Comparing Thailand To The Philippines - Which One Meets Your Needs? 

Today Gift and I meet up with RU-vidrs “FOCUS ON ASIA” JR and Cecelia, JR is from the US and Cecelia is from the Philippines. Having been married for almost 32 years now they decided to retire in the Philippines in 2021. JR, retired military has been to Thailand many times both as a Service Member and now as a tourist. Cecelia has also visited Thailand on several occasions. Listen to JR and Cecilia as they give their honest perspective on both Thailand and the Philippines. Which one meets your needs? Please consider subscribing to JR & Cecilia’s RU-vid channel “Focus on Asia”. Link below to their channel. youtube.com/@FOCUSonASIA13?si=5JL3adASUrV6LnJE Thank you for following us on our journey as we share our everyday life and experiences with you. Please like, share and subscribe. Follow us on Instagram at snow.gift and send a private message on our Face Book page at Thai Girl Gift & Foreigner Joe For Legal assistance of any kind in Thailand, Check out the link to Thai Legal Protection below. thailegalprotection.com?ref=zwexnzy Some of the services provided for just a small monthly fee include Coverage Details: Immigration Issues Insurance Claims Traffic Casualties Business Negotiations Liability Insurance Domestic Disputes International Travel Visa Buying or Selling Your Home Child Adoption Living Will or Last Will Review of Contracts Cyber Crime and More...

Another good Interview Joe I really like how you are always so respectful to people,thanks again and love the dance Gift

Thanks again Joe and Gift, was a pleasure meeting you both! Happy to answer anyone's questions to the best of my ability and experience on Philippines.

Thanks again💕💕💕 such good info and so nice to listen to good people. Appreciate you all so much. 💕💕💕👍🙏🙏🙏🇹🇭🇺🇸

Very good interview with JR and Cecelia, Philippines vs Thailand. Show the pro's and con's of way of life in the two countries. Thanks Gift and Joe. Stay safe

Of course Thailand! I love Thai food and their fruits from there are cheap , fresh and delicious. The locals are humble and always smiling.

Good informative video guys, and the double happy dance....classic! Cheers!

Interesting insights on two different perspectives from this couple. Good interview and another informative video by J&G productions 😊 . Keeping it real and keep it up!

Thailand will be my new home for sure.

Joe and Gift nice video again . North Philippines is nice . Highest point is around 8000ft lot of mountains ..Nice beaches and resorts also . Medical system is not really great as Gemma and i have found out with Gemma's problem .. Take care both of you👍👍

This was an interesting video to watch as I've been wanting to visit the Philippines. Thank you for the video Joe and Gift. 😊

Plenty of expat options in SE Asia. Great interview, Joe! Keep 'em coming!

Greetings JR and Cecelia, thanks Joe and Gift for an enlightening interview, older we get health and insurance is very important wherever you choose to settle👏🏽🥰☕️

Thank you Gift and Joe, it was really nice to get JR and Cecelia prospective on the difference between Thailand and the Philippines.

Good talk 👍😎

That was alot of information. I had my office next to a couple , he was A,American and she was from the Philippines. Very nice people with the nicest children. I got more out of this post by you than any other info available. Thank you for sharing.

Good video Joe, Thanks for sharing. Stay safe and healthy - from Roseville CA. heard they might be recalling all prior DCEA directors to help out in the South West Aisa AOR - pack your bags.:)

Very nice couple Joe and gift

My prayers and best wishes to Gifts mama . I also have had problems with recovering from a heart attack and blood clot in the heart valve chamber. I totally understand how she is feeling. It's a hard battle but everything should go smoothly and stay positive . Hopefully i will be able to get back over to the beautiful land of smiles Thailand

Great interview Joe, I've met JR couple times in town, usually at a restaurant lol, good dude 😊. It's good to hear the Thailand/Philippines comparison from people with boots in the ground. Take care

Good interview, I think the hospital wait times for non emergency issues are excessive everywhere these days (Australian here) Thai mother in law waited 12 months for a knee replacement in Thai public hospital, Aussie mate to wait 2 years in an Aussie public hospital. But if you have private health insurance, no wait at all. Average good private health cover for a couple in Australia is around $800 per month. But in saying that, we have good public healthcare, if you need a bypass to stay alive , it’ll be done immediately, free

I would like everyone to speak freely whatever on their minds . They are just opinions so why one feels offended. That's the only way to grow and improve.

