlement for everyone there, then most ex-pats will surely make a place for them out there. (It might be too much to ask the government :D)

philippines is the best place for filipinos with money. why stay in america if you can have a nice life style in the philippines. most filipinos in america who dont want to go back home are the janitors, housekeepers, the low income filipinos because they can't save money even working here in states.
That is a pretty broad brush you're painting with cruizer. I don't want to retire in the Philippines but that does not make me a janitor. In fact the opposite is true, those Filipinos with a nice lifestyle in America (Filipinos with money) don't want to retire in the Philippines. I want to visit or explore the possibilities of retiring in the Philippines but I have a hard time letting go of what I'm used to in the states. There's ten of us in my high school graduating class spread all over the US and most of them are professionals and making comfortable living and none of them would even consider retiring in the Philippines. There's no arguing life is good in the Phil. as far as stretching your dollar and having maids and driver and all that but only for an extended vacation. I just can't see giving up my trailer home for a condo in BGC.

bakit niyo naman minamata at minamaliit ang janitor. eh kung hindi nakapagaral , mabute na yun kesa maging tambay or criminal. As long as its an honest work. The domestic helpers help send their extended families to school and aid the economy in some way. Plus i though in the US there is dignity in labor.

Maganda pa suweldo minsan ng mga blue collar workers dito sa US.
I worked part time on a gas station owned by a Pinoy in LA during weekends, job includes cleaning the entire area even the toilets. I learned a lot also on repairing or fixing cars. Mababa man ang suweldo, hindi nasasayang ang oras ko. Pang dagdag din yun sa mga gastos ko sa bahay. Kaya okay lang kung lumabas kami ng mga barkada ko sa Pinas tuwing umuuwi ako at mag goodtime. For the boys yun, aasahan ka naman nila talaga pag balikbayan ka.
Kung wala sila, eh di ikaw ang taya. Kung meron naman sila eh di sila ang gumastos.
Ngayon kung magre-retire ako sa Pinas at magulo pa din at walang magandang medical insurance na galing dito na puwedeng gamitin diyan, eh malamang mag-iisip isip uli ako kung mag-eenjoy nga ako sa aking fixed retirement income.


(pooof!) Ok, naisip ko na :D Gusto kong magretire dyan, kung marami nang taga dito na dyan na naninirahan habangbuhay. For now, pauwi-uwi na lang is always a good idea.

philippines is the best place for filipinos with money. why stay in america if you can have a nice life style in the philippines. most filipinos in america who dont want to go back home are the janitors, housekeepers, the low income filipinos because they can't save money even working here in states. i have a white_american friend who is married to a filipina. he told me his filipina wife doesn't want to back home to the philippines anymore. i know why because she can't save money here in america to have a good life style in the philippines. she works at washington club as a cleaning lady. i knew her husband from high school. his 35 yrs old and they got 2 kids and still staying at his parents house because he only likes to work part time. but what is funny is she likes to go back home to the philippines for vacation and pretend she is super rich here in america. in her mind people in the philippines think they are super rich here in america because she got a white husband. but in reality they live in a trailer at his parents house back yard with thier 2 kids. if people in the philippines only knew how hard life in america also. most filipino balikbayans from america only like to show the good part of america. if you are a filipino with money, philippines is still the best place to live not america


No americans or even foreign americans/ alien residents who pay their dues on Uncle Sam needs to save money for the future, although, it helps alot if you do. Once you retire in America, you would receive a certain amount of dollars each month whether you are the lowest paid employee of the company. Now, why in the world these retirees whom are not salaried professionals can't afford a decent lifestyle in the Philippines?

Maybe your filipina american friend does not want to retire in the Philippines because of her children and the future grandchildren would be too far from her if she decided to stay in the Philippines for good. Maybe the lady friend of yours are afraid she would get sick and won't receive a proper medical attention there in the Philippines and that Medicare/medicaid benefit she would receive from Uncle Sam wouldn't cover it.

Another factor is that she is already accustomed with her life in America and can't see herself living in the Philippines anymore but most likely, i think it's her family is the main reason for her decision.

the main reason she doesn't want to go back to the philippines is because she is poor in our native home land, just like 99.9% of filipinos who immigrate to the states but dont want to admit it. the rich filipinos are not leaving the philippines, its only the middle class and poor. we have good medical care in the philippines . all the major hospitals here in seattle have nurses that graduated in the philippines. almost all the nursing home here in seattle have filipina attendants. you are being taking care here in america by filipinas. you can have that in the philippines also, only its better. ---(accustomed to her life in america) yes she is because she is poor in the philippines. if she was rich she wouldn't be accustomed living in a trailer at her husband parents house here in seattle. plus the rich filipinas in the philippines dont do penpals. its only the middle class and poor that do those things to escape poverty .

I just can't see giving up my trailer home for a condo in BGC. Hehehe...funny you mentioned this Gasrock, ako kasi I'm actually just about to do this swap and am looking forward to the lifestyle change (away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind). Looking for that change of pace, enjoy life more. Guess we'll just have to see what the future brings. See you at the SSCF BayArea Meet! :)

OT
Masarap ba tumira sa trailer home? Puede kaya sa Pinas yan? Parang gusto kong gawin dito yan ah. Anong address mo? :) :) :)

the main reason she doesn't want to go back to the philippines is because she is poor in our native home land, just like 99.9% of filipinos who immigrate to the states but dont want to admit it. the rich filipinos are not leaving the philippines, its only the middle class and poor. we have good medical care in the philippines . all the major hospitals here in seattle have nurses that graduated in the philippines. almost all the nursing home here in seattle have filipina attendants. you are being taking care here in america by filipinas. you can have that in the philippines also, only its better. ---(accustomed to her life in america) yes she is because she is poor in the philippines. if she was rich she wouldn't be accustomed living in a trailer at her husband parents house here in seattle. plus the rich filipinas in the philippines dont do penpals. its only the middle class and poor that do those things to escape poverty .
oh yeah then why do all the rich and trapos in the PHils own hidden properties in the states and always have a relative in the states and send their children to schools in the states.

Hehehe...funny you mentioned this Gasrock, ako kasi I'm actually just about to do this swap and am looking forward to the lifestyle change (away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind). Looking for that change of pace, enjoy life more. Guess we'll just have to see what the future brings. See you at the SSCF BayArea Meet! :)

3cr - I know you're planning to go back to pinas to retire but hoping you'd still be here for the Bay Area meet. Sounds like you will be. We all know the advantages of going back to pinas with our dollars buying more and the servants and the escape from the daily grind. But of course it's not for everyone due to other reasons like family and health care and local ties etc. We'll talk about this at the meet.

Marites- hindi ko naman minamata ang mga janitor I was just drawing attention to the misconception that only janitors and domestic help are the only ones that don't want to retire in pinas as originally stated. Of course I agree with you on the dignity of work and my friends in manila always make fun of me when I make pakiusap to the waiters and waitresses there when I need something.

Amigo - I don't really have a trailer home but if you bring your own trailer I'll let you park it in my backyard and we'll both find out.

to marites----the rich filipinos are still in the philippines, they are not moving out and coming to the states. im from zamboanga and i never heard of any rich zamboangueno selling his/her business and moving to the states. all the zamboanguenos i know here in the states are all middle class and poor in zamboanga. about the health care issue. most people who are retiring here in the states are getting only $700 on average on social security and medicare pays very little. with $700 a month you'll get great meidical care in the philippines. here in the states with $700 you need to work till you are 70 yrs old then stay at a low income retirement home. if you are smart (marites) you'll buy a condo in makati and by the time you reach 62 yrs old you can get early retirement then retire in the philippines then live well. but me im shooting at the age of 46 yrs old. i want to go back home and enjoy life knowing i dont have to work 9 to 5, 5 days a week. america is just all hype. the majority of the people here are still slave for the super rich. philippines is still the best place if you are a filipino with money. no substitute. in the philippines you dont feel out of place like here in the states. no place like home (marites) l

NO sense in being rich if you're surrounded by a mass of poverty. What's the sense in having jewels if you can't wear it in public. or a mansion if you're gated like a fortress surrounded by security guards. One major issue the govt. has to tackle is security. A lot of potential retirees are deterred by the security situation. A good way of improving that is by narrowing the gap between the haves and have nots by increasing the middle class. OFws and other expats help increase the middle class so stop putting them down so much saying they're all poor the reason they migrate.

to marites----the rich filipinos are still in the philippines, they are not moving out and coming to the states. im from zamboanga and i never heard of any rich zamboangueno selling his/her business and moving to the states. all the zamboanguenos i know here in the states are all middle class and poor in zamboanga. about the health care issue. most people who are retiring here in the states are getting only $700 on average on social security and medicare pays very little. with $700 a month you'll get great meidical care in the philippines. here in the states with $700 you need to work till you are 70 yrs old then stay at a low income retirement home. if you are smart (marites) you'll buy a condo in makati and by the time you reach 62 yrs old you can get early retirement then retire in the philippines then live well. but me im shooting at the age of 46 yrs old. i want to go back home and enjoy life knowing i dont have to work 9 to 5, 5 days a week. america is just all hype. the majority of the people here are still slave for the super rich. philippines is still the best place if you are a filipino with money. no substitute. in the philippines you dont feel out of place like here in the states. no place like home (marites) l

I don't know what to say about your observation. That is how you see life in America then I respect your views, but I totally disagree.

to marites----frist lets tell the truth why we immigrated to america. we are here because we are not rich in the philippines. rich filipinos are not leaving the country, its only the middle class and poor thats doing that. lets not give an impression that we are super rich in the philippines and thats why we immigrated to the u.s, we all know thats a lie. when you said that the rich can't go anyhwere an less they got body guards thats another lie. maybe if you are lucio tan, henry sy etc. but thats the same case with bill gates, warren buffet here in the u.s, they have body guards. philippines is a safe place. dont make the philippines look like somalia. fili[pinos here in the u.s always like to put down the philippines so that they will look good. filipinos who immigrated to the u.s are not rich in the philippines.

well.. your country is lagging behind us
philipine such a failing state in SEA, compare to malaysia,indonesia,thailand,singapore

^^^ I didn't state that filipinos who immigrate to the US are rich in the PHIls. What is definition of rich to you anyway? lucio tan? HEnry Sy well you can count them in a handful. Im not comparing PHils to Somalia and badmouthing the PHILs. But there is truth that security at countries where there is a huge gap between the rich and poor is questionable. I don't think they'll snatch your cellphones in the US. A large middle class is better than having a few elite rich. I think you have comprehension problems.

well.. your country is lagging behind us
philipine such a failing state in SEA, compare to malaysia,indonesia,thailand,singapore
this is out of line and not related to the topic at hand.

well your country lagging behind us..
philipine is such a failing state,, compare to his closest neighbours such as malaysia,indonesia,thailand,singapore

well your country lagging behind us..
philipine is such a failing state,, compare to his closest neighbours such as malaysia,indonesia,thailand,singapore
this is out of line and not related at the topic at hand.

a failed state is like somaila, ereatrea, sudan, eitiopia etc. where warlords runs the country. philippines is in the ball park of malaysia indonesia and thailand. if the philippes is a failed state henry sy wouldn't be putting up malls all over the country. from where are you darielgrenz?

im from malaysia,, i knew that the phillipines has the lowest income percapita which is $ 1070 while malaysia $5060 thailand $2500 and indonesia $ 1370..
according to gdp percapita indonesia is the largest economy in SEA,, im gonna give you the list anyway,

8 26 Indonesia 284,072
10 34 Thailand 174,545
11 37 Malaysia 127,942
13 41 Singapore 116,326
15 48 Philippines 92,586
20 60 Vietnam 47,111
33 108 Myanmar 8,867
35 120 Brunei 5,721
36 132 Cambodia 4,583
43 173 East Timor 33

im hoping that ur country can be a 100 billion dollars in the coming years
cheers

you're a troll and a pseudo ego of someone who keeps posting the same crap because you just joined yesterday.

yep ur rite if i just joined yesterday but another thing is i joined with malay-indo alliance thread for skyscrapercity.. they said all filipinos here are immature..
according to city vs city section,, the filipinos dont want to lose against us in fact they are lagging behind us.. u can see all indonesian and malaysian here becoming anger more because of filipinos's immaturity

yep ur rite if i just joined yesterday but another thing is i joined with malay-indo alliance thread for skyscrapercity.. they said all filipinos here are immature..
according to city vs city section,, the filipinos dont want to lose against us in fact they are lagging behind us.. u can see all indonesian and malaysian here becoming anger more because of filipinos's immaturity

Why incite an immature mentality of "Yours is better than mine"? We are here to discuss, lay down our opinion of issues and relevant things in life.
Please try to refrain from using "TEXT MODE" English; it may result in some misunderstood quote or information. Baka mahalata kang Pinoy niyan. :D

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html#Econ

MALAYSIA
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$290.2 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$122 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,100 (2005 est.)

Philippines
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$451.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$91.36 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,100 (2005 est.)

The Per-capita is less than your country because The Philippines have a higher population.


Here's another link - List of countries by GDP (PPP) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP))

HE is not from Malaysia he is from INDONesia. He's starting a flame war. He misses the city vs city threads. Poor soul.

i didnt start it.. just showing if our country has been more developed than urs
thats all.. and im not even start a war here..
just some problems lacks in our thread and im trying to solve it,, thts all

Darielqrenz,
So as not to upset anyone any further and make matters worse than it is, it may be better to post such topic and line of discussion on the appropriate thread (like the economy thread perhaps). Just that it's getting WOT (Way Off Topic) already and quite a bit of stretch in relating it to Retiring in the Philippines which btw is the title of this particular thread. Just friendly advice from a fellow forumer...Peace! :)

well i realize that im overacting in these forums,, actually just want to know if ur country is still suffering in econmy and politic.. hhe PEACE

well i realize that im overacting in these forums,, actually just want to know if ur country is still suffering in econmy and politic.. hhe PEACE

thank you for your interest... goodluck to you and goodluck to your 7.6%GDP and your 200million + people ... and mind your own business... we already have enough problems in our country and we have no interest in mingling with yours ... so go leave! :grouphug:

well i realize that im overacting in these forums,, actually just want to know if ur country is still suffering in econmy and politic.. hhe PEACE
your kind of concern is not welcomed. you're a wolf in sheeps clothing.
YOu know the difference between us Filipinos and you. You show us pictures of starving African children and FIlipinos will try to help them even witht their limited resources. You guys on the otherhand will ostracize and put them down .

your kind of concern is not welcomed. you're a wolf in sheeps clothing.
YOu know the difference between us Filipinos and you. You show us pictures of starving African children and FIlipinos will try to help them even witht their limited resources. You guys on the otherhand will ostracize and put them down

well we appreciate that your country and your people can help those african,,
its a good start for your country and probably in coming years your country even can helps the other countries such as japan,, not to people anymore..

to marites----frist lets tell the truth why we immigrated to america. we are here because we are not rich in the philippines. rich filipinos are not leaving the country, its only the middle class and poor thats doing that. lets not give an impression that we are super rich in the philippines and thats why we immigrated to the u.s, we all know thats a lie. when you said that the rich can't go anyhwere an less they got body guards thats another lie. maybe if you are lucio tan, henry sy etc. but thats the same case with bill gates, warren buffet here in the u.s, they have body guards. philippines is a safe place. dont make the philippines look like somalia. fili[pinos here in the u.s always like to put down the philippines so that they will look good. filipinos who immigrated to the u.s are not rich in the philippines.

i think that it's such a hasty generalization to say that all filipinos who migrate to the US are poor. reasons for immigrating to the US are totally varied. everyone has a different reason. take my family as an example. my parents are one of those doctors who became nurses to be able to immigrate here. however, they didn't move for the money. they're earning almost the same amount of money being nurses here. we moved because, according to them, they "wanted to secure our future," given the economic and political instability in our country. in short, they were just playing safe. in case something goes terribly wrong, which i am not hoping for, we're far from it. i am not saying i am rich. i'm just saying that my parents were earning more than enough in the philippines. we're just a small piece of one big pie. as i've said, the filipino-migrating demographic is simply too diverse that to limit it to people who were struggling with life in the philippines is kind of narrow-minded, IMO. :)

anyway, going back to the topic. i would love to retire in the philippines. everything is expensive here. i doubt though that it'll still be cheap in the philippines when it is time for me to retire. :)

TRUE, theres some exception like the actresses or actor which are rare, even at shawi was here for a while but then she went back to pnas.although, generalizing the mean like cruizer said, the pnoy that comes in this country were usually middle class or was poor and luckily work here as a nurse then able to petition the rest of the family.

actually poor people in the PHIls can't afford to migrate to the US. YOu know how much it costs to migrate ? It is a long , tedious and pricey process. The AMerican agency has to make tons of mulah . they're milking the cow for what its worht. It costs something like two hundred dollars just to talk to them on the phone. It is also the mostly skilled people who migrate hence the brain drain/gain paradox. The kind of people Philippines need the most are the ones who leave. The stupid ones stay behind. THough there are few who are patriotic enough to stay .

we, malay people dont need to find a job and immigrate to other countries cuz our government already provide us a job service with high amount of salary

we, malay people dont need to find a job and immigrate to other countries cuz our government already provide us a job service with high amount of salary


:colgate: Good for you... by the way, do you have any latest political unrest or government takeover?

nope.. our politic is obviously stabil,, i think the phil is the only one country in SEA which still struggling in political unrest,, am i rite

nope.. our politic is obviously stabil,, i think the phil is the only one country in SEA which still struggling in political unrest,, am i rite

You mean STABLE?
By the way, can I suggest for you to type in some proper English words, everyone seems to have a problem with your own writing shortcuts.

