Retire In The Philippines Now

Moving to a different country from where you were born and raised can be difficult. Even though you may have visited this country or married a native of the new country there are unexpected things that will show up. Sometimes these can be embarrassing or harmful to you or your family. Something so simple as a wrong word spoken that causes a person to lose face could even be harmful. Learning by making mistakes is not always the best option. It would be better to have an idea of what to watch for and be careful of. I believe I have found a very good guide for experiencing the culture of the Philippines. The name of the book is Culture Shock! Philippines: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette written by Alfredo Roces.

This book has been said to be an excellent reference for travelers to the Philippines and required reading if you plan on living there.  Some of the highlights of the book include Tagalog phrases not normally known by non-filipinos and what is expected in social gatherings in the Philippines. Another part of the book talks about how important it is for you to meet the parents of your expected bride and interaction with the family. It even covers the “required gift” part of social interaction and gives suggestions for appropriate gifts. Just a hint this chapter alone could save you much embarrasment later on.

Again I recommend this book highly not just for the knowledge of Philippine culture but as a guide book in your dealings with folks in the Philippines. You can get a copy by clicking on the link above or the Amazon button to the left. Salamat Po!