40's and looking to going back home to the Philippines

[xtne]

I'm currently living here in Canada.  Going on 13 years now.  I'm in my mid-40s and been thinking of going back home to Manila.  I'm single and no family here in Canada.  Most of them are in the Philippines.  Gusto ko nang umuwi kasi namimiss ko na family ko and my parents are getting older.

I'm not a nurse nor in the IT field.  Most if not all of my work here in Vancouver has been in the Administrative/Clerical field.

Question is makakahanap pa kaya ako ng work sa Manila?  My last job in Manila was in a call center.  5 years din ako dun.  Okay din naman if I go back to that industry.  Worry ko lang is my age.  Posible pa kaya akong makapagtrabaho sa call center or find any office work at my age?

Thank you!

[ms.holly]

I think your age will not be a problem as long as you pass the medical exam. It is definitely an advantage you lived abroad. I don't see any reason why you wouldn't get hired unless yun nga yung medical results   

[althea_ge]

Why are you keen to get a job? why not start a business? If you worked there for 13 yrs, I'm sure you saved enough money to put up a business? If not, probably stay for another year or two to save up for a business. Well, if you really like to work as an employee, you might have an edge cause you worked in a country where English is the primary language.
good luck!

[amethyst028]

@xtne may mga jobs naman dito na hindi nag re-require ng age limit. kaya lang kung clerical medyo mababa salary. yung ibang company nasa 20's to early 30's ang hanap because of the pay. siyempre pag mas mature mas madami na gastusin baka hindi na satisfied sa magiging salary. expected kasi na that age married with kids and yung iba may college students na anak na stuff like that. you know how it is here.

kung gusto mo mag save ka muna diyan then open a business here or franchise ka para hindi na issue ang employment. or search ka sa mga jobsrteet etc. to see kung anong mga jobs ang available for you here in case you come back for good.

kasi sis ang daming pinoy na gusto makapag abroad halos gagawin kahit ano maka alis lang dito dahil feeling nila mahirap ang buhay dito  sa atin then ikaw babalik ka permanently so kung gagawin mo yun dapat may plan ka para maging ok rin ang life mo pag nandito ka na.

[khaleesiCersei]

Onga sis parang mas ok kung business na lang kesa maging empleyado ka dito. Mas mababa ang sweldo makukuha mo dito kesa dyan sa canada. Syempre hindi din ganon kaganda benefits compared dyan. May kakilala ako umuwi, feeling niya sapat na naipon niya. Ayun after ilang years naubos na ipon.

Bat di mo na lang kunin parents mo para dyan na lang sila?

[Shadow Angel]

Parang ang hirap bumalik sa pinas kung magiging employee ka ulit. Iconsider mo dyan if magiging masaya ka sa salary baka 1st year ka lang ok sa new job mo sa pinas. Mas ok nga ang negosyo un lang need dapat may alam at hilig mo talaga. Nasa Canada rin ano ako un lang I have my own family here. Now na nandito ang laki ng pakakaiba ng pinas sa Canada lalo na sa sistema and people aroud here alam ko alam mo na yan kaya hindi ko naiisa isahin. Big disisyon yan kaya pag isipan mo mabuti. Mahirap magsisi sa huli lalo na dami gusto makapasok dito at hirap din basta makapunta dito. Sana may iba ka options hindi lang pag uwi sa pinas.

[xtne]

Thanks for all your replies.  I know for some weird ang decision ko kasi ako na nga etong nasa abroad eh gusto ko pang bumalik ng pinas.  But after 13 years & having no family here, I realized kasi na mas importante talaga ang family.  And for me ha, Vancouver is not all that.  Sure maraming benefits and advantages pero marami ding disadvantages.  Lalo na for me na single.  Walang masyadong benefits aside from free healthcare.

Vancouver is a very expensive city.  Kaya hindi rin ako makaipon enough para makapag-business ng okay dyan sa pinas.  At wala ata akong business sense hehe.  Half of my monthly salary here goes to rent then mahal din ang internet at cellphone bills dito.

And I don't  mind kung ang magiging salary ko eh way below than the salary ko ngayon dito sa Canada. I'll be staying with my sister and sabi nga nya ang isipin ko lang eh yung panggagastos ko for me.

As for my parents, they're old na kasi. Tapos sakitin na Dad ko.  Lamigin pa kaya hindi nya na makakaya ang lamig dito sa Vancouver.

If ever I move back, I won't give up naman my Canadian citizenship eh.  Apply ako ng dual citizenship para I can always come back anytime  Not sure din how long I want to stay in Manila.  Long enough siguro to spend time with my parents habang kaya pa nila. 

[Shadow Angel]

Tama ka dyan mostly single talaga ang nahohomesick na mga kilala ko dito. About benefits yap tama ka rin pag may anak ka much better ang makukuha mo. Retirement mas gusto ko dito less stress. Bukod un overall na system ng government dito. Lalo na safety lumalakad ka sa gabi na hindi ka kakabahan. Bibitbit mo mga gadgets mo ng hindi ka stress na baka madukot.masarap tumira sa lugar na hindi puro patayan or corruption nakikita mo sa news. Anyway ako lang naman un na gusto ko talaga dito. Sabi ko nga alam na alam mo na yan sa tagal mo na dito. Maganda nga dual ka para anytime kahit saan mo gusto magsettle pwede.

