Leaving the Philippines: Foreigner reflects on his time spent living there
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 4 дек 2024
- I've spent the past 5 months in the Philippines. Since March 2020 I've lived in the Phipippines for almost 4 years: a total of 3 years 10.5 months. How do I feel about my recent stint living here? I arrived in Cebu at the end of January, spent 3 months living in a condo there, before flying to Boracay and travelling through Pinay, Negros and western Mindanao.
There's so much bad publicity about this area of the Philippines called the Red Zone, that I thought I'd best go and explore the place myself. Was in Mindanao for 1 month: spent 4 nights in Dipolog City, a place I'd wanted to come to for awhile, having been on my radar since I heard about its fabulous Boulevard; a sad night in Oroquieta City which had nothing to offer; 4 nights in Ozamiz City; 6 nights in Iligan; Pagadian city for 4 nights; Zamboanga for 8 nights.
On the morning I left Ozamiz city I received a text from a filipina I’d been chatting to asking if I had any foreign friends in Ozamiz. Then forwarded a Facebook post regarding a foreigner who’d been discovered dead that morning with gunshot wounds to the head who’d been executed. He had no phone or anything on his possession, so police couldn’t identify him. It was a chilling thought knowing that a foreigner was murdered in a place where I’d been staying for the previous 4 nights.
I’d not spent much time on the Ozamiz streets, as I’d been holed up in my hotel room editing. There’s a handful of good places to eat, but that’s about it. Fortunately the Royal Garden Hotel where I'd stayed was really lovely, which was probably the best thing about Ozamiz city. Apart from leaving.
This was my first time visiting western Mindanao. I have previously taken a ferry from Camiguin to Cagayan De Oro, spent time in that city, before travelling on to Davao, spending 3 weeks in Davao over Christmas 2022.
How safe is Mindanao Island? On the United Kingdom’s Foreign Travel Advice Website, they’ve virtually drawn a line down the middle of Mindanao depicting which are the safe places to travel to and those that are not so safe. The website states that there’s a high threat of kidnap in the Philippines, with foreign nationals targeted by both criminal and terrorist groups. The threat of kidnapping is particularly acute in Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago and offshore areas in the nearby waters of the Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea.
A British national and a dual Filipino-British national were kidnapped on 4 October 2019 from a resort in Zamboanga, Western Mindanao. They were successfully rescued on 25 November 2019 by the Philippines Armed Forces. Some hostages however, including foreign nationals, have been murdered.
The Philippines should be on everyone’s bucket list with its beautiful white sand beaches, fabulous idyllic islands, turquoise sea and stunning scenery. The Philippines is a traveller’s paradise and regularly included in top ten favorite places to visit in Asia and affordable, favorite world holiday destination.
Many foreigners/expats choose the Philippines as the best country to retire in Asia and live in paradise. The Philippines is one of the cheapest countries to live in the world with its low cost of living and all year sunshine. Retiring in the Philippines is affordable on a budget of less than $1000 per month.
EQUIPMENT USED:
Canon Sureshot G7X Mark II.
GoPro HERO9 Black.
SUPPORT MY CHANNEL:
ko-fi.com/bigg...
www.paypal.com...
SOCIAL MEDIA:
/ biggworldcinema
/ biggworldcinema
/ bigg_world_cinema
t.me/BiggWorld... (Telegram)
PHOTOGRAPHS FOR LICENSE OR SALE:
www.alamy.com/...
COLOUR BARS TESTCARD:
vidfy.com/vide....
MUSIC KINDLY SUPPLIED BY:
Artist: Gerhard Feng
Song: Introduce Me
Licensed to RUclips by Epidemic Sounds
Artist: Psuche
Song: Unicorns of Death
Licensed to RUclips by Epidemic Sounds
Artist: TAGE
Song: Hit me with your Love
Licensed to RUclips by Epidemic Sounds
Artist: Andreas Dahlback
Song: Do the Pony
Licensed to RUclips by Epidemic Sounds
Artist: Dex 1200
Song: From the Past
Licensed to RUclips by Epidemic Sounds
Artist: Aerian
Song: Haven
Licensed to RUclips by Epidemic Sounds
CURRENT SUBSCRIBER COUNT: 21,967
#filipinas
#foreigner
#philippines
Thanks for Watching. Please Leave a Comment and I'll do my best to Respond.
