Experiences with Outsourcing to the Philippines
Reader Interactions
Living in a Tropical Country Like the Philippines – As a Virtual Assistant or as an Employer for Vacations
by Jomvie
(Full-time VA from the Philippines)
We’ve been talking about how the weather affects our daily lives in the Philippines, especially online workers like me. I will give you a quick background about our climate and when is the best time to come and visit the Philippines for an “R and R”.
You might be puzzled from my recent posts if you are clueless about how the season work in our country. So, let’s start talking about our two seasons:
- Dry/Sunny season
- Wet/Rainy season
Since we live near the equator, our climate is categorized as tropical and is divided into four types. But, let’s not complicate it so much and stick to our two seasons—the simpler the better. 🙂
I will start with our Dry Season which begins in the months of December to May.
But it does not mean that from December to May, there’s no rainfall. I will show you an overview below in a table for a better understanding.
Next, the Rainy Season which starts from June to November. From my recent post, I mentioned that our weather is very unusual lately.
The month of June should be the start of a rainy season. Since we’ve been experiencing the El Nino Phenomenon that’s getting worse year after year—rainfall didn’t show up recently and we’re experiencing hot and humid weather.
This is how the months ideally fall for our seasons in the Philippines:
You might be wondering what that “DRY but cool and hot” season means? That is the cool air from the winter monsoon—that’s the literal “Christmas air”.
And if that table says, “it’s hot and DRY” these are the months where we suffer from four-hour rotational brownouts. In some places in the Mindanao island—six hours. These are summer months accompanied by the El Nino Phenomenon.
And when it says, “Rainy-RAINY”, these are the months where storms start to strike our neighboring island (Luzon and Visayas).
I think you can picture now or visualize what I have been talking about from my recent posts. And supposedly, rotating brownouts should have ended last May. However, due to the unexpected occurrence of the long weeks of El Nino (this means no RAIN for weeks and weeks), we can’t complain but just have to wait until it’s okay.
The start of a cool and rainy night
Recently, these past few days for three consecutive nights, we are now experiencing a cooler nights and mornings since rain has arrived. And I am so glad that I can work just fine and my brain can function pretty okay with the cooler surroundings. I just hope everyone across the country is doing fine with this transition—because I am 😀
I’m no raining man—just an ordinary person
Every time there’s a storm coming in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). They are named in accordance of the English alphabet. And we start to name these storms from the month of January until December.
Sometimes in a month, we will experience 3 to 4 storms. Naming them is as easy as remembering them since we will just follow the alphabet. Last year, we reached Z and the name of the storm was Zorayda.
(I am sounding like a weather forecaster now, but you can always double-check for a second opinion.)
Please do jump in on the comment box, I am open for comments and suggestions 🙂
Generators: An Alternative for Filipino Virtual Assistants for the Frequent Power Interruptions
by Jomvie
(Francis’ Full-time VA from the Philippines)
Virtual Assistants from the Philippines have to deal with frequent power outages due to their location. As an employer, you want them to stay online so that they can complete their tasks for you sufficiently. What means and ways does an ordinary citizen during power interruption have?
How does an ordinary Filipino person live when the lights will go out?
This is in response to my recent post that showed how a virtual assistant from the Philippines lives all throughout these inevitable circumstances.
Due to the lacking source of energy, our city suffers from more or less four hours of rotational brownout. That four-hour brownout is agonizing since the weather is extremely hot and humid and often times accompanied with no water in our faucets.
How does that sound? Irritating, right?
A Mini-Machine’s Big Contribution
In some places, there are lucky people who own a generator –a machine that generates electricity through gas fuel. And this mini machine can help alleviate the irritating heat of the sun./
Luckily, the summer months have just ended and we no longer suffer from the scorching heat and brownouts. Unfortunately, due to the unlikely weather, recently we have suffered from another episode of power interruption that happens on random hours of the day or night — you can check my post here.
Ordinary Citizen versus Prominent Individuals
Since I am just one of the ordinary citizens and employees, I can’t afford to acquire that electricity generator. So, I will just wait patiently for the lights to go back.
And, personally, I think it’s not practical for me to spend on a machine that will only be of use most of the time during summer.
