Information – Page 12 – Philippines Information

Can I Live in the Philippines For $600 USD per Month?

Can a Foreigner Live in the Philippines For $600 USD per Month?

You can live on whatever amount of money you like in the Philippines.

That is the simple answer to a simple question.

An Average Filipino lives on a lot less than that, so YES, it CAN be done.

An Average Filipino House however is not the same as an Average Western style house.

See: Average Houses in the Philippines.

The average Filipino wage in 2012 was 19,583 pesos per month. That is USD 435 or A$593 per month.

See: Wages in the Philippines in the years 2009 and 2012

The average Filipino has a very small Electricity bill. No Fridge/Freezer, No Air Con, No Hot Water, etc., means not much Electricity used.

If you want to live like an Average Filipino, then there is no reason why you can’t.

But, if you want to live like a Westerner, living in a modern property, shopping at the normal shopping centres, eating western food, then you may need a higher budget.

Those Filipinos that live a good life in the Philippines earn substantially MORE than US$600 per month though.

I have spoken to a few who have incomes between 200,000 and 400,000 per month. (That’s between US$4,500 and US$9,000 per month) They have western style houses, good cars, maids and drivers etc., and regularly shop at the Philippine branches of Marks and Spencer, Prada, Louis Vuitton etc. I was surprised to see that there are 24 branches of Marks and Spencer throughout the major centres of the Philippines.

Philippine Top 500 Earners in 2013

The average annual tax paid by the top 500 Individual taxpayers in 2013 was: PHP 13,604,666 according to the Philippines Tax Records.
The top rate of Personal Income Tax is 32% in the Philippines, so the Average Gross Salary, calculated from that average tax paid, would be about: PHP 42,514,581 which works out at about US$78,000 per month.

The breakdown for each group of 100 was:

Estimated Annual Income for Top Tax payers in 2013
PHP 92,989,965	$ 2,066,444	Est Average Annual Income for top 100 earners in 2013
PHP 41,431,627	$ 920,703	Est Average Annual Income for 2nd Top 100 earners in 2013
PHP 31,569,034	$ 701,534	Est Average Annual Income for 3rd Top 100 earners in 2013
PHP 25,244,850	$ 560,997	Est Average Annual Income for 4th Top 100 earners in 2013
PHP 21,337,428	$ 474,165	Est Average Annual Income for 5th Top 100 earners in 2013
PHP 42,514,581	$ 944,768	Est Average Annual Income for ALL Top 500 earners in 2013

These figures have been estimated based on 32% tax rate, and are very rough estimations

So, Can a Foreigner Live in the Philippines For $600 USD per Month?

YES, but you will be closer to the bottom level of Filipino spending , so a much lower Standard of Living when compared to the better off Filipinos

My Personal Experiences

When I first came to the Philippines, I had read that I could live well on $600 per month. I was also told that with $2,000 per month I could live like a King.

I do get by on US$1,500 (A$2,000) per month. But to live like I used to in Australia, I have calculated that I would need closer to US$3,000 (A$4,000) per month.

When I mention this to some others, they tell me to move to a province, get cheaper accommodation, stop eating in western style restaurants, etc., and live more like a local so that I can live better on less money.

The logic in that escapes me. I want to live a decent life, and understand I have to pay for that.

Most Filipinos also want to live a decent life, and would do anything to get a Visa out of their country, OR have a nice high income in the Philippines so they can live better.

First Floor or Second Floor – English -v- American Language

First Floor = English language for the American language Second Floor

Living most of my life in an English Speaking language country, I often find difficulties living in an American language country such as the Philippines.

I have got used to walking on the wrong side of the pavement, and even in malls. Also with going on escalators on the wrong side.

I also got used to buildings not having a first floor, going direct from ground floor to 2nd floor.
BUT… Today I saw an address in Manila saying First Floor ! And I didn’t have a clue where it was.

For those who don’t know what I mean, it comes down to the English language versus the American language.

