philippines manila jeepney (Photo credit: FriskoDude)
A procession like this of the Senor Sto. Nino will parade to the National Shrine on the Translacion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The decision for this was probably made sometime in 1980 when I first visited Florida and the Caribian.
Yes- that was my thing. I am not an autumn/winter Person.
I also admired the happiness and lifestyle of the People living their, in spite of Poverty and natural disasters wish regularly come over the Tropics anywhere in the World.
However, back then I was 20and a migration without any experience and money did not look very tempting
Back in Cebu City, now as a proud Yacht Owner !
English: Skyline of Cebu City (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Nine months after I left Cebu City to pick up my Sail Yacht I was finally back. Almost 20.000 km and 10.000 US $. (for those which think, sailing is cheap)
From the six months after I sailed “off” I spend 87 days at other places on land, just 92 days were at Sea.
Right in Time for the Christmas Season and the “big Season Restaurant Business”.
OPENING (Photo credit: guenthervomberg)
Not much time for sailing then, and the Place where I “parked” my yacht wasn’t very ideal either.
Ok, it was safely tied up right next on a mooring to the huge Trimaran of Vice Admiral Aznar from the Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary, but to get there i had to drive at least one hour through the entire city and then pay half a Dollar for every person and myself to go 20 meters through a lot along the coast.
That would not be so bad, but the time until someone came to collect was annoying.
Also the surroundings of 5 star hotels and Resorts may sound tempting, but it was also connected with Jetskis zipping around one, motorboats towing parashooters or waterskiing, and a lot of Boats filled with tourists roaming around “sightseeing.
Cebu City Harbor (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Mactan Island… if someone would have told me in 1986 that this would be filled with hundreds of thousands of Tourists annually from all over the world, I would have maybe laughed at him.
Back then they did not even had a cemented or paved road to the Airport and the only means of Transport was Tricycles. No Taxi !
Not that I mind really, but I like it quiet when sailing or sitting on my Sailyacht.
Again, a good friend, (PBM) Ben Gonzales and luck came into play.
Although my neighbour in the City, he still had lots of ties to his Birthtown Balamban, where he also served as Mayor for many Years.
So he suggested to move the boat and my business to Balamban. Wait a minute… a “fine dining City Resto” into a provincial town…no, that can’t be good.
But he grinned and said, “lets go, you will see”.
Okay, said and done and next weekend into the cars to visit Balamban. As expected, nothing there, no Restaurant, no Pubs, only one German ( Peter, who became my friend later) and who ran a tip-top clean as a whistle Apartment complex and lodging house.
He explained the situation. Balamban had a huge Japanese Shipyard, which employed ( now ) 14.000 people. Plus a smaller British Shipyard (now Australian) which build fast Catamaran ferries.
And those people need something to eat and some more quality entertainment, a place to dine and unwind.
Peter the German already had all hands full with his lodging and multiple other things, so the decision was made quick.
To move the Yacht to the Bay ( which was ideal) and the Restaurant also. What could go wrong ?
That was February 2002.
to me. So I “postponed” the Idea for retirement, hopefully not with 65, as mandated by the Pension age.
And the I was not sure, where exactly I wanted to live and retire, I just knew the places from a vacation and that did not seem a very realistic viewpoint. But travelling to as many places as possible was already on the program,six weeks of vacation every year at least.I was also blessed that i could get cheap or free tickets from due to my employment at DHL. Because Long distance Air travel back then did cost a fortune.
So in 1985 I came also to visit my elder Brother in Manila/Philippines,who had travelled and lived extensively in Southeast Asia since the mid 70ties.
Now Manila isn’t exactly an example of a very livable Place, it is rather a Megapolis like Mexico City or Sao Paulo and other huge third world Cities.
But just a few hours away one could enjoy the most pristine Places.
Add the always friendly and uncomplicated People one has certainly a Paradise. But still nothing to live off.
As mentioned, the People in the Tropics can cope with virtually any situation and with their huge family support system can live of almost nothing. Not so I, raised in a western culture of individualism and achievements oriented it is hard to step “down” from the former high living standards of our consumer Society.
So what is the choice- finish the rat race early and try in the other country or wait 40 years until the desired pension security comes ?
In my case the decision was made by luck again. I had a chance to change from my current Management Position at DHL into a new, temporary high paid one at an Aircargo company to build up their Courier Service.
Combined with the money I already had saved and the huge sum I would have enough to live for years in luxury and also build up some new Enterprise.
Logically in Import-and Export, as I have a logistics background and my brother was already earning good money in the same field.
But first also wanted to see and experience more of the Rest of the world. So in between Production Circles of the goods manufactured in the Philippines and Import of Luxury goods from Germany I also travelled extensive through Asia and Central America The decision to live In the Philippines came after years only.
it was not motivated, as so many, by some woman one fell in love with, or by some Cheap house deal. Neither the cheaper costs of living played any significant roll, since i planned to earn most money inside the country, the income would be in relation to it also.
No – I really carefully weighed the pro’s and contras.
One thing was clear to me, living in another similar exotic place such as Thailand ( Buddhist) or Indonesia ( Islam) was out of question. I would always be the “stranger”. And the people would also always be “Strange” to me. This was clear, to me as my background is from the West and the ideals and Philosophies, as much “atheistic”as we are, is based upon Christian values.
Christian values such as in Latin America and… the only Christian Country in Asia. -Philippines.
Alternatively I could seek domicile also in some Pacific Atolls or Tahiti, but those Places are a bit too far out.
Another very important Point for me was the “waterworld” territory of the Philippines.
Since I also love to sail with boats and Yachts it had to be a Country with lots of “SEA”.
And that, with 7100 islands, is the Philippines definitely !
next- the final move and choice of domicile
Guenther Vomberg live in Cebu, Philippines 