Only the most virgin Pacific Ocean 🌊 water 💦 that enters the Philippines and exits to various Asian countries due to the rotation of the earth 🌍🌎. Love the Philippine beaches!

Oh CECILA, I think your breakfast looked the best, wow!

Very interesting vlog Gift and Joe. I have often wondered about the cost of living etc. in the Phillipines as I know many Filipinos through my church. They are nearly all teachers who have come over to Thaialnd because they can earn much more money here and can support families back home. I also think that there is a glut of teachers in the Phillipines at the moment. The one thing I have noticed from those I know, is that they are all very proud of the areas from which they are from and they are very proud of their country. I liked the way JR and Cecilia were so open about all aspects of the country. As always sending you best wishes and God's Blessings. 😀❤🙏

What’s interesting is he was at a base we opened during Vietnam the second go around. When they started linebacker..we stayed same crappie barracks back then . Water bags at the end of building for water..No working toilets guess what we did going poop. We got lucky we were able to go downtown, we stayed in aircon hotel for 2 dollars a night. We came out of Japan, the poor guys from as Chuck says Merica those guys suffered due to climate and lack of knowledge about Asia. Nice talk..take care.

JR and Cecelia looks to be a very nice couple. I hope to see more of them, along with you guys :)

My family lives in the Philippines, Married in the Philippines. Driving 48 states on the right side of the road 1969 until now.Thailand driving will be the only problem , Love Thailand and the Philippines. Retired trucking 2006,Born in California and following my filipina wife

I’ve researched both for hundreds of hours. I know my choice.

Thank you for the video. We are interested in both Thailand and the Philippines for retirement. Both countries are so beautiful and people are very nice.

Excellent VIDEO Joe and Gift 😊. I will be moving to the Philippines 🇵🇭 soon myself. I am temporarily delayed until March. My doesn't want me to leave just yet. I'm looking at Tagaytay or Baguio (Tentatively). Keep the video's comin. Stay Safe 💕 💞 🙏 🙏

Hi Joe and gift. I also live in the Philippines. I’ve lived in the Philippines since 2000 and I feel totally safe. Never had a problem with the police. The food is much better in Thailand . Infrastructure is much better in Thailand. Hotels, housing and condos cheaper and much better in Thailand . Here’s a controversial one I love the people of the Philippines. They are warm and kind. I love visiting Thailand actually I’m here now.

Still planning to go abroad looking at another year or so, but my plan A is Thailand and Plan B is the Phil. I will visit both but for the same reasons Im preferring Thailand at least for now.

what city are you in? I love the roads you show along the coast, very beautiful, I want to bring my Harley

Interesting , But I Believe We will still pick Thailand as our Home ...Just better all round for Us ....But Good Info....

Stationed in Subic from 80 to 82 I appreciate the food the culture and the countryside glad you were able to enjoy it too. However, I am a bit biased having been married to Sukanya for 34 years. I love the food and Thai culture too.

Wow Joe…..Mike and I have Anthem or Regence Blue Cross. It’s really good medical insurance. He worked for the State of California at the Atascadero State Mental Hospital. (Clinical Forensic Psychologist)

Even with all of the pluses of Thailand, they cannot compare with the vibe of the Philippines. I SHALL RETURN

I can easily live in 4 to 6 countries a year Too hot or rainy, I just get on a plane. 35 year expat 6 years Thailand 6 years Vietnam 16 years Japan Been to Korea Malaysia Singapore. Laos and Cambodia many times At least 30 to 40 places where I am happy in SE Asia I have bases in 3 countries. You do not have to choose Enjoy both all

So very interesting Joe. Thank you to your friends you interviewed, so informative. Thank you for sharing!