So, some checking for clarification:

English American Dictionary

First Floor
The English translation of the American wording “First Floor” is Ground Floor.

Second Floor
The English translation of the American wording “Second Floor” is First Floor.

Third floor = Second floor and so on.

In English the ground is the ground.
The 1st floor is the first floor above ground.
The 2nd floor is two floors above ground.

In American the 1st floor is the ground.
The 2nd floor is the first floor above ground.

So.
The First Floor is the Ground Floor in the Philippines (American language)
And in English it is the First Floor above the ground.

But.. What if the advert for the place being advertised, was done by someone who speaks English ? Could they actually mean the First Floor, and not the ground floor ?

Emigration Clearance Certification (ECC) to be available at Airports

Visitor Visa Holders can now get the ECC at the Airport..

a) Is leaving the country within twenty-four (24) hours and with Boarding Pass;
b) Stayed in the Philippines for six (6) months but not more than one (1) year;
c) Is a holder of a valid Temporary Visitor’s Visa (TVV);
d) Has no pending obligation with the Government, its instrumentalities, agencies and subdivisions, and has no pending criminal civil or administrative action which by law requires his presence in the Philippines; and
e) Is registered under the Alien registration Program (ARP) and was issued a Special security Registration Number (SSRN).

The Cost is either 1,210 pesos or 500 pesos depending on if you paid an ECC Fee with your First Temporary Visitor’s Visa extension.

The official document on this is shown at: www.immigration.gov.ph/…/OOSBM%202015-009.pdf and is copied below:

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION
MAGALLANES DRIVE, INTRAMUROS
1002 MANILA

OPERATIONS ORDER NO. SBM-2015-009

AUTHORITY TO ISSUE EMIGRATION CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE (ECC) AT INTERNATIONAL PORTS OF EXIT

WHEREAS, foreign nationals with Temporary Visitor’s Visa (TVV) who stayed in the country for six (6) months or more are required to secure an Emigration Clearance Certification (ECC) before they are allowed to depart from the Philippines;

WHEREAS, under present regulations, ECCs are only issued at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Main Office, through the Alien Registration Division (ARD), and Sub-Port Offices; WHEREAS, statistics show that the primary reason for deferred departure of foreign nationals is their failure to secure an ECC prior to their intended departure;

WHEREAS, the incidence of deferred departures of foreign nationals shall substantially decrease if bi offices at the international ports of exit are authorized to issued ECCs and will facilitate their travel;

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to book IV, Chapter 6, sections 29 and 36(2) of Executive Order No. 292, as amended, otherwise known as the “Administrative Code of 1987”, in relation to Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, otherwise known as the “Philippine Immigration Act of 1940”, the following rules are hereby ordered:

Section 1. Issuance of ECC at the International Port of Exit. – An Emigration Clearance Certificate may be issued to a foreign national at the international port of exit who:

a) Is leaving the country within twenty-four (24) hours and with Boarding Pass;
b) Stayed in the Philippines for six (6) months but not more than one (1) year;
c) Is a holder of a valid Temporary Visitor’s Visa (TVV);
d) Has no pending obligation with the Government, its instrumentalities, agencies and subdivisions, and has no pending criminal civil or administrative action which by law requires his presence in the Philippines; and
e) Is registered under the Alien registration Program (ARP) and was issued a Special security Registration Number (SSRN).

Section 2. Duties of the Airport Operations Division (AOD). –

Upon finding that the foreign national qualifies for issuance of ECC under Section 1 hereof, the Airport Operations Division (AOD), through its duly authorized Collecting Officer /Cashier, shall collect from the foreign national the amount of Seven Hundred Ten Pesos (Php 710.00) as ECC Fee and Five Hundred Pesos (Php 500.00) as express Lane Fee; Provided, however, that if the ECC Fee was already paid upon the First TVV extension, only the amount of Five Hundred Pesos (Php 500.00) as Express Lane Fee shall be collected.

