Posted on 09/06/2013 7:55:56 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Many of us still active in the profession have not hung up the sweaty gloves to dry these continue to soak in the sweat from our daily grind. For many, it is the need to still build up further the security blanket (assuming things have gone as far as building up the security blanket to start with); for others, it is still the sheer joy of working at a profession that you have grown to love. As they say, if you find pure enjoyment in what you do, it isn’t work at all. It is the latter that makes working fun. I guess for me, I burn both ends of the candle for these two reasons.
Still, the prospect of retirement is a reality that we all must face at one point in our life. It may be full and complete retirement, or it may be partial, a slowing down that, I think, is a more acceptable option for many, including me. I cannot think of complete and absolute retirement, barring dire physical circumstances, of course. Even when we scrapped our Saturday work days, more for the benefit of our employees, opting to optimize the work schedule to fit into five full days instead, I found myself dressing up for work on late Saturday mornings, finding the peace and quiet of an empty office more conducive to planning and strategizing. That I have not found reasons to slow down points to only one thing: the gloves are here to stay for a long while.
But for most of the people in my age bracket, retirement is a prospect that they have to deal with now. This was an area that our government did not give much thought to in the past, until the ’90s when the administration created the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). Yes, much has been accomplished from ground zero where we were before the government thought of institutionalizing retirement in the Philippines, but we still have a long way to go. Consider for example that we really do not have retirement communities to speak of yet, though we have retirement homes in strategic cities and provinces already. It is a business in its nascent stage, and hopefully it can emerge into a full industry soon.
What makes a retirement community? Apart from the retirement homes, it incorporates a lifestyle that is suited for retirees, which includes a serene and peaceful environment, restaurants and entertainment. Most important of all, it includes health care services and the presence of a full-fledged tertiary hospital. Part of the health care services is efficient and well-run nursing homes.
In the United States, nursing homes are a-plenty, and many Filipinos residing there have opted to make profitable business out of owning and running nursing homes for the elderly. Not so here. By the count of the Retirement & Healthcare Coalition, there are about 50 nursing homes registered in the country. These are privately-owned houses converted into nursing homes, all of them between four to eight bedroom types, and these are located in Tagaytay, Manila, Cebu and Iloilo.
Recently, the Bureau of Immigration has stepped in to make retirement in the Philippines a more convenient option for foreigners. Where before the short term visas allowed prospective retirees to stay and test the waters for 60 days only, there is now the long-stay visa that allows them to live out the harsh winter in their country or to test-live in the Philippines for six months, renewable for another six months. If they wish for a longer period, this can still be further extended for another six months for a total period of 18 months. Through the Special Resident Retirement Visa (SRRV) provided by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), foreign retirees can enjoy a life-long stay in the country. With this kind of program, the Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia with an entire portfolio on retirement benefits.
The Retirement & Healthcare Coalition, founded in 2007 by American, Korean, Japanese and European chambers of commerce, had for its goal the promotion of the Philippines as a premier retirement and healthcare destination. They have partnered with the PRA and the Department of Tourism to work towards this goal. They are currently working with public private partnerships to bring up the quality of the local nursing homes; they are not actually developing nursing homes, they are just there to assist local nursing homes in upgrading their systems. Our biggest competitor in the region in this sector, Thailand, already has thriving retirement communities with full amenities and professionally-run nursing homes. Yes, the coalition says we are competitive as far as the individual retirement market is concerned for those retirees who are still semi-active. Retirement & Healthcare Coalition executive director Mark Daubenbuchel calls them the “go-go” retirees. For the nursing home market, however (or the “no-gos” as Marc says), we are still a long way off.
This is sad because, as Marc pointed out, we have the perfect market niche for nursing homes. With about 300,000 unemployed Filipino graduates of nursing, we could easily make this a viable sector because we have the necessary medical support system. Add to this fact our undeniable edge of general proficiency in the English language, a culture that is closer to the Western culture than any of our Asian neighbors, our in-born hospitable trait as a people and our always ready smile. The convergence of all these factors create a synergy that is a win-win formula, if we can only get our act together fast before the rest of our neighbors in the region eclipse us again.
The coalition is looking at positioning the Philippines in the market niche for nursing homes, and we must work hand in hand with them to make this possible. Marc tells us that at present, most of the holders of SSRV are Chinese and Taiwanese who are younger than the 55-60 age bracket. Many also come from the United States, but most of these are the “no-gos” (they need assistance) because the insurance system there right now is perceived as weak, and they are looking to permanently relocate here.
The Philippine Retirement & Health Care Summit, an annual event jointly undertaken with the coalition will be held in March 2014. I hope concrete and tangible developments will come out of this.
bttt
other Americans have houses nearby??? for you to socialize with. Australians?
I do have lots of Filipino friends, though, and English is taught in the schools and spoken by most Filipinos. I am starting to learn the local Bisayan dialect, and some Tagalog. I have a girl friend, but it is not a serious relationship. Her goal is to go live in America. Mine is to live here for the rest of my natural life!
Everything is much cheaper here, and my recent hospital stay was literally "first class". I stayed in a two room suite at Ormoc Doctors Hospital (affiliate of Cebu University Doctors Hospital system) complete with kitchen. leather couch and recliner, and of course tv/stereo and a stocked refrigerator, with water, juices and fruits. It has the standard hospital bed for sleeping. It was about 350 sq ft. They fed me with a special diet for Americans (good food, and entirely different from the hospital food back home!!!)!
