【Philippines Remote Work】How Globarx Makes Working Abroad a Reality

Hello! I'm Narumi Ota, a Recruiting Advisor at Globarx.

In this blog, I'd like to share my experience of "working remotely from overseas" in my home country, the Philippines. As someone who was born in the Philippines and raised in Japan, I’ll be talking about my journey with some personal stories along the way!

The opportunity to return to the Philippines this time came thanks to a wonderful surprise—I was fortunate enough to win first place in the karaoke contest at the Philippine Festival held in Yoyogi Park in December 2024. As a prize, I received a round-trip ticket from Narita to Manila.If it weren’t for working at Globarx, it would have been difficult to make use of this ticket, but thanks to the flexibility of remote work from abroad, I was able to make this trip home a reality.

I’m originally from Manila, and during past visits, I usually stayed around the capital. However, this time I had the chance to stay in Pampanga Province for the first time. Surrounded by nature and a calm environment, it was a deeply refreshing and valuable experience both mentally and physically.

Embracing a New Way of Working: Remote Work from Abroad

In my previous job, going to the office every day was the norm. Because of that, it was difficult to return to the Philippines at all, and even when I did, I could only stay for about a week at most.

That all changed when I joined Globarx and discovered a new way of working: remote work from abroad. Globarx offers an environment where you can work in your own way, without being tied to one location. Thanks to that flexibility, I was able to stay in my home country and continue working without any issues for the first time.

During my stay, I also had the opportunity to visit one of our partner organizations, CIP English (Clark Institute of the Philippines), located in Clark. I’ll be sharing more about that business trip in a separate blog post.

Spending time with family, enjoying the nostalgic food culture, and being surrounded by beautiful nature—all while continuing my work—made for a truly fulfilling experience.

I also created a Vlog capturing these memorable moments of working remotely from the Philippines, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out!

Comfortable Stay in a Condominium

For this trip, I stayed in a condominium—an urban-style apartment complex. Condominiums offer a secure environment and reliable internet connectivity, making them an ideal and comfortable option for remote work, even while staying abroad.

The condominium also featured great shared amenities such as a gym, pool, and lounge, which made it easy to refresh between work sessions. The Wi-Fi connection was stable throughout, allowing me to work comfortably in my room—or even in the function room, a shared workspace in another building, for a change of scenery.

One of the highlights of my stay was swimming in the pool after a day of work—it was the perfect way to unwind. The local food was so delicious that I found myself overindulging quite a bit. I told myself I’d balance it out by using the gym a few times... but in the end, I never actually stepped inside!

The view from the balcony was also amazing, and I even tried working outside with Globarx’s PR Manager, Su-nyan (our beloved company cat mascot).

However… May in the Philippines is extremely hot, and we had to retreat indoors after just five minutes (haha). In the end, there’s nothing better than a good air-conditioned room!

Enjoying the Local Food Culture While Working

During lunch breaks, I frequently used the popular local delivery service "foodpanda." Once you place an order, a driver arrives almost immediately to deliver it—such a convenient service!

It was a small joy during my workdays to enjoy nostalgic flavors, like the Philippines' #1 national fast food, "Jollibee," and fresh mangoes that are so expensive in Japan. These little moments really made my experience special.

During lunch breaks, I frequently used the popular local delivery service "foodpanda." Once you place an order, a driver arrives almost immediately to deliver it—such a convenient service!

It was a small joy during my workdays to enjoy nostalgic flavors, like the Philippines' #1 national fast food, "Jollibee," and fresh mangoes that are so expensive in Japan. These little moments really made my experience special.

After work, I often went out to eat with family and friends. Reuniting after a long time and having casual conversations were moments I truly cherished. Thanks to remote work, I feel like I was able to rediscover the warmth of life in my home country.

However, during my stay, there was a little mishap—I got food poisoning… As expected, when traveling abroad, you need to be cautious about water and food. Fortunately, I had some medicine on hand (Seirogan), so it wasn’t too serious, but I recommend everyone take extra care when traveling abroad.

A Dream Visit to a Tourist Spot

During my stay in Pampanga, I was finally able to visit Baguio, a place I had always wanted to see. It's quite far from Manila, so I never had the chance to go before, but from Pampanga, it was only about a 2-hour drive, making it much more accessible. I was thrilled to finally visit this long-awaited tourist destination.

Baguio is located at a high altitude, so the weather is cool year-round, and the area is rich in nature with clear, fresh air. I also had the chance to try various desserts made with Baguio's famous strawberries, making for a truly memorable trip. Su-nyan was also happy to be in the cooler temperatures, especially since I had dragged her around in the hot weather before!

My Connection with OPM

I absolutely love OPM (Original Pilipino Music). In fact, I sang a Tagalog song in the karaoke contest at the Philippine Festival.For me, OPM was not only the reason I started learning Tagalog, but it also became an important way to connect with my homeland’s culture, especially since I couldn’t speak Tagalog before.

This time, I had the chance to attend the "Aurora Music Festival" in Clark, where I was able to experience live performances from artists I had only ever heard through my smartphone. In that moment, tears came naturally, and it became an unforgettable memory I’ll cherish forever.

The Appeal of Globarx: "Freedom in Work Style"

At Globarx, we offer "full remote work," allowing employees to work from anywhere, as well as a flexible "flexible work system." Since the time difference between the Philippines and Japan is only one hour, I usually worked on Japanese time. However, in cases of larger time differences or personal schedules, it's also possible to adjust working hours.

Our company has a diverse, multinational team, and we have a company culture that respects each individual's roots and lifestyle. As someone with Filipino roots, I am very grateful for the opportunity to work in an environment where I can be myself and feel secure.

Through this experience of working remotely abroad, I’ve realized that remote work is not just about "flexibility in work style," but is also a "means to expand life’s possibilities." I’m committed to using this experience to provide career support that aligns with the diverse values of everyone.

~About Globarx's Services~

Globarx fully supports skilled workers entering and settling in Japan with:

• Documentation Assistance (e.g., visa applications, labor contracts)

• Post-arrival Support (e.g., housing and living guidance)

• Ongoing Follow-ups

• Multilingual Support in Eight Languages

• Career Support Beyond Specific Skilled Worker Visas

Feel free to contact us with any questions or inquiries.

メールアドレス：ota@globarx.co.jp (Narumi Ota）

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■ Author

Narumi Ota

Born in the Philippines and raised in Japan, Narumi Ota is a native Japanese speaker. In 2019, during a visit to the Philippines after a 10-year absence, she was shocked by the decline in her Tagalog skills and decided to teach herself the language. Loving the bright and cheerful nature of the Filipino people, she started sharing the charm of the Philippines on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, hoping to introduce more of its appeal to Japan. In 2024, she joined Globarx as a Recruiting Advisor, aiming to bridge the gap between Japan and the Philippines.