A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about the exodus of Pinoy techies. I was inspired by a despedida for some developer friends leaving, and college classmates’ reunion last Christmas. I finished BS CS in 1995, back when lots of people joined Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), got assigned to the US, and eventually moved there.
I posted this to the PinoyJUG Yahoo! group, the local Java developer community, and it sparked off a lot of discussion and insights on why Pinoys would prefer to work abroad. It started some soul-searching within the PinoyJUG organization on how to keep its mission alive.
It triggered some thinking at my workplace. We are hiring developers, but now we see some serious competition from multinationals based in Singapore. I assume a lot of local tech companies are faced with the situation.
Do you think the Philippines is still a good place to work? Why are foreign countries more attractive? Is it purely the compensation? The new experience of working in a different place? Or disappointment with our country?
53 comments
It’s a good place to work for the most part but the (corrupt) politics really puts a dampener on things, I think.
Abandon ship hahhahah. It is funny but it is also disturbing because that only shows that the Philippines never really got anywhere compared to our neighbors, and even our selves, 20, 30 or even 40 years back.
It is sad and I do pity us Filipinos who up to this very moment suffer the same thing we have been suffering for the past decades. Poverty, chaos, corruption, politics, violence, hunger, death, etc.
Re-cycled politics has been the root cause of all this mess and up to now, even our election process, and the way politicians run their campaign dates way back to Diosdado Macapagal days when people were given money in exchange for votes, show their faces on TV carrying a baby, embracing and kissing an old woman, mingling with people in the wet market and so on and so forth. After that, you will never see their faces again till four years after when they come to you ones again to buy your votes. Oh by the way, now they are using famous personalities like actors and actreses, as part of their campaign material to attract more people to their side. Nakakaawa naman ang Pilipino talga, ginagawang tanga.
Dapat bang sisihin mg Techies, or for that matter, any one wishing to leave the country? Hindi po, kasi they are left with out an alternative but to get out for good. Does that mean that we do not love our country, not really, because sooner or later, these people will go back to spend the rest of their life here. Is it good for the country? In a way it is because they bring home dollars. Whats the worst thing that could happen? Nothing we are already in the worst state. So I guess there is nothing to loose
What do you expect?The way they get compensated?I would get the you know what out of here…
Corruption dates back to the time of Emilio Aguinaldo. There’s nothing you can do about it. Blame will get you nowhere.
You can always blame politics if you wanna label yourself as a loser. The Ayalas, Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, and countless number of Chinoys made it despite . Do not let others control your destiny. Why is it immigrants do very well??? Foreign immigrants here and Pinoy immigrants elsewhere.
Immigrate if you must but quit all those loser talk, please. Pinoys work harder in foreign soil just as foreigers who come to our land work harder.
I sincerely believe that it’s mostly a matter of where we can earn more and grow more. While politics can play a role in the decision of some, it’s not much of a factor for the majority of people who aren’t directly involved in it (let’s not get into any debates about social obligations and democracy).
It is undeniable that IT pros (at my skill and experience level) can earn anywhere from $2k to $4k monthly in the US while I’d probably max out at PhP30k ($6k) locally. And that’d be assuming that I either get incredibly lucky or sell my soul to the corporate world – either of which I do not find likely.
Another factor is the size and variety of job markets abroad. I found it incredibly difficult to find a good company that offered the kind of position that would’ve truly interested me. While I’m quite content with my current situation, it’s still far from being perfect.
I don’t believe that I’m alone in thinking that it’s harder to find a job here that’s actually satisfying* and reasonably well-paying than it would be abroad.
* “satisfying” = “intellectually, emotionally, psychologically, morally satisfying”
I think in order for us to move forward, we have to get rid of the age, sex and looks discrimination.
Personally, I am “adequately satisfied” with where I am today. Not perfect, and will never be, wherever you are. But I am still of the opinion that PH is still a good place to work. And stay.
It generally depends what your life plans are and what your attitude is. There are no clear-cut criteria in this issue.
@bit: I just wanted to point this out… “…US while I’d probably max out at PhP30k ($6k) locally.” P30K is only US$600 not $6K. So $2K is almost P100,000. I doubt programmers get that kind of salary range in Manila.
