Move Back to the UK from the Philippines

Keith or anybody that has moved to the Philippines that has decided to move back to the UK. What was your reasoning? Was it schooling or what was it?

My wifes friend moved to the UK to escape her husbands ex.... but her husband moved to the UK after 14 or so long years there as he grew to dislike the Philippines.

Would be interested to hear some honest answers.

According to a conversation Keith and I had over a beer at the Sandtrap, he only planned to be in the Philippines during the winter months as he organises security for pop festivals back in the UK.

Other than one Brit who lived here for about 7 years and then left to live in south America, those I know of who've changed their minds about living here are Americans and Australians. And its usually the distaff side that wants to move rather than their hubbies although I know of 2 or 3 Americans who simply couldn't adapt to life here - not being able to own and carry a firearm was often cited.

Luckily for me, Mae has no intention of living anywhere other than the Philippines although she would like to visit the UK for a few weeks.

My husband and I are planning to do that. He has been living here almost 4 years and in prolly 4 more years, we will move to the UK. Main reason is it is better to raise a family there because of the NHS, better schooling (but we do have very good schools here too!) and a lot safer as well

Im a great believer in exploring something untill I know the answer.

Do you believe in calling a spade a spade?

My wife's friends husband who is British, spent 14 years out there so I think he earned the right to give an informed opinion. At 14 years you would say he had given it a fair , boots on the ground and all.

This is not a simple question. Employment issues come into it.

That's the one reason I did not plan on moving out there sooner rather than later.

In my wife's friend's case, he can live where he likes (virtually) as he has always travelled abroad to work anyway....presumably a bit like you seafarers....

Well we've only just arrived but our plan is (at the moment) to return to the Uk in 2-3yrs. This may change as time moves on but for me personally the reasons for moving back to the uk / europe would be, in no particular order:

Probably better schools.
NHS
Family
Lets face it, unless you build it yourself any accomodation you have will be "a bit rough round the edges" compared to the UK standard unless you've a load of money to throw at it. Certainly true of most of the houses I've seen over the years.
Less chances of earthquakes / typhoons.
You don't sweat as much!!!!
You can drink water straight from the tap.
Don't have to worry about extended family "popping by" for unannounced for 5 day visits.
Generally I think services are better in the UK (tv, council etc).

The philippines has alot going for it and alot of potential but those in power really do skim way too much off the top for their own gains and very little filters down to the population. Just my thoughts

Drinking from the tap took some getting used to for me!

And extended family popping in for a visit, this is a phenomenon more commonly observed in the lower classes. Same with the man or woman supporting extended family, "borrowing" money and the foreign husband or wife paying for everything when out with family or friends

My wife's friend has just been converted but my wife still will not drink from our tap, even though I do all the time so we have to get bottled water in.

Ours is pretty good...straight from the hills. maybe some sheep doings in there, but it probably gives it some extra something or other...

Have you tried a water filter tap system.? < £20 on
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Undersink-Water-Filter-Kit-Under-Sink-Drinking-Water-Tap-System-/151141318698?pt=UK_HGKitchen_SmallApp_RL&hash=item2330b9802a

The taste of clorine etc. in UK water is off-putting. Our water tasts of TCP when we have been away for a few months.

I fitted mine in UK - it works - so it is easy to fit.
I had used a filter jug, as Aromulus is, but the tap kit is way cheaper to "run" and filters on eBay are reasonably priced.


Tom

"Generally I think services are better in the UK (tv, council etc).

The philippines has alot going for it and alot of potential but those in power really do skim way too much off the top for their own gains and very little filters down to the population. Just my thoughts Q : subseastu

He he he...

Tom

I think a lot depends on where in the country (Philippines) you choose to live. I would identify with almost all your reasons were I to be living in Cebu, the NCR and, from what I know about Subic/Olongapo probably there too.

Education - possibly but it strikes me that schools in the UK are far more concerned about Ofsted reports and examination league tables than they are about delivering a good quality of holistic education for all. The number of school kids being expelled or excluded from schools has been on the increase ever since Thatcher introduced league tables. Most worrying of all is the rise in exclusion from primary schools of kids who may require specialist help - for example autism - which cash-strapped education authorities are unwilling to provide. There are some very good schools in the Philippines and not all of them are private enterprises.

NHS - yes but if my daughter's recent experience is anything to go by, she had to wait for almost two years to be seen by a consultant. Here you go straight to the specialist for what ails you and most consultations are 500 Pesos or less.

Housing - you make a fair point but building standards are improving and newer houses are much more energy efficient than ever before. The use of traditional building materials and brick is on the ascendant certainly here in the south of the country.

Typhoons and seismic events - The UK may not have any active volcanos - it doesn't need them, Iceland's eruptions have virtually closed-down the UK on more than one occasion within the last few years! As for weather, well the UK is apparently weathering the worst storm in decades and let's not forget the widespread flooding that occurs in early summer. And, just for the record, not every part of the Philippines suffers seismic events or gets battered by typhoons.

Potable tap water - I agree that you wouldn't want to drink from the tap in most of the country but this is one aspect that makes Davao special - according to the WHO, the city's water supply is one of the purest in the world.

Services - again much depends on where you live. In both Cebu and Davao I've had my garbage collected twice a week and had no major problems with utilities - other than cost: electricity is hugely over-priced here. TV/phone/internet tends to be better in big cities.

But there are disadvantages in moving back to the UK - which may or may not affect you but these would affect me:

• The cold weather - whilst I would welcome a return to four seasons, the pervasive cold dampness I find very depressing
• Political correctness gone mad - I read that an 80+ year old pensioner who suffers from Osteoporosis has been refused to shop at Sainsburys and branded a "racist" because she was asked, by someone at the store, to describe the driver who delivered her shopping. She used the phrase "a delightful coloured gentleman" after saying that she didn't know his name. This despite one of her carers being a Kenyan who didn't consider her description at all racist. There's not a racially-prejudiced bone in my body but that is taking things far too far.
• Social stigmas - Regardless of rampant political correctness, there remains a social stigma attached to mixed marriages, particularly in rural Britain where I live(d). My wife is likely to be regarded as a "trophy wife" due to our difference of ages and there's also the "Daily Mail" attitude that she must be a benefits scrounger.
• Europe - Enough said.

Markham, you've convinced me, I'm packing my bags. If only...

Add Doom & Gloom.

Tom

I see what you mean Mark