How Many Americans are Living in the Philippines
October 7, 2008
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Posted by dmihalia
Normally when I post on this blog I am either giving out information or relating something about my move to the Philippines. But today I’m asking for a little help from the readers. I’m not doing this to drive traffic to my blog or anything but I am truly curious about something.
As part of preparing for the move to the Philippines I am attempting to earn a living by working online. This is what I will be doing while living there. I have used many publications and websites to guide me in this goal especially Bob Martin’s 49 Ways to Earn a Living In the Philippines.
In researching for one of my other projects a question came up and I can’t find a concrete answer if there is one. I want to know “How Many Americans are Living in the Philipppines.” At first the question was just how many were living in Cebu but I think I have a better chance of finding out the answer of Americans living in the whole country.
The US State Department shines a little light on my question by stating there are 250 thousand US citizens living in the Philippines but I’m sure that number includes naturalized citizens as well. I’m not saying naturalized citizens are not Americans but I’m looking more along the line of citizens that were born in the US. The 250,000 number seems a little small if you ask me and I’m sure that people who are on any type of visas might not be included in that number.
So, if you have an opinion or have the actual numbers please leave a comment and help me finish a project that is currently on hold. Thank you in advance!
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Categories: Philippines General
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I hope that the book has brought you a few ideas…
I was under the impression that the State Dept was saying that the population of Americans living in the Philippines was around 140,000 or so.
Hi Bob
Actually I found 2 references to the 250,000 number but one references the other here they are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_settlement_in_the_Philippines#cite_note-StateBN2007-0
Look under the title 1940 to date
The other ref is:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2794.htm
Look under the heading U.S.-Philippine Relations
Interesting. The way that they word that on the State Dept site, I suspect that it includes people that you and I might not count. A lot of people in the Philippines hold dual citizenship, and many who are American Citizens never even really lived in the States at all, or for very little time. It’s hard to say. I personally would be surprised if there were 250k American Citizens who live in the Philippines.
Thats why I tend not to believe that number whether it is inflated or less than the true number.
I’m dont have the actual figure really but I’ll try obtaining answers for im curious of it too.
Take care!
HI Joansyndrome
If you find out anything please let me know.
how long you have been living in the Phils?
Hi Chered
I lived there in the seventies and eighties for about 10 years. More recently I only visit for one or two months per year but as the blog says I am completing my move.
I had no idea so many Americans lived in there, totally awesome. This blog is great and really eye-opening about what it is like to be an American living in a foreign country!
Hi Isolde
The Philippines is a beautiful place and I am so glad I got to go there.
It’s an age-old question and as always a definitive answer is hard to come by. Been searching for a good answer myself and have never found one.
It’s especially hard if you try to pin things down to native born Americans. In spite of all the issues surrounding the Philippine Dual Citizen law (RA-9225), dual citizenship has been common since Philippine independence. It was technically illegal under Philippine law but never enforced. Thus there are many Filipinos who trace an American citizenship back for many years.
There’s really no legal way to ’sift’ them out of the equation. No one ever has to prove natural born US status unless they run for president.
The opther side of the coun is, even at levels in government and business who should know better, a ‘Kano’ is a ‘Kano’. For example there are many Australians living in the Philippines and a lot of Filipinos never look at passports, to them they are foreigners and thus ‘Kano’ … which my annoy the dickens out of the Aussie, but is a part of Philippine culture that isn’t likely to change. (Substitute Brit, german, Dutch, Swiss, Tuirk and so on for Aussie, I know at east one each from those countries but to the ‘massa’ here, they are all ‘Kano’)
I have no idea how many ‘native’ Americans there are here, but I would make an educated guess the 250K figure is likely conservative. To Isolde and others, indeed there are a lot of Americans here.
Dave Starr:
I love what you said about Pinoy calling all foreigners ‘Kano’ Isn’t that the trth? You nailed it buddy.
You know Dave when I was first referred to as “Kano” in a conversation I corrected the speaker telling them that I was not from Canada(Canuck). LOL
Hello everyone, this is an excellent post. I think Filipinos use the term “Kano,” for every caucasians. “Kano” was derived from the word “Americano”, or “Amerikano” which is simply a masculine in gender of American. For the females, they used the term “Kana”. For a well tanned caucasians, or mixed breed such as “Mistizos” they are simply called “Tisoy”. In my case, that’s what they called me all the time. Although they don’t know that I have been dying my hair dark all the time, I love being called “Tisoy.” Women loves going out with the “Tisoys” LOL. One advantage I might have is my ability to speak Tagalog fluently ( it took me about a year).
As for number of Americans in the Philippines, my estimate would be more than 500K (By birth and Naturalized American Citizens).
admin,
Great Blog, I know it is helping people… Looking at the world today and knowing what I know, I am looking to come there to the Philippines. I have looked at Bob Martins views and I am looking at yours, both are very very informative.
I guess my concern is finding Americans there that basically have common interests. Your statics on the numbers there is encouraging and when I was there I met many great Americans that did have the same mindset. I am curious about you, I know about Bob from his many web presentations, maybe you could give your readers and myself some insight on where you are and if you have an interest in building bigger things with other Americans that are already there or possibly wanting to come there.
Hello everyone living in this beautiful Island country. My name is Doug and I will be moving there to a town just outside of Cebu called Liloan right on the ocean and wonder if anyone has any great advice for me. I have met a really great lady online and can’t wait to meet her there in Cebu. I will retire after 38 years of working between 4 years US Navy and 34 years US Postal Service I’m ready to retire and enjoy life a little better now. Are there any Americans living in Liloan and if so please let me know. I look for to this move and getting on with my life.
hi every1. hey,,, im about to ready our family to the phil. my wife is filipina, our daughter is dual, and im not sure about ALL I will need when I go … Do I just sell all and move without a forwarding address for SSI or IRS ?? Or do I use my phil address for my US issues?
I want to stay there for life in phil, but do not have the 50k to deposit to become a I Visa resident. I am 46, and need advice.. thanks
I am trying to do research myself…..my family and I are looking to move out the country (USA) and relocate to the Philippines. there is so much I want to know. I really hope this move is the right choice for our family….we will be there by next year!….I will post information as I receive it.
Hi Nesha
My only question to you is “How much time has your family spent in the Philippines up to now” Moving to a country without experiencing normal life there can be a dangerous situation. Good Luck to you all and let me know how it goes.
Hi Kenneth
do your research before you move to the Philippines. I’m sure you can stay without getting a resident visa as long as you want. As far as a forwarding address there are ways to deal with that too. Thanks for reading my blog!
Hi n2deep
Sorry for the late response and I understand your concerns about finding Americans with common interests. In my place in Binan Laguna there is a very big International community. You can’t go to the supermarket or malls without running into a few foreigners. My move to the Philippines is for reasons that I would want to avoid many things in my home country so although I enjoy having coffee or beer with my fellow expats every once in awhile I am wanting to live the Philippine experience more.