Are there any careers for expat welding engineers in Philippines ?

Welcome to the forum Mark, hope you find.

Welders here are a dime a dozen, mild steel, S/S, aluminum etc. and a work permit is required for foreigners. I weld many things here for myself but would never consider a business or taking a job from a local worker,,,, Filipino first when it comes to work. Good luck.

Cheers, Steve.

Welcome, Mark

I'm afraid Big Pearl is absolutely correct.

One exception, though, is if you find employment with a company licensed to work in the Phils. They will have to run a work permit for you and state what you will do for them. The permit would only be valid for when you are performing work for them. You could also seek out companies in the USA seeking your specialty for work here.

Unless sponsored as such, it would be illegal.

@bigpearl

Thanks, that's what's I thought. Thank you so much for the response. Merry Christmas!!!

@Skip Scott

That makes sense. I don't personally know any welding companies that are stationed out there. There are many in France, Switzerland, Germany but never heard of any of my instructors or colleagues doing jobs in Philippines. I guess I'll have to explore gas @ oil companies close by. Thanks for your response? Merry Christmas!!

Hello everyone,

Please note that this new thread has been created from your posts on the Philippines forum for better interaction.

All the best

Bhavna

@Mark - I agree with Skip and Steve. There are a lot of Filipinos with technical skills. Plenty have had experience from western companies as OFW working in the middle east. I met a team of one American and a Filipino welder in Jubail Saudi Arabia back in the 90s. They were a team (diver/welder) welding US Navy vessels underwater. I know them since they both run dive training in the area. The were certified PADI instructors.

May 2022 I came out here for 3 weeks (moved here Nov 22) While staying in a Hotel in Cebu City I ran into a 5 man team that included a welder from EU. They had just arrived and were buying some construction equipment to ship to another island where they had some sort of specialized kiln welding to do and refurbish.

I too am a welder, self taught MIG only, from making some wholesale parts for aftermarket use in the Harley business back in the 90's. I've had some stainless TIG welding done here. As mentioned, pretty cheaply done. Specialized would be another story. I suggest you finish your training and maybe get some experience in the oil fields where certification and experience not only pays well but takes you further long run.

Hi Larry,

    Underwater welding is definitely two skills in one. You have to possess a set of brass balls to work underwater because of the danger factor involved. They schooled us on this topic earlier in the mandatory OSHA classes. We watched many different videos on the significant danger to become an underwater welder and how to practice safety which is a standard in America but not in Asia. Ive seen slides of bridges and buildings collapsing because of poor design,  infrastructure in Asia not just in welding but other fields as well.

     Im assuming your Harley business was in the US. I read traffic is a nightmare in Manilla, and can only conclude that cruising in a Harley in Philippines might not be enjoyable. I might be wrong though as Ive never been there to experience first hand.

    Welding is fun and you already know it comes  in handy in life. Im sure you had your share of fun as well. As the next semester approaches, I’ll search for work in the Oil & Gas industries. This would be my ticket to a stable life that provides a happy home for my future wife and I in the Philippines. Thanks so much for your reply and Merry Christmas!!!!

@markhamilton6100

I had every intention to get a Harley here. Originally I even had the idea of buying a basket case and shipping it in parts to build. But licensing issues and parts confiscation problems killed that idea. I would never think about it around Manila, because it's just so crazily crowded. But I'm in Cebu. I went so far as to go to the local dealer here in Cebu. But I had been here a few months already by that time and pretty much knew I'd really only have a few of the same narrow roads going back and forth across the island and the highway road is terrible here. So how much enjoyment would I actually get? I like to make horsepower and that's what I did in the business too. So there's little of that opportunity also.

Cebu City is a three hour drive and I go there about every 3-4 weeks. Not once have I been up to 60 mph on that highway.

While I've seen a couple HD's on the road here, I've mostly accepted those days are behind......mostly.

Yep Larry, small commuters for local crap and a car if venturing into dodgem car alley..... I hear you with speed, in Oz was easy to cruise 110/120 klicks even on the back roads but here only on the motorway. Ben does most of the driving and at times around here feel he is going too fast (feels like) and I peer over at the speedo and he is doing 80 klicks, normally 40 to 60. Times change and no hurry here.

Cheers, Steve.

