As I began writing this blog post, I was still in Montreal, Quebec, during my second week here and nearing my trip back home. I finished and posted this post in the Pearson Airport in Toronto on my trip back home.
What can I say, this trip has been quite unexpected since qualifying in the MDRT (Million-dollar-round-table), the most prestigious qualification of a financial professional, representing 3% of the world’s best people in the business (ahem-ahem!!). Qualifying was farthest from my mind, since, I have just given birth last year (needless to say, I was not able to work at full capacity) and still with God’s grace, I still did qualify for MDRT, on the last working day of December last year. Let just say, in the nick of time and by the skin of my teeth.
During the first week of my trip, we stayed in Toronto, where the MDRT meeting was going to be. I marvelled at the greatness of Toronto, I am altogether awed and humbled at how the Philippines was so left behind in terms of almost everything. Be it in subway trains, in traffic, transportation system, in food, in almost everything I see.
Past my awed state, I begun thinking, what is it like, if suddenly, I decide to apply to migrate here with my family?
Here are a few points to consider if you are planning to migrate here:
In the table above, only people services are better in the Philippines, since it is cheaper. In the PH, you can have your nails pedicured/manicured, done your hair by a professional. Here, people would rather cut their hair on their own since the cost is really high.
As you can see, maybe you are thinking, I will be moving here anytime soon. Hahaha…. Maybe not! But I am not closing my doors, (showbiz!). Seriously, as I looked at the OFWs here, especially those who do not have their families with them, I salute them. It is not easy working here without your family with you. They dread winter and they love to come home if they can. The days here are fast-paced, people are working so hard, families don’t even see each other at home.
I guess, the decision to move here is a family decision. All that I have written above are just my personal opinion and some details may be inaccurate. It is just a view of a person who had a glimpse of Canada in just 3 weeks.
The financial nuggets of advice before thinking of migrating to Canada:
1. If you already have a very good job/work/business in the Philippines, stay where you are. But plan for things our government cannot provide. Plan for your own health care, retirement, insurance and disability. But if you still want to migrate, Canada is a good choice, as stated in above reasons.
2. In health care and disability, have a plan with critical illness coverage and disability, for in case you become critically ill or become disable, you have something to hope for, and you have something our health care system cannot provide.
3. In retirement, don’t rely on you SSS or GSIS alone. They are not enough. Plan and implement your savings program for your retirement the soonest possible time. Preferably, from the moment you started working. To take advantage of the compound interest, for more details, click on the retirement series of this blog.
4. In insurance, again, don’t rely on the company given or SSS alone. It is not enough for your family. And once you are not connected to the company, insurance will also be gone. Have something for yourself that cannot be taken away by any company. In Canada, even pets (dogs) have insurance. Don’t be left behind by their dogs, get your own life insurance.
5. For the education of your kids, save and plan ahead of time. Click here to know how to plan for your child’s education.
6. If you are already an immigrant of Canada, it won’t hurt if you invest in your home country. Let me tell you why? Look at this post (Click here). By investing few dollars a month, you can be able to save up for your trip back home without even using your pension money for airfare. Use whatever you have invested in the Philippines, be wise and make use of compound interest. So, how to do it? If you are in the Philippines, make sure to contact me.
Disclaimer: Information above is from personal reflections of the author from her 3 weeks stay in Canada. Some details may not be too accurate. If you have further questions you may ask Canadian embassy.
If you are really serious on landing on a job in Canada much less migrating. Click here for opening jobs as recently posted by Canadian Immigration.
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Hi doc, this is interesting, looking forward on your review for Australia and New Zealand.. 😉
haha… why not. I would love to go there. but next stop this year will be in Osaka and Hongkong. 🙂
philippines is the worst country
Really great post and so so true. I have been in Canada for 9 years, at first, it was a struggle financially and emotionally since no family here. Please add in you comparison table: investments, real estate, transportation, weather too although that’s too obvious ^_^
hi, i wish i can. but being there in canada for just 3 weeks, i was not able to observe investments, real estates there. although transportation i did mentioned was superb, centralized and very efficient. thanks for reading
real oppotunities
Lowell Gualvez cg ra wel, we will be here in canada; early soon
thank u for the info…
Hi doc, that was a very nice assessment for those who may want to migrate to Canada. I myself had a short business trip to Montreal via Toronto and Vancouver in 2003 and I have seen myself the big difference between our 2 countries. My youngest sister since then moved to Brampton, Ontario in 2005 to join his husband. My youngest brother moved with whole family to Mississauga, Ontario in 2008. (Another sister of mine is in Boston and my other brother is in Redlands, California). They all seem to be enjoying their lives there. I am now a senior citizen living here in Pasig City and I only want to share my views for others to consider migration to Canada. Have a nice day..
Thank you for this wonderful article. My family and I have lived in Canada (Toronto) for several years and I must say this pretty much sums up the reasons why I love this country. However, while it is true that life here moves at a fast pace, family time is still very much valued. As a matter of fact, long weekends are fairly common and these are almost always spent doing various activities with the family (going on short trips, hiking, camping, going to the beach, cherry or strawberry picking, walks in the park, skating or tobogganing during winter or simply going to the movies). In my house, despite our full time jobs and tons of after-school activities for the kids, family dinners are still an everyday thing.
(One thing though, real estate is extremely expensive in Toronto.)
GRABE KA NAMAN!!! MAG-ISIP KA MUNANG MABUTI BAGO KA MAG COMMENT. THE WORST COUNTRY??? NAKARATING KA LNG NG CANADA AKALA MO DI KA ISANG PILIPINO. BETTER STAY THERE MAN.
I think the author was merely pointing out that our health care system is among the worst in the world. She has research and studies to back it up.
Wow, I would love to stay there, but How can I?
Philippines is not even on the top 10 worse places.
Ya that's true i have 6 siblings there.
Though its more fun in the Philippines.. But better life in here, Canada, ❤