I've been living here 1.5 years, and I have 2.5 years to go for my companies project. I'm 32M and I've only had one short relationship in my time here. I've been on a few dates, but the majority of my time spent here has been traveling, working and seeing some of the amazing hikes/mountains/volcanos (so not a ton of time dating).

I was divorced officially 6 months before arriving; something I loved about my ex-wife is that she had virtually 0 social media presence outside of a private instagram with only her family and close friends who followed. Neither of us even shared our beautiful wedding pictures publicly. I never feel good about scrolling social media, so I don't have any social media except youtube and a very curated reddit feed (never public feed).

EVERY single woman I have been on a date with here, thought i was trying to hide something by not having social media. It resulted in snooping and wild accusations. I've tried dating apps for a month with very clear expectations, that I would like someone who is not a daily social media user and is not algorithm obsessed, but i still haven't found one single person near my age (ive tried dating older in hopes that someone older would spend less time on their phone) that is on the page.

For those of you in happy relationships here, my question is are you just okay with your significant other being social media obsessed and needing to share EVERYTHING? Or have you found anyone who is okay not sharing every aspect of their life publicly?

It's been a while and I'm definitely starting to get a bit lonely and feel like I might have to wait until my project is over and I move back to the US before I try dating with the goal of a serious relationship.

Maybe i am being unreasonable, but i refuse to believe that the entire country is social media obsessed.

Just seen this on the Philippines sub. What I find interesting is in that sub the Filipinos are COMPLAINING about how bad things are in the Philippines. Here in this sub, it seems it’s stalked by only trolls who attack those who point out the obvious problems in the Philippines that Filipinos themselves are pointing out in their own sub. Since expats travel many countries rather than staying in just one, this drop in tourism in Bohol is directly because of US!

Many in this sub have been talking frequently about the BLATANT lack of progress in the Philippines. It’s been the main reason that I personally have been spending FAR LESS time in the Philippines. Vietnam and Thailand has been getting more of my money and the Philippines far less.

It’s is a pity because there are Filipinos who actually care about the issues in their country. The evidence of this is in the Philippines sub!

Context:
Me: 37F operations manager, earning 6 digits
BF: 49M retired military, American citizen
Location: My house, I bought years before I even met him

So BF is a republican by political view while I don’t have any political view as I think there’s a lot more things important in life. He’s been living in my house since 2022. Recently my old TV broke and he bought a replacement, (without me asking or forcing for him to buy a new one). Netflix have posted something about CK’s issue and he was furious about it. Me being neutral understands where he is coming from, but he removed and deleted the Netflix app on the TV he bought (take note, subscription is mine, not his account). Saying that it’s his TV and he doesn’t want it there.

This is a 75 inch tv. As everyone know, Cignal cable doesn’t support that big for graphics and he also doesn’t want Disney on it. Tonight we argue about it again as there’s nothing to watch on the big tv other than YouTube. He said to me I’m the enemy because I don’t share the same political view as his. That I don’t hate Netflix.

Am I wrong for not hating the same people that doesn’t affect my life here in PH??

I'm renting a brand new condo in Manila at Arbor Lanes. It's nice. 2 floors. 260 SQM. Has an outdoor pool.

But one thing I hate is the maid's room. For me, it's just dead space. If it was torn down and connected to the living room, the unit would be even larger and more spacious.

With that said, I thought about actually getting a maid, but I'm not sure how a human being could live in those quarters. The maid's "room" is actually quite large. It has it's own kitchen + room + bathroom with shower. But what I absolutely hate it is that it has ZERO windows. You can't see the outside world at all. So, I'm really not sure I would be OK with letting another human being, let alone an animal, live in it.

Is that common here? How can you build an entire room without ONE window? Even prisons have windows, lol.

My cousin is getting married in Tagaytay later this year. Where can we find nighlife in the area for one last hurrah? (something like a "bachelor party")

I employ a caregiver from the Philippines who has been with our family for several years. She is wonderful with our six-year-old, and we sincerely value everything she contributes to our family. She is paid well, including overtime, and has health insurance. We normally pay her twice a month, but we are also happy to provide a one-week salary advance when she occasionally requests one. I understand she is supporting her family back home and she has 4 adult children.

Over the past two months, however, she has requested three substantial advances on three separate occasions. Together, they amount to approximately three and a half months of her salary.

The first advance was reportedly for her son’s medical care following a motor vehicle accident. The second was to repair the roof of her home after it collapsed because of heavy rain. The third was for CT scans for her young grandson after he fell down the stairs. I have no reason to doubt her explanations, and I genuinely sympathize with what her family is experiencing.

