Philippines Guide
For Travelers, Expats and Pinoys
Folklore on Life Wisdom
The Philippines continuous to have ubiquitous problems on education. A sizeable portion of the populace still lacks it, while those who have it often end up unable to use their college degrees for what jobs are available. But a folklore says, even in modern times, we have to keep in mind the basics of wisdom more than the advances of education.
Two men went from Manila to Cebu. One was a lawyer, the other a simple fisherman. They met in the ship and discussed about various facets of life. The folklore says the lawyer demonstrated what education can do to a person; he was able to talk about anything under the sun. The simple fisherman, according to the folklore, had finished only grade four in elementary.
The folklore says the lawyer talked about the economy, world affairs, war, climate change, and politics, among other things. Periodically, the lawyer would ask him if the fisherman understood. He only smiled and looked back. The folklore says he commented thus: “It’s a pity that you know only the sea and its fish.” He looked at the fisherman and smilingly said, “And probably how to swim.”
The lawyer looked away and continued. “Life is more than the sea, fishing, and swimming. You have to know about what’s going on, here and abroad. Had you continued diligently with your studies, you would have been erudite in all matters like me.” The folklore says he stared at the fisherman. “You’re missing so much in life, friend.”
Without warning a tsunami suddenly struck and the ship was capsizing within minutes. In the commotion, the folklore says, they ran out of life boats and life jackets. The fisherman shouted: “Sir, it’s time to jump off to the sea before the ship submerges!” The lawyer stared hard at him and said, “I don’t know how to swim!” The folklore says, the fisherman was aghast: “You’re so smart but you never bothered about swimming? I mean we all know our archipelago—7,100 islands—lots of waters. Even grade four kids know that.”
The lawyer shouted in anger” “I know that! But what’s your point?”
The fisherman, says this folklore, poised to dive but before jumping, he said: “The point is, sir, jump and swim away from the ship—or you’ll lose your life!”
This Philippine folklore reminds us that education that cannot be practical in one’s real situation is potential wisdom all down the drain.
Securing an Expat Work Permit in the Philippines
A foreign national, when visiting in the Philippines, is classified according to his purpose, length of stay, civil status etc. Resident aliens are those who have acquired necessary requirements that permit them to stay in the Philippines for a lengthy time period. However, those who stay in the Philippines for no longer than 180 days are classified as “non-resident aliens”, doing or not doing business in the Philippines. Being classified as a non-resident alien has its own laws regarding employment.
Non-resident aliens can be employed in the Philippines. To satisfy this obligation, the foreign national is required to fulfil an Alien Employment Permit (AEP). This is a documentary form that grants the foreigner to work in the Philippines, as the country prohibits the employment of anyone who does not contain a work permit, alien or otherwise.
The AEP, or expat work permit, is to be filed at the regional office of the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) where the purposed place of work is under the office’s jurisdiction. The expat work permit requires documents for application.
A letter of request should be accomplished as an initial document for an expat work permit. This is a letter addressed to the Secretary of Labour to grant the expat the authorization of working in the Philippines. Obviously, another requirement for the filing of an expat work permit is for the foreign national has to sign a duly accomplished application form. Lastly, curriculum vitae will also be required of the foreign national. This is to prove the authorities that the foreign national is capable of employment. This criterion will play a major role for the approval of the expat work permit in the Philippines. The foreign citizen’s spouse is also required to file her own expat work permit should she be willing to be employed as well. Normally, in the cases of non-resident aliens or otherwise, the work permit is filed by the employer to complete the employment process.
An expat work permit is hard to accomplish due to a major criterion imposed by the Department of Labour. An expatriate has the greatest chance of his or her employment permit be approved should it be proved that he or she can perform a highly-specialized skill where no one in the Philippines is able to do so. The authorities provide top priority to able Filipinos to address the country’s high unemployment rate.
To be not required of an expat work permit, the expatriate should file for an alien certificate registration that transfers his or status to a resident alien. The expatriate can also choose to be naturalized as a bona fide Filipino citizen. Otherwise, the foreign national can secure a business permit to generate an income in the country.
Expat Life Tip: Get Used to the Place
Expatriate life in the Philippines is often lonesome at the start. It picks up after a while, but it often takes a while before everything becomes a comfortable routine. The first challenge usually is how to get used to a place. But one must first learn to love the place before any thought of it can get settled in the mind.