Section 3. Deferred Departure. – A foreign national without an ECC and not qualified for issuance thereof pursuant to Section 1 hereof shall not be cleared for departure and shall be referred to the nearest BI Office authorized to process and issue such ECC.

Section 4. Duty of the Immigration Officer. –
the Immigration Officer on primary inspection shall indicate in the Border Control Information System the:
a) Official receipt Number/s covering the fees paid at the international port of exit; or
b) ECC Number issued by the BI Main Office or Sub-Port Offices.

Section 5. Supercession Clause. – All circulars, memoranda, orders and other issuances inconsistent with this Circular are hereby repealed, amended of modified accordingly.

Section 6. Effectivity. – This Order Shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Let a copy of this Order be furnished to the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. City of Manila, Philippines.
16 April 2015
Signed
SIEGFRED B. MISON
Commissioner

Police Clearance or NBI Clearance in the Philippines

How to get a Police Clearance or NBI Clearance in the Philippines

How to get a Local Police Clearance

You can get a police clearance certificate at the PNP Headquarters, usually at the Municipal’s Office in your town.

You will need:

Barangay Clearance (original and photocopy)
Recent Cedula (Community or Residence Tax Certificate) (original and photocopy)
Application Fee: (This may be between P100 and P500)

You will need to fill in an application Form, which they will provide.

How to get an NBI Clearance

Online NBI Clearance can be started at: http://clearance.nbi.gov.ph
NBI clearance can be done online.

Payment can be made via online banking with BDO, Metrobank or BPI.
Payment can also be made using deposits at a bank branch.

Once paid, you then input the receipt number into your online lodgement.
Then complete the online lodgement and get the reference number to show at the NBI clearance centre chosen.

Using the NBI clearance centre in Ermita took about 90 minutes from queuing behind about 50 people, to getting the final clearance certificate.

No photos were required to be done in advance, as these were taken by the NBI staff just before they scanned the fingerprints in.

NBI for Overseas Travel

Those that need an NBI for overseas travel need to ensure that they ask for the CORRECT one, and that the final certificate is marked as such.

Example:

NBI Travel Australia

Barangay Clearance in the Philippines

Getting a Barangay Clearance in the Philippines

A Barangay Clearance is issued in the Barangay Hall or Municipal Office of the applicant residence.
It is needed for various purposes and, when needed, most prefer the clearance certificate to be dated within the last 6 months.

You will need:

Recent Cedula (Community or Residence Tax Certificate) (original and photocopy may be needed)
Application Fee (price varies)

You will need to fill in an application Form, which they will provide.

Old Philippines Passports after 31 October 2015

Old Philippines Passports to be phased out by 24 November 2015

All Filipino machine readable-ready passports (MRRP; green passports) and machine readable passports (MRP; maroon passports) will be completely phased out by November 24, 2015. Those who fail to travel with a new E-Passport will likely encounter difficulty at immigration checks when traveling through ports of entry around the world after October 2015.

Old Philippines Passports to be phased out by 24 November 2015

From the Department of Foreign Affairs

International Civil Aviation Organization Worldwide Passport Rules

Per the regulations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), all non-machine readable passports may no longer be extended beyond October 31, 2015 and must be completely phased out by November 24, 2015.

All Filipino machine readable-ready passports (MRRP; green passports) and machine readable passports (MRP; maroon passports) will be completely phased out by November 24, 2015.

Holders of the above Passports must apply for a new e-Passport as soon as possible before the expiry of these MRRP (green) or MRP (maroon) passports.

The Dark Maroon passport below is the only type to be Valid from November 2015

Those who fail to travel with a new E-Passport will likely encounter difficulty at immigration checks when traveling through ports of entry around the world after October 2015.

www.gov.ph

How Much Tax is deducted from a Philippine salary

Tax on Salary and Wages in the Philippines

Using the Tax Rates quoted on www.bir.gov.ph I have calculated these approximate tax deductions for a range of salaries.

