The Philippines no longer a destination for just retirees!!

The  one work I can think of are foreigners' vlogging in Philippines due to high subscription rate there.   I can see you yourself is a vlogger and that is why remote work makes sense for you.  Hopefully I can be one too  in the future. 

However, big companies in the US are still largely limiting remote work in US' 50 States, sadly.  I know coz I am in one of those top 100 Fortune companies and believe me I requested and got denied due to the definition of "remote work" by the company.  And in fact, now, there are still many companies who are bringing people back into the offices as vaccination rate increases. 

Main concerns the employers  have on expat work: 
1)  Time zone difference
2)  Costly face-to-face meetings (they still can't get rid of this)
3)  Security of data
4)  Reliability of internet

Gardo Fuentes wrote:

The  one work I can think of are foreigners' vlogging in Philippines due to high subscription rate there.   I can see you yourself is a vlogger and that is why remote work makes sense for you.  Hopefully I can be one too  in the future.

Some years ago one of the first biger ones said he earned 40 000 usd in a year at vlogging,
but since then has competition increased much including many Filipinos.

Although there are many other alternatives   

I have worked at distance/from home almost all the time since 1978, so long before internet.  (I have done e g researches, website production, part of business consulting, general administration, software production, acounting - although I have quit doing acounting for others, because I find it very boring except the part about reducing taxes     
By internet there are many more possibilities nowadays than when I started.

If having capital enough, then "normal" business can be started. Some foreigners have succeeded in the Philippines within such as agroforestry and manufactories.
But better NOT start a bar just because been a frequent bar customer      Many fail within such as well as with restaurants.

Gardo Fuentes wrote:

However, big companies in the US are still largely limiting remote work in US' 50 States, sadly.  I know coz I am in one of those top 100 Fortune companies and believe me I requested and got denied due to the definition of "remote work" by the company.  And in fact, now, there are still many companies who are bringing people back into the offices as vaccination rate increases.

I didnt know USA is behind concerning such too,
but I knew  - except within software development -  being far behind concerning how to lead businesses, still common with ancient "Pyramid" leading style!!! instead of "Flat" which started over 30 years ago in Sweden.

Gardo Fuentes wrote:

Main concerns the employers  have on expat work: 
1)  Time zone difference
2)  Costly face-to-face meetings (they still can't get rid of this)
3)  Security of data
4)  Reliability of internet

4.  Yes, I skiped some of my business ideas needing higher internet speed, because to bad internet where I want to live.

1. There are many distance jobs, which can be done "anytime" though as long as its done before deadline. 
((E g back when I started leading a software production 20 years ago, there were people involved from e g USA, Sweden, Russia, Pakistan...  Each got assignments draft idea by email for a part, then we discussed and decided together how, followed by each finnished their part. A part of my work was to make sure the parts would suit to each other.))

I also need to stress the thesis of Tariq is about earning US wages while in the Philippines and that is the one I was responding to. 

Sure, people can work in Philippines with contract work earning US$ but the pay scale is much lower because employers factor the BPO (outsourcing) pay comparisons. 

I tested this as part of my research and the highest offer I got was P120K a month.  It is good money but nowhere near the US wages for the same job.   And then you project that into a year (and multi-years) and the variance further widens.   See salary below of an IT professional in US, $124K a year.  That is P6M a year or P500K a month. 

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Jo … ancisco-CA

However, on the other side is the Pinas' wages and I can assure you P120K is already a lot.   It is the equivalent of an average Junior Executive's salary there. 

Also, I think the younger folks that Tariq mentioned who could see working in Pinas long-term could care less re money compared to when they get, say, into their 40s and up.  They seek fun and adventure and there is nothing wrong with that.   So quite possibly, this work as an expat in Philippines could be just a sweet phase in their lives, one they could outgrow later on.

I heard there is (I believe) a job in the Philippines probably similar to call center work that pays usd17 per hour. Here’s the catch, it required a TIN which means one would pay US income taxes as well as Philippine income taxes.

Jackson4 wrote:

I heard there is (I believe) a job in the Philippines probably similar to call center work that pays usd17 per hour. Here’s the catch, it required a TIN which means one would pay US income taxes as well as Philippine income taxes.

