| Harry's decision to move from the USA to Manila was influenced by business-related factors, namely the growth of the outsourcing industry in the Philippines. In addition to sharing his insights and optimism regarding the Philippine call center industry and other business opportunities, Harry also offers his observations on the local sights and activities, the people, and culture -- both in Metro Manila (where he lives) -- and elsewhere in the country.
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 Harry Fozzard |
-Where were you born?
Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
-In which country and city are you living now?
Pasig City, Metro Manila, the Philippines
-Are you living alone or with your family?
Alone
-How long have you been living in the Philippines?
± 2.5 Years
-What is your age?
41
-When did you come up with the idea of living in the Philippines?
I’ve always been interested in South East Asia and the movement of call center and back office work offshore simply provided the impetus to move to the Philippines.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
This was handled by my employer; however, the Philippines has created a package of economic incentives that make application for a work permit relatively simple.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
This again is part of my compensation; however, local insurance is not hard to come by. Much like insurance in the US, it is less expensive to get when you belong to a group plan.
-How do you make your living in the Philippines? Do you have any type of income generated?
I have two sources of income — I work in the call center business, which is undergoing major growth at the moment. While my position came from corporate expansion in the US, there are a number of executive search firms and placement agencies in the Philippines. Likewise, for searching for jobs in the Philippines two options come readily to mind: Jobstreet (www.jobstreet.com) and Teledevelopment Services (www.teledevelopment.com).
The first is really geared more for positions filled by locals and reflects a pay scale commensurate with this. The second, Teledevelopment (TDS), is a well-respected executive search as well as a staffing firm.
My second source of income is a small web marketing firm established for the same reasons that the call center and back office processing industries have become so enamored with the Philippines — high-quality, English-speaking talent. Basically, this business is being developed as a future income opportunity. I also provide occasional consulting work for groups establishing themselves in the Philippines under the umbrella of my local company (www.brandarchipelago.com).
-Do you speak Tagalog and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I do not speak the local language, Tagalog or Filipino, very well at all and I’m committed to spending more time learning it. It would be a significant benefit to do so, but English is widely spoken in the Philippines and so it not necessary to function comfortably.
In this regard, acculturating to the Philippines can be tricky since there is a veneer of American and western culture that can seem deceptively familiar. In fact, the Philippines is a very complex cultural mix with elements of Spanish, Chinese, Malay, and American culture. It is therefore important to tread somewhat lightly until you have spent some time understanding how the culture really operates to inform local attitudes towards foreigners.
With that said, Filipinos are enormously warm and friendly people.
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I certainly miss the States and don’t really get back often enough — the food is great (hard to get a fresh bagel here) and there isn’t anywhere in the world like it. But the Philippines is a tremendously diverse and engaging place to travel and live.
With so much history, architecture freaks like me are able to travel around and see beautiful churches and Spanish colonial structures. The beaches and diving in the Philippines are, without doubt, the best in the world.
Opportunities for travel to other SE Asian destinations are easy and very affordable with so many destinations within a three-hour flight of Manila.
-Do you have other plans for the future?
In the near future, I intend to remain engaged in the explosive growth of the outsourcing scene here in the Philippines. With this industry growing and the overall prospects for SE Asia unfolding, it’s a pretty exciting moment to be here.
To this end, I believe my ventures will be expanding as more people become aware of the opportunities in the Philippine archipelago.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I currently rent space in Metro Manila, located in the Ortigas area, which is quite central. For a 100-meter western-style apartment I pay around $800 or P40,000/month. This is paid quarterly and is at the high-end of the spectrum. One great feature of the building is that it is an office building with a couple of residential units — so I’m the only resident and I get to be close to my Company. The unit has two bedrooms w/maid’s quarters and four bathrooms — two of which include shower, etc.
I pay this quarterly and pay my office rent monthly. It’s worth factoring utility (electric) costs in as well — mine runs anywhere from $150-200 US, depending on if I’m in town much that month. In this regard, I’m not too frugal, so it could be much less with some discipline.
-What is the cost of living in the Philippines?
The cost is much lower than the US, on balance. You can spend quite a lot or a little, depending on your lifestyle and what you think of for fun. The big shift is the ability to afford anything that is man(person)power intensive. So domestic staff, driver, nanny, etc., are something that a middle-class person can afford (on an ex-pat salary at least).