I got an offer to work in NY for $5k. That was year 2000 before the bubble burst. It may look juicy when converted to Peso (about P250k). But believe me, when you do the math, it’s really not that big, guys. Consider the taxes, the cost of living (apartment costs, food, etc), the intangible price of being away from the family and being an alien in the foreign country.
My reason for staying is philosophical.
@Jozzua: Thanks for correcting me. I initially calculated the annual earnings and I for got to drop a 0. 🙂
@Arnold: Yes, that’s true. That is a factor you have to put in. It may not be much and it may not be for all, but it’s still better for some.
And just to be clear of my personal opinion, while I believe that it’d probably easier professionally to go abroad, I still think it’s possible to have a satisfying and successful career here if you really try.
Perhaps compensation. There is this country which only collects as low as 1% tax.
It’s hard to raise a family here if you’re going to stick to just your salary. In this country we have to rely on salary + sideline + business + god-knows-what-else. 🙁
I’m working in the US as a web developer too. The salary is what like arnold said. But to tell you frankly, mas madali buhay sa Pilipinas kumpara dito. Wala ka pamilya, laki naman sweldo mo, ubos naman sa taxes, renta, pagkain etc, at workaholic labas mo. Sa area (San Francisco, Bay area) ko, sabi nila, only 12% of the population can afford a house. The reason why I left, is to provide an edge for my son. Opportunities for him habol ko sa kanya. I’m a 23 year old single mother with a 4 year old son. Hindi na sarili ko lang ang iniisip ko kundi sa anak ko. Madali buhay mo dito pag mayaman ka. Meaning, dapat position mo sa trabaho mo ay, CEO, President, Vice President sa kumpanya na pinagtatrabahuan mo.
The Philippines is a horrible place to work. Fortunately, “place” is becoming more and more irrelevant to work.
I’m sure everyone thinks of his/her own personal and family’s financial needs.But I hope some,if not all of you, will think about eventually coming back.Your skills are needed here.Put it into entrepreneurship so you can earn well.Make business with other countries.I hope someday you’ll realize that one reason why the Phils’ growth is slow is bec many of the good people like you are leaving.Take for example the Nursing exam-after passing the board, everyone wants to go to the US.What’s left of us are those that fail e di walang natirang magaling.What will eventually become of us if every skilled, talented and good people like you leaves?When you have enough experience and contacts,come back to the Phils,do global business,do business where you’re good at-not food business or FX taxi!Outsourcing is a global trend my friend-imagine you working here but earning dollars-no stress,your families with are with you,go malling anytime,etc.etc.
I think it all depends on the person’s situation, his values, economic status, and his disposition in life. What’s important is you don’t spend beyond what you earn. It’s just a matter of how contented you are with your life wherever you maybe. If a person feels like going abroad, it’s fine. But sometimes, you are forced to go abroad not for your own sake but for the sake of your own family or siblings. I don’t know but we all hear about how many Filipinos are forced to go abroad just because they have obligations to fulfill (like sending siblings to school) and fulfilling whatever are the shortcomings of their parents.
On the other hand, I keep on hearing a lot of people saying they prefer to stay at home (native country) because they do thrive here. They work hard but more importantly, they enjoy working. They enjoy working because once they get into business and they work hard enough to make it profitable, there is no looking back. There is no way but up.
That’s the beauty of entrepreneurship.
So the answer to the question, “Is the Philippines still a good place to work?”, well as I have said, it depends on the person. But for the business minded person, definitely, it is.
Is the Philippines still a good place to work? — it depends on person’s view of life…
i’m working here in the Phils. and I would say i’m one of the few lucky techies who receive fair compensation. definitely higher than the average. but the bottomline is — average compensation is relative to an individual’s way of living. let’s say 20K given to a person who owns a car and lives in a condo than a person who rides the train and lives in an average apartment…
when I started for a job, i asked myself what would i feel if i receive 20K a month,,i thought that was so much for me,now (after 4 years) i’m still single, yet earning more than double of that
and i sometimes feel i need more,,,reason? it is due to some changes in my way of living..i’m now driving my car to the office and my hometown (laguna) tolerating me to spend 1.5K just for my transpo per week…unlike before, I used to ride a bus and I just spend half of that.
Each one of us have our own ideals and way of life. So regardless of where we are, that place would be better or not depending on us.
I agree with Wauks has stated,
one cannot just be dependent on his or her earnings from work
one must have the entrepreneurial spirit instead 😉
The answer’s pretty obvious.
