One Year Anniversary Here in the Phlippines

[RonHenk]

Today marks my one year anniversary of having moved and retired here to the Philippines. Needless to say it has not all been chocolates and roses. But I'm still here, and I have no plans to go elsewhere.

So, I would like to celebrate this milestone by thanking all the members of this forum. Even though I have been married to a Filipina for over 29 years and been a frequent visitor to this island paradise, the knowledge, experiences, insight and wisdom of the ladies and gents on this forum was invaluable to me in preparation for my move and transition. Thank you. My hat is off to you for taking the time out of your lives to help me and  the many others who seek your sage advice. Also a special call out to JGF for providing this venue in a controlled, sane and educated adult environment. Thank you sir. Very much.

For new members of this forum and those contemplating retirement here in the Philippines. I will repeat what has been reiterated ad nauseam on this forum. Nothing, I say again, NOTHING beats "Boots on the Ground". One week, 3 weeks or a month simply does not cut it. You have to take root and settle into the everyday humdrum to truly experience what life will be like for YOU here. Take the time to search this site and research the topics that interest you. 90% of the questions you may have are already answered many times over. Of course if you cannot find your answer, feel free to ask. The members here will be more than happy to tell you what you want to know, or maybe what you don't want to know.

Anyways, I'm still here and still loving it. One day at a time.

Thanks again everyone,
Ron

[Queenie O.]

Congrats on your first year anniversary--I hope that you have many more happy years to come living here!

 Kind words too for many on this forum, but remember that we're all learning from each other as we go along and yours and all others' input are very helpful too. Having been here only a little over two years myself, I'm in agreement with what you say about your experience so far. I'm glad that I found this site too, and for JGF's efficient management of it that I'm sure is no small feat.

Queenie

[Jake]

6 hours ago, RonHenk said:

Today marks my one year anniversary of having moved and retired here to the Philippines. Needless to say it has not all been chocolates and roses. But I'm still here, and I have no plans to go elsewhere.

Anyways, I'm still here and still loving it. One day at a time.

Thanks again everyone,
Ron

Good morning Master Chief!  What I like about this forum is that Boss Man doesn't take any chit from anybody, especially from me.....he, he.  

I can also read between the lines -- don't you mean one beer at a time?

[virginprune]

Happy 1st Ron. I had mine on the 1st of this month. I cannot add anymore to what you have eloquently written except to agree with you totally.....here's to many more!

 

[bows00]

I was hoping this thread would express your experiences in a bit more detail, i.e., were there any situations or circumstances that made you think twice about the move?  And since you mentioned it was not all puppies and rainbows, what are the areas of struggles and how are you coping with the situation?  Or have you just adapted, or learned to accept them?

 

[GPJ]

Just passed my two year mark this month and I love it.  Only thing I can pass on is that after being here about six months, was the result of my first Philippine hospital physical.  I live in San Pablo City, Laguna population 248,890.  We have five hospitals here and I chose to go to a private hospital for my physical.  They have a dedicated Heart Center and I was sent there for a stress test.  Three days later my doctor told me there is a 50% blockage and I need angioplasty.  She asked me if I still had insurance in the US and I replied yup I have medicare.  So two days later I'm on an airplane to Los Angeles with an appointment set at UCLA Medical Center one of the best in the United States.  They gave me a "Nuclear Stress Test" and said "You are as healthy as a horse, go back to the Philippines".  Wow I said wrong diagnosis guess the medical people in the Philippines are not that great.  My doctor in the US said "Jack a treadmill stress test will usually give a wrong diagnosis about 30% of the time.  I was told for major diagnosis or major events drive the one hour to Manila where there are at least five world class hospitals to choose from that have all the latest and greatest equipment to insure the best diagnosis and treatment.  The moral of the story is pick out which health providers you may need in the future for whatever and make sure that your SO knows where to go and who to see for any situations that come up.  

I love my life here and try to get back to the US for vacation at least once a year.

[robert k]

2 hours ago, GPJ said:

Just passed my two year mark this month and I love it.  Only thing I can pass on is that after being here about six months, was the result of my first Philippine hospital physical.  I live in San Pablo City, Laguna population 248,890.  We have five hospitals here and I chose to go to a private hospital for my physical.  They have a dedicated Heart Center and I was sent there for a stress test.  Three days later my doctor told me there is a 50% blockage and I need angioplasty.  She asked me if I still had insurance in the US and I replied yup I have medicare.  So two days later I'm on an airplane to Los Angeles with an appointment set at UCLA Medical Center one of the best in the United States.  They gave me a "Nuclear Stress Test" and said "You are as healthy as a horse, go back to the Philippines".  Wow I said wrong diagnosis guess the medical people in the Philippines are not that great.  My doctor in the US said "Jack a treadmill stress test will usually give a wrong diagnosis about 30% of the time.  I was told for major diagnosis or major events drive the one hour to Manila where there are at least five world class hospitals to choose from that have all the latest and greatest equipment to insure the best diagnosis and treatment.  The moral of the story is pick out which health providers you may need in the future for whatever and make sure that your SO knows where to go and who to see for any situations that come up.  

I love my life here and try to get back to the US for vacation at least once a year.

Glad you are healthy. I'm under retirement age so I would probably be seeking treatment for a major illness at St. Luke's, if I can possibly get there.

[RonHenk]

8 hours ago, Jake said:

I can also read between the lines -- don't you mean one beer at a time?

Jake, sometimes it's more like 8 or 10 beers at a time. But hey, who's counting? I'm not!

[RonHenk]

6 hours ago, bows00 said:

I was hoping this thread would express your experiences in a bit more detail, i.e., were there any situations or circumstances that made you think twice about the move?  And since you mentioned it was not all puppies and rainbows, what are the areas of struggles and how are you coping with the situation?  Or have you just adapted, or learned to accept them?

 

Bows00, there where a few things that had me second guessing. Off the top of my head, one would be the noise, pollution and traffic in Manila. Which was my landing spot for the first 6 months. Relocating to Naga City, Bicol relieved much of that stress. Another would be the hassle of trying to obtain a drivers license with the new rules implemented by the LTO. But as with a lot of things here. Where there's a will, there's a way. I posted about my experiences there a while ago in the appropriate forum topic. Mostly, you are quite correct, it has been about adapting and learning to accept that "We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto." That, coupled with a lot of patience, has bode me well. For me, the food here still leaves a lot to be desired. But you learn to do without or create your own alternatives. But all in all, this is my home now. And I choose to put on a happy face each morning. Rather than dwell on the negatives. Which, if one allowed it to, would bring any sane man to his knees.

Ron

[mogo51]

Congrats Ron, hope you have many more anniversaries.