Some More Advice About Living in the Philippines and Happiness

Here’s another of those great comments I have been receiving lately … so much here it certainly rates it’s own article for sure.

There’s a lot written here that this reader voluntarily  submitted for the good of all, folks, you read and heed some of it before you write me, yet again, about “how do I find a job so I can come live in the Philippines, because I want to”.

Want won’t get the job done, guys and gals, but taking action and actually doing something just might.

I moved to the Philippines back in1999.  Met my wife through a pen pal letter she sent me.  I placed one little ad on a local paper there and got thousands of replies.

No i did not go through all, many were from schools where the teachers had them write to brush up on there English, but hundreds and hundreds were from legit ladies wishing and looking for a husband. I opened a few dozen and narrowed it down to three, my wife was the third one.  I did meet the other two and one was gold digger the other a sweetheart too, but too young, third was the best.

If you are coming to the Philippines at least have backups. or in the traditional way pick them while you are here … just never leave your belongings alone, all it takes is one time and one girl fast on her toes will wipe you out … it happens all to frequently.

The ladies in the Philippines are just beautiful and passionate, when you find the right one … as i did …

I love the Philippines, but before anyone thinks they can adjust u better think twice.  I’ve seen so many foreigners sell out and move here only to get frustrated and leave …  the humidity and heat and other things here get to them.  If you come here to retire, live a simple life and enjoy yourself … you need lots of patience to live here … as you’ll pull your hair out and have a heart attack doing anything other than their normal process. so be warned.

That’s probably some of the most sage and important advice I’ve ever seen here.  So very, very many of the guys I know who are unhappy, even downright angry, are shortening their lives, seething with anger and discontent, because they “know” how things should be done, and they have taken on a mission for themselves of making things change to the ‘right” way.

That way lies disaster and sadness, friends.  be happy, especially if you came to the Philippines for a simpler, happier life.  It won’t be ‘simpler and happier” if you don’t leave it alone and let it be what it will be.

You’re going to see so many different ethnic groups here, Americans, British,Germans, Aussies, Koreans,Chinese, the ones i see having a difficult time here is the Germans, they’re hot headed and the locals do not like them. If you cannot control your mouth its going to be your downfall.

Have the utmost respect for the locals, and they will in-turn respect u, just do not trust them completely, even if relatives they will steal, would you not if you only made 2 dollars a day, for 12 hour shift, think about it there just trying to get by.

This rings very, very true to me also.  Don’t put a Filipino in a position where he has no choice but to ‘look bad”.  Animosity and anger get stirred up easily below the surface, and grudges can be long-standing and very bitter … even dangerous

Now on to putting up a business in the P.

Putting up a Business in the Philippines, is by far a lot easier than the States.  The red tape is non existent, It does help very much so to have a sweetheart of a wife that is Filipina and is aggressive.

In manila it was very easy to open several cafe’s and as long as you are there to babysit the employees, you will make money … but you not only have to babysit the employees, you have to watch out for the groups that enter and distract the help and pick up everything from cellphones to cash lying behind the counter.

Then if watch out for the relatives as they will steal u blind as well, and they’re imaginative.  If there s a way they will conceive it.

We left the big city and moved to the Province where life is a lot simpler, and even less red tape … we now operate a Hardware store catering to foreigners and locals.

Bad thing about local stock is its crap, but is all the locals can afford, so is why we catered to foreigners. and selling higher end stock.

The Philippines is still 20-30 years behind the mentality of how business should be run, now take the Chinese these guys can run a business.

You still need to watch for the employees and the occasional theft, but its easier to handle if your living above the store which is exactly what we have done…http://dalephill2.com/Family_Photos.php

Thanks a bunch, Michael.  There is nothing better than a report from those who are actually “doing” rather than studying and doing their “due diligence”.  I’m sure other appreciate some straight from the horse’s mouth advice like this as well. 

Related posts:

1. Advice About Living in the Philippines and Happiness
2. Allen Stewart Konigsberg Gives Invaluable Philippine Business Advice
3. How To Live In The Philippines Without Making A Living From The Philippines
4. Proof That My Philippine Business Advice is Sound
5. More About Living and Working in the Philippines From People Who Know