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There are many reasons why Pinoys choose to work abroad. But, why Singapore? Here are the top 10 things why Singapore is the best place for you to work.

10. Going to Singapore requires no visa. If you are an American or even a Singaporean, you can go to almost any country that you like and visa will not be a requirement. Unfortunately, it’s not the same for Pinoys. Luckily, we are not required to get a visa if our point of destination is only within ASEAN countries, and Singapore is one of those. You can go to Singapore under a tourist visa (Social Visit Pass) and you will be allowed to stay in the country for up to 30 days. This can even be extended for another 30 days so that’s almost 2 months in total. Use that time to find work and chances are, you will find one.

9. Singapore is just close to Philippines. Even have same time zones. Why is this important? Pinoys who will be leaving a family back in the Philippines will definitely encounter some bouts of loneliness. Working in a country just close to Philippines allows you to come and visit your family often. Moreover, since there is no time difference, you and your family will be sleeping and waking up at the same time. Talking on the phone or chatting on the internet can be done at a time convenient to both of you.

8. Easy to adapt to local culture and language. Like in the Philippines, almost everyone in Singapore knows how to speak in English. That means there will be no problem communicating and moving around the country. Also, local culture mostly follows Asian tradition so you will not be “culture-shocked”

7. Many Pinoys are working here already. According to information culled from Wikipedia, there are currently more than 136,000 Pinoys working and residing in Singapore. That number is definitely higher now. It’s a common fare to see a “kababayan” here whichever part of Singapore you go.

6. Very convenient transportation system. Singapore’s transportation system is considered one of the best in the world. From trains to buses to taxicabs, no other word can best describe it but “convenient”. Trains and buses are fully air-conditioned, they come at the exact time as stated, they are strategically located, almost no traffic for most of the day and drivers are polite. Did I also mention that some taxicabs come in elegant white Mercedes Benz?

5. Very low crime rate. Singapore is a first world country, that’s already a given. But how many first world country can boast of a very low crime rate? Singapore may be the only one. In here, walking on the street at midnight, even after you’ve just gone from an ATM machine and withdrew lots of moolah, you don’t have to keep looking over your shoulders for fear of getting nabbed. I also know of a mother whose main reason she brought her kids here is because safety is her primary concern.

4. There’s discipline in everyone. Some say Singapore discipline is actually getting overboard to the point that sometimes, there’s not enough freedom anymore. You really can’t have everything of course but last time I checked, order and discipline in Singapore is still the envy of the world.

3. Get Permanent Residence status easily. Getting a PR means you get almost the same benefits as Singapore citizen without necessarily giving up your Filipino citizenship. That way, you can reap the full benefits of both. If you are a Singapore PR, you are allowed to stay in the country over a long period of time, you can sponsor your family to come over and stay legally, you can set-up a business here, and many other benefits. We will discuss that in detail in separate article as well as the steps to become a PR. Watch out for it.

2. There are MANY jobs available. Last I heard, there are about 1.5 Million foreigners working and living here in Singapore. That’s about 1/3 of Singapore’s total population. Reason behind that is Singapore is creating more and more jobs because of its booming economy. Good news is local population cannot sustain all the demand so they turn to foreigners to provide the necessary talent and skill set. Needless to say, NOW is the best time to work in Singapore.

1. The pay can make you RICH. As of this writing, the value of Singapore Dollar compared to Philippine Peso is 1SGD = 30PHP. That’s a lot, considering salary range here for Pinoy professionals can range from SGD 1,800 – SGD 8,000. It can go lower or higher of course depending on several factors but you get the drift. Use the money you earn to put up business in the Philippines, buy a property or simply support your family and send your kids to school. The point is, your earnings will be enough, use it wisely and it can get you rich!

There you go. The top 10 things why Singapore is the best place for you to work. Let me know your thoughts. Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com.

(Note: This is a re-post of an article that first appeared on April 2008)