By Rose, 2025.
Thinking about visiting or moving to the Philippines? Whether you’re coming for love, adventure, or business, this country will surprise you – sometimes in the best ways, sometimes in ways that will leave you scratching your head.
To avoid frustration and blend in better, here’s everything you NEED to know before setting foot in the Pearl of the Orient.
1. Life Moves Slower Here – Get Used to Filipino Time ⏳
If you’re used to everything running like clockwork, adjust your expectations.
- Expect long wait times at banks, government offices, and immigration. Processing things takes forever – patience is a must.
- Filipino Time is a real thing. Being “on time” often means being 30 minutes to an hour late (or more!).
- If you set a meeting for 3 PM, don’t expect anyone to actually show up at 3 PM.
The best approach? Go with the flow and don’t stress about time too much.
2. The Philippines is One of the Most Internet-Obsessed Countries in the World 📱💻
Filipinos love the internet – like, REALLY love it.
- The average Filipino spends 10 hours a day online – one of the highest in the world.
- The country has 92 million Facebook users, over 50 million TikTok users, and Instagram is booming.
- Everyone is always on their phones – don’t be surprised if your partner scrolls through TikTok during dinner.
Social media is how people connect, get news, and even do business. If you want to blend in, get online and start engaging.
3. Always Be Polite – Manners Matter Here 🙏
Filipinos take respect seriously. Being rude or aggressive won’t get you anywhere – in fact, it will make people turn against you.
- Always greet people with “Good morning” / “Good evening”
- Address people properly: “Sir” / “Ma’am” for strangers, “Kuya” (big brother) or “Ate” (big sister) for friendly respect.
- Don’t raise your voice or get aggressive in public – it’s seen as incredibly rude.
Want good service? Be polite, smile, and treat people with kindness.
4. Scams Are Everywhere – Stay Sharp 🕵️♂️
The harsh truth is that the Philippines has a lot of scams. Even well-meaning people might try to get money from you simply because they are poor.
- Overpriced “foreigner prices” in markets, taxis, and stores.
- Fake sob stories from people pretending to need help.
- Sketchy business deals offering “too good to be true” opportunities.
🛑 What you should do:
✅ Make local friends you trust – take them shopping for big purchases.
✅ Never give money to random beggars (it encourages more).
✅ Double-check prices before agreeing to anything.
5. Cost of Living – Cheap for You, Expensive for Locals 💰
As a foreigner, you’ll think everything is super cheap. But for locals? Life is expensive.
- 1000 pesos (~$18 USD) is a lot for a person in the province.
- The average Filipino earns only around 15,000 pesos ($270 USD) per month.
- Eating out at fast food is affordable ($3-$5), but Western food can be insanely expensive.
If you’re dating a Filipina, be generous, but don’t throw money around. It can attract the wrong people.
6. Transportation – Traffic is Hell, Roads are Worse 🚦
Be prepared—transportation is a nightmare.
- Metro Manila has some of the worst traffic in the world. A 5 km trip can take 2 hours.
- Road rules? HA! They’re more like suggestions.
- In the provinces, roads are often unpaved or full of potholes.
🚖 Best options for foreigners:
✅ Grab (like Uber, but for the Philippines)
✅ Avoid driving unless you have nerves of steel.
7. Foreigners Can’t Own Land, So Don’t Even Try 🏡
Thinking about buying a house? You can’t.
- Foreigners CANNOT own land – the title has to be in your Filipina wife’s name.
- You CAN own an apartment or a condo (as long as 60% of the building is Filipino-owned).
- Some foreigners try to get around this by putting land in a corporation – it’s risky.
Moral of the story? If you plan to buy property, understand the laws first!
8. Healthcare – Good Luck If You Get Sick 🏥
The healthcare system in the Philippines is below Western standards.
- Public hospitals are overcrowded and lack resources.
- Private hospitals are good, but very expensive.
- If you need serious medical care, go to a foreigner-friendly hospital.
🚑 Best Advice:
✅ Get health insurance if you plan to stay long-term.
✅ If you have an emergency, GO PRIVATE, NOT PUBLIC.
9. Beggars Will Be In Your Face – Especially Children 🤲
Poverty is very real in the Philippines, and you’ll see homeless people and children begging everywhere.
- Kids will knock on your car window, tap your arm, or follow you.
- Giving money often brings MORE beggars to you.
- Some are part of begging syndicates (yes, organized begging is a thing).
What you can do:
✅ Buy them food instead of giving money.
✅ Donate to legit charities if you want to help.
10. Filipino Food – Sweet, Unique, and Sometimes Sketchy 🍛
Filipino cuisine is delicious but very different from Western food.
- Sweet everything. Even spaghetti is sweet.
- Sanitation is questionable. Street food is tasty, but be careful where you eat.
- Western food exists, but it’s expensive and hard to find.
Best advice? Try everything, but be careful where you eat.
11. Money – Get a Wise Card and Set Up BDO ASAP 💳
Banking in the Philippines isn’t easy for foreigners.
- Setting up a local account? You need 6+ months of residency.
- Best local bank? BDO, but it’s a pain to set up.
- Best way to access money? Get a Wise international card and withdraw as needed.
12. Tampo – The Infamous Silent Treatment 😶
If you annoy your Filipina partner, be prepared for Tampo.
- She won’t yell or argue.
- She’ll just go quiet and sulk – for hours, even days.
- Asking “What’s wrong?” won’t help – you have to figure it out.
How to deal with it?
✅ Apologize (even if you don’t know what you did).
✅ Be sweet and affectionate.
✅ Don’t ignore her back – it only makes it worse.
Final Thoughts – The Philippines is Amazing, But It’s Not Perfect
If you embrace the culture, respect the people, and adapt to the lifestyle, you’ll have an incredible time in the Philippines.
But if you expect things to work like they do in the West, you’re in for a rough ride.
✈️ Coming to the Philippines soon? What are you most excited (or worried) about? Drop your thoughts below! 👇