For expat life to be pleasant, one must learn to like people around one’s environment. That’s the main key. Then getting used to the place becomes automatic. But how does an expat learn to like strange people? There are often 3 groups of people in an expat life: people at home, in the community, and in the workplace.
The first phase is home. Learn to like it and one realizes there’s no place like it. By “home” of course, we mean the Philippine residence of an expat, not where an expat’s family is—except if the whole family’s with the expat here. In such case, expat life becomes simpler and “home” will be easier to like. It will just be a matter of getting used to the physical house—rooms, toilet, dining, kitchen, TV programs, water, and food.
But often, expat life is living away from family. And what is called “home” is a strange residential unit—a lonely one if occupied alone—and an uncomfortable one if shared with others, at least for the moment. So the best thing is to like the unit and its occupants.
How does one do this?
Come to terms with reality. Learn about them or play some sports or games with them, or share hobbies. Go out with them. Take note of their strong and weak points. Expat life is helped here especially when properly relating with them.
To like the community around, often roam around in free times. Expat life eases a bit when meeting some neighbors. Frequent the local stores—in the Philippines, this is one way of helping expats begin to like the place and the people in it.
In the office, where expat life will mostly be spent, having snacks and spending lunch breaks with co-workers is advisable. Don’t be a lone ranger and always isolate oneself especially during breaks. If possible, invite officemates over to one’s place on weekends, or join them sometimes in weekend escapades.
Expat life can be lonesome but it doesn’t need to be. Just learn to like people and getting used to the place will be spontaneous.
Some Advisable Filipino Foods for Expatriates
People have varying peculiar taste preferences depending on the taste preference of their country of origin. Some go for hot and spicy foods, some for bland, some for salty. But while an expatriate in these parts, it’s not only worthwhile but sometimes necessary to try out native dishes when one finds oneself in the Philippines. It is often deemed an offense to turn down invitation to taste or eat a native delicacy.
So what do we do?
One of the challenges of the expatriate life is what foods are safe to eat. All native foods are relatively safe, of course, but there are those that don’t mix well with some foreign digestive systems. And when some incompatible chemistry builds up in this, expatriate life becomes sour, to say the least. So here are some tips for choosing safe foods for expatriates.
If one wants to avoid extremely exotic foods (and this is often the case), safe food for expatriates would be a chicken, egg, pork, or beef menu. One can safely try beef or pork Caldereta (spiced beef or pork in melted cheese), vegetable or ground beef or pork omelets, “Sinigang” (pork or beef sour soup with vegetables), “Menudo” (pork and liver cubes in heavy tomato sauce), “Adobo” (spiced pork or chicken), or “Apritada” (beef, pork or chicken with potato and chili in tomato sauce). They’re not only safe foods but very delectable to make any expatriate’s life like heaven on earth.
Watch out for pork dishes like “Binagoongan,” “Pinakbet,” “Dinakdakan,” and “Kinilaw.” The first two are cooked with preserved fish or shrimp; the other two are often not well cooked—even raw—but taste good enough for one to think they’re cooked.
Hot or spicy safe foods for expatriates: “Bicol Express,” “Bopis,” “Paksiw,” “Mechado,” “Sisig,” and “Ginataang Sili.” These are all well cooked pork or beef cuisines that would brighten an expatriate life anywhere in the archipelago. Bicol Express is crunchy pork and long chili servings in thick coconut milk, and Paksiw is roasted pork cooked in rich and thick liver sauce (there’s a fish variety with long chili cooked in vinegar). Mechado is tender beef loin with chili in very thick and rich tomato sauce, Sisig is super hot meat or fish flakes, and Ginataang Sili is chili cooked in coco milk.
For bland tasting native dishes, foods safe for expatriates are “Pangat” and native sautéed vegetable dishes. Pangat is fish boiled in tomatoes. If one goes for sandwiches, native rice cakes will suffice.
Expatriate life need not be spoiled by worries about safe foods. Ample varieties of native foods safe for expatriates line up menus.