Give every techie a chance to work abroad, see who’ll stay.
If you weren’t born with the opportunity to live a good life here (which most people don’t), then we’d rather work for a country who would care for us more (with compensation commensurate to cost of living) rather than work back home whose institutional roots have rotten it beyond saving.
What richard said is very true. 20-40 years down the line.. napag-iwanan na ang Pilipinas. Let’s face the music.
There is an even scarier effect – how can you put your kids to college, let alone highschool – with the salary you are earning now? 10 years from now, salary here wouldn’t even be able to afford a semester in a good university, factor-in inflation every year.
Oh, and there’s the basic bills to pay..
You probably couldn’t bear to see your child in a public school in manila – what future is waiting for your children in the Philippines? A heritage of mediocrity and corrupt values?
Kung masipag ka, may mangyayari sa’yo abroad, kung masipag ka pero nasa manila ka, may mangyayari rin sa’yo, kaya lang yung ibang nagsikap sa abroad, pabalik na galing sa ‘party’, ikaw papunta pa lang (at tumatanda ka lalo)..
If you’re ok with all these then go right ahead and settle in manila. But when you raise your children, teach them to think big, not small, like most Filipinos nowadays.
In reality, we make the world alive. We are EVERYWHERE. If not for Filipinos, international workforce would be crippled. Teach your children to reach for the stars.
It will make us all proud parents.
Thanks for the comments! Here’s another follow-up article: the Reverse Exodus.
It is good to work in the Philippines. It’s home. Like home-cooked meals, sleeping on your bed at home and the likes – working abroad really just doesn’t come close to comparison with living somewhere else.
We had a previous related discussion: How much should you be making in IT?
there are still lots of opportunities here in the country… together with my friends we put up our own IT group .. URL is http://www.cs-solutions.info; if this goes as we have plan then we will not leave the country… pag wala.. punta nalng me dubai mag dh ako….
The Philippines is experiencing a major brain drain- worse than what Germany is going through… People are moving out because the problems that they would have to overcome to get where they want to be are SYSTEMIC- rooted in the crappy government that doesnt really give a shit about its people.
If given the opportunity, who wouldnt want better buying power, better benefits such as a retirement fund, and a brighter future for your family? You would have to work your arse off anyway, might as well get proper compensatation for it.
A normal schmoo in manila would have a helluva trying to make it happen.
eh kung maganda ang buhay sa pinas..eh di walang airforce1 at classmates…
Let’s go back to the question
“Is the Philippines still a good place to work?” First lets define the word “good” compensation speaking it’s really good to work in abroad. The quesiton is does our life live just because of compensation ??? how about others issue in our life such emotional ? social ? intelectual ? and spiritual ?
I love to work here, cost of living is cheap.
I’ve read all the threads and all of you have valid comments, suggestions, etc.
If I may share my own personal opinion…
I left our beloved country in 1997 after working for Bayantel as an Oracle DBA and ADB(Asian Development Bank) as Sr. Data Architect. I have a degree in Computer Science from Adamson University (batch 1995) and Master’s in Management Engineering from DLSU.
My family is poor as in ‘POOR!’ and the reason I was able to go to university is because I was scholar (member of the Adamson University Band) and able to continue my education in LaSalle by serving a part-time instructor.
Now, going back to our topic….
The other guy posted that he earned above average (20K or more). When I left ADB, my monthly salary (net)is $US3,500 since ADB pays dollars to their “Professional Staff’. ADB have two types of employees, Support Staff which are paid in PESOS and the Professinal Staff like myself and the foreign expats. The salary is enough for me to have a good life in Pinas, at least base on my lifestyle while supporting my other parents and siblings.
But I still decided to leave for Amsterdam simple because I saw a better opportunity (e.g. compensation, environment, technology, trainings, etc.). Now, presently residing in Canada ad having my own IT Company with 5 other Pinoy Partners, we all have the same feelings about going back to Pinas and hopefully start a new IT company to help our new breed of Pinoy techies and new grads.
But more than having the business in mind, my partners and I share the same sentiments or emotions if I may say that way. We love our country, our friends, the traffic, the potholes, the food, culture and values, beaches. We missed the farms, the Pinoy style of celebrating X-mas and New Year, Holy week, etc. We missed the place where people can easily put their hands on their friends shoulders while walking, seeing people, young or adults holding each others hand while doing window shopping.
