How to mitigate all of the risks of living in the PI?

[Guam_Haole]

Hi, this is obviously my first post, and I tried messaging Jollygoodfellow to ask where to post for starters, but my account is not able to do so for some reason.

 

Anyway, after spending time reading this forum (incl. the crime and law sections) and posting on another PI expat forum, I am a bit amazed at how many pitfalls there are to living as a 'kano' in the PI. I am not totally ignorant of the culture, as I have a Filipina wife of 15 years (I am in mid 30's, she's a few years younger than me), and I am from Guam, which is about 35% Filipino. My wife and young daughters are all dual PI/USA citizens and hold both passports.

Does being a higher-income (in my case, $HIGH USD / year, sometimes more) expat help to possibly mitigate the bullsh*t, if I follow all of the obvious rules of being an expat in S.E. Asia? I am not trying to brag, rather, I want to be upfront so that I can get appropriate feedback.

Since we can afford to live in an enclave in, say, Muntinlupa, or even a high-rise condo in, say, Salcedo Village (Makati), would my family's daily life be substantially less prone to all of the dangers that come with living in the province, surrounded by jealous neighbors?
Of course drive-by shootings can and do happen in the wealthy areas of the NCR, but there must be a damn good reason why wealthy Filipinos and the wealthy 'kano' expats who are VPs of global corporations in Makati actually live in the 'nice' areas, past the obvious reason that they can afford it.

For example, how does a guy like Greg Kittleson, of Kittleson Carpo, manage to become as wealthy and grow as large of a business as he and his partners have, without some jealous local getting him thrown in prison for 5 years until trial? Pay everyone off along the way, or does it more come down to where one lives and the circles they move in?

I figure if we live and mix with the wealthier, more cosmopolitan set (and I know my income pales in comparison to the actually wealthy Filipinos' incomes) will I be able to keep my family safe and above the BS. That is my main question.  

Note

Income removed by JGF for security reasons

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by Jollygoodfellow

[Clermont]

Well first off, you aren't the only Person with a bit of money on this site and my suggestion, don't spruik about your wealth or dress in top of the range cloths when your over there. Another thing you haven't said whether it's only a holiday or fulltime, if it's a holiday splash your money around, draw attention to yourself there's plenty over there that will notice you  and relieve you of some of it. Then again if your staying fulltime, invest in your daughters future, there's no need to lock yourself up in a condo, there's plenty of nice estates that are well patrolled and close to the city proper. The PI people aren't all scammers or crooks, most of what you've probably heard are half drunken yarns told over and over to make then sound plausible. What's been said may times to new visitors, keep a low profile and stay out of sleasy bars and enjoy your daughter and wifes company. Good luck Try a bit of his lifestyle.

[scott h]

6 hours ago, Guam_Haole said:

and I am from Guam

Welcome 

Dont know why you would want to leave Guam,,lovely place (except for the 30 mph speed limit boy that drove me nuts lol) But I understand living there and visiting there might be completely different than just visiting.

I wont touch on the business part of your post, I am retired with secure income, so I will just address what I know about.

The more money you have the safer you will be. Live in a higher end subdivision, have a driver to take you about, have live in maids. The area you mentioned is near Ayala Alabang, really high class area. From there you can go to 1st class malls and restaurants, 1st class hospital, all the bells and whistles. Even a good international school for your kids. The only time you would really have to mix with the great unwashed is if you went a a road trip somewhere.

Long story short, unless a person is a complete rube and just rubs people the wrong way, is involved in some shady dealing and stays away from politics and family disputes, the Philippines is just as safe as any place else in the world,,,especially Chicago  

 

[Guy F.]

If you insist on living in a big city the air pollution will get you if you manage to avoid the criminals. Abandon all hope.

I wouldn't get involved in any kind of business in the Philippines. Too dangerous, and a Filipino will do whatever cheaper than you can.

My house is in a semi-rural touristy area in a less corrupt municipality, close to a small city . It's 2 hours from a big city (Cebu). It's quiet and safe- no bars on my windows!

[graham59]

My (province) neighbours are only jealous of my videoke performances, and amazing dance moves. 

It's so much less stressful not having to worry about money and status.  

[Guam_Haole]

On 1/3/2022 at 8:35 PM, Clermont said:

Well first off, you aren't the only Person with a bit of money on this site and my suggestion, don't spruik about your wealth or dress in top of the range cloths when your over there. Another thing you haven't said whether it's only a holiday or fulltime, if it's a holiday splash your money around, draw attention to yourself there's plenty over there that will notice you  and relieve you of some of it. Then again if your staying fulltime, invest in your daughters future, there's no need to lock yourself up in a condo, there's plenty of nice estates that are well patrolled and close to the city proper. The PI people aren't all scammers or crooks, most of what you've probably heard are half drunken yarns told over and over to make then sound plausible. What's been said may times to new visitors, keep a low profile and stay out of sleasy bars and enjoy your daughter and wifes company. Good luck Try a bit of his lifestyle.