Philippine Expats: Living in the Philippines
If you are of retirement age and wondering what to do and where to live when you retire, consider moving to the Philippines. This beautiful tropical country is one of the best kept secrets in the world, as every expat living there will tell you. Some of the benefits of living as an expat in the Philippines include:
- Hospitality. Filipinos are as warm and friendly as the Philippine climate. They are fascinated by the Americans and other foreigners who visit or live in their country and always make them feel welcome. Everyone smiles at you and treats you like royalty. And since Filipinos speak English, it’s easy to strike up a conversation with anyone. You will make friends quickly! One trip is enough to convince many tourists of this fact and keeps them coming back for more. Filipinos are so kind and hospitable that you will definitely miss it all when you go back home.
- Low Cost of Living. Cost of expat living is very cheap. With a modest income (by western standards) you can live like a rich man in a nice house with your own maids and driver (or use cheap taxi if you don’t have a car). Labor is ridiculously cheap as you will find when you need a plumber, electrician or carpenter to fix something in your house. That is unheard of in the US where it is better and cheaper to do the work yourself.
- Romance. If you are looking for love and marriage, you cannot find a better place for that than the Philippines. Love in a tropical paradise is no mere fantasy; it can become a reality for an expat living there. The exotic beauty and allure of Filipinas is no myth; it’s real as you will find for yourself. Filipinas make beautiful, loyal and devoted wives. Every expat living in the country with a local wife will swear up and down he is married to the nicest person in the world. Not only the women for that matter. Filipino men are romantic lovers who know how to respect a woman and make her feel like a queen. There’s something for everyone and you need never be lonely!
- Tourist’s Haven. The Philippines is a tourist’s dreamland. Beautiful beaches, hotels to fit all budgets, world-class shopping malls, diving resorts, and exciting night-life are just some of the things you can enjoy during your vacation. Another thing is medical tourism. If you need to have cosmetic surgery or heart bypass, get it in the Philippines. Medical costs are unbelievably cheaper than in western countries. What is more, the service provided by caring doctors and nurses is unparalleled.
These just some of the good things that an expat living in the Philippines enjoys. Why go into lonely retirement in your own country when there is a secret haven waiting for you?
Still not convinced? Ask any expat living in the Philippines. They will tell you!
Laoag Personal Blogs
The leaning tower of Pisa is an absolutely one of the dumbfounding tourist spots in the world. It is said ‘to lean’ every year and to ensure the safety of the tourist the government of Italy requested help and lead weights were placed to counter the further tilting. Of course, to keep the tourists’ interest, they retained the tower to its leaning position. How about a ‘sinking tower’? Yes, there is indeed a Filipino version of the leaning tower of Pisa. It is situated at the northern part of the Philippines-and it is the ‘sinking tower of Laoag’ or ‘The Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag’. Nonetheless, I had not seen or been there before we graduated in high school.
Ilocano Ako! (I am an Ilocano!)
My mother was born and raised at the Ilocos province. As my mom always told me, it was not an easy life after all when they were young. My mom was sixth (6th) among nine siblings and their main source of financial supply was through tilling the land or farming. My Lolo (grandfather) was stable in Hawaii long before he had a family, but when the second (2nd) World War broke, he was forced to go back to the Philippines to oversee their properties. Unfortunately, almost all the title deeds of their lands were not honored and they were left with almost nothing. They started from scratch until all their nine (9) children finished college and went their own lives and things got better. When my siblings and I were still in our younger years, my parents always made sure that during summer time or long vacation, we were at Ilocos.
Trip to the Ilocos Norte
My mom’s place is at Ilocos Sur. We had not traveled that much outside our mom’s vicinity. However, I had a chance being at Ilocos Norte during our inter-school sports meet. As far as I could remember, when we were around the vicinity of Laoag City, we were guided by convoys of policemen in motorcycles; treated like VIP’s and it was a wonderful feeling, as if we were professional athletes!
Laoag City
After our inter-school games, the gracious school host for the meet was not yet over presenting the beauty of Laoag City. They allocated a bus for our class for us to visit historical Spanish-built churches in their wonderful Philippine-baroque style. During that time, some churches were under restoration for tourism purposes (as posted on the signboard just outside the churches informing us of historical value and a sense of heritage). The ‘church hopping’ went until the Paoay Church and for me it was the most memorable off all churches I had visited. As per reflection, it was indeed paradoxical to see these churches having torture chambers to punish malefactors during those years. Well, I admit it gave me some goose bumps as I saw them. We were also able to visit some Marcos-period mansions along the way and of course, we never failed to miss the sinking belfry of Laoag City. As a final note in our tour, we have had a chance to chill out at we stayed a five (5) star hotel of the city. I all I could definitely say was that, the city of Laoag was a big park of history and heritage!
