Subseastu's emigration story part 2 zzzzzzzzz

Can I ask why you chose to leave the Philippines and come back to the UK. Seperate thread if you wish....

Hmm.. I think the 25k rent of subseastu is pretty reasonable for a house and in the province. My husband before we got married rented a 37sqm studio type unit at Two Serendra for 30k/month then he moved to a 80+sqm 1bedroom unit at One Serendra for 55k/month.

Oh and Pier One in Subic does have a reputation, we do go there sometimes to drink when we're in town but we do see girls on the prowl for DOM's. Heck, they would even sometimes hit on my friends.

Hahaha, my husband is 11 months younger than me! Maybe we can start a new trend here.

If I was an estate agent or landlord Id agree lol and of course you cant take it with you.

In answer to your question John I explored the idea of semi retiring to the Phils in 2008 but six months was enough to convince me that while being a perfect place to meet your partner was not the Ideal to manage ones blood pressure.

I think at the end of the day its all about location and sometimes you can get lucky and drop on to a really good deal. To be honest my maximum budget was about 30000/month. the idea of going out to the phils amongst other reason was also to try to save a bit of cash as we've left our house empty in the UK ready for holiday and our (planned) eventually return.

To be honest I'm happy paying 25000/month. The landlords are helkpful and a lot of furniture is already in the house and its of good imported quality. I think in the long run I'll probably break even if you consider how long we intend to be here and the cost of this furniture new. Plus when we leave I don't have to worry about what to do with the stuff.

Whats a DOM? We where there when Pier one first opened and it was an enjoyable place to go for lunch and dinner and also to watch bands (of varying quality) later on at night. Like alot of places in the philippines I think they change over time, maybe as the owners see opportunities to make more cash, appeal to different markets etc.

I hear you, but these places are all around. The only reason we go to Subic is haqve a staycation and do groceries and a little shopping as it is a bit cheaper.

DOM = Dirty Old Man

I know it started out ok, even Pier One in Manila started that way but then where the cash is, the women also follow.

It can also be said about a popular place in Greenbelt 3 in Makati where the cool crowd was hanging out there before and now it has become a haven for prostitutes looking for foreigners and DOM

Whereas are you staying? Usually price would depend on the property and location. But it's a good price and if it serves its purpose, then good for you!

Haha, that is pretty typical of central Makati and I know people renting places for more than 100k a month

You can clearly pay whatever you want I really just posted about this for any newbs that the difference you can pay will depend on you willingness to do proper research and if you want to "save" money without necessarily compromising quality or confirming a landlord,s view that a long nose is an A.T.M. to be cashed in to the max.

The place I mentioned in Balamban could come with personal armed security for 20,000 a month wouldnt make you any safer though lol

What you omitted to mention though is that Balamban is a heavily-industrialised town with several ship building yards and very little else. Fine if you want to spend all day sitting under a palm tree sucking on SML with cotton wool in your ears to cut down on the noise but most people want a few more conveniences and a slightly better lifestyle than that.

For about the same money, you could also rent a place in Naga, Carcar, Consolacion or Liloan, all of which are considerably closer to Cebu City, its shops and its entertainment.

Dom..............?

I dont think I omitted to mention any thing Mark my previous post mentioned the thriving ship yard but heavily industrialised is over egging it since its steel fabrication welding and riveting and very much overseen by the Japanese.

In Cebu City where I lived for 9 months the air pollution from vehicles is worse by a factor of 10 to go to the city takes 90 mins by v hire or bus about 55 min in a private car.

I prefer exploring the roads less travelled and whilst sipping a chilled SML is for sure on my list so was going out in a pump boat just down the road and seeing wild dolphins also on utube channel

Where I was living was amazingly quiet I dont know if you ever visited when tim was there but the air quality 200 mt from the sea looking over to Negros was excellent Im not saying this would suit every one but now there is a Gaisano mall that was built in 2011 a wet market a Montisori school Toledo 20 mins away with jolibee etc

Our own Guenter lives there and has some catering business and there are other pleasant expats to socialise with globe internet was fine for two of us to share with a router and we never got caught with deposits from our land lady (the owner lives in the UK

On the utube link I posted you can also see a walk to the sea

Our electric costs were about 1500 a month using aircon and water 150 per month

A taxi back from the city could be had for around 1000 depending your haggling skills all in all a bargain

The first place I rented in the city in Guardaloupe in 08/09 was 3 bed fully furnished for 21,000 a detached house which can be read in my blog

The second in Bulacao was really noisy and one bed fully furnished for 12000 net and water included

Thats a nice looking street I muct say, certainly better than the one I'm living one. The houses appear to be of a better standard as well

Could it be then that looking at what people are generally saying here that housing does appear to be cheaper if you're living away from Luzon? It looks abit like the UK north / south divide in reverse.

To be honest as well looking at the pictures OSS posted I've not seen any streets looking that clean / tidy in Olongapo

UK V PI ?

We moved here 11 months ago from Her/Wr UK where T´x lived with me since we married.
Tex also worked there.

Regrets ? NOT a single one.

Frustrations OMG YES............

Not so much mańana as in my face liars. Traders on the whole. We know who they are.

I opted for a new car. Second hand was not an option here for me.
We bought a Suzuki Jimny. A terrific and tough little chap, in Black, has replaced our UK LandRover now “out to grass” in Galway on the home farm.
JIMNY 4X4 is eminently suited to our rural home here. Unmade roads and narrow main roads.
Definitely not a stick in the mud. ;-)

We had decided on a Mitsubishi 4X4 while in UK and planning our permanent residency here in the house we built in 2007.
All bar paying the deposit was done by eMail and ‘phone with the Tacloban dealer.

I specified “Fully Comp. Any driver” Insurance. Yes Sir - No problem - already included in the “PROMO” price.
Tex paid PHP20,000 deposit. The sales Lady went to the manager to be told that WE had to pay for the Insurance. She had talked to him not 5 minutes before to finalize the “package” which we bought.
The insurance would cost us PHP 27.000 BUT as a consideration it would be reduced to P 18,000.

I told Tex to get our deposit back and I walked out. The money was refunded.
We then walked 300 mt. to the new SUZUKY dealer..

The Lady manager heard our story and was “ashamed” of their duplicity.
We paid in full the agreed price for the JIMNY and were told the car wound be there for us the following week = 4n days later.
It arrived ?? but had been damaged in transit.?? We did not see it.?

“Definitely Sir it will be here before the New Year. It was not.

I ‘phoned SUZUKI Manila to be told they had been closed from Christmas Eve and would not re-open ‘till 7th., January.
The car arrived mid January. The promised, Dec. ’12, seat covers were fitted 2 weeks ago.
I kept ringing and visiting the showroom for the Insurance..... eventually I received a Policy in March - 3rd party cover ONLY.
Any accident would have left me liable.!
I did get the “Fully Comp” 2 weeks later and an unannounced visit at my home from a SUZUKI executive from Manila.
A new manager in the dealership with US training is most helpful.

Internet, Sat TV Etc. and almost any service here is CRUD in comparison to UK/EU and the “providers”? do not care a whit.
“Give us your MONEY”

SO0oo UK or PI ??? ......... “Agh Go On, will Ya” ....... PI of course.
Me X was 10 times worse than the above pair of female’s - they are AMATEUR'S in comparison.

While our UK, rented out, home is great I prefer our PI home.
The land outside the wall is owned by Tex.

Nice looking place there Singers. I'm holding off on a car due to the so far temporary nature of our stay. Buggered if I'm goinmg to spend all that cash only to sell it 2 yrs later. Truth be told I can't be bothered with all the possible hasles from police etc either.