Just rent

 

Although I believe it is wrong to criticise the laws of a country where I am a guest, I do believe in reciprocity and so, if was the supreme ruler of my country (i.e a dictator) I would in all fairness apply the same laws as applied to my countrymen in a foreign land. In that respect all Filipinos in the UK would have the same Visa rules as applied in The Philippines, be classed as 'aliens' and have to register regularly, lose their citizenship of my country, lose their rights to own property, be forced to sell all owned property to a UK citizen (including a spouse if such a citizen), receive no free healthcare, no benefits ... and anything else a UK citizen has to accept (or else be deported) in The Philippines. That is not criticism of The Philippines, just creating a level playing field.

 

When your own country allows for dual citizenship then you can get also dual citizenship in the Philippines. Then you can get citizenship in the Philippines without losing original citizenship.

 

No

NO... in my country immigrants do NOT have to register and are not classed as "aliens" ... we only do that for people from other parts of the Universe. Filipinos are treated equally with UK citizens and not only can they buy property but many bought their 'Council-owned' homes at a massive discount. They receive free healthcare and benefits for themselves and dependants and their children are educated free of charge.

 

And I forgot to mention that they claimed benefits for their children living in The Philippines and sent the money home to them.

 

Dear Wrye. Got caught with an urgent business trip to Taiwan and crisis at work. This weekend is President's day long weekend and I am getting a chance to catch up. Phew. As that would tell you, I am actually quite far from retirement I am 44 going to 45, so in the thick of middle age, I guess ? And too far from Social Security to have looked into its details.

Thanks for your lovely thoughts. You are right that I care about daughter quite a bit! And while I dont want the complication of bringing my gf or my daughter to the US; I do want her to have the most flexibility in life. So you bring up a good point of getting her a US passport. I had not thought about it ! Indeed the hopeless quality of education in the phil and poor career opportunities in the future definitely worry me. I will definitely work on it. She is registered as my daughter and actually got my last name. My gf told me this interesting tidbit that the first kid can get the father's last name even if filipina-mom/US-dad are not married. But that doesn't work for second kid. I digress...

What I really want is that the two Dumaguete properties we have pass on to my daughter. i.e. even if my gf should choose to leave me, I would be perfectly fine if the property eventually goes to my daughter (where I come from, parents have an obligation to pass on something to their kids) rather than the whole extended family (who are much less well to do).

About your spoiler. I could not agree more. I am not sure why people have kids if they have no interest in making sure they have decent quality of life. I can understand Filipinos who have fewer options to give to their children. But expats who have children with simply no regards for their upbringing are, in my books, not "good people".

Neal.