Political unrest can happen anytime to any nations. I'm glad you have no more problems with the communists, pirates and bird flu out there. :)

bird flu is the only one thing that the govt. concern,, and the rest.. our govt. has slove it

we, malay people dont need to find a job and immigrate to other countries cuz our government already provide us a job service with high amount of salary


Are you sure of this? There are lots of Indonesian seeking descent jobs in Mindanao. There are also Indonesian Domestic Helpers in Hongkong,Singapore and even Malaysia angd their salary is not that high compared to their Filipino counterparts.

@DANIELGRENZ


GO PRACTICE YOUR ENGLISH SKILLS SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! YOURE JUST MAKING A FOOL OF YOURSELF HERE,YOU ARE A DIsGRACE TO INDONESIA.. NOW GO!! BEFORE IT GIVES US AN IMPRESSION THAT MOST INDONESIANS ARE LIKE YOU!!

bird flu is the only one thing that the govt. concern,, and the rest.. our govt. has slove it

Bird Flu, Corruption, Terrorisism (Bali, Jakarta), Natural Disasters and Poverty. etcccccc....

Why incite an immature mentality of "Yours is better than mine"? We are here to discuss, lay down our opinion of issues and relevant things in life.
Please try to refrain from using "TEXT MODE" English; it may result in some misunderstood quote or information. Baka mahalata kang Pinoy niyan. :D

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html#Econ

MALAYSIA
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$290.2 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$122 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,100 (2005 est.)

Philippines
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$451.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$91.36 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,100 (2005 est.)

The Per-capita is less than your country because The Philippines have a higher population.


Here's another link - List of countries by GDP (PPP) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP))

:)
Both have good statistics compare to us :(

GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$865.6 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$270 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3,600 (2005 est.)

:D

:)
Both have good statistics compare to us :(

GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$865.6 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$270 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3,600 (2005 est.)

:D

Well, you guys have a large GDP so it should be ok, except the population that really bring down your PER CAPITA.

These statistics sometimes are unreliable. Can you imagine those numbers not included on those reports? The more reliable thing is how the people of each nation are really coping up with the economy.

we, malay people dont need to find a job and immigrate to other countries cuz our government already provide us a job service with high amount of salary

really!!! how amazing!!! no wonder there were lots of indonesian domestic helpers in singapore (but we out numbered your DH cause from what ive heard, filipinos perform better at the task) ...

OR maybe its the other side of the coin your not seeing here, you cant leave your country because no one trust you! hahaha

BTW we are MALAYS to!!!

O' well, larawan ng kawalang Malay nga si darielqrenz. :D

There are lots of Indonesians working in the Middle East also and if given a chance, most Indonesians will bail out from their country just to find a better and peaceful life overseas.

can't wait to go back home to zamboanga, philippines. filipinos here in the states makes the u.s appear like its heaven. work in the philippines is the same here in the u.s . the only difference is the wage. if you are a janitor in the philippines the work here in america is still the same humiliating. many filipinos here in the u.s are doing service jobs like janitor,housekeeping,nursing aid, clerk, etc. what i dont understand is they can save money while working in the u.s then go back home and live a dignified life and at the same time helping their native country by investing like building a house. but i guess they are too dumb to start a business in the philippines and plus most are broke in america. america is just all hype. 30 yrs mortgage to own a house is that in america is that heaven? maybe if you are poor in the philippines

Ang YABANG mo naman. KUNG yung mga ibang lahi nga nilalait na mga Filipino ikaw pang kapwa FILipino ang mas nanlalait. ^^^
FOR YOUR information THe US cencus states that FILAMS have one of the highest household income and the most highly educated second only to INDIAN Americans. AND they have zero welfare assistance.
SIGURO you're from HAWAII or GUAM. I heard HAWAIan AMERICANS are ashamed to be FILIPINOS. That's why they always say they're hawaians when asked where they're from when in truth they're FILIPINOS.
TANGgalen na yang hambugan at payabangan isang quality na hindi kailangan ng FIlipino para umunalad.
Kahit domestic worker ka, JAnitor, doctor, pag nagreremit ka sa PILIPINAS ang lakeng tulong non sa ekonomiya ng PINAS. kUng hindi duon dahil sa kagaguhan ng mga politiko , siguro masahol pa sa AFrica PILipinas ngayon.

Just read this thread and I find it very amusing. After reading the posting of cruizer333444 & darielqrenz, I wouldn't waste time in discussing with them. Their logic and reasoning are so unbiased and full of holes. Maritess4 is right, these guys are simply trolling.

can't wait to go back home to zamboanga, philippines. filipinos here in the states makes the u.s appear like its heaven. work in the philippines is the same here in the u.s . the only difference is the wage. if you are a janitor in the philippines the work here in america is still the same humiliating. many filipinos here in the u.s are doing service jobs like janitor,housekeeping,nursing aid, clerk, etc. what i dont understand is they can save money while working in the u.s then go back home and live a dignified life and at the same time helping their native country by investing like building a house. but i guess they are too dumb to start a business in the philippines and plus most are broke in america. america is just all hype. 30 yrs mortgage to own a house is that in america is that heaven? maybe if you are poor in the philippines

Humiliating or humiliation is the key word that needs to be purge in your life.
You said you are staying is Seattle? America is not only Seattle, WA.
Did you have a bad experience there? If so, then maybe it's because of your attitude of looking down on others around you as not of your equal.
I've been here in the US for more than 20 years and have seen the ups and downs of our fellow Filipinos in life. If you have encountered the arrival of a lot of Filipinos during the Y2K with their H1B visas, you will be amazed on how they really appreciated the chance of having a better livelihood that they never experienced in their life.
If you still say that America is a hype, then I must be still be dreaming of good fortunes that are coming to me and my family, so please don't wake me up with your sorry attitude in life. :wave:

and lets give our countrymen a break and not put them down. The US is very strict as far as accepting credentials from other countries in transferring educational attainment unless maybe you are from a developed country.
Most immigrants have to start fr the bottom and work their way up , there 's nothing wrong with that as long as you work hard. Many feel they're too old to start a new and don't have the stamina ,so settle for work less qualified for their trained proffesion.

i told you for many times that the philippines has way more poverty than indonesiaa
do i need to copy and paste the same page again,, i already put that in 5th biggest economy in SEA section..
too bad for you guys..

can't wait to go back home to zamboanga, philippines. filipinos here in the states makes the u.s appear like its heaven. work in the philippines is the same here in the u.s . the only difference is the wage. if you are a janitor in the philippines the work here in america is still the same humiliating. many filipinos here in the u.s are doing service jobs like janitor,housekeeping,nursing aid, clerk, etc. what i dont understand is they can save money while working in the u.s then go back home and live a dignified life and at the same time helping their native country by investing like building a house. but i guess they are too dumb to start a business in the philippines and plus most are broke in america. america is just all hype. 30 yrs mortgage to own a house is that in america is that heaven? maybe if you are poor in the philippines

agree with you cruizer333444 the philippines is not only facing a political problem,,
most of them just work in lower proffesional such as market keeper,,etc
and one more thing.. i found an interesting info from my friend in saudi arabia..
he told me about workers equally thingy among us
its like this.. 1 malaysian worker=1 indonesian worker=2 filipino workers
it means 1 filipinos worker equal to half indon or malay..

Err...correction, dariel. Pinoys are one of the highest-earning Asian minorities in the US. A few them work in sanitary and clerical jobs. Most of them are nurses, teachers, chefs, soldiers, doctors, businessmen, bankers, and government employees and officials.

i told you for many times that the philippines has way more poverty than indonesiaa
do i need to copy and paste the same page again,, i already put that in 5th biggest economy in SEA section..
too bad for you guys..

:wallbash: :scouserd:


Good luck on your next Tsunami disaster.

People please just ignore the ignorant troll. Don't feed the trolls daw.

:wallbash: :scouserd:


Good luck on your next Tsunami disaster.

and Bali bombing!

OMG!

Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. hehehe

to cosmomanila ---this is the lie im talking about. you know very well that the majority of filipinos working here in the states are working service jobs. like janitorial, clerk, housekeeping,nursing aid, etc. you go to any hospital here in seattle like harboview, swedish hospital, virginia mason. most of the janitorial crew are filipinos. the same thing with retirement homes here in seattle. i have a friend (filipino) who works as a valet attendant at a retirement home here in seattle. there are 7 valet attendants and 4 are filipino 2 etiopians and 1 white married to a filipina. and they have a board with all the pictures of the workers at the retirement and they have a alot of filipinos in janitorial, dining room and nursing aid. ------the rich filipinos will never come to america to work. the philippines is still a paradise for them. like i said before , there is no substitude for the philippines if you are a filipino. philippines is still the best place to live. i hope i can go back home at 46 yr old. filipinos here in america just want to create alot of hoopla about america so that they will look super rich. so that they can look down at the philippines and say we are better than you filipinos in the philippines. remember filipinos in america you are still a working slave, working from 9 to 5, 5 days a week. only the desperate filipinos are the ones coming to america. the super rich filipinos are staying home. we are filipinos, not american. and philippines is our home. no place like home. i never met a rich filipino who moved to america. philippines is still the best. i miss home.

to marites---lots of filipinos in america dont want to be filipinos anymore, not only hawaians. this shows its the poor ignorant filipinos who are coming to america because they have this kind of attitude. a few days ago i when to a grocery. and one of the clerk that was checking out my grocery is a filipina. my key chain has the filipino flag. when i gave her the key chain because the discount card of the grocery is clip to the key chain. when she saw the filipino flag she didn't say anything to me. i could sense she trying to avoid being filipina. but from her looks and accent im 100% sure she is pinay. 2 days ago i was there again at the grocery, its funny i could hear her talk to a white american and she was trying to cover her accent. lol.

to cosmomanila ---this is the lie im talking about. you know very well that the majority of filipinos working here in the states are working service jobs. like janitorial, clerk, housekeeping,nursing aid, etc. you go to any hospital here in seattle like harboview, swedish hospital, virginia mason. most of the janitorial crew are filipinos. the same thing with retirement homes here in seattle. i have a friend (filipino) who works as a valet attendant at a retirement home here in seattle. there are 7 valet attendants and 4 are filipino 2 etiopians and 1 white married to a filipina. and they have a board with all the pictures of the workers at the retirement and they have a alot of filipinos in janitorial, dining room and nursing aid. ------the rich filipinos will never come to america to work. the philippines is still a paradise for them. like i said before , there is no substitude for the philippines if you are a filipino. philippines is still the best place to live. i hope i can go back home at 46 yr old. filipinos here in america just want to create alot of hoopla about america so that they will look super rich. so that they can look down at the philippines and say we are better than you filipinos in the philippines. remember filipinos in america you are still a working slave, working from 9 to 5, 5 days a week. only the desperate filipinos are the ones coming to america. the super rich filipinos are staying home. we are filipinos, not american. and philippines is our home. no place like home. i never met a rich filipino who moved to america. philippines is still the best. i miss home.

I know several rich filipinos who still moved to the US. A daughter of a "Savet" clan whose late mother was a lawyer, her dad is a surgeon in prestigeous hospital in the Philippines. She's an MD especializing internal medicine in St John's hospital here in our city. I knew of a family who used to own a well known pastry shop in the Philippines who moved in the US and started the same business catering to the filipino community and is still doing well. A few other Physicians I knew whom are all well respected in our community, they are all Philippine graduate.

Although, I agree with some of what you said, in term of population of filipino americans, there are alot who works in a non- prefessional arena. You would see them mostly in East or West-coast areas, namely California and New York. But as you move towards inland, You would see alot of highly paid professionals who are filipinos along side with people from India.

Just read this thread and I find it very amusing. After reading the posting of cruizer333444 & darielqrenz, I wouldn't waste time in discussing with them. Their logic and reasoning are so unbiased and full of holes. Maritess4 is right, these guys are simply trolling.


Maybe they are bitter in life. I'm sure they aren't in the US. Check their IP numbers when they post again or have them send you guys a proof..LOL

I know several rich filipinos who still moved to the US. A daughter of a "Savet" clan whose late mother was a lawyer, her dad is a surgeon in prestigeous hospital in the Philippines. She's an MD especializing internal medicine in St John's hospital here in our city. I knew of a family who used to own a well known pastry shop in the Philippines who moved in the US and started the same business catering to the filipino community and is still doing well. A few other Physicians I knew whom are all well respected in our community, they are all Philippine graduate.

Although, I agree with some of what you said, in term of population of filipino americans, there are alot who works in a non- prefessional arena. You would see them mostly in East or West-coast areas, namely California and New York. But as you move towards inland, You would see alot of highly paid professionals who are filipinos along side with people from India.
YOu are wrong most Filipinos have at least a bachelor degree compared to the mainstream of AMerica. Filipinos value education highly . The fact that they can't practice their proffesion or have to start at the lower rung are constraints of new immigrants in an entirely different society. language, culture, nonaccreditation of educational attainment,discrimination.
For example a dentist weknow started out as a lab technician. After a few years of review and hard work he is now a practicing dentist.
Filipinos will venture to foreign shores even if the situation in the Phils does not warrant it , because they are adventurous souls .

to marites---lots of filipinos in america dont want to be filipinos anymore, not only hawaians. this shows its the poor ignorant filipinos who are coming to america because they have this kind of attitude. a few days ago i when to a grocery. and one of the clerk that was checking out my grocery is a filipina. my key chain has the filipino flag. when i gave her the key chain because the discount card of the grocery is clip to the key chain. when she saw the filipino flag she didn't say anything to me. i could sense she trying to avoid being filipina. but from her looks and accent im 100% sure she is pinay. 2 days ago i was there again at the grocery, its funny i could hear her talk to a white american and she was trying to cover her accent. lol.
this is passe.
I think you're the one insecure and trying to cover your inadequacy of not making it in AMerica so you escapegoat by putting others down.

to marites---you are the one who is insecure because you keep praising america. philippines is our homeland, no matter how long we have live in america. even if you are born here in america, people still identify you as filipino, not american. you know why marites? because its the white people who made this country, stop praising america. philippines is still the best (marites) if you are a pinoy. no place like home. retiring in the philippines is alot better than here in america. all you are going to do here is watch t.v. whats even better is going home at the age of 46 or if you can younger so that you can really enjoy life. life in the philippines is totally different from the states. in the philippines its easy to make friends. here in america people are stuck up and rude. ---just yesterday, my pinoy friend , his 2 yr old daughter and i went to mcdonalds fast food restaurant. his daughter was talking to her self like 2 yr old do. this black lady sitting across from as told my friend to keep his daughter quiet because she is talking on the cell phone. thats america. the land of the rudeness. america is all hype. i still like to be with my people (marites) once im 46 yrs old im out of here. america is nothing.

ok cruiezer to each his own.
The people in america may be rude but you aren't you being a hyprocrite. what are you doing in AMerica in the first place if you hate it so much.
Arent you benefitting from America too.
Philippines may be a paradise country but it's far from perfect. There is no perfect country. America may have discrimination , racism but it's the closest thing to a working efficient democratic system.

can't wait to go back home to zamboanga, philippines. filipinos here in the states makes the u.s appear like its heaven. work in the philippines is the same here in the u.s . the only difference is the wage. if you are a janitor in the philippines the work here in america is still the same humiliating. many filipinos here in the u.s are doing service jobs like janitor,housekeeping,nursing aid, clerk, etc. what i dont understand is they can save money while working in the u.s then go back home and live a dignified life and at the same time helping their native country by investing like building a house. but i guess they are too dumb to start a business in the philippines and plus most are broke in america. america is just all hype. 30 yrs mortgage to own a house is that in america is that heaven? maybe if you are poor in the philippines

May we know why and how you ended up here in the U.S.?

YOu are wrong most Filipinos have at least a bachelor degree compared to the mainstream of AMerica. Filipinos value education highly . The fact that they can't practice their proffesion or have to start at the lower rung are constraints of new immigrants in an entirely different society. language, culture, nonaccreditation of educational attainment,discrimination.
For example a dentist weknow started out as a lab technician. After a few years of review and hard work he is now a practicing dentist.
Filipinos will venture to foreign shores even if the situation in the Phils does not warrant it , because they are adventurous souls .


I'm talking about some of the families of these professionals who entered the US, they wanted their families to be closer to them so once they are a citizen, they would petition each and every family members they can possibly bring over the US, those are the ones who seeks jobs in a lower work force, others are wives of the ex military servicemen who aren't really well educated. There are alot of them.

I did say I met several well to do filipinos who moved to the US am I? I was disproving cruizer's idea that the filipinos does the dirty jobs in the US. I think you misunderstood me. I'm in a neutral stand there miss marites... :)

to marites---you are the one who is insecure because you keep praising america. philippines is our homeland, no matter how long we have live in america. even if you are born here in america, people still identify you as filipino, not american. you know why marites? because its the white people who made this country, stop praising america. philippines is still the best (marites) if you are a pinoy. no place like home. retiring in the philippines is alot better than here in america. all you are going to do here is watch t.v. whats even better is going home at the age of 46 or if you can younger so that you can really enjoy life. life in the philippines is totally different from the states. in the philippines its easy to make friends. here in america people are stuck up and rude. ---just yesterday, my pinoy friend , his 2 yr old daughter and i went to mcdonalds fast food restaurant. his daughter was talking to her self like 2 yr old do. this black lady sitting across from as told my friend to keep his daughter quiet because she is talking on the cell phone. thats america. the land of the rudeness. america is all hype. i still like to be with my people (marites) once im 46 yrs old im out of here. america is nothing.


