About This Site
Welcome to Live Life The Philippines — a practical guide designed for retirees, expats, and long-term visitors who want to make the Philippines their home. Here you’ll find firsthand insights into everyday living, local culture, and the real experience of building a life in the islands.
The Author
My name is John Hawkins, a retired Civil Engineer with more than 40 years in the construction industry. Now based in the Philippines, I’ve shifted my focus to web development and content creation — combining technical know-how with a passion for sharing real, lived experience.
This site serves both as a practical resource and a personal record. I write about the realities of retiring, settling long-term, and adjusting to life in the Philippines — from managing daily costs and healthcare to navigating local culture. After moving here, I also returned to diving for the first time in 35 years. Today, I log over 100 dives a year and share what I’ve learned about marine life, dive sites, and underwater videography across the central Philippines.
Our Mission
We aim to guide retirees, expats, and long-term visitors in making confident, well-informed choices about life in the Philippines. Our goal is to share practical, real-world knowledge that helps you feel at home and enjoy life here.
Site Structure:
To make things easier to explore, the site is divided into three main pillars. Each hub brings together guides, insights, and firsthand experiences so you can dive deeper into the areas that matter most — from building a life here, to understanding Filipino society, to exploring the country’s best dive spots.
Everything you need to build a life in the Philippines.
Explore what shapes life in the Philippines — from culture and history to family, faith, and the systems that guide daily living.
Built on personal experience, this hub covers key dive sites, seasonal insights, filming tips, and trusted local knowledge.
Why the Philippines?
The Philippines combines affordability, natural beauty, and warm hospitality, making it an appealing place to live. For retirees, expats, and long-term visitors, daily life here is both manageable and rewarding. This site offers firsthand insights into why the Philippines is more than just a destination — it’s a place you can call home.
Who We Are
We’re a small, independent project grounded in lived experience. Everything we share comes directly from real life in the Philippines — supported by practical know-how, careful research, and perspectives from both locals and expats. Our goal is straightforward: to provide honest, useful insights that help you make informed decisions about living here.
What Sets Us Apart
We don’t recycle advice or content written from afar. Every guide here is shaped by real experience — whether it’s navigating the visa process, managing healthcare, or diving the reefs I explore regularly. It’s practical, honest, and written by someone living it day to day.
This site is built to be fast, clean, and easy to navigate — especially on mobile — so you can focus on finding the answers that matter most to you.
Support Live Life The Philippines
If this site has helped you, consider buying a coffee to show your support. It’s built from firsthand experience and offered freely to anyone exploring life in the Philippines.
This project is 100% independent, ad-free, and powered by curiosity (and coffee). If you're enjoying the work, I'd love your support.
Note – Buy Me a Coffee was created for people who want to support the work of independent creators. It offers secure, encrypted checkout with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other trusted methods — no account needed.
Sign-Up and Stay Connected with Our Monthly Newsletter!
Instant Access: Retiree & Expat Budget Spreadsheet
Plan your income and expenses for life in the Philippines with this simple tool — compatible with Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.
Subscribers receive it immediately in the welcome email.
Every month, receive exclusive updates on life in the Philippines:
Dive In – A breakdown of the dives I’ve done this month—where I went, what I saw, and the conditions.
Plan Your Next Trip – Where I’ve been recently or where I’m heading next, with travel tips, experiences, and insights.
Stay Informed – The latest updates on expat life and living in the Philippines — all in one place to keep you in the loop.
Be Prepared – Weather updates and seasonal insights to help you plan ahead.
Don’t miss out—get firsthand updates and real insights delivered straight to your inbox!
*We respect your privacy. Your email is safe with us and will only be used to send our monthly newsletter. Every subscriber receives our free Excel Budget Planner as a welcome gift. We use Mailchimp for secure, reliable delivery. You can unsubscribe at any time.*
Stay Connected
We’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions, suggestions, or personal experiences to share, feel free to reach out.
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