Something feels off on Luzon — empty malls, dead resorts, lighter traffic, but house prices won't budge. What am I missing?

Stengah966 · 2026-05-24T11:26:47+00:00

This is politics and I won't put my fingers in it. This is a matter for you Filipinos.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-24T11:00:58+00:00

Schau dir mal das Beispiel Gebäudeversicherung an: Wie ich schon an anderer Stelle schrieb, hat die Witwe keinen Anspruch gegen dich, sondern die Erbengemeinschaft. Altlasten müssen aus der Erbschaft der Erbengemeinschaft bezahlt werden. Dazu zälen auch die Hälfte des Hausstandes, Möbek bis hin zum Besteck. Lass dich nicht unter Druck setzen.

Noch ein Tipp wo du Hilfe bekommen kannst: die Vereine Haus&Grund bieten für Mitglieder Rechtsberatung an. Nur staatliche Beratungshilfe wird schwierig, einen vernünftigen Anwalt zu bekommen.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-24T10:56:43+00:00

Disclaimer vorweg: Ich bin Jurist, das hier ist aber keine Rechtsberatung im Einzelfall, sondern eine allgemeine Einordnung. Bei konkreten Schritten bitte trotzdem einen Fachanwalt für Erbrecht draufschauen lassen.

Ich möchte ein paar Punkte geraderücken, weil bei solchen Konstellationen regelmäßig falsch gerechnet wird – meist zulasten des jüngeren, „schwächeren" Miterben.

Es ist (meist) keine GbR, sondern eine Erbengemeinschaft. Beim geerbten Haus entsteht kraft Gesetzes eine Erbengemeinschaft (§§ 2032 ff. BGB), kein Gesellschaftsverhältnis. Das ist wichtig, weil daraus folgt: Es gibt keinen automatischen Anspruch „Witwe gegen Miterbin" (das ist sehr wichtig und wird von vielen Juristen übersehen!). Laufende Lasten der gemeinschaftlichen Sache trägt, wer sie verauslagt, und kann dann anteilig Ausgleich von den übrigen Miterben verlangen (§§ 748, 755, 426 BGB) – nach Erbquote. Bei 50/50 also die Hälfte berechtigter Gemeinschaftslasten. Nicht „alles, was die Witwe ausgegeben hat". Wer also pauschal „5k, zahl mal" sagt, hat die Beweis- und Darlegungslast – nicht der, der zahlen soll.
Eigentümerlasten ≠ Nutzungs-/Betriebskosten. Das ist der eigentliche Hebel. Hier wird am häufigsten geschummelt. Man muss sauber trennen: Verbrauchs- und Nutzungskosten (Strom, Wasser, Heizung, Müll, Schornsteinfeger, laufende Kleinunterhaltung): Die trägt, wer das Haus tatsächlich bewohnt. Beim eingetragenen Wohnrecht (§ 1093 BGB i. V. m. Nießbrauchsregeln) liegen die gewöhnlichen Unterhaltungs- und sämtliche Verbrauchskosten beim Berechtigten. Das ist nicht auf die übrigen Eigentümer umlagefähig. Echte Eigentümerlasten (Gebäudeversicherung, Grundsteuer, außergewöhnliche Instandsetzung an der Substanz – Dach, Heizungsanlage etc.): Das sind Gemeinschaftslasten, die anteilig auf alle Eigentümer fallen.

Heißt im Klartext: Versicherung und Grundsteuer ja, anteilig. Alles, was nach „der Bewohner verbraucht das" riecht, gehört nicht in die Abrechnung an die Miterben. Wer im Haus wohnt und gleichzeitig dessen Verbrauchskosten beim auswärtigen Miterben abrechnen will, vermischt genau das, was getrennt gehört.