Angeles city is a concrete jungle. Cebu is much nicer.

Historically or culturally you cannot compare the Thais to the Philippines one is a Catholic country the other a Buddhist and unlike the Philippines highly cultured and Disciplined The Philippines was colonised by the Spanish who interbred with the population when they arrived there to promote and spread catholicism, Thailand has never been colonised and the Siamese are a thoroughbred race,The Philippines due to Catholosism have major birth control problems that lead to poverty, whereas Thailand has a stable birth rate that's promoted by education and good health care, The Transport infrastructure within Thailand is Fantastic whereas travel by road in the Philippines can be risky, I've lived here in Asia for 30 years and traveled all over and spent some time in the Philippines the people are nice but culturally I feel a lot more at home in Thailand and many things here in Thailand that way outpace the Philippines, especially Pharmacies and healthcare,To understand the People of both countries you have to understand their history and culture many many people that reside in both countries, unfortunately, do not.

Thailand government provides 30 baht insurance to treat all diseases. You can get heart disease treated for 30 baht, but the actual medical costs From examination and treatment until surgery or angioplasty, it may cost up to 5-6 hundred thousand baht for 4-5 years of treatment, but you only pay 30 baht ,only . 😊

@26:08 he says there is no 911 in the Philippines, there most certainly is though.

Not at all being funny but I love the way Joe says Bathroom, (Ba Troom) and I feel like I can say that as an Irish person in NY. People still think I talk funny.😄😄

