migration

[jolog1]

mrfd3 - listen to your parents. There are many people like you that wants to move to the philippines but a lot of them are already financially secure. They usually wait for their SS or pension to start to kick in (Americans, Europeans). The other half of them are people with money and wants to start a business here (OFWs, chinese, koreans & Indians).

Here's an advice for you - visiting a country is not the same as living in one. When you visit, relatives are there to entertain you, you eat the best food, you tour the good sites, you shop around, and there's always a gathering. You're care-free. Everytime I'm visiting other countries, I run into the same feelings too. When you LIVE here, that's when you get your reality check.

[cardo]

I remeber when I first got a job here in Manila... It was so chaotic! I would wake up at around 5am, just to get a good shower coz if you wake up late there would be no water! haha. Just when you start walking out of your apartment, you'd be sweating already coz the weather is humid and the air is so polluted. When you reach the highway where the bus stop is located(EDSA), you'd be running trying to catch the bus. And when you get in the bus, there's so many people inside you could barely reach you pocket to pay for the bus fare! By the time you reach work, you smell like pig already!!! haha... hirap talaga maghanap buhay at magsimula. I rented out a room in an apartment which was rented out by a lady. I remember my room was shaped like a traingle, no closet. I had a fan and a measly folding bed which would squeak everytime you move. There was'nt any washing machine, so you'd end up washing clothes on a weekend. and there was no place to hang em dry and not get stolen... so you end up having clothes lines in your room. and when its the rainy season, they won't dry up properly and your clothes would stink hahaha! it was a difficult situation that i would use my clothes 2 - 3 times... if there's no stain or smell it can still be used! hahaha. sa pag gising mo palang papunta trabaho pagod na pagod ka na. it was so tiring and stressful just to get to work, and when you get home you're just knocked out! It really makes you appreciate the things that you had when you were at school. when you're working, its hard just to support yourself.

anyway, those were the times. Its really good memory and you end up laughing at yourself and what you wen thru! makes you appreciate what you have now...

[Karding]

Hi Mrfd3s, Keep us posted on how your 'independent' life in Manila is.

[mrfd3s]

I talked to my parents and I will be spending summer there. Jun-Aug. We have a few properties and some condos, all of which are in the Manila area. I wouldn't classify my family as very rich, but I wouldn't say we are very poor either. I mean, we don't have Bentleys or Ferraris or anything but we do have drivers and a few maids. If I did move there, I want to be able to say that I earned everything I have on my own, without the help of my parents. I do not want the houses or the condos that my parents own because I want one that I paid for myself. I have a few friends there, most are from extremely wealthy families, and we are planning on a business venture. If I can prove to my parents that I can be well-off on my own then they will allow me to move there. They want to move there themselves, the only thing keeping them here is providing for me and my brother, but if I can make a good living then they will no longer need to provide for me. I have a few cousins that immigrated here and they themselves want to return. The reason is because they say life here is very dull. They say that in the Philippines, people still out and have fun on weekdays after work and on weekends. Here, there is no time for having fun or going out. Here, the only time people get to really go out is on Saturdays. And there are no maids or drivers here to make your life a little easier (unless you are very rich). I would only want to move to the Philippines if I were in the upperclass, which is why I want to go there and start a business.

Off topic, but I would like to say I was impressed by the Philippines the last time I went there. I used to go there a lot when I was a child and I went recently and Philippines has changed. There are so many Expeditions and Explorers on the street. I also didn't know there were exotic cars there untill I started hanging out with the friends I made. I saw a few 360 Modenas, a Murcielago, and my girlfriend there had a sl55 and an X5. Also, the nightlife there absolutely KILLS the nightlife here.

[cyberdoc95]

I talked to my parents and I will be spending summer there. Jun-Aug. We have a few properties and some condos, all of which are in the Manila area. I wouldn't classify my family as very rich, but I wouldn't say we are very poor either. I mean, we don't have Bentleys or Ferraris or anything but we do have drivers and a few maids. If I did move there, I want to be able to say that I earned everything I have on my own, without the help of my parents. I do not want the houses or the condos that my parents own because I want one that I paid for myself. I have a few friends there, most are from extremely wealthy families, and we are planning on a business venture. If I can prove to my parents that I can be well-off on my own then they will allow me to move there. They want to move there themselves, the only thing keeping them here is providing for me and my brother, but if I can make a good living then they will no longer need to provide for me. I have a few cousins that immigrated here and they themselves want to return. The reason is because they say life here is very dull. They say that in the Philippines, people still out and have fun on weekdays after work and on weekends. Here, there is no time for having fun or going out. Here, the only time people get to really go out is on Saturdays. And there are no maids or drivers here to make your life a little easier (unless you are very rich). I would only want to move to the Philippines if I were in the upperclass, which is why I want to go there and start a business.