I surely believe that this guy is really pretending to be in America, because if he is in america and live here in a long time? If the descrimination towards him are that bad and it affects him mentally, emotionally and morally, why in the world he lasted that long? I belive this is a filipino guy who is trying hard to be very patriotic and is jealous of a better life his fellow filipino countrymen is enjoying in America.

I'm sure he is bitter because cruizzer has no way nor chance to make it in America to make his life better. Racism isn't totally extinguished in America but aren't some filipinos are racist themselves also? Sadly, some of the filipinos are racist against their own race. You can tell a good filipino apart from the bad ones..

Can somebody tell me a short story about American discrimination to Filipinos? I would really appreciate it, thank you very much!:)

well i'll get back to topic.. hope wala namang personallan..

just exchange ideas di ba?

Iba naman ang western culture sa asian.. tayo 16-17 palang papunta na ng college.. sila mga 20+ na hindi pa..

Of course, answering the question.. I'd love to retire here! this is my home e.. though I also dream of studying/working abroad.. syempre.. pero if I would land a decent job here.. then by all means dito nalang ako magwork in the first place..

well i'll get back to topic.. hope wala namang personallan..

just exchange ideas di ba?

Iba naman ang western culture sa asian.. tayo 16-17 palang papunta na ng college.. sila mga 20+ na hindi pa..

Of course, answering the question.. I'd love to retire here! this is my home e.. though I also dream of studying/working abroad.. syempre.. pero if I would land a decent job here.. then by all means dito nalang ako magwork in the first place..


Why not create jobs? Be an entrepreneur.

Yan kasi ang kailangan ng bansa natin para umasenso.

Kaya nga eh ^ ideas on paano yumaman ang PIlipinas at hindi lang paano yumaman ang mga elitistang pilipino.

I'm talking about some of the families of these professionals who entered the US, they wanted their families to be closer to them so once they are a citizen, they would petition each and every family members they can possibly bring over the US, those are the ones who seeks jobs in a lower work force, others are wives of the ex military servicemen who aren't really well educated. There are alot of them.

I did say I met several well to do filipinos who moved to the US am I? I was disproving cruizer's idea that the filipinos does the dirty jobs in the US. I think you misunderstood me. I'm in a neutral stand there miss marites... :)
yup but the US Cencus states accross the board filams as a group are more highly educated, have higher median income, lower poverty rate, lower welfare assistance rate compared to the general population.
THis inspite of discrimination, language barrier.

Those people who are petitioned , you'd be surprised those people are educated too but just because they don't have a good command of the ENglish language they will not be able to work the highly skilled jobs.

if more filipiinos have the same mentality like me of coming to the states just to save money and go back home and invest it in our mother land, the philippines will be in a better shape. i already invested $140,000 in zamboanga. i just had a 2 storie rental building build in zamboanga. my next mission is build a 4 units appartment. once thats build im going home. not only im i going to have a better life in zamboanga because i dont have to work 9 to 5 killing myself with stress, im helping my filipino country. not the white american country. stop your colonial mentality filipinos in america. the white people still thinks we are their muchachos. dont ever think that the white think you are egual. thats why there is no substitute to the philippines if you are pinoy. nothing to be mayabang being in america. its nothing.

it's not just filipinos who try to come to the US in droves.
JUst look at the CHinese you even find them smuggled in container boxes just to get to the US. Chinese, Indian, vietnamese, korean, PErsians pakistanis,even Japanese , in Japan commonpeople have to live in a one room box in the cities because it's so crowded and cost of living is so so so high.

if more filipiinos have the same mentality like me of coming to the states just to save money and go back home and invest it in our mother land, the philippines will be in a better shape. i already invested $140,000 in zamboanga. i just had a 2 storie rental building build in zamboanga. my next mission is build a 4 units appartment. once thats build im going home. not only im i going to have a better life in zamboanga because i dont have to work 9 to 5 killing myself with stress, im helping my filipino country. not the white american country. stop your colonial mentality filipinos in america. the white people still thinks we are their muchachos. dont ever think that the white think you are egual. thats why there is no substitute to the philippines if you are pinoy. nothing to be mayabang being in america. its nothing.

I'm glad you have investments in the Philippines. Hope to see more Pinoys do the same. :okay:

From PinoyExchange: Asian Wiggers (http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260286&page=2)
There is something that can be said about Filipino immigrants in the United States, considering that the comments mentioned pertain to them. While the statistics don’t paint the entire picture, they tell a positive story. Based on the 2000 census:

- 72.4% have completed post-high school education, higher than the national average of 51.8%

- 71% participate in the formal documented labor force, higher than the national average of 69.3% and the average rate for Chinese immigrants of 69.3%

- 83.8% of those employed are working in white collar jobs, higher than the national average of 75.2%

- US$65,000 median family income, higher than the national median of US$50,000

Another study found that the average price of homes bought by Filipino immigrants in the US range from approximately US$640,000 to US$720,000, higher than the national median home price of US$562,000. Furthermore, research done in Yale University found that second-generation Filipino-Americans attain a higher level of education and receive higher incomes than the first generation of Filipino immigrants.



These might just be numbers to some but to the Fil-Ams who are enjoying the best of both worlds, these are realities.

Just keep on finding the best future in your life no matter where you are, it's your life and it is up to you on how you want to make it in this world.

agree ^^ hope more pinoys don't give up as easily on the PHILS by taking the easy way out and migrating. YOu cannot have instant yaman. But for those who opted to do that then goodluck and best wishes for them.

Is the Philippines the new retirement haven of Southeast Asia?

The race to become the star retirement destination of Southeast Asia has started. The Filipino government has made it its flagship program. They hope to attract their own cash-rich expatriates and retirees of the developed world. To realize their ambitions, the government has selected certain key destinations and plans to introduce juicy tax incentives. Robinsons Land Corp has announced that it plans to develop new retirement villages. They have budgeted P 6 billion towards the development of this promising sector.

Are the Philippines set to become the new retirement haven of Southeast Asia as the government puts it? Robinsons Land Corp. is certainly working towards this goal. To meet market demand, the property developer wants to invest in and develop new leisure and retirement villages. The decision reflects the government's ambition to promote towns such as Fort Bonifacio, Makati City, Clark, etc. as retirement destinations of the future. The trade department might want to reduce taxes in such areas to attract new residents.

Land developers are presently targeting Filipinos abroad and the estimated 900 million retirees in the developed world in 2015. Overseas Filipino workers in the USA showed interest in the retirement village projects. Presently Robinsons land has introduced two major residential projects and has budgeted p 6.1 billion for the year to grow its business.

WHEN retired PNP General Edgar Aglipay was called by the President from Washington to offer him a job as Chairman of the Philippine Retirement Authority, he didn’t know anything about that agency. "We should help sell the country," the President told him. He was mandated to create a national retirement industry program.

Actually the PRA has been around for some time, and doing well enough in its modest way. But the Philippines only draws about 500 foreign retirees a year, compared to Thailand and Malaysia 20,000 each a year. The problem, General Aglipay soon discovered when he studied the PRA record was that "we didn’t really have a program." PRA was run, rather like an investors visa in the US, where for a certain amount of money, a foreigner could settle in the Philippines and have multiple exit and reentry privileges without having to go through immigration each time. That was why I, for instance, joined after I was widowed.

Now the president wants to upgrade the retirement industry to a flagship project. In an agreement with PEZA, retirement villages will be Special economic zones. Tourist locations will be established near existing hospitals to provide convenient healthcare. The General is working on such lures as making health insurance "portable" so that what you had in the States or Europe or Japan or Korea would apply here. There is also a program for training of manpower to care for retirees needs.

General Aglipay has appointed a knowledgeable board of advisors, well versed in housing and public service. By 2015 he hopes to get a million retirees a year, the care of which will employ four million Filipinos and produce $ 44 million annually in revenues.

Some retirement villages have already sprouted, built by Japanese and Korean companies for their retirees who choose to come to the Philippines. Agreements have been reached that foreign doctors can become part of the staff of hospitals to serve as interpreters, but not practice.

Outside of the Philippines the world is facing a declining fertility rate and increasing longevity, which makes pensions unsustainable and elderly retirees are seeking least expensive homes.

What are retirees looking for? Climate, security, proximity to medical facilities, a skilled and hospitable workforce, low cost of living. And desirable accommodation. The Philippines can qualify for all these needs.

The newly formed Philippine Retirement Industry held its first summit on July 3rd designed to create and launch a world class retirement industry with the private sector taking the lead, backed by strong support from the government. Key private sector participants include Ayala, Filinvest, Megaworld, Robinsons, Shoemart, and for healthcare the following hospitals have signed on: St. Lukes, Manila Doctors, Asian Hospitals, and others.

Inventories of potential retirees sites have already been identified all over the Philippines and the mapping of existing hospitals against tourist locations. The market thus far is headed by Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China. Next in line are retired overseas workers, Americans, Canadians and Europeans. Assuming only 10% of the 869 million retirees in these target markets thinks about relocating, that represent 86 million people. As further inducement the requirement of fifty thousand dollars for a retirement visa is being reduced to 20,000 for people over fifty which is comparable to the rates charged by Thailand and Malaysia.

The government is serious about promoting the Philippines as a top haven for foreign retirees in Asia. President GMA was just back from her European trip in time to be guest of honor at the first Philippine Retirement Industry summit. While some investments are expected to be forthcoming for her trip in the fields of energy and communications, the most positive results are in the field of tourism and homes for retirees.

When the president and her party were in Spain, two leading Spanish hotel chains, Occidental and Rumasa, inked an agreement for their first investment in Asia. Tourism Secretary Durano suggested they build beach resort since they are popular and the Philippines lacks sufficient good accommodation for the number of tourists that come here from Japan, Korea and China. Locally, the Palawan government announced it is planning to build a R2 billion medical tourism/retiree center with funding from its share of the earnings of the Malampaya Gas Field and mining revenues.

Successful retiree communities need easy access to airports, hospitals, golf courses, beaches and shopping malls. They also need security. An agreement with DILC, DWD and the Philippine police will provide security in retirement communities which have already been identified in Batangas, Tagaytay, Baguio, Subic, Clark and Palawan.

Another plus for the global reach of the Philippines as a haven for retirees is that Manila was judged the least expensive city in Asia for expatriates and retirees to live, according to the Mercer Human Resource international report.

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/07/11/OPED2006071169020.html

OFW PROPERTY FOCUS
Retirement villages to earn $40B, generate 4M jobs

May 30, 2006
Updated 10:03am (Mla time)
Tessa Salazar
Inquirer

A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN selected countries’ demographics in the near future could bring in at least 859,000 foreign retiree arrivals to the Philippines. That number represents less than one percent of the 869.1 million projected retirees the developed world will produce between 2006 and 2015.

Foreseeing nearly a billion retirees looking for a place to spend the rest of their lives, the local retirement industry, especially property developers, are being urged to prepare for at least nearly a million retirees from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, the United States, Canada and other European countries and even former Filipinos or “balikbayans” with dual citizenships looking forward to spend the twilight of their lives back to their homeland.

Housing demand

The main participant, which is the real estate industry, is projected to have 859,000 housing demand either lease or purchase for the next 10 years.

The retirement industry is projected to hit the target foreign exchange receipts at a cumulative $40 billion, with 4 million jobs generated by 2015, making the Philippines a major retirement haven in Southeast Asia for foreigners.

“We don’t have a retirement industry right now. SHDA (Subdivision and Housing Developers Association) is spearheading the creation of the industry. If we’ll not work as a team, we cannot compete with Thailand and Malaysia—two of the main destinations of retirees,” said Noel Gonzales, summit chair and director of the Philippine Retirement Industry. PRI is a private sector organization composed of real estate, health care and lifestyle group.

Industry blueprint

He added that the summit for the retirement industry culminating on July 3 in Shangri-La Makati will create a blueprint for the retirement industry.

Government agency Philippine Retirement Authority and private entity PRI revealed that the other infrastructure necessary for the influx of the retiree market are health and insurance facilities (24-hour clinics, hospitals, airlift ambulance services); 24-hour security arrangements; and recreational, cultural and educational and travel/transportation services.

All these infrastructure and services, the two agencies said, could be integrated into a so-called “retirement village” so that members would have easier access to such services and facilities.

Gen. Edgardo Aglipay, chair of the PRA and Gonzales are scheduled to present plans for the retirement industry to President Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday.

Big 5 developers

Ernesto Ordoñez, incoming president of the PRI, revealed that initially his group has already united the “Big 5” property developers—Gotianun, Gokongwei, Sy, Ayala and Tan—to be part of the group.

Aglipay stressed that the first wave of retirees coming to the Philippines is crucial for the country’s subsequent success in the retirement industry. Thus, he said, it would be necessary to get the support of big names that have the reputation, experience and capability to produce what are needed for the retirement communities.

“They have the condominiums, hospitals, banks, almost everything that a retirement industry needs. It’s just integrating what they have to be able to provide the total retirement services,” he said.

Retirement ‘hotspots’

Prospective retirement “hotspots” have been identified in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These include Metro Clark, Metro Subic, Baguio, Tagaytay, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Cebu, Bohol, Bacolod, Palawan, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

Gonzales revealed that the reasons for the demographic shift favoring the Philippines include pension payment increases in developed countries amounting $1,000 to $1,500 per individual would be insufficient to live on in such countries; family support systems for older people are eroding because of smaller families and a highly mobile population; and the inevitability of mass migration.

Another objective that the groups hope to achieve is the reverse migration of Filipino caregivers.

By 2025, the number of people aged 60 and over will be highest in Japan, Italy and Germany.

120-ha. retirement village

Meanwhile, a retirement village in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, is on the drawing boards as revealed recently by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson to the Inquirer.

Over 120 hectares of rolling hills in Bantay, a town near Vigan, have already been surveyed.

“It will be retirement homes for different nationalities like Koreans, Germans and Taiwanese. And then right at the center of the community would be mall facilities—movie houses and supermarkets,” Singson said.


http://beta-services.inq7.net/express/06/07/01/html_output/20060530-3200.xml.html

^^omg ur a pasaway Bulakenyo thats like the third posting of that article..hahahaha

Ooops! I was searching for articles about this industry yesterday while discussing with my friends here. I happen to be checking out the forums at the same time, thus my post. Sorry po. heheheeehh!

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business02_aug15_2006

Asiana, 3 others plan retirement villages in RP

By Elaine Ruzul S. Ramos

State-owned Philippine Retirement Authority has forged agreements with investors to put up retirement villages in various parts of the country in support of government’s bid to make the Philippines a haven for retirees.

Fernando Francisco, deputy general manager of PRA, told reporters the agency has four memoranda of agreement with private companies, which committed to develop retirement villages in response to increased demand.

US-based UBEC plans to put up a retirement village in Tagbilaran, Bohol for approximately $50 million while Asiana of Japan will undertake the Bayside Hollywood Project in the reclaimed area near the SM Mall of Asia. The project will also include an entertainment and leisure complex.

The third agreement was signed with EDAW Ltd. of Hong Kong, which has committed to put up a retirement facility near the San Simon Exit of the North Luzon Expressway.

Francisco said the proposed project would be designed like a self-contained community with provisions for leisure and recreation.

Sehyun Development of Korea, in partnership with the Puyat family, is putting up Silvertown Nasugbu in Batangas province.

The projects of UBEC and Silvertown broke ground last month, while those of Asiana and EDAW are in the final stages of negotiations.

Francisco said the PRA also signed pertinent agreements with various government agencies for the grant of incentives to retirement industry-related investments.

He added agreements were also signed with several creditor-banks to provide financing to retirement industry projects.

The agency also signed agreement with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide scholarship programs to students to address the need for skilled personnel in the retirement villages.

Tesda has provided 1,000 scholarship grants worth P5,000 each. It will coordinate with the PRA on which skills are needed for each retirement village.

Pool of retiring OFWs seen as significant economic force


By Doris Dumlao
Inquirer
Last updated 01:51am (Mla time) 08/31/2006


The Philippines is seen sitting on a potential gold mine with its large pool of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who intend to settle back in the country and could thus become a significant economic force in the future, a research study shows.

The study titled "OFW Remittances: Patterns, Impact, Sustainability," recently presented to the Ayala group, said favorable global demographics would also likely sustain the strong inflows of OFW remittances to the country in the years ahead.

Its author, former undersecretary of finance Romeo Bernardo, now a board member of Bank of the Philippine Islands, noted that the majority of Filipinos overseas intend to settle back in country when they retire and this could be a significant catalyst for growth in the future.

"What they choose to do when they come back can be an important driver of future economic growth," Bernardo said.

He cited a study of the Asian Development Bank indicating that the majority of Filipinos leaving for overseas job assignments were "very likely" to settle back in the country once they retire.

"This is the good news. When they come back, they bring us not only money but also skills and network to fuel the economy, as well as contribution to better governance and public life since they have seen best practices abroad," he said, citing some successful expatriates who have returned to the Philippines, including Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.

Bernardo said the migration of workers had nothing to do with the quality of domestic governance, as the trend started long ago even when the country was ahead of its peers in the region.

"Remittance per worker is rising recently with the increasing number of professionals being deployed," he said.

In turn, remittances were making the Philippine economy more resilient to shocks that could otherwise affect growth, inflation, external accounts and employment.

In terms of employment, for instance, he said the ratio of jobless Filipinos would have doubled to 20 percent from the current 10 percent if all OFWs stayed in the country.

The wide discrepancy in the compensations here and overseas would likely prompt more workers to leave for overseas jobs, Bernardo said.