I think this case falls under a US citizen who obtained a work and work permit in the Philippines and is thus legal to stay as a non-resident alien for the duration of the permit.  If so, said citizen pays/files Philippines tax in Philippines.  Then, when filing for US tax, he/she can use the  Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 1116) to avoid double taxation as allowed by the reciprocity treaty between US and Philippines.

The best kind of income, as the rich know, is PASSIVE income - the kind generated by investments such as stocks and mutual funds, as well as rental property. If I knew what I know now when I was 30 or 40 I would have built my investment portfolio much faster and permanently retired at 45 or 50 instead of 57. Once you have enough, minimal work is required to maintain one's portfolio. Rental property in particular has not only income, but long-term appreciation and tax benefits as well, at least in the US.

This is not unrealistic, as you will see on many sites such as A Purple Life, or Mr Money Moustache that promote FIRE - Financial Independence / Retire Early. The concept simply involves a lean lifestyle for 10-15 years instead of chasing the "American Dream" of ever larger cars, homes, toys and vacations that can go on for decades. Some people make it by 35, many by 45. As an example, some live car-free and save a thousand a month right there.

I know everyone wants to be a vlogger these days, but it ain't gonna happen. The internet always favors the few - those who are the best and most creative... and sadly - often the most provocative and disruptive.  The success rate will take the shape of a bell curve, with many working hard on the margins.  Vlogging is still work - making them, editing them, and promoting one's channel.  That's not to say vlogging or blogging can't be PART of one's income stream, which may be common in the future.

Not trying to discourage people but please consider all your options. If you do have a decent or well-paying job, consider slashing current expenses and building an investment or real estate portfolio as fast as you can that will create an ongoing PASSIVE income stream. Then with multiple forms of income you will have far more flexibility.

Gardo Fuentes wrote:

I also need to stress the thesis of Tariq is about earning US wages while in the Philippines and that is the one I was responding to. 

Sure, people can work in Philippines with contract work earning US$ but the pay scale is much lower because employers factor the BPO (outsourcing) pay comparisons. 

I tested this as part of my research and the highest offer I got was P120K a month.  It is good money but nowhere near the US wages for the same job.

Most of my distance/from home jobs have been NOT employments, but in own business, and in own business your earning isnt static nor having such max limits      
((My best pays per hour have been within acounting and business consulting.  Business consulting I normaly charge a percentage of the result improvement I made, so irregular results but often it has been very fast done so very much per hour.  Acounting earning has been some more static but by I am fast I earn around a half month salary in 2 days.  Not counting the time it took to find customers. While some other jobs have been bad paid, but its worth something too to have the possibility to work from anywhere you like - and not need to waste time at travels to and from work   

pnwcyclist wrote:

The best kind of income, as the rich know, is PASSIVE income - the kind generated by investments such as stocks and mutual funds, as well as rental property. If I knew what I know now when I was 30 or 40 I would have built my investment portfolio much faster and permanently retired at 45 or 50 instead of 57..

Specialy in countries as the Philippines where the rich have all power so they have made passive income taxes much lower...

pnwcyclist wrote:

Once you have enough, minimal work is required to maintain one's portfolio. .

Well. A friend of mine said when he started investing he said he will retire when he reach 5 million.  I reminded him of that rather recently and asked if he hadnt reached 5 million. Then he said he has more than the double of that - but he continue with that investing work and stressing anyway...   

pnwcyclist wrote:

Rental property in particular has not only income, but long-term appreciation and tax benefits as well, at least in the US.

Well. I dont realy count renting as sure passive income, because many landlords have huge problems with tennants.  I have forgot the numbers but e g in UK there is a huge problem with tennants not paying and problem to evict them...

pnwcyclist wrote:

This is not unrealistic, as you will see on many sites such as A Purple Life, or Mr Money Moustache that promote FIRE - Financial Independence / Retire Early. The concept simply involves a lean lifestyle for 10-15 years instead of chasing the "American Dream" of ever larger cars, homes, toys and vacations that can go on for decades. Some people make it by 35, many by 45. As an example, some live car-free and save a thousand a month right there.