Off topic, but I would like to say I was impressed by the Philippines the last time I went there. I used to go there a lot when I was a child and I went recently and Philippines has changed. There are so many Expeditions and Explorers on the street. I also didn't know there were exotic cars there untill I started hanging out with the friends I made. I saw a few 360 Modenas, a Murcielago, and my girlfriend there had a sl55 and an X5. Also, the nightlife there absolutely KILLS the nightlife here.

[SIZE=2]There you go Mrfd3s!! You have just justified your transfer to the Philippines. I guess you must be friends of the Ayalas, Lopezes, Aranetas, etc.(sorry if I missed to mention some of the tsikoteers who belong to this class) then, coz these are the only few people who can afford those exotic Ferraris, Mercedez Benz's and BMW's you have mentioned.

Just a little curious though, are you still impressed of those cars when you can easily see those in Los Angeles area specifically in Beverly Hills/Hollywood /Malibu maybe? There are so many of those in a lot of variety and colors and latest model. If you are still not satisfied at Beverly Hills, check the Hamptons in Long Island, New York. That's where you really see exotic cars. Not to mention the presence of FORD Explorers probably in every corner of Los Angeles and San Francisco and in every major city in the US. California has the most number of SUV's in the entire United States.

You, probably, are one of the privileged few who can spend without limitation of your parents' money, but not for the rest of 60% of the entire population of the Philippines. Be thankful that you are in that position because there are approximately 50 million filipinos who live below poverty line and can hardly eat one meal a day. I'm sure you are going to enjoy riding your girlfriend's BMW X5 and mindless of the hundreds of dirty beggars going near your shiny, exotic,german-made SUV. But I guess, that's fun for you!

Oh, don't forget that below 18 yrs old can buy cigarettes and are allowed to drink any alcoholic beverages plus you can go enter any club you want(even strip joints). You can even drive when you are dead drunk without any trouble to the police, not even when you get into accident. And finally, you can score a much cheaper crack anywhere. I'm sure this will help on your nightly ploys.

A lot of filipinos would say that life is dull in the States. But being dull is not because of where you live, but how you live your life. The reality of a responsible adult life is this - not every night is a night out. An adult life is always a working life since you think of other people's needs like your kids' tuition and college fund, the family's next summer vacation or your wife's new car. That's adult life!

But I agree with you about the night life! L.A. clubs close at 2am(at least the last time I was there). In the Philippines, they stay open until 5am. You will not have a lot of fun when you are the designated driver. If you have only been to L.A. clubs like the ones in Hollywood, they're nothing compared to the club scene in Manhattan. But then again, they close at 2am. So, I guess, that describes it when you said: "the Nightlife there Kills the nightlife here".

Your intention of opening a business would be great since you will be able to employ many filipinos. As you can see, unemployment rate in the Philippines has its all-time high since the fall of the Marcoses. You will do your share to improve the economy as this is the main task for the new administration, which is to attract foreign investors to open businesses in the Philippines and employ locals. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I can honestly say that the prospect of having a profitable business is nil. Most of the highly popular markets have been oversaturated such as department stores, cars and accessories, anything about fashion and showbusiness, animated arts, and a lot more.

Good luck mrfd3s! Its gonna be a lot of fun in the Philippines!! Its a no-go for me to visit the Philippines next year since my friends are coming over for their kids' summer vacation.

HAPPY NEW YEAR PO SA LAHAT!!!![/SIZE]

[Gen1]

Mrfd3s:

I'm a little confused. You and your friends from extremely wealthly families will start a business here in the PI? I deduce from your posts that you are not yet in college, so must be in high school. So your local friends here would be in high school too.

Local kids from extremely wealthy families go direct from prep shool (ISM, British School, maybe Brent) to college mostly in the US, UK, France or Aus. They NEVER stay here and open a business. College is too much FUN.

But I maybe wrong ang you're not toying with us.

[mrfd3s]

I am a senior in high school myself but my friends there vary in ages. A lot are in college but even more are already in their twenties preparing on taking over the business for their parents. I do not have any friends who are in high school there. I have some experience in business myself, I started an online company when I was 16 and sold it just after I turned 17. I saved that money so I can invest it at the right place at the right time. Compared to the US, I was not impressed by the cars, but I was impressed by the progress Philippines has made from when I went there as a child to when I went there recently.

