VIRTUAL REALITY: Your home–your virtual office

Posted on October 17, 2007
Filed Under Blogging and the Internet, Information, Jobs | Viewed 2491 times

Your home—your virtual office. And the extension to your virtual office? Could be Starbucks, or Gloria Jeans, even your friendly internet café next door. A virtual office is possible even while you are on holiday. Your virtual office could be anywhere—anywhere or any corner of the world where the wonders of internet connection is available. Of course, a DSL or broadband connection is the best scenario. And your partner? Your ever reliable computer, whether it be a PC, branded or not, or your ever favorite MacBook.

Nowadays, more and more people turn to home based work—it all depends on what their priorities are. Of course, the majority of the work force still go to traditional offices, but at a certain point in one’s life, one thinks about staying at home, being with family and in control of one’s time. And these thoughts are from people of just about any age, from the fresh graduates to the retiring ones. My eldest son, J Angelo saw the lures of home based work at an early age, in his mid-20s, while I did only after I took early retirement.

The Philippine Diaspora

In the Philippines, the past 30 years have seen a migration of millions of people, a brain drain, going out of the country, to test what they perceive to be the greener pastures in the other parts of the world. Many have proven successful in their own fields, many come back home while it is not too late to start life anew, while some have preferred to stay in their host countries, still some are even in hiding from the authorities as overstaying or illegal visitors, receiving pay that is less than what their legal counterparts receive.

All these things, the Filipinos sacrifice, just to earn those extra green bucks, euros, yens, dinars, etc., at the earliest instance transferred to their families in the Philippines. Would you believe, that during my travels in the past 20 years, I have seen Filipinos working in poorer countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and even China? Oh, well, at least for some of these countries, the migrant Filipinos work as middle managers for hotels and quality control supervisors for large factories.

Of course there have been lots of success stories, but plenty of sad ones, too, in the process splintering the most basic unit of the society—the family, the Philippine diaspora, as we call it. But this is an entirely different story. Let me just talk about the happy scenario of Filipinos staying put in their beloved country—where somehow the mall mentality still prevails.

Unemployed and underemployed Filipinos

Whilst there are budding to middle size businesses and individuals in the US, Canada and other parts of the world who find paying the salaries and social benefits of their local secretaries, clerks, assistants and other office workers too stringent, here we are in the Philippines, having a surfeit of fresh graduates and people in want of employment. They are not be employed for various reasons, like very little jobs are available in the market, or pay is not at all attractive—not even within th minimum wage for some to live a decent life, or the offices are simply too far, leaving very little take home pay after factoring in budget for food, transportation, clothing, etc. And for those working in the call centers, think about the health and security risks associated with their work.

Filipinos are so talented, innovative, hardworking, and with a jolly disposition, the traits so well known of Filipinos in many parts of the world. Prospective employers would like to deal with Filipinos for all sorts of jobs, from IT-related work like programming, web design and web development giving their Indian counterparts a run for their money, to nursing care, to teaching jobs. Name it, Filipinos can do it, and will do it. And let us not forget our caregivers, domestic helpers, artists, and skilled people all over the world, even in war torn areas. These people—whom our government calls heroes are heroes indeed.

Yes, there are available options-VIRTUAL REALITY

For all of these jobs, Filipinos still have the option of staying in the country—and not going with the bandwagon of people wanting to move out. Not being vulnerable to scrupulous recruiters, to whom the poor unsuspecting persons wanting for employment sometimes go to.

Those who are fully employed can also take the opportunity of earning extra, home-based.

Thanks to people who have a vision, people who in their own quiet way fulfill their goal of helping co-Filipinos improve their lot and earn decent money, at the same time working in the comforts of home, being with family, and in control of their time. Yes, this is VIRTUAL REALITY. Virtual assistants, virtual accountants, virtual programmers, virtual events organizers, and many more—all working from a remote location.

It is only a matter of matching the skills of employees with foreign employers’ requirements, and doing so through the right channels. Making into full use high technology gadgets, like computers, VOIP, instant messaging, telephones, etc. Yes, this arrangement has become acceptable by a number of countries—where employers pay less than half of the same services, sometimes even of better quality that they would get from their own local workers. They do not have to worry about social security and benefits, office space, and yes, hiring and firing of employees.

On the other hand, e-commerce, professional bloggers, freelance writers and researchers have been hitting it bigtime. I bet, most of these people are home-based. We have read a lot of success stories in the print media and television. All of these take a lot of hard work, networking, and again, vision.

There’s HOPE

Maybe, just maybe, with more parents wanting to stay at home and finding the right home-based jobs matched with people with vision who make all these arrangements possible, quality of life may be better, family ties stronger, and lives happier, starting from the very basic structure of society—the family.

