guerrilla

Hi Guys,

I am new to this board. Recently a business opportunity has come about for me that means I could do really well by moving to Manila.

I was born and raised in south london and have never been out of europe before so this is a big step for me. I am flying out to Manila next month and I really need to know if I will stay out there by the end of the trip so I am trying to do as much research as I can before I go out there.

I have a friend out there who was born there who says it is great. He says it doesn't have random acts of violence like we get over here in london (I can't belive how many people get stabbed these days) and due to currency I will live 'like an aristocrat' over there.

I did some googling and saw news sites talking about kidnapping in the Phillipines. Is this common? I will be earning a few quid while im out there so will I have to take extra security precausions?

Also what is the weather like? I heard there are 3 nice months and then it rains the rest of the year with gale force winds. I am not sure how true that is.

Honestly, I have had enough of England. High taxes, high crime rate and stupidly high price of living. This opportunity could be a godsend but it would mean I'd have to stay over there for a few years so I want to find out as much before I commit myself.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

chin-chin

Hi! I'm a Filipina who has lived in the UK for the past 6 yrs and now also a British citizen. It is true that you can live as an "aristocrat" if you will be earning pounds as you work there. You'll be surprised how cheap a lot of things are compared to London. Filipinos are very hospitable and warm but still you have to be wary of opportunistic people. I would advice for you not to take public transport as you will be a very good target for such people i've mentioned. Yes stabbing is not very common but it can happen. The most common thing desperate people can do to have money i would say is pickpocketing and burglary. So be very extra cautious and always be aware of your surroundings. Having said that i bet you'll have a great time there as there are a lot of things to do outside work. Weather is great most time of the year, just that short 3 months of rainy season but it doesn't rain all the time during those months. Summer can be very hot and humid but if you have good airconditioning at home you'll be comfortable.

I hope i was able to help and if there's anything you need to ask just send me a message.

ex reg

Only holiday'd in the Philippines.
Manilla wouldn't be top of my list for a first overseas posting but I'd imagine coming from Sarf Laaandaan you'd have enough nous to get around there OK.

There are a lot of ex pats in Manila and a lot of tourists as well so you won't be the first there.

You should also be asking about the package which would be acceptable.
Salary plus accommodation, plus car or driver plus medical plus medivac, plus bonus, plus holidays plus flights plus maid services plus schooling for kids plus plus plus.

Make sure you know the full details of the package and how you might be taxed.

Having said all that and re reading your post I get the feeling you may be working for yourself or a smaller company where some of the perks mentioned above may not be available.

guerrilla

Thanks for your advice. I have read a lot of comments on the board with bad things to say about Manila but I wonder what people write about London when they visit from another country and find themself outside the tourist zone?

I'm not the type of person to wander about streets with a "I heart phillipines" t-shirt cluelessly looking at a map so hopefully I'll be ok.

I think with the pay I might just keep the money going into my UK bank account but I will have a meeting with an accountant to discuss that.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what its like now, can't wait!!

12yearson

Hi guerrilla

While Manila may not be top of everybody's list for the dream Asia expat posting, it has a lot of good things going for it.

English is widely spoken in the Philippines. Cost of living, compared to places like Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore is extremely good value. You can indeed live very well there. I have friends who've lived there a number of years now - they rent a magnificent house with a garden and pool. They have a driver, a nanny for the kids, a cook and a maid - the cost of hiring domestic help in Philippines is very cheap.

The downside to that cost of living is that the Philippines suffers from pretty dreadful poverty. Venture outside the main business and expat districts of Manila, and you're confronted everwhere with reminders of how hard it is for many ordinary Philippinos to make ends meet - kids begging on the streets, whole families living rough, lots of shanty towns etc.

Perhaps as a consequence, corruption is rife and crime levels are pretty high. That's why most expats tend to live in 'ghettos', either in modern apartment blocks or houses in walled communities like Forbes Park which are protected 24/7 by security guards who restrict entry to non-residents. As a result, the expat life can seem very cut off from reality.

Manila itself does not have much going for it as a city, apart from cheap shopping. It is probably one of the ugliest Asian cities outside India/China. It is dirty and polluted, and the traffic is dreadful. It also has a crap airport, although you get used to it.

