Don't Date in the Philippines Until You Hear ThisFrom Mike's Philippine Retirement
Start with the essentials
View all guides- Safety & essentials
Pack a practical emergency go-bag
Choose essentials your household can carry, keep documents and contacts accessible, and test the bag before you need it.
- Safety & essentials
Prepare your home for emergencies
Check the hazards relevant to your address, learn local instructions and make a practical household plan for evacuation or disruption.
- Everyday life
Set up mobile and home internet
Check registration, device compatibility and service at your exact address, then build a backup that can survive a local outage.
A fresh perspective
Explore articles- Everyday life
Everyday communication and etiquette
Ask clearly, listen for the individual answer and agree practical details without relying on stereotypes about nationality or culture.
- Everyday life
Relationships, family and healthy boundaries
Talk openly about money, privacy, visits and responsibilities so a move abroad does not leave important expectations unspoken.
- Travel & getting around
Plan an island or regional trip
Check the last return service, weather, communications and access to essentials before traveling beyond your everyday base.
Practical support, built around your plans
Explore services →From a paid consultation to relocation, field support and household resilience planning. Choose a service to see the scope and what to prepare.
Paid consultations
Turn a broad question about life abroad into a practical next-step plan. Use a paid conversation to compare options, identify missing information and decide what to investigate next.
US$199/hourScope & next stepsRelocation & field support
Plan the practical work around a move or property visit: what needs checking, who needs to be contacted and which tasks could benefit from local assistance. Field work is considered only after location and scope are confirmed.
From US$499/dayScope & next stepsSolar & backup power
Start with the loads you need to keep running. A desktop assessment helps you frame solar, battery and backup options before requesting detailed designs or equipment quotes.
From US$399Scope & next stepsWind site assessment
Find out what evidence a wind project would need before choosing a turbine. A desktop feasibility review examines site constraints and measurement gaps, including whether wind merits further investigation at all.
From US$599Scope & next stepsWater & off-grid systems
Map household water and essential utility dependencies before changing equipment. A resilience plan identifies storage, pumping, treatment and maintenance questions that need local evidence.
From US$799Scope & next stepsResilient communications
Prepare a way to stay in touch when a connection or power source fails. A continuity review helps a household or small operation identify dependencies and rehearse practical fallback steps.
From US$299Scope & next steps
Your next chapterGet your bearings.
Get your bearings.
Then make it your own.
Start with the Philippines: the practical details, the everyday questions, and the people sharing their experience.
Explore the Philippines →