In terms of profession, the study said nurses enjoy the highest premium abroad, earning 16 times more than what they could generate if they stayed in the country. Also enjoying higher pays are medical technicians who can earn 10 times more than the local rates, computer programmers (five times higher) and engineers (five times higher).

Domestic helpers abroad are also estimated to earn three times more than their local peers. The scenario is similar for security guards, cooks and caregivers.

Bernardo said Filipinos had diversified geographic sources of employment and were, therefore, immune to event risk in any one or handful of host countries.

In terms of sources, 25.9 percent of global remittances comes from Saudi Arabia, 10.4 percent from the rest of Middle East, 16.0 percent from Europe, 9.3 percent from North America and 8.4 percent from Japan, he said, citing estimates by the International Monetary Fund. With INQ7.net

INQ7 MONEY - FEATURES

Learn the 4 Cs in medical tourism
Eduardo A. Morato
Inquirer

August 27, 2006

CROSS-BORDER health and wellness services or medical tourism can be clustered into four distinct domains that are inter-connected by the provision of professional medical and therapeutic care.

These four domains include: (1) full hospital care and treatment; (2) specialty clinics (e.g. eye, dental and cosmetic services); (3) wellness and spa centers, and; (4) retirement and long-term care for the elderly.

The primary motivations for cross-border health seekers are the high medical costs in their home countries, long queuing times for elective surgeries and the attraction of add-on tourist and therapeutic wellness packages. These packages might include air travel, hotel or resort accommodations, recuperation and rehabilitation programs, site seeing and cross cultural experiences.

According to Michael Porter of Harvard, clusters are "geographic concentrations of interconnected companies, specialized suppliers, service providers, firms in related industries, and associated institutions in particular fields that compete but also cooperate." Clusters promote continuous improvements in customer servicing as competitors try to outdo one another. They also upgrade technologies adopted, production systems used, suppliers' quality, and manpower competencies. Sooner or later, clusters cooperate to share common service facilities, professional expertise, labor pools, suppliers for discounted bulk purchases and information bases.

There are obvious health and wellness clusters in the Philippines. For hospitals, there is the concentration of specialized government and private hospitals in East Avenue. This stretches all the way to E. Rodriguez in Quezon City. Here, one can find hospitals geared primarily for heart, kidney, lung, tuberculosis, children's, and maternity care and treatment as well as some of the best general purpose private hospitals.

South of Metro Manila, another cluster is developing comprised of St. Luke's at Fort Bonifacio, Cardinal Santos in San Juan, Medical City in Pasig, Makati Medical Center and Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa. Although more spaced out from one another, they serve the more affluent customers living in the environs of Edsa and South Expressway. Specialty eye, dental and cosmetic clinics also thrive robustly in this lucrative stretch. So do wellness and therapeutic centers.

Spas likewise abound in more distant resort clusters. Unfortunately, these health and wellness establishments have not yet embarked on full-scale cooperation and integration programs. Hopefully, the initiative of the Philippine government to promote and develop medical tourism will galvanize them into more cooperative action. Investors in the retirement and elderly care sectors should position themselves strategically to take advantage of this clustering effect.

Clusters spawn participants in and complete the supply and market chains of geographically concentrated industries. At the back end of the supply chain are the agriculture, real estate and education sectors. From agriculture, two vital products emerge: food and therapeutic oils and balms. Food for the health and wellness cluster range from the common diet to organic food, medicinal herbs and tonics. Food is brought to the cluster via logistics and distribution intermediaries.

From the real estate sector, there are architectural and engineering firms, project developers and construction companies, financing and marketing arms, including banks and investing institutions. They build hospitals, clinics, resorts, restaurants, retirement homes, and spas. Finally, from the education and training sector comes the professional health workers which include doctors, nurses, therapists, medical technologists, nutritionists, caregivers, managers, supervisors, cooks, waiters, housekeepers, etc. Three industries directly serve the cluster at the middle end of the supply chain. These are the IT-enabled services sector, the suppliers of equipment and materials and the travel and tourism middlemen.

With the health and wellness cluster at center stage, it is linked to the market chain by air and land transport companies, international health and wellness service syndicators and safety and security enforcers.

Connecting these connectors to the final customers are information intermediaries (digital, advertising and promotions units) and the all-important health maintenance organizations, national health insurance and social security systems. They bring the global health and wellness seekers to their desired destinations.

The tight interlinking of the cluster with the supply and market chains accelerate the convergence efforts of public and private institutions all the way from the back end of the supply chain to the final customers. They are composed of government agencies with specific mandates, industry associations, service networks and the like. For example, at the back end, one will find interventions from the Departments of Agriculture, Public Works and Highways, the Commission for Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. At the front end, the Departments of Foreign Affairs, of Trade and Industry and of Tourism converge to entice global customers. At the middle, one would find the most concentrated convergence of both public and private institutions.

Finally, the clustering, chaining and converging phenomenon creates communities of product and service providers who join hands to make available all the critical requirements of the entire health and wellness universe. "Communitizing" these providers allow for quality standards, volume deliveries and even cost containment since it would be more expensive to avail of their products and services from large corporations and high-overhead institutions. At the back end, farmers can be "communitized" for the production of organic food. In between, therapists, cooks, waiters, caregivers, taxi operators, and even medical doctors can be "communitized." At the front end, the obvious community is composed of long term care customers (elderly patients with chronic conditions) and retirees seeking each other's companionship for recreation activities.

A complete model for Clustering, Chaining, Converging and Community in Cross Border Health and Wellness Services is shown in the accompanying diagram.

If the Philippine government and industry associations desire to be a major global participant in cross-border health and wellness professional care services, they would be well advised to embrace the clustering, chaining, converging and "communitizing" model. Entrepreneurs will find bountiful and boundless opportunities by identifying obvious gaps or linking various elements of the model together.



©2006 www.inq7.net all rights reserved

Expat is poster boy for RP retirement bliss
By Rome Jorge Thursday, December 28, 2006

He grew up in Stratford England and worked in such exotic corners of the globe as Japan and Brazil. But it is here in the Philippines where he has worked for eight years that outgoing Unilever chairman Howard Belton intends to spend most of his golden years.

“I enjoy living here,” Belton told editors and reporters of The Manila Times at a roundtable Wednesday.

The business executive said he is even willing to be a spokesman for government efforts to build up the Philippines as a retirement haven.

Belton said he and his wife have practical and emotional reasons for wanting to stay on. High taxes and cost of living in England make this country an attractive option, he pointed out.

“The retirement scheme for foreigners is quite attractive,” he said. “It is far easier to get good care here,” Belton added, referring to an ailing father-in-law.

Export hub

Speaking of his company’s prospects, Belton said Unilever Philippines intends the country to be an export hub for “innovative” laundry detergents and mayonnaise variants.

“We realized that Unilever Philippines could be a good export source. Right now, we are creating a new technology for our laundry detergent, I’m sure the Philippines will be very competent there. We also consider dressing; [mayonnaise variants] because we have a very good and modern plant here, at the same time everything would still be available locally,” he said.

He said Unilever’s Philippine subsidiary has sustained its 30-percent annual growth in the last four years though the economic crunch is expected to whittle this down to 25 percent for 2006 and to 10 percent by 2007.

Referring to the downsizing of products for greater sales, Belton quipped that Rexona, a popular deodorant brand, produces “big sticks” for the United States market and 24 other countries. It is only the Philippines, he pointed, which sells the mini sticks.

“The problem is with the economy . . . most people are short of money now, but we are growing nevertheless,” Belton said.

Affection

The couple intends to split their time between the Philippines and England, where they have a farm in bucolic Kent.

Besides many fond memories and close friendships built during his long stay here, Belton said he still feels a duty to continue helping Unilever’s corporate social responsibility programs like a feeding project for undernourished children in Baseco and Smokey Mountain and environmental rehabilitation efforts for the Pasig River, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay.

In his book, A Voyage of Discovery, he confesses a fondness for the warmth of the Philippines, both its weather and the hospitality of its people.

As an Englishman accustomed gray skies and rain, Benton said he found this country’s abundant sunlight having a beneficial effect on his emotions.

Besides hospitality and graciousness, Benton admires Filipinos’ willingness to adapt to change, saying this made them ideal business colleagues.

Don’t expect Benton to spend his retirement days puttering around the house. The couple has business plans and the executive joked: “My wife is making it very hard for me to retire and not to work.”

The Future of Retirement: What the World Wants

This is the result of one of the most comprehensive research projects conducted with respect to global attitudes towards ageing, retirement and increased longevity.

For the global study, HSBC collaborated with three leading organizations: the Oxford University’s Institute of Ageing, the Age Wave consultancy, and the market research company Harris Interactive. In Manila, HSBC teamed up with AC Nielsen.


Key Findings of Local Research

Retirement as a positive chapter in life
A Time to Spend with Family and Friends
Self-Sufficiency
Assistance from the Government




Retirement as a positive chapter in life
82% of the sample size view retirement as a delightful stage in one’s life, where the opportunity to start a whole new chapter in life, and to have rest and relaxation occurs. It is associated with satisfaction and excitement. Relatively few people associate it with negative feelings such as boredom, loneliness and fear. The main fear people have about retirement is having poor health.


A Time to Spend with Family and Friends
Filipinos look forward to spending time with loved ones and friends, taking up new hobbies, and even working. It is important for them to maintain their spiritual and physical well-being. They anticipate not wanting to worry about financial concerns at that critical stage in their lives.


Self-Sufficiency
Filipinos believe that individuals should bear most of the financial costs of their retirement.

“Who should bear most of financial cost in supporting retirement years?”

• Individual 36%
• Government 34%
• Children / Family Members 19%
• Previous Employer 11%

http://www.hsbc.com.ph/ph/for/images/graph1.jpg

However, amongst Filipinos, there is no sense of urgency with regards to preparing for retirement. In fact, over 80% of both the younger (30-50) and the older (51-65) age groups have never sought professional financial advice on retirement.


Assistance from the Government
Filipinos know that they need to do more to help themselves financially during retirement, but they wish that the government would help them on this through mandating a later retirement age and helping enforce additional private savings.

“Which one of the following do you think the government in this country should do first in supporting and financing an aging population?”

• enforce additional private savings 56%
• later retirement age 34%
• raise taxes 1%

http://www.hsbc.com.ph/ph/for/images/graph2.jpg

I don't think there should be an expectation that children and other family members should bear the cost of retirement of their parents. That should not be an expectation of them but one that the child/ children and or other family members should be willing to give of themselves.

There should be an adequate pension and social security system in the Philippines so that people are forced to be gainfully employed and contribute to these systems during their more productive years so that they will be able to retire comfortably without burdening their children.

Links to an INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY ABOUT JFK, JR., Documenting in Passing U.S. IMMIGRATION Discriminatory Policies back in the '60s against Asians:

Part 1 - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9060305020185604305&q=hanky+jfk+jr.&hl=en

Part 2 - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6273040372284493683&q=hanky+jfk+jr.&hl=en

Part 3 - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1905124616958608810&q=hanky+jfk+jr.&hl=en

Part 4 - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8867674094783044729&q=hanky+jfk+jr.&hl=en

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

State Police for Global Control:

Below is excerpt from DARPA'S FUTURE WAR ON URBAN POOR

DARPA's Future War on the Urban Poor

In his tour de force Planet of Slums, Mike Davis observes, "the Pentagon's best minds have dared to venture where most United Nations, World Bank or State Department types fear to go… [T]hey now assert that the 'feral, failed cities' of the Third World – especially their slum outskirts – will be the distinctive battlespace of the twenty-first century." Pentagon war-fighting doctrine, he notes, "is being reshaped accordingly to support a low-intensity world war of unlimited duration against criminalized segments of the urban poor."

In fact, this past October the U.S. Army issued its latest "urban operations" manual. "Given the global population trends and the likely strategies and tactics of future threats," it declares, "Army forces will likely conduct operations in, around, and over urban areas – not as a matter of fate, but as a deliberate choice linked to national security objectives and strategy, and at a time, place, and method of the commander's choosing." Global economic deprivation and poor housing, the hallmarks of the urban slum, are, the manual asserts, what makes "urban areas potential sources of unrest" and thus, "[i]ncreases the likelihood of the Army's involvement in stability operations." And "idle" urban youth (long a target of security forces in the U.S. "homeland"), loosed in the future slum city from the "traditional social controls" of "village elders and clan leaders" and prey to manipulation by "nonstate actors" draw particular concern from the manual's authors.

Given the assumed need to be in the urban Iraqs of the future, the question for the U.S. military becomes a practical one: How to deal with these uppity children of the third world. That's where DARPA and other Department of Defense (DoD) dreamers come in. According to DARPA's 2004 report, what's needed are "new systems and technologies for prosecution of urban warfare… [and] new operational methods for our soldiers, Marines, and special operations forces."

Today, DARPA, and other Pentagon ventures like the Small Business Innovation Research Program (in which the "DoD funds early-stage R&D projects at small technology companies") and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program (where funding goes to "cooperative R&D projects involving a small business and a research institution") are awash in "urban operations-oriented programs." These go by the acronym of UO and are designed to support tomorrow's interventions and occupations. The Director of DARPA's Information Exploitation Office put it this way:

"[They are aimed at] conflicts in high density urban areas… against enemies having social and cultural traditions that may be counter-intuitive to us, and whose actions often appear to be irrational because we don't understand their context."

These programs include a wide range of efforts to visualize, map out, and spy on the global mega-favelas that the U.S. has, until now, largely scorned and neglected. A host of unmanned vehicles are also being readied for surveillance and combat in these future "hot-zones," while all sorts of lethal enhancements are in various stages of development to enable American troops to more effectively kick down the doors of the poor in 2025.

Urban Planning, Pentagon-style: Spider-Men and Exploding Frisbees

So let's try to fill out that futuristic combat scenario in the planet's urban jungles with a little futuristic detail. Current UO-oriented systems under development include:

VisiBuilding: This is a program aimed at addressing "a pressing need in urban warfare: seeing inside buildings" by developing technology that will allow U.S. forces to "determine building layouts, find anomalous quantities of materials," and "locate people within the building." According to Edward Baranoski of DARPA's Special Projects Office, Visibuilding will allow "a lot of opportunity to stake out buildings and really see inside." Think of it as a high-tech military Peeping Tom system that lets U.S. troops spy inside foreign homes and make judgments about whatever they might deem "anomalous" inside. While VisiBuilding is in development, troops will have to be content with "Radar Scope" which allows them to "sense through 12 inches of concrete to determine if someone is inside a building."

Camouflaged Long Endurance Nano Sensors: This "real-time ultra-wideband radar network… will detect, classify, localize, and track dismounted combatants… in urban environments." In translation, a system of palm-sized, networked sensors will monitor an area, day in, day out for weeks at a time. This is what DARPA likes to call "persistent surveillance." The U.S. military has headed down this particular surveillance path before via the ill-fated McNamara Line and various people-sniffer devices, all of which proved incapable of differentiating between armed combatants and civilians in Vietnam era. On this score, there's little reason to believe anything will change in future alien urban slums, despite the increasing technological sophistication of such systems.

UrbanScape: This program aims "to make the foreign city as 'familiar as the soldier's backyard'" by providing "the warfighters patrolling an urban environment with an up-to-date, high resolution model of the urban terrain that can be viewed, manipulated and analyzed." Specially-outfitted unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Humvees are to gather data about a target city and then translate it into 3D visuals. These images will then be available to troops for use in navigating through and conducting combat operations in tomorrow's labyrinthine slums.

Heterogeneous Urban RSTA Team: With the apt acronym of HURT, this program will network together a squadron of small, low-altitude UAVs sending video footage to hand-held devices for the immediate use of urban RSTA (reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition) troops. This high-tech system is designed, according to DARPA's director, Dr. Anthony J. Tether, to provide U.S. forces with "unprecedented awareness that enables them to shape and control [a] conflict as it unfolds." It is meant to improve the odds when American counterinsurgency warriors take on "warfighters in a MOUT [Military Operations on Urban Terrain] environment" or any rag-tag slum militia of tomorrow. If a report by the Pentagon Channel News is to be believed, HURT will be operational by 2008.

The Air Force is, in turn, seeking the "ability to continuously track, tag, and locate (TTL) asymmetric threats in urban environments using sensors across the tiers of airborne assets." What they envision is a slew of UAVs loitering long-term above hostile cities and slums, ready at a moment's notice to spot a target and begin tracking it. Such "targets" might be "commercial vehicles" or individuals identified through a "hyperspectral imaging HSI video camera" that allows for "the frequency spectrum of clothes, hair, and skin [to] be exploited" thus providing "targeting level accuracy to weapon delivery assets." Think of it as the high-tech urban hunter-killer system for the neo-colonial future. While the Air Force sees this as a way to target and kill "anti-occupation forces" in Baghdad 2025, they also envision it doing double duty in the Homeland where, they say, "law enforcement require[s] urban target tracking."

Nano Air Vehicle: Imagine a world in which mechanical gnats infest a city, buzzing through people's homes, intruding on their lives, filming whatever they choose with tiny cameras and transmitting the data back to U.S. troops. This program aims to "develop and demonstrate an extremely small (less than 7.5 cm), ultra-lightweight (less than 10 grams) air vehicle system… to provide the warfighter with unprecedented capability for urban mission operations."

