Living In The Philippines

[mystic]

I don't have a direct experience of the PI, so I cannot be sure. I can say, I do have a beard. In Thailand, despite my ex wife didn't object at first, everybody was seeing me as dirty or bad because of the beard. Little kids were bursting in cry and were afraid of me, when they saw me. I learned that there is a Thai tradition that the man with a beard is a sort of monster. All evil characters have a beard. So, the small kids were raised up with that conviction and were afraid of me.

I think in the PI it is different. They are not so picky about the exterior appearance but look more at the inside. But somebody with more experience than me should tell.

[jadegil6]

I don't remember seeing many people with beards when I have visited the Phils.
As far as working there goes, it is illegal for a foreigner to work in the Philippines, or to own a business.
If a man is married to a Filipina, then he can put it in her name. A foreigner can own 40% of a corporation, but the other 60% has to be owned by Filipino citizens.
From what I have read and observed over the years, trying to make money in the Philippines is an unlikely outcome. Better to make the money somewhere else, and enjoy spending it in the islands.
One can do volunteer-type work in the Philippines. There are thousands of missionaries who live in the Phils, and they are involved working in charities or churches without pay. Such as Tim Tebow, who goes to the Philippines to work for a few months every year. He was born there to missionary parents who still operate charities around the Philippines, caring for needy children and the poor. So yes, charitable work by foreigners is allowed there.

[mystic]

Do you mean that a foreigner married to a filipina cannot establish his residence and work there? Sounds strange.

[red]

A foreigner can work in the Philippines if he has the work permit granted by the DOLE (Alien Employment Permit) and Bureau of Immigration in Philippines. The permit has limitation of its validity depending on the nature of the job applied.

[jetman51]

I can understand why the Philippines government would want to limit foreigners in what they can own and in their taking paid employment that might otherwise be available to Filipinos. This strikes me as coming from a reasonable desire to protect the interests of Filipinos. But it would also be wise to balance this with a recognition that there are situations in which allowing foreigners some flexibility here would in the long run also help Filipinos.

Still, my plan is to rely upon the resources I have when I arrive. I was only teasing with Mystic in saying that I might be able to make money there. I am glad to know that there will be opportunities to volunteer to do different kinds of things.

I think that maybe my beard will have to go! Actually, the main reason I have had it all these years is to protect my face against sunburn and windburn at high altitudes in the mountains. It would probably be uncomfortable in the climate of the Philippines. And it has now turned mostly gray anyway, so maybe I will have a younger appearance without it!

[Smiley]

You are right,from my personal experience I would have to say "lose the fur".

As for the subject of property/business ownership,I do not appreciate the governments stance excluding foreign activity.All of the successful countries in the world,with very few exceptions,became successful largely due to the skills and talents of immigrants. People migrate.They tend to migrate to areas that suit their needs and dreams better than the areas they set out from.By limiting the opportunities for success the potential host country is excluding the best of the talent pool that is available and all the growth and progress that these people would bring with them.
If you have a unique talent and wish to build a future in the PI you pretty much have to hand a majority share over to a local and then trust that local to not use the anti-foreigner laws to squeeze you out of the business that you created.Gee,what could possibly go wrong there?
I am not bashing the Philippines ,I am just pointing out the one area that I think is something that could be improved to the betterment of everyone involved.

[Smiley]

I agree with Michael that as things stand now ,it makes a lot more sense to make your income elsewhere and if you feel the need to keep busy,find a worthwhile area to volunteer in.

Personally,I don`t have much of a pension anymore so I would require an outside source of income to survive in any style above poverty. I do have a small income from my online business that I am in the process of scaling up to a level that will allow me to live decently and without worry. As this business is officially conducted in Canada it does not make any difference where I am so this meets the legal requirements of both countries.

[mystic]

Interesting. I would not consider to live in a country that limits my ability to work, indeed. But there might be some tricks around.

1. One could work in the black market. This is what the PI promote, not giving valid working permits. And anyways, I suspect that most businesses in the PI are black anyways. Only bigger shops might be regular, which is not what one necessarily wants to do.

2. One could open a business in any other country and a bank account in the PI. Then, every time he has to receive money, it goes to the foreign company. This is a very good arrangement, since he would pay no tax in the company country (since all revenue comes from abroad), and no tax in the PI either. Of course, it would not be possible to do a retail business, such as selling ice cream, where you need to give receipts. But if you plan to make a retail shop, it's worth anyways to make a society with a filipino, since you would need somebody anyway for the language, etc.

Well, if you can do an online job... that's pure gold. I would really like that kind of independence.

[Smiley]

Oh yeah: as long as the business is located in another country there is no reason that you cannot oversee it from within the Philippines.
If you were conducting business from within the PI I suspect it would be a magnet for bribe seekers.I have heard a few stories from folks who have tried.

[red]

True. It is one of the reasons why my husband decided we live in US. He got discouraged when all failed. Some folks in the govt there that deals taxes when they know one of the owner or the "real" owner is foreigner they will find ways to bribe. It hurt us a lot esp they kept us sending demand letters for taxes on this and that and so on. The ending was "if you pay us this then we call it quits/don't pay all these". Plus our bookkeeper we trusted, we thought he remitted all the quarterly tax we paid. A lot of business owners were shock when one BIR personnel said this man didn't pay the money you paid for tax. Somebody told us that tax person always in cock derby gambling. So that was where all the money spent -- gambling. Last time I heard he became fugitive and his wife working at BPI lost her job due to him. It is discouraging. So those aspiring to do business in Phils., good luck and be very very careful.