Thinking of migrating? or already a migrant?

[hens]

gusto ko yung diskarte ng parents ni glenn..ganun din kasi pananaw ko sa buhay. uunahin ko na sarili ko (bilang magulang). kung yumaman ako..ginhawa din naman ang pamilya't anak ko..keysa, unahin ko anak ko (bigay ko lahat ng ikabubuti ng anak ko. education, future plan, etc,etc..)..in the end. tatanda akong walang naipon.(dahil habang kumikita ako,nagagastos ko na sa anak ko). alam ko, sobrang hirap ng anak ko nung time na nasa ibang bansa kami.(tiniis ko na lang).explain ko na lang sa kanila kapag maiintindihan na nila kung gaano mamuhay ang isang tao. lalo na maging isang magulang. hehehe

pero sa totoo lang..nung bumalik ako dito sa atin (yr 2000)..medyo may pagsisi ako..(maybe nasanay at nabago na ugali ko sa tagal ko sa ibang bansa 15yrs).

bat ako bumalik? (mahabang kwentuhan ito) hahaha boring na kung i-post ko lahat..EB na lang tayo..kwentuhan habang nag-cocoffee..:lol:

theveed,
parang mas-okey ang buhay sa Singapore keysa sa HK..;)

[Nessus]

Gusto ko rin magmigrate sa US. Pero hindi pa ngayon, maybe in 3 to 5 years. Nakakatakot kasi yung economy ng US ngayon with the twin deficits.

Ang motovation ko is yung future ng mga anak ko (kahit wala pa). Gusto ko sila mabigyan ng mas maraming opportunities.

Kung ako lang baka dito na lang ako magstay sa Pinas. Pinas isn't that bad. Mura cost of living and I'm a freelance IT consultant. With outsourcing rates, mas malaki pa naiipon ko sa mga kaibigan ko na naka H1B sa US or even some na mga US citizens na. Well I have the equivalent rin naman of two full-time jobs sa workload ko. Sobra ko frugal and I invest most of my earnings sa stocks (less speculation, more actual investing).

Regarding sa relatives na ang tingin sayo ikaw ang solusyon sa financial problems nila, nakikita ko rin yan. Hindi naman lahat, depende talaga sa tao. Meron talagang mga tamad at walang kwenta na hindi marunong umasa sa sarili. Kahit saang bansa meron. Mas marami lang dito satin kesa sa mga first world countries hehe.

As for migrants, wala ako problema sa kanila. Can't blame a person for wanting a better life for himself/herself or sa pamilya nila. Kahit gumanda pa ng husto situation ng Pinas, gusto ko pa rin sa US lumaki ang mga anak ko.

Anyway, staying sa Pinas is a real option. We have competitive advantage dahil sa sa low cost of living and labor. Madali ang buhay sa pinas. Imagine na lang if you took two jobs, kept studying to get better and higher paying jobs, saved and invested wisely, or invested in your business. Madali mabuhay becomes madali yumaman. Add to that our improving economy, shrinking budget deficit, mining boom, etc.

Pero I'd still want to migrate... for my children .

[Tifosi]

Why?

Where?

Reading a few threads about Pinoys migrating to other countries, makes me wonder about what are your reasons for doing, or planning to do, so.

For those who have taken the plunge:

Would you recommend this life-changing event to anyone? Are you satisfied with with your decision for doing so? Will you go back to the Philippines? How do you feel when some members of our society label you as 'deserters'? Have you regretted your decision, or have your ever thought that you made a mistake?

So you've taken the plunge, are you going the whole nine yards by being a citizen of your chosen country? Why? Why not? What if your chosen country doesn't allow dual-citizenship? Would it affect your decision?

For those planning/working on it:

How do you feel about starting all over again? How about language and cultural differences in your target country? Having second thoughts?



I know I may be opening a can of worms with this topic but I believe that any topic, no matter how controversial, if discussed in a civil and respectful manner, is a measure of how truly open our society is.

So fire away...

edit: added some more questions...

Been living in Singapore since September 2004. Why? The opportunity presented itself, and is too good to pass up. Yes, I have left my comfort zone so to speak, but I feel that I just had to broaden my horizons, and expose myself to different cultures (Singapore is a melting pot of sorts). It's not really out of desperation that I moved here, but of course, money is a big factor.

So far I'm satisfied with myself for making this big decision to move here. Siyempre malungkot, like my fiance and my loved ones are in Manila. Pero sa tingin ko eh lakas ng loob lang ang kelangan, mind over matter ikanga. It's a very big change for me, pero I'm having a good time here hehe. As for going back, hmmm, probably when I retire. Kumbaga I've put in a lot of effort already, and I don't want to turn back.

But I won't turn my back on my country. I'm still proud to be Pinoy

[empy]

i dont understand why some people have the perception that leaving the philippines means you're no longer patriotic or proud to be filipino. i've even heard from some that leaving is just like betraying the country.

can't you love your country and be proud of your fellow pinoys from afar? yes, i see many migrants here in the US who pretend like they have never been pinoy or even speak the language, but there are also many people who faithfully follow the news back home, still have the passion, and even contribute to the economy through remittances.

[smalltimer]

this thread is only 95 posts long pero ang tagal basahin

BTW im not one of those who think that leaving is like betraying the country. PGMA even regards them as "heroes" because of their remitances in exchange for hard work and swallowing pride. I even think they love the philippines more because they miss this country badly. If only they could go back every month just to see their loved ones, EDSA traffic, pinoy foods, etc they'd do it while many of us here take these things for granted.