Hi Clermont, thanks for the insight. Like I said in my post, I wasn't trying to brag about income. In the past I have gotten a little advice here and there from retirees that are on $2k USD/month Social Security checks, and while the advice can still be valuable, when it comes to the financial aspects, my income is much much higher, so I was never able to get advice specifically geared toward being my age, with my income bracket. Hope that makes sense... its been edited out now anyway, lol.

We'd be living full-time in the PI. Actually, when it comes down to it, we'd go back and forth from our hypothetical place in the PI to our place on Guam, as it's only a 3 hour flight.

I trust that you're right, and I have to keep in mind that the same things happen anywhere on Earth, unfortunately, and we probably only hear about the worst of the worst outcomes when it comes to expats.

[Guam_Haole]

On 1/4/2022 at 1:15 AM, scott h said:

Welcome 

Dont know why you would want to leave Guam,,lovely place (except for the 30 mph speed limit boy that drove me nuts lol) But I understand living there and visiting there might be completely different than just visiting.

I wont touch on the business part of your post, I am retired with secure income, so I will just address what I know about.

The more money you have the safer you will be. Live in a higher end subdivision, have a driver to take you about, have live in maids. The area you mentioned is near Ayala Alabang, really high class area. From there you can go to 1st class malls and restaurants, 1st class hospital, all the bells and whistles. Even a good international school for your kids. The only time you would really have to mix with the great unwashed is if you went a a road trip somewhere.

Long story short, unless a person is a complete rube and just rubs people the wrong way, is involved in some shady dealing and stays away from politics and family disputes, the Philippines is just as safe as any place else in the world,,,especially Chicago  

 

Hafa Adai, Scott,

We love Guam, and are not running from it at all. We have a home here, and plan to go back and forth, as wanted. Thats the cool thing about it being only a 3 hour flight between the two places.

Alabang is exactly where I am looking at, and Muntinlupa seems ideal, as its right off the Skyway from Makati and other places in the city proper, as well as being just enough outside of it to seem less hustle & bustle. Plus Laguna and Tagaytay are easy access south of it, for those roadtrips (which we plan to do).

For the business aspects, my main point was, how do the Whites who have truly grown wealthy IN the PI via PI-based businesses manage to avoid the seemingly unavoidable pitfalls. I know one guy personally, a European, who had been VP of some major Philippine corporations for 20 years, and now has his own large company in Manila. If I am to go off of the horror stories, there is no way a foreigner like him could become a USD multimillionaire within the PI, unless he had some sort of divine protection. Yet there are many more than just him. Greg Kittleson is another, more publicly visible one. Although Greg K. is openly gay, so maybe never having to deal romantically with Filipinas cut his risks down A LOT... hahaha

Anyway, thanks for your insight and feedback. I really appreciate it.

[Guam_Haole]

On 1/4/2022 at 2:09 AM, Guy F. said:

I wouldn't get involved in any kind of business in the Philippines. Too dangerous, and a Filipino will do whatever cheaper than you can.

And yet, there ARE plenty of very successful White expats in Manila...

The point of my post wasn't asking about how to get into business in the PI, as my income comes out of the USA.
I am wondering, how the hell did they manage to do so, without ending up in a jail cell? Either it's not as bad as the horror stories make it sound, or it is, and they have some incredibly good luck mixed with psychopathic ruthlessness.

[Jollygoodfellow]

38 minutes ago, Guam_Haole said:

I am wondering, how the hell did they manage to do so, without ending up in a jail cell? Either it's not as bad as the horror stories make it sound, or it is, and they have some incredibly good luck mixed with psychopathic ruthlessness.

Why would you end up in jail if you did things legally? 

There are certain business categories foreigners can own 100% and others at a certain percentage and usually others form a company 60/40 with Filipino 60% owned but obviously ways around control of the business.

Places like the Subic freeport zone to save on tax and the goverment give you incentives to do business. 

There is lots of info on the internet as to foreign owned and what's allowed or not. Look at places like McDonalds, they form a subsidy company which allows them to operate here but I dont know a great deal about how its done.

You will always find some people will say never do business here in the Philippines. Many would not know if a business was Filipino owned or not and most who give this advice have never been into business so take it with a grain of salt.

Anyway look how many Chinese businessmen are in the Philippines who own a business, what about the new telco which is China owned so it can and is done.

There are risk for wealthy and that includes wealthy Filipinos but at the same time us poor can get shot dead for being an ass to so probably depends on how you conduct yourself. A few years back a video circulated of an Australian business owner confronting a woman who confronted him over a driving matter. His conduct did not look good in the eyes of many so possibly could make himself a target.

Several years ago two foreigners set up a well known ice box manufactory company and ran it for years, I think they were brothers. Eventually one got shot dead. Never heard of the outcome so who did will remain a mystery.

Personally I think even if wealthy its how you conduct yourself in public, better to not show how wealthy you are like posting income on the internet and thats the reason I edited your first post. The less others know about personal income the better, no matter where you live.

 

[Dave Hounddriver]

13 hours ago, Guam_Haole said:

will I be able to keep my family safe and above the BS

If you are willing to adapt and overcome the problems then yes.  But there are problems and BS that may not exist where you live.  Best advice I ever heard is:  If you want all the comforts and amenities of where you live now then stay where you live now.