The first time we went to the Philippines, we explored its provinces and its many islands. Now, we’ve even settled in its main city: Metro Manila.
And since, we live here. We’ve seen many friends, coming from Europe, traveling here. As the Philippines is becoming a very popular travel destination.
If you haven’t seen our video about why we chose to live in the Philippines, we’ll give you here 9 reasons, that might turn your next visit into an indefinite period stay:
#1 People are Awesome
Yes, Filipinos are truly AMAZING and this is for many the first, and so far the main reason, why we love, and live in the Philippines.
They are kind, helpful, and they keep on smiling, and take things that’s happening differently. Everyone globally knows that they are famous for their hospitality.
With so much positivism and good vibes, they’ll bring joy to your life. This is why without a doubt, this will give you a special bound with the country.
#2 The Cost of Life is very Different
If you’re from Europe like us, or America, or any developed countries. You’ll notice that the cost of living is way cheaper and you’ll be happier to spend here.
Let’s be honest, if you’re keeping the same level of income from your job in your own country, your cost of living is quite high. Cost of rent, transportation, food, and more are more expensive compared to Manila. That’s why many foreigners love this, and prefer to settle here in Manila rather than their home countries.
As per the Philippines Statistics Authority, the average salary of a Filipino family is around $450. Which is not even the monthly rent of a 1 bedroom in the business district areas like Makati or BGC.
At the same time, you can easily travel for a budget. In the provinces, having a full meal of freshly made food for $4-5, a beer for $1, you should try the local brands which taste great! 😉, and less than $10 for a room per night in a hostel is very common.
Be aware that it can be much more expensive if you’re looking for luxury places and hard-to-reach destinations.
#3 Warm and Great Weather All Year
Coming from Paris , where there are many days when it is gloomy. It is a great feeling and a privilege to go out of your place every day just in t-shirt and shorts.
One of the best feelings I have every morning is to go out of my building, hearing the joyful “Hi Sir” from my guard and then having another great day enjoying this warm sunny weather that lasts all year round!
A year earlier, we were just students in business schools, living in tiny flats, not having anyone to say hi when leaving the house because you don’t say hi to people in Paris — That’s a real change! Filipinos are fond of small talk, and greeting each other even strangers.
The Philippines’s average temperature is roughly around 28°C to 32°C (82°F to 89°F) that can go low at around 21°C to 25°C (69°F to 77°F) during December to February.
This is why places like Tagaytay (which is around 2 hours away from Manila it can get longer or shorter depends on the traffic situation) and Baguio (which is around 6-8 hours from Manila) is a popular place to be for Filipinos to enjoy a cooler weather that these regions have all year round. Baguio City and neighboring provinces can get as cool as 15°C to 23°C (56°F to 75°F).
It’s just AMAZING.
No more big jackets – you’re saving a lot of money on clothes here – red nose, chattering teeth… There is a rainy season, when you can experience heavy rain and even strong storms. But even during this period, you can see the sun.
Enjoy the sun every day and be careful with it, or you’ll have the same back as Nelson, below.
#4 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World
As many know already, island life in the Philippines is known all over the world. And it’s by exploring its nature that foreigners discover the Philippines for the first time.
Lots of travel guides are ranking many of the Philippines’ beaches as top beaches in the world. If you’re living here, you’ll then have the chance to be close to those paradise islands: Palawan, Boracay, Siquijor and so many other white sand beaches are waiting for you!
#5 Adventures Every Day
There is a reason why the tourism slogan is “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”
It’s because that’s true. We can’t count how many times we got involved in some epic adventures without even planning it in the first place.
It can be very unexpected and this spontaneity is why we love the Philippines.
Plus, it’s not only about beaches, you can see many awesome spots or have great adventures. You can be hiking the Mount Pinatubo, diving by the coast of the Pacific Ocean or simply admiring the sunset of a rooftop bar in the city. Not bad right?
#6 The Perfect Place to travel around Asia
The Philippines is perfectly located in Southeast Asia. Which makes it easy to visit the countries around with cheap flights.
From Manila, you can easily go to Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia or Japan, etc. Last time I only paid 190$ (170€) for a round-trip for Tokyo!
You can work during the week and travel for some weekends in some nearby countries.
#7 Growing country with a lot of opportunities
With 6%+ of average growth, the Philippines is one of the baby tigers of Southeast Asia.
There are still a lot of things to do as a developing country. If you want to have an experience in Asia, you can try the Philippines.
It is not always easy to find a good fit if you have a salary expectation of a foreign country. But if you stay long enough, you can climb the ladder and match it or even be higher than what you expected.
If you need more advice on that you can ask us. Get in touch with us via our email.
It’s been 2 years since we’ve been living and working in Manila’s corporate world.
Yes, being successful in the Philippines is not easy, but with hard work, an open mind and some luck, a bright career is waiting for you.
#8 Filipinos speak English well
Filipinos are known worldwide as great English speaker. English is the second language after Tagalog, the official language.
At the business level, people discuss in English and that makes your life really easy if you want to do business here. This is a reason why there are many call-centers here, which is one of the Philippines’ top employers.
If you’re French – and you are not that proficient in English – and you’re looking for a great place to start learning: the Philippines is the perfect place for that.
63.7% of Filipinos over the age of 5 reported an ability to speak English. (Social Weather Station)
#9 Cheap and good Food available!
Less famous than Thai or Vietnamese food, The Filipino food scene is slowly growing and offers a lot of different amazing meals.
Start with the basics like Pork Sinigang, Chicken Adobo or even Beef Kaldereta (the latter two have Spanish influence)
I’m French and I really got used to Filipino food, sometimes I really crave it!
If you’re visiting Manila and want to start on a slow discovery of Filipino cuisine without a huge culture gap, you can try Manam, it’s a Filipino comfort food restaurant. You’ll see many people eating there, and it is a must try!
If you don’t like Filipino food, no worries you will find a large choice of different types of cuisines like Japanese, Chinese, American, and even European.
Want to experience all of that in one cool setting? Try out their several buffet restaurants across Metro Manila! With roughly around $20 you can enjoy all you can eat food from various cuisines around the world.
K-bbq or Korean barbeque has gained popularity across the Philippines over the recent years as Filipinos become fond of Korean food and pop culture because of K-dramas and K-pop. If you love to eat meat, then you must try Samgyeopsal or grilled pork in Korean.
There are a lot of K-bbq restaurants around Metro Manila that offer that. You can definitely Google it and find one around you that you can visit. You can enjoy all you can eat K-bbq where you grill it yourself for around $15-20! This might spark an interest in you to explore South Korea which is just a 4-hour flight away from Manila.
If you want to complete your reading, you should read this as well: Is the Philippines a safe place to travel or even, to live? Hope you enjoyed reading this article! Share it to your foreigner’s friend who’s thinking of living here 🙂