@Larry Fisher

It sounds like a nightmare if you can't floor it while listening to "Running' Down a Dream" on a nice stretch of road with out any obstacles. I've read other posts about the traffic congestion and the difficulty of obtaining vehicle/bike parts, etc. Will the Philippines ever catch up to the modern world? I'm ignorant on their politics, infrastructure, and what goes on behind the scenes. From what I gather, this issue is not fixable. Not going past 60mph is cruel and unusual punishment! It's basically every American's God given right to cruise at whatever speed he desires.

     It's basically every American's God given right to cruise at whatever speed he desires.
   

    -@markhamilton6100

You gonna love the Philippines.

@markhamilton6100

You ain't climbing into your X-wing here young Padowan.

Just like everything in this world, you win some, you lose some, but you have to bend a lot.

Bend, you shall.

@Larry Fisher

It's that bad huh?

    @Larry FisherIt's that bad huh?         -@markhamilton6100

It is not that bad, the Philippine culture is very different than in the US of A even though the Philippines is very much influenced by the US. An expat need to adapt plenty to the Philippine culture to enjoy it.

Que sera, sera.

    @Larry Fisher
It's that bad huh?
   

    -@markhamilton6100

No need to hurry here Mark, less haste, less speed and you will live longer. The old saying? You aren't in Kansas Dorothy and certainly the case here.

Cheers, Steve.

@Jackson4

Got it. Over & Out.

@bigpearl

Looks like Ive got some adjusting to do. Thanks Steve.

Plenty of adjusting to do/learn in PH. Mark, been knocking around and working here for 13 years and living here retired for 4 odd years and I am still at times gob smacked, not going anywhere though, home now.

Cheers, Steve.

@bigpearl

Well, I take from you statement that you miss good ole Freedom from the US however; there's more advantages than disadvantages in the Philippines. Sounds like another world.

I'm an Aussie Mark and don't mind the battles here, I have been to dozens of countries over the years and each has ups and downs, home is here now.

Cheers, Steve.

I apologize. Well as an Aussie you've had your share of social freedoms like here in the states. Your home is where you hang your hat. Cheers to you Steve.

@mugteck

You’re gonna love the Philippines

But not the dogs🙄

    @mugteck
You’re gonna love the Philippines


But not the dogs🙄
   

    -@Lotus Eater

And roosters' crowing.

        @mugteckYou’re gonna love the PhilippinesBut not the dogs🙄        -@Lotus Eater

And roosters' crowing.
   

    -@Jackson4

And the karaoke.

@Jackson4

Dogs, roosters, & karaoke…in that order? Sounds like the animals are providing  tasteless entertainment.

    @Jackson4
Dogs, roosters, & karaoke…in that order? Sounds like the animals are providing  tasteless entertainment.
   

    -@markhamilton6100

My above allusion to dogs was related to your admission of driving like a speed merchant. More expats are killed in road accidents by dog collisions than anything else. Yes driving at speed in built up areas in the Philippines is 'tasteless entertainment' for both humans and dogs. Dogs do not have our level of intelligence. What's your excuse Mark?

             Roosters not all that entertaining, but even in a city like Baguio, population about 400,000,  I wake to the local Rooster version of Here Comes The Sun (apologies to George Harrison).  For me living in the Philippines involves being humble, knowing that being humble does mean I am being humiliated.

Do they still hold rooster fights down there?

SSHHHH.

Cheers, Steve.

    Do they still hold rooster fights down there?        -@markhamilton6100

Nooooo. Wink-wink

@Jackson4

Interesting....

    @Jackson4Interesting....        -@markhamilton6100

Cockfighting is legal in the Philippines when held in licensed cockpits.

@Jackson4

My guess is that cockfighting is the biggest form of gambling outside of Casino's in the Philippines.

         Supposedly rivals basketball as the top sport in the Philippines.

Not sure about that mugteck, I see basketball and egos trump cock fighting. Listening to instructions is very low on the list. Carrying the instructions out at the bottom. deal with it we do.

Cheers, Steve.

          The only basketball I see in the Philippines is the NBA on tv.  Never attended never intend to attend a cock fight.  Also do not gamble in any form, so I don't really care about any of this.  Would not mind if all the LRQB (Lower Rock Quarry Barangay) rosters took up cock fighting and lost.

@bigpearl

I would have never guessed basketball is a big thing in the Philippines. I thought it was just cockfighting, kickboxing (or is that in Thailand), and soccer.