I lived two years in the Philippines on the island of Siquijor and two years in Thailand. You can live cheaply in both countries, but in Thailand you will get a much better standard for the same money. Many people are able to find interesting houses or apartments in the Philippines at a reasonable price. It is definitely easier to find in Thailand. What distinguishes the Philippines versus Thailand is mainly the immigrants. In Thailand there are many young people 20-30-40 years old who emigrate with their families from foreign countries and live in Thailand as expats. There are very few young people in the Philippines and the vast majority of expats are 60+. However, this does not mean that there are only older people in the Philippines. I myself have several friends who are my age i.e. 30 years old. After living in the Philippines and Thailand for two years, I can definitely say in which country I lived better and what are the pros and cons. I have a Filipina girlfriend and it was very difficult to get her to go abroad. It is not impossible but you always have to expect that she will get an offload. However, the problem is not immigration. The biggest problem is that Filipina women are often poor by choice. Even if they get the chance to go to a better country, they will still miss all the Filipino culture. The Philippines is a country where everyone gossips about someone else. This is especially evident in the small provinces. I noticed that many people write that Thailand is a fake smile, etc. You are fools if you think that every Filipino loves foreigners. Most adore because we just have the cash. I'm not saying that every Filipina is a gold digger because that's not the case, but the questions "what do you do for a living?" "where do you work?" are probably not without reason. Once you get a Filipina out of poverty count on the fact that her family will be jealous and your monthly expenses will grow because once you run out of food, once someone is sick and it goes on and on. Of course, in that case, don't agree to send money. I am sending 7,000 pesos for a "Filipino family" and only because her sisters are going to college. Filipinas and Thais are nice women but finding one who will honestly love you is very difficult. My girlfriend's sister personally doesn't hate foreigners, and in the case where I did a test for them and pretended that I didn't have 7,000 pesos for the month when I was in Thailand, my sister called my girlfriend and said "TELL ME TO BUY YOU A TICKET AND RETURN" So they don't really love us that much anyway. Well, but let's get back to the specifics of why I think Thailand is better, even though there are many great places, mountains, beaches, etc. in the Philippines. Above all, Thailand gives me a sense of freedom, because I know I can always find an apartment for the price I'm looking for wherever I go. Here in the Philippines if you look on AIRBNB some people are wishing for 20,000 pesos for some bungalow or other messy rooms. In Thailand for that much you rent a condo with a swimming pool gym and sauna. Many people say there is no language barrier in the Philippines. THIS IS THE BIGGEST NONSENSE. Of course, the official language is English and all company paperwork is in this language, but the bureaucracy that prevails in this country is a deterrent in starting any business. Most people speak English, but only basic English. Older people don't speak English at all, or they break like in Thailand. Younger people in the Philippines speak English More and more Thais are starting to speak English, and I think that will eventually change in Thailand. My dream was to go to Boracay, but after seeing the prices I just gave up. Therefore, Thailand in terms of opportunities with me definitely wins. I don't want to judge Thai women because I never had a relationship with a Thai woman, but my friends who have Thai wives definitely praise them. The problem in the Philippines is that if you're going to have a girlfriend from an island, they're usually such simple people that you're going to have a hard time getting that girl anywhere abroad. In conclusion, for me Thailand definitely wins and I will list in points why. 1. better infrastructure (cheap housing prices even 2 times lower than in the Philippines). 2. better food (in the Philippines they put out lids with food first thing in the morning and no one heats it up, are they lazy enough?) 3. safety (Thailand is definitely safer than the Philippines and has less crime) 4. lack of Brownouts (I used to think it was just a problem for small islands, but even in dumaguete they have problems with lack of electricity. In a normal country they would do it in two years and the problem would be gone. 5. More stable government (There is incredible corruption in the Philippines which means that if you pay, you get everything faster, etc. 6. more interesting places (bankgok is beautiful, of course not everyone will like it, but then I would recommend going to manila where kids are out in the streets gluing themselves to the glass just to give you a few pennies) 7. more interesting culture (apart from the old churches in the Philippines there is nothing else to see) 8. and the most important point. HEALTH CARE. Honestly, I don't know how people over 60 can live in a country that won't even take care of your safety. There are no good hospitals in the small islands, the closest one to any reasonable hospital is on cebu (4 hours away by ferry). Count on the fact that if you don't have cash in the Philippines, no one will even touch you with a finger and lifesaving without money in the Philippines simply doesn't exist.In Thailand, health care is at a very high level. All this makes me choose Thailand and not the Philippines. Unfortunately, I need many other things besides beautiful beaches, and I gave the Philippines a chance several times. I was disappointed once again and decided that Thailand is the place for me.

Are there readily available tarts in the Philippines? I'm fond of mince and custard tarts, both of which are available in Pattaya. I had a run of bad food in the Philippines that cut my last trip short.

Great show guy's! I use to go to the Philippines when I was in the Airforce. Would fly into Clark AFB. I like it there but I really love Thailand much better. 😊 But as alway's stay cool,kind and generous!

Thailand or probably Malaysia is for me to retire. The deciding factor is better infrastructures. The truth speaks for itself. Over 15 millions visting Thailand every year.

Joe Bumrungrad hospital is the best. Internet in the Philippines cost 2x the price of Thailand and is really bad in the Philippines

Unfortunately, More crime in places such as Angeles. I would not stay in that particular area. So many better places to live in PI. My grandfather was from Bangui which is right next Pagudpud but I would not live there either due to the average Typhoon paths across Luzon. I would rather stay outside of a Major city with access to amenities.

Please dont compare each has their own edge i don't know about any nation but for me i think th and ph we are brotherhood.

One last thing in my experience hospitals are much better in Thailand like night and day. No comparison. I live in cebu. I’ve used both in Thailand and Philippines extensively sorry to say.

i was stationed in ubon, thailand at the end of the vietnam war. spent 24 hours in the PI on the way to vietnam. thought a lot about PI versus TH. my heart belongs to thailand but i wonder about forming relationships. as a widowed senior (thai wife), trying to figure it out. this helps a bit

Rusians get 90 days touristvisa, right away. US , Eu ,Australia get 30 days. Do Thailand want us to come anymore ?