If you haven't Subscribed yet, please do so here: www.youtube.com/@BiggWorldCinema?sub_confirmation=1
SUPPORT MY CHANNEL:
ko-fi.com/biggworldcinema
www.paypal.com/paypalme/BiggWorldCinema
SOCIAL MEDIA:
facebook.com/BiggWorldCinema
www.tiktok.com/@biggworldcinema
instagram.com/biggworldcinema
t.me/BiggWorldCinema (Telegram)
PHOTOGRAPHS FOR LICENSE OR SALE:
www.alamy.com/portfolio/philipjbigg
The best part of the vlog was the soothing music with your interacting with locals just doing life. Additionally, the capturing of gorgeous scenery with the sunset crescendo…was well done
Think of all you got to do n see. I was going to make the move but my heart surgery changed everything. Now im stuck in America . You got to do so much . Appreciate !! Your still kicking
Having a base I think is essential. Gives so much flexibility. I find it exhausting constantly travelling and you recoup costs when at your base, plus great to have a kitchen
Not a fan of traveling a lot either. Enjoy the quiet life with my hobbies and family. Neither do I enjoy attending a lot of frivolous parties, and hosting the same is mostly a waste of cash. Maybe that's why several vloggers claim it costs so much for them to live here.
I have a home base here in Thailand the 50 Sqm Condo is very nice for 270 GBP a month.. Electricity is 50 GBP but I run the A/C all the time. I can easily live here for 700 quid per month, even less. It's so cheap to live here I can visit other countries about half the year. This year was Vietnam next year Colombia & Brazil.
A lot of people commented how nice to have a home base I have different opinion. It just adds extra costs and accumulates stuff eventually it will turn into a storage space.
Instead its better to get to know a few places where you go often. If you go the same circle a few times you would get to know the area which hotels and appartments you like, rental agents, local people etc. You will get the same feel like "the home base" where you can always show up and feel like home.
keep moving....a moving target is harder to hit....enjoy all your time....
If you don’t have your health, you have nothing. You’re a long ways away from a decrepit old man so if you’re maintaining your health I think you’ll be just fine for quite some time. Nothing makes a person older faster than someone who’s not active. Just keep moving like you are.
💯 cement 👍
the amount of production value you put in every video is simply outstanding! see you again soon in PH. take care
You are kidding, right? Give me an example of the production value. I've seen hostage videos with more quality.
@@misterboo72 I guess not all are into hostage videos. It seems like a very niche genere only interesting for the very few..
But hey, what do I know, you may have made many "hostage videos"?
What a great life. Thanks for sharing some of it with us. I enjoy the channel
Hey Phil, This was a fantastic video. Really well edited
It seems that you really put a ton of work into this video with all the editing. Great job and thank you.
As someone that didn't go through those experiences myself it is still the talking part I prefer by quite a bit. Hearing about tight budgets and how you are planning around them and sometimes go over is what I want to know about.
Thank you again for all you put into this and other videos you make.
Greatly appreciate enjoyed your videos of the Philippines. God bless your travels. Have a great time exploring
Great video, keep doing your art, it is inspiring. Thank you
Your bloodwork is perfectly fine. You're "within range" on everything which is the result you're seeking
I think that the last month has been your best. You looked happy all of the time! I could tell that you were enjoying almost every minute of your experience there! Keep it going young fella!!
Such lovely cinematography and scoring as well. You seem to be partial to the Philipines. Are you considering possibly staying in one place in another SE Asian country for 3 or 6 months at a time?
Love your sense of things. Didn't know you are having health problems. Best wishes from Sumatra aboard SV Philiosophy
Gotta keep your health,that is very important
thank you for your journey!!
Really enjoyed this video, best wishes and take care of yourself! Here’s to many more adventures to come 😊
Stunning People, Stunning Place
Having a base is the most logical thing to have.
Yes, but he doesn't want to pay for a home base while traveling. Plus he said he has grown tired of living from a suitcase.