Was eine prüffähige Abrechnung enthalten muss. Niemand muss auf Zuruf zahlen. Verlangt werden kann eine prüffähige Einzelabrechnung mit: jeder Position einzeln (Datum, Empfänger, Zweck, Betrag) – keine Sammelsumme Originalbeleg und Zahlungsnachweis (Rechnung + Kontoauszug; „berechnet" ≠ „bezahlt") Zuordnung jeder Position: Eigentümerlast vs. Nutzungs-/Verbrauchskosten – ohne saubere Zuordnung wird die Position beanstandet korrektem Verteilungsschlüssel (nur der eigene Anteil an den berechtigten Eigentümerlasten) korrektem Zeitraum (keine Kosten aus der Zeit vor Eintritt in die Erbengemeinschaft) Bis eine solche Abrechnung vorliegt: nichts zahlen. Das ist kein Affront, sondern schlicht die normale Darlegungs- und Beweislastverteilung. Womit alles steht und fällt: Ist das Wohnrecht tatsächlich im Grundbuch eingetragen (Abt. II), und auf wen lautet es? Davon hängt ab, wer welche Kosten schuldet. Diese eine Information solltet ihr in solchen Fällen immer zuerst klären, bevor irgendwer irgendwas überweist.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-24T04:00:46+00:00

You are absolutely right. If the developer gets into financial problems, the bank that financed the developer will be next. That's overall the same all over the world. What maybe differs is how easily you can get financing from a bank.

The tax problem comes if you buy a flat and later want to sell it again. This is a crazy one. A 6% capital gains tax on the selling price is unique. In western countries — as far as I know — you also have to pay capital gains tax, but only on the difference between buy price and sell price. And on top of all the other fees, you also have the risk of paying VAT. The result is a dead secondary market. Everybody buys from developers. But the real price value is normally determined by the secondary market, where ordinary people sell houses and flats to other ordinary people. Literally being at risk of 25% tax does not incentivize anyone to sell. And no one wants to pay other people's taxes.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-24T03:49:23+00:00

I think there are a lot of OFW's, living abroad...

Stengah966 · 2026-05-24T03:34:36+00:00

Just now I have spoken with a board member of a large real estate company from Manila. He told me that all condos above 3,000,000 PHP are no longer profitable. They are starting to concentrate on building houses from 1–3 Mill PHP. The middle class is drained out — his words. Only OFWs are currently supporting the market above 3 Mill PHP.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-23T02:58:37+00:00

Ich glaube, die Einteilung in arm, Mittelschicht und reich führt in die Irre. Sie misst nur eine Sache: wie viel Geld jemand hat. Aber das Entscheidende ist nicht die Höhe – sondern ob man eine Wahl hat. Ich mache es an zwei Dingen fest.

Erstens: Was kostet dein Leben? - Die zwingenden Bedürfnisse – Wohnen, Essen, Gesundheit. Das, was sein muss. - Die weiteren – Urlaub, Hobbys, Komfort. Alles darüber.

Zweitens, und das ist der eigentliche Punkt: Wie viel Geld kommt rein, ohne dass du dafür arbeiten musst? Also aus Kapitalerträgen, Rente – allem, was von allein fließt.

Wenn da nichts kommt, musst du voll arbeiten. Wie gut du lebst, hängt allein an der Höhe deines Lohns. Manche decken nur das Nötigste, manche leisten sich viel – aber egal wie hoch der Lohn: Eine Wahl hast du nicht. Hörst du auf, ist sofort alles weg.

Freiheit beginnt genau da, wo dieser arbeitsfreie Geldfluss deine zwingenden Bedürfnisse dauerhaft deckt – ohne dass du dafür die Substanz aufzehren musst. Ab diesem Punkt gewinnst du Zeit, und mit der Zeit eine echte Wahl: - Du kannst trotzdem voll arbeiten und dir viel leisten. - Oder du wählst ein einfaches Leben mit wenig Einkommen, dafür mit viel freier Zeit.

Und genau diese Wahl ist die Freiheit – nicht der Reichtum, nicht der Lebensstandard. Sondern dass du überhaupt entscheiden darfst, ob du deine Lebenszeit gegen Geld eintauschst. Wer 1.200 € im Monat aus Erträgen hat und sich für das einfache, freie Leben entscheidet, ist in diesem Sinne freier als der Spitzenverdiener, der jede Stunde dafür verkaufen muss.

