Hi from me and my Davao dream...

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

My name is Vanni. I am a 40 years old man, Italian and have been living in the UK, on and off, since 1998. I am an IT consultant for financial institutions and usually work in London. I say "usually" because I am currently looking for another contract.

In late 2012 I was looking for a long-ish vacation, 3 or 4 weeks, in a beach place that would be heavenly and wouldn't cost me a fortune. After the usual tinkering with lonely planets, trip advisors and less reputable surrogates, I came across what was purported to be a top 10 "wonderful beach you never heard about". They were talking about Samal Island, in Mindanao.

I promptly enquired with a local hostel in Samal and - hey presto - two weeks later I was booked up to spend the Xmas holidays in the Philippines.

Needless to say, like many of you, I fell in love with EVERYTHING over there. The weather, the pristine coral beaches, the warmth of the people and simplicity of their daily lives. I also paid a few trips to Davao, just in front of the island, and was equally impressed about how relatively clean and safe it was, and the many sign of an ongoing economic boom. I left the Philippines with the intention of being back, and I duly complied a few months later when I flew to Davao again, this time with the view of spending 3 to 4 months there.

I rented a place in Bacaca Road and was lucky enough to be introduced to one of the local Rotary Clubs, which gave me the opportunity to meet a few members of the "good society" of Davao. People ranging from lawyers and doctors, to upper class entrepreneurs. What they all had in common was this incredible human warmth, humility and compassion. Well, after all, that's what the spirit of the Rotary Club is. One of them put that down to the fact they were mostly Jesuit-educated, and taught to value substance over appearance. Great people, indeed.

I was planning to stay there for another few months and seriously considering starting a business there, when I received a call from my brother back in Italy. My mom was unwell. I flew back to London and then back to my hometown and my mom sadly passed away a few weeks later. It was July 2013. My Philippines dream was obviously placed in the back burner and I simply went back to the UK and worked on another couple of contracts.

For all this time, Davao remained a pleasant echo, a distant siren's song beckoning from a recessed corner of my mind. With the job market in my industry getting duller and more precarious by the day (investment banks and institutions being swept by a wave of bad reputation and bad debt not helping) and me wanting to look for fresh challenges, the lure of the Philippines has grown more insistent. I had to reassess.

About a month ago, I decided to give this dream another serious go, but this time after carefully planning what I could leave here in the UK and what I could possibly achieve in Davao.

Since I had a glimpse of the new estate developments on JP Laurel, near Abreeza mall, I have been fascinated by these high-rise condos. Relatively inexpensive compared to the UK and yet expressing a lifestyle I could only dream here in London.

I had some savings, so ended up making up my mind and buying a 2-bedroom unit at Aeon Towers. Some of you in here probably know this particular development. The construction seems to be in full swing and the building will be completed by end of 2016, which gives me plenty of time to continue to work and save here and plan my move to Davao.

What I would love to do once there is start a variety of projects mainly revolving around software development for non-Filipino clients as well as Filipino, possibly local companies and even the public administration. Davao, like the rest of the Philippines, seems to leak its best talent as it allows the best graduates and professionals to go abroad looking for a better deal.

I am convinced that, if clients are found in the UK, Europe or the US, I might be able to offer salary packages attractive enough to convince at least some of them to stay where they family (and heart is) and enjoy the best of both worlds. I have read something about the legal underpinning of running a corporation in the Philippines, employing Filipinos in various capacities (consultant, freelance, full-time), yet I know this is just the beginning of a long journey in territory that's largely uncharted for me.

The only solid point is that I have learned to love Filipino culture and society, and have been in Davao long enough to feel this progressive city can be a good nest for my dreams and ambitions.

To this extent, I would love to be an active part on this forum and share insight, experiences and advice.

All the best,
Vanni

Welcome to the forum Vanni.

Hang on, are we all IT consultants?

Hi Oss, Dave,

LOL it does look like there's a prominence of IT people who end up loving the Philippines. Could it be because we tend to be creative, idealistic people and we feel we have reached Utopia when we land in a beautiful tropical island where food is delicious, life is simple and people remind us to value for who we are, not what we possess.

In my case there's something to add. I am getting bored of this life, and when I was in Davao I had the stark feeling that something could be done to avoid local IT talent to be wasted away abroad.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content...-dev&8217t-other-non-voice-segments&id=102058

What do you think?

Vanni

Grazie

Welcome to BF Vanni I'm sure you've done your homework on starting a business in the Philippines. I'm not 100% sure but I think the cap on only 40% ownership of a business for a foreigner has been lifted over recent times so that avenue shouldn't be a problem

Welcome. I have not been to Davao (or to Samar for that matter) so I cannot offer practical help, but I did enjoy reading your introduction.

(I'm not an IT consultant!)

Thanks Methersgate. Good for your you're not an IT guy...variety is the salt of life I do see you have a beautiful Filipina with you. I am sure you're happy.

And by the way, I am married already. My wife is Colombian and works in the UK as a project manager for the oil/gas industry. I am still working hard to convince her to follow me in this craze, when time comes. I will have a lot to prove her...

Welcome to BF HappyRizal, lovely introduction, like Methersgate I enjoyed reading, by the way, "what does IT stand for"

Hi Timmers, thanks, congratulations to you, another half of a happy Brit-Fil couple!

IT = Irreconcilably Trapped (in the Matrix, that is)

Hello Vanni, welcome to the forum. And what a wonderfully expressive first contribution to the forum!

Escape the Matrix, you know it makes sense.

We all think we are!

Welcome here, Vanni.
A very eloquent first post.
You seem to know what you want and I hope you fulfil your dream.
It will be interesting to see how things work out for you.
Best of luck.

Your married and spent Christmas 2012 in the Philippines without your wife? Then came back again a few months later without your wife? Then bought a condo without your wife seeing the place first?

Sorry Vanni, something just doesn't seem right about your story

Touche I said I am married, I didn't say I am happily married... We had a very rough patch 2 years ago. Things are less antagonistic right now, but it is quite clear to both of us that we still want different things and go different avenues. Whichever way things will go, at least I know neither of us will suffer too much.

Thanks Aposhark. From your nickname I sense an association with Davao and its surrounding mountainous countryside...am I correct?