@@misterboo72 hmmm maybe its best he get a caravan then
@@hobbexp word
All of your blood work looks good. There is a little concern for the creatinine level but that’s because you’re dehydrated since you haven’t had anything to eat for 15 hours maybe you didn’t have anything to drink either.
But everything looks good on your bloodwork at your urinalysis.
Yes, a concern for kidney disease. Cut sugar and refined carbs from your diet, and drink more fluids. Coconut water has the perfect balance of electrolytes, I've read.
Thank you, Dr. Coronado49
Fasting is 10 to 16 hours before blood work. I was in the Phils last February. The winter's are harsh where i live in the states and the summer's are pleasant with a lot of activities. Not sure if id like to be in the Philippines year round.
You're blood work looked excellent the 2 that stick out are your HbA1C 5.2 is in Normal Range. You're Blood Sugar is 91 also in Normal Range. You're very healthy I wouldn't get my blood work more than once a year here in Thailand it cost about 2,700 baht which is under 100 quid.
If you're looking for some cheap rent and Beach style living try Danang Vietnam
enjoyed mucho!
Nice vid
Glad you got to St Luke’s too
You clearly have a plan and a man with plan is Gr8 place to be 🌏
I just saw a guy with a bunch of lab work asking for the internet to please interpret.
Thanks!
That's very kind of you my friend! Much appreciated and many thanks.
Excellent. Just excellent!! I'm not sure why your subscribers aren't double, at least.
I would suggest permanent accommodation in Cambodia. Easy visa rules there. From there it is easy to travel to Vietnam for a month then on to Laos and Thailand. During the travel time of, say, 10 weeks, rent out the accommodation via Airbnb.
beautiful images, nice video
Great video. Thank you.
Hey, thank you! I will use this for load for my water buffalo!
@JM-rs1ci
That's very kind of you my friend! Much appreciated and many thanks.
Everything looked good on your test results. The food you eat and the exercise you do helps to maintain a very healthy body weight. I don’t see excess fat which is great.
Prince Let's Go Crazy
😎 doing something is better than doing nothing... continue living our life to the fullest while we can...
I think I read that once in a fortune cookie.
Good production 👌
Where is the hotel you stayed in with the roof top pool,we be in Manila for a week
Oyo 563/My Town New York.
Your videos are amazing. I have enjoyed living vicariously thru you for a while now. Really look forward to a day when I can sit down with you for a beer. Always impressed with you ability to be mobile...seems a bot exhausting. I think a base makes most sense bit understand idea of paying for 2 roofs at once. You are doing well. Respect! Best wishes with health.
Mate, they will have on the result form, for each line the "normal range" for results. can't see whole forms so go through each line and if its within normal range that's ok. IF a test or 2 etc is pretty close to out side normal then google each abnormal reading and you will be able to work out what needs changing. I recommend a yearly thorough blood test and then check them too AND don't just take medications look at diet etc and always drink enough water, good water.
I like your style keep searching and see what works for you maybe it's 3 weeks on one week off maybe it's longer who knows but you'll find your sweet spot
Go guam 🇬🇺
14000p for a blood and urine test sounds expensive to me. Would be interested to know what it might cost in Thailand. I get it for free in Canada so I don't have anything to compare it to.
Locals who need it for work pay something between 1200-3,000 peso, depending on blood + urine + x-ray.
Big pharma is in the Philippines. Suppose you like overpriced and want to wait six weeks. The waiting rooms in the Philippines are like the 1950s. That's the last time they cleaned.
Suppose you will make an appointment at 8 AM and NLT at 3 PM. You are sitting with a doctor with over 20 pages of all the test results. This is done both in Thailand and Malaysia. Malaysia is cheaper. Malaysia is the best place to update your overseas shots. You can set up an appointment online. You can watch RUclips videos on this.
I had a close doctor friend who taught me over the years how to be my own doctor. If you know how to read blood work, you really know as much as a PA or nurse. There are plenty of resources online as well. One benefit of this is that most drugs are available here without a script. Keep a good antibiotic on hand (such as Cehpalexin), along with loperamide, for digestive issues and various infections, including UTIs. A beta blocker (such as metoprolol) and aspirin can be a life saver if you have heart issues and there is a long ride to the hospital. Otherwise, if you CAN find a good physician here, you are very lucky.