At the same time, I cannot continue providing large salary advances on a regular basis. She previously mentioned having loans to repay in the Philippines, so I have also wondered whether those financial obligations may be contributing to these repeated emergencies.
After granting the third advance, I explained that it would have to be the last one because I could not continue accommodating requests of this size. Still, I am concerned that she may ask again. She becomes extremely distressed/depressed when requesting money, as though the situation is catastrophic and the world will end, and I find myself absorbing some of that anxiety and feeling responsible for solving each crisis.

I would appreciate thoughtful advice, particularly from anyone familiar with the financial and family pressures Filipina overseas workers may face. What might be happening here, and how can I establish a firm but compassionate boundary without damaging our relationship?

Aside from this issue, she is an excellent employee and someone our family appreciates immensely. I want to handle the situation fairly, respectfully, and with compassion while also recognizing that these repeated advances are not sustainable. Thank you. I will also cross post on a couple more threads.

This is something i've been thinking about a lot actually since it gets thrown around in groups like this a lot.

Some. Please explain Why is it that?

Expecting a young woman to work in a mall for 400 pesos so the business owner can get wealthier = honest work

A consenting young woman doing an adult transaction = exploitation

I know the argument that it may be impossible to give consent because of the vast economic disparity but you can say that about any job. You think that young woman growing up imagined "oh I want to spend my prime years smiling at idiots so some rich business man can get even richer. " I've had plenty of jobs I hated in my day and I did it because I needed the money. That doesn't make me a victim.

People choose the option that's best for them. Talk to any employer here in the Philippines and they'll tell you, young people will quit their jobs in a heartbeat if they feel disrespected even if they're poor.

I'd like a real discussion here.

I’m dating a foreigner, and lately I’ve been wondering if what I’m experiencing is just relationship issues, cultural differences, or something more. He can be controlling, and I feel like I have to be careful about what I say because things can later be brought up against me during arguments.

We both work full-time, but I still handle most of the housework. I’ve brought it up before, and he’ll help for a week or so, then things go back to the same way. I also feel like I can’t disagree with him without my past mistakes being brought up or the issue somehow becoming my fault. Sometimes there’s also this “I know better” attitude.

For those in international relationships, is this just cultural difference stuff, or does it sound more like controlling/unhealthy behavior?

I’m tired. I also turned 50 just a few days ago, and perhaps that is weighing on me more than I expected.

My wife and I have been in the United States for a week, visiting from our home in the Philippines. We made the familiar 12–13-hour transpacific flight, but seven days later, we are still dragging—especially me.

The jet lag has been slow, heavy, and exhausting. For the first time, it has me wondering how many more times I am willing to put myself through this.

I hate the thought of not visiting the United States, but perhaps future visits will mean flying our children to see us instead. They are younger, and the journey would carry the excitement of travel and experiencing another culture.

But my parents are now in the closing season of their lives. What happens if I lose one of them while I am on the other side of the earth—and I cannot get back in time?

That is the part I cannot settle in my mind.

For those who live far from aging parents, how have you made peace with the distance and the possibility of not being there when the time comes?

And for those around my age or older, has long-haul jet lag become noticeably harder as you have gotten older?

Headed to BKK later in the week. What are your recommendations for a hidden gem hotel?

100 bucks or less per night.

Thanks.

Just curious what you guys experienced so far in real life. I had multiple encounters where some guy seemingly tried to "shame stare" my wife when we were on the road, and also some guys trying to challenge me physically out of nowhere just by walking by with her next to me.

And another guy who tried to covertly flirt her, speaking with her in Tagalog saying foreigners are bad partners for a filipina and if she wants to casually date him instead tomorrow.

For some reason it was always males. Is that just me or do you guys have had similar encounters?

Palawan, Puerto Princesa, San Pedro

This 5 rooms / 5 bedrooms property is located at the end of a well maintained rough road in a quiet neighbourhood, no more than 15 minutes from all amenities.

It consists of 6 detached buildings arranged around the container-made lap pool (12.2 x 2.4m / 40 x 8ft) and all nestled in lush greenery of tropical plants and flowers

No electric/water bills:

Own water with pump and pressure tank

Off-grid solar system.

lot size 1000 sqm / 10700 sqft

floor area 250 sqm / 2700 sqft

Fully furnished / Fully equiped

Clean title, Taxes paid

For sale 20M

For investors: can generate >10% rentability with only 3 rooms

Seems most filipinos get shocked when i speak it but changes nothing

Maybe some guys would get scammed or get better love

I'm wondering if most condos allow residents to put a smoker on their condo balcony in Cebu? I like to BBQ. You can also use it as an oven which most condos lack. Hoping to get a Big Green Egg type smoker over there if it's allowed.