w an ex Flipina and my Flipina daughters they will never return to their mom’s birthplace Lapu Lapu- because 🇺🇸 RN’s start at over $100 K USD-however no 911/limited infrastructure-internet-inadequate hospitals-there are a lot of 🇺🇸 husbands with their Flipinas here in my condo in Jomtien! However I love both Flipinas and Thais! At least they can visit me and then their family in the 🏝️

beautiful lady married 31 years looks under 30! impossible

I love the Philippine's, to me, its what Thailand was 20 years ago. though it is more dangerous in the cities, with so many homeless, and poor , who will try to rob you, had that happened a couple of times, they failed both times. The food is not so good, and yes accommodation costs more and you get less, but most everything else is more cheaper. The infrastructure is not so good so traveling around is more difficult, but I like that kind of challenge. The people are extremely friendly and of course most speak English. even if it is , bad American English,, lol

Western people may have all the riches but I think Thai people are warmer and friendlier and conduct themselves in a far better way .

I dated a woman in college in the Philippines for a year. I was so unhappy in Manila. The people were nice, but it was not my vibe. Everyone says you are supposed to visit Cebu and Dumaguete. That is where all the fun is.

Thailand could never beat the Philippines, I’ve been to both places. The women are more caring and faithful then the women in Thailand. Heck half of the nurses in the world are Filipinos.

HA HA I don't know where he has been in the USA sometimes even with a appointment we will have a five or more hours wait to see Ann's doctors. I think they over book. Now one doctor we have been seeing for at least 30 years will not even take our insurance. Of course our insurance changed at the beginning of the year to a Medicare Advantage plan. The University of Texas did that not even asking us. Because I have not paid for a plan in 20 years but that was because of retirement. Yes he has not seen a Doctor in the USA in a while because a appointment does not mean anything!!!!! I was told that my BCBS could be used overseas. Also if that bill passes I understand that Medicare could be used also overseas. Oh I will be 70 in 2024.

As a Filipino citizen this comparison is not pleasing to hear. Reading comments of western people there makes me laugh .Philippines is a catholic country somehow we are still conservative in ways of living. Honest and welcoming people mostly we offer is our beautiful nature and thats it.I can't believe we are not advance in most things thats a lie ofcourse. Western people only think that they deserve better 😂 whew..and where are you from?your not rich in your country thats why you came checking out developing countries and telling lots of comparisons and complains.best advice is go where you get accepted. Whether in Thailand or Philippines stop complaining at all. I still love our system in government they dont legalize marijuana its been a topic before here in Philippines it can help boost economy like what Thailand did thats why they have more advanced infrastructure they earn billions from legalization of marijuana. So big thanks to jesus it doesn't happen in Philippines. Only beautiful beaches and the warmth of people thats what we offer

To anyone who wishes to travel and finds it hard to pick between Thailand and Philippines but must only pick one, just pick Thailand. Less hassle, tourist-friendly overall structure, hospitality is in deeply ingrained to their culture. And thousand times cleaner! That's a life hack already, choose Thailand! If you still want the Philippines, that's okay but think and research twice or more!

Thanks Joe and Gift, Please get rid of the blinking intro , really off putting…

I live Hua Hin and traveling Philippines now. No comparison. Thailand wins everyday on everything. Philippines i dont get it. Its million times better in Thailand

I can’t stand to watch you eat one more time

The difference between the Philippines 🇵🇭 and Thailand 🇹🇭 is how they express their love 💕 Philippines: “I love you so much.” Thailand: “I love you too long.” 😂😂😂😂

Philipines has more population than Thailand, 100 Million vs 70 Million.

Dont live in the Philippines, they will steal your heart and besides rice and onions are expensive

The Philippines is A LOT more dangerous than Thailand. The hospitals are tons better in Thailand....Much more CIVILIZED culture and people=Thailand. Thailand smokes The PI. Food is better and fresher and cleaner....in Thailand. I think this man with his Pinay wife is saying all that....because he is married to a pinay....he does not want to be honest....