However, there are any number of beautiful islands, beaches etc. within easy reach of Manila, so it would be wrong to judge the Philippines based on Manila alone (just as it would be wrong to judge the UK on London alone). Manila is also within easy striking distance of a number of other Asian destinations, so it's relatively easy to travel within the region. That being said, it's not a major regional hub, so not as easy to travel further afield as say from Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok or China. At least, there's not as much choice airlines-wise, so you may find yourself needing to transit through somewhere else.

ex reg is right about getting your comp package sorted out. Manila can be great financially if you get an all-inclusive package, covering accommodation, flights back home, car and driver allowance, bonus, private medical cover. You should use some of your time while you're visiting to cost out how much you think you'll need for these, particularly accommodation.

Hope this helps

guerrilla

I asked around and was told the if I want to live in forbes park I would have to buy a place as rental will cost a fortune. Is that right? Are there any other good places for an ex-pat to live?

Thanks for the help

gyu338

Hi, I just came back from Manila and our family is going to move there end of August. I think you are getting bad advice about the need to buy your place at Forbes Park, in fact, as a foreigner you cannot legally own land in the Philippines, if you must buy land/property you will have to share legal ownership with a Philippine national, that is where many expats get stung - they buy property with their girlfriend/boyfriend or wife/husband, then once the registration is completed the relationship quickly turns sour & they get kicked out of their homes. Be warned.

guerrilla

where is a good place to rent? I will be working in makati

12yearson

As anywhere, it all comes down to your budget.

Makati itself and the surrounding areas have some nice apartment buildings, and that avoids the hassle of a long commute (the traffic in Manila is nasty).

Otherwise, Fort Bonifacio is an up and coming area with some nice apartments, but probably not cheap.

Before they moved to Forbes Park, my friends lived in a fantastic apartment next to the US military cemetary called Essenza. There are a few other apartment blocks up there too. It's quite nice and open, away from the city centre, but not that far to commute to Makati.

Your starting point should be to work out a budget for accommodation, since that will dictate what options you have. Is your employer giving you an accommodation allowance?

pearldiver

Try my area " Alabang " We have lots of expats here. The houses here are as big as the houses in Forbes Park and it is not as congested as Makati area. It will only take you 30mins to get down to Makati via skyway express way

If you have kids, Brent International School is also near or if you toddlers...
The best school would be Toddlers Unlimited www.toddlersunlimited.com

Ryantalk

Did you move to manila and is there any Expats here around Manila , Makati that want to meet up with a fellow Brit and have some drinks catch a footie game or something ? give me a shout

militantsocialist

English is widespread and the people are very pleasant, but on the whole this is a dangerous and tough city. So many petty thieves, opportunists, hookers and a very real threat of terrorism. Chaps with guns adorn every entrance, even Jollibee and opportunists/conmen flock to the Malls picking off caucasian targets.

I dont really see how The Philippines can possibly compete with India, China or even Thailand. Public transport is very dangerous and caution is required in taxis due to both the security issue and the possibility of being ripped off. Even the food there is dreadful also and there seems to be an over-abundance of the worst aspects of Americanisation: too many fast food restaurants and wannable black gangsters in particular.

In this regard India better, especially in terms of the work ethic. Many of the institutions and traditions have borrowed from the UK owing to their colonial legacy.

Ryantalk

Have you even been to manila ? you seem to have a negative outlook on the place and prefer India i suggest if you want somewhere so over populated people ride on the roofs of trains and go missing daily then stay there as for Manila its a cross between New york London and Sydney with a few other Euro cities thrown in ok the traffic is terrible but traffic is bad in most places these days. may i suggest you actually spend some time in Manila and see what it is actually like come to Makati and i'll show you round sounds like you are not a good traveler there mate .

militantsocialist

I have been and yes Makati architecture is impressive. Certainly I prefer Manila to London though, no question.

katongkaren

I'm sure there's some good bits and some bad bits to Philippines - just like anywhere else... including India. I have friends living in Delhi and they say the apartment block they're in is like Fort Knox - they've never seen so many locks, bolts and guards - and they're there for a reason.