Off topic again, have any of you been to a track called "Batangas Racing Circuit"? While I was there my friend let me drive his Ferrari 355 around the track and this guy in a fully built EVO whooped me. I was also impressed by the aftermarket and custom products you guys are able to put into your cars. The Evo was built by AutoPlus I think.

[Karding]

Looks like money is not a problem for mrfd3s which means he/she should survive in the Philippines.

[Prometheus]

Sir Karding is right money is not a problem for mrfd3s. Ako kaya mabubuhay sa ibang bansa?

[Karding]

Sir Karding is right money is not a problem for mrfd3s. Ako kaya mabubuhay sa ibang bansa?

Mabubuhay ka kapatid. Sipag at tiyaga lang. Saka sa ibang bansa, pede kang umutang muna ng pang college at bayaran mo na lang kapag nagka work ka.

[Prometheus]

Di nga sir Karding? Pwede pala yun, di ko alam yun ah.

[Karding]

Di nga sir Karding? Pwede pala yun, di ko alam yun ah.

Yan ang pinakamalaking advantage kapag nag migrate ka sa US. So, kahit Janitor ka lang sa isang company, basta may greencard ka, pede ka mag apply ng financial aid guaranteed by the US Government. Sa Bachelors, ang maximum aid na pede mong utangin eh $45,000. If you go to a private university sa US, $45,000 is enough. Pero kung mag community college (get your Associates degree) ka then transfer ka sa State University (to complete/continue to Bachelors degree), Community and State Colleges are public schools. Malamang $8,000 lang ang utang mo by the time you graduate with Bachelors. Sa Master's degree naman, unlimited FUND ang pedeng pahiram sayo. Typically, when you finish your bachelors. you start paying them back after 6 months. Kung wala ka pa ding work, pede kang mag request ng extension bago mo umpisahan magbayad.

Sinubukan gawin ni Ninoy Aquino 'to, tinawag nya namang "Study Now, Pay Later." Hindi nag click dahil mga Investor eh takot na matakbuhan. Or maybe meron pa ding ganitong programa pero for SPECIAL PEOPLE lang.

Ang alam ko, ganyan din ang programa ng Canadian government. Or maybe Im wrong.

Ang maganda pa, if you are working for a company who has a tuition assistance benefits, tutulungan ka nila sa ibang tuition fees. The organization that I work for pays 100% of my tuition for up to 2 classes per semester including books. 4 classes ako every semester so yung dalawang classes ang binabayaran ko thru FINANCIAL AID (utang). Pero kung 2 classes lang ako per semester, then libre totally lahat pero I wont be able to finish as quickly as I could when taking 4 classes at a time. I have two more classes on Feb-June 2005, then Im off to get my Masters. Sa Masters naman, 100% tuition assistance din from my organization. They will pay every unit for my Masters. $1,142/unit and 1 class has 2 units for a total of $2,284, 60 units are required to get the MBA. The only thing that my organization require me is to stay for a year after my MBA. It looks like Im retiring from this organization if their benefit is this great anyway.

[fx36]

Yan ang pinakamalaking advantage kapag nag migrate ka sa US. So, kahit Janitor ka lang sa isang company, basta may greencard ka, pede ka mag apply ng financial aid guaranteed by the US Government. Sa Bachelors, ang maximum aid na pede mong utangin eh $45,000. If you go to a private university sa US, $45,000 is enough. Pero kung mag community college (get your Associates degree) ka then transfer ka sa State University (to complete/continue to Bachelors degree), Community and State Colleges are public schools. Malamang $8,000 lang ang utang mo by the time you graduate with Bachelors. Sa Master's degree naman, unlimited FUND ang pedeng pahiram sayo. Typically, when you finish your bachelors. you start paying them back after 6 months. Kung wala ka pa ding work, pede kang mag request ng extension bago mo umpisahan magbayad.

Sinubukan gawin ni Ninoy Aquino 'to, tinawag nya namang "Study Now, Pay Later." Hindi nag click dahil mga Investor eh takot na matakbuhan. Or maybe meron pa ding ganitong programa pero for SPECIAL PEOPLE lang.

Ang alam ko, ganyan din ang programa ng Canadian government. Or maybe Im wrong.

