Robbie in and around Tacloban

INTRODUCTION This can be harder than one would think. Most foreigners think it is about investing some money and you start to make a living. My intention is not to kill a dream but to advise on my personal experience. This article is more aimed at foreigners living in a province. BUYING LAND IN THE PHILIPPINES As far as I am aware and have spoken to different attorneys a foreigner cannot own land here. I read on the internet there are ways around this but my but not so on the legal advice I have received. I am married with a family and the land is in my wife’s name. After 5 years the value of this land (1000 square meters) is 300% higher than what we paid. Land prices go up over time. It is the same the world over. WORKING IN THE PHILIPPINES I have never gone into this but as far as I know if you are working for an International Company there are permits required through Immigration. If you are living here and somehow find a job you will have to compete with local labour...

INTRODUCTION Foreigners may wonder what is like to live in a barangay (village) setting in a province of the Philippines. I can only comment on my experience here in the Dulag area not too far from Tacloban City. It is a life style that will be suited to some but not others. My purpose here is to express my feelings and the plus and minus aspects of this type of life! I have now been living here permanently for three consecutive years. DAILY LIFE The daily life of the local people appears normal and routine in this village. It is very quiet through the night but around 5.30am you will start to hear motor bikes as we are living on the main road. Some people will travel to Dulag, Tolosa, or right into Tacloban City for work. Many in this village are involved with rice farming. You have land owners and you have laborers. Labourers will help with crop preparation and harvest but you also have maintenance workers who spray the rice crops plus other duties. Rice farming appears ...