Having a Baby In Philippines

Having a Baby in the Philippines

Having A Baby in The Philippines

Makati Medical Center (MMC) in Manila - Delivery of a baby at MMC compared to USA.

A few years ago, my wife chose Dr. Marinette Sto Domingo, to be her OBGYN. She has a clinic at Makati Medical Center, in Manila. She proved to be a very personable and competent doctor. She always returned our calls and advised us well. We are now the proud parents of a happy and healthy little girl. The total cost for hospital and doctors' bills for a c-section was about $3,000 US (including 9 months of doctor visits, room, tests, 2 ultrasounds, emergency visits, consultations with nutritionist and medications). Compare that to cost in the USA of between $6,000 US and $20,000 US for a normal delivery and up to $38,000 US for a Cesarean (not including doctors' visits, tests and medications).

If a baby is premature and needs intensive care for 90 days it can set you back about one million Pesos in the Philippines (or about $23,719 US at the exchange rate on July 1, 2012). The same services in the USA can set you back about $7,000 to $10,000 per day. At that rate 90 days in intensive care could cost you $600,000 or more. Most preterm babies do not require 90 days so in 2005 the average additional cost of a preterm baby was $51,600 US.

A Cesarean birth, including doctors' visits, a few emergency room visits and about 4 days in a private hospital room at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, FL, in March 2015, was billed at $60,500 US.  If it were not for health insurance that cost would be enough to break most families. 

See what a new mother wrote at her blog in October 2011. Her total cost of delivery and hospital stay at MMC.

Find out about hospitals in the Philippines, including MMC.

If you have had experiences at Philippine hospitals, clinics or birthing centers, good or bad, please share with us by making comments below.

Filipina guide to compute maternity benefits. 

Filipina - Information about 5 hospitals in Metro Manila.

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about having a baby and maternity in the Philippines. Last updated June 3, 2022.

Home School Philippines

Home Schooling in the Philippines

Assisted Living Philippines, ALF

Assisted Living in the Philippines

Assisted Living Facilities in the Philippines

All Care Assisted Living

List of Nursing Homes in the Philippines

Here is a sample of an existing nursing home.

Definition of Assisted Living:

A system of housing and limited care that is designed for senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities but do not require care in a nursing home.

Several facilities which were featured here have apparently been closed during the recent "crisis." Their links have been removed today (April 9, 2022.)

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about assisted living in the Philippines. Last updated June 3, 2022.

Disaster Preparedness Philippines

Prepare for Disasters

Disaster Preparedness

During five years living in the Greater Manila area I have walked through flooded streets, ridden in a pedicab with water up to our seat, heard tin roofs rattling and banging in our compound in Paranaque during typhoons, watched children play and swim in highways while buses and jeepneys plowed through the water near them. I've stayed in a cottage close to the beach at the Lido Beach Resort, in Cavite, during a surprise storm. In the morning the catamaran that was on the beach was missing, apparently swept away by the wind and waves.

There have been disasters occur while we lived there. Fires where many shanty homes burned down, flooding rivers where many people have died in mud slides along the river banks, ferry boats and other boats have sunk.

I never prepared past having a Katadyn pocket water filter to filter drinking water and keeping copies of important papers and my passport in a safe place.

 

There is also the possibility of volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. Be ready to grab your valuables and flee if advised to. 

I plan to be more prepared in future. I plan to follow the steps outlined at the US State Department website. 

Watch this video about developing Situational Awareness.

Update July 30, 2015: The government has warned that there is a possibility of an imminent "7.5 killer earthquake" in Metro Manila and out into surrounding provinces. See this article in the Sun Star Manila. You may want to adjust your travel plans accordingly. Maybe you will want to visit some islands other than Luzon. Cebu is a great place to visit. Check out other places in my article about adventure in the Philippines.

Keep things ready to go at all times.

UN raps Philippines for failing to rehouse typhoon homeless (as reported by Channel News Asia July 31, 2015.)

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about disaster preparedness in the Philippines. Last updated July 30, 2022.

Military Philippines

Military Philippines - Special Forces

Armed Forces Philippines

When you are visiting the Philippines you are in good hands. There are a lot of 'protectors' all around the Philippines.