Hospital experience in Thailand was superlative. Got blood test results and saw the doc in an hour. Done.
What are you going on about?
@@JamesHickman-g5c You could also feed the data in one of the AI bots like ChatGPT, perplexity, or Co-Pilot. It does terrific work on aggregating data and summarizing it for you.
Personally I don't think it was mental at all with your legs I think you just worked them hard now and they got stronger at least that's my experience I had a similar situation and the more I fell down and got up and the more I kept walking the stronger I became
I think you're right. Been walking loads more recently and they're working much better. Thanks.
@@BiggWorldCinema you're welcome I get lazy sometimes or just complacent and become a bit of a homebody but got to get out for the exercise it's just that important nowadays as we get older that's all. All the best
Your tests look quite good for your age. Kidney and pancreas ok, blood sugar ok, probably no metabolic syndrome, but there are some measurements missing such as HDL, LDL, Triglycerides. Also missing Gamma GT (for inflammation), vitamins and minerals.
And a repost from earlier:
I think, your leg cramp was actually a thrombosis. They feel the same but the thrombosis lasts longer and is more dangerous. If the blockage dissolves itself without an anticoagulant, it can block other arteries in the lungs, heart or brain. This would then be called a pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke. If such a situation happens again, you might want to self-medicate with acetylsalicylic acid (Asperin and its generica) as this is readily available as a painkiller. Based on your family history, you probably are in a middle stage of arteriosclerosis. The stage of the buildup and its calcification can be measured by a sonography of the carotid artery. This is an ultrasound of your neck arteries which is painless, noninvasive and low-cost. After that a low carb, low cholesterol diet with Statins and exercise would slow the sclerosis. Living near a hospital can drastically increase your longevity with that kind of illness.
Hey @thors3532
Many thanks for taking your time to respond both today and with your previous comment. I wanted a cholesterol test done and forgot to ask for that. My blood pressure was still high so the Doctor prescribed meds which I took for the past 10 days to add to the Aspirin I've been taking for the past month. I've finished the course of high blood pressure tabs, but uncertain if I need to keep taking them.
I feel a lot more healthier than I did 6 weeks ago. Eating well, exercising and have cut out alcohol. Thanks again!
Where you watching from my friend?
Thrombosis, strokes, heart attacks and turbo cancers have been occuring at unprecedented levels since the start of the global Covid Graphene Oxide "mRNA" vaccinations .
I think you said you weren't vaccinated for COVID. However, any vaccines received since the start of "COVID" likely also now contain the same toxic Graphene Oxide. This would include flu jabs and likely jabs and vaccinations for exotic foreign travel. Take Zinc + NAC supplements + Nattokinase which helps dissolve blood clots.
@@BiggWorldCinema keep an eye on your BP, if with all the walking exercise you're doing you still have high BP, you might have to keep taking your BP meds pretty regularly and not stop completely. you cannot tell just by feeling that your BP is OK unless it gets really extremely high in which case you will feel unwell, nauseous, throbbing behind the eyes or head, unsteady on your feet, light-headed etc. if this happens, it's close to if not already a medical emergency.
be sure to be taking the correct BP meds dosage, too high dose (meaning your BP gets too low) and you will also feel light-headed and nauseous (same if your BP is extremely high though some people will not experience such symptoms) so monitor your BP reading closely; get yourself a pill-cutter and take a half-dose if need be or do alternate day dosing or some such - check your meds half-life to get some guidance with reference to the BP readings you take to decide on your dosing schedule.
if you plan to take aspirin regularly, consider taking half-dose or less daily OR taking it only once every few days. the effects of aspirin on the blood lasts around 10 days so keep this in mind in your dosing. beware prolonged overdosing at extremely high levels will eventually damage the kidneys, cause bleeding, etc. amongst other things.
@@BiggWorldCinema I am living in Germany but travel Asia quite a bit.
