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Q: Anybody ever worked in the Philippines? Need advices here.
So I got an offer to work in either Cebu or Manila. Never been there before. I heared there could be messy and dangerous for foreigners. So have any of you worked or lived there before? What suggestions have you got? Should I take my chances there or just stay in China?
5 years 47 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
Yeah I was an HR there during my young days for 4 years, Pasay city Manila , you'll see realities at there best along with growth and opportunity. The realities are not gonna be easy to take in at first but you'll understand and become a more understanding person even a better person that's more thankful for what you have, what are those things? You'll see it.
You'll be perfectly safe, Filipino are the people of brotherly love.. You'll have to just handle a lot of taxi tricks, know how to talk, when to walk and not talk as there will be a lot of people who will say "can we be friends " ...
I love Philippines, miss a lot of friends and nature..
Now for my 2 cents, why in the hell would you go there? The salary is 70% lower than what you could make in China. 30,000 and 50,000 will give you peace and fun but not savings man..
Try the Philippines expat websites mate, I'm sure you'll get more, and better info there than you will here on ECC.
iWolf:
I remember someone once posted a link for filipine fail or Philippinefail.com....something like that. I had a look. It makes ecc look like a kindergarten. The crusty bitter expat rants were a bit amusing at first but became a bit repetitive. Much like crusty old expat rants in china.
Cebu is better than Manila from a safety perspective probably. It also has nicer beaches.
ironman510:
Stay in China is best, behind all the BS, this is our world to make and create our own opportunities, even Chinese benefit from everything we do.. Don't work in PH, a good quote: A P300,000 salary can never give you what China, Korea or Japan can give you!
icnif77:
I concur with Iron! China is the top comparable to Russia and Turkey. Payment with benes in both countries is some 3-4 times lower than what I had in China.
Petty theft and scams are your biggest problems there, check you tube videos on this for advanced warnings of what can happen.
Always carry small bills in one pocket and large bills somewhere else, don't show large bills in public areas. Teams of thieves and pickpockets work together by bumping you or stopping in your way suddenly. No bags with zippers and shrink wrap your luggage for Manila airport. Manila security likes to plant bullets in your luggage and make you pay a bribe to forget it and avoid jail. Never let anyone stand close to you while exchanging money at money centers, the poor kids will distract you with begging and the money changers will short your count when you are not looking. The worst scam is the beautiful underage girl will follow you to your hotel room and walk on by your room, later the police will arrest you and say you had sex with the minor girl and then when you pay the bribe, the police and girl split the money, usually about 1500 dollars, when going to your room take the elevator to a floor above and below and walk up stairs or down and make sure no one is following you.
Quinn68:
All nice tips. Yeah, the pickpockets work in pairs, so I always wear a buttondown shirt with a hidden zipper front pocket holding my money clip/debit card. And before I leave my hotel I lock all valuables/passport in the safe. I usually stay at mid-range hotels just for a little extra peace of mind. I only carry a ballistic nylon backpack that I can turn around and wear on my chest if necessary. Preparation is key.
Overall, China is a safer country, but Filipinos are very friendly, many speak English very well, and they are easier to socialize with for people from western countries.
Cebu is smaller, more relaxed, and maybe more manageable, while Manila has more urban options and better infrastructure systems.
You can go back and forth like this, evaluating the pros and cons. So much depends on the specifics of your location, your work and social situation, the people you encounter, what your goals are, etc. Good luck and bad luck can find you in both countries.
YouTube has quite a few videos about visiting and living in the Phils, and China too. Other Internet searches will also give you comparisons and general info about Cebu and Manila.
Do your homework (on the Net, not at eCc) and best of luck.
ironman510:
Tickets are dirt cheap, I don't recommend YouTube videos, that's going halfass at it, there are 2 vacations in China in June, go there and explore, find the company, study the area, look at apartments near by.. Feel it out, you'll cone back to China thinking it's a heaven and it is, at least for now and probably the rest of our life time.
Depends on he type of person you are. It’s one thing for a quick vacation but to live there...it take a certain type of person. I noticed there are lots of retired American military sexpats. These guys are ok but usually very tough and don’t give a fuck about much. And the sams there are more intense. The police are more corrupt as in they will extort money from you. And hey can carry guns there and many people have them, and I do t think foreigners can own them. So your at a disadvantage if you need to defend yourself.
diverdude1:
haha,,,, never forget when I walked into a gunshop somewhere in some rinky-dink mall in some blasted Manila slum. haha,,, you think the US is gun nuts, go check out Manila. Background Check: Wad full of cash- you pass.
and I'm sure you guys have read over the last couple of years ,,,, El Presidente' doesn't give a toss if your capped. In fact, he encourages it! haha
ya take your chances roaming the PI. Do all mace said and more. Watch your back boys,,,, watch your back.
Yeah I was an HR there during my young days for 4 years, Pasay city Manila , you'll see realities at there best along with growth and opportunity. The realities are not gonna be easy to take in at first but you'll understand and become a more understanding person even a better person that's more thankful for what you have, what are those things? You'll see it.
You'll be perfectly safe, Filipino are the people of brotherly love.. You'll have to just handle a lot of taxi tricks, know how to talk, when to walk and not talk as there will be a lot of people who will say "can we be friends " ...
I love Philippines, miss a lot of friends and nature..
Now for my 2 cents, why in the hell would you go there? The salary is 70% lower than what you could make in China. 30,000 and 50,000 will give you peace and fun but not savings man..
Thanks bro! I am just considering the possibility. Maybe I am just being stupid. But at this age, I don't have a must-do list. So I think maybe I will just try as many things as I can to figure out what I really want to do and who I really want to be.
ironman510:
I would suggest buying a house in Philippines as its dirt cheap in places like cavite and live your life out if retirement is what you want. The RMB or Dollar goes far in PH man.
Stiggs:
Hell yeah, do it man.
If you don't have family to worry about or other things holding you back you should jump at every chance to get out there and experience life.
Good or bad, one day you'll look back and be glad you did it.
