Rough Guide Philippines
One of my favorite activities since retiring to the Philippines is sharing about this fabulous country, the wonderful Filipino people and their vibrant culture. As one friend told another friend when we had gotten together one day, “Don't get Gary started!” I think that pretty much sums it up, as I love writing and actually talking about the Philippines! The best cities, the best restaurants, the best places to shop, the best hotels and yes, I could go on and on! I have spent the past 28 years learning this by first hand experience. I can talk for hours about Philippines politics and all the major players but I never put anyone down, as it is their system but nothing wrong with having a general discussion, di ba? Politics is in the forefront of the news in the Philippines every single day and Philippine politics can be volatile at times. I guess it adds to the excitement!
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Explore Philippines
If you want to talk about all the popular entertainers in the Philippines, I can hold my own with that topic as well. Some of the singers, actors and actresses who were popular when I first arrived on the Golden Shores way back in 1986 are still popular today! Filipinos love listening to music, dancing, singing, and watch TV and movies. I also keep up with the new stars, who arrive on the scene almost daily! The finals are going on right now and although I am not that much of a basketball fan, compared to baseball and American football, I know which teams are in, which teams are favorites to win and which teams have the best import players, mostly from the American NBA. I saw Arizona Reid hit a 3 pointer as the clock was running down to lead Rain or Shine over San Miguel Coffee just this week!
I enjoy talking to expats and Filipinos alike, all about the Philippines! Why The Philippines?
I think the Philippines has so much to offer any expat who is interested in retiring outside their home country. Low-cost living, affordable housing, very friendly and helpful Filipino people, excellent medical care that tourists come to the Philippines to avail, affordable caregivers and helpers during your Golden Years, excellent tropical wine and local beer, wonderful local and international cuisine, affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, beautiful beaches, diving, golf, afternoon naps, fabulous locally grown coffee, delicious pastries, warm weather year round, famous educational institutions, a great place to raise a child, exciting cultural festivals and the prettiest women you have ever seen! I know I have left out a lot more about the wonder and glamour of the Philippines but you get the idea.
English Speaking Country Yes, the Philippines is an English speaking country with English being one of the official languages. All the major newspapers are published in English. English is one of the core courses required by the Department of Education. However, please don't expect Filipinos to speak English 24/7 in their own country! I am not fluent in any of the more than 100 Philippine languages and dialects and I do not need to be. I have communicated in English with Filipinos for the past 28 years and I have never been left scratching my head due to lack of communication.
I have met some locals with poor English skills, however, they called on someone to complete the conversation! The Philippines is one country you can retire to where you do not have to seek out only the cities with large expat communities! Isn't that great? No, amigos and amigas, you can easily make new Filipino friends and develop warm relationships with your neighbors. In the subdivision where I live, there is only one other expat living here and all the rest are Filipinos. That expat is an American and due to his unacceptable behavior, he is not my friend! Never will be unless he changes his attitude and uppity way of thinking!
If you are single and looking for your lifetime partner to share life during your Golden Years, you do not have to learn a foreign language to date the lovely ladies! Forget Russian, forget Chinese, forget Spanish, as you can come to a country where you can begin communicating with and Filipinos from Minute One. This is the Philippines! If you are considering retiring outside your home country, please do yourself a big favor and seriously check out the Philippines ASAP! Time is flying by for us all and I personally try to never waste a minute. There is nowhere else on earth I had rather be than in the Philippines.
You Might Also Like. I’m an American still working here in the United States. Through an international pen pal website, I met a brilliant young man who is completing his Master’s in Genetic Counselling at UP Manila/National Institute of Health. I’m 60, and he’s only 26. We have been communicating constantly, sharing ideas, plans for the future, cultural preferences, and worldviews that are very similar and enlightening for both of us. He is from Northern Mindanao and his province has a cool climate, verdant hills and mountains, and large rivers teeming with fresh water fish. His family has a piece of land Read more ».
For beaches and wildlife: The Philippines’ eco-island remains a firm backpacker favourite. Palawan’s capital, is carbon-neutral, while the island and its beaches have collected countless accolades – particularly for the jaw-dropping Nacpan Beach near. A visit to Palawan is all about getting out on the water – island-hopping between hidden coves and deserted beaches, and snorkelling in the coral reef-filled waters. One of the island’s main attractions is the famous – one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature' – which runs for 8.2km underneath the St Paul Mountain Range. Kasia Soszka/Shutterstock For reef diving: While the Philippines is full of excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities, Mindoro goes the extra mile. Some 30km off the coast lies the – one of the world’s most spectacular and important reefs, a vast area that’s home to over 450 different species of coral. These coral systems attract all sorts of marine life, from giant schools of tuna to barracudas, sharks, sea turtles and manta rays. Other top dive sites around Mindoro can be accessed from the popular town of, situated in the north of the island.
Sabangvideo/Shutterstock For nature: Part of group of islands, Bohol is a nature paradise packed with national parks, spectacular beaches and cascading waterfalls. Amongst the island’s otherworldly landscapes, the most famous are the aptly named Chocolate Hills – a stretch of over a thousand rounded hills, that at the end of the dry season appear to turn a chocolate brown colour. Bohol also offers numerous encounters with wildlife – the highlight being a chance to see, a hand-sized, saucer-eyed creature that’s the world’s smallest primate. IRAEVVA/Shutterstock For wreck diving: One of the, Coron is known for its diverse opportunities for shipwreck diving, which include the chance to explore World War II Japanese ships. Besides wreck diving, other top dive sites in and around Coron include the jungle-encircled Lake Barracuda and Siete Picados Reef where you can see everything from sea turtles to staghorn coral. Snorkellers can also explore these sites, as well as the eerie, where strange rock formations and bizarre needle fish lurk just beneath the surface.
Khoroshunova Olga/Shutterstock. For partying and adventure sports: Located in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, Boracay is one of the smallest islands on our list but it’s one of the most developed in terms of tourism. Here you’ll find many of the top international chains of hotels and resorts, as well as a surplus of beach bars and clubs – especially around White Beach and Bulabog Beach. 2017 vw jetta tdi transmission repair manual. Adrenaline seekers will be spoilt for choice here with a range of adventure sports on offer, from windsurfing, kitesurfing and parasailing to cliff diving, horse riding and sailing. Anna ART/Shutterstock For diversity: Luzon The Philippines’ biggest and most densely populated island, Luzon is home to, with its bustling traffic-clogged streets and swanky shopping malls., this vast island unravels a range of sights, from 2000-year-old cascading rice terraces and Sagada’s rock face-clinging hanging coffins to the historic colonial city of Vigan. Meanwhile, is known for its coconut-infused cuisine, wild windswept eastern coastline and the perfectly conical Mt Mayon – the Philippines’ most active volcano. Wassiliy-architect/Shutterstock For getting off the beaten track: Ticao The little island of Ticao is part of the and lies just off the tip of Southern Luzon and the Bicol region.
Home to just two resorts, a smattering of tiny villages and one small town, most of the island is given over to isolated golden beaches, rainforest and waterfalls. Here you’re unlikely to meet other travellers and you’ll always be able to find a whole stretch of paradisiacal beach just to yourself, as well as prime near-deserted snorkelling spots. The waters off the coast of the island are a favourite for a variety of manta rays and sharks, including blacktip reef sharks, whale sharks and even hammerheads. Khoroshunova Olga/Shutterstock Discover more of the Philippines with.
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