The Language Barrier
Even though I’ve titled this series of post reasons not to move to the Philippines, the intent is more complicated than that. These are more accurately described as the less than positive issues about the Philippines. They are issues that each person should 
consider for themselves. I am not trying to discourage anyone from moving to the Philippines. I love the Philippines and I’m very happy to be here. My real intent is to help people better prepare themselves if they do make this major change in their life. I’m so glad I made it but I wish I had known more of the things since I got here. I love living in the Philippines.
The Philippines has two official languages, those being Filipino and English. I have found many people that can read English and write in it but cannot understand the spoken word or speak in English. It certainly is not a reason by itself to not move to the Philippines. My real point here is you should learn the language. I haven’t yet, but I’m trying.
One problem is there are many different languages in the Philippines. As far as I can tell, Bisayan often called Cebuano is the most common language via area in use here, not Filipino. Filipino is more common in Luzon which is the main Island and includes the nations capital of Manila. Manila is a city of more than ten million. More people may speak Filipino but in a limited area. The density of people in Manila is so much higher than the rest of the country.
In my opinion, learning the language is essential for understanding the culture that I’m trying to become a part of. Teaching this old dog new tricks is hard. The accent is totally different. Letters are pronounced differently. There are few silent letters in the languages of the Philippines. Without audio, most westerners are going to have a hard time learning to speak the language.
For me, the area I live in is the strongest influence in which language I am trying to learn. Should I move to Luzon, I will drop my study of Cebuano and change to Filipino. I don’t think ‘ll be able to move there within the next year. I also like where I am now, I would like to move to a city at a higher elevation though. The temperatures are cooler there. Hovering around 75F or 24C much of the time.
There are many reasons to be here, these are just some of the changes you really should be aware of before making the change. Consider them and then come join me in this wonderful land of the Philippines.
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Hi Rusty – According to Philippine census information, Cebuano or Bisaya is spoken as a first language by more than 24 million people. Pilipino (based on Tagalog) is the second most popular at about 18 million. Cebuano is the most spoken language (as a first language). Now, the reason I say ‘first language’ is because almost all Cebuano speakers are also capable of speaking Pilipino, but it is not their first language or language of choice.
Hi Rusty, I think you’re right about the importance of learning the local language–it can help in the better understanding of your surroundings and your sense of better fitting in. But even if you can only master some simple salutations and phrases, this can still help to “break the ice” and help you learn some of the language by and by. One can’t be too afraid of making a mistake, as filipinos are quite accepting and patient, and so appreciate of a foreigner’s humble attempts to speak. I have found that children are the best teachers, as they speak slower that adults and are willing to play along with your language questions and goofy mix-ups as you go along!
Thanks Bob, I suspected as much but with so much of the population concentrated in Manila I guessed it could go either way.
Always nice to have the facts.
Queenie,
I have already created some funny episodes here regarding my language skills. I made one Pinoy angry when I tried to say Bogo but I pronounced it wrong and said stupid instead.
Or the time I tried to say good afternoon in Filipino and instead said beautiful Japanese. LOL Those two mistakes have made me more shy about trying.
Another thing learning the language will do is improve my flirting abilities. LOL See, I need to learn th proper word for flirting here. That word appears to be too strong to most Filipina and misunderstand what I mean. I’ve seen that in Canada too. But some people take the word to mean something serious and sexual. I use it in the sense of playful dialog but it is also a way to test the waters. Playful testing of the waters is actually the most accurate definition though.
I think you will find a difficult stage in your language studies. It might be because so few foreigners attempt to learn but I think you will find your first attempts to communicate will be laughed at or rebuffed. Native English speakers are used to dealing with persons with different accents and less than perfect grammar. The one place my efforts were accepted and even encouraged was when I was buying the beer for a group of filipino friends. Friends who persisted and became fluent were rewarded. It’s worth the effort, I’m still trying but it can be frustrating.
Kenny
Yea, I know. I more often get blank looks as they don’t know what I’m saying but I started with Tagalog. My notebook is dead and that has been holding me back a bit. Sharing a PC with my GF and the setup is not as comfortable.
I need to spend 30 minutes a day on it.
Buying beer, they are more forgiving? LOL I find the Pinoy are also very eager to share their spirits with me though.
Being laughed at will just make me feel like I’m in the US. LOL That’s been going on since middle school.
I say that but I am a bit reluctant to say what I know how to say. I guess no one likes being laughed at. My girl is waray-waray so that makes things even more complicated. She talks like she’s going to chop your head off. 
I have a question. I am 23 years old I currently live in phx,az with my girlfriend. We are planning on moving to the phillipines sometime next year. She has dual citizenship with the phillipines and the US. I am an american citizen. I fathered a child when I was 18 years old, the girl put me on child support through the state. My question is will the US not let me leave the country or come back to the US if I owe money? Please help me.
Thank you
You need to talk to a lawyer about anything that important because I would only be guessing.
Unless their is a warrant out for your arrest in the Federal system, I doubt they would ever know you’re behind in your child support.