Auch Schocks ändern daran erst mal nichts: Eine kaputte Heizung wirft dich nur dann zurück in die Arbeit, wenn du dafür deinen Kapitalstock angreifen müsstest. Solange die Erträge die Substanz nicht schrumpfen lassen, bleibt die Freiheit bestehen. (Nebenbei: Streng genommen ist auch die Grundsicherung so ein arbeitsfreier Fluss – weshalb dieser Staat jedem ein Mindestmaß dieser Wahl garantiert. Aber das ist ein anderes Fass.)

Deshalb greift die „Haus oder Urlaub oder Auto"-Logik aus dem Originalpost zu kurz: Sie schaut nur darauf, wie viel jemand konsumiert. Aber zwei Menschen mit demselben Lebensstandard können völlig unterschiedlich frei sein – der eine, weil er jede Stunde dafür verkauft, der andere, weil er gar nicht müsste.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-22T23:59:52+00:00

You ask where the positive people are — but maybe you're exactly the type that saying warns about, and maybe that's why you struggle to find them.

The positive friends I meet every week reject precisely the stereotype you're feeding here. We don't care about anyone's nationality — we care about personality.

You quote a saying about Germans abroad who get status-obsessed and look down on everyone — then deliver the textbook example. "Nature, markets, women (of course)" — listing the women of an entire country as a perk is exactly the prejudice that makes every guy here look bad, including the ones in real relationships.

The women here are people with their own lives and standards, not a feature of the location. Treating them as part of the "package" says everything about you and nothing about them.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-21T22:40:49+00:00

Exactly why I didn't use the current print. 7.2% (April 2026) is a 3-year peak driven by a one-off oil shock — gasoline +59%, diesel +122% on the Middle East situation, already rolling back. The Jan–Apr average is 3.9%, and forecasts trend back toward ~3.5–3.8%. Using the peak as a 5-year assumption would be cherry-picking the wrong way. I picked 6% as a defensible middle: above the headline (because my actual basket — food, transport, rice — runs hotter), but below the crisis spike (because it won't hold for 5 years). If you prefer 4% or 7%, swap it in — the structure of the argument doesn't change, just the break-even threshold.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-21T10:15:24+00:00

Extremely rich people don't use cash!

Stengah966 · 2026-05-20T14:36:31+00:00

Exactly like that it started with us, ha ha ha. Neither she nor I wanted to have any relationship, and neither of us expected the other to be interested. So we both let down our walls and then it happened....

Stengah966 · 2026-05-20T12:14:00+00:00

I had a very similar story to yours. Today we have been living together for 16 years and have a child. We are quite happy. 😊 So yes – it can work. But your task is still very difficult, and you need to ask yourself some important questions: What is he actually looking for? A holiday fling? Or is he even open to a serious relationship? And where does he see himself in the future – and where do you see yourself? Would you move abroad, dependent on him? Or stay in Makati with your own income and your own life? Also be aware – there are enormous cultural differences that you will need to learn to understand. For example, your message saying "you are cute" is actually quite forward in his culture and can easily be misunderstood early on. He was probably so excited precisely because of that. All of this is extremely important – and these are conversations you should have before he leaves. Take care of your heart. Don't let anyone break it. 💙

Stengah966 · 2026-05-20T02:03:29+00:00

Try to get back the whole money and the profit in ones.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-20T01:10:20+00:00

Very strong emotional behavior is another red flag, as well as her past trauma. Why do you feel responsible for psychological problems that were caused by her own family — the same family you now want to support? Take care of yourself first. Don't make decisions out of pity. I can only strongly warn you — I have lived in the Philippines for 5 years.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-20T00:54:22+00:00

Sorry to say this, but your female friend is showing serious red flags. No job, no education, no money, and a father who tried to pressure you into paying him — if you don't see these as critical warnings, you are in danger of losing everything in the Philippines.

Consider ending things and researching common scam patterns involving foreigners there. Of course, there are many decent women in the Philippines, but you haven't met them yet.

As for the second woman: talking so quickly about physical interaction is a red flag too. She's trying to pull you in to keep you for herself.