Here’s a snapshot of typical expenditures:
- $150 or Php7,000 per week on groceries to feed myself and my employees
- Vet visit for two cats (without medication) costs $12 or Php600
- Gas for a Nissan Xtrail in-city driving runs $40 orPhp 2,000/week
- A move theater visit costs $2-3 or Php100-180
- Electronics are very costly here depending on the brand and how new they are
- A full-time maid runs around $100 or Php5,000 month
-What do you think about the Filipinos?
Filipinos are pretty accustomed to dealing with Americans and foreigners in general. There are offshore workers from the Philippines in North America and Europe so everyone is related to and has visited relatives somewhere else.
The culture fosters politeness and hospitality, so I find the interactions positive. Occasionally there are cultural disconnects that have humorous consequences. In general, avoid commenting on the standard items like politics and religion and be aware that people will ask you questions as a matter of course that would be considered forward or impertinent elsewhere.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in the Philippines?
Positive:
- Everything and anything can be delivered
- Local travel diversity – beach/mountains/resorts
- International travel proximity – Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Macau, etc.
- People
- Music
- All night culture
- Intramuros
Negative:
-Manila traffic
-Bureaucracy
-Grocery store selection (get ready to substitute)
-Lack of greenspace/uninspiring public space
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in the Philippines?
Partner with an ex-pat guide who has dealt with the issues you’re going to face. The person can help you in ways that a local simply can’t since this needs to come with a frame of reference for the things that will confuse you and can offer advice when you need it.
Remember, as an ex-pat your support group is other ex-pats.
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about the Philippines?
Of course I like mine! Manila Muse
Also, Carlos Celdran’s blog is an excellent resource: Walk This Way
Project Manila is a visual delight.
Looking for Director of Finance for call center in Manila
We are underway with a search for a Director of Finance for a multi-site call center in Manila. The responsibilities include managing the back office operations of this US based business, dealing with local compliance and reporting and interacting with the rest of the global finance team. IFRS and GAAP along with CPA are required. Our ideal candidate is a US or European expatriate who has a deep understanding and knowledge of the local culture. If you happen to know of any resources we can leverage to source candidates, please let me know.
Liz Sabatini
liz@execuseek.net
Interested
Hello Harry,
I recently visited Philippines in 2007, met a girl and now she is here in the US with me, we are married now, however we are both wanting to move to the Philippines.
I am wondering if its hard for an American to find good paying work in Phils, my profession is a manager of a trucking company which is pretty transferable as a manger for many things but I have no college degree.
Since your there working I was wondering if you had any advice for me, Im 40 years old and would like to move in one year summer of 2009.
Thanks
Ernie
Work in the Philippines
Ernie,
I'd say that it's possible to get work here in the Philippines. Although unless you have some specific experience in an industry like mining, back office processing or the like you will have to expect to look for a while and adjust your salary expectations to a local salary level. That said, good managers with an understanding of how to handle people and logistics and who know western business practices can always organize something here.
Are you thinking of Manila or the provence? That might impact your options as well.
help
hi im married to a filipina we live in england and would love to come and live and work in manila,my wife works for american express and i have been doing carpentry for 5 years also been a driver,i drove in the philippines for 7months and found it easy to be honest,many people dont drive when they go there so i hear.any ideas on how we can get work there? many thanks anna and adam
hi
You have been a manager, I think that's gonna be an edge. There are global companies here run by Americans and having experienced American applicants for managerial position would be somewhat like an honor for them. Having been an employee in a call center with American callers, we do appreciate what westerners could offer in terms of innovative ideas and work manner. Though some call center companies may require a college diploma (because your loyalty for months could mean promotion to managerial positions) most of them would focus on your field of experience and your talent. One call center that allows this is Teleperformance which is in Ortigas, near Makati city in the nAtional Capital Region. As for the pay, depending on your performance of course, call centers here would usually pay well with all the health benefits that the company usually pays for the employee. For a local who works in a call center, the cost of living is just enough but since you have been a manage rin a trucking company, why not try putting up your own trukcing business. I dunno much about trucking business but you may start any vehicle parts shop or anything that has something to do with vehicles.
Be the Boss, Of course you can :-)
Since your field of experience has somethign to do with carpentry, why not try to ask your wife about putting up a furniture business here? Almost everyone would like to buy a sofa for example, a cabinet of any kind and in the place where I live in, furniture is a big thing for people from other places would come to this city (Caloocan in Manila) to give the carpenters thier sketch of the sofa that they wanna have in their theme-based house. Yes, that is right, there are very few furniture company that offers a made-to-order or personalized sofa or furnitre so why not set the trend? One of our furniture designer even received an order from Brad Pitt for thier first baby. How was that?
foreigner working in the phil
Hi, I was of the impression it was illegal for a single foreigner to work in the phil. Please tell me. Thank you. Les
Good Luck Getting Work in the Philippines being a Foreigner!
