Here are some of the hurdles I would like you to explore for British
folks currently living in the UK:

1: Visa: Visitors & Residents
2: Medical: Professionalism, Accessibility & Cost
3: English-speaking locals
4: Facilities for setting up Bank Accounts and possibility for keeping
funds in ?hard? currencies
5: Cost of Properties (Links to Estate Agents? sites?)
6: Income; Inheritance; and Local Taxes
7: Climate
8: Amenities
9: Satellite TV and availability of British soaps
10: Criminal considerations (need to live in guarded compounds, etc.)
11: Cost of Air Travel
12: Exposure to Diseases
13: Sanitation
14: Water supplies
15: Cost of Electricity
16: Cost of Living
17: Traces of Kurt Jahnke?s visit

I realise that the above list if a pretty tall order and if you feel
that it?s too much, please do as much as you feel able.

Some stuff can be very superficial, at this stage.

Hi again Bryan! Thanks for a new question.

First things first, Easterangel-ga is a ?He? but that?s ok. The
nickname is actually for my daughter. Now let?s go to the business at
hand based on the ?Where is the Best Place to Retire?? question.
Please remember that the present exchange rate in the Philippines is
now P55.95 to $1 or P105.9134 to £1.

1. Visa: Visitors & Residents
 
Since we are referencing about retirement in the Philippines, I highly
recommend the type of visa I mentioned before which is The Special
Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV).  Some will say that one should go for
the tourist visa instead so as to escape the fees accrued to the SRRV.
But the benefits of the SRRV outweigh the temporary savings you will
get from just having a tourist visa.

SPECIAL RESIDENT RETIREE 
http://www.garcesrealestate.com/retire.html

In case you still want to know about Tourist Visa?s in the Philippines
here are some pertinent info.

?VISA INFORMATION?
http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/visa.htm 


2. Medical: Professionalism, Accessibility & Cost

Average Medical Costs: 

Medical Treatment    PHP 1,000 
Dental Treatment     PHP 1,000 
Medicine             PHP 1,000 

?Cost of Living, Houses, Food, Utilities, and Other Expenses?
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/housing.html#manila_living_index 


?Adequate medical care is available in major cities but is limited in
rural and more remote areas. Serious medical problems requiring
hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can
cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often expect
immediate cash payment for health services.?

?Philippines Fast Facts?
http://www.divetravel.info/destinations/southeastasia/philippines_fastfacts.htm


List of Doctors endorsed by the British Embassy in Manila
http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1039167841779

List of Hospitals and Clinics made by the Department of Health of the Philippines
http://www.doh.gov.ph/hosp/hospitalist.htm


3. English-speaking locals:

You will not have a problem with this one. Most Filipinos can speak English.

?Filipino is the national language. English is the business language
and spoken widely.?

?LANGUAGE?
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/trip_planner/travel_essentials.asp#language 


4. Facilities for setting up bank accounts and possibility for keeping
funds in ?hard? currencies.

If you will be availing of the SRRV Visa then here are the pertinent
banks you will need and can facilitate all your banking needs are the
following:

BANK OF COMMERCE 
http://www.bkofcomm.com.ph/index.html

CHINATRUST (PHILS.) COMMERCIAL BANK 
http://www.chinatrust.com.ph/

EQUITABLE PCI BANK 
http://www.equitable.com.ph/ 

METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
http://www.metrobank.com.ph/

Source: SPECIAL RESIDENT RETIREE 
http://www.garcesrealestate.com/retire.html


?Private and government offices are open either from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. or from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Most commercial establishments are
open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Banks are open from 9:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, with automated teller machines (ATM)
operating 24 hours.?

?BUSINESS AND BANKING HOURS?
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/trip_planner/travel_essentials.asp#business


5. Cost of Properties (Links to Estate Agents? sites?)

A better way to go about this is to look at Philippine Classified Ads.
One of my favorites ?Buy and Sell? has current real estate prices in
the Philippines. Most of the listings are in Metro Manila. Please
remember foreign nationals are prohibited to own real estate by
Philippine laws but they can buy condominiums specially those with
SRRV Visas.

Real Estate Sample Prices
http://www.buyandsellph.com/buysell/cgi-bin/listads.asp?search=810

Condominium Prices
http://www.buyandsellph.com/buysell/cgi-bin/listads.asp?search=820 


Our next link will feature lists to real estate companies and agents
in the Philippines.

DMOZ: Philippine Real Estate Listings
http://dmoz.org/Regional/Asia/Philippines/Business_and_Economy/Real_Estate/ 


6. Income; Inheritance; and Local Taxes

Tax information details can be found in the Bureau of Internal Revenue website.

BIR
http://www.bir.gov.ph/tax_income.html 


7. Climate

?Temperatures in the Philippines are generally tropical, from 70 to
95°F, or 21-35°C, with mid-day summer highs over 100°F and 37ºC.
December through February is cool while March through May is hot. The
rainy season is from June to November.?