I can’t imagine they would prevent you from returning to the country though there might be a welcoming party. Again, only if something is in the Federal system. If there is, you’ll never get a passport.
More than likely, you’re gonna have to “man up” and take care of this. I’m not gonna judge you too harshly because I don’t know your circumstance and I am certainly not father of the year, despite my best efforts to be so.. If you can though, you need to take care of that child. Hey, I know things get all out of whack sometimes and then get really hard to fix. Would seem like a lot to handle at 23 and probably a bigger problem than it really is.
I was broke from paying child support for a long time..
A warrent means you got problems, especially if you haven’t applied for your passport yet.
Good luck to you!
Jon, the US child upoort system is really good in tracking you down esp that she is doing it through the state. They will freeze your account. Besides, it is your kid, so suck it up and pay child support until he is 18 or 21 if he will go to college. Tough luck but that’s what it is.
There are also several private investigators that hunt down child support dodgers here. Lot of them are expats.
They take child support very seriously. If you are planning on moving make sure you have a way to keep up the payments.
I am not sure if they will chase you to the Philippines for the money but what they might do if they find out is cancel your passport. Then the Philippines will deport you but first you might spend several months in the immigration detention cells. They might also blacklist you which means you can’t come back even if you take care of it.
My recommendation is take care of it it is your responsibility. I paid child support for 20 years. So I know it can be a drag on your finances but it is your child. Next time wear a raincoat.
Can be more than a drag. I was making $50 to $55K in the early 90’s which was pretty darn good money back then and I couldn’t afford to go to a movie, well other than the $1.00 second play movies. I was paying $1100 a month for two kids. But yes, I did pay it too.
Sometimes they make the situation impossible to fix after your behind. They jail the guy until he pays and then he cant work. No, he should have never let it get behind. maybe there’s some reason he couldn’t join the military in order to have income.
While I agree he should do everything he can to pay it, I wont be judgemental because I don’t know what is going on here.
Generally, running from the law is a poor reason to come here. It probably wont work and if they deport you, you’ll likely sit it detention cell until you can pay your way back out. I’ve been told the Ph will not pa for it, I’ve also heard that the US Embassy might get you home but you’ll never get another passport.
It is too easy to get into trouble here as it is.
yeah, child support can be cruel. Well I think it is cruel because of the way they calculate how much you need to give, not according to what your net income after all the deductions. This pretty much prevent you, the breadwinner to have a second life/marriage/relationship because you will be too poor to even support a wife. No wonder divorced d Dads become suicidal at times.
I think they’ve changed the laws here in Oz now, but not sure what it is, and /or whether they had made a difference to the lone parent.
There is a lot I could say here but I wont. My kinds read my blogs and its wrong for me to speak poorly of their mom. She hurt me badly when she left me and she hurt me far more when she unjustly kept my kids away. I ate spam and hotdogs for years.
I believe she hurt our children even more than she harmed me.
You should have have gone vegetarian Rus. Would have been healthy for you
I wish I could Christine, I really do. I wish I could eat them without gagging.
I don’t even want to think about what that means.
I think you have been spending too much time in Angles City….. Could you take me next time?
I am not sure when I am going again. I was thinking about going in September because I have some business there but I am not sure. If I go you are welcome to go along. We usually fly from Cebu into Clark.
Haw, I was self inviting at your expense. I’ll be looking forward to you sending me a ticket.
LOL @ Business, is that what they call it now?
Hey I’m from Biloxi,ms and have been on about 5 trips to PI. As far as language goes each province I believe has its own language. My wife is from Dagupan City in Pangasinan and thats what they speak. (Pangasinan) In the province next to it they speak Illicana? i think is how it is spelled different dialect different province.
Steve,
Your name seems very familiar. I grew up in Jackson, Ms.
Even applying what you’ve learned to an entire province is likely to be in error. Leyte is both Cebuano and Waray-Waray. The Philippines is broken down into Barangay which are based on ancient tribal lands. Cities have several and there are often difference in the way things are done all the way down to the barangay.
you guys are far to intellectual.what a complicated world you live in.probably because you are so educated.i was in the philippines while serving a long 3 year stint in the u.s navy.i was in alongapo and subic city back in 1974-77.34 years passed by but i always had a lifelong fantasy of someday returning to the philippines.i have a long term relationship to the philippines and a real history.i have been there twice in the past 12 months and have already a serious gf there.im hoping someday to be able to retire there.im 54 now and have just very recently been able to afford to go there at all.i envy those of you who are able to go there and retire at such an early age in life.IM REAL HAPPY FOR YOU.its understandable why i want to retire to the philippines having a lifelong connection with the country.i dont understand why so many other white guys go there.did you all just wake up one morning and say to your selves.IM GOING TO MOVE TO THE PHILIPPINES>
That’s right Ken, we intellectuals just woke up one morning and decided to do it.
A real history? Those of that live here don’t?
You’ve spent a few days here and wonder why we are here but you want to come?
There are a LOT of articles on this site that talk about why we are here. However, I’m not going to dumb them down for you.