Support Cases (Client Interviews)

Q.What first made you think about moving to Manila?

A.I was self-employed and not tied to one place, so I thought, why not go abroad? The Philippines is close to Japan, just a one-hour time difference, warm all year, friendly to Japanese, and English works. The conditions all lined up.

Q.Of all the residency visas, why the SRRV Smile?

A.Mostly because it was cheaper than the others. And it's a “real” permanent residency — it doesn't expire like in some countries. Even if I'm back in Japan for long stretches, the residency stays valid. For someone who wants to go back and forth, nothing beats it.

Q.I heard you were torn between Manila and Cebu.

A.Right up to the end. But in the capital, Manila, there are more Japanese people and Japanese companies, so it felt safer if anything came up. Manila turned out to be the right call.

Q.Was anything hard about the process?

A.Honestly, almost nothing (laughs). Even the bank account — I opened one at Bank of Commerce with just my passport and a ₱1,000 deposit. With someone coming along, there was really nothing to trip over.

Q.What exactly did the support cover?

A.From preparing documents to going with me to the PRA (Philippine Retirement Authority) and interpreting, the deposit account, and even the medical check. The medical check was nothing like Japan's — just a short chat with the doctor, but all in English, so having someone along was essential. They even came to the office with me on the day I received the visa.

Q.Ten years on, how do you feel looking back?

A.I'm still living well in Manila. I'm really glad I got permanent residency early. Prices in the Philippines have crept up lately, but it's not something I worry about yet.

Q.Opening a salon in the Philippines is a big decision.

A.I'd been a stylist in Japan for about 20 years, but I was uneasy about where the industry was heading. I saw the energy here on a trip and thought, “Let's give it a go.”

Q.How did you handle residency and incorporation?

A.I married a Filipina, set up a corporation in her name, and got a 13(a) visa (permanent residency). That made the business fully legal. It also sorted out the foreign-ownership restrictions that trip a lot of people up.

Q.How much was the initial cost?

A.About ₱300,000 (≈ US$5,300) for everything — the unit's deposit, the interior, and the equipment. Compared with opening the same size of shop in Japan, it was far cheaper.

Q.Any trouble with permits or hiring?

A.The permits (DTI, Mayor's Permit, BIR and so on) went through more smoothly than I expected. Young staff are easy to find, too — the population here is young and interest in beauty keeps growing.

Q.How are things five years on?

A.It's a small shop, 2 chairs and 2–3 staff, but customers never stop coming. If I advertise, too many show up, so I actually hold back (laughs). People say “Japanese are good with their hands,” and on top of the salon I earn from a beauty school as well. The takings cover the shop's rent and running costs, staff wages, and a comfortable life for my family. Next I plan to bring in AI to run things more efficiently and grow.

Q.What were you looking for?

A.A family of four, in Makati, with a budget of ₱30,000–40,000 a month.

Q.What did you end up with?

A.A well-known new condominium in Makati, ₱37,000 a month (≈ US$660). Two months' rent up front for the deposit and advance, plus an agent fee of about 10%. We saw around five places and decided quickly, but it took about two weeks to sign.

Q.I heard there was trouble after you moved in.

A.That was rough… About a year in, prospective tenants started coming into our unit with the building manager using a master key — at least five times while we were home. They may have come in while we were out, too. We pressed the owner and the manager, but got no clear answer. The cable TV that was in the contract also stopped working partway through.

Q.How was moving out?

A.The contract said the deposit and advance would be returned within a month, but it actually took two. And the owner said “come pick it up in cash,” so I said, “No way — wire it to my account,” and they did.

Q.Honestly, renting in the Philippines is…

A.There are good and bad draws, to be honest. But “a one-month promise becoming two” is just common here. It comes down to getting used to it — and whether someone who'll say what needs saying is there with you.

Q.What happened?

A.A silver crown I'd had put in back in Japan came off. I just wanted it fixed.

Q.Cost and number of visits?

A.About ₱1,500 (≈ US$27), in cash, no insurance. For an urban area in the Philippines I think that's fair. Since it was just re-cementing, one visit was enough.

Q.Were you nervous?

A.I was. In the Philippines you hear stories — you say “the crown came off, please fix it,” and they do a cleaning you didn't ask for, or deliberately damage another tooth to add charges. Sometimes an unnecessary X-ray, then a ₱1,000 bill. So you have to avoid the small local clinics and pick a dental department inside a large hospital, or somewhere with a good reputation.

Q.Any language barrier?

A.For dental work the conversation is simple, so English isn't much of a problem. The scarier part is the over-treatment. In Japan a dentist is someone you trust; in the Philippines I think you're better off doubting about 80% of it.

Q.Were you happy with the result?

A.Yes. It was an amount I could pay in cash without insurance, and it was fixed properly.

Q.This was right after you arrived in Manila, wasn't it?

A.Yes, straight off the plane from Tokyo. Nothing really starts without a phone.

Q.Which carrier?

A.Globe, which has a reputation as the most stable. I bought a new handset for ₱7,500 (≈ US$130). The SIM requires registration with your passport, and I started with a prepaid ₱100 top-up — one of those business-card-sized scratch cards where you reveal the number.

Q.Anything that tripped you up?

A.Honestly, nothing in particular. But topping up, checking your balance and data usage, and picking the right plan — call-heavy or data/tethering-heavy — would be hard at first without someone who's done it.

Q.What did the support cover, and how long to get connected?

A.We went to the shop together, and they handled the registration, the plan choice, and the initial setup. It was working the same day.

Q.This was internet for a condominium.

A.Yes. I work from home, so I wanted a stable line.

Q.Which plan did you choose?

A.Again going for stability, Globe — the cheapest 25 Mbps plan, about ₱1,000 a month (≈ US$18).

Q.Was applying difficult?

A.They helped with the online application, being there on the installation day, the contract, and setting up the payment method. On my own I wouldn't have known where to start.

Q.How is it to actually use?

A.Lines aren't stable in the Philippines, so even Globe gets flaky sometimes. So they also set up phone tethering as a backup line. Having that is reassuring.

Q.This was buying an air conditioner and a fridge.

A.Yes, for the condominium. They came with me to a nearby appliance store and handled the interpreting and the delivery arrangements.

Q.Did anything happen with the delivery?

A.In the Philippines deliveries often don't come on time. This time too, they didn't show at the promised hour, so we had to call to follow up. In English, of course, so that help was welcome.

Q.Anything specific to condominiums?

A.Even for an appliance delivery, outsiders can't just walk into the building. So before the delivery day you have to get entry permission from the management office. They helped with that too.