Ang maganda pa, if you are working for a company who has a tuition assistance benefits, tutulungan ka nila sa ibang tuition fees. The organization that I work for pays 100% of my tuition for up to 2 classes per semester including books. 4 classes ako every semester so yung dalawang classes ang binabayaran ko thru FINANCIAL AID (utang). Pero kung 2 classes lang ako per semester, then libre totally lahat pero I wont be able to finish as quickly as I could when taking 4 classes at a time. I have two more classes on Feb-June 2005, then Im off to get my Masters. Sa Masters naman, 100% tuition assistance din from my organization. They will pay every unit for my Masters. $1,142/unit and 1 class has 2 units for a total of $2,284, 60 units are required to get the MBA. The only thing that my organization require me is to stay for a year after my MBA. It looks like Im retiring from this organization if their benefit is this great anyway.

oks pa lang mag-migrate sa US....how about po yung elementary and high school....libre po ba ang tuition nila and may allowance po bang support ang US govt sa mga immigrants???

saan po ba location nyo sa southern california

plan ko rin po na mag migrate sana sa US, pero ang alam ko po mayroon pong mga state na sobrang taas ng standard of living and mayroon din naman pong mababa....totoo po ba ito sir karding???

[Karding]

fx36, tama ka kapatid. Iba iba ang standard of living, ang pinakamahal eh sa California, lalo na sa Northern California.

Sa public elementary schools ng US, libre ang tuition pero walang allowance na kagaya yata ng Canada. Pero may mga fee pa din na affordable naman.

Walang support na ibinibigay ang US sa mga immigrants, you have to make it on your own.

Located ako sa Pasadena, which is 10miles from downtown Los Angeles.

[cyberdoc95]

plan ko rin po na mag migrate sana sa US, pero ang alam ko po mayroon pong mga state na sobrang taas ng standard of living and mayroon din naman pong mababa....totoo po ba ito sir karding???

Most of the Major US cities ay medyo mahal ang cost of living. Its a given but not all of them are. I've lived to 4 of them. I started in L.A, then Las Vegas, New York City, and finally, Boston. I must say that California, in general, would cost a little bit more because of high state taxes they pay(aside from Federal taxes). Then yung prices ng gas nila is way over the top. Marami ka ngang makitang murang(subjective po ito) sasakyan sa California, napakamahal naman ng gasolina nila. I think it is about $0.50 cents more per gallon than dito sa Boston. Everybody drives kasi sa California. There are a lot of areas na hindi covered sa mass transport system. Things would add-up over time kung magpapafill-up ka sa SUV mo na may V8 engine, for example.

Although, I've seen some apartments in Orange County, Carson and Riverside that were reasonably priced(around $650-700). I know you can afford for more later on but as a starter, this would be good. A friend of mine nga pala lived in a luxury apartment in Rancho Cucamonga for $750/month. It was a very huge place na parang bahay na rin sa laki.

While a little bit lower in Boston and New York, still things are expensive like the apartment rentals/ownership, groceries, etc. Cost of living is still mahal pa rin but there are a lot of my collegues who would drive to Rhode Island and New Hampshire (which is about half an hour drive on freeway) since houses are a lot cheaper and taxes are way lower than Massachussetts/Boston standard. But I still prefer to live in Boston cause I am not fond of struggling traffic every day. Especially when sometimes we get stormed out with heavy snow(like what happened 5 days ago) and not able to move my car. Tamad magpala ng snow to clear the driveway...So, taxi na lang papuntang trabaho or take the subway.

Of the four cities, Las Vegas was the most reasonable place to live. But there is a catch. Akala ko kasi noon na ang Las Vegas ay puro mga casinos na lang talaga lahat. Las Vegas is a really nice place to live, except during summertime, kasi during summer - sa sobrang init ng disyerto, kung iwanan mo ang raw egg sa hood ng kotse mo, maging mag-hard boiled ito in 15-20 minutes!! I'm not joking! Totoo talaga ito. As in boiling hot yung entire kotse. Ito nga dahilan why I didn't stay too long doon because of the weather. It gets so much hotter than sa Pilipinas. Otherwise, Las Vegas has cheaper rents sa mga apartments nila. When I was there, I lived in an exclusive apartment Complex. My apartment had two-bedrooms(malalaking rooms), full dining and living room, centralized aircon, washer and dryer, then maliit na balcony. My rent was only $500. Tapos ang paligid is well-maintained. May garden, 25-meter swimming pool and a small gym. I thought it was wonderful over there. Yun nga lang, napaka init during summertime.

Ciao!!

[mrfd3s]

Hey Karding where are you going for your Master's? I have a lot of friends from Pasadena so I'm over there a lot. I'm probably going to end up attending USC or LMU and taking Accounting.

[Karding]

Although, I've seen some apartments in Orange County, Carson and Riverside

The trade-off is that you will get stucked in the traffic if you work in Los Angeles.

Mura din sa Rancho Cucamonga, but the properties are slowly getting expensive. Riverside and Orange County for $650.00 doesnt exist anymore.