Additionally, there's the Multi Dimensional Mobility Robot (MDMR), which "will traverse complex urban terrain"; the Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) a small, vertical take-off and landing UAV that will be "employable in a variety of warfighting environments" including "urban areas"; and the intriguing but shadowy Urban Hopping Robots program whose project manager, Dr. Michael Obal, declined to answer Tomdispatch's inquiries about the project. Jan R. Walker of DARPA's External Relations office told Tomdispatch in an email that there is "very limited information available on the Urban Hopping Robots program," but suggested that the "program is developing a semi-autonomous hybrid hopping/articulated wheeled robotic platform that could adapt to the urban environment in real-time and provide the delivery of small payloads to any point of the urban jungle while remaining lightweight, small to minimize the burden on the soldier." The proposed hopping robot, she noted, "would be truly multi-functional in that it will negotiate all aspects of the urban battlefield to deliver payloads to non-line-of-sight areas with precision."

Z-Man: Copyright infringement was probably the only thing that stopped this DARPA program from being called the "Spiderman Project." Basically, Z-Man seeks to "develop climbing aids that will enable an individual soldier to scale vertical walls constructed of typical building materials without the need for ropes or ladders." The Pentagon is aiming to find methods similar to those employed by "geckos, spiders, and small animals [to] scale vertical surfaces, that is, by using unique biological material systems that enable controllable adhesion." This weaponized wall-crawler, assumedly capable of creeping into some 2025 apartment window in Baghdad, Beruit, or Karachi "carrying a combat load," definitely is not meant to be your friendly neighborhood Spiderman.

Modular Disc-Wing (Frisbee) Urban Cruise Munition: Yes, you read it right, the Air Force has green-lighted Triton Systems, Inc. to create "a MEFP [Multiple Explosively Formed Penetrator]-armed Lethal Frisbee UAV." That is, a flying disk that will "locate defiladed combatants in complex urban terrain" and annihilate them using a bunker-buster warhead. Unlike your run-of-the mill Wham-O, however, this "frisbee" will probably be thrown using a device resembling a skeet launcher.

Close Combat Lethal Recon This deadly, loitering explosive expressively for use in urban landscapes will expand a soldier's killing zone by reaching "over and around buildings, onto rooftops, and into open building portals." Think of it as a smart grenade or, according to DARPA Director Tether, "a tube-launched cruise munition that can be used by a dismounted infantryman in an urban area to attack a target, perhaps spotted by a UAV, which is beyond his line of sight. It's like a small mortar round with a grenade-size explosive in it. A fiber-optic line unreels from its back end and provides the data link that allows the soldier to see the video from the munition's camera and to fly it into the target."

Training for Tomorrow's Urban Occupations

Just a cursory glance at last year's Pentagon expenditures makes clear the heavy emphasis on training the men and women who are slated to use DARPA's high-tech urban weapons against slum-dwellers in the coming years. In March 2006, the Army signed a nearly $25 million contract "for construction of a combined arms collective training facility/urban assault complex" at Fort Carson, Colorado. In August, the Navy inked an $18.5 million deal for the "design and construction of a combined arms military operations in urban terrain facility" at Twenty-nine Palms, California. In September, the Army approved a contract for the construction of an Urban Assault Course at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. In November, the Navy awarded a $12,500,000 contract for construction of a "Special Operations Force Military Operations on Urban Terrain Training Complex" at San Clemente Island, California. And in December 2006, the Army agreed to pay $11,838,998 for a new "Military Operations Urban Terrain Facility" for Fort Irwin, California.

The Pentagon has even exported its urban warfare training centers to sites closer to tomorrow's prospective targets, such as the Army's custom-made MOUT facilities at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan and at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. In November 2006, the Army awarded General Dynamics a $17 million contract to construct an urban combat training site as part of the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center in Jordan – a facility which will, according to an Army spokesman, be available to "all friendly nations that support the War on Terror."

American Terminators vs. Drug-Dealing Serial-Killer Guerillas

As both the high-tech programs and the proliferating training facilities suggest, the Pentagon views the foreign slum city of tomorrow as a dystopian nightmare and the bloody battlespace to be feared and controlled in the coming decades. Beyond this, the Pentagon exhibits a palpable fear of urban disorder of any sort. In response, it is creating its own Hollywood-style solutions to its Hollywood-esque Escape From New York-meets-Bladerunner-meets-Zulu-meets-Robocop vision of the Third World city to come.

For example, the Navy/Marine Corps recently launched a program seeking to develop algorithms to predict the criminality of a given building or neighborhood. The project, titled "Finding Repetitive Crime Supporting Structures," defines cities as nothing more than a collection of "urban clutter [that] affords considerable concealment for the actors that we must capture." The "hostile behavior bad actors," as the program terms them, are defined not just as "terrorists," today's favorite catch-all boogiemen, but as a panoply of nightmare archetypes: "insurgents, serial killers, drug dealers, etc." For its part, the Army's recently revised "Urban Operations" manual offers an even more extensive list of "persistent and evolving urban threats," including regional conventional military forces, paramilitary forces, guerrillas, and insurgents as well as terrorists, criminal groups, and angry crowds. In fact, even the threat of computer "hackers" are mentioned.

To do battle in dystopian mega-cities where serial killers, druglords, hackers, and urban guerillas may have joined forces, DARPA is intent on developing a program worthy of a direct-to-video sci-fi thriller. In a recent solicitation, it offered a vision of a human-robot military SWAT team busting down doors in a favela of the future. It reads:

"The challenge is to create a system demonstrating the use of multiple robots with one or more humans on a highly constrained tactical maneuver… One example of such a maneuver is the through-the-door procedure often used by police and soldiers to enter an urban dwelling… [where] one kicks in the door then pulls back so another can enter low and move left, followed by another who enters high and moves right, etc. In this project the teams will consist of robot platforms working with one or more human teammates as a cohesive unit. The robots should be under autonomous control rather than remote/teleoperated."

This scenario of tomorrow already seems well launched. The military has, in fact, been obsessed with the idea of sending to war heavily-armed, teleoperated robots – such as the Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System, or SWORDS Talon, a small, all-terrain tracked vehicle, used by the U.S. military since 2000, that can be outfitted with M240 or M249 machine guns, Barrett 50-caliber rifles, 40 mm grenade launchers, and anti-tank rocket launchers.

Pentagon to Global Cities: Drop Dead

This past fall, the Pentagon's U.S. Joint Forces Command engaged in a $25 million, 35-day, computer-based simulation exercise involving more than 1,400 soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors. A year in the making, "Urban Resolve 2015" had one simple goal – to test concepts for future "combat in cities" – and, not surprisingly, it was set in Baghdad 2015. An article put out by the Pentagon's American Forces Press Service was quick to say, however, that the virtual exercise really could be taking place in "any urban environment." And the reason why was clear, in the words of Dave Ozolek, the executive director of the Joint Futures Lab at the Joint Forces Command. Urban zones, he said, are "where the fight is, that's where the enemy is, that['s] where the center of gravity for the whole operation is."

While the Joint Forces Command may already be war-gaming the 2015 Battle for Baghdad, right now it looks like the U.S. military will have trouble hanging on there for even a couple of more years. Still, if present plans become reality, odds are U.S. military planners will be attempting to occupy some city, in some fashion, come 2015 and 2025. In the future, as the Army's new Urban Operations Manual puts it, "every Soldier – regardless of branch or military occupational specialty – must be committed and prepared to close with and kill or capture threat forces in an urban environment."

The way the Pentagon seems to envision the future, its human-robot expeditionary forces will spend increasing amounts of time dropping in on Third World super-slums armed not only with heavy weaponry, but also with gadgets galore. They will be able to read instant 3D maps of the buildings they're approaching and watch real-time video of the most intimate activities in the urban zone they've been tasked to subdue.

As tiny flying UAVs blanket an impoverished neighborhood, a squad of special-ops Spidermen and Geko warriors will crawl and slither up apartment-building walls, while teams of robots are simultaneously hopping through first floor windows, and Terminator-Human teams are kicking down front doors to capture an enemy drug kingpin. Nearby "angry crowds" of politically-minded youth will be engaged by heavily-armed tele-operated SWORDS Talon robots, while a few up-armored cyborg troops, at a safe distance, fire their loitering smart grenades at a gathering crowd of armed slum-dwellers who believe themselves well hidden and protected in nearby alleyways.

Of course, no matter the fantasies of Pentagon scientists and planners, such futuristic solutions will not replace U.S. reliance on massive firepower, even in labyrinthine cities, as was true with Tokyo during World War II, Pyongyang during the Korean War, Ben Tre in Vietnam, and the Sunni city of Fallujah during the current war in Iraq. As Major Tim Karcher, the operations officer for the Army's Task Force 2-7 Cavalry, recalled of the American assault on Fallujah in November 2004, "We sat there for a good six or seven hours…watching… this death and destruction rain down on the city, from AC-130 [gunship]s to any kind of fast-moving aircraft, 155 [millimeter] howitzers. You name it, everybody was getting in the mix."

Given the military's fear of sending large numbers of American troops into the enemy-friendly landscape of the urban mega-slum, where significant casualties are almost unavoidable, this form of Pentagon-preferred urban renewal is unlikely to be replaced, no matter what technologies come down the pike.

The Military and the Metropolis

Cities are obviously on the Pentagon's hit list – today, it's Baghdad; tomorrow 2015 or 2025, if military planners are right, it could be Accra, Bogotá, Dhaka, Karachi, Kinshasa, Lagos, Mogadishu or even a perenial favorite, Port-au-Prince. Regardless of the exact locale, Pentagon strategists looking into the DARPA crystal ball of the future have determined that urban slums will be a crucial battleground, and slum-dwellers a crucial enemy.

Yet the outlook for the U.S. military is not upbeat – even with high-tech exploding frisbees, spider-man suits, terminator-like robots, and urban training facilities galore coming on line. In the wars begun since the U.S. high command moved into its own self-described virtual "city" – the Pentagon – a distinct inability to decisively defeat any but its weakest foes has been in evidence.

Korea in the early 1950s, Vietnam in the 1960s and 70s, Lebanon in the early 1980s, Somalia in the early 1990s were all failures. More recently, victory in Afghanistan has proved worse than elusive and a ragtag insurgency in Iraq has fought the Pentagon's technological dominance and superior firepower to a standstill. While able to cause massive casualties and tremendous destruction, the Pentagon war machine has proven remarkably ineffectual when it comes to achieving actual victory.

Now, the Pentagon has decided to prepare for a fight with a restless, oppressed population of slum-dwellers one billion strong and growing at an estimated rate of 25 million people per year. To take on even lone outposts in this multitude – like any of the 400 cities of over 1 million people that exist today or the 150 more estimated to be in existence by 2015 – is a fool's errand, a recipe for both carnage and quagmire.



Can somebody tell me a short story about American discrimination to Filipinos? I would really appreciate it, thank you very much!:)

retirement business will be the "in" thing by 2010 and you better start now...and of course...cremation business....

^^ Yes, the Philippines should better. But with the growing strength of the peso vis-a-vis the dollar, FilAms who were thinking of retiring there to stretch their dollar retirement moneys might just decide to stay put. Or maybe, they will still find retiring in the Philippines attractive because of the way of life, the people and the culture there.

Pinoy oldies wanna have fun
By CHINO S. LEYCO, The Manila Times

Don’t call them straight-laced oldies. The "elderly" in the Philippines spend the bulk of their money on dining and entertaining, a study by MasterCard Worldwide disclosed.

In the book The Glittering Silver Market: The Rise of the Elderly Consumers in Asia, Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, MasterCard economic adviser says Filipinos aged 40 and above spent $1.16 billion last year on discretionary items, with 60 percent taken up by dining and entertaining alone.

Wong expects the trend to continue throughout this decade.

The book shows that elderly household expenses on dining and entertaining will grow an average 6.7 percent a year, bringing the total discretionary expenditure to almost $2 billion in 2015.

Wong adds that travel and leisure activities and purchases of auto, PC and mobile phones of elderly households are projected to rise to $290 million in 2015 from $140 million in 2005. That indicates an annual growth of over 10 percent.

The book also shows that over 40 percent of Malaysians and Thais elders’ money was spent on dining and entertaining in 2005.

In the Philippines, shopping is the second most favored activity among the elderly, accounting for 26 percent or $300 million of the 2005 total. Purchases of electronics and automobiles ranked third.

"Their rankings will remain the same until 2015. The expected growth rates of these key discretionary expenditure items are very uneven in 10 years," Wong notes.

The elderly will maintain an outlook of exploration and an enthusiasm for new experiences, according to MasterCard Asia/Pacific president Andre Sekulic.

"They are willing to try new products and services and use new technologies and businesses have to respond fast to these changes with proactive strategies in order to capture these emerging opportunities," Sekulic says.

for me by the time i'll go back home in 2013, my investment in zamboanga would be around $230,000. im investing in a 2 storie commercial building and appartment units. thats my revolving fund in zamboanga. i will be 46 yrs old by then. i want to go home as young as possible. life is too short to be working like a machine.

^^Good for you :), I must suggest that to my parents.


@problemsolver, thanks!:)

my main concern is health care..i dont wanna spend my pension just to pay for medical bills.
accdgly, philhealth only pays a percentage..and there's a limit in a year.
is there a better option for med insurance?

my main concern is health care..i dont wanna spend my pension just to pay for medical bills.
accdgly, philhealth only pays a percentage..and there's a limit in a year.
is there a better option for med insurance?

If you are located in the US and have Blue Cross Medical Insurance the new Asian Hospital in Alabang, Manila is an accredited medical center for all Blue Cross policy holders.......

Gen. Ed Aglipay of the Philippine Retirement Authority and the Secretary of Health are working with US counterparts to accredit other approved Hospitals such as Makati Medical, the New Medical City in Pasig and Cebu Doctors Hospital in Cebu.... with other Health Care providers in the US and from the UK..... I'll try and find some more info next week..............

Regards & :cheers:
Beth

If you are located in the US and have Blue Cross Medical Insurance the new Asian Hospital in Alabang, Manila is an accredited medical center for all Blue Cross policy holders.......

Gen. Ed Aglipay of the Philippine Retirement Authority and the Secretary of Health are working with US counterparts to accredit other approved Hospitals such as Makati Medical, the New Medical City in Pasig and Cebu Doctors Hospital in Cebu.... with other Health Care providers in the US and from the UK..... I'll try and find some more info next week..............

Regards & :cheers:
Beth
oh yes pls!! am in UK,
as much as possible i dont wanna be here till am uugod-ugod na:cheers:
might as well start paying now..

My personal critical health plan is under AIG Canada. Five more semi-annual payment to go but the maturity won't be up until 10 years after the full payment. Does anybody know what hospitals accept AIG Canada health plan in RP?

Retiring in the Philippines.....

We all have different opinions on what retirement is going to be like when we get there. Sometimes its hard for me to imagine what its going to be like when I'm much older and slower. Will I be able to dodge the jeepneys and buses as I try to cross the streets of Makati? I wonder if I can still confidently walk at night when I'm no longer strong and capable to defend myself. My mother who is in her 90's, still gets mailers and phone calls from predators doing their best to swindle her out of her meager retirement funds. Maybe there will be less of those in the Philippines. Healthcare is another worry. What is the quality like? It will certainly be lower in cost. Philippines is not as litigious as America, the primary reason for the high cost of care. I wonder if I can find a job in the Philippines if I want to just get back in the fray... just to keep the old grey matter sharp. I wonder if my kids will come and see me sometimes.

please, don't find a job here, please create jobs.

:lol:

Done that already. Our little venture currently employs people in Manila and Iloilo. That is one thing I noticed in the workplace in the Philippines, it is dominated by the young, not the young at heart.

alam mo natatakot ako magretire sa pnas kasi nga yung access sa health care parang nakakatakot

^^ My parents said the same thing too Tigs. :colgate:

alam mo natatakot ako magretire sa pnas kasi nga yung access sa health care parang nakakatakot

Hi, Chi-town friend. Shame on me if I did not utter... GO BEARS!!!!
My wife and I felt the same way before we decided to retire to the Philippines this year. But because we have the option to buy the medical insurance with an international coverage there that can be billed directly to our company, the answer's obvious. Besides, we'll be residing in FBGC and a nearby city which are both very convenient/acessible to excellent hospitals; with positive attitude and faith in the Almighty, as well as presently being not so advanced in age (late 50's) and heathy, we think it would be okay for us.
I look at it this way.... being expats, we can always travel back to the US without going through hoops should the need comes up. Review your case.You may find it doable also.
Good luck and God bless!

Yeah i think tigs is about to retire next year.

Hi, Chi-town friend. Shame on me if I did not utter... GO BEARS!!!!
My wife and I felt the same way before we decided to retire to the Philippines this year. But because we have the option to buy the medical insurance with an international coverage there that can be billed directly to our company, the answer's obvious. Besides, we'll be residing in FBGC and a nearby city which are both very convenient/acessible to excellent hospitals; with positive attitude and faith in the Almighty, as well as presently being not so advanced in age (late 50's) and heathy, we think it would be okay for us.
I look at it this way.... being expats, we can always travel back to the US without going through hoops should the need comes up. Review your case.You may find it doable also.
Good luck and God bless!

Are you really retiring or will you put up a business in the Philippines or engage in some other job? Coz, I am thinking, life expectancy is pretty long now and you have a good 30 more years ahead of you.

please, don't find a job here, please create jobs.

you are absolutely right, amigo32. If one plans to retire to the Philippines and then work for a living, why even retire there/then? for what? retire when ready with dignity and TRY to help those who are truly in need. regards!

^ Why? One can retire and still teach naman ah. That is, if one has teaching qualifications.

Are you really retiring or will you put up a business in the Philippines or engage in some other job? Coz, I am thinking, life expectancy is pretty long now and you have a good 30 more years ahead of you.