I have never been had such dreams, only wanting to live far from neighbours and being my own boss, which I decided when I were 10yo   
Even when I earned as most, I did spend only Swedish "existence minimum" but by being economic I had such as car and vacation house anyway but not posh ones.  I drive as a car thief, so I break the cars in 2-3 years anyway, so better drive cheap ones   

pnwcyclist wrote:

I know everyone wants to be a vlogger

I dont because I dont like to be famous    finding the attention annoying mostly, although its a side effect if doing something extraordinary
((So I am famous regionaly or nationaly in Sweden for different types of things by things I have done.)

pnwcyclist wrote:

The internet always favors the few - those who are the best and most creative... and sadly - often the most provocative and disruptive.  The success rate will take the shape of a bell curve, with many working hard on the margins.  Vlogging is still work - making them, editing them, and promoting one's channel.

Yes. One of the most known foreign vloggers in the Philippines told he work much more than full time hours with his vlogging.

pnwcyclist wrote:

That's not to say vlogging can't be PART of one's income stream, which may be common in the future.

IF I ever will do any vlogging it would just be as part of educating people showing business I have made - and without showing my face   

pnwcyclist wrote:

Not trying to discourage people but please consider all your options. If you do have a decent or well-paying job, consider slashing current expenses and building an investment or real estate portfolio as fast as you can that will create an ongoing PASSIVE income stream. Then with multiple forms of income you will have far more flexibility.

There are kind "semi-passive" incomes too by some businesses dont need much work by yourself
e g as I am doing in the Philippines.  I need to work some until I have made it function  good.
((I have done such before too being much work in startups but made it become almost kind of "automaticly" run by employees.))

pnwcyclist wrote:

I know everyone wants to be a vlogger these days, but it ain't gonna happen. The internet always favors the few - those who are the best and most creative...

Yup I agree, with all the Expats thinking of being Bloggers, soon there will be more bloggers than subscribers.

I really never found one that I would subscribe to. Some I opt out (and never return a second time) after a minute or two because they were ghosting the content in order for you to click on. Others have too much talking about themselves and a lot of their verbiage and videos are boring. How many videos can you watch with a blogger just walking down every street?

Yeah I like videos that show with minimal talk and that is why my fave youtube vlogs are those of travels, driving around and slow walks.  It's like free travel for me so I'd gladly subscribe as a way to help the vlogger keep making good contents that is of use to me. 

Anyways for me it will just be a hobby.  When I go to a beach, I'd like to video record them so I can enjoy revisiting the experience and share it with my friends so it's going to happen anyway regardless I earn from it or not. 

I actually did this way back when vlogging was not yet a term.  The videos were just for me, family and friends but soon without knowing it I got a mail from youtube about a contract due to my subscribers.  Apparently people have been clicking and watching them.  It actually scared me because I was not prepared for it and I look crappy in my vids (no six pack yet) that I got shy and took out the "channel".

I have learned from this and when I return, it will be more about the places  and my beach buddies and less of me.

Gardo Fuentes wrote:

I got shy and took out the "channel".

Cant posted videos be edited later?    Or eraze - and reload edited-  them you dont want to show? If so you could have kept your chanel, subscribers and income 

coach53 wrote:

Gardo Fuentes wrote:

I got shy and took out the "channel".

Cant posted videos be edited later?    Or eraze - and reload edited-  them you dont want to show? If so you could have kept your chanel, subscribers and income 

Yes but there's just too much of me in there.  Not good.  LOL.  There was no thought of income when I shared my vids because 10-15 years ago, it was more about people just sharing stuff.   I want to keep it that way too if ever I come back but this time with at least 2K resolution quality. 

I would also hire promo girls just to keep the eye candy factor rolling.    I mean look at this. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CguDV5YHjIA

Definitely. With all the improvements and infrastructures going on connecting all the islands making travel a lot faster. A lot more people will start coming here and investing here. Including Overseas Filipinos that live in foreign countries. Not to mention the 60-40 law is about to be abolished so more money can come into the Philippines. Its a very restrictive law not a lot of countries have.

nicoj36 wrote:

Not to mention the 60-40 law is about to be abolished so more money can come into the Philippines. Its a very restrictive law not a lot of countries have.

Thailand is even worse - except same for condos - not allowing foreigners to own anything except if invest very much money.  (I dont remember how much, perhaps it was equalent to around 2.5 mill dollars.)

Thats why I changed my mind to the Philippines, which allow much more concerning owning and have much better for foreigners coincerning being allowed to stay long time.
(E g if its an "Export business" then foreigner can even own whole. Except if the business own land, then its max 40 %.)

nicoj36 wrote:

Not to mention the 60-40 law is about to be abolished so more money can come into the Philippines. Its a very restrictive law not a lot of countries have.