All of us decided to leave Pinas for a reason, whether economic or something else.
But the point of the matter is, Pinas is still and will always be a great place to live and work. Some of you may disagree especially those of you who are right now experiencing financial or environmental woes.
But one thing I can say, for those of you who haven’t experience living/working outside Pinas, try to find the means to do it and you know why I said all the things I mentioned.
And for those of you, who like me and all the thousands of Pinoy who has been away for so long, lest we forget our country, our home.
Last Note:
After I’ve taken my oath to become Canadian Citizen, the presiding officer asked me a question, “What is Canada for you”
And my response was”
“Canada is where I currently live, work and pay taxes”. “Philippines is my home and my country”.
Thanks
“There is no place like home.”
I had opportunities before to work overseas as a customer service representative since I have spent a couple of years in the call center industry and learned everything I need to know about inbound and outbound customer service. And take note, I was not invited to any of the Asian countries but to Australia and the US.
I was about to grab it however considering the lifestyle I’m enjoying here and the love I’m having with my family, friends, and my beautiful girlfriend, I decided not to go.
And I know I made the right choice since I have been enjoying my job now as Business Development Executive with the privilege of updating a blog which I had just started few days ago and which co-authored by my friends in the outsourcing industry.
There is no place like the Philippines, I all bet you!
I strongly feel the future is promising. I was working in Phil for a brief period and I am able to sense the vital role Phil is going to play in Asia.. but.. but.. we need to make some fundamental changes.
It is a good sign that the Migrated Phil entreprenuers are thinking of setting Offshore center in Makati/ Manila.. This is the first step for development.
Handicraft exports, tourism, English language skills have to be given more weightage.
IT/BPO would continue to grow but we need to cautiously wait and watch as the PESO is strengthening.. more later..
Ingat, Anbu Ganesh – India anbuganeshs@gmail.com
It is my opinion that it is always better to stand at the place
where you live. So it would be better for Pinoys to work and
live in The Philippines. In the long run this will improve the
situation for all Pinoys since the wealth that will generated
will stay in the country, and can be reinvested. Reinvested to
build for example their own companies.
Inisip ko rin eh.
Para sa akin, maganda talagang magtrabaho dito sa Pilipinas. Makakapiling mo palagi ang mga mahal mo sa buhay (unless ikaw nalang ang naiwan sa Pilipinas or hindi mo gusto ang nakuha mong trabaho).
Why are foreign countries more attractive?
(I’m assuming that “foreign countries” means 1st world countries and that all of them are attractive.)
Anong parte ng “3rd world country” ang malabo?
Kung malaki man ang sweldo sa ibang bansa, isipin lang natin ito: Walang ibang magtataguyod ng Pilipinas kung hindi ang mga Pilipino. Kung lahat, lalo na yung mga magagaling, ay aalis, paano na ang bansa natin?
Kaya nga dapat i-abolish ang pork barrel. XD
Gloria Arroyo and the whole admin promotes working abroad. They didn’t even learn in the OFW syndrome… family breaking up.
Filipinos in the Phils. are in the jungle, they have to survive first
I could answer, partly YES and partly NO but a higher percentage for NO.
– low income – a minimum wage is just an hour job if you work abroad
– racist job adverts (must be a graduate of DLSU, Ateneo, etc..)
– security – rampant crimes, you’ll be dead for a simple cause – using a cellphone in public
– corruption – no trust in the police and the whole government
that’s my observation.
Maging sentimental ka mamamatay ang pamilya mo sa gutom.
Mga taong bayan – pamilya muna bago pagiging sentimental
Ibang opisyal ng gobyerno – bulsa muna bago bayan
in abroad, if you pay tax, you get the service, in the phils. i don’t think so.
in abroad, if your family is with you, and even if you pay tax, you get all the benefits (free school fees, child benefits (money from the govt direct to your account, chid trust fund from the govt) – make it short, you will have less worries as your kids will not suffer the way other kids suffer back in the Phils.
in the US, they work hard, in here in UK, it’s not like that.
I will stay abroad, work and earn reasonably, enjoy life what this country could offer, be satisfied for what i have (but i have dreams, i just don’t want to deprive myself and family a quality life)… then, retire in the Philippines.