It will be retirement for me, but spouse would like to venture out to keep her busy and to help relatives. There are so many things to do there and to stay busy, which include vacation travels of course. Regards to all!

^^ Yes. That will be nice @chictown. There are so many things to do that you will find pleasure in. You have eked out already to achieve your desired lifestyle.

^ Why? One can retire and still teach naman ah. That is, if one has teaching qualifications.

I don't disagree because it's part of my plan,,,,,but it will be my contribution amongst other things. Regards!

to marites----the rich filipinos are still in the philippines, they are not moving out and coming to the states. im from zamboanga and i never heard of any rich zamboangueno selling his/her business and moving to the states. all the zamboanguenos i know here in the states are all middle class and poor in zamboanga. about the health care issue. most people who are retiring here in the states are getting only $700 on average on social security and medicare pays very little. with $700 a month you'll get great meidical care in the philippines. here in the states with $700 you need to work till you are 70 yrs old then stay at a low income retirement home. if you are smart (marites) you'll buy a condo in makati and by the time you reach 62 yrs old you can get early retirement then retire in the philippines then live well. but me im shooting at the age of 46 yrs old. i want to go back home and enjoy life knowing i dont have to work 9 to 5, 5 days a week. america is just all hype. the majority of the people here are still slave for the super rich. philippines is still the best place if you are a filipino with money. no substitute. in the philippines you dont feel out of place like here in the states. no place like home (marites) l
This reply maybe late but... truth is, it's not how much you make but how much you save/invest in a clever way. Live and let live! Life is too short to be bitter on anything that does not improve one's well-being.

please, don't find a job here, please create jobs.

my personal view on this matter...quit employing people. instead empower them to be attuned to the new dynamics of business wherein "The Individual himself is the Business".

Doing this will take a lot of time by way of mentoring and, need i say, "brainwashing". Brainwashing because we have to thrash out that "Baltic & Co. Business Model" (Fixed office with Boss, Secretary, Miss Tapia, Janitor etc.).

As he/she grows in this model, the same could mentor others thereby multiplying the number of business owners instead of just adding employees.

to cosmomanila ---this is the lie im talking about. you know very well that the majority of filipinos working here in the states are working service jobs. like janitorial, clerk, housekeeping,nursing aid, etc. you go to any hospital here in seattle like harboview, swedish hospital, virginia mason. most of the janitorial crew are filipinos. the same thing with retirement homes here in seattle. i have a friend (filipino) who works as a valet attendant at a retirement home here in seattle. there are 7 valet attendants and 4 are filipino 2 etiopians and 1 white married to a filipina. and they have a board with all the pictures of the workers at the retirement and they have a alot of filipinos in janitorial, dining room and nursing aid. ------the rich filipinos will never come to america to work. the philippines is still a paradise for them. like i said before , there is no substitude for the philippines if you are a filipino. philippines is still the best place to live. i hope i can go back home at 46 yr old. filipinos here in america just want to create alot of hoopla about america so that they will look super rich. so that they can look down at the philippines and say we are better than you filipinos in the philippines. remember filipinos in america you are still a working slave, working from 9 to 5, 5 days a week. only the desperate filipinos are the ones coming to america. the super rich filipinos are staying home. we are filipinos, not american. and philippines is our home. no place like home. i never met a rich filipino who moved to america. philippines is still the best. i miss home.

Hello, Cruiser. In short, you're one desperate individual and not rich reason for your being in WA. What's this? Close your eyes and plug your ears if you you don't like what you see/hear! Lighten up. I have Zamboangean relatives but they don't smear at others like you. Be civilized, brod. Let it be!

Yeah i think tigs is about to retire next year.

:lol:
ikaw ha joking mo ko ha

@chictown, anyway im still too far away from retiring although ive been getting some small pension :lol: pero its nice to hear about our health care administrative being part of international insurance global community. pero really thats the first time i heard about that type of coverage, ha. parang time share. galing :)

This reply maybe late but... truth is, it's not how much you make but how much you save/invest in a clever way. Live and let live! Life is too short to be bitter on anything that does not improve one's well-being.

Chictown, you said it well.

For every immigrant who comes to America each one has a story to tell. Some are able to adapt while others fail and grow bitter. The former becomes a contributor to America and becomes part of it, while the latter struggles along trying to overcome the difficulties, sustained only by dreams of going back to a place he considers home. It’s a shame, because America has so much to offer to those who are willing to give. It’s a place where an immigrant, raised in the rough and tumble environment of the third world, can run circles on many who are native born.

But in order to survive, one must learn the culture and understand the rules of the game. It applies to anyone or anywhere he goes whether its Philippines, China or United States.

I think immigrants in the US have to be aggresive , thickfaced to make it.
If you are onion skinned you might not be able to adapt so well. Immigrants have to work twice as hard as the locals to get the same respect . You have to ingrain that in your head and prepareyourself before you even decide to migrate. If you are not emotionally strong the discrimination and different culture might alienate you. America is supposed to be a melting pot but the mainstream culture like entertainment, politicks is still very Eurocentered. You don't see alot of representation from nonwhites.
You can also make it economically and still feel alienated at the same time.

to chic town---im just telling the truth bro!! america is no big deal unless you are poor in the philippines.

Philippine Condotel Investments – Lancaster Suites US Road Show to hit major US Cities from February 5th – March 10th 2007

Beth Collingz, PLC International Marketing Director, announced that Ronald Lim – President/CEO of Pacific Concord Properties Inc will conduct a series of personal presentations to interested clients and prospects in informal home settings, hotel venues and business centers across the US commencing in New York and New Jersey from February 5th-12th 2007. “Any of our existing Clients and Marketing Partners whom are interested to arrange or host group meetings with the Filipino Communities and Offshore Investors Groups or anyone else whom might be interested to find out more regarding the existing Lancaster developments and condotel investment opportunities in the Philippines can contact us to arrange meeting dates”

All existing Marketing Partners, Buyers, Clients and International Brokers are invited to join or host any of the Lancaster Philippines Condotel Investment Forums

Other US Cities to be visited in coordination with PLC Marketing Partners across North America will include Chicago, Orlando, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle.

Road Show Dates: East Coast
New York & New Jersey – February 5th –12th

Coordinator for PLC’s New Jersey presentation is Fiorello Salvo of HomeOwners Realty located in Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City. 201-433-8001 [office] 551-358-2224 [cellular phone] and will host an informal “Open House” on Friday, February 9th 2007 in their office at 1685 Kennedy Boulevard from 1pm – 10pm. All interested prospective buyers, existing clients and unit owners at the Lancaster Suites and Lancaster – The Atrium are welcome to attend. Please contact Fiorello Salvo at HomeOwners Realty or Beth Collingz in Manila +63 2 717 1958 or +63 32 340 0721 Email: plcsales@pldtdsl.net for further info.

Coordinator for PLC in New York is Ambrosio Teniozo of AST Group Realty. Sweetgum Lane, Miller Place, NY. 718-264-1187 or 631-331-0011 [office] and will host an informal “Open House” on Sunday, February 11th 2007 at Crowne Plaza Hotel. 2nd Flr. 104-04 Ditmars Blvd, East Elmhurst, NY from 1pm – 4pm. All interested prospective buyers, existing clients and unit owners at the Lancaster Suites and Lancaster – The Atrium are welcome to attend. Please contact Ambrosio Teniozo at AST Group Realty or Beth Collingz in Manila +63 2 717 1958 or +63 32 340 0721 Email: plcsales@pldtdsl.net for further info

Chicago Area - February 13th-17th

Coordinator for PLC’s Chicago presentation is Joe Gozun of Midwest America Realty located in Grand Avenue, Waukegan, Illnois. 847-244-2600 [office] 847-323-2846 [cellular phone] and Midwest America Realty, Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights, Illinois. 630-893-9700 [office] or contact Beth Collingz in Manila +63 2 717 1958 or +63 32 340 0721 for further info.

Washington DC - February 18th-20th

Coordinator for PLC’s Washington DC presentation is Brandon Feraren of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage located in Annapolis Road, Lantham, MD 20706. 301-474-5700 [office] 301-792-5151 [cellular phone] or contact Beth Collingz in Manila +63 2 717 1958 or +63 32 340 0721 for further info.

Orlando, Florida - February 20th-24th

Coordinator for PLC’s Orlando, Florida presentation is Jeffrey Clarke of Global Life Management Inc located in Layton Street, Leesburg, FL 34788. 321-214-0026 [office] 407-451-3766 [cellular phone] or contact Beth Collingz in Manila +63 2 717 1958 or +63 32 340 0721 for further info.

Houston, Texas - February 24th-27th
[Venue to be announced]

Road Show Dates: West Coast
Seattle - February 27th - March 1st

Coordinator for PLC’s North Seattle Everett and Lynnwood area presentation is Narci Ricafrente located in Everett, WA 98208. 425-379-5638 [office] and will host an informal “Open House” on Tuesday, February 27th 2007 from 6pm – 10pm and Wednesday, February 28th 2007 from 1pm – 10pm at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 131 128th St SW. Everett, WA 98204. All interested prospective buyers, existing clients and unit owners at Lancaster Suites and Lancaster – The Atrium are welcome to attend. Please contact Narci Ricafrente for appointments in Lynwood & Everett or Beth Collingz in Manila +63 2 717 1958 or +63 32 340 0721 Email: plcsales@pldtdsl.net for further info

Coordinator for PLC’s South Seattle Des Moines area presentation is Raul Perez of Golden Circle Phils Services located in Pacific Highway, Des Moines, WA 98198. 206-878-8362 [office] 206-303-8096 [cellular phone] and will host an informal “Open House” on Thursday, March 1st 2007 from 1pm – 10pm and Friday, March 2nd 2007 from 8am – 12Noon at the Holiday Inn, Seattle SeaTac International Airport. 17338 International Boulevard, Seatac. WA 98188. All interested prospective buyers, existing clients and unit owners at the Lancaster Suites and Lancaster – The Atrium are welcome to attend. Please contact Raul Perez of Golden Circle Phils Services or contact Beth Collingz in Manila +63 2 717 1958 or +63 32 340 0721 Email: plcsales@pldtdsl.net for further info.

Los Angeles - March 2nd-5th
San Francisco & Bay Area - March 5th-10th
[Venues To be Announced]

Lancaster Manila Atrium Tower A, Shaw Boulevard, Metro Manila, Philippines is a “Full Service” Condominium Hotel [”Condotel”] offering Studio, One, Two and Three Bedroom Suites for sale. To be completed and ready for turnover from December 2009/2010, the Lancaster Atrium will provide unit owners with premier residential condo units with the option of enrolling their units in the Lancaster Condo Rental Pool.

Condotel Investments in the Philippines are a Great Investment for Fil-Am’s whom visit Manila for Vacations or Business as they can earn Rental Incomes [at current purchase price levels] of some 12-16% ROI per annum as Owner Non-Residents when not using their units through Condo Hotel Management and reciprocal arrangement with Lancaster Cebu Resort Residences. This makes Lancaster Suites one of the Hottest Investment Opportunities in the Philippines.

Philippine Condo Hotel Investments at Lancaster – The Atrium - Who’s Buying and Why?

The Condo Hotel concept is attractive to many who are interested in investing their hard earned pennies in real estate. One type of condotel purchaser is someone seeking a vacation place, but due to the limited amount of time they anticipate being able to spend there, buying a traditional condominium would not seem an economically sensible investment.
Another condotel purchaser is just too busy to focus time and attention on the maintenance and upkeep of another property, but sees the benefit of having professionals manage their property while still having the ability to use the property when they choose, and appreciates an investment with the ability to offset expenses through the rental program.

In Philippine hotspots such as Metro Manila, and Cebu, where the condo hotel market is considered to be extremely lucrative, typical buyers are investors looking for promising real estate deals in an area with a proven track record of appreciating in value. Many buyers in Metro Manila are from America, Australia and Europe, places where Philippine real estate prices are seen as bargains, and the Philippine Condotel market with the Lancaster Brand of condotels adopting International standard escrow trust account banking, is considered a safe place to invest.

Condo-hotel-unit purchasers are in essence unique in the opportunity to buy into multimillion-dollar hotel developments for a relatively small cost, and not just investing in a single unit. Buyers can choose to lease their units when they are not occupying them. Most condo hotel units include hotel services in the package deal. Buyers at the Lancaster Condotels are treated as guests, and able to enjoy amenities such as room service.

Investors choose the condotel avenue for different reasons. Some enjoy ownership of real estate, with attractive amenities someone else maintains for them. Others look at the potential the long-term appreciation value, with little investment of time and attention, offering them the financial stability that may one day afford them the ability to enjoy retirement.

Brits & American Citizens and those married to Filipinos are fueling a boom in Philippine Condotel Investments as more and more look to overseas property as a secure investment option and for retirement.

It is estimated that at least 350,000 British choose to turn their backs on the UK every year and already around 8% of the country’s population live overseas - higher than the French, Italian or American ex-pat figures.

Beth Collingz, Director of PLC International Marketing, an Internet based website dealing with Condotel Investments in the Philippines said “With relatively few bargains are to be found in the UK, many British Nationals as well as those married to Filipinos are looking abroad to invest in a cheap holiday home for either short term investments or as part of a long term pension plan. Far more people however, are now buying Philippine property as second homes, buy-to-let investments or as an alternative to failing pension plans”.

Research revealed that more than 29 million Brits would like to buy a property abroad and that 11 million could realize that wish within the next five years. In the United States the figures are even more staggering with a potential market of more than 27 million vacation/investment property or second home buyers looking for good real estate investments overseas.

So why are the Americans so keen to buy abroad and in particular the Philippines?

Several reasons can be attributed for overseas property investment: the first, owning foreign property has become much more acceptable due to global communications and international investment standards such as Escrow Banking being adopted around the world. Secondly, with property prices remaining relatively high in the US, the option of investing in a second property at home is simply out of most people’s reach - add to this the low cost of property in the ‘emerging’ markets of Southeast Asia and the Philippines, for example, and its easy to see why Americans are keen to invest abroad.

Investments in Condo Hotel or Condotel properties, the so called “buy-to-let” investment options in the Philippines provide either short term investments or can be made part of a long term pension plan. For those whom are looking to make investments for the future or prior to retirement, the Philippines offer a significantly lower cost of living. The Philippine Peso (PhP) exchange rate is approximately PhP 50 to $ 1.00 or PhP 98 to 1 Pound [Sterling (GBP)]. Housing, food, and labor costs are quite reasonable. At the moment a One bedroom Freehold condominium can be purchased for around $ 60,000 or GBP 32,500 or a Studio for only $ 34,000 or GBP 18,000

“Where can you find a 350 sqft Freehold Flat in the heart of Central London for only 25,000 Pounds or a Studio in downtown Chicago or New York City for some $35,000 and then get up from 12-16% per annum ROI from rental returns” enthuses Collingz. “These figures probably seem Crazy to Overseas Property Buyers unless they remember the prices of Flats and Apartments back in the late 70’s” and all of this comes complete with average 85 degree temperatures and sunshine nearly all year round” said Beth Collingz whom used to live in South Kensington and still owns several Chelsea Embankment Townhouses and St. Catherine’s Dock Flats before coming over to the Philippines

If you have $50,000 or GBP 30,000 to invest, here are some buys you could make right now with that budget:

1. A Freehold Studio Condotel Suite at the Lancaster Atrium Manila for Initial Property Appreciation Investment and Rental Income from 2010 in Metro Manila, Philippines. Floor Area 28.17 square meter [304sqft] at $1,518.00/sqm. Total Contract Price: USD 42,762.06. Pay Cash and take a full 20% discount [Save USD 8,552.41] on the unit price. Pay 90% Now [USD 30,788.68] and the remaining 10% [USD 3,420.96] on unit turnover from December 2009

2. A Freehold Studio Condotel Suite at the Lancaster Suites Manila for Rental Income from 2007 in Metro Manila, Philippines. Floor Area of 27.23 square meters [293sqft] at $1,618.00/sqm. Total Contract Price: USD 44,058.14 [Tax Exempt]. Pay Cash and take a 10% discount on the Contract Price. Save USD 4,405.81 Pay 90% of the contract price now [USD 35,687.09] and the remaining 10% balance [USD 3,965.23] on unit turnover from March 2007

3. A Freehold Studio Condotel Suite at the Lancaster Cebu Resort Residences for rental income from 2007 in Cebu, Philippines. Fully Furnished Studio 36.5625sqm [395sqft] $1,507.00/sqm USD 55,099.69. Pay Cash and take a full 10% discount [Save USD 5,509.96] Pay Reservation [USD 1,820.00] and Cash Balance within 30 days [USD 47,769.72] for an Effective Total Cash Price of USD 49,589.72. Immediate Occupancy.

As preconstruction investment returns of 100% are not uncommon, Philippine Condotel property can offer a lucrative source of income. Invest in the short term to raise capital, in the longer term as an alternative to other investment avenues such as the stock market, or perhaps join the many thousands already out there and sell up, move abroad and bask in the sun having established a solid pension fund!

If anyone is interested to assist us, organize a small group, invite friends to join us or host any of the Lancaster Philippines Condo Hotel Investment Forums across the US, please do not hesitate to contact us….

Beth Collingz
Director - PLC International Marketing Networks
Pacific Concord Properties Inc., Manila Head Office
Shaw Boulevard. Mandaluyong City.
Metro Manila. Philippines 1552
Phone: Manila [63 2] 717 1958
Fax: Manila [63 2] 718 1828
Email: plcsales@pldtdsl.net Web: http://www.lancastersuites.com

yeah cruizer that's why every crooked thieving politician and actor owns a mansion in the US and sometimes a building too.