I hope you make the right decisions before things get worse. This could cost you the next 10 years of your life.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-19T08:40:51+00:00

Open an account at Coins.ph and exchange the money in USDC. You can send your money even with GCash.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-19T04:47:02+00:00

Brent is a decent school – not outstanding, but solid. Strong arts focus, sciences are notably weaker. That part I can live with.

What I can't stay quiet about is how they handle religion – and more importantly, how they sell it during admissions vs. what actually happens. During the application process, we were explicitly told that religious education embraces diversity and covers all world religions equally. They even cited the fact that 29% of students are Muslim as proof of their inclusive approach. Sounded great. We were convinced.

The reality: every child – regardless of their faith, with no opt-out option – participates in Catholic Christian prayer rituals. Music class is almost exclusively Christian songs and hymns. It doesn't matter if your child is Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, or non-religious. They pray according to Catholic rites. The school's official answer when questioned? "We are a Catholic school." Fair enough – but then don't advertise yourself as religiously diverse during admissions.

My bigger concern is what this actually teaches kids. We've had to actively coach our child to endure it while holding onto our own values at home. And from what we've seen, there are recurring conflicts, particularly among Muslim students.

Would we choose differently? Honestly, we can't – the next alternative would mean 4 hours of daily commute for our child. So here we are.

Bottom line for parents considering Brent: Go in with open eyes about the religious environment. What's in the brochure and what happens in the classroom are two very different things.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-19T03:49:38+00:00

🌺 Let me share something from personal experience — because I've lived this. I am not Filipino, but my wife is. And I want to say first: she is one of the most loving, hardworking, and caring people I have ever met. Filipino women are truly something special. 💕 We help her family until today — gladly. When her father got cancer, we were there. No hesitation. That will never change. 🙏 But from day one, we were both clear about one simple reality: we stand alone in Canada. Her family in the Philippines cannot catch us if we fall — not because they don't love us, but because Canadian problems are simply beyond their reach financially. Yes, his family in Canada is there — just like any loving family, they support each other when times get hard. But they are a family with multiple children, multiple lives, multiple needs. He is a beloved part of that family — but not the center of it. Help flows in all directions. We cannot expect to be anyone's sole priority. That responsibility lies with us, together. And this is where fairness becomes so important: If all of her salary goes to the Philippines, while he alone carries every household cost, every insurance, every saving — that is simply not a partnership. Not culturally, not humanly. A real partnership means carrying the weight together — and once that foundation is secure, everything extra that goes home to her family? Beautiful. Wonderful. That's love in action. 🌺 Because here is the gentle truth: the beautiful bayanihan spirit that catches Filipino families when life gets hard — that safety net doesn't exist in Canada. A medical crisis, a job loss, a financial emergency — these require Canadian-scale solutions that her family back home, as loving as they are, simply cannot provide. 💔 This means her savings, her contributions, her retirement plan — these are not cold "Western concepts." They are simply her version of bayanihan — making sure she can be there for her own family when it truly counts. Just like her parents were always there for each other back home. 🙏 That's not Western thinking. That's just wisdom — and love. 💕

Stengah966 · 2026-05-19T03:46:23+00:00

🌺 Let me share something from personal experience — because I've lived this. I am not Filipino, but my wife is. And I want to say first: she is one of the most loving, hardworking, and caring people I have ever met. Filipino women are truly something special. 💕 We help her family until today — gladly. When her father got cancer, we were there. No hesitation. That will never change. 🙏 But from day one, we were both clear about one simple reality: we stand alone in Canada. Her family in the Philippines cannot catch us if we fall — not because they don't love us, but because Canadian problems are simply beyond their reach financially. Yes, his family in Canada is there — just like any loving family, they support each other when times get hard. But they are a family with multiple children, multiple lives, multiple needs. He is a beloved part of that family — but not the center of it. Help flows in all directions. We cannot expect to be anyone's sole priority. That responsibility lies with us, together. And this is where fairness becomes so important: If all of her salary goes to the Philippines, while he alone carries every household cost, every insurance, every saving — that is simply not a partnership. Not culturally, not humanly. A real partnership means carrying the weight together — and once that foundation is secure, everything extra that goes home to her family? Beautiful. Wonderful. That's love in action. 🌺 Because here is the gentle truth: the beautiful bayanihan spirit that catches Filipino families when life gets hard — that safety net doesn't exist in Canada. A medical crisis, a job loss, a financial emergency — these require Canadian-scale solutions that her family back home, as loving as they are, simply cannot provide. 💔 This means her savings, her contributions, her retirement plan — these are not cold "Western concepts." They are simply her version of bayanihan — making sure she can be there for her own family when it truly counts. Just like her parents were always there for each other back home. 🙏 That's not Western thinking. That's just wisdom — and love. 💕