Approximate Tax rates on the Taxable part of Monthly salaries of:

10,000 would incur a tax charge of about 1,542 pesos or about 15.4%
20,000 would incur a tax charge of about 3,958 pesos or about 19.8%
30,000 would incur a tax charge of about 6,917 pesos or about 23.1%
40,000 would incur a tax charge of about 9,917 pesos or about 24.8%
50,000 would incur a tax charge of about 13,083 pesos or about 26.2%
60,000 would incur a tax charge of about 16,283 pesos or about 27.1%
70,000 would incur a tax charge of about 19,483 pesos or about 27.8%
80,000 would incur a tax charge of about 22,683 pesos or about 28.4%

These are APPROXIMATE and take no account of individual circumstances.

The Taxable part of a salary can be reduced by Exemptions such as the 25,000 (annual) per additional qualified dependents (Max 4).

Average Monthly Salary in Makati City 2015

Average Monthly Salary in Makati City

This is a guide to Various average Salaries quoted on the Internet in August 2015, for the Makati City Location.

Note: Manila has a separate figure.

Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax) 29,555.56 PHP (www.numbeo.com)

Average Monthly Salary in Makati City: 57,452 PHP (www.salaryexplorer.com) (1)

Average Monthly Salary in Makati City by Occupation (www.payscale.com)

38,905 PHP Male All Jobs (2)
27,369 PHP Female All Jobs
35,500 PHP All Permanent Jobs

16,422 PHP Accounting Assistant (3)
17,672 PHP Customer Service Representative
29,233 PHP Accountant
30,805 PHP Executive Assistant
34,157 PHP Software Developer
35,697 PHP Software Engineer
78,360 PHP Project Manager, Information Technology (4)

How much Tax is deducted from a Philippine salary?

Using an online tax calculator, I checked some of the above figures, and got these results:

(1) 57,452 Monthly Salary = 13,777 in Tax ( 24.0%)
(2) 38,905 Monthly Salary = 8,003 in Tax ( 20.6%)
(3) 16,422 Monthly Salary = 1,816 in Tax ( 11.1%)
(4) 78,360 Monthly Salary = 20,467 in Tax ( 26.1%)

The above are based on Single without Dependents.

The Salary of 78,360 monthly would be taxed at 17,800 for married with 4 dependents ( 22.7%)
The Salary of 16,422 monthly would be taxed at 290 for married with 4 dependents ( 1.8%)

Wages in the Philippines in the years 2012 and 2015

The average Family Income in the Philippines in 2012 was 235,000 pesos per year. The average Family Income in the Philippines in 2015 was

Wages in the Philippines in the years 2012 and 2015

Average Family Annual Income 2015

I don’t have the 2015 figures yet, but I will estimate them based on the Wages in the Philippines in the years 2009 and 2012 figures:

2015 Average Family Incomes based on same growth rate as 2009 to 2012, for each 10% group.

800,039 Top 10% ( 66,670 per month)
429,470 Next 10% ( 35,789 per month)
325,880 Third ( 27,157 per month)
264,854 Fourth ( 22,071 per month)
203,215 Fifth ( 16,935 per month)
172,125 Sixth ( 14,344 per month)
149,558 Seventh ( 12,463 per month)
121,500 Eighth ( 10,125 per month)
103,220 Ninth ( 8,602 per month)
76,790 Bottom 10% ( 6,399 per month)

Average Annual Family Income 2012

The average Family Income in the Philippines in 2012 was 235,000 pesos per year.

NOTE: the psa.gov.ph site quotes: ” In 2012, Filipino families had an annual income of 235 thousand pesos, on average.”

