Hello

[Angel1403]

Hi folks,

My name is Allan, I'm married to a wondeful filipino girl since 2010

I'm 48 and would love to be able to retire in Manila or Cebu by age 55 at the latest.

We hope to make friends and gain good advice etc from joining this site.

We are visiting Manila again in Sept

I work in Environmental Health (Food Safety & Health and Safety Enforcement) and I'm also a chef by trade.

Of course I would love to find a UK employer that would have me based in Manila of Cebu right now. However, I guess thats a pipe dream lol

The site looks great and we look forward to being part of it

Cheers

Allan

[jon1]

Originally Posted by Angel1403

Hi folks,

My name is Allan, I'm married to a wondeful filipino girl since 2010

I'm 48 and would love to be able to retire in Manila or Cebu by age 55 at the latest.

We hope to make friends and gain good advice etc from joining this site.

We are visiting Manila again in Sept

I work in Environmental Health (Food Safety & Health and Safety Enforcement) and I'm also a chef by trade.

Of course I would love to find a UK employer that would have me based in Manila of Cebu right now. However, I guess thats a pipe dream lol

The site looks great and we look forward to being part of it

Cheers

Allan

Welcome to the forum...

If I was going to pick between Manila and Cebu, it would be Cebu.. Cebu is less polluted.

You would be awfully busy over here working in your current capacity (I doubt any kitchens over here could pass a western health inspection).

Maybe you should look into some of the high end resorts/restaurants while you are here and see if they need a western chef?

Cheers

Jon

[Angel1403]

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the welcome.....

Interesting what you say about the kitchen standards.

However, my preference would be to do food safety &/or health and safety work in the Philippines rather than chef work/

I wonder if the likes of Shangri La, Peninsula type hotels have such positions available.

I guess we will ask while in Manila this year.

Good point about Cebu. We have not visited their yet, but hope to maybe next year. I guess we will visit some of the hotels their too.

However, the problem I guess meantime would be getting a job their via a UK based employer, as for sure be nice to be paid a UK salary while living in Manila or Cebu

Thanks for all advice etc

Originally Posted by jon1

Welcome to the forum...

If I was going to pick between Manila and Cebu, it would be Cebu.. Cebu is less polluted.

You would be awfully busy over here working in your current capacity (I doubt any kitchens over here could pass a western health inspection).

Maybe you should look into some of the high end resorts/restaurants while you are here and see if they need a western chef?

Cheers

Jon

[jon1]

Originally Posted by Angel1403

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the welcome.....

Interesting what you say about the kitchen standards.

However, my preference would be to do food safety &/or health and safety work in the Philippines rather than chef work/

I wonder if the likes of Shangri La, Peninsula type hotels have such positions available.

I guess we will ask while in Manila this year.

Good point about Cebu. We have not visited their yet, but hope to maybe next year. I guess we will visit some of the hotels their too.

However, the problem I guess meantime would be getting a job their via a UK based employer, as for sure be nice to be paid a UK salary while living in Manila or Cebu

Thanks for all advice etc

You are welcome.

I understand about working for a UK/non-Filipino company. You are better likely to make more $ in such a position. Maybe talk to your company about Business Development into SouthEast Asia if they are not already involved over here?? If they bite, you could possibly get them to pay for your trip here (or get reimbursed for it if it's already payed for).

Another option would be to go into business for yourself as a Consultant in your expertise and work independently for one of those hotel chains. They may or may not have someone like that already that does spot checks/training for their chain. That would pay more than what your company would pay you as you would get the $ that your company presently pockets in profit (you would most likely have to pay all the associated taxes your company pays in their overhead on you).

Just kicking around some ideas for you to think about. I was trying to do the same thing (getting my current company to finance/land some type of position in the Philippines). At present I travel out of the Philippines for 60-90 days doing work for my company. It would nice be able to keep my cash flow coming in and work from home for a change.

Another thing to do is network while you are here. Make friends with the hotel managers. Learn the ins/outs. Show them that you know what you are talking about (co-miserate about all the hassles with employees, government oversight, etc. etc.) . The networking is a must so that when the right opportunity appears you are thought of. Everything is about timing and knowing the right people.

There are lots of pitfalls in living here that will suck your bank account dry. So as Gene will tell you it's always better to live over here for a few to 6 months to get a taste if you can really adapt to living here. It would be even better to be able to work here, have an income coming in, while you test the waters and learn the place. You are in your prime earning potential and being prepared for retiring at 55 I think is key. I am trying to fully retire at 55 also.

Look thru some of the threads here to see the challenges.

Jon

[Gene and Viol]

Originally Posted by jon1

Welcome to the forum...

If I was going to pick between Manila and Cebu, it would be Cebu.. Cebu is less polluted.

You would be awfully busy over here working in your current capacity (I doubt any kitchens over here could pass a western health inspection).

Maybe you should look into some of the high end resorts/restaurants while you are here and see if they need a western chef?

Cheers


Jon

That's a good idea Jon, there may be large hotel/resorts that could use a chief. Difficult thing is to find the one that might be looking. Also, a work permit is needed to work here and must be obtained by the employer. Work here illegally and almost without a doubt you'll be caught and deported.
Best place I can think of for starters looking for a job along that line would be in the Clark Freeport Zone and or Subic Bay. Many large hotels in both places plus Subic has the Subic Yacht Club with a large and very good restaurant.


Gene

[jon1]

Originally Posted by Gene and Viol

That's a good idea Jon, there may be large hotel/resorts that could use a chief. Difficult thing is to find the one that might be looking. Also, a work permit is needed to work here and must be obtained by the employer. Work here illegally and almost without a doubt you'll be caught and deported.
Best place I can think of for starters looking for a job along that line would be in the Clark Freeport Zone and or Subic Bay. Many large hotels in both places plus Subic has the Subic Yacht Club with a large and very good restaurant.


Gene

You are so correct. A 13G visa would be needed for sure. Then no worries. But he will have to check with the UK on the tax laws to see which is more advantageous and which visa he should pursue if he were to entertain all of this.

Bottom line; it's all about getting the lay of the land and understanding what is realistic vs dream.... Most of our dreams burst but if you don't dream or ask it definitely won't happen!

Jon