Yes – rotational brownouts are an expected phenomenon during the months of summer.
On the other hand, some rich people in prominent places around the city would probably acquire this kind of thing. I don’t know them personally, but they are able to have one.
And me? I’ll just spend an hour inside the bathroom or chip some ice cubes or ice cream to cool down.
And guess what? You can’t even spend some cooling-off-time inside the mall because they also do conserve their energy…!
Profit or Loss
Do you think because they’re a big store and have a big generator to supply power, you can just come and go once the power is off? No, you don’t.
The only hunch I have in mind is—the fuel costs them big bucks if they will use it fully to continuously provide comfort.
One day, I went to our local mall’s hardware store and saw this mini-generator. The cheapest cost was about $250 (or Php 10,000 in our local money), which is a big amount. And I just want to be practical and spend this kind of money on more important stuff.
If someone would gladly donate me some mini-generator, well, I will not think about saying yes or no! 😀
Do jump in on the comment box and let me know about your thoughts.
Comments for Generators: An Alternative for Filipino Virtual Assistants for the Frequent Power Interruptions
Sep 18, 2014 | Advanced equipment for pros As a beginner VA, I agree that it is not the first investment that comes to mind. A fast and reliable computer is probably a wiser decision.However, it’s interesting to see how the weather conditions play a crucial role in your day-to-day work life. Most employers are probably not aware of this situation for Filipino VAs. If you nonchalantly mention the temperatures and humidity you experience during summer, more employers will (probably) be more understanding. And let you work during hours where work is doable. |
Sep 18, 2014 | Power Invertors are the better choice As a virtual assistant, I have almost overcome the problem. In my feeling, power inverters are by far more efficient than generators.Why?
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Sep 25, 2014 | Power Inverter versus Generators This is the first time that I heard about power inverters, and we’ll definitely try and check it out.And I think it is less annoying because you’ll just have to attach it to a battery. Unlike generators, they create a noisy and annoying sound and also they have the same hours of power supply. Thanks for that tip by the way. 😀 |
Sep 26, 2014 | I was not aware of power inverters either – until yet Funny but I found a power converter in a supermarket today! I even took a photo of it. Price here in Germany for it was 150€. And the device was portable but not well suited for flying it around the world in my briefcase. 😉I would love more about using these power inverters for electricity for portable computers. |
Oct 15, 2014 | another option? Hi, I wonder if a 80-100watt (or more) solar cell and a truck size battery is a practical alternative to a generator? Also, no there is fuel to purchase, but it must be sunny, so it’s no good for rainy weather.(obvious)How does the (solar cell and battery) initial purchase prices compare to a small-ish 4 stroke generator- remember a generator can also charge a battery/s as well, so it can really give double value- use fuel while charging a battery at the same time,(maybe a fridge also) then run your laptop (and a small “car type” fan) from the battery- several large bottles of (frozen)cold water in the base of the fridge help keep it colder, longer. A solar cell, battery AND generator combination would allow the most flexibility. Remember a very “cheap” generator often makes “dirty” 240v power, much too dirty to “safely” use with electronics without a filter of some type… a big battery can, together with a small inverter smooth the “bumps” enuf to keep a laptop happy- a computer “UPS” IS a perfect filter for “generator direct” power…. An “inverter” type generator is SPECIALLY made for running electronic devices, safely, but is a bit more expensive…. especially the big brand name ones… but some of the cheaper ones are made in the same factories, so shop carefully. Ebay -can- be a source of surprisingly good quality generators, of both types,(with care). Power blackouts are not unique to the Philippines, We also have them in rural Western Australia – where temps sometimes can get to 45 degrees- just today I used a generator for five hours during an outage, so I speak from ong (AND also qualified) experience- This is NOT a technical level comment, but enuf to provoke thought, I hope. |
Feb 20, 2015 | Great Ideas! Hi Bill, thanks a lot for taking the time to really share your experience with your alternative to a generator with us. You obviously have put a lot of thought into writing this comment.It’s interesting to see that not only the Filipinos are struggling with those power outages but even so-called western countries or should I say more modern countries like Australia. Forty five degrees definitively sounds very hot 🙂 The challenge for many virtual assistants, especially for those who are in developing countries, is that the cost position for a more complicated generator alternative is often too expensive for them. Also, the only thing they often need to take care of is to make sure that the energy is there for running the computer and probably their router. So they often don’t need a solution that generates lots of electricity. Can you think of a technical solution that is sufficient for only one laptop, and ideally, is in a low price range? I would really look forward to hear from you again. But anyways, thanks for taking the time to leave such a great comment. |
Power Interruption: An inevitable event for a Virtual Assistant from the Philippines
by Jomvie
(Virtual Assistant from the Philippines)
These past few weeks I have been experiencing a power interruption. It occurs at any given time of the day or night. Lights fluctuate without any given advisory.