The split of this income between each 10% group was:

715,000 Top 10% ( 59,583 per month)
381,000 Next 10% ( 31,750 per month)
286,000 Third ( 23,833 per month)
229,000 Fourth ( 19,083 per month)
182,000 Fifth ( 15,167 per month)
153,000 Sixth ( 12,750 per month)
130,000 Seventh ( 10,833 per month)
108,000 Eigth ( 9,000 per month)
92,000 Ninth ( 7,667 per month)
69,000 Bottom 10% ( 5,750 per month)

Average Monthly Salary in Manila 2015

Average Monthly Salary in Manila

This is a guide to Various average Salaries quoted on the Internet in August 2015, for the Manila Location.

Note: Makati City has a separate figure.

Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax) 23,694.51 PHP (www.numbeo.com)

Average Monthly Salary in Manila: 41,987 PHP (www.salaryexplorer.com)

Average Monthly Salary in Manila by Occupation (www.payscale.com)

37,696 PHP Male All Jobs
27,960 PHP Female All Jobs
37,000 PHP All Permanent Jobs

19,245 PHP Customer Service Representative
19,693 PHP Civil Engineer
22,298 PHP Accountant
30,322 PHP Software Engineer
37,129 PHP Human Resources Manager
80,638 PHP Operations Manager
81,395 PHP Project Manager, Information Technology

Overseas Visitors Spending in the Philippines 2015

The Country that spends the most in the Philippines is:

May 2015 Tourist Spending in Philippines

Php 4,055,000,000 Korea
Php 3,699,000,000 USA
Php 1,060,000,000 Japan
Php 916,000,000 Australia
Php 650,000,000 China

These top 5 countries were followed by: Canada (6), UK (7), Singapore (8), Spain (9) and Malaysia (10).

Korea still positioned itself as the biggest contributor of visitor earnings for the country with Php 4.055 billion, overtaking the United States’ Php 3.699 billion. Japan placed 3rd with Php1.060 billion while Australia (Php 0.916 billion), and China (Php 0.650 Billion) provided the 4th and 5th biggest visitor receipt.
http://www.tourism.gov.ph/pages/industryperformance.aspx

Spending per visitor in the Philippines

Per capita spending was recorded at:

Php 55,059.93 United States

Php 48,870.66 Australia
Php 48,580.54 Canada
Php 48,429.79 United Kingdom

Php 43,103.50 Korea

Australia, Canada and UK are almost identical in spending by these figures. But how the figures are obtained is curious.

Average Daily Expenditure (ADE) of international visitors for the month of May 2015 was recorded at Php 4,583.29 while Average Length of Stay (ALoS) for the same month registered 10.11 nights.

Visitors to the Philippines by Point of Entry by Air in May 2015

297,987 Manila
: 61,970 Cebu
: 34,933 Kalibo
: 13,801 Clark (Angeles City)
: 901 Davao
: 777 Palawan
: 325 Iloilo

Visitors to the Philippines by Point of Departure May 2015

58.39% visitors from Asia
19.60% visitors from Americas
9.31% visitors from Europe
5.80% visitors from Australasia/ Pacific
4.30% visitors from Overseas Filipinos

Visitors to the Philippines by Country: Jan to May 2015

Percentage	Arrivals	Country
24.50%	546,031	Korea
15.74%	350,776	US
9.18%	204,704	Japan
7.08%	157,830	China
4.59%	102,323	Australia
3.47%	77,395	Singapore
3.32%	73,989	Canada
3.11%	69,362	Taiwan
2.98%	66,410	United Kingdom
2.92%	65,115	Malaysia

Visitor Arrivals by Subcontinent of Residence

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/secstat/d_tour.asp

Buenavista

Buena Vista means “good view” in the Spanish Language.

Buenavista municipalities

Buenavista is a municipality in the province of Agusan del Norte, Philippines, Population of 56,139 in 2010
Buenavista is a municipality in the province of Guimaras, Philippines. Population of 46,703 in 2010
Buenavista is a municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. Population of 29,053 in 2010
Buenavista is a municipality in the province of Marinduque, Philippines. Population of 23,111 in 2010
Buenavista is a municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. Population of 27,031 in 2010

Buenavista barangays

Buenavista is a Barangay in the Municipality of Pura, Province of Tarlac. Population of 3,164 in 2010
Buenavista is a Barangay in the Municipality of Ubay, in the province of Bohol. Population of 688 in 2010

Other Buenavistas

The Island Buenavista is an exclusive island resort in Samal, Davao del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines

And of course, from where the name originated:

Buenavista in Spain

Hotels in Buenavista, Spain

Australian Working Visa 457

Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) for Australia

This visa lets a skilled worker travel to Australia to work in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor for up to four years.