We’re talking about convenience
I look at it this way…
If our heroes died for just the freedom of the Philippines, then who am I to complain of serving my mother country even in my own little way.
I worked for the number one semicon company and the a top outsourcing company right now and could have easily gotten a job outside of the Philippines but I preferred to stay and give my taxes to the Philippine government (where I see improvement by the way now than before). The roads in my province are being cemented and infrastructure is growing so these are positive signs.
I have to be patient knowing that America took hundred of years to become what it is now. The Philippines will have its time and that time can only come if Filipinos learn to love their country. If you tongue lash your country, it’s like condemning your own self and I don’t even have to narrate Rizal’s quote to back this up.
These are the things I think of to work in the Philippines. Also, some of you may not admit it but when you are abroad, you feel like you lose some part of your identity and admit it there is still a degree of racism (even how much the foreigners hide it) even how little it is makes you feel uncomfortable. When you go to a store in the US and they see that you are an Asian and an American customer enters, who do you think gets the first attention? If you are observant, you will know but some just ignores it, well I don’t.
I am here to stay and I still think that the Philippines is the place to be. I agree that the service and quality of life in the other countries are better but that is not where I belong. I belong here… and so are you Filipinos (if you consider yourself one).
well said dineshUk!
BUT
if every pinoy talent thinks that way, picture where our country will be in the next 10-20 years.
as an IT professional with some good industry experience and a masters degree, opportunities abroad never cease to linger. yet, there is this little devil in me that tells me that if i don’t try helping this sick country of ours in the little ways i can, i would end up like everybody else who kept on blaming our government for their lapses in making this country successful. talk about “self-realizing expectations”; things happen because we anticipate something and do the things that will make that exact thing to happen.
with the little amount i pay in taxes together with the services i provide locally, i see fulfillment of serving our sick country. doing our share is good enough, even if others fail to do theirs.
if a “good place to work” is only bound by the measures of money, then this country may not be the best bet. work is just a fraction of the day’s activity. everything else before and after that affects that fraction too. if we just open our eyes to the good things around, we may realise that there is more to this country than what we or the media force our minds to believe. these things we get to enjoy everyday of our lives.
As long the Philippines doesn’t fully open up to foreign investors, multinational companies, give them incentives to be here in the country for the sake of PRIDE. This country will go nowhere. Lets face it the country is rotten to the core, the government core. This foreign investors and multinational companies could care less about them as long they would have a mutual benefit(at least). Let them be here, give them REASONS to be here and set up here, economic free zones, less taxes, tariffs, the works. Filipinos is a race full of PRIDE and that PRIDE limits this country to its fullest potential.
yes there are lots of jobs in the philippines that offer you job security plus the chance to develop your skills.. check out the following blogs:
http://aovoutsourcingservicephilippines.wordpress.com/
http://sieteram.blogspot.com
http://aovoutsourcingservicephilippines.blogspot.com/
……the question is : IS THE PHILIPPINES A GOOD PLACE TO WORK?
No, definitely not – – as compared to what other country can provide and offer specific to professionals – Let say HK/China (not Iraq , Sudan, Congo or Lebanon).
My engineer friend work in EPZA as R&D engineer for 20K PHP a month, he moved to China as R&D engineer and got 375K PHP per month – he heads the R&D now, while before in EPZA, he just be a simply Korean brats. Now, he own a car, buy his own house there, he play golf and play “stocks” as an add-on income and enjoy the life there, his parents and family in Phils. does enjoy too. I do not think he himself will say “Philippine is a good place to WORK”.
He told me this:
” I like Philippines, but……. I learned that I cannot survive in my own country. Philippines is too much politics that hinder to move one step forward. I admire China where the people changed their mind – from world of war to progress. Philippines is stagnant and declining as compared to China (but Philippine is better than Lebanon), so “why should I choosed Philippines for my place of WORK?”
The Youth of Philippines (the hope of the nation) they are more busy on PC games, texting and chatting and finding the chat and text mates, the youth here in my place plays more on stock, investing, cooperating and lottery.
If Philippines is a good place to work for the common people and professionals, why thousand of people are crossing the ocean then to seek job?
Lastly, if you failed and a lot of failure to work abroad, you can admit that Philippines is a GOOD Place to WORK.
