Best Posts in Thread: X-Pats are no longer Seniors.

My social solutions are:
#1 To anyone who calls me 'sir' I immediately also respectfully call them 'sir'.
#2 I am on crutches after four back operations but I always initially stand at the back of every line, but are often escorted to the front of the line usually by a nearby guard or sometimes by those in the line. I do have considerable difficulty standing in line for more than a couple of minutes.
#3 If I am offered someone else's seat I humbly accept their generous offer. Young and old often offer me their seat.
#4 Unlike many Americans I never yell or complain in public. I'm in a different culture, and I accept their ways of doing things.
The result for me is zero stress in public places and friendly faces everywhere! That's just my way of doing things. I am 72.

 

I've always been surprised that non citizen seniors have been able to take advantage of the occasional benefit which is plainly intended for the locals.
Enjoy it when you can,don't complain about it when you can't.

 

I can inform you otherwise as relayed to me via our Attorney who deals in Land matters, you do only have a short period in which to settle your matters, this includes selling and sharing your Wife's half with any children she may have had even if you are not their paternal father, and you are entitled to I think something like half of the Estate, but even she could not state what was a reasonable amount of time and told me we would go into that further when we were done with the legalities of our Lot and held the Title so that we could ensure that the property went to our daughter in the even of us both passing, the real BS comes with the 'Family' getting their entitled shares also which can make for a real problem if they feel they are also entitled to a bite of the apple. I fully intend to make sure everything is in my Wife's name only, (saves on a shyteload of legalities after my demise to remove my name and claim inheritance or whatever) with a Will leaving everything to our (my step) Daughter only in the event of her passing.

It really amazes me just how many guys here in the Philippines whom I have spoken to as well as on other forums are open about making sure that they are here for a good time, not a long time, and have absolutely no plans on making sure their Wife or any children are adequately taken care of after their demise. Once I am gone that is it, I cannot take anything with me, so I fully intend on making sure that my Wife and step-Daughter are able to care for themselves and do not need to beg or grovel for food after I am no longer here to take care of them. We are working TOGETHER to build our lives here, so she deserves to be taken care of IMHO not merely dumped like a piece of meat on the roadside. Kudo's to anyone who is actually concerned about their Partner's well being after their own demise, they certainly earn my admiration regardless how many call them an idiot for actually caring...

 

Yes Dave, apparently the Philippine Retirement Authority has "merchant partners" who will make discounts available to members in their SRRV program.
However, in my view that list of "merchant partners" (which is found here: PRA: Philippine Retirement Authority) has nothing to do with the "60+ law".

 

I was treated as a senior citizen today at Lee Hypermart. A courteous young man took my cart from me and escorted me to the appropriate line (1) and offered me a stool to sit on and rest my aged bones. It might have been because I was wearing a tee-shirt that said "I am not American" or it might have been because I am obviously older than 65.

 

I wouldn't ask for special treatment of any kind even if I did become a Citizen here. Even though I am on Crutches and am disabled, I do not like it when people make a fuss and push me to the front of a queue or whatever. I know many are just being polite, but I did not expect preferential treatment back home, nor do I expect it here.

 

Perfect POSITIVE attitudes. I have been told by professionals that they are very surprised when talking with me I don't shout or show arrogance. Why should I? More importantly, why do so many other foreigners behave like that?

 

I am 67 (fortunately women think I look 45 ) but I will not queue in 'Seniors' Lanes' and I give up my seat in the bus even when many young, fit and able locals do not ... but again, that is about my self respect (the same way I put my litter in a bin while they throw their's on the ground). I am well aware of the deference people here feel to foreigners but it is not deserved. My own country raped and pillaged the world and that is nothing to be proud of. I address security guards and many other people as "Sir" to try to redress the balance. I have more respect for the elderly lady trying to sell enough peanuts to feed her children than for the smart *rse banker making millions by playing games with other people's cash. So people like us Brian (including many others here), just want to be seen as ordinary people - not as better than the locals but, in my case, I do not want to be treated like a sub-class 'alien' either.

 

Think about it from their perspective Brian; if you did not have your disability, would you sit on a bus and allow an elderly person or a person on crutches to stand? I know enough about you to know you would not. And the same for such people standing in a queue. I would feel bad inside if I allowed these things and so I am doing it as much for my own self-respect as for their needs.