To get the 457 Visa you need:

To have been sponsored by an approved business
To have the required skills to fill a position nominated by an approved business

You must be sponsored by an approved business. A business can sponsor someone for this visa if they cannot find an Australian citizen or permanent resident to do the skilled work.

The basic cost for this Visa is AUD 1,060 (35,000 to 40,000 pesos depending on FX rate) July 2015.

More details at: Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Australian Medicals for Visa in Manila

Medical Examination Procedures for Australian Visa Applicants

This information is provided from the St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic, but should be similar to all other Medical options.

All Australian Visa Applicants (except for those applying for subclass 457, 856, or 857) must first lodge their visa application either through eVisa system or at the Australian Embassy in Makati before coming to St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic for their Medical Examination.

Australian Visa applicants can register online at the St Lukes Clinic: Online Registration Form

All Applicants must present the Health Examination List (from the Australian Embassy) or the Examination Referral Letter (for eVisa/eHealth applicants) at the Australian Reception Area on the day of the medical exam.

For Subclass 457, 856 and 857 visa applicants, you may still have your medical screening examination before lodgement of visa application.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Health Examination List (sample)From the Australian Embassy, or Examination Referral Letter (sample) for E-Visa Applicants
Valid Passport
If not available, the following identification documents may be presented:
- national ID (SSS, postal ID, voter’s ID, PRC ID, driver’s license, school ID) or
- birth certificate
2 PHOTOCOPIES of the passport/ national ID/ birth certificate (click here for format)
2 pieces recent passport-sized photos (white or blue background)
furtherance letter, if applicable
Regardless of current marital status, applicants who have had previous marriages that were nullified through annulment are required to present the annulment papers (court decision) before their medical report can be completed.

http://www.slec.ph/australian-visa-applicants.shtml#required-docs

Filipinos Offloaded at Manila, Cebu, Clark Airports

Many Filipinos are being reported as being offloaded at airports for often unknown reasons. The word "offloaded" is technically incorrect, as they never get to board the plane in the first place.

Filipinos offloaded at airports are not allowed to travel

Many Filipinos are being reported as being offloaded at airports for often unknown reasons. The word “offloaded” is technically incorrect, as they never get to board the plane in the first place.

What happens is that the Immigration Officer checking their papers on leaving, may request an interview for one of many possible reasons.

This interview may show probable cause for the Immigration Officer to decide that the passenger should not be allowed to travel.

BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison said the Bureau and Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT) has come up with a set of clear-cut rules under the Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International Bound Passengers approved by the Department of Justice.

The said Guidelines were formulated by a technical working group pursuant to RA 9208 or the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and is in effect since January 2012.

BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison said: “Offloading is not a policy but a consequence of the implementation of the Guidelines.”

How do people travelling, especially alone, get past this possible problem of being offloaded?

Passengers heading for Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, are considered transit points accounting for high incidents of human trafficking, and therefore will be more closely targetted. Maybe choose a different holiday destination?

I was reading a BoI notice to All Philippine Airports etc, and one part said this:

Partners and spouses of foreign nationals intending to depart to meet and/or marry his/her fiance without the CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate, will be subjected to secondary inspection.

This has caused problems in that past when a BoI officer relied on the wording exactly.
The young lady was going overseas to meet her boyfriend, and therefore came under the above section. However, the CFO did not apply to her as he was not emigrating.

The Young lady did the right thing.
The CFO did the right thing in not giving a CFO stamp to a Tourist
The BoI officer followed the rule correctly, as printed.

