Quote Originally Posted by scott&ligaya View Post
a wsie old head in Palawan told me that "If you want to make a small fortune in the Phils then bring a BIG ONE" wise indeed. if you intend to make a business here, keep it modest and do not be too successful..you will attract local competitiors who are usually linked to the local worthies, you will find all sorts of "new obstacles", you will lose staff, have trouble renewing liscences, taxes will unexpectedly rise, you will be visited b every possible department for all sorts of absurd reaons.. etc etc etc, I am sure you get the picture
Exactly and yes the Phils has a habit of turning a large fortune into a small one

I do know westerners who started with nothing and grew a successful business in the Phils but it was in areas that the locals could not compete in and exploiting foreign contact networks not local contact networks.