No, it's not paradise. It's probably close, though.
I was born in North Carolina. My dad was career Navy, enlisted. I lived from California to Cuba (His last duty station was Gitmo, 1960-63). I finished High School in Wilmington, after he retired.
I now live in the PROVINCE of Leyte. I am retired, and living on less than a grand a month. I can spend more, but there is no need. I rent a five bedroom, 2-story house in Ormoc City. I have Cignal satellite tv so I can watch Nascar races (7 am tomorrow morning for me, live for the Richmond race on FoxSportsHD), FoxNews, and other US networks and shows. I have high speed internet access. My biggest expense is electricity, but it is much less than I paid back home. I have a domestic who comes to work six mornings a week, cooks my meals, cleans my house and washes/irons my clothes. She is off on Sundays. I pay her 2000 Ph Pesos per month. the current exchange rate is 44+ PhP=1USD. She cleans the entire house daily, even though I only use a couple of rooms. She has quickly learned how to prepare my foods, American style, and we both share the kitchen at times so she can learn more.
I love the fresh fruits and vegetables, enjoy seafood just out of the ocean, scarf the organic pork products (I even make my own NC style BBQ), and tolerate the beef (it is not as prevalent here, but you can find it in the supermarkets. It is not as tasty as Omaha beef!). I seldom eat rice, though my girl makes a pot every morning for herself. She has full access to my pantry for her own meals, but prefers Pinay style foods which I buy for her. I spend another 460 PhP per month and provide for her PhilHealth and SSS programs. It is not mandatory for me to do that, but it's so cheap that I feel I must do more!
Though "foreigners" are not allowed to keep a gun in the house, I can shoot (and do) regularly at the gun clubs. If one has a Filipina wife, though (or Filipino husband) they can have one (even automatics!). But, every business I see here has an armed guard or two. I have no fears. Though there have been Musim problems in Mindinao, that is isolated and is only one island of the 7107 in the Archipelago. My neighbors keep watch when I am away.
I walk into the shops and stores, and Filipinos are ALWAYS singing, laughing and enjoying life. They love their families and spend time with them and their friends. I don't see as much of that back in Amerika!!! All I see there now, is people that sit in front of the TV or computer and grumble about how bad it is...
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!