No-one was wrong, other than the rules not being specific enough and overlapping in the wrong way.

So… What chance do you have ?

Know were you are going, know everything about who and where you are visiting, have ALL the right paperwork. Avoid giving the BoI officer cause for concern about your safety.
Have enough funds to support your stay.
If you travel with your boyfriend/partner etc., you have a better chance of leaving, even without own funds in a bank account. Even without having a bank account.
But nothing is guaranteed.

Some Numbers to put it Offloading in perspective:

According to the Bureau of Immigration, about 40 Filipinos get offloaded at the Manila NAIA Terminal 1 every day for various reasons. That is almost 15,000 each year.

However, over 1 million Filipinos travel overseas each year. That means at least 985,000 of them do NOT get offloaded.

2,700+ are OK to leave each day
40 are offloaded each day

Angeles City Hotel Booking Service

Check Prices and

Review Hotels in Angeles City

Puerto Galera Hotel Booking Service

Check Prices and

Review Hotels in Puerto Galera

Nightlife in Angeles City, Pampanga

Fields Avenue and Walking Street in Balibago, Angeles City are home to many Bars and Hotels that cater for many International Tourists, with many arriving from Korea, America, Japan and Australia.

There is a small part of Angeles City that is famous for its Nightlife – Fields Avenue

Fields Avenue and Walking Street are located in Balibago, a locality in Angeles City, Pampanga. This is situated very near to the the Clark Freeport Zone, where the old US Airforce base was. It is about 1 or 2 hours north of Manila by the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

Fields Avenue and Walking Street in Balibago are home to many Bars and Hotels that cater for many International Tourists, with many arriving from Korea, America, Japan and Australia.

Many reports refer to these tourists as “Sex Tourists”, a very apt name, as there are many girls working in these bars who need to earn money, to send back home to their families in the Provinces. These are often very poor families who live on very low incomes.

A girl in these bars may be paid about 200 pesos for an 8 hour shift, but will also get a bonus for every drink that a customer buys them. many girls are happy to chat to customers and drink with them, and can earn another 500 or 600 per night just doing that. Some bars pay about 100 pesos per drink to the girl. So, if she can get 5 drinks, then she earns 700 pesos for the night.

Some other girls go further and can earn another 1,000 pesos or more by being “barfined” or “getting an early work release” [EWR]. This entails the customer paying the bar for the girl to leave early, and go with the customer. Where she goes, or what she does, is of no real concern to the bar management. Some girls just want to go bar hopping, but most customers expect more, and some offer breakfast the next morning.

A website that discusses this in detail is: Philippines Nightlife Travel Forum. This can be very detailed, and not for everyone.

The part of Angeles City that is really considered the “Entertainment area” is shown below, in the small rectangle:

Angeles City from the View Point of an Australian Journalist

Angeles City, with a population of about 350,000 – is a brothel

Margaret Simons, a Melbourne based Journalist, has written story about Angeles City being a red-light Filipino slum filled with children fathered by Australian sex trade tourists.

After visiting Walking Street, Balibago, with her Photographer, she decided that Angeles City, with a population of about 350,000 – is a brothel, and its support system.

www.dailymail.co.uk News: Fact or Fiction… Who cares

Quote from the Daily Mail:

The only people who visit here are sex tourists and, in our case, those who report on them – my 55-year-old self and 39-year-old photographer Dave Tacon. The entire town – with a population of about 350,000 – is a brothel, and its support system.

No mention that Balibago, the location she visited a small part of, does NOT cover ALL of Angeles City.

It is commonly known that the areas of Fields Avenue, Raymond Street, Perimeter Street and Santos Street are the “entertainment” areas of Clark and Angeles City. Some reports say that 12,000 work in that small area. Hotel Staff, Waitresses, etc and yes, Bargirls too.

Balibago has a population of 50,734, living in 9,250 households. www.angelescity.gov.ph
About 16% of the total Angeles City population are females between 15 and 29, therefore about 52,000 females in that age group.