Maybe a little heads up will do a little better, unlike shutting you off at the middle of doing something such as one time I was doing some revisions on an infographics and it suddenly turns pitch black and there’s nothing that I can do about it. It’s truly a pain, especially when your main job is on the internet.
And it didn’t happen for just a day or two. It happened for two consecutive days or during at night or alternatively like there’s a power interruption today and it will happen again two days after. And this has gone on since last July until now at random hours.
During the months of March until May we suffered from El Nino Phenomenon that dramatically affects our weather. And since these months are summer time in our country, the temperature is typically hot, but it rather gets hotter that caused drought in some parts of our country and in the city I lived in and our source of energy is greatly affected and so are we.
For some people who are lucky to acquire a box of generator, they don’t suffer this much. And it’s not like we can get it just pulling off some goods out of the grocery store. The cheapest would probably cost about $250+.
In that case, every local power plant decided to have a rotational brown out that lasts for 3 to 4 hours and worst is 6 hours. That’s how bad our situation is during those months and we can’t do anything about it since rain comes very seldom that often we suffer for a month of no rain.
The good thing is, there’s this cloud seeding and we’ll be lucky if it’s successfully seeded.
The most probable reason would be the lacking of power supply due to the unlikely summer-weather in the previous months and now (August), since we do rely on hydroelectricity as a source of energy.
One day, I was so glad that there’s a storm coming because we’ve suffered enough from too hot and very humid surroundings for days and weeks. I know it’s selfish to think that way since other parts of our country will truly be affected.
But this is truly affecting me and my work which I rely on for providing my basic needs.
Do let me know about your thoughts about this.
You can check my other post so that you’ll have a better idea to where I live in Philippines.
Comments for Power Interruption: An inevitable event for a Virtual Assistant from the Philippines
Aug 18, 2014 | Very interesting to me! It’s great to “see” a sneak-peek behind the scenes of a VA’s life in the Philippines. The conditions truly sound very different to those here in Germany.I can’t wait to experience all of that first hand! Sharing your perspectives freely of how life for a VA from the Philippines really is helps us employers understand and adapt to you VAs – and encourages other VAs from the Philippines that they can be successful. Even with power outages! |
Aug 23, 2014 | VA living throughout the inevitable circumstances As a VA, you will be asked to find the perfect time to work even with those power interruptions. If the brownout happens to be in the morning or in the afternoon–I can pretty assure you that I will be able to make it at night. But, if it happens at the late hours of night, it would be impossible for me to go out or go to a friend’s house or to a cafe.Last time, when this power interruption occurred like 7 in the evening, I called up my friend an hour after the light is not yet back on, he told me that they are experiencing it too–just minutes after I called up and to think he’s just a 30 minute drive away from my place. In cafes’, they have this emergency light and only that. So, in other words, they don’t want to spend on generators because it will just add another loss of income or just too expensive–I think most cafes (internet/coffee shops) do this kind of practice. They will just wait for the power to go back. And as of the moment, my mini laptop is not in good shape if ever I will go to a coffee shop 😀 it’s OS is still on Window XP–I am still looking for some time to clean this mini-machine and so once something will come up un-invited, I’ll be able to make it up right away. |
Sep 02, 2014 | imma VA as well But it’s not all the time you can find a way to get online during power outage. Internet and coffeeshops are often out of power supply also. I hope ul get considered on that if not exempted.. Prolly just get a postpaid plan on lappy’s or an ipad. Ciao ~,* |
Sep 03, 2014 | Hi Liana,I am actually thinking about getting a postpaid plan on either a laptop or tablets. But, I am thinking about the monthly cost also. In other words, the monthly cost outweighs the need, so I don’t think I am going to consider on getting a postpaid plan 😀 By the way, thanks for dropping by—looking forward to hear more about your thoughts on this matter.. |
Sep 03, 2014 | Postpaid plan one of many alternatives It’s good to show your employer you do everything you can to stay online even during power outages. Just be upfront about the situation and objectively describe the situation.If you show you tried a, b and c before giving up, your employer will most likely respect that self-motivating attitude and be patient with you. An alternative is to show your employer how much it would cost to pay for such a postpaid plan. He might consider it as a solution for urgent matters. How much does a postpaid plan cost in the Philippines? |
Filling Your Schedules with Hiring a Full Time Virtual Assistant
by Francis
(April 24, 2014)
As you know, we have hired Denise, a full time virtual assistant from the Philippines into our team. She is still in the last week of her first training month. But from the first weeks of working with her already, we were able to learn many lessons that I hope are useful for you if you ever consider hiring a virtual assistant full time.