I am sometimes thinking of migrating not because of my childrens education nor for the money, but because of the rotten government we got here. we diligently pay our taxes everytime we eat, drive, work, play but we dont get that much in return. CORRUPTION is present from the palace down to the baranggay level. I know there is also corruption in other countries pero dito GRABE talaga.

I am most of the time not thinking about migrating because i am contented. Kahit nilagang okra lang na may bagoong sarap na! mahal tuition? send your kids to public schools! If they're really good they'll land on higher sections competitive enough with private schools. there are many more examples on how to survive in this country. They say if you make it in NY, you could make it anywhere? try manila

and dont believe those news na pabagsak na ang pinas. ang parking ng malls? puno. sinehan showing M:I:3? puno din. variety of restaurants? ang dami. gimikan? eastwood, rockwell, malate, the fort, etc all of those places are crowded. CIVIC 2006? kulang pa ang supplies

[johnart]

Sent my application to canada last February 2006 am now waiting for the response. Opportunity's are limited here and life is in my perception getting harder and harder.

[johnart]

Sent my application to canada last February 2006 am now waiting for the response. Opportunity's are limited here and life is in my perception getting harder and harder.

[lightning099]

Poll: 3 in 10 Pinoys would migrate if it were only possible

The Philippine Star 08/10/2006

Three out of every 10 Filipinos are now considering moving to another country if it were possible, according to an uncommissioned public opinion poll.

Research firm Pulse Asia’s June 24-July 8 survey showed that 30 percent of Filipinos want to emigrate to another country and escape the Philippines’ political and economic uncertainty.

However, Pulse Asia said the figure is largely unchanged from the 26 percent a year ago.

On the other hand, 37 percent maintain that they would rather stay while the rest are undecided.

Yet, about half or 49 percent of Filipinos still hold out that there is still hope for their country as opposed to 21 percent who feel that it is hopeless. The remaining 30 percent are undecided.

Much of Filipinos’ negative sentiment comes from the belief that there is very little democratic governance in their own country.

Pulse Asia’s survey showed that nearly half or 41 percent of Filipinos believe that the country is run by a powerful few and ordinary citizens cannot do anything about it. Only 17 percent believe otherwise while 41 percent are undecided.

Public opinion remained split on the possibility of Filipinos completely losing faith in peacefully promoting Philippine democracy, with 29 percent agreeing and 30 percent disagreeing. The remaining 41 percent of the population are undecided.

Lack of jobs and poor pay force about 2,000 Filipinos to leave for jobs abroad every month and their welfare is a sensitive political issue for the government.

Around eight million Filipinos work in dozens of countries around the world and aboard most ships across the globe. The government heavily relies on the over $8 billion in remittances they send to their families back home to prop up the frail economy.

Filipino migrant workers have been hailed as modern-day heroes because of their sacrifices and contribution to the nation’s economy.

In 2004, President Arroyo risked anger from the United States and other Western allies when she pulled out the Philippines’ small troop contingent in Iraq after militants threatened to execute Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz.

Adding to the uncertainty in the country are allegations hounding Mrs. Arroyo. Analysts warn that the political crisis poses a risk to the country’s fragile economy.

Mrs. Arroyo has been under pressure since admitting that she had inappropriate phone calls with an unidentified election official before Congress could declare the winner in the 2004 presidential election.

Mrs. Arroyo successfully fought an impeachment bid last year but her foes have recently filed a series of impeachment complaints in a renewed attempt to force her from office over electoral fraud and other alleged wrongdoing.

The political bickering has rekindled persistent fears that the military might step in to intervene.

[alnr]

me and my wife are also planning to migrate, new zealand or australia siguro. same reasons as most of you guys, future for my daughter. hindi naman kami hirap sa buhay, both of us are working. salary is enough naman. we just want to be secured in the future. gaya nga ng sabi ng brother ko sa australia, "dali lang buhay dito, mabibili mo pa ang gusto mo". its not about the money or any material things na gusto ko, its about being secured in the future. kaya siguro nasabi ng brother ko na dali lang ng buhay dun kasi alam niya na stable na siya dun together with his family.


btw, if any of you guys are living or migrated to new zealand please PM me. me mga questions lang ako.


thanks!!

[n2knee]

Why?

better economic opportunity

Where?

California, USA

Would you recommend this life-changing event to anyone?

dipende sa objective/goal ng isang tao. we always want what is best for ourselves and our families (financially, security, etc.). pwede ka ring maging happy sa Pilipinas, but you will have a better chance of achieving financial success outside the motherland.

Are you satisfied with with your decision for doing so? Will you go back to the Philippines?

i was 16 when i left the Philippines. my dad petitioned me. it's easy to adjust/assimilate to a new environment when you are young. i experienced a big culture shock, but i was able to meet new friends (especially pinoy/pinay friends), so it was helpful. plus the majority of my relatives are here, so it still feels like "home." i have established my career here, so i can say i am satisfied. the only reason i would have to go back to PI is to visit my other relatives.

How do you feel when some members of our society label you as 'deserters'?

fortunately, i've never been in that predicament. pero may nakikita ako sa t.v. na mga "makabayan" kuno. it's hilarious that a lot of these so called "makabayans" don't realize that they are doing a disservice to their community since a lot of them are un-employed and do not pay their taxes. they would be better off finding employment abroad, so they can send money to their families and at the same time help the economy of the Philippines overcome poverty.

Have you regretted your decision, or have your ever thought that you made a mistake?

it's the best decision i have ever made. i can't imagine the quality of life i may have today had i not decide to leave the motherland.

So you've taken the plunge, are you going the whole nine yards by being a citizen of your chosen country? Why?

i have been a US Citizen since my father became one. why? it's simple really. i can travel anywhere i want without needing to secure a visa. and i can also vote.