I think under Senate Bill 2094, 100% foreign ownership only applies to companies providing public services in key industries like telcos, domestic shipping, airlines, etc. So, for most businesses, 60 / 40 rule still applies.

pnwcyclist wrote:

I know everyone wants to be a vlogger these days, but it ain't gonna happen. The internet always favors the few - those who are the best and most creative... and sadly - often the most provocative and disruptive.  The success rate will take the shape of a bell curve, with many working hard on the margins.  Vlogging is still work - making them, editing them, and promoting one's channel.  That's not to say vlogging or blogging can't be PART of one's income stream, which may be common in the future.

When the pandemic started and strict quarantines were enforced, I thought of setting up a youtube channel. I was planning to create instructional / educational videos which could help elementary-level Filipino students improve their English and become more confident in speaking it. I know how to create videos using video editing apps which I learned from helping my kids with their video projects for school. Though I am fluent in English, I took TESOL classes to learn things like preparing lesson plans, tips on keeping learners' attention, etc. I wasn't expecting to make a lot of money out of it. It was going to be more like a hobby. But I scrapped that plan because a few months later, I got busy again with my work / business and with my own kids especially with their online schooling. I also thought about my clients. I might lose them if they get the impression that I'm distracted, that they're not my priority. And it is distracting - coming up with new content, ideas on how to keep the channel viable (or at least maintain visibility), ways to make it entertaining for kids, etc.  - and time consuming too.

I think to be successful at vlogging and make money out of it, one really has to be dedicated. And that involves a lot of work and will take up a lot of ones time.

pnwcyclist wrote:

you can that will create an ongoing PASSIVE income stream.

So far this year onlly PASSIVE loss stream.   

-15% Nasdaq
-40% Crypto

Gardo Fuentes wrote:

Also, I think the younger folks that Tariq mentioned who could see working in Pinas long-term could care less re money compared to when they get, say, into their 40s and up.  They seek fun and adventure and there is nothing wrong with that.   So quite possibly, this work as an expat in Philippines could be just a sweet phase in their lives, one they could outgrow later on.

Or it could be something they would grow into.

I grew up in the Philippines. I moved to the US because I wanted to prove to myself that I could live apart from my parents, to be independent. I also wanted to replace my green card with an American citizenship. So, my move wasn't supposed to be permanent. But I met my husband and stayed. We had a son. Combined, our annual income was less than 100k. With prices of homes skyrocketing, we would not be able to afford a house. We would be renters for life, maybe even working for life or until we can't anymore. Although it's been joked about in stand-up comedies, racism was a real and a serious issue in America. I wasn't happy with my work. So we moved to the Philippines.

I can definitely say that we have a better quality of life here in the Philippines. And we now have a daughter. It's funny that in order to achieve the "American dream," we had to get out of America and move, of all places, to a third-world country. The Philippines is most probably where we'll spend the rest of our lives. As for retirement, I think I will work till I reach 62 or older because I now like what I do, especially when compared with my work back in the states, and I'm providing jobs.

I think that it is possible that the move here by the OP and other younger expats and their working here could be not just a phase, but something that could end up in living permanently here.

FilAmericanMom wrote:

Combined, our annual income was less than 100k. With prices of homes skyrocketing, we would not be able to afford a house.

Yes. When people from low salary countries hear about salaries in "western" countries, they fnd that fantastic,
but when I tell such reacting Filipinos/Thai about the living costs, then they get chocked   

In Sweden there are cheap houses "remote" in the north half away from beaches (from around 1.5 mill pesos)
BUT Sweden is cold so only the heating of the house I sold was over 250k pesos per year inspite of I had heat pump (=reducing the cost to 1/3) and I didnt heat parts of the house.

And work costs are very high.  Its funny in the poor Philippines a lot have maids, but almost no one in Sweden afford that   
(Beside some aupairs, I have only seen one maid in Sweden in my whole life... )

FilAmericanMom wrote:

We would be renters for life, maybe even working for life or until we can't anymore.

Yes. In "rich" countries as USA and Sweden many families with kids stuggle and many are in dept.  Even worse in USA by the minimum salaries are much lower in USA than in Sweden (while USA has much higher top salaries but that dont help the poor).

FilAmericanMom wrote:

racism was a real and a serious issue in America.