[TysLolakins]

it must be burn-out paired with homesickness that you're feeling right now.
that's a good idea,  change your scenery then come back.  actually once you start living and working in Pinas again,  that's when you'll appreciate more what you have in Canada.  trust me, i've done that,  and I cannot wait to go back to the states. ha ha ha.
yes, life in another country is tough and expensive,  maybe more so that you're single.  unless you make tons of money,  it's better having somebody sharing the bills and as constant company/companion.
excellent idea not giving up your Canadian citizenship so you can collect your retirement benefits from the years of working there.
good-luck and enjoy your next adventure!

[Rory_Lorelie_Gilmore]

Hi TS, Nakakauwe ka ba for vacation? What if mag file ka muna ng LOA ng mahaba-haba, para makita and mafeel mo muna ang totoong Pinas after a month or so? Then decide if you really want to stay there. But your plan of not giving your Canadian Citizenship up is very wise. So wala ka pa din dapat ikatakot, anytime pwede ka bumalik Canada and start anew. 

[wowry]

Ang alam ko sa call center naman kahit nasa 50s na tinatanggap. Nabanggit lang ng neighbour sa akin na may kasama siya sa work na parang mom na niya. Anyway, dati akong OFW for 8 years, flight attendant ako sa Middle East then when I got pregnant nag decide kami ni hubby to stay in the Philippines for good isang factor na rin na senior na mom ni hubby so gusto na rin niya makasama kasi 14 years na siya nasa abroad. Initially, we looked for a job but then got fed up kasi nga ang baba talaga ng offer so we ended up putting up our own business(cafe).  When the business was established and pwede na iwanan, nag-try ako magwork as a Financial Advisor sa Pru Life UK and ended up loving the job kasi right now I'm getting more than twice the salary of what I was offered before with barely few hours of work in a week plus super flexible pa ng oras. I never knew I would like it kasi wala naman akong sales experience. So I think if you want a decent salary, okay din mag-try sa sales like in my company madali naman matuto kasi sobrang daming available trainings.

[kvandenhaak]

I have been here 15 years. Wala akong family here except my 13 year old son. I also have a clerical job. May naiipon naman kahit konti. But I live in Edmonton. The lifestyle is not as crazy as Vancouver. Thankfully, I don't feel homesick.

In your case, you can definitely try going back home and see where you are happier. Money isn't everything. Follow your heart ika nga.

[xtne]

Hi TS, Nakakauwe ka ba for vacation? What if mag file ka muna ng LOA ng mahaba-haba, para makita and mafeel mo muna ang totoong Pinas after a month or so? Then decide if you really want to stay there. But your plan of not giving your Canadian Citizenship up is very wise. So wala ka pa din dapat ikatakot, anytime pwede ka bumalik Canada and start anew. 

Actually, I just went home last month for a 3-week vacation.  After 13 long years. Dati kasi sa HK lang ako nagbabakasyon where one of my sister lives.  The Philippine vacation actually made me realize more how much I miss home. I've seen and realized how old my parents are now and I'm scared that something might happen to them while I'm away. I was so sad coming back to Vancouver and even up 'til now all I can think about is going back.  I'm already planning to go back again next January habang inaayos ko pa ang dapat ayusin dito sa Canada.  I've already acquired so much stuff here kasi so I need to take care of those before I can go back to the Philippines.

[xtne]

Thank you guys again for all your replies and kind words.  I'm still in the process of gathering documents for my dual citizenship and getting rid of my stuff here.  Hopefully if all goes well, I'll be home by next year.   

[Rory_Lorelie_Gilmore]

Alright, umuwe ka na nga talaga muna TS, if the desire is that strong, don't disregard it. I wish you well. 

[freshpicks]

Hi xtine, if your heart and mind tell you to go home, then go for it.  Don't think too much about finding a job, because there are many options and possibilities if one is just patient enough and willing to do what it takes. Some jobs do have an age limit while others do not. The community of freelance / online workers is growing here in the Philippines and that's something you might want to explore. You may also consider trying to apply while you're there so you get a feel already of how it will be like. 

Enjoy 

[kaye_82]

Hi xtne, I feel you and I really empathize with you, as I am in the same situation right now. I have been living in the Middle East for more than 11 years now, and is now going back to the Philippines for good next month with the same reasons as you have. I wish you and I all the best and let's look at the brighter side of pursuing "Chapter 2" of our lives. There is really no place like home and money can't buy it either, much more, there is really no place like the one closer to our parents and family -  where the heart is.

[Girltalker2]

Minsan ako din nalulungkot na malayo ako sa friends and relatives and in particular parents ko.

But what can I do. I?m with my kids naman and have met din my partner who also takes good care of us. So I just try to go home as often as I can. Pero iba parin when you visit and staying for good.

As they?ve said, maraming options. In My last visit 2 months back, pansin ko laki narin asenso from the time I left the country for good, every visit ko May bago. Consider setting up business or studying again if you?re free, for more options.

[angeljolie]

Try mo mag apply sa international organizations dito sa Pinas. They won't care about your age. Entry level usually is admin. Pero mas maganda ang package compared to other companies'.

[PwedePadala]

How are you doing @xtne? Are you in the Philippines right now? I'm also an OFW in Canada and understand how you feel.

While working abroad, I look for ways on how I can earn passive income through blogging and rental property. I found out the virtual assistant is in demand nowadays. Maybe that's something you can try or teach English online like Maria from pinasforgood.

Apart from blogging, I also tried testing apps on uTest. The pay is not bad when converted to peso. I thought of moving back and forth in the Philippines since my parents are also getting older.

How was your dual citizenship? I'm planning to apply for it also because I want to avail the pension.

Tip: You can check the CPP by creating an account on Service Canada. It's interesting to know how much is the pension if I will retire today. I better keep on contributing.

Good luck!