08 March 2025
Three Years in the Philippines: … Already?
Back in March 2022, I landed in the Philippines without a concrete plan or timeline—just the hope that the country I started visiting in 1991 would be as pleasing a place to live as it was to vacation. Three years later, I’m quite comfortable and, by now, feeling ‘at home.’
Some folks picture me on a remote beach or scrounging for basic necessities. Reality? I’m in the heart of Makati, surrounded by everything. Three large shopping malls, three major department stores, four grocery stores, health food outlets, hardware stores, and more restaurant choices than I can count, all within a short walk.
As for travel, I’ve been ‘grounded’ by choice since returning from Singapore. In December, I started the passport renewal process. From here, the passport relay starts with a journey to the US Embassy, then onward to the US State Department, back to the US Embassy, back to me, then I pass the baton to the Philippine Retirement Authority, who send it to the Bureau of Immigration for re-stamping, then back to the Retirement Authority, and eventually back to me. Probably. :-)
Once my passport is travel-ready again, I’ll revisit the questions: Do I want to travel? And where? But for now, I have everything I need right here or nearby.