There was LOW racism in Sweden until a few years ago, but have become rather much by many immigrants/second generation missbehave much. Organiced crimes have grown much and the growing part is immigrants. Sweden had very low murders per capita, but have become bad, but its the criminal gangs killing each other, so no big loss..

BUT SE Asians are LIKED by almost all Swedes.

FilAmericanMom wrote:

I can definitely say that we have a better quality of life here in the Philippines. And we now have a daughter. It's funny that in order to achieve the "American dream," we had to get out of America and move, of all places, to a third-world country.

(y) 

FilAmericanMom wrote:

As for retirement, I think I will work till I reach 62 or older because I now like what I do.

Swedes retire LATER than Filipinos          Minimum to get any SSS at all is 62 and minimum to not get reduced SSS is 65, and this ages will probably be RAISED.
My grandfathers worked until they were 73 (stoped by illness/clumbsy hospital, went from  working in own business to in coma after crap handling after surgery )
and the other got fired when he was 92yo   

FilAmericanMom wrote:

I now like what I do, especially when compared with my work back in the states, and I'm providing jobs.

May I ask?  Providing jobs by you have own business?

Potentials for businesses are much higher in the Philippines than in "western" countries if having capital and/or useful special knowledge.
A friend of mine, who moved to the Philippines as young many years ago, said if he would have known back then what he know now, he would have been rich now 

FilAmericanMom wrote:

I think that it is possible that the move here by the OP and other younger expats and their working here could be not just a phase, but something that could end up in living permanently here.

Yes. Many more possibilies nowadays by internet.

More options and much easier if having some business start capital though.

coach53 wrote:

(1) Yes. When people from low salary countries hear about salaries in "western" countries, they fnd that fantastic, but when I tell such reacting Filipinos/Thai about the living costs, then they get chocked

(2) And work costs are very high.  Its funny in the poor Philippines a lot have maids, but almost no one in Sweden afford that   I have only seen one maid in Sweden in my whole life

(3) BUT SE Asians are LIKED by almost all Swedes.

A couple misconceptions and generalizations put forward by you are addressed below.

(1) Those wonderful salaries are enjoyed by educated professionals with desired skills who are highly   paid, my stepson is a good example.

(2) I would venture to say some Expats have maids along with successful Filipinos. Almost all the maids are poorly educated and have little marketable skills. Being a maid in most cases they have free room & board and almost all their meager wages are sent back to the provinces to support family members.

(3) Painting all Asians as one monolithic group is absurd, My personal belief is the Chinese Expats as a group are more rude and look down at their host country and people as inferior. I've witnessed this in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is a city where the Filipino is the third largest ethnic group. Many Filipinos are in the banking, medical and  gaming industry . My wife & her best friends are Filipinas, never has she been discriminated against or any of her friends that I have know of.

Enzyte Bob wrote:

coach53 wrote:

(1) Yes. When people from low salary countries hear about salaries in "western" countries, they fnd that fantastic, but when I tell such reacting Filipinos/Thai about the living costs, then they get chocked

(2) And work costs are very high.  Its funny in the poor Philippines a lot have maids, but almost no one in Sweden afford that   I have only seen one maid in Sweden in my whole life

(3) BUT SE Asians are LIKED by almost all Swedes.

A couple misconceptions and generalizations put forward by you are addressed below.

(1) Those wonderful salaries are enjoyed by educated professionals with desired skills who are highly   paid, my stepson is a good example.

A couple misconceptions and generalizations put forward by you are addressed below   
1. Dont you know there is a big shortage of employments in "western" countries?  The official percentages are much lower, but e g when officials said 6 %, then the truth was around 20 % unemployed by many gave up and didnt even bother to try to register as unemployee where employers can see them.
So enjoyed by SOME. There are many high educated UNEMPLOYED or work in low salary jobs WITH having high study loans...
(Perhaps it was in this forum an American talked a while ago about his problem with his big study loan.)

Rather many of the high educated Swedes with study loans (which I suppouse are lower than the Americans' because in Sweden students get high subsidity) have reached retirement age WITHOUT paid off the study loan yet inspite of paybacks are made AUTOMATICLY if the earning is above what Swedish government count as "existence minimum"...  But lucky for them I believe these depts are written off still when they reach retirement age.

((Btw  Before I started own full time business as 24yo, I had very high salaries as employee WITHOUT any high formal exam  (I skiped college and studied by myself instead.))