Filipino men are TOUGH. A fine example is the boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao.

Filipino men are not to be messed with. Most are gracious hosts to Americans and other foreigners, but, mind your manners when dealing with them.

Wikipedia articles about the Philippine Armed Forces, the Spratly Islands dispute, the Scarborough Shoal standoff and the Zamboanga City crisis.

Check out my article about Conflicts and War in the Philippines.


A YouTuber comment:

"Philippines has their mind Far Greater than any Army !!!!!! Why??!!! Cause they are what they are!!! they are brave strong!! and have more heart than Crappy persons who underestimate them!!! Remember!!! Philippines defeated my country Japan with USA in their ground/own Country!! Remember always during Korean War 1000 Filipinos where sent to South korea to defend them even though they were out numbered 40.000 VS 1000 they still killed 7 thousand troops and Those troops were Chinese lol!!!! the Crappy Chinese who Cowardly go back to their Camps because of fear."

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about the military of the Philippines. Last update June 3, 2022.

Retire in the Philippines

Retire in the Philippines!

There are about 300,000 Americans living full-time in the Philippines. Many, if not most, of them are retired. About 30,000 live in and around Angeles City on the island of Luzon.

The cost of living is much lower than in the USA. For example, the cost of a visit to a doctor or a dentist will be about $10 to $20. Medical and dental services are much cheaper.  In fact such services will cost from 5% to 10% of the price for the same services in the US.

We visited the Philippine Retirement Authority in Manila in 2019.

 

Rental rates:  We paid $70 a month rent for a

2 bedroom 1 bath apartment which had private parking with a gate in front of our first-floor unit. In the US the average cost of rent for a similar unit would be $1,205 a month (as of this date June 12, 2015.)

Cable TV and Internet service will cost about $20 a month each.

The cost of auto repair is significantly lower than in the US.

One can live comfortably on Social Security income of $800 or less a month. A family of 2 or 4 can live well on about $1,200 to $1,500 US a month. Of course it depends on where you live. If you live in a big city, like Manila, you can expect to pay considerably more for rent. But even there, a taxi will cost you only about $3.00 US to go about 5 or 10 miles. Living in more isolated places can lower your expenses considerably. I have read of families of 5 or more who live on $1,000 US a month or less.

There may be a way to engineer an extra, steady, income "by buying an immediate fixed annuity. According to ImmediateAnnuities.com, a 65 year old man who puts $100,000 into an immediate annuity today would collect about $500 a month throughout retirement."(from article 'Retire, Live Happily Ever After' in the Jan-Feb 2015 issue of Money magazine. Website: time.money.com)

If you are a Filipino you may want to check out e-PinoyGuide for information about Philippine Social Security benefits.

There are plenty of American fast food restaurant chains in the Philippines. Most are in the larger cities like Angeles City, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Manila and many more. You can find a good selection of American and European foods at grocery stores in the malls.

Shopping malls are world class! Visit a cinema in a mall and see first run movies for about $3.00 each. Get a haircut for a dollar or two. Your girlfriend or wife can get a manicure for a dollar or two.

Check out ladies of the Philippines. Many ladies are waiting for you. One good place to meet ladies is at food courts in the malls. Other places include beaches, churches, grocery stores, department stores, jeepneys, tricycles, buses and almost anywhere else.

It will  be a good idea to get travel insurance before you travel.

As for long term health insurance, there are many options, many health insurance providers in the Philippines.

Medicare will not cover you when you are abroad, but, 
I have heard that some Medicare insurance plans cover emergency medical care abroad. So be sure to check with your insurance agent.

You could fly back to the US if you should want to use  the services of the VA or use Medicare at other hospitals. There is a VA outpatient clinic in Manila and another on Guam. "Only Veterans who have a service connected disability of at least zero percent and registered with VA OPC are eligible for care and services (at the clinic in Manila.)"

Taken from the Manila VA outpatient website, "U.S. Veterans that live in another foreign country should coordinate their medical care and medication refills with the Foreign Medical Program (FMP.)"

