As I suspected, the answer is complicated, as anything seems to be in relation to the Philippines.
I have also learned, there rarely is there any definitive answer or even a place you can get that answer, rather it seems you have to listen to what others experience themselves and say and try to find more information yourself and finally push through the paperwork and bureaucracy as a learn as you go experience.

It's also made more complicated in that often, people can achieve the same thing by different methods.

Thanks for all the answers though.