Our problem is not the economy why all our professional are going out of the country. It is political in nature. Why?, look at our politicians. Even the head of our country is susceptible to corruption. So even the lowest government official will be corrupt.This country will lead us into trash. As long as those people elected will have a pure in heart to help their kababayans and lead them out out of poverty.
Yes, phils is still a good place to work… its a matter of your style of living.. just spend less of what you earn… you have a family with you.. get to go for malling on weekends or even on weekdays.. enjoy the beautiful people, the beautiful places, culture, values, etc..
I still be believe Yes the Philippines can still be one however I must admit there are factor that need to be change… firstly the government attitude toward governance .. must be free from corrution which deprive us of billion of government fund… and secondly open up to foreign investor… give more incentive so they can build their business empire in the philippines.
lastly, the crab mentality.. but to this I think it can’t be change since it is already a century old characteristic of pinoy.
I have to admit I myself would very want to stay in the Philippines but singapore.. a 3hrs flight away from homeland offers more in terms of salary incentive, convenience (traval faster) and exposure to my field of expertise.
If Phil. software can atleast match 80 to 90% of the salary given by Singapore companies, more pinoy would be willing to stay simply because of close family ties among pinoy family.
OK… Why people leave the country? I work as a virtual assistant myself… finding out that they get offshore outsourcing since they pay a minimum of $2000 for an agent there for rendered services while they pay people here with less than the quart that they have to spend there. But then let’s be realistic… if you leave in Manila and you don’t make as much as 40K in a month, you’ll never have a decent home, decent meals etc etc… i don’t believe that it’s a matter of lifestyle… we adapt to that because that’s the most that we make… but then if you’ll look closely, a waiter abroad like a friend i have has a plasma tv with sound boosters all over, his room is fully furninshed etc etc… comparing that in waht we make in the Philippines, you can be a manager and never have a plasma television not until you save three years of your salary and practically starving yourself to death! It’s not being materialistic but I am rather making these things in comparison. We can blame the government all we want… but then despite all this ranting or whining over corruption… i do not think that there is a single filipino who will ever take that seat without thinking of what is beneficial to themselves. And even if they tend not to do so, being in the position gets you compromised with your surrounding environment who’s done you favors when you were running for your electoral campaign. Let’s not be hypocrites. Change starts within ourselves. And i’d bet my underwears if any single filipino would sacrifice living with dried fish and porridge for the entire five years just to get our debts paid.
OK… Why people leave the country? I work as a virtual assistant myself… finding out that they get offshore outsourcing since they pay a minimum of $2000 for an agent there for rendered services while they pay people here with less than the quart that they have to spend there. But then let’s be realistic… if you live in Manila and you don’t make as much as 40K in a month, you’ll never have a decent home, decent meals etc etc… i don’t believe that it’s a matter of lifestyle… we adapt to that because that’s the most that we make… but then if you’ll look closely, a waiter abroad like a friend i have has a plasma TV with sound boosters all over, his room is fully furnished etc etc… comparing that in what we make in the Philippines, you can be a manager and never have a plasma television not until you save three years of your salary and practically starve yourself to death! It’s not being materialistic but I am rather making these things in comparison.
We can blame the government all we want… but then despite all this ranting or whining over corruption or blaming it to anything else… I do not think that there is a single filipino who will ever take that seat without thinking of what is beneficial to themselves. And even if they tend not to do so, being in the position gets you compromised with your surrounding environment who’s done you favors when you were running for your electoral campaign. Let’s not be hypocrites. Change starts within ourselves. And I’d bet my underwears if any single Filipino would sacrifice living with dried fish and porridge for the entire five years just to get our debts paid.
Well, if we think phil. is a bad place to work with then it will happen. As the universal law says, “WHAT YOU THINK IS WHAT YOU ARE”. Why not love this country of ours, instead of blaming our present situation to some of corrupt politcians? “IF WE CANNOT CHANGE PHILS. THEN WE CAN CHANGE OURSELVES”
Stop finger pointing or blaming somebody, that is not a character of a true and passionate IT guys esp. software developers.
Answer: No. The Philippines is not a good place to work. Why? First, because the salary in the Philippines is 10% or even less of what I earn in another country. Second, the standard of living in the Philippines is very low. Example: Health Care, Safe Public Transportation, Consumer Protection, Job Security, etc…
Working abroad does not make you unpatriotic. OFW’s send so many dollars it’s the top reason that keeps the Philippine economy afloat. The more cash i send home the more the family will spend, and everything is taxed anyway so everybody wins.