As a foreigner you will not be permitted to work for remuneration in the Philippines unless you become a Permanent Resident and make application requesting to work there. You may not purchase a home unless you are married to a Filipino. You may, however, purchase a condo or lease a home.

Before you leave for the Philippines be sure you have a financial cushion. You will need to have money for deposits on cable, internet, water, electric, rental deposits, deposits before being admitted to hospitals, etc. and money for return flights to your home country. The more money you have in reserve the more comfortable you will be.

Oh, if you are a gambler there are a lot of casinos in the Philippines. It is possible to lose a lot of money. I have met Americans begging on the streets in Manila. The US Embassy will not give you money to fly back to the US and neither will the Philippine government. There are no free living quarters, no soup kitchens, so life could be extremely difficult if you lose your money.

You will need to extend your tourist visa regularly. Check with the US Embassy in Manila or with branch offices of the Embassy.  Don't overstay your visa, you could wind up detained by immigration. Be sure to extend your visa in a timely fashion each time it is required. Do not leave it to the last minute. Especially at holiday time. Immigration offices close for the holidays. I once had to book tickets online to leave the Philippines at the last minute, at a huge expense, because immigration was already closed when I had planned to go to renew. It was a good thing I managed to get that flight, immigration arrested about 20 foreigners, in the area where I had been living (Paranaque in Greater Manila), on or about Christmas day.

I spent 5 years living in the Philippines.

Check out US State Department site pages about travel to the Philippines.


What is the Philippine Retirement Authority?

 "The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) is a government owned and controlled corporation created by virtue of Executive Order No. 1037, signed by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos on 04 July 1985. On 31 August 2001, through Executive Order No. 26, the control and supervision of PRA was transferred to the Board of Investments (BOI) - Department of Trade and Industry from the Office of the President.

On 12 May 2009, Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known as Tourism Act of 2009, PRA became an attached agency of the Department of Tourism and placed under the supervision  of the Secretary.

PRA is mandated to attract foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens to invest, reside and retire in the Philippines with the end-view of accelerating the socio-economic development of the country, contributing to the foreign currency reserve of the economy and by providing them the best quality of life in the most attractive package."

Special Resident Retiree Visa Program

"The SRRV allows all its foreign retiree-members to retire and live in the Philippines for as long as they want.  An SRRV holder may come in and out of the country as often as he desires, and enjoy privileges such as exemption from securing the ACR I-Card (Alien Certificate of Registration Immigration Card) from the Bureau of Immigration; exemption from paying the travel tax at the Philippine Airports; and exemption from getting a Study Permit or Student’s Visa for their dependent-children who intends to pursue education in the Philippines.  PRA retiree-members may also use health cards issued abroad in Philippine hospitals/clinics accredited by selected health card companies.  They may also avail of the one time tax-free importation of household goods/personal effects; and many more."

Top 10 Places To Retire In The Philippines according to ZipMatch. 

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about retiring in the Philippines. Updated June 3 2022.

Are All Americans Rich?

Are All Americans Rich? Are Filipinos Rich?

Are All Americans Rich In The Philippines?

Many Filipinos think that all Americans (US citizens) are rich. This is a misconception. The fact is that the true rate of unemployment in the US is about 23%. Average American household debt is $117, 951 US. 75% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. 25% of Americans have no savings at all. 36% of Americans rent the dwelling they and their families are living in. 64% own or are buying the dwelling they are living in and the average amount owed on their home mortgages is $95,000 US (from census data  2013). The average value of their homes is $160,000. See information about American Family Finances.

Many Filipinos think that Americans are rich. They see them visiting the Philippines and spending their money. Many of these Americans use their credit cards to fly to the Philippines and pay for hotels and other travel expenses. The average American has $2,200 US in credit card debt.

Rich Filipinos

See some statistics about "How rich is rich in the Philippines?"

Rude Awakening

 

When Filipinos arrive in the US they are in for a rude awakening. Rich or poor, they soon discover the high cost of living in the USA.

In the Philippines wealthy Filipinos can afford to hire the services of nannys, cooks and drivers.
In the USA only the super rich can afford such services. So, a Filipino who marries a US citizen and goes to live in the US can expect to do the laundry, do the cooking, wash the dishes and do the driving. Fortunately most families own a washing machine and a car.