Not all of these work in the bars etc. The Call Centers in Clark and other local areas, The SM Shopping Mall, Robinsons Mall, Marquee Mall and many other shops and businesses also employ people.

The same author also writes in www.news.com.au

Margaret Simons said Australian men are looking for underage women. That’s the reason they go.

With the constant Police raids on Balibago bars looking for underage girls, most men seem to avoid anyone under 18 anyway, as the time they will spend in prison is not conducive to a good holiday. The risk factor is too much. Most girls carry official ID with their age anyway.

Maybe this reporter, Margaret Simons, thought the 18-21 year old girls looked younger and assumed they are all are. Then quoted it to the world as FACT.

Margaret Simons is saying that AUSTRALIANS are the problem, and she quotes another website that says: Angeles City’s red light district has fast become a top destination for sex tourism. Male travellers from Asia, Australia, the US, Europe and the Middle East constitute the bulk of the arrivals at Clark Airport, a former US military airbase. From there, many flock to the bars and clubs of Fields Avenue – and to the impoverished young women who work there.

Note: Angeles City’s red light district is mainly Fields Avenue. It is NOT all of Angeles City as Margaret Simons says. Margaret Simons is insulting the decent Filipino population of Angeles City that are NOT involved in the red light district.

Her attack on Australians ?

Take a look at the flight schedule INTO Clark and see where these flights originate. Many from Korea.

And look at the numbers of visitors to the Philippines:

1,175,472 South Korea
722,750 United States
463,744 Japan
394,951 China
224,784 Australia
179,099 Singapore
143,899 Canada
142,973 New Zealand
139,245 Malaysia
133,665 United Kingdom

Australia comprises just 7.5% of total visitors, but according to Margaret Simons, the Australians are THE problem ?

Take a walk down Walking Street (Fields avenue) where all the bars are, and you will see plenty of Koreans, Americans, Japanese and then the Australian/British/Canadian/New Zealand mix.

A few bars are Australian owned, but many are Korean and American owned.

A quote from wikipedia:

In many Angeles City bars the girls will specifically target Koreans because they know he is a smaller build, represents less wear and tear and they do not have to become emotionally involved. For the Angeles City bar girls the Korean customers are seen as “easy money”.

Margaret Simons and the Shopping Mall Guards:

The cleanest and most “normal” places are the shopping malls, where the beggars are kept away by guards carrying pump-action shotguns or military assault rifles, and sometimes a pistol strapped to their hip for good measure.

They are like that at the Banks, Yes… But, military assault rifles? I’ll take a look next time.

Clark Airport Revenue and Profits 2012-2014

Clark Airport Revenue and Profits

Revenue reports from the Clark Airport Annual Reports.

Aeronautical Revenue

Landing and Take off fees, Aircraft Parking Fees, Terminal and Security Fees

2012: 354.3m (pesos)
2013: 293.4m
2014: 255.8m

Non Aeronautical Revenue

Rental Income, Car Parking Fees, Check in Counter Fees etc.

2012: 161.7m
2013: 275.7m
2014: 297.5m

Profits

2012: -7.9m (loss)
2013: 37.8m
2014: 45.5m

Aeronautical Operations and Revenue are dropping, but profits are rising. Maybe due to higher prices being charged ?
Will this drive more Airline Operators away and back to Manila?

Calculations:

Using Flight Statistics data from www.in-philippines.com/clark-airport-2007-to-2015 I have calculated the average income for each flight for each year.

2012 : 12,814 flights with Aeronautical Revenue of 354.3m = average fees of 27,649 per flight
2013 : 10,336 flights with Aeronautical Revenue of 293.4m = average fees of 28,386 per flight
2014 : 6,651 flights with Aeronautical Revenue of 255.8m = average fees of 38,460 per flight

Source: http://crk.clarkairport.com/downloads/annual-report/annual-report-2014.pdf