I'm married to a FIlipina and we have 2 children. I've been here almost a year, with NO SUCCESS at getting any work at all. I've even worked with 2 companies in the united states, that are also located in the Philippines. I've had customer service oriented work for the past 10 years - ranging from inbound, outbound, & even field service. Handling accounts well worth over $950 million USD, increased revenue flow by $1 mil+ per month in Metro atlanta alone even during the collapse of the housing industry. My last career dealt with construction products before being laid off while visiting the Philippines. Years of experience in management, team building, training, account management, etc.
I don't even receive phone calls from interviewers. I've applied to over 100 jobs listed on Jobstreet this past year. Ranging from everything as a regular customer service rep, management, Quality control, and even teaching english to call center reps. The english teaching position didn't even bother calling me at all, not even an interview. So I waited a week and called them back. They had already filled the position, and the lady who spoke broken english herself, said she had hired someone already who was better qualified. I asked her how she could determine their better qualified when she never interviewed me to begin with. All the time sitting there wondering how she can decide whose more qualified at speaking english when she couldn't speak english worth a damn herself.
So good luck finding work at all, I've called everywhere, talked everywhere - talked to government agencies, everything. Department of Labor laughed at me & said of course a company will hire a filipino over an expat. So much for equal employment laws being enforced in this country - it's a joke. The companies that did bother to call me back told me in order for them to even "interview" me I needed a work visa. Immigration told me they will not issue me a "work visa" unless I have a company sponsor me or I bring a letter of employment from such prospective employer. Though, no company I've spoke with so far will even so much as blink at giving me a position unless I have a work visa. Just another loophole in the system to screw over expats, working for companies that are american to begin with!
Lost everything in america after being laid off, don't have anyone to help us other than what's left of my mother's pension every month that she sends. If I filed for repat, then our immigration case we been dealing with for 2 years for my wife & daughter (Now daughters), will be completely tossed out. Philippines is great and all if your visiting - I don't care even if you do manage to get work that pays enough to survive, living here is hell.
I may have a job for you
Hi Lucas122478,
you sound so bitter, chill off, I understand your situation being in a foreign land. Be glad your mother is there for you and your very own family............. you are very lucky being married to a filipina because of the fact that when they do get married, they marry for love and for who you are, not of what you have and what you can provide... I hope you are still in the Philippines, if you are, would you touch base with me or your wife at your convenience? Am currently in US and will be heading to PI in a couple of weeks for a business trip and leisure combined. Please email me with your bio or just tell me about yourself and where do you live in Philippines of that sort. My email : sweet3556@yahoo.com My cell # (559)308-0387. I prefer email over phone as I live in California............I look forward to hear from you.........
Remy Ellen
job waiting for you
lucas122478
please touch base with me asap.............thank you..................
I maybe able to help
Hi Mate
Get in touch through Skype maybe able to help ade2410, life isn't that bad here mate, you just need to meet the right people..
franchise opportunities
Hello all...new here
Living in the USA but, want to move to the philippines. What is the possibility of franchise opportunities?. I currently have a small business in the states, have a diverse work background. I used to be a Engineer in the auto industry, certified welder for government stuff, now I am a small business owner. I went from working in heavy industry to owning a food business...lol. Is there anyone that can point me in the right direction for owning your own business in the philippines? Found lots of stuff on the net, but tough when I am in the USA.
thanks,
Charles
How did it work out?
I am also moving to the philippines, manila area. I also have experience in managing trucking companies. I am curious how your situation worked out because it is similar to mine.
thanks allen amg1957@bellsouth.net 828 429 3924
kumusta?
hi my name is lonnie if he isnt interested in what you have to say i am... i was raised by pinoy when i was a teen and miss very mech the connection i have lost. still have connection with motus and ancheta clans in manila and would love to work there. i have very diverse backgrond speak irish gaelic and some spanish,perfect english and little tagalog. i am irish by birth but in america. but feel half pinoy if that makes any sense feel much closer to them than americans or irish. i am 40 can do many varied tasks pc tech,house building and repair sales, welding, metal wood fabrication,operate many types of equipment,backhoes,track hoes dozers farm equipment and bulldozers. and just about any kind of hand tool. have held supervisory and office positons as well. the irish start young at learning trades hehe. my email is predawnchief@yahoo.com
Any work...