^^Good for you :), I must suggest that to my parents.


@problemsolver, thanks!:)

@OtAkAw, mequeni abe ka pala. Komusta. PM mu cu. Chicago que ngeni, pero orig. Apalit. Ing utol ku ing missis na tiga San Fernando ya. Regards ne! Mamalagua ya Missis lumwual.

to chic town---im just telling the truth bro!! america is no big deal unless you are poor in the philippines.

i've tried to restrain myself from commenting on this issue from the start.

@ cruizer - you are entitled to your opinion; but don't pass them off as facts. you seem to be a little narrow-minded. tell you what, if you ever come to the san francisco bay area, i'll introduce you to some moneyed families from the philippines who choose to live here. and when i say moneyed, yung parang hindi nauubusan ng pera kung gumastos. i know one who family who's lived here now for about 10 years whose house alone in manila is valued at close to PhP100M.

^ Why? One can retire and still teach naman ah. That is, if one has teaching qualifications.
teach and some other things..
that's what our teachers in college are doing..after their stay in the US.
it's what a lot of filipinos want to do still.

Hello, Cruiser. In short, you're one desperate individual and not rich reason for your being in WA. What's this? Close your eyes and plug your ears if you you don't like what you see/hear! Lighten up. I have Zamboangean relatives but they smear at others like you. Be civilized, brod. Let it be!

there's a super rich family in zamboanga whose other members chose to stay in pinas for the reason that there's more katulong in pinas.also,they dont need to work but still,they want to apply their professions.
others prefers to stay in the states coz they're used to living there already
or they go there to study..bakasyonan na lang sa pinas.

to chic town---im just telling the truth bro!! america is no big deal unless you are poor in the philippines.

nde to totoo
maliit kasi sweldo sa pnas kaya kami umaalis, my parents had a decent job and income but if youre emphasizing a poor family that had under the income of a million pesos per year, then count us in :lol:

I think that it all boils down as to which place you call "home" and your definition of it, the Philippines or abroad. My parents would like to "go home" to the Philippines and live out their retirement, since that's where they consider their home is. I on the other hand think the opposite, I go to "visit" the Philippines and come back home to the US.

kala ko pinanganak ka sa singapore, wudnt u visit singapore. anyhow...i feel the same. i only have one half bro in pnas, and he didnt live with us when we were over there. so, i barely knew him and all of my relatives that im really closed to are here in US, xcept for my mom's side that lives in cebu. also in the same situation with my half bro, i dont know them. on the other hand, i was fairly young when i left the pnas, though i felt like i was home eveytime i go back to manila. what sucks about sampaloc now are the people that u used to be friend with, they moved out or now somewhere in dubai working :lol: in conclusion, being here in TATE feels like being home not just because of the people you love are here, not just becuz of ur friends, not just bcuz companion in life, but becuz of free internet in school and in library :lol:

oah if you can combine the two it would be paradise. The first world amenities and efficiency of the US and the tropical beaches, sceneries, weather, fruits of PInas.

kala ko pinanganak ka sa singapore, wudnt u visit singapore.

No Tigs, I was born in the Philippines. Spent my childhood in Singapore. I'd love to visit Singapore again, last time I was there was 1999.

oah if you can combine the two it would be paradise. The first world amenities and efficiency of the US and the tropical beaches, sceneries, weather, fruits of PInas.


Florida, hawaii, guam?:)

to chic town---im just telling the truth bro!! america is no big deal unless you are poor in the philippines.

America to me is a big deal. I've been educated here and have spent most of my life here with ups and downs, but I managed to put my life together without blaming others for the mishaps. I simply called it my destiny; and you know that we all have one including you. Don't worry about others. Make it well for yourself and pray for the others to make it as well. America is the land of opportunity. I have been blessed and fortunate for what I have accomplished, but it could have been much more if I embroiled myself deeply and no one would stop me. Look at yourself; you are doing great and keep moving on. Your mind and body will tell you when it's time to quit. And, look around you; they ARE NOT ALL POOR FILIPINOS who wanted to make it big in America. Regards and Good Luck, Brod!

Florida, hawaii, guam?:)

not the same , still different ambiance.

to chic town----filipinos who are immigrating to the states are the lower middle class and poor. thats why many of the poor and middle class families in the philippines let their daughters and sons take up nursing so they can come to the states. then you have filipina women doing the penpal. those are not super rich in the philippines. even if we worked all our lives in the u.s we will never be in the same level of the super rich of the philippines. it takes an average american 30 yrs to pay off a $350,000 house mortgage. thats why you never hear filipinos from america going back home putting up commercial buildings because they are broke in the u.s paying off a mortgage. filipinos from the u.s really like to show_off when going home for 3 weeks to the philippines. we are just surviving in the u.s paying off our house mortgage, car payments, food, etc. we are not super rich here in america. its a big lie, pretending you are super rich in america when you go home. if you took a survey (chictown) you will find out that at least 80% of filipinos in america are doing odd jobs like janitorial, house keeping, clerk, food server, valet attendant, nurse aid, etc. america is no big deal. if you are poor in your native country you come to america, its a known fact. if there is a super rich filipino who immigrated to america its less than 1%. i never heard of anyone yet. you got to be very stupid if you are super rich in the philippines and you immigrate to america, this place is not heaven. you guys like to make it appear america is for the exclusive. how can that be when you have people from etiopia, eritrea, sudan, those are the poorest country in the world and they have lots of their citizen here in the states also. no big deal (chictown)

filipina women doing penpal :lol: ye i agree with you those are very sad, nagpepenpal kasi nga e pangit at yung mga puting nagkakagusto e yung mga pinakapangit pang pilipina ang napipili :lol: on the other hand, in actuality, you barely know anyone whose willing to pay for their house for 30 yrs. there is some, and that is true, but they dont how the system works which is, i think, sad. theres a thing called home equity, after your house appeciated, you sell your house and you made your bucks out of that. also, ive seen in the news and documentary about flip being a janitor, and so far from where i live i dont see pnoy being a janitor. and i agree that theres not so many uber rich filipino compared to the uber rich population of US. although, we are in the line of middle working class towards upper class because you barely see filipino being in a foodstamp. but wudnt u compare indians to their country and indian in the US most of them are doctors, engineers, or analyst. it doesnt really matter because we can have like a gazillion questions and every thing can be subjective. altho, i find it very sad that you are putting pilipino work force that made our economy stable. i mean even if pilipino are all janitors, sales ladies, or manicurists. it shouldnt really matter to you because you are not giving them food or money. and if i were you, i wud just shut my face!!!

In Chicago I know a group of Filipinos working as an architect. They are all U.P Architecture Graduates and had worked for a few years in Manila before moving to Chicago. They moved to Chicago to search for adventure, higher pay, and out of boredom of doing the same thing in Manila.
In the East Coast, I know a lot of Filipino working as doctors. They'd finished their medical degree in the Philippines (UP) and were accepted as residents doctors in different US hospitals. I don't know any nurses personally but I have heard of them through colleagues.
In my office in New Jersey, there are a lot of Pinoy professionals working in the laboratories; in the quality control department, research and development and in the application technology department. There are also Pinoys that are working in our accounting department. I'm the only one working in the Sales/Marketing/Marketing Research Department. In fact other Asians are a bit jealous why my company employs More Filipinos than any other Asian race.
Most of my Pinoy colleagues drive their own luxury cars which they paid CASH, BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Honda CRV, aside from the fact that they also own homes and some of them own two houses. In the adjacent building that produces computer parts, there are also a lot of Filipinos employed. You will see them at 4:30 P.M. hurrying out of the parking lot driving their own cars. The same is true in a nearby company the engages in health laboratory products and machines, they are many Pinoys working in the laboratory and the accounting department.
In the nearby town, there are many Filipinos that own businesses such as grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants, salons, remittance centers and in real estate and construction.
With this observation, I disagree with how Cruizer's are trying to paint Filipinos as odd-job workers in the states. Maybe he is more exposed to those kinds.

to chic town----filipinos who are immigrating to the states are the lower middle class and poor. thats why many of the poor and middle class families in the philippines let their daughters and sons take up nursing so they can come to the states. then you have filipina women doing the penpal. those are not super rich in the philippines. even if we worked all our lives in the u.s we will never be in the same level of the super rich of the philippines. it takes an average american 30 yrs to pay off a $350,000 house mortgage. thats why you never hear filipinos from america going back home putting up commercial buildings because they are broke in the u.s paying off a mortgage. filipinos from the u.s really like to show_off when going home for 3 weeks to the philippines. we are just surviving in the u.s paying off our house mortgage, car payments, food, etc. we are not super rich here in america. its a big lie, pretending you are super rich in america when you go home. if you took a survey (chictown) you will find out that at least 80% of filipinos in america are doing odd jobs like janitorial, house keeping, clerk, food server, valet attendant, nurse aid, etc. america is no big deal. if you are poor in your native country you come to america, its a known fact. if there is a super rich filipino who immigrated to america its less than 1%. i never heard of anyone yet. you got to be very stupid if you are super rich in the Philippines and you immigrate to america, this place is not heaven. you guys like to make it appear america is for the exclusive. how can that be when you have people from etiopia, eritrea, sudan, those are the poorest country in the world and they have lots of their citizen here in the states also. no big deal (chictown)

Good morning, Cruiser. You are so hard on yourself! There are various reasons for moving to America and I'm positive you have yours, that's if there is truth to your claim of living in Seattle. Rich as well as poor from different countries immigrated to America, that'a smart. I have not heard anyone say that he/she would like to move elsewhere. You've made it here well now reason why you are in a position to retire in the Philippines. Why did you stick around to this point if America is not a big deal? Lighten up and good luck!

The latest US Census shows that Filipino households are the highest earners in the NY-NJ-Connecticut Tri-State area. Why? Because most of them work as professionals in fields that are paid well.

Besides, all legal immigrants to the USA have to show that they have financial wherewithal to be able to support themselves in the USA without resorting to public assistance just in case they are unable to find jobs right away.

to chic town----filipinos who are immigrating to the states are the lower middle class and poor. thats why many of the poor and middle class families in the philippines let their daughters and sons take up nursing so they can come to the states. then you have filipina women doing the penpal. those are not super rich in the philippines. even if we worked all our lives in the u.s we will never be in the same level of the super rich of the philippines. it takes an average american 30 yrs to pay off a $350,000 house mortgage. thats why you never hear filipinos from america going back home putting up commercial buildings because they are broke in the u.s paying off a mortgage. filipinos from the u.s really like to show_off when going home for 3 weeks to the philippines. we are just surviving in the u.s paying off our house mortgage, car payments, food, etc. we are not super rich here in america. its a big lie, pretending you are super rich in america when you go home. if you took a survey (chictown) you will find out that at least 80% of filipinos in america are doing odd jobs like janitorial, house keeping, clerk, food server, valet attendant, nurse aid, etc. america is no big deal. if you are poor in your native country you come to america, its a known fact. if there is a super rich filipino who immigrated to america its less than 1%. i never heard of anyone yet. you got to be very stupid if you are super rich in the philippines and you immigrate to america, this place is not heaven. you guys like to make it appear america is for the exclusive. how can that be when you have people from etiopia, eritrea, sudan, those are the poorest country in the world and they have lots of their citizen here in the states also. no big deal (chictown)

Good morning, Cruiser. Don't be too harsh on yourself! I've traveled the world over and have seen brassy people everywhere. You just have to excuse them otherwise you'd be at their level. Learn how to gain friends, not enemies. So let's quit this nonsense and move on. More power to you and good luck in all your endeavors. God bless!

I also met some Filipino professionals who work 7 days a week. The husband of my officemate is working in accounting at a trading office in NYC, then on weekends he works full time on Saturday and part-time on Sunday as a phlebotomist in a clinic. Then, there was this lady I met who works full time in the lab in one company and she has another part-time in the lab of a different company, meaning she works at least 70 hours a week. I don't know how she does that, though I think she looked kind of haggard. Filipinos are hardworking that's why the US employers like them.

tama si tigs even if they're janitors,manicurists,sales ladies ,their remittances help keep the economy affloat. If they use their hard earned money to send their kids to school or open a business then their hard work and sacrifice pays off. The end more than justifies the means.
such a shame Cruizer has such a low opinion of his own people. Wake up and smell the coffee things are changing, lest you miss the boat.
Be careful in assuming ,just because a man is humble,low key and looks poor doesn't mean he's poor.



Here you go Cruizer


Many Filipino Americans are among the highest educated Asians. [11] [12] Nursing education in the Philippines is highly regarded worldwide therefore Filipino nurses are preferred by many American hospitals. [13] It is relatively easy for Filipino nationals to enter the American healthcare workforce, inspiring them to settle and seek United States citizenship upon arrival. With the shortage of American nurses beginning in the 1980s, clinics and hospitals in the United States have been hiring directly from the Philippines offering substantial salaries. According to the United States Census Bureau, 60,000 Filipino nationals migrated to the United States every year in the 1990s to take advantage of such professional opportunities. Other Filipino nationals come to the United States for a college or university education, return to the Philippines and end up migrating to the United States to settle.

American schools have also considered the highly-calibrated Filipino teachers and instructors. More US states have been looking to the Philippines to recruit and fill in the need of their respective schools, particularly North Carolina, Kansas, and Virginia. [14]

Many of the newer generations of Filipino Americans born in the United States, gravitate towards business, architecture, business administration, economics, education, engineering, medicine and nursing.

^^ From Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) right? :okay:

to chic town----filipinos who are immigrating to the states are the lower middle class and poor. thats why many of the poor and middle class families in the philippines let their daughters and sons take up nursing so they can come to the states. then you have filipina women doing the penpal. those are not super rich in the philippines. even if we worked all our lives in the u.s we will never be in the same level of the super rich of the philippines. it takes an average american 30 yrs to pay off a $350,000 house mortgage. thats why you never hear filipinos from america going back home putting up commercial buildings because they are broke in the u.s paying off a mortgage. filipinos from the u.s really like to show_off when going home for 3 weeks to the philippines. we are just surviving in the u.s paying off our house mortgage, car payments, food, etc. we are not super rich here in america. its a big lie, pretending you are super rich in america when you go home. if you took a survey (chictown) you will find out that at least 80% of filipinos in america are doing odd jobs like janitorial, house keeping, clerk, food server, valet attendant, nurse aid, etc.......................................

You have some truth on your observation about the Filipinos in America. Although some ugly statistics are coming up right now because of the rush of other immigrants progressing on the land that most Filipinos see also as the land of opportunity, Filipinos remain optimistic that someday the Philippine economy would be at par with other nations so that the migration of workers would lessen.
Despite of all of those statistics, America will be the land of milk and honey for Filipinos mainly because we have been so Americanized. Some Filipinos knew more about America maybe more than the American born citizens.

There are quite a few rags-to-riches stories that Filipinos are known for. The sad thing is that most of them have assimilated to the American culture with their generations in towed.
For most of us here in America or abroad, aspiring to become rich to be compared to those super-rich in the Philippines is really a long shot. Only a few have a chance to become a Lucio Tan, Henry Sy, Zobel or Gokongwei.

America is really not a big deal to those super-rich guys that I mentioned, most of them have some holdings already here in the US and other parts of the world.
But it might be a big deal to those rich Filipinos who were denied US Visa for travel, work or immigration.

Regardless of the the jobs you are working as long as you depend your income mostly from salaries alone and spend it right away, you're still poor. Money goes to rich people but poor people goes to money.

There are super rich FilAms in the US who choose to stay in the US and just invest in the Philippines among them will be: Loida Nicolas Lewis, CEO of TLC Beatrice Holdings and a lawyer, Josie Natori of the fashion world, Monique Lhuillier, Lilia Clemente, etc. etc. Loida Nicolas Lewis, however, also opted to have dual citizenship when the law was passed.

Regardless of the the jobs you are working as long as you depend your income mostly from salaries alone and spend it right away, you're still poor. Money goes to rich people but poor people goes to money.

True

Do any of you guys see yourself living in the Philippines 6 out of 12 months of the year when you retire later on?? just curious...

super rich filipinos definitely don't live in America. They don't live in the Philippines either. They live in both, as well as their other houses around the world. they spend most of their time at the place were they make their millions. Ayalas live in the Philippines while the Banataos (S3 CEO) live in the US.

Do any of you guys see yourself living in the Philippines 6 out of 12 months of the year when you retire later on?? just curious...

Nope. I'd like to stay put when I retire, and just travel a couple of months during the year. It's hard changing places/lifestyles every six months.

Do any of you guys see yourself living in the Philippines 6 out of 12 months of the year when you retire later on?? just curious...

3 months in the Philippines (during holidays), 3 months travelling the world, 6 months inthe USA. :)

That is, if I still have that much energy to travel. Travelling can be taxing, too.

9 months in the philippines. 3 months elsewhere.

i would like to envision myself (even at a later age) still empowering pinoys inspiring them to be entrepreneurs.

That is, if I still have that much energy to travel. Travelling can be taxing, too.

Right…

I’ve read something like this a few years back…

To a mature person, travel opportunity has 3 phases (during school age, working age and retirement age) with 3 contributing factors (energy, time and money).

When you’re still in school, you have the ENERGY and TIME (school vacation), but don’t have MONEY.

When you’re already working, you have the ENERGY and MONEY, but don’t have the TIME.

When you’re retired, you have the TIME and MONEY, but don’t have the ENERGY.