I went in for two days of tests, so I could send my results back to the VA. I get free health care back in the states, but here you have to go to the embassy in Manila, and it is only for Vets with a disability rating (even 0%) on outpatient basis only.
But, I spent 27,000PhP for a complete physical, tests for damn near everything (including ultrasound and x-rays), and had two doctors, (including the best GastroEnterologist in Ormoc!). The total included the doctors' fees. I sent the test results back home and my doctor there authorized my free meds. They ship them to my daughter's house in NC, and she sends them to me by USPS/PhilPost. It takes a while, but it is far cheaper than buying the meds, and certainly less than a round trip ticket!
Did I mention that I billed Medicare? They reimbursed it all! I am here on a “tourist” visa... and can stay for up to 18 months, fly to Hong Kong or some other nearby place, and return the next day for another 18 months, rinse and repeat. I know one guy who has done it for more than 17 years...
“Paradise? No. Great place to live. Absolutely!!! I did not leave America, though I do live here now. The America that I knew does not exist now!”
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It is about time that you showed up to help defend me from the four “Dogs in a manger” that have been castigating me for over a few weeks. They think of me as the lowest of the low, and want me banned from FR, hahaha. Of course, I have been here longer then any of them.
They do seem to be having a miserable life in Obozioland, and can not stand that we are independent and live the lives that we desire.
They say that we should be there fighting, but they have yet to give one single way for that to be bone, much less what THEY are doing to save America.
I saw nothing to defend. You have nothing to apologize for, and they really make no case. I think there may be some jealousy at work, or just a supreme show of ignorance.
I came to Ormoc because I thought there was someone here for me. I met a nice Pinay woman online, who i later found has a goal to live in the USA. Not me. I love it here, and have seen some other places, but plan to remain here. I have met the mayor and lots of business folk. I say hello to some of the other Americans, but most of them are married and spend time with their families, or are drunks looking for drinking buddies. I have no family here (yet) and though I enjoy a glass of wine or Scotch whiskey, I keep it at bay. I like the wine for it's medicinal nature and flavor, and the whiskey (or brandy) goes well with my occasional cigar.
I will be 66 at the end of this month. My father is 90, and many of my aunts are in their middle and later 90's. I plan on living long, and take care of myself.
I found lots of Filipinas looking for a "foreigner" as many think it gives them a good life, while others don't like the extramarital nature of so many of the Filipino men.
Next week, I have a lady coming here from Cebu, that I also met online. I have talked with her lots, and exchanged pics. She is not the young skinny girl that so many of the guys go for, but instead is 49, has a grown family, and grandchildren like me. She has been separated for the last 14 years. As you know, divorce is against Philippine Law.
But, I want to start a business and the restrictions on foreign ownership here are limiting. But, I need to be busy. I have worked all my life and don't plan to stop. My father had three careers, ending up as an Episcopal Priest. He only stopped because of Alzheimers.
I am very happy here. I have lots of friends after only six months of my stay. I anticipate lots more... of everything good that these islands and people have to offer!
Thanks for giving me some backup. It is sad that FR has a few dogs that can not live life as they want.
I grieve for America, but there is nothing that I can do to save her, and the dogs can do nothing mote then bark.
I have never been to the Philippines...but i have a good filipina wife...good luck to you all.
Then you need to visit, and you may love it like the rest of us do.
“I have never been to the Philippines...but i have a good filipina wife...good luck to you all.”
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While this is a third world country, American and European expats can have a great life here, or in many other countries.
I just came back from Cebu city today. The malls there are as elegant and stocked as as well as any in the world.
Some of the worlds largest malls (SM Malls) are in the Philippines.
NO!! What city are you in....what’s the cost of living??
As previously mentioned, I am in Ormoc City, Leyte. Please read my previous post #38, so I repeat nothing. This place is not modern by American standards, but the living is easy... and the Filipinos are great! This is a Christian (though largely Catholic) country, where English is a common language, and the cost of living is downright cheap where I live.
If you want metropolitan living (Manila area or Cebu city area) then you pay substantially more. But, I can fly to Manila for about $75-100 round trip or take the SuperCat to Cebu for around $30. I can shop, get fancy, or jus enjoy that lifestyle (not really!) of sataying in fancy hotels and eating in fancy restaurants.
I choose a simple life....
Sounds great!!
I want to do this but my Phillipino wife doesn’t
AHHHH!
The Philippines...
The only place I’ve ever been that had a topless bar called, “Metallica.”
;-)
You should visit the Phils. I was there December 2011.
Stayed at Balabag, Iloilo (Panay island), also spent a couple days at Boracay. My wife is from Balabag. Many rice and chicken farms in that area.
Thanks for filling me in. Off hand I would think I would be socializing with American ex-pats like me. Funny you mention alcohol, I have a friend who visits in Ph a lot and he says many-most of the ex-pat Aussies are booze hounds and Americans too but a bit less so. Due to the heat or...
Are you near Alex? Did he help you pick what region to live?
I like the fish photo!!
Eat more fish for your health. Less pork (adobo) and more fresh fish. Prolly fresher than I can find in USA
I plan to stay in America but to each his own. You and VWKayaker semi-retiring to the Philippine does not bother me in the least. Is the ice business still coming along?
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