Managing a Full-Time VA Takes Time
If your assistant is really working 8 hours a day for you, you have to reserve some time on your own schedule to answer questions as much as possible especially in the beginning. My guess is that you need at least 1 hour a day to record into screen recordings to explain what you want and what you don’t want. And, at least, one Skype or phone call a week to get to know your full-time VA better and answer questions in real time.
Believe me, it makes the difference.
If you communicate only via email, it’s very probable that many misunderstandings stay what they are – misunderstandings. A real time phone call or Skype call can clean up many issues.
If your virtual assistant is too shy for a Skype call, and this can happen if you hire from the Philippines; a real time chat via Google Chat is just as effective. Well, perhaps, a little less effective but it still works.
Leveraging a Project Based Virtual Assistant on Your Full Time VA
If you already have worked with a virtual assistant that knows you and that has worked on project based work for you; you can use that to your advantage.
What do I mean?
Let’s say, you have outsourced the project to a virtual assistant with whom you have worked for 2 months. He has invested 10 hours a week working with you. He is not a full time assistant, at least not for you. But this assistant knows you and he knows how you work. Either re-hire him if you like working with him or if you’re still working with him, just expand his tasks to help manage your full time assistant.
What can your project based assistant help with?
You can take your full time assistant by the hand especially at the beginning and explain how you like your communication done best – via email, via updates, which format, which frequency. Your project based virtual assistant who already knows you can take that time off your hands by explaining what he has learned works best with you to your new member of the team.
In other words, outsource part of your managing from your virtual assistant. At least that is what I do and it helps me really a lot.
Reviewing the Work of a Growing Team Takes More Time
Although it’s great fun to see my team working by tracking their screenshots via different sites that track their activity; it does take time to record feedback videos to both of them.
What I’m doing now and I can propose to you, if you are working with several assistants at once, is to record one video in which you talk to both assistants about their updates and screenshots. And then ask them to figure it out which task in the video are meant for one assistant and which for the other.
Ideally, of course in the video, you clarify which assistant should take care of which part of the work. But for you as an employer, this way you only take the time for one video – let’s say, half an hour a day – and your assistants figure out the rest between them.
More Content into the Virtual Assistant Diary
Please expect growing amounts of content and behind the scenes insider information in our diary from my virtual assistant. I will totally submit what Denise has written as her diary updates to me and publish them on the diary. So that you can understand how the cooperation with a full time assistant can be especially at the beginning.
I’m not holding back. There have been challenges. But I think many challenges can be overcome. I can even imaging doing an interview with my assistant, transcribing it and posting it on this site.
I think it can be quite charming if you think about hiring someone full time. Please let me know what you think about this in the comments.
Comments for Filling Your Schedules with Hiring a Full Time Virtual Assistant
Sep 08, 2014 | Audio/Video-Mails plus Skype Chat Does it sound like a pro and con? You got a VA but the content can’t be accommodated.On the other hand, the idea of Skype/Google chat is a great way of clearing out misunderstandings on written instructions.A combination of audio/video-mails and chat is also a good way of filling in the gaps. In my opinion, audio/video-mails is best recommended to those who are inclined in outsourcing business. |
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