Mura pa din sa Vegas out of all the cities cyberdoc mentioned but the trade off is the heat, no thanks.

Here's a list of apartments in California. California Apartments

mrfd3s, My mind is set to Claremont Graduate University for a dual degree in MBA/MA Human Resource Design.

[cyberdoc95]

The trade-off is that you will get stucked in the traffic if you work in Los Angeles.

Mura din sa Rancho Cucamonga, but the properties are slowly getting expensive. Riverside and Orange County for $650.00 doesnt exist anymore.

Mura pa din sa Vegas out of all the cities cyberdoc mentioned but the trade off is the heat, no thanks.

Here's a list of apartments in California. California Apartments

mrfd3s, My mind is set to Claremont Graduate University for a dual degree in MBA/MA Human Resource Design.

OO nga ano? During my time kasi, there were several apartments within this price range. Just basic apartment nga lang na without any amenities at all like swimming pool or gym. I've checked the listings lately: [SIZE=3]ORANGE COUNTY APARTMENTS[/SIZE]

Nagmahal na nga about $800-1,000/month yung mga basic na apartment lang. Luxury apartments on this area was over $1,000 na even before ang 1-bedroom apartment.

[fx36]

fx36, tama ka kapatid. Iba iba ang standard of living, ang pinakamahal eh sa California, lalo na sa Northern California.

Sa public elementary schools ng US, libre ang tuition pero walang allowance na kagaya yata ng Canada. Pero may mga fee pa din na affordable naman.

Walang support na ibinibigay ang US sa mga immigrants, you have to make it on your own.

Located ako sa Pasadena, which is 10miles from downtown Los Angeles.

thanks for the info sir karding....

hope to see and meet you someday, somewhere in the US

[fx36]

Most of the Major US cities ay medyo mahal ang cost of living. Its a given but not all of them are. I've lived to 4 of them. I started in L.A, then Las Vegas, New York City, and finally, Boston. I must say that California, in general, would cost a little bit more because of high state taxes they pay(aside from Federal taxes). Then yung prices ng gas nila is way over the top. Marami ka ngang makitang murang(subjective po ito) sasakyan sa California, napakamahal naman ng gasolina nila. I think it is about $0.50 cents more per gallon than dito sa Boston. Everybody drives kasi sa California. There are a lot of areas na hindi covered sa mass transport system. Things would add-up over time kung magpapafill-up ka sa SUV mo na may V8 engine, for example.

Although, I've seen some apartments in Orange County, Carson and Riverside that were reasonably priced(around $650-700). I know you can afford for more later on but as a starter, this would be good. A friend of mine nga pala lived in a luxury apartment in Rancho Cucamonga for $750/month. It was a very huge place na parang bahay na rin sa laki.

While a little bit lower in Boston and New York, still things are expensive like the apartment rentals/ownership, groceries, etc. Cost of living is still mahal pa rin but there are a lot of my collegues who would drive to Rhode Island and New Hampshire (which is about half an hour drive on freeway) since houses are a lot cheaper and taxes are way lower than Massachussetts/Boston standard. But I still prefer to live in Boston cause I am not fond of struggling traffic every day. Especially when sometimes we get stormed out with heavy snow(like what happened 5 days ago) and not able to move my car. Tamad magpala ng snow to clear the driveway...So, taxi na lang papuntang trabaho or take the subway.

Of the four cities, Las Vegas was the most reasonable place to live. But there is a catch. Akala ko kasi noon na ang Las Vegas ay puro mga casinos na lang talaga lahat. Las Vegas is a really nice place to live, except during summertime, kasi during summer - sa sobrang init ng disyerto, kung iwanan mo ang raw egg sa hood ng kotse mo, maging mag-hard boiled ito in 15-20 minutes!! I'm not joking! Totoo talaga ito. As in boiling hot yung entire kotse. Ito nga dahilan why I didn't stay too long doon because of the weather. It gets so much hotter than sa Pilipinas. Otherwise, Las Vegas has cheaper rents sa mga apartments nila. When I was there, I lived in an exclusive apartment Complex. My apartment had two-bedrooms(malalaking rooms), full dining and living room, centralized aircon, washer and dryer, then maliit na balcony. My rent was only $500. Tapos ang paligid is well-maintained. May garden, 25-meter swimming pool and a small gym. I thought it was wonderful over there. Yun nga lang, napaka init during summertime.

Ciao!!

many thanks for the very informative reply

lulubus lubusin ko na po ang tanong heheheh

anong mga state po ba ang cover ng east coast???

i am working here nga pala sa M.E.