For the others replying here, it’s safer to walk the streets in Manila than any large city in America. When my 15 y.o. son brought a penknife to school, the other kids got mad at him and yelled at him for bringing a weapon to school. Manila is *much* cleaner than it used to be, and the government is not nearly as intrusive as in America.

And think on this: at my house in Quezon City, I normally get one - count ‘em, ONE - letter a month, from the electric company Meralco. No junk mail at all.

Right now I’m living stateside, but only because we need to make some extra money. Once our kids and grandkids are settled, we’re gone.