Enzyte Bob wrote:

(2) I would venture to say some Expats have maids along with successful Filipinos. Almost all the maids are poorly educated and have little marketable skills. Being a maid in most cases they have free room & board and almost all their meager wages are sent back to the provinces to support family members.

You missunderstood totaly what I talked about. 
OF COURSE many EXPATS including Swedes have and can afford maids in the Philippines.
I talked about high salaries in Sweden, making almost no Swedes afford to have maid in Sweden...

But I suppouse some with domestic helpers in the Philippines got worried when the Phils government announced employers being responcible for hospital costs if their domestic helpers get covid.   (I dont know how it ended.)

Enzyte Bob wrote:

(3) Painting all Asians as one monolithic group is absurd,

Yes. Why did you post that to me??
It was someone ELSE who didnt separate Asians. I wrote "SE Asians are LIKED by almost all Swedes."  In Sweden there are rather many Vietnameese (=boat refugees from when USA lost and left VietNam) and Sweden have had good contacts with Thailand since long time back so there are many Thai in Sweden. Some Filipinos too.  I dont know of any other SE Asian nationalities living in Sweden.

Enzyte Bob wrote:

My personal belief is the Chinese Expats as a group are more rude and look down at their host country and people as inferior. I've witnessed this in Las Vegas.

But chineese emigrants as a group DO seem being superior    when counting what they started with.  They  were very bad treated by Americans when chineese built the west part of the first transcontinental railway.
((Swedes did built big part of the most tricky parts at the east part.  When an owner wondered if a part could be built at the planned route at all, then myth say the construction leader answered:
-Give me a bunch of Swedes, enough brannvin and snus* and I can construct a railway to hell...

* = very strong alcohol and Swedish type of tobacco to put in mouth without chewing.

I suppouse rather many of them, who did the hard work constructing the big Swedish railroad network including through swamps and mountains, were among the poor Swedes who emmigrated to USA back then. 

Btw - Big part of the succesful businessmen in Phils are chineese or part blood chinese.  (E g he, who according to story started very poor when his father died. He did succeded against the meat monopoly back then.  Later he started Cebu Pasific and Globe.)
I suppouse because they have a different way of thinking in average.

When I have talked with some Filipinos - who want to get things improved - about reasons why many Filipino fail often, when it could have been avoided* ,  I have partly joking said- Very generalisating   

Filipinos think to tomorrow.
Swedes think to next main vacation.    (The bigest group of Swedes, which I call "beach people", do.)
Chinese think generations ahead...

*An other reason is many poor Filipinos newer get a real chance by they dont even get acess to start capital ment for business starts in government programs!!! At least two such programs have been screwed up totaly by politicians making them crazy... (In one they demanded more collateral than the new business from poor!!! In the other they did lend out CHEAP to LENDERS, who offered rather expensive loans to the group suppoused to be supported by the program!!!.)
((So my tribe Filipino business partner is very thankful for the chance to get out of powerty by the business partnering I offered him.))

coach53 wrote:

Enzyte Bob wrote:

coach53 wrote:

(1) Yes. When people from low salary countries hear about salaries in "western" countries, they fnd that fantastic, but when I tell such reacting Filipinos/Thai about the living costs, then they get chocked

(2) And work costs are very high.  Its funny in the poor Philippines a lot have maids, but almost no one in Sweden afford that   I have only seen one maid in Sweden in my whole life

(3) BUT SE Asians are LIKED by almost all Swedes.

A couple misconceptions and generalizations put forward by you are addressed below.

(1) Those wonderful salaries are enjoyed by educated professionals with desired skills who are highly   paid, my stepson is a good example.

A couple misconceptions and generalizations put forward by you are addressed below   
1. Dont you know there is a big shortage of employments in "western" countries?  The official percentages are much lower, but e g when officials said 6 %, then the truth was around 20 % unemployed by many gave up and didnt even bother to try to register as unemployee where employers can see them.
So enjoyed by SOME. There are many high educated UNEMPLOYED or work in low salary jobs WITH having high study loans...
(Perhaps it was in this forum an American talked a while ago about his problem with his big study loan.)

Rather many of the high educated Swedes with study loans (which I suppouse are lower than the Americans' because in Sweden students get high subsidity) have reached retirement age WITHOUT paid off the study loan yet inspite of paybacks are made AUTOMATICLY if the earning is above what Swedish government count as "existence minimum"...  But lucky for them I believe these depts are written off still when they reach retirement age.

