Sean had been thinking about moving to the Philippines for over seven years.

He had done the research. He had watched the videos. He knew the culture, understood the values, and felt drawn to the country for a long time. But like a lot of people, something kept getting in the way.

Fear. Timing. Life.

Then one day he reached out. And a few months later, he was standing in BGC on a Friday afternoon with a San Miguel in hand, looking at his future home.

This is his story.

Sean is a proud military veteran originally from New York, later Philadelphia. His love for Asian culture started young and only deepened over time. But it was the values of the Filipino people that sealed it for him.

In his own words: the humility, the ethics, the way people look after one another. He said it feels more in tune with being human than what he experiences back in the West. Walking through BGC, then stepping outside into the broader Manila area, he said he felt welcomed everywhere he went. Not just in the tourist areas. Everywhere.

He also made a point a lot of veterans specifically relate to. The Philippines has a deep historical connection with American military men. The culture is familiar enough to feel comfortable, English is widely spoken, and the lifestyle offers something increasingly rare back home.

Peace of mind.

Sean's first impression of BGC was that it reminded him of New York. Clean, energetic, walkable. But without the stress.

Families out on a Friday afternoon. People enjoying coffee. Streets lined with restaurants, malls, and establishments all within walking distance. St. Luke's Medical Center nearby for world class healthcare. A community of expats who have already made the same leap.

He put it simply. You can go anywhere here and be greeted with joy and happiness. After one week he said he already felt loved.

After three viewings Sean had already found his top pick. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit in the Uptown area of BGC at 70,000 pesos per month, roughly $1,300 USD.

70 square meters. Four-burner induction stove, full kitchen, decent master bedroom with desk space, a well-furnished guest bedroom for visitors, and a 55-inch TV negotiated into the lease by our team.

But the real highlight of the unit is the balcony. Massive by BGC standards, stretching the full length of the unit from the living area all the way to the master bedroom. Views of Manila, directly across from Mitsukoshi, the only Japanese mall in the Philippines. The kind of outdoor space where you set up a table, make a coffee in the morning, and wonder why you waited this long.

Terms are two months advance and two months deposit, standard across BGC. Our team is also negotiating additional furnishing upgrades into the lease before he signs.

Sean was honest about something a lot of people feel but don't say out loud.

He first reached out over a year ago. Then life happened and he went quiet for personal reasons. When he came back, he simply said he was sorry and explained what had been going on.

The response he got was: okay Sean, you ready to do this?

No judgment. No sales pressure. Just a team that was there when he was ready.

He said that moment told him everything he needed to know about the character of the people he was working with.

Sean had visited the Philippines before. But he said there is a very big difference between a scouting trip and actually making the move.

Visiting means looking at neighborhoods. Moving means signing leases, protecting yourself from being overcharged, vetting landlords, negotiating terms, and having someone on the ground who speaks the language and knows the market.

Having a local team handle all of that, he said, is what made the difference between making the move and continuing to just think about it.

If you have been thinking about this for months or even years and you are ready to finally pull the trigger, we can help you do exactly what Sean did.

Click here to start your move to the Philippines the right way

Travel Well,

Evan Lorezca

The Savvy Expat