A visit to the late President
As we went home, the school rector considered dropping by the late former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. President Marcos had been dead for years and the idea gave us a bit of a creep during that time. Actually, the mausoleum was at Batac City, Ilocos Norte. There was a lot of war memorabilia in the place displaying how great Marcos was. I remember our rector leading us into a prayer before we took a glance of the late president’s corpse. After that instance, our prefect of discipline led us in to a prayer of reconciliation for the not-so-good happening in the Philippine history. That made us relaxed until we got back in Manila as we faced again reality.
Ilocos Region, particularly in the Ilocos Norte had been improving since the time of the former President Marcos. As the head of the state, he made sure that the land where he was born would be recognized by tourists and visitors a like by restoring and preserving the place’s natural and man-made heritage. Actually, Laoag City was not done yet showing us its full beauty because of time, we had not enjoyed the white-sand beaches of the place: another cool reason why Laoag City is the place to be!
Finding the Right Maid
There are times when you think that you cannot handle all the household chores that you’ve been dealing with on a daily basis. Don’t worry. You are not alone. Many people in the Philippines face the same difficulty everyday. But, this problem has an easy solution if you think about it.
Hiring a maid or household helper in the Philippines is the only way to ease your burdensome tasks at home. It is the perfect way to finding a quiet time for yourself and your family. Having a maid can help you be more productive at home, work and even in your leisure time. Hiring one in the Philippines cannot be considered a difficult task.
But, getting a maid requires you to take precautions, as well. Many have experienced unfortunate incidents when they started hiring maids. But, these things could be prevented if you know how to carefully handpick your maid. It isn’t bad at all if you require those who want to be your helper to undergo stringent screening process.
1. Find a credible person or agency in the Philippines that can recommend a trustworthy maid
The first step to finding a trustworthy maid is to find someone who has a reputable character that can assure that your potential maid is worthy of the job. Most people rely on the recommendation of their most trusted friends and family members before they hire a maid. Others ask for the help of agencies that recommend maids for them. Find an agency which is accredited by the Philippine authorities. Usually these agencies have conducted their own research on their maids to ensure the credibility of the household helpers.
2. Learn how to conduct background checks
A Philippine government-accredited agency has most likely conducted background checks on their maids. So, if you opt to ask for their help, you wouldn’t find it difficult to have a trustworthy helper. But, if you really prefer a maid who is handpicked by only you, then, it is time to learn how to conduct background checks. You can require your potential maid to present certificate from the Philippine National Police or clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation. This would ensure that your maid does not have any criminal record or pending cases.
3. Salary issue
As much as possible, brief your potential maid on the salary rate that you usually give them. If necessary, you can include their benefits if they remain loyal and trustworthy to you. In the Philippines, the salary range for maids is between P3,000 to P5,000 depending on the kind of work that they are required to fulfill.
Choosing Expat Health Insurance
As a foreigner in the country, you have to be prepared physically, mentally, financially and emotionally for the challenges and adventures that you will have. Part of the preparation that you will need to include on your list is to get an expat health insurance. Having an expat health insurance will give you the peace of mind that you will have immediate and appropriate health services in case something unexpected happens during one of your trips.
When choosing expat health insurance, there are some things that you should consider.
Just like most people who buy health insurance, one of the first things to consider in the expat health insurance is the cost. The price of the expat health insurance varies from one person to another. The quote is based on the age of the person, the location, the type of coverage that you choose and if you have any pre-existing conditions. The presence of pre-existing conditions could make your expat health insurance quote higher than that of a person without any health issues.
Get an expat insurance company that you can trust. Ask the expat insurance company how long they have been in business. Ask for papers as proof. It is less risky to deal with an expat insurance company that has been in business for at least ten years. For recommendations on expat health insurance companies, you may ask your friends and the consulate or embassy of the country.