I know, because I for one work home-based, sometimes in my night clothes, sometimes in Starbucks, or Gloria Jeans with my kids in tow, together with my ever reliable MacBook.

If you want to learn more, just ASK! I am only a comment away, or an email away.

Comments

20 Responses to “VIRTUAL REALITY: Your home–your virtual office”

analyse on October 18th, 2007 3:51 am

wow, this would open opportunities to those who want to stay at home and control their time. and yes, if these jobs are available, probably, we could keep fellow pinoys at home!
francesca on October 18th, 2007 4:12 am

hey, gusto ko rin yang homebased work sana, pero wheres the time????

Sarap nga naman mag work na nakapajama na lang, with hot tea at the side.

Di na kelangan habol to commute. Today pa naman on strike mga french trains!
Bangladesh » Blog Archives » Bangladesh: Anti-Christian Rumor Helps Fuel Attacks - Worthy News on October 18th, 2007 4:14 am

[...] VIRTUAL REALITY: Your home–your virtual office …my travels in the past 20 years, I have seen Filipinos working in poorer countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and… [...]
amymd on October 18th, 2007 7:02 am

My husband lectures on medical informatics, Dine. He gives free lectures to fellow doctors regarding this kind of work, virtual reality,to be able to augment their income and change their minds in going abroad, as there are already few of us left to practice in the provinces. But very few embrace the idea.
But I agree with you…there’s hope.
jhay on October 18th, 2007 9:01 am

Yep. There’s hope indeed.
chase on October 18th, 2007 10:13 am

This indeed an opportunity to other Filipinos to earn alot while working at home or even at the office (without the boss knowing lol). I also agree of the brain drain of our country which is actually a sad thing. But some people left the country for reasons other than financial. In my case, I wanted to be in a country that is tolerant and gays have equal rights. Focusing more on the economy and helping the poor rather than morality and religion since it cant feed hungry mouths.

Anyway, I need pointers on these opportunities so I can help out my friends here.
julie on October 18th, 2007 2:35 pm

Thanks Dine, for this wonderful post. The perspective of earning money has changed over the years, with people focusing more on family matters and quality time with the family. In due time, I would like to enjoy such opportunities.

I am interested about this opportunity for my husband who also works part-time doing consultancy works in some offices needing his IT know-how. We are in the process of weighing our options and this probably is one options we might consider.

Take care.
jireh on October 18th, 2007 5:44 pm

hi tita dine! pasensya na po di talaga natuloy yong pagwork ko for u, as much as i really want to, wala kasi akong pc dito, naiwan po sa bacolod pero siguro next yr po pwede na God bless po tita dine
Tom on October 19th, 2007 11:13 pm

That’s my dream! Work at home (or virtual office), in my own time, no more bosses but me as President, other than my wife as the Chairman, Vice-
Chairman, Treasurer, CorSec – of course.

Meantime, I’m doing it on a part-time basis as I’m preparing to do it full time.
annamanila on October 24th, 2007 3:04 pm

You know of course, I would—sooner or later—ask. Good luck in your virtual office management!
PJ Punla on November 16th, 2007 1:52 am

hi there Tita Dine.

I’d also like to ask about this project, and would like to sign up for it.
zyne on January 11th, 2008 2:47 pm

Hi. I happen to come across this site and I’m quite intrigued about it. I am really interested in having a home based job. And in fact, I’m already frustrated in finding one. Can you possibly help me regarding this concern and provide an opportunity for me to have a home based job?
Jonathan on January 12th, 2008 9:52 am

I happen to be in an outsourcing company that allows me to work at the office or remote. At least I have the option to go to the office if I want some interaction with my co-workers or just stay at the comforts of my home to avoid traffic, rain or heat. just one of the benefits of the internet.. ^_
mercy marquez on March 3rd, 2008 3:58 pm

i would like to sign up for it..how???
Happy Sleep: the body needs it most : The D Spot on March 16th, 2008 5:52 am

[...] I simply fell asleep for 2 full hours. I was so embarrassed, I knew my staff, who are all working home-based, knew I was missing in [...]
arominrapster on May 5th, 2008 2:43 pm

I’m interested could you give me some info regarding this matter.
nathan on June 2nd, 2008 8:02 pm

hi…

i am seriously interested with this kind of job…

be it part-time or full time…

kindly send the requirements and compensation package, and if it tops my current package then i’ll be resigning with my current company and go full time with this…

thanks a lot and more power
Mon S on June 5th, 2008 6:15 pm

Yup. It’s a nice option. But it takes more discipline especially for the younger set since you won’t have a boss breathing down on your neck
arlene zaldivar on June 21st, 2008 6:50 pm

i am interested for this job.and this is my first time to try this kind of work….
thanks and more power
curious and interested on June 30th, 2008 9:04 pm

hello. i was wondering if you could send me an e-mail on what is involved with this line of work. thank you.