Michael Flannagan wrote in response to this post:
Hi Ajay,
Yes, I don’t think people really understand or appreciate Filipinos. I think they are the most wonderful people in the world. I have also been around a bit and I have meet many people from many lands but Filipinios are the most loving and genuine people I’ve ever met. Now on to why I write.
I’m trying to find out info about immigrating to the Philippines. If you know anything of value I would appreciate it if you could share it with me.
I met a Filipino girl on the web. We had talked for several years. Over this period of time we’ve been friends and I’ve come to love her very much. Sex has not been part of our conversations. Our conversations have been very creative. I’m an artist and I’m very Taoist. I love her way of thinking and we connect. I want to be with her. I’ve told her that I will do what I can to be with her. I will even marry her and live on the opposite side of the world till we can be together. Brining her here to the USA is something we would like but we have also talked about me going there. She likes the idea of staying where she is too. I know, I would love the Philippines, it’s beautiful. However, more than that, I love where the people are coming from. I feel almost like I’ve been living in the wrong country all my life. I love the simplicity of life there. I love the timelessness of her character. I love so much about this girl and the people in her life. I would like to open a business there too. I am even considering the possibility of teaching there. We both would like to create more jobs there and much more.
Whatever you can share would be appreciated.
Ajay wrote:
Hi Michael. Thanks for your kind words about my country and our people. “I feel that I’ve been living in the wrong country all my life” is the nicest-sounding phrase I’ve heard in a long time, even though patriotic Americans would probably snicker at you for saying that. It is gratifying to know that there are quite a number of you who hold the Philippines in high esteem. Indeed, I think the one thing that has held back our progress are the incriminating, mostly exaggerated reports relayed by the media in the West. This in turn has brought about the negative perception in the minds of most people abroad about the Philippines. Of course this is notwithstanding the fact that there are Filipinos who say bad things about their countrymen and their land of birth. Having stayed in the Philippines for most of my life, I am still trying to figure out the puzzle of why I seem to be so rooted to my homeland. I am still trying to put some sense to my head on whether am making the right decision to stay here when everybody else is flying out.
Hopefully, your determination and motivation will make you decide to finally make the big move here. It’s good that your special someone likes the idea of staying where she is rather than go straight to the USA first-hand. That way you will have a deeper understanding of the Filipino culture and way of life and better understand your loved one in the process. You will have discovered the importance we put on things like religion and family connections. You will get to know that in most of the Philippine countryside, people laugh and smile a lot even if they have no pennies on their back. I did say the “countryside,” not in the cities where shadowy characters will probably milk you just for hailing your taxicab.
I salute you for your good intentions and I hope the following information will help you at the start:
Doing business in the Philippines – Department of Trade and Industry website
Retiring in the Philippines – Philippine Leisure & Retirement Authority website
Good luck for now!
yeah I feel that I’ve been living in the wrong country all my life just like you Ajay ohh you enlighten me,.
Ajay, I’ve met a lot of diplomats from western countries and they all say that the Philippines is one of the juiciest posts they can go to. The Philippines is an expat’s haven. We have all the luxuries of modern life for a relatively lower price than in other countries yet we also have the rustic and idyllic sceneries of our beaches and provinces. Everyone speaks English so they have no problem with the language.
I may be abroad, but like you, I’m very much rooted to my homeland. Haaay! Miss ko na ang Pinas!
I think I have the same feeling as Michael but there are some slight differences. I used to feel also that I lived in a wrong country. Well, now I am okay since I am home now in Norway.
That’s very true Toe. The expats can buy so much for their money here, without difficulty in communicating. Now if only they can spread the word about these good things…
That’s totally understandable Charles. Norway probably has one of the best quality of life in the world. It will be good if you can still keep in touch with the Filipino in you…:wink:
Hay naku Ajay! They also tell me that the Philippines is one of the best-kept secrets. They don’t tell their colleagues what a wonderful life they lead in the Philippines so that it won’t be difficult for them to get posted there. 😕
Whoa! That’s a new tack Toe (hehe, no pun intended for tic-tac-toe) Trade secret, ganuuunnn?!
It’s not about the quality of life though but this feeling of belongingness. I used to feel empty but now I no longer feel like that. Well, I am still proud of my roots though.
It’s good that you’ve finally found your peace in Norway Charles. You should..it’s beautiful:wink:
aaaay, that’s so heart-warming to hear. we should never give up on the philippines…others who are not even filipinos believe in it and find it beautiful, why can’t we?
Some good advice you offered here. And yes, it’s an often hidden fact that for the US State Department employees at the US Embassy, more than 75% sign requests to extend their tour of service there, and it is the most requests foreign assignment of anyplace the US employees serve overseas.
As for the advice to an American who wants to come live in the Philippines? The PLRA is of course one way he or she can obtain a visa, but rather hefty investments are required. An American can stay up to one year on a standard tourist visa (by paying a fee for an extension every 2 months at any BID office) and then can repeat the process for succeeding years by making a trip outside the Philippines annually and restrating the tourist visa “clock”.. IF one marries, the Filipino spouse can sponsor the foreigner on a 13A visa, allowing permanent residence and also allowing the resident to obtain a legal work visa … something that can’t be done as a tourist. I’ll be coming to stay on my own 13A visa very soon, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.
Thanks for this info Dave. I didn’t know about this until you told me. I do know that the Philippine retirement program’s not getting the desired numbers because of the hefty investment required,as you said:wink:
its good to hear that despite of being on the third world country..many foreigners still want to visit our homeland..im proud to say “i love Philippines!!”:)