How Do Filipinos View Balikbayans?

[simple_denise]

I strongly agree with that. Life here in Canada is pretty much all work and no play. I really miss life in the Philippines, hopefully I can come back soon for GOOD.

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Yeah, your right!

 

Life in another country is very different.....most of the time they work..work and work

[dodo]

For those who have become naturalized citizens of other countries, especially those who left our lovely PI when they were still very young, please remember that you can regain your Philippine citizenship under the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 (RA no. 9225), without having to give up your citizenship in your present country of residence.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's one of the things I am going to do when I get to Manila next month. I am also there to buy a property for a second home.

[strong_cock]

Yes.  The law is commonly known as the Dual Citizenship Law.  All you have to do is to take an oath. There is a downside, though.  Once you regain the rights and privileges of being Filipino again (e.g. the right to vote), you also have to accept the obligations of citizenship.  For instance, in times of war (God forbid), you can be called up for service.

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I am not familiar about being called up for service under the obligations of citizenship under the dual citizenship law but if this is the case, It is very unlikely that this will happen. This is usually the last resort after the goverment has used all it's war assets.

 

I am more worried if for example you have dual Australian-Philippine citizenship and civil unrest breaks in HK while you're shopping. haha..

 

The closest hosting country in terms of distance which in this case will be the Philippines will have to help you. In my opinion, I would prefer to be evacuated by the Australian government.

[Guest airmax]

yon nga lang downside nyan. pero ang pinas hindi naman sila nagdadraft para sa giyera unlike the us.

[jt2003]

So having a dual citizenship would give me permission to acquire real estate (house) compared to (condos) if I'm not a Filipino Citizen?

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Let's clear this up. If you've had the property before you gave up Philippine citizenship, there's no problem. If you're a Filipino who has acquired citizenship in a foreign country, you CAN inherit property. Lawyers, please correct me if I'm wrong on this one, but I think you have to be a Filipino (even by its broadest definition) to purchase and own real estate in the Philippines.

[jt2003]

yon nga lang downside nyan. pero ang pinas hindi naman sila nagdadraft para sa giyera unlike the us.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Pareng airmax, the draft has existed in our lovely PI for years. Many of us just don't know about it. One of my uncles, for instance, was drafted during the 70s. We also have mandatory "retraining" of randomly selected CMT/ROTC grads, which amounts to a "short time" draft. If your name is in the files, you can be called up for "re-training." Unless, of course, you're too old for anyone to bother with you.

[dodo]

Yes.  The law is commonly known as the Dual Citizenship Law.  All you have to do is to take an oath. There is a downside, though.  Once you regain the rights and privileges of being Filipino again (e.g. the right to vote), you also have to accept the obligations of citizenship.  For instance, in times of war (God forbid), you can be called up for service.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

As a dual citizen, you will be holding two passports. If the Philippines calls you up for service, you egt out of twon quickly using your other passport.

[dodo]

not really coz my auntie has two house and lot in Bohol & Cebu and shes fully australian citizen...

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As far as I knowm beofre RA 9225 was passed, non-citizens can buy property but with limitations. Only a certain sqm of urban and rural land. With the new law, there is no limitation. So, how much is your auntie's property and hwo dis she acquire it?

[dodo]

Let's clear this up.  If you've had the property before you gave up Philippine citizenship, there's no problem.  If you're a Filipino who has acquired citizenship in a foreign country, you CAN inherit property.  Lawyers, please correct me if I'm wrong on this one, but I think you have to be a Filipino (even by its broadest definition) to purchase and own real estate in the Philippines.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am not a lawyer but I know you are correct. I am now a US citizen and I inherited my mother's real estate holdings when she died (2003). The title was transferred to my name and it says in the title that I am a US citizen. In fact, I can will the property to jsut about anyone regardless of their nationality and they will inherit the property if I die. If you visit, any Philippine Consulate website, this is well explained.

