Living Happy on Mactan Island

Hello everyone,

I am American, i just joined this forum, I live on Mactan Island, been here for 5 years. Happy to meet all of you. I started a new business here, you can find it in the resturants sections in cebu. If i can help anyone with anything don't hesitate to ask. Especially about Mactan Island.

Ayo!

Hope to hear more from you...this/our forum is getting more interesting everyday.

Welcome to PB PPatrick!

Hi there PPatrick,
My girlfriend and I are thinking of moving to Mactan later in the year. I'm glad to hear that you like it there. I like the idea of not being in the city but also being close to the airport as well as the beaches. We will think about buying an apartment or a house in one of the new estates like Collinwood. We may even rent for a year while we look around. I will still be working in China for another year. I am interested in a business there someday but hear so many horror stories that i might just help my girlfriend set up something really small and see how that goes. Any advice in this area would be very grateful.
Cheers

Hello Skippy,

Thanks for replying to my post. Well being a business owner here i can tell you for a foreigner it very hard. I actually have one of the best business here on Mactan Island. Actually ranked no. 1 on Mactan and No.2 throughout all of Cebu by Largest Travel Guide on the Internet Trip Advisor. The Jungle Restaurant and Cultural Entertainment Center. THE JUNGLE RESTAURANT AND ENTERTAINMENT - Home

As for business in the Mactan area, i would give the advice DONT DO IT. If you have retirement or other means of income i would s***est to plan your life to live off that. I would never take money that i need to live on and invest in a business here in Mactan, or even in the Philippines. Foreginers have no rights here, none at all, and you have to trust all your investment to a Filipina, plus no one is much help to a foreigner after you pay for and start your business. When the money is all spent they tend to forget you....

But, if you have extra money, and really want to do it, then i would s***est to do something small. That way if it does go bad, its not your life savings, and you can move on... I have owned many business here, and actually most have failed, except the one i have now..... It took lot of hard lessons to learn and lot of lost life savings..... Things i can tell you DO NOT DO, if you are going to have small business here:
1. NO CREDIT - To no one, not even family members.... NONE.
2. NO Cash Advances on Salarys.- They will quit the next day........ and you money is gone......
3. Be very strict with employees and do not let your heart get in the way of your business rules. You think your doing something nice, sweet and generous, but you will just get taken advantage of.
4. Try to hire educated people with at least a high school education, College is better. These type of workers you dont seem to have as much problem with.....
5. Dont allow anyone in control of money. NO ONE. Make sure you dont allow anyone to keep, be in charge of large amounts, and even small amounts of money. Do regular checks daily of accounts and balances.
6. Make sure all your paperwork with the government is correct and up to date. Dont let anyone tell you, oh dont worry you can get that later or next month. Or dont allow a government offical to tell you --- Give me a little money and you wont have to have that document. It will come back to bite you, and that person will not defend you.

They are many others, but those have been my worst experiences.

As far as Mactan Island, if you really wanted to have small business i would s***est the safe ones with least chance of loss..

Selling load, cell phones, accessories....
Wholesaling Beer
Sari Sari Store
Small Food stands selling bbq, hanging rice, local foods, noodles.....
Small Karokee with Foods and Drinks
Souivnour Shops - Shells, Native Arts and Crafts.

Remember they are already lots of these kinds of business already here. So choose a location where they are not so many and has good population of people near by. But expect, when you open one, someone will probally open the same exact thing right beside you. It stupid way to do business, but it happens here all the time.......

Also remember none of these business will make you rich, or even make enough money to justify having them. But if you want something to do and just help out a little, you can earn 2500 to 5000 per month, according to how large they are.........

Hope this info helps you out. I would be happy to answer any other questions and give my opinion and advice on my experiences here.

[The Dane]

Thanks Patrick

Lots of valid points about running a business here...

I would add that the safest and best business I can think of to have here is something where you utilize the local workforce and sell your product abroad.

Thanks PPatrick,
That sounds like some good advice. I have heard all of those things before but it's good to hear it from someone with experience.

Cheers

Despite all of that, however, Mactan does seen to offer a lot as a place to live, so I'm sure that I will be there sooner or later.