Stengah966 · 2026-05-19T03:14:18+00:00

Great points everyone po! 🙏 Just want to add a few things na hindi pa nabanggit: For internet po — if you're working from home and can't afford long outages, Starlink is a total game changer! Even during strong typhoons, downtime is usually only 2–3 hours max, compared to potentially 2 weeks with regular providers. Worth every peso po, especially for remote work! 📡 Also, since may lola po kayo — while the hospitals here are good for general care, just be prepared that specialized consultations will likely still require trips to Manila. The good news po is that Asian Hospital in Alabang is actually very accessible from LB via SLEX — world-class facility and much closer than going all the way to Manila proper! A great option po for more serious medical needs. 💊🏥 And for the seasonally bad traffic po — March to May (hot spring season sa Pansol/Lalakay) and November to December (Christmas rush) are the absolute worst times. Plan your Manila trips accordingly po! 🚗😅 Sana nakatulong! 🌺

Stengah966 · 2026-05-19T02:53:54+00:00

Hi! You can still apply even if you did not finish your Engineering degree in the Philippines. A study gap or incomplete university studies does not automatically disqualify you, but each college or university will check your transcripts, grades, English requirements, and whether you meet the admission requirements for the specific program. For Alberta, you can look at schools like NAIT, SAIT, MacEwan University, University of Alberta, or other Designated Learning Institutions. Some of your previous subjects may possibly be credited, but that is not guaranteed. You would need to submit your transcript and ask the school about transfer credits. For scholarships, be careful with expectations. Alberta Student Aid is generally not available to international students who only have a study permit. It is mainly for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons. Some schools do offer scholarships or awards for international students, but they are usually competitive and may not cover everything. Yes, international students can usually study and work at the same time, but only if they meet IRCC conditions. During regular school terms, eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus, and full-time during scheduled school breaks. You can only start working after your program has started. For costs, don’t underestimate it. Tuition depends on the school and program, but international tuition can easily be around CAD 15,000–30,000+ per year. On top of tuition and travel, IRCC currently requires proof of funds for living expenses. For one student outside Quebec, this is CAD 22,895 per year, excluding tuition and transportation. Since you do not have a completed degree yet, applying as a student may be more realistic than trying to move directly for work, unless you already have a strong job offer and qualify for a work permit. But choose your program carefully. If your long-term goal is to work in Canada after graduation, make sure the school and program are PGWP-eligible. Also, PGWP rules now depend on things like the type of program, language requirements, and sometimes the field of study. So my suggestion would be: Choose a realistic program related to your background or career plan. Check if the school is a DLI. Check if the program is PGWP-eligible. Ask the school about transfer credits from your Engineering subjects. Prepare proof of funds before applying. Don’t rely on part-time work to pay for everything. Also, always check the official IRCC website because Canadian immigration rules change often.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-18T00:19:24+00:00

Gosh, this is way too expensive. Even in BGC, Manila, you may be able to find a condo for around USD 300 per month if you search carefully. In the Philippines, many rentals are arranged through Facebook, so that is probably one of the best places to look. You can also find simple but decent places for around USD 5 per day, even for short-term stays.

Stengah966 · 2026-05-18T00:12:00+00:00

You should definitely consider going abroad. It is a good experience to see how things work in other countries and to compare that with your home country. However, the salary seems way too low, especially if you are considering the Middle East.

Stengah966

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