[dodo]

Someone should strat a topic on dual citizenship if one is not already out there. We have gne off topic in this one. The topic discussion is how Filipinos view balikbayans.

[Pasigboy]

This thread is very informative....

 

Thanks for everyone's contribution

[Guest airmax]

Pareng airmax, the draft has existed in our lovely PI for years.  Many of us just don't know about it. One of my uncles, for instance, was drafted during the 70s.  We also have mandatory "retraining" of randomly selected CMT/ROTC grads, which amounts to a "short time" draft.  If your name is in the files, you can be called up for "re-training."  Unless, of course, you're too old for anyone to bother with you.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

ot kahit magtatawag pa sila hindi ako interested pumunta hehehe. btw ung ibang mga kabayan natin ang view sa balikbayan madatung. ung isang kaibigang kong taga carson, ca nong umuwi s pinas naubos ung dalang pocket money nya kasi marami syang kamaganak na nahingi ng pera kawawa naman.

Edited September 24, 2005 by airmax

[Riot6]

As far as I remember, at least back in the mid-90s, this is how it went:

 

1) Non-Filipinos are not allowed to own buy property in the Philippines except as part of a "corporation" but only as a minority stake holder (i.e. no more than 49% of the corporation).

 

2) Former-Filipinos (Balikabayans) can buy up to 1000 sq. meter of residential property only. This property cannot be used for business.

 

3) Former-Filipinos are not allowed to buy any rural land or property (i.e. farmlands, etc.).

 

 

 

Now with the passage of dual-citizenship, I believe that property ownership rules have changed so that a dual-citizen Filipinos can buy any property.

 

However, now as a citizen of the Philippines, the dual-citizen Filipiono is obligated to pay taxes to the Philippine government, inculding property taxes and income taxes.

 

I'm not a lawyer but I have looked into the issue since back in the 90's when I was planning to buy some land in Palawan with my brothers and cousins. Even up to now, I am weighing the issue in my mind.

 

By the way, I emigrated to the U.S. right after 6th grade (that's why I really take issue with Boomouse's allegation about who are Balikabayans) with my mother and brothers. After college, I returned to the Philippines and worked for 3 years (not as some ex-pat with ex-pat pay, but as some regular worker with just enough pay to live paycheck to paycheck ) then got married and returned to the U.S.

 

Now I go back to the Philippines every year on vacation and send money to my step-mother and my younger sister to support them.

[jt2003]

Someone should strat a topic on dual citizenship if one is not already out there.  We have gne off topic in this one.  The topic discussion is how Filipinos view balikbayans.

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Actually, we're still on-topic when we talk about dual citizenship, because it really has something to do with how Filipinos view balikbayans.

 

When the dual citizenship law was being debated and discussed, there were a lot of questions. One of the most discussed was: Are you willing to be drafted in the Armed Forces of the Philippines? Another question: If the Philippines goes to war against your country of present residence, with whom will you side?

 

As you pointed out in another post, a person with two passports can easily leave the country if he or she is called up for service. A lot of people do resent the "best of both worlds" scenario. You can stay, you can own land, you can vote and enjoy all the privileges of a Filipino, but you can also leave any time you want should things get bad. Filipinos, for the most part, resent that because they (we) have nowhere else to go. We have only one country.

 

I'm not saying dual citizenship is bad. I'm just saying it should be used responsibly, if chosen.

[luol_deng]

Let's clear this up.  If you've had the property before you gave up Philippine citizenship, there's no problem.  If you're a Filipino who has acquired citizenship in a foreign country, you CAN inherit property.  Lawyers, please correct me if I'm wrong on this one, but I think you have to be a Filipino (even by its broadest definition) to purchase and own real estate in the Philippines.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

like i said before my auntie owns a house and property in Bohol and Cebu and she is a full Australian citizen for almost 17 years now...So that statement is correct i guess...

 

EDIT: Sorry i didnt read further into the posts...forget this remark...

Edited September 26, 2005 by luol_deng