Philippines as retirement haven: Readers' views

My column on February 16, 2009 headed “Philippines: A retirement haven?” elicited numerous reactions from readers all over the globe. Among others, comments and reactions came from two foreigners who now reside in the Philippines and a Filipina who now lives in Spain. 

Apparently residing in Cebu, Byran Bellamy talks about how the Philippines lost its marketability to foreigners-retirees and why Mexico tops as the world’s most preferred destination. He further commented that “I’m afraid the boat has sailed on this one and is not coming back in the foreseeable future. Because Cebu is big, we don’t really see the exodus of foreigners. But this weekend, a friend from Dumaguete said that when he went there three months ago, there was hardly a place to rent. Now, the paper is full of vacancies. I’m Canadian and have been living here for over 6 ½ years. Then, I saw a great potential for retirement haven. But now, it’s gone with the wind. If the government and the private sector jumped on it 6 years ago and at the same time eliminated corruption and self-interest, it should have been established by now. Others think that the ongoing financial crisis will bring more foreigners here. But I think this economic downturn will bring more OFWs back home than new foreigners coming. There are just too many options as far as future immigration is concerned. For instance, I lived in Mexico 10 years ago. The entrance visa was good for 6 months for $20. Then you could get a fm3 that put you on a yearly renewal visa at a small cost of about $100 a year and you never have to leave.   The Philippines is 50 years behind in this area. Also, in Mexico you can own property in some kind of a renewable 50-year lease. Here, as a foreigner-retiree, you can’t own real property on a similar program. Of course, you can own properties here through corporations. But for the average retiree this is not an option. Through the years, I’ve seen Americans leaving and I have considered the same option. I’m sick of the attitude here. You’re white, you’re rich, you’re in my country, you owe me, etc. are just some of the nasty comments we’ve heard from locals. But that’s not the reality.   Except for the USA, every currency has lost about 20% against the peso. In my two-year stay in Mazatlan, Mexico, I never got this attitude. They appreciated having me and my money. It was real money from outside coming in. Just look at a scenario where all foreigners leave and all the foreign countries send back to the country all OFWs, what will happen to the Philippines? It will be the next Atlantis. Generally however, I do admit, I’m treated pretty good here. But part of the reason is, I’m established here and fairly well known. The horror stories that happen here, as you know, are just my perspective.”  

Mrs. Hill Roberts (a Filipina), however, who is apparently married to a foreigner and has since stayed in Europe for three decades may have something to say on some foreigners who more often complained. In brief, she said, “I have been living in Europe for three decades but I always long for home---and to this day I am dreaming of the Philippines, my motherland, which I really miss. Indeed, when you mentioned retirement, you specified expats who might wish to live there. I do not know if you are aware of a website called, Live in the Philippines, under the management of American, Bob Martin, who lives in Davao City. Anyway, this is a very interesting site since people who participate or join are mainly expats who live in Cebu, Davao, Manila and elsewhere in the provinces up and down the country. But many comments have so far been, to say the least, unpleasant, depending on the topic of course. Still, to be reading silly, stupid, downright racist comments can make every other Pinoy cringe, naturally. But what I am trying to say is-that many of the expats living there now somehow, I get the feeling are only half-educated. Many are really poor, American standard of poverty, that is. To make them live in our country, shouldn't they at least be, upper middle class? I mean, we do not need uneducated, unpleasant, with little financial means. Our government must insist on foreigners with a very good income. The way I see it, based on the comments I’ve read, these folks are rather poor, in my eyes, to be quite frank with you. We need educated, well-off expats, not run-of-the mill types who lambast or insult our very nature, culture, humanity. Of course they are welcome if they are keen to live there. However, we in the Philippines must have obligatory standards to keep the country healthy and peaceful. My aunt used to live in Cebu and I used to visit it in the 70's. A good friend of mine was just telling me how real estate has become expensive---more than Manila.”

On the other hand, Mr. Guy Aelvoet (another foreigner-retiree), expressed his disappointments over his sad experiences on the inconveniences brought about by the bureaucratic red tapes in obtaining the country’s special resident retirement visa (SRRV). Apparently educated and more likely what Mrs. Hill Roberts prefers, further said that “I totally agree with your views and would like to add some of the experience I am having trying to get a resident's visa as a retiree. It's not enough that I have invested some 30mm Peso in an apartment and will deposit the required US$ 20K (not to be seen again...) but I have to submit a police record which has to be authenticated by my country of birth and submitted for stamping by the Philippine embassy there. So far so good. The only problem is that to obtain that police record, I have to request it by physically be present then get it officially translated by a court interpreter then authenticated by the Ministry of Justice then further authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and only then can I submit it to the embassy. Talk about red tape.  I can't ask my embassy here to authenticate. Not permitted. So much for the Friendly Retirement Visa action being taken by the government.”

While the concerns of Mr. Byran Bellamy and Mr. Guy Aelvoet should be given due recognition, we can’t help it but afford Mrs. Hill Roberts’ sincere views about potential foreigners-retirees’ quality and disposition while residing in the country. While we welcome all of them, it is just appropriate that the government should establish certain obligatory standards to make sure we only welcome the legitimate ones. While we join the call to enhance the process of coming in and obtaining SRRV, obtaining police records as a requirement should stay to avoid harboring shady foreigners. Give it up and this country will soon become a sanctuary of global criminals.

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