I'm in total agreement with you.
I am doing the same thing this fall, going to the Philippines. I have spent several years there on and off.
I know the places on my short list that I want to live over there. The weather is great and not like the majority of the Philippines.
I not going to say you are wrong about the visa issue, I would like to learn more form you if what you say is true.
But what I know about the visa is they have cracked down a lot harder on expats since the new president took over.
If you are thinking of getting married, you should do it before you leave. If your girl freind is fillopina, you can get a spouse visa for a year when you come in together and show your marriage license. You won't have to leave for a year.
If you go in on a torist visa, you can get 60 day visa, and get it renewed every 30 to 60 days there after. You have to pay every time you get renewed! (thats the Philipppines)
Its reall easy to screw up on your visa and forget to get renewed, and it used to be you just paid the fine and got it renewed. Not any more! You can get black listeed real easy if you don't stay on top of it. Meaning you can't ever go back.
I'd be happy to discuss it with you privately if you want, just let me know. There is a lot to go over.
I didn't even get started on taxes. I know one guy who doesn't pay any tax to any government as he doesn't stay in any country long enough to establish residency. One of the places he stays because he has 30 VA's is the Philippines.
I'm going to go back and read some of you other post. Thanks for this one