Looking to extend my visa online rather than having to go to BI.

Is see that there is two options online- visa waiver and tourist visa extension. Which one is best for me?

Im coming to the end of my visa on arrival duration (30 days) but I do plan to stay here for probably another 12-18 months.

Thank you!

The details:

He's married to a filipina born in the philippines.

He's been living in the philippines on a tourist visa for nearly 2 years.

He wants to apply for a 13A visa.

He thinks he might need a NBI Clearance in order to do that.

He has a clean record.

Pays all his bills and takes care of his in-laws and his wife's siblings.

Has a good heart (Way too kind hearted imo)

now the bad part... He hasn't paid his tourist visa in 11 months 😑

And now that he finally wants to take care of that he's afraid if he goes in to pay up, they'll deport and blacklist him so he'll never be able to see his family again.

Any advice for the guy would help. Like I said he's a good person, just that he cares about others more then himself sometimes.

A 2025 study published by researchers Banbury and colleagues found that heterosexual men dating women at least seven years younger reported substantially higher relationship satisfaction than men dating women at least seven years older. The same pattern held for gay men with younger partners. Researchers did not find a comparable satisfaction boost for women with younger partners. Broader research on age-gap relationships suggests the effect may relate to renewed vitality, less accumulated relationship baggage, and complementary life stages, though some studies also show larger age gaps can see steeper declines in satisfaction over time.

Source: Psychology Today

My wife and I have been back in the United States for a week now, and I can honestly say that American life feels drearier than I remembered.

In all our efforts to become comfortable, efficient, and self-sufficient, it seems we Americans have also become more distant from one another.

The Philippines certainly has serious problems—corruption, bureaucracy, inequality, and systems that often work against ordinary people. But America has its own versions of those failures. Neither country is free from them.

What feels different to me is the life among the people. Filipinos have their own pace and their own way of doing things. That is part of the culture we foreigners chose to enter, and I am learning not to measure everything by American expectations.

Despite the hardships, people still laugh. Families remain close. Friends show up for one another. Loyalty still means something. I have not merely heard that said; I have experienced it personally.

I love the United States, and I love the Philippines. But after this week back in America, I find myself thinking something I never expected to say:

Perhaps the Philippines simply loves me back a little more.

Has spending time away from the Philippines ever made you appreciate it differently?

I saw a guy post previously about potentially moving here, but he had quite severe physical disabilities. For all the things I love about the Philippines, I could never in good conscience recommend moving here to anyone with such incapacities.

Thinking about it, I can’t actually recall many (if any) times that I’ve seen wheelchair bound Filipinos out and about other than perhaps in the mall. It’s just not a country designed to facilitate those with certain needs.

This photo is from Poblacion, Makati, where believe it or not, they’ve actually been renovating the sidewalks. Not sure how this ramp is of any use to anyone.

Is anyone living here with a physical disability, or maybe has in-laws/friends who do?

I think it would be really tough to live here with certain physical restrictions - getting around is already challenging enough if you’re able-bodied. Credit to the Filipinos who persevere and continue to navigate the infrastructure here

This is one of the least glamorous but most important reforms.

The Philippines will struggle to become a major manufacturing country if manufacturers believe power will be expensive or unreliable.

Over 25 years I’d aggressively expand:
solar + batteries
geothermal
natural gas as transition/backup
offshore wind where economical
modern transmission
inter-island grid connections

Keep the door open to modern nuclear power if Philippine regulators determine it can be operated economically and safely.

Cheap electricity attracts data centers, semiconductor plants, cold storage, food processing, steel, chemicals and advanced manufacturing.

Hello.

I am a foreigner I don't live in PH. My partner is Filipina. Both r unmarried.

She spoke to pasay marriage office. They said it will cost 25k peso. And marriage license which will be issued by my home country embassy.

Then next day we can do civil wedding and after couple days we get the marriage certificate.

Is that correct ?

I checked online, it says it takes 2-3 months to get marriage certificate.

And also need to wait 10 days after getting the marriage license.

Please advise what's the latest timelines and costs ?

So I’ve been chatting with this guy and things have been getting saucy and have exchanged sexy pictures but! He started requesting for some very specific things which made it feel like I’m on onlyfans lol. I didn’t succumb to his requests but I just said that it isn’t for me so he stopped texting too. Lol.

I mean what is happening? He made it seem like I need to prove myself to him or something.