Hi,
I am currently residing and working in the UK, I have a desire to move to the Philippines (preferably the Manila area but I will consider anywhere) as soon as I possibly can so I can join up with my filipina fiance. I have spent all my career working within the logistics industry, with over 15 years experience in warehousing and transport. The last 10 years have been spent in supervisory or a management capacity. My current role is that of a Night Operations Manager and I have gained many industry specific logistics qualifications as well as non-industry specific management qualifications. I have been applying for positions through JobsDB but I haven't had any response what so ever and I am left feeling frustrated. I have also sent my CV to the large transport companies such as DHL, UPS and FedEx but to no avail. Does anyone know of any companies who are willing to employ UK citizens? I am 34 years old and the sort of positions I would be interested in would be Operations Managers, Warehouse Managers and Transport Managers jobs but I would be willing to start in any capacity to gain a foothold in the Philippines. I am also prepared to switch careers if anyone would be willing to take a chance on me and train me up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Yours in hope.
Darren
Working in the Philippines
Hi all I have really enjoyed reading all of your comments. I am thinking about moving to the Philippines and starting up a company and would also like to work for a company over there in the Philippines. I am a Vice President of Business Development and have over 20 years experience working in marketing, sales and operations. I have had measurable results in increasing sales, building successful sales teams. I have enjoyed building client and strategic partnerships to quickly secure share in the Bio-Tech industry. Lead key initiatives to launch divisions in Korea and China. I am now looking to move to the Philippines because my wife is from the Philippines and has dual- citizenship and I want to work for a company there and create a business while working with a company there. IF you know of any business opportunity's please feel free to e-mail me kevin.torsak@gmail.com
Wish to relocate to the Philippines - Mining/Process Experience
Hi Harry,
I read with interest your views and opinions on living in the Phils. Well, as most posters here, I am married to a Filipina (for 10 years now) and have been visiting the Philippines for almost every year that we have been married. I really enjoy the country, culture and people and have been considering a move there for some time now.
What was even more interesting to me, is that in one of your replies you mention that specific experience (eg mining) would be an advantage in securing a position in the Phils. I have quite a wide range of experience gained in the South African mining industry, and was wondering whether you have some advice for me in terms of where I should start looking for a job in the Phils. I have done quite bit of searching but I guess the positions I am after is either not that widely advertised, or positions are just not that readily available.
I guess the global recession has also affected the Philippine mining industry, but I have some hope judging by the recent highs in the gold price.
Looking forward to your reply.
Regards, Rudi
Employment
To all those expats looking for permanent work in the Philippines. Please drop yur CV, general location salary Expectations etc to me. Will review and get back to you.
Thanks!
AR
Looking foreward to going back to Manilla
Hello
I spent the last year in Pasay Manila and would like to go back if I was offered a good job there. Right now I living in Charlotte NC with my flipina wife and daughter with a new baby on the way. And would like the opportunity to work for a company their and I would head back in a minute if a good offer came in where I could raise my family on. I'm 43 yrs old American that looks 35.... with excellant communication skills and management skills fast learning and given the opportunity you won't be dissapointed. You can contact me at worldwidescopes@yahoo.com Thanks for you time. Look foreward to hear from you. Thanks
EMPLOYMENT
Greetings>
I am from the USA and I have lived here for 1 year and now have a permanent visa. I am married to a local and we have a internet cafe business. I am looking for more income for us and am open to any suggestions and/or contacts. Please drop me a line at mindcliff@yahoo.com I look forward to talking to you. Have a great day.
Nature of Business
Hello Antonio,
Can you send me your e-mail address to mindcliff@yahoo.com
franchise Opps
Hello Hotdiggity,
Can you give me a little more defined idea on what franchise area you are interested in? You can e-mail me at mindcliff
@yahoo.com. Thanks
How You doing
I know it's been several months since your post but how you making out? Let me know and hang in there. Things do get better. You can e-mail me at mindcliff@yahoo.com
California Business student interested in an expat job...
Hey guys,
My first post, go easy on me! Well I just graduated from Cal State University, Fullerton with a business degree. I am fluent with tagalog and english. I was wondering how I could begin my journey as an expat? I need a good mentor and guidance. I have visited the philippines for pleasure in DEC 2009 and have met expats who run call centers and do side jobs, just wondering how to get my foot in the door. I believe I have an edge because I graduated with an above average GPA in CSUF business and can speak both languages fluently.
Many thanks