The reason I work abroad is the same for everybody else. To provide for my loved ones and myself what I cannot in the Philippines.
But the reason I and many others have to work abroad, is only the symptom of a sickness in our government system called corruption. It is so immensely corrupt that we witness it everyday and that we even deny ourself the justice that we deserve.
I agree that Philippines is still a good place to work and live. I think anonymouz is right. Filipinos who work abroad works much harder and longer hours than those who are in their home country. One reason may be is that there is not much to go home to, just a flat or apartment. No barkadas, no gimmicks. Thus, overseas they earn more and get promoted. There’s too much distraction here.. watching the clock.. time to go home to family. End result, we do not excel in work, don’t get promoted, very little reason for our boss to increase our pay… my 2 cents of opinion.
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13.issai » March 13th, 2007 12:23
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I’m working in the US as a web developer too. The salary is what like arnold said. But to tell you frankly, mas madali buhay sa Pilipinas kumpara dito. Wala ka pamilya, laki naman sweldo mo, ubos naman sa taxes, renta, pagkain etc, at workaholic labas mo. Sa area (San Francisco, Bay area) ko, sabi nila, only 12% of the population can afford a house. The reason why I left, is to provide an edge for my son. Opportunities for him habol ko sa kanya. I’m a 23 year old single mother with a 4 year old son. Hindi na sarili ko lang ang iniisip ko kundi sa anak ko. Madali buhay mo dito pag mayaman ka. Meaning, dapat position mo sa trabaho mo ay, CEO, President, Vice President sa kumpanya na pinagtatrabahuan mo.
………………. are you high issai? mas madali ang buhay dito sa america than sa pinas. in terms of basic needs and a little luxury in life, your money goes much farther in the United States of America than the Philippines. If you are lazy, “not assimilated”, don’t know how to “small talk” and all you know is complain and say how great the Philippines is then you probably do not belong here in the bay area.
Some filipinos and other immigrants from other 3rd world countries are funny, they are here in the U.S. and all you hear from them are great things bout their country they go, “in my country.. blah blah blah”… I have been here since 1985 and I love it here in the U.S.A. In the Philippines, Pasig, Rizal to be exact, our family was well off. We were above middle class however, my father was a realistic person and he told us, mga anak kung hindi ka ma-ngungurakot at mang-i-isa nang kapwa mo hindi ka mabubuhay nang maluwalhati sa Pilipinas. Sa America buhay ang lahat nang tao basta masipag ka at masigasig. Even when I was in the Philipppines, I really love America!! God Bless America!!!
We complain there aren’t many opportunities here but why not ask why? Because those talented people who can create those opportunities have left for abroad to enjoy their own lives and be good employees for foreign businesses.
If one’s idea of success is to enjoy a high paying job somewhere else then fine. I don’t see anything wrong with that. However, I don’t think creating a business in a foreign land will give you more chances of success than here. Ultimately building your own business, one that is of your expertise is the real deal. Why can’t our people dream of being the Bill Gates of the Philippines?
Would you like to be a mercenary or a professional living in their motherland and contributing to the development of the future generations of Filipinos. Frankly there are too many self-serving Filipinos who go abroad just to make a quick buck. Too many pinoys have no freaking patience, and instant gratification ang gusto.
I went to LA in 2000 to see if I’d like it in America, I went home 4 months later. In the states trabaho-bahay lang ang buhay mo.
In reality if you work hard in the Philippines, you have a better chance of getting promoted and climbing the corporate ladder. Kung alam nyo lang, mga high level executives in the Philippines can earn half a million a month or more. I’m not making that much but around $4500-5000 a month and I dont even work for ADB.
Bottom line is work hard, study hard, get a good job and eventually you’ll climb the corporate ladder. My first job I was only getting less than PHP8k a month.
Dont lose hope and continue to work hard. The Philippines is such a great place to live and work, several expatriates I know didnt go back to the US after living here for years, and just either decided to put up a business or found another expat post. Tama na yang colonial mentality nyo, the fact that Globalization is changing things, and the focus is shifting to the Eastern Hemisphere. A lot of my colleagues in the US are losing their jobs, with jobs going to the lower cost economies, and this brings a lot of opportunities for Filipinos to get a good job in their own country.