?It is best to wear light, natural fiber, and loose-fitting garments.
Practical clothing such as shorts and a blouse or T-shirt is
recommended by many, especially while traveling.?

?Climate & Attire?
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/climate.html 


8. Amenities

Hotels
http://www.asiatravel.com/philippines.html 

Restaurants
http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/restaurants_links.html

Airlines
http://www.pinoyshowcase.com/search/Transportation/Airlines/

Malls
http://www.philenterprise.com/directory/directory_fashionacc7.shtml
http://www.chanrobles.com/philippineshoppingmallsandsupermarkets.htm

Internet Service Providers
http://www.yehey.com/search/categories.aspx?c=2135


9. Satellite TV and availability of British soaps

This is where I think you will have a hard time with. There are very
good cable companies in the Philippines but the Filipino culture is
geared towards the American lifestyle than the British side hence not
so much British shows, here except for BBC News, even in cable and
satellite.

I am sorry about this.

Only one satellite program provider is available in the Philippines
because cable came in first plus satellite technology is much more
expensive than cable TV services. I will provide you with links to the
Dream Satellite TV plus the other major cable television companies and
their channel lineups.

Dream Satellite TV
http://www.dream.com.ph/main.asp?p=programming  

Sky Cable
http://www.skycable.com/channels.htm

Home Cable
http://www.home-cable.com/channel_1.html

Destiny Cable
http://www.mydestiny.net/catv/modules.php?name=Channels


10. Criminal considerations (need to live in guarded compounds, etc.)

It is safe to live in guarded compounds or condominiums but not really
necessary. As long as you?re careful and do not show off your money, I
think you?ll be perfectly fine. Here are some travel advisories in the
Philippines so it will be on the safe side to follow them.

?Travel Advice?
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386343


11. Cost of Air Travel

I have found the following sample prices for travel from Heathrow or
London to the Philippines.

Cheap flights to Manila, Philippines
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Manila/London-Area/


12. Exposure to Diseases and Sanitation: 

Please be reminded that all of these risks can be minimized or
outright eliminated by taking the necessary precautions.

?Malaria, including malarial encephalitis, exists in parts of the
Philippines and visitors should seek medical advice before traveling.
The dengue fever mosquito is found throughout the Philippines
including Manila. Rabies is endemic and can be fatal if not diagnosed
and treated quickly.?

?Travel Advice?
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386343

?DOH Advisory?
http://www.doh.gov.ph/doh_advisory.htm 


13. Water Supplies

In a recent report by the World Bank, it says that the water supply is
poor but generally the water supply is adequate in the metropolitan
areas in the Philippines.

?Philippines: Poor Water Quality, Sanitation Services Highlighted in
World Bank Report?
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20157463~menuPK:34463~pagePK:64003015~piPK:64003012~theSitePK:4607,00.html

In case you want links to some water companies in the Philippines, here they are.

Manila Water Company
http://www.manilawater.com/ 

Local Water Utilities Administration
http://www.lwua.gov.ph/ 


14. Cost of Living

Meals
?Budget: US$2-3?
?Mid-range: US$3-5?
?Top-end: US$5-15?

Lodging
?Budget: US$10-30?
?Mid-range: US$30-100?
?Top-end: US$100-400?

?Philippines Tourist Guides?
http://sino.net/philippines-tourist-guides/money-costs.html 

Here are some sample cost of living figures including electricity,
water and food expenses in Manila, Cebu, Davao and Angeles City. Costs
are in Philippine Pesos.

Cebu City
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/housing.html#Cebu_City 

Angeles City
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/housing.html#Angeles_City

Davao
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/housing.html#Davao 

Manila
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/housing.html#manila_living_index 


15. Traces of Kurt Jahnke?s visit

Hmmm. Still can?t get a hook on this man. I think I saw him in my
backyard yesterday. Maybe you?ll be more interested in a more recent
visitor.

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rp1/wwwhr136.html


Search terms used:
Philippines retirement tourist visa ?travel advisory? ?real estate?
condominiums ?buy and sell? hotels ISP restaurants malls banks flights

I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
                 
Thanks for visiting us.                
                 
Regards,                 
Easterangel-ga                 
Google Answers Researcher

Brilliant, as usual, Many thanks!

(I am sorry about mistaking you for a lady. It won't happen again, I promise.)

Exactly what I wanted and quite enough to tell me that (as marvellous
as it is) I don't think that the Philippines would be the place of
choice for most UK residents.

Some great insights though, well put together.

Now, if you could have grabbed Jahnke when he was messing around in
your backyard ...

Warmest regards

Bryan

Thanks for such kind words and for being so generous with your ratings and tips!

Too bad that most UK people won't choose the Philippines but I hope
that they will give us a visit once in a while.

Thanks!