((Btw  Before I started own full time business as 24yo, I had very high salaries as employee WITHOUT any high formal exam  (I skiped college and studied by myself instead.))

Enzyte Bob wrote:

(2) I would venture to say some Expats have maids along with successful Filipinos. Almost all the maids are poorly educated and have little marketable skills. Being a maid in most cases they have free room & board and almost all their meager wages are sent back to the provinces to support family members.

You missunderstood totaly what I talked about. 
OF COURSE many EXPATS including Swedes have and can afford maids in the Philippines.
I talked about high salaries in Sweden, making almost no Swedes afford to have maid in Sweden...

But I suppouse some with domestic helpers in the Philippines got worried when the Phils government announced employers being responcible for hospital costs if their domestic helpers get covid.   (I dont know how it ended.)

Enzyte Bob wrote:

(3) Painting all Asians as one monolithic group is absurd,

Yes. Why did you post that to me??
It was someone ELSE who didnt separate Asians. I wrote "SE Asians are LIKED by almost all Swedes."  In Sweden there are rather many Vietnameese (=boat refugees from when USA lost and left VietNam) and Sweden have had good contacts with Thailand since long time back so there are many Thai in Sweden. Some Filipinos too.  I dont know of any other SE Asian nationalities living in Sweden.

Enzyte Bob wrote:

My personal belief is the Chinese Expats as a group are more rude and look down at their host country and people as inferior. I've witnessed this in Las Vegas.

But chineese emigrants as a group DO seem being superior    when counting what they started with.  They  were very bad treated by Americans when chineese built the west part of the first transcontinental railway.
((Swedes did built big part of the most tricky parts at the east part.  When an owner wondered if a part could be built at the planned route at all, then myth say the construction leader answered:
-Give me a bunch of Swedes, enough brannvin and snus* and I can construct a railway to hell...

* = very strong alcohol and Swedish type of tobacco to put in mouth without chewing.

I suppouse rather many of them, who did the hard work constructing the big Swedish railroad network including through swamps and mountains, were among the poor Swedes who emmigrated to USA back then. 

Btw - Big part of the succesful businessmen in Phils are chineese or part blood chinese.  (E g he, who according to story started very poor when his father died. He did succeded against the meat monopoly back then.  Later he started Cebu Pasific and Globe.)
I suppouse because they have a different way of thinking in average.

When I have talked with some Filipinos - who want to get things improved - about reasons why many Filipino fail often, when it could have been avoided* ,  I have partly joking said- Very generalisating   

Filipinos think to tomorrow.
Swedes think to next main vacation.    (The bigest group of Swedes, which I call "beach people", do.)
Chinese think generations ahead...

*An other reason is many poor Filipinos newer get a real chance by they dont even get acess to start capital ment for business starts in government programs!!! At least two such programs have been screwed up totaly by politicians making them crazy... (In one they demanded more collateral than the new business from poor!!! In the other they did lend out CHEAP to LENDERS, who offered rather expensive loans to the group suppoused to be supported by the program!!!.)
((So my tribe Filipino business partner is very thankful for the chance to get out of powerty by the business partnering I offered him.))

You are the King of Blather, Blather on.

coach53 wrote:

FilAmericanMom wrote:

I now like what I do, especially when compared with my work back in the states, and I'm providing jobs.

May I ask?  Providing jobs by you have own business?

Yes. I stated in my profile that I am a business owner. And I also mentioned in some of my posts that I have a shop.

FilAmericanMom wrote:

Yes. I stated in my profile that I am a business owner. And I also mentioned in some of my posts that I have a shop.

Enzyte Bob wrote:

[ You are the King of Blather, Blather on.

I thought that was you 
I wrote long, but you wrote kind of fact errors... 

Btw -   After I had posted that long answer, was a documentary about USA shown. So good timing by TV   
40 million live in poverty in USA!
I dont remember the amount, but a lot of homeless in USA, many of them SQUATTERS living similar to squatters in the Philippines!!!

((There have become many squatters in Sweden too during the last years, but they are from countries, which European Union let in without thinking, making they can travel to Sweden without needing permit.  They go to Sweden not to work but TO BEG, many of them in gangs where they give a share to rich guys in posh cars!))