It’s good if you can mix that up.

I have asked a lot of my Filipino officemates who are at a retirable age the same question and their answers were:

a) less than 1 month each year, reasons: because they can't afford to retire yet, they started late working in America and pension won't be enough to live a decent life if they retire with a small pension, some of them said life is better here and there is nothing to go back there for, some say they want to have easy access to healthcare, some of them are attached to their children and grand children and doesn't want to be far from them.
b) at least 3-5 months each year, reasons: they have properties there(alternate homes), they miss and like the lifestyle there, they have friends/relatives there they want to hang out with.
c) at least 6 months each year (none)

I have some very young Filipino officemates who are telling me that they'll save and get rich early and retire early in the Philippines but they didn't mention how long are they going to live there out of each year.

even if they have small pensions can't they sell their properties and live off the interest income? Property values in California are in the millions aren't they. So that would be more than enough to live comfortably in the PHIls.

An average home in CA is about $550,000+ and it takes a while after you buy the house to gain that much equity unless you bought your house before the hot real estate market boom between 1999 and 2003. Most people I know prefer to keep a home here in the US than there in the Phil. because it is more beneficial to have a home here.

Social security pension here start somewhere at $650 and goes up depending on your age and contribution to the system. Majority of filipinos I know who will be relying from government pension are only getting between $650-$1,300.00 per month and most of them are only in the $650-1000 range.

With this pension, I don't know if someone can live comfortably in the Philippines if they don't own a property back home. Renting can be expensive now back home I presume.

Most of the retirable people I know prefer to stay here to have easy access to healthcare. It can be expensive in the Philippines if you don't have a health insurance.

3 months in the Philippines (during holidays), 3 months travelling the world, 6 months inthe USA. :)


I forecast about the same thing too, maybe about 4 months in the Philippines, 2 months travelling elsewhere and 6 months in the US.

Do any of you guys see yourself living in the Philippines 6 out of 12 months of the year when you retire later on?? just curious...
i would want to stay longer than 6 mos/yr..as i'll be having a project that i'll need to overlook..unless there are people that i can trust and leave it to them.
at the moment..healthcare is my most concern..w/c can really affect my plans.if only there's a definite healthplan where i wont worry spending my pension/savings for healthcare..i'll stay there year after year.

[QUOTE=Lili

That is, if I still have that much energy to travel. Travelling can be taxing, too.[/QUOTE]
oh so true..might as well do the travelling now..backpacking,climb kilimanjaro,skiing,etc..
squeeze it in now lili..9 days backpacking once left me so knackered..
i got sick after 2 wks holiday duh!
:cheers:

An average home in CA is about $550,000+ and it takes a while after you buy the house to gain that much equity unless you bought your house before the hot real estate market boom between 1999 and 2003. Most people I know prefer to keep a home here in the US than there in the Phil. because it is more beneficial to have a home here.

Social security pension here start somewhere at $650 and goes up depending on your age and contribution to the system. Majority of filipinos I know who will be relying from government pension are only getting between $650-$1,300.00 per month and most of them are only in the $650-1000 range.

With this pension, I don't know if someone can live comfortably in the Philippines if they don't own a property back home. Renting can be expensive now back home I presume.

Most of the retirable people I know prefer to stay here to have easy access to healthcare. It can be expensive in the Philippines if you don't have a health insurance.

You are right about your doubt on people relying only on their government pension when they retire. But most workers here in America have other form of investments that would guarantee their comfortable (ginhawa) retirement.
My brother retired in the 90's from the service, he made some investments here and in the Philippines long time ago. He is not super rich but I can say he can afford things that some well to do people in the Philippines can afford also.
Those that do not own property in Pinas when they go on vacation can easily squat with other distant relatives. If they don't have any relatives, some hostels or small apartment to rent is not that expensive when rented in the monthly basis.
No matter what you have here in the US if a person is super extravagant, walang mangyayari talaga sa buhay niya dito.
Sometimes I admire those mayayamang(mayabang na mayaman) here, they really strive to go higher in their lifestyle to show of their achievements.
Naku, ang dami niyan sa Daly City! :lol: Pag mayaman at talagang me sinabi sa buhay ang isang Pinoy, nasa kanya na yan kung gusto niyang magyabang.
Masarap naman makinig sa buhay buhay nila diba? Lalo na pag garbo ang handaan..... masarap makikain --- hehehe!

Do any of you guys see yourself living in the Philippines 6 out of 12 months of the year when you retire later on?? just curious...

Nope, but I see ourselves living in the Philippines longer, say 18 months out of 24, and then travel on vacation to neighboring countries and to U.S to visit the children/grandchildren and do some shopping. Though we've traveled extensively, I don't think it's time to give up this pleasure yet upon retiring. My mind/body will know when that time has come. Incidentally @D'Transport, I'll be in your 'neck of woods' (Charlotte area) next week for just a day business travel, which is kind of great to break the winter blues of being a Chicago resident. These company travels and free mileage I might miss when I retire, though. Regards!

You are right about your doubt on people relying only on their government pension when they retire. But most workers here in America have other form of investments that would guarantee their comfortable (ginhawa) retirement.
My brother retired in the 90's from the service, he made some investments here and in the Philippines long time ago. He is not super rich but I can say he can afford things that some well to do people in the Philippines can afford also.
Those that do not own property in Pinas when they go on vacation can easily squat with other distant relatives. If they don't have any relatives, some hostels or small apartment to rent is not that expensive when rented in the monthly basis.
No matter what you have here in the US if a person is super extravagant, walang mangyayari talaga sa buhay niya dito.
Sometimes I admire those mayayamang(mayabang na mayaman) here, they really strive to go higher in their lifestyle to show of their achievements.
Naku, ang dami niyan sa Daly City! :lol: Pag mayaman at talagang me sinabi sa buhay ang isang Pinoy, nasa kanya na yan kung gusto niyang magyabang.
Masarap naman makinig sa buhay buhay nila diba? Lalo na pag garbo ang handaan..... masarap makikain --- hehehe!

Hello tsinoy. Be careful now bro. I have lots of friends and a few relatives in Daly City. heheheh. Biro lang ito. How right you are!.....that's masarap makikain! Hehehe.

^^ Speaking of traveling, in my younger years here in the US, I did a lot of those.
I don't think I will miss them when I retire. It was fun to be assigned in different places but now with those stricter securities and some hussles of long distance travel, my body might not take it anymore.
I was assigned in Salisbury, NC and near Hattiesburg, MS. those 2 places were quite memorable, I did not know that they have some histories that even some Americans did not know of. Mississippi State was one of my choice for my retirement until those recent disasters that came in around the Gulf coast. :)

So far, Philippines is my first choice since we still have a house that we can call home in Malabon. Pag lumubog na, then I'd settle in Las Vegas or Mexico. :nuts:

Hello tsinoy. Be careful now bro. I have lots of friends and a few relatives in Daly City. heheheh. Biro lang ito. How right you are!.....that's masarap makikain! Hehehe.

Hahaha, dun nga yung 2 cousins ko nakatira. Pilipit na mag Tagalog (kuno). Eh sa Manila na lumaki tapos sagutin ka ng English when you talk to them in Tagalog. But, they are still my relatives, I love their style and I'm sure, marami talagang nayayabangnan sa kanila lalo na nang nag-balikbayan sila -- hurummp!:lol:

just pray that you're still healthy and full of energy when you retire.

I can never imagine myself retiring elsewhere except my own country..pinas...masaya ako dito...i love the tropical weather..as long as you can afford to have an airconditioner everywhere you go..nice scenery...warm people...good food...and the best of it all...it is always MERRY...in all places...

I can go on forever about the advantage of living here...although I am not discouraging people from going abroad to study and experience life in another country for broader knowledge. 

As the saying goes..life is what you make it...

here in SSC-Pilipinas, and perhaps all over SSC, we people keep highlighting the good, the bright, the fascinating, the positive...we almost never fail to showcase the best things about our cities, and would even go to extremes to fight for them should anyone else question these...

but what about a novelty?

the moon has a dark-side, a coin has another face...

in this thread, feel free to post certain things about your city that could qualify as a 'worst'; lets discuss the things that make living difficult in our otherwise pleasant cities; you could also opt to post bad-news; or simply talk about things in your city that piss you off...

examples: that really ugly building that you'd wish to see demolished...or perhaps that misplaced landfill sitting next door to prime real-estate...

dont be shy...show the world your ugly side...:D

The Golden Rule for this thread to survive: Show the ugly things about your city ONLY, don't post anything about other cities ;)

i agree...forgot to say that...:)

but looks like no one wants to jump in? come on guys, were not living in a perfect world...so post away...

Okay, for CAGAYAN DE ORO,

Cogon District: Nice bargain, CdeO's version of Divisoria/Tutuban. But the place hardly gets clean at night after a long day of business..

Velez Street: It's one of main and busiest thoroughfares in the city but the street itself is dull..

slums: i know slums are present in every Philippine city, but in CdeO's case, there are available relocation sites but the people insist on staying in their shanties..

traffic: i usually alot an extra hour and a half for a 10km ride during rush hour..

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

1. Traffic on I-4.
2. Damn Tourists!

here in cebu.. the worst center island is located in:
N. Bacalso avenue..
.. shocks, the cement is apparently scraped off diffusely not to mention the unpainted (but actually painted) look on its surface... there are some ugly-looking poles that are of no use, landscaping is as bad as a tree crushed by a storm, and, as usual, there is at least one or two busted lamp posts in every half kilometer.. hehe, i think i did exaggerate but i just can't help it. the center island in basak pardo area is defintely better.. :)

My city?:

eto mismo sa platform ng subway

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/126268968_8f502f18c6.jpg?v=0

^^ :lol:

Davao :

Slum Areas ,particularly in Boulevard
gang wars :bash:

too many motorcycles ... !:no:

Iloilo City:
The damn electric and telephone wires, piss me off more than anything, illegal structures, slums second.

Iloilo City:
The damn electric and telephone wires, piss me off more than anything, illegal structures, slums second.

naku lahat ata ng major philippine city meron nyan :lol:

ok so here are my hates

1. The urban sprawl, well lately lang kay ang akong mga project naa sa north sa city, so i have to travel as far as 16-20km, pero mga 25km total ang byahe one way since yung isa is pa left..sa mga taga davao, or familiar sa davao, what i mean is, from skyline, byahe ako pa tigatto (DMMA) tapos balik na naman sa Bajada (Hazels Coffee) tapos byahe pa Nova Tierra... medyo ok na yung pa punta kasi putol putol ang byahe, pero pag pauwi, Nova Tierra to Skyline..arrgh!!..thats around 16 kms, and along that stretch (kasi mga 4-5pm na ako natatapos) i encounter a lot of busy roads,

kalbaryo uno- Damosa Gateway
kalbaryo dos- the 1km stretch from Durian hotel to Gaisano Mall
kalbaryo tres- San Pedro Street
kalbaryo quatro- Ateneo matina to Nccc Mall
kalbaryo singko- Matina Crossing (pinaka mabigat usually 45 minutes traffic on a ±2km stretch)

if only the city were more compact, di di magastos sa pamasahe/gas and n time wasted :)

2.The OA ordinances no smoking sa indoor establishments incl. bars, 2AM liquor ban, no fireworks..no drugs..

3. The fact na kahit ano ka peaceful dito, ignorant people will still consider mindanao an unsafe place..people still get the stigma of wars, bombings, kindappings etc..well sa mga ignoramus at bobo lang naman :)

Butuan City

1. Mga jeepney drivers, dili magpatuo! dugay parking sige pangita pasahero!
2. Mga excavation sa roads para sa Water district sa Butuan. 1 yr na, ala pa gihapon nahuman!
3. Sige baha!
4. Mga tao, walang pakealam sa city!
5. Kahit may mga traffic enforcers, walay gamit kay sige lang traffic!

I could not think of something really worst.

Something bad: universities with poor standard of education. Don't settle for less, baby.

the people of bacolod are very very laid back..... sobrang bagal ng pace ng buhay dun. parang walang "sense of urgency" lagi.

kaya pag umuwi ako dun, feeling ako ako lang lagi ang bisi bishan dun at laging nag mamadali.

;11604882']naku lahat ata ng major philippine city meron nyan :lol:

ok so here are my hates

1. The urban sprawl, well lately lang kay ang akong mga project naa sa north sa city, so i have to travel as far as 16-20km, pero mga 25km total ang byahe one way since yung isa is pa left..sa mga taga davao, or familiar sa davao, what i mean is, from skyline, byahe ako pa tigatto (DMMA) tapos balik na naman sa Bajada (Hazels Coffee) tapos byahe pa Nova Tierra... medyo ok na yung pa punta kasi putol putol ang byahe, pero pag pauwi, Nova Tierra to Skyline..arrgh!!..thats around 16 kms, and along that stretch (kasi mga 4-5pm na ako natatapos) i encounter a lot of busy roads,

kalbaryo uno- Damosa Gateway
kalbaryo dos- the 1km stretch from Durian hotel to Gaisano Mall
kalbaryo tres- San Pedro Street
kalbaryo quatro- Ateneo matina to Nccc Mall
kalbaryo singko- Matina Crossing (pinaka mabigat usually 45 minutes traffic on a ±2km stretch)

if only the city were more compact, di di magastos sa pamasahe/gas and n time wasted :)

2.The OA ordinances no smoking sa indoor establishments incl. bars, 2AM liquor ban, no fireworks..no drugs..

3. The fact na kahit ano ka peaceful dito, ignorant people will still consider mindanao an unsafe place..people still get the stigma of wars, bombings, kindappings etc..well sa mga ignoramus at bobo lang naman :)

:lol: dito ba dapat yan yet ?

bakit ba ang daming kukuraok sa pilipinas????

sa sampaloc, maraming nagtitinda ng balot ng walang asin...kakaasar

Iloilo City:
The damn electric and telephone wires, piss me off more than anything, illegal structures, slums second.

I agree. Spaghetti wires all over, especially the Historic Downtown Area.

Zamora Street and the Waterfront District (baka di na kami makalabas doon kung gabi na kami pumunta dun, pwera na lang kung may kakilala ka)

Slums

Asphalt roads fading away in some parts of the city.

Traffic.

Some Politicians (especially that one who is in the Cabinet) :bash:

and finally....PECO!!! (Panay Electric Company):bash: :bash: :bash:

sampaloc, manila: some of the streets are so crowded. there should only be parking on one side of the street. make some of the streets one way only, maybe?

everywhere in manila: those damn power lines. someone's gotta untangle/replace them.

sampaloc manila,

ung mga kalsada dito may pangalan ng congressman, sarap i-umpog...
naka-tiles pa ung name niya, grr, kapal ng mukha
(4th district)

Corrupt 'yung mayor dito sa San Pedro (na muntikan ng maging San Pedro City, but since that mayor took over...)

Angeles/San Fernando

The stupid mayor of Angeles City
Fields Avenue = prostitution
The tacky and useless rotondas installed in AC thoroughfares
The tons of bako-bako roads
Flooding during the wet season in SFo

1. The pedestrian overpasses – the one on Luna St. connecting INHS and WVSU and the other on B. Aquino Avenue fronting SM City are necessary, but the rest (Gen. Luna connecting The Atrium and St. Paul's, Valeria connecting SM Delgado and Marymart Mall, Bonifacio Drive fronting the Capitol, and Iznart fronting Amigo Plaza are just plain ill-advised and impractical. They ruin the ambiance of downtown.
2. The seedy night clubs along Calle Real – sleazy joints along the supposed-to-be heritage conservation area? What is City Planning doing about this? What kind of zoning is this?
3. That old house and commercial billboards at the corner of Iznart and Bonifacio Drive – why can't the government expropriate that property and turn the area into something eye-pleasing, say a park to be used as landing/gathering point for the Dinagyang fluvial parade?

Amo lang na.

I agree. Spaghetti wires all over, especially the Historic Downtown Area.

Zamora Street and the Waterfront District (baka di na kami makalabas doon kung gabi na kami pumunta dun, pwera na lang kung may kakilala ka)

Slums

Asphalt roads fading away in some parts of the city.

Traffic.

Some Politicians (especially that one who is in the Cabinet) :bash:

and finally....PECO!!! (Panay Electric Company):bash: :bash: :bash:

^^ ay,oo nga pala, PECO!!! hate ko rin ang PECO, parating brown-out at taas maningil, monopoly yuck! :bash: :bash: :bash:

i hate flooding dito sa antipolo... lalo na samin sa upper antipolo... pag rainy season, ayan na ang tubig., tataas na ang creeks.. :lol: (yes, it floods in upper antipolo)

2. The seedy night clubs along Calle Real – sleazy joints along the supposed-to-be heritage conservation area? What is City Planning doing about this? What kind of zoning is this?

Amo lang na.

same goes for Colon Street here in Cebu...what's meant to be a Heritage Walk turned out different...lodges where houses of great families used to stand, formerly grandiose theaters now turned into dens for sex and piracy...and not to mention the occasional pick-pockets...

Makati: its stubborn mayor (Binay), is it obvious? the festering, never-ending rallies on ayala avenue, which result in traffic chaos in the area, loss of business etc. also, the overhead sphaghetti power lines in makati ave.

Yung New Bilibid Prison here in Muntinlupa City, sana talagang mailipat na sa ibang lugar naman na mas secluded talaga . Its been decades that we are hosting the facility , although it did not hinder so much the development of our city , still nakakapanghinayang lang coz there are so many productive endeavors that can be done with that very huge land it occupies.
Anyway , may plan naman na maipalipat within this year somewhere else so sana matuloy na .