@@BiggWorldCinema Medication to lower blood pressure is very helpful to reduce arteriosclerosis, veins have no sclerosis because of the lower blood pressure, for example. Luckily there is cheap blood pressure medication out there, where the patent ran out decades ago and which is now cheaply produced in India. With blood thinners you have to monitor for nose bleed and unexplainable bruises on the arms. If those start to show frequently, the dosage is too high.
Every result posted is within normal range, but I must say, for the money you paid, the testing was far from comprehensive. Just to give an example, I’ve never seen kidney results give only creatinine levels ( which can be easily skewed by dehydration) and not egfr, which is your kidney filtration rate. No psa test, no lipid panel, etc, etc. your RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit are all normal, which is a good sign regarding any blood clot issue in your leg( but of course an ultrasound would be more definitive).
Next time you’re in Thailand or KL, research online men’s comprehensive health screening (you can even do women’s which is cheaper) and I’m quite sure you’ll get more bang for your buck if they’re available. 👍🏻
Yes, I just had a blood test here in Pattaya and there was a lot more results also. I went to a very good clinic and are very thorough. So much cheaper too, only cost £30 for the blood test. Which included a testosterone and Prosthesis/PSA test. Clear bill of health at age 71 I’am glad to say. I keep active, play sports like Badminton and Tennis and 3K runs twice a week etc. No pills just eat healthy
Thanks Phil for sharing medical costs in Philippines. Safe travels and success to your next destination. Having a home base in an area like BGC or IT Park area in Cebu might work great for you . Avida Towers in IT Park area is a great Condo community.
@Any5364B Does it have a mirrored ceiling to expose me while boom-boom?
Get a 12 month lease and a few pot plants mate
I'm looking forward to checkers
there are more cheaper but effective hospitals in the PH. i had the same test as your anad only costed med 1200
Nice video !
I have gout mate your uric acid is high. They are now linking uric acid with high blood pressure as a contributor. Uric should be down around 5 bud.
tips for living out of a suitcase, anyone?
Ha,Lina from today's bus🎉😂
Hey Lina! Great to meet you and see you here. Take care.
Your blood & urine results suggest that you are healthy - in particular you don't have an infection or diabetes, but without knowing what symptoms you described to the doctor it is difficult to say more.
Looking good with that barnet shaved off 👍
G,day I arrive in Manila Saturday 13th
.would you like to catch fir a Beer Sunday
I did give a shit about the closure of New Orleans bar, but that kid didn't!!!
No. The whippersnaper was more concerned with interrupting my vlog.
I subscribed to your channel recently. I had watched some videos from your previous visit but didn't subscribe when you left. I started watching your videos on the red zone and decided that I really like your content, and obviously, I need to subscribe. I really enjoyed this video but it left me with a feeling of sadness that you're leaving. Anyway I look forward to your future endeavours.🏝🇵🇭
Something about the idea of slow travel (1-2 months in a new location) really appeals to me. Dan at Vagabond Travel talks about this a lot. You're very good about keeping to a budget. When I travel it's just spend, spend, spend.
If I were you (and let's be clear, I am not you thank God) I would travel to Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur and get one of those all day physicals where they check you out from top to bottom. You then meet with a doctor who goes over your health history and lab results. The guy at Nomad Capitalist covered this in a video. For me, health is very important. I only wish I looked at good as you from the neck down. 🙂
Do the blood test at cheaper hospital and go back to your st. Luke's doctor. Your (fbs)sugar level is 91 which is normal.
lots of rambling
Plus a lot of dash cam video.
My eyesight is not so good but if you look at the results for each test it should give you the parameters for what is considered normal then just look at your result that it gives you. If you fall within the normal parameters no problem. If your result falls lower or higher than the normal parameters google the test. Like how to treat low blood sugars if that's what the test was measuring.
Put ur results on chat GBT and tell GBT you are stranded and get to a hospital that u are in a forugn country. That was chat GBT will tell u
Also I know of a guy who rents for less than 85 DLL a month and uses it as a base to travel wherever he wants to
all your results look to be within normal readings as per your report BUT you do seem to have missed out on the specific test the other doctor requested you do which you ignored - the one pertaining to your leg issue; MRI? ultrasound? i think that's the important one that you missed. being a layman, i reckon the tests you've done thus far would not flag anything or answer anything to do with the issue with your leg.
looking forward to seeing where you are now ;)
In a small dark, windowless room, with a bum gun.
that food looks aweful. i hope it tasted better than it looked
Seems like you turned down a sure thing with the girl of your dreams. If she was on the up and up anyway.