If you currently have insurance, ask how will getting an expat health insurance affect it? Some expat insurance companies will allow you to switch terms from a different insurer without having a waiting period for the approval of your expat health insurance.
Is your family with you, or are you planning to have a family? Ask the expat insurance company if they have coverage for your family members and how you can get insurance coverage for your kids.
When choosing an expat health insurance company, inquire on the terms when having your treatment. Can you choose your own doctor or do you just have to go to the doctors and hospitals that are affiliated with the expat health insurance company?
Request for information on how to file expat health insurance claims. Make sure you understand the process and that the process of filing a claim is easy, practical and will not cause you or your family much disadvantage.
When traveling internationally, it is important that you get an expat health insurance to cover any health issues that you might encounter. You wouldn’t be sure how your body would adapt to the geographic changes.
Expat Visa Requirements
Before you will be allowed to enter the Philippines, you are required to secure a visa from the Philippine consulate or embassy in your country. Just like in other countries, there are several expat visa requirements that you need to submit before you will be issued a visa to the Philippines.
One of the expat visa requirements is your passport that should be valid for at least six months from the date of your intended stay in the Philippines. When submitting the expat visa requirements, only the photocopy of your passport is required.
Another important expat visa requirement are the accomplished expat visa application forms. These forms are available from the Philippine embassy or consulate and may also be downloaded from the website of the Philippine government. In order to process your expat visa requirements quickly, fill in all the needed information completely and attach the required documents.
As part of your expat visa requirements, you will need to submit a proof of your status. Are you coming into a country as a tourist or as a businessman? Are you a student who intends to study a short course or are you going to get a college degree in the country? Prepare proof that justifies the purpose of your stay in the country.
Depending on the length of your stay, one of the expat visa requirements could be a return ticket to your country or a ticket to your next destination.
Along with the forms and documents for your expat visa requirements, you also need to submit two pieces passport photos. One will be used for your file and the other will be for your visa.
Once you have all the expat visa requirements, you also need to pay the visa fees so that your visa will be processed.
Other documents may also be required as part of your expat visa requirements, such as your employment history and a contract of employment (if you will be working in the country).
If your spouse or children are coming with you, your expat visa requirements will also include your marriage contract, their birth certificates and photocopies of their passports.
If you just intend to visit the country for not more than twenty-one days, you may be allowed to stay without a visa. Check the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs to know if you meet the conditions.
To have a hassle-free trip to the Philippines, submit the expat visa requirements the soonest time possible.
Expat Food as The National Cuisine
New challenges always face expats the first time they set foot in the country. One of the most serious and life-threatening problem that must be immediately addressed is—not really terrorism—but food. Specifically, where to buy expat food that foreign residents often terribly miss and yearn for, especially in the tropics.
The good news is that today the Philippines is more open to expat-food type of cuisines, meaning, the native tongue keeps insisting on accustoming itself with global dishes as an offshoot probably to the thrust to go global in everything. Thus, the country, especially the major cities, is alive with fast food chains that serve expat food varieties targeting not so much the locals as they are a foreign clientele. In fact, the Philippines in no longer just the country in the Far East that it once was but a cosmopolitan tourist destination for expats from all over the world.
Another relevant development here is that the country is, in fact, fast becoming popular for serving one of the best classy expat food items in these parts, sometimes with quality better than those found in their country of origin. This is possible due to the influx of expats who share their culinary technology to the locals, or locals who extracted the technology in their stint abroad. Hence, premier hotels and luxury inns in Philippine cities and municipalities regularly feature special expat food specialties subtly seasoned and concocted for the discriminating foreign palate.
Even the regular fast foods in the country are mostly attuned to expat food standards and the preferences of foreign nationals in the country. Most expats have already accustomed their tastes to native flavors and often prefer a sampling of expat food in native flavors. A good number of them have also altogether adapted the delight of native foods and actually crave for exotic Filipino delicacies. They go out of their way seeking original recipes in the countryside.
But generally, the country is a versatile resource for any kind of food, native or otherwise. Expat food is no longer a big issue in the face of a growing global outlook in the country, and numerous expats have been comfortably settled here, without much ado on expat food. In fact, to stretch it a little, some just come here for expat food.
This may sound a bit exaggerated but the national cuisine perhaps may be expat food. On second, as we look around, this may not be too much to claim.