True, wages are higher in the US but so is the cost of living. Visit my hospitals page to see examples of the cost of US hospital care compared to hospital care in the Philippines.

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about wealth in the USA and in the Philippines, rich Americans and rich Filipinos. Last updated June 3, 2022.

Keeping Cool in the Philippines.

Fans are one way to stay cool in the Philippines

Keeping Your Cool in the Philippines

As you may be aware, most of the year it is very hot in the Philippines. Especially in cities like Angeles City, Cebu, Davao and Manila. The further South one goes in the Philippines the hotter it gets. We found it so hot in General Santos City and Cagayan de Oro that we hardly ever ventured out of our air conditioned hotels until after 4 or 5 p.m. And be sure to keep your cool socially, if you know what's good for you.

Cool Public Transportation

Taxi Cabs

Most taxis are air conditioned. But there are many which are not air conditioned. Be sure to ask the driver if he has 'aircon' and if it is working well before you get in the cab. Generally, the newer the cab the better the air conditioning. Most taxis do not have seat belts. You may need to wait for 1/2 hour or more until you hail one that has seat belts.

Buses

There are many open-air buses. But you will probably want to avoid those. Many have wood seats.

Air conditioned buses are usually not as crowded, have soft cushioned seats, curtains at the windows and more legroom.

Trains

There are trains in the Greater Manila area, and they have very good air conditioning systems.  A great way to travel and stay cool.

Jeepneys

Jeepneys are everywhere in the Philippines. Most are not air conditioned. I have never chanced to ride in an air conditioned one. I have seen some in Manila. They will have signs saying, "Air Con" or "Air Conditioned." You will need to ask locals how to find one. If you are at a jeepney station you may ask some 'dispatchers' or drivers if there are any that use that station. I have found it fastest to just get in any jeepney that is going where I want to go.

Cool Lodging

Most hotels, apartelles, pensiones and hostels are air conditioned.

Cool Residences

There are several ways to stay cool in your dwelling.

Table fans, wall fans and standing floor fans are the choice of many Filipinos.

Air conditioning is, of course, a great way to stay cool. But, electric costs are double the cost of electricity in the USA. We rented a 2 bedroom apartment outside Angeles City for about $83 US per month and our electric bill of $70 a month was almost equal to our rent! We had installed a single 3/4-ton window type air conditioner. We used table fans to circulate the cool air through the apartment.

You may purchase window type and split type air conditioners at appliance stores in shopping malls in the Philippines.

Another way to stay cool is to live in an area with a cool climate.

Cities in Cool Areas

Baguio

Baguio is located in the mountains North of Manila and Angeles City. At an altitude of 1,540 meters (5,050 feet) the average temperature is 15 to 23 C (59 to 73 F) with the lowest temperatures between November and February.

Tagaytay

Tagaytay at about 630 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level is only about 31 miles from Manila but much cooler. With an average temperature of 23 C (75 F).

Cool Outdoors

Of course, one of the best ways to stay cool outdoors is to stay in the shade of trees or under awnings. Wear a hat and light-colored cotton clothing.

 

Massage on beach in Boracay.

How about a relaxing massage under shady palms on Boracay?

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about keeping cool in the Philippines. Last updated June 3, 2022.

Useful Links

Links for Visitors and Filipinos

Flying to and from the Philippines.

Jet Lag

Taxis in the Philippines.

Hotels in the Philippines.

Flying in the Philippines.

Airports in the Philippines.

Ladies of the Philippines.

Food to avoid in the Philippines.

Drinking water in the Philippines.

Passports and Visas

Currency Converter or Money Changer

American food in the Philippines.

Etiquette or manners in the Philippines.

Cheapest transportation in the Philippines.

Cheap tricycle transportation in the Philippines.

Bus travel in the Philippines.

Hospitals, Clinics and Doctors in the Philippines.

Adventure in the Philippines.

Immigration offices in the Philippines.

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information and links for travel and living in the Philippines. Last updated June 3 2022.