First time watcher. Very average channel at best.
Won’t be back.
Oh boo hoo. Have fun watching Gio.
You are trying to escape. They'll catch you wherever you run to
Thank God I'm not as lost as i once was. I use to love watching videos like these and start dreaming to go to the Philipines and be with some hot asian chick. Now i find this all so stupid. You guys all need Jesus in our lives.
Dan of the “Vagabond Awake” travel blog stays about 2 months in a region and then moves on. His girlfriend travels with him. They don’t have a home base. All their posessions are in their suitcases.
His latest video was quite interesting. He's making over $110,000 US/yr which surprised me. Mostly from selling travel report subscriptions on his website. Only about 40k from YT which is still not too shabby.
And he plasters his GFs ass in every video and thumbnail.
My GF is is in Leyte be awesome if you were going past give her a surprise hahaha sounds weird as I type this
Nice background music.
If you're in a grocery store.
I live in Angles city Philippines I have a great acupuncturist here she can fix up your legs!
Is that sexual innuendo ?
@@misterboo72 😂 no actually it’s a great clinic MTE clinical and geriatric
Wellness treatment
Teresa is her name she combines acupuncture and soft tissue manipulation just remember to get best dose curve response it’s 10-20 sessions for full effects I’d say for all my problems treatment 6-7 were most painful but I had major relief after that by relief again at 11 it then leveled off after 20 so if you go you want to be treated twice a wk so for your condition I’d say minimum 10 treatments that’s 5 wks to stay here in angles all the 🍀 luck
6:57 Gasp! RIP.
Bro, You need to go to a cheaper country. Your just to broke to be in the Philippines if you want to have fun and date. You need $2,000 a month just to survive nicely there, and $3,000 if your dating and want to have fun.
In US dollars? Or Aud??
Phil says $1000 US is all you need.
@@misterboo72 I think that's $2000 Australian ...I live on that now...in Australia
Depends on your lifestyle if you drink a lot it will cost and eat out all the time ..
How about putting your stuff in storage and not having a home base. just travel but instead of changing destinations every few days. Stay at each place for over a week. Maybe stay until the tourist visa expires then move on to another country. Then when you decide to come back to that country stay in a different community.
When all of your stuff fits in a suitcase and a bag why would you need storage? He did stay for more than a week in many of the locations.
@@misterboo72 well I wasn't sure exactly what he had for belongings. And true you think you are correct. He did stay more than a week in some locations. But at least this way he doesn't have his home base in Cebu anymore.
Some people dodge taxes that way.
Big news Phil.
Can't believe you've not been snapped up buddy - or are you playing hard to get?
Enjoy your travels my friend.
When chicks see that Devo t-shirt, panties drop.
What worked so far won't always work forever. You need to be a step ahead.
poetry
Its a good job that turtle doesn't like salty balls.....
I Think your work in the Philippines is not done yet. You make amazing, informative videos. Burn out Is something to look out for.
Why not, if you can afford it, take a few weeks away and work on some new material for the Philippines? Your views and membership is increasing.
I think most people joined your channel because of what the Philippines has to offer. Get yourself a good Filipino and that will increase views and earn you more money.
Take a step back and take a break buddy... And when you come back you will have a clearer picture..
the problem is that PH videos with old guys on YT are omnipresent. The smart move would be to create unique, specialized content. Use your viewership metrics to gauge interest in new and different topics.
You are not diabetic that's good you went too fast on the lab results to really see.
I don't think diabetes was a concern. When will they come up with a lab test for stubbornness?
Nice nostalgic compilation
You sure seem to really not want to settle in one place or one girl. You will be back filipinas are the best..
Thanks!
Wow, thanks! That will fund 3 nights stay in Ozamiz City!
@AnotherOldSquid
That's very kind of you my friend! Much appreciated and many thanks.