Birth of Baby - US or Philippines?

[AKteacher 104]

Can anybody enlighten us about some of the advantages/disadvantages of having a baby in the US vs the Philippines?

Are the better hospitals in Philippines (Davao area) up to international standards? What's the approximate cost of having a baby in Philippines?

How much will the country where the child is born affect the future child's citizenship and property rights in Philippines? (Dad is a US citizen, Mom is a Filipina)?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[yasieyasie 0]

Can anybody enlighten us about some of the advantages/disadvantages of having a baby in the US vs the Philippines?

Are the better hospitals in Philippines (Davao area) up to international standards? What's the approximate cost of having a baby in Philippines?

How much will the country where the child is born affect the future child's citizenship and property rights in Philippines? (Dad is a US citizen, Mom is a Filipina)?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

If you want your child to be U.S citizen and avoid going to paperwork, have your child in the United States(that's assuming you guys are living in the States). As for the medical cost and so on, haven't a clue.

Yasiyasie

[carlos.ro1985 0]

i agree with the last post if u plan on living in the us avoid the paper work..

[TeapotGirl 66]

Are the better hospitals in Philippines (Davao area) up to international standards? What's the approximate cost of having a baby in Philippines?

Advantages: Cheaper bills, a family will be there to assist you. A very caring hospital employees (private hostpitals)

Disadvantages: Paper work. You still have to produce a "report of birth abroad" for the child to get a benefit from his/her father.

I am not sure if your child is considered a US citizen once he's born here. That's another paperwork

Are the better hospitals in Philippines (Davao area) up to international standards? What's the approximate cost of having a baby in Philippines?

Not that I know of. I could name some if you are from Manila area.

How much will the country where the child is born affect the future child's citizenship and property rights in Philippines? (Dad is a US citizen, Mom is a Filipina)?

It depends what will be you and your kids plan. Would he like to join in the Philippine military? Wants to be a politician- of course he can't do that if he is a US citizen. For sure he can't buy multi-million property if he's a US citizen too. It has to shared with a Filipino on a certain percentage.

ADVISE: Just give birth in the US because there's more paper work if you switch back there than from US to here. It maybe your first time to give birth and you are scared but you will learn.

Edited October 9, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[TripleG 3]

My wife plans on having our second child in the RP in Febuarary. There are different reasons why we decided to do this. The first reason is if you look at Philippine property law it states only a natural born citizen can inherit. Our first son is duel citizen but was born here in U.S.A. so we didn't want to take any chances in the event of a property dispute later. My wife and I own ag. property which I cannot inherit. There is belief by some Americans that they will inherit joint property in the RP in the event their wife dies....(good luck!). By having a child in the RP it covers our bases in the event of something tragic happening. Secondly by having our second son in the RP my wife gets to share the experience with her family and they can help take care of our other infant son. The cost can vary. My wife plans on having a C-section done at the Cebu Doctors Hospital in Cebu. I am expecting to pay between 60,000php to 100,000php for this procedure and thats just an estimate. A C-section in the U.S. without insurance can cost up to $30,000USD. As far as type of care or quality of care? Its a matter of opinion. I had major surgery in Alabang a few years ago and am completely happy with the outcome. I think the most important thing when choosing a doctor either in the RP or the U.S.A is asking questions. Do your research online and then ask questions based on concerns you might have.

(I AM NOT A PHILIPPINE PROPERTY LAW EXPERT, THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS BASED OFF CONVERSTATIONS WITH AN ATTORNEY)

Wyatt

[Bayareaguy 156]

Personally, I'd rather it be done here in the US, assuming we will still have full health insurance when the time comes (knock on wood).

But here is a thread about using a birthing center vs a hospital in the PI's:

http://www.livingincebuforums.com/ipb/topic/43194-margarita-birthing-center-vs-hospital/page__fromsearch__1

[TinTin and Samby 11]

There are several inaccuracies in the posts above. Hopefully the following will help to clarify the facts for the OP and others:

1. A child born to a US Citizen Father and a Philippine Citizen Mother is INSTANTLY a Dual (Natual Born) American and (Natural Born) Filipino Citizen AT the instance of birth. This is the case regardless of whether the birth occurs in the Philippines or if the birth occurs in the USA.

2. The Child's Birth must be REPORTED to the respective Governments so that they can document the fact that a new (Natural Born) Citizen has "arrived into the world". In this case, there are TWO different Governments that the Birth must be reported to: USA and Philippines.

3. The PROCEDURES for DOCUMENTING & REPORTING the birth are different for the Philippines and the USA. Remember, however, these are procedures for DOCUMENTING & REPORTING the FACT OF THE BIRTH. IT IS THE BIRTH THAT HAS CONFERRED THE REPSECTIVE CITIZENSHIPS, NOT THE DOCUMENTATION & REPORTING PROCEDURES.

4. For a child born in the USA (at a standard Hospital or Birthing Facility), the facility handles the DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES for the US Government upon the birth of the child. This includes Recording the Birth with the State, Requesting a Birth Certificate be Issued, Requesting a Social Security Number be Issued, etc. Once this process is complete, the parents can apply for a US Passport for the Child.

5. For a chiled born in the USA, it is the PARENTS who must handle the DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES for the PHILIPPINE Government after the birth of the child. This is done by filing a "REPORT OF BIRTH - CHILD BORN ABROAD OF PHILIPPINE PARENT OR PARENTS" with the Philippine Embassey/Consultate serving your State. Once this process is complete, the parents can apply for a PHILIPPINE Passport for the Child.

6. For a child born in the PHILIIPINES, items #4 and #5 are reversed. The Record of Live Birth reported to the LCRO (Local Civil Registry Office) (and which is then ultimately forwarded to the NSO) is (usually) handled by the Hospital/Midwife, etc. After this happens and is completed, the parents can apply to the NSO for an authenticated Copy of the Live Birth Certificate and use this to apply to the DFA for a PHILLIPINE passport for the Child. However, the Documentation Procedures for the US Government must be entirely handled by the parents at the US Embassey in the Philippines.

Both routes end with the same outcome: the child will be a Documented, Natural Born Citizen of both the USA and the Philippines. As such, the Child will be entitled to all rights, privledges and responsibilities of citizens of each respective country. Specifically, regarding the comments above concerning Real Property Inheritance and Ownership, this child is a natural born Philippine Citizen and can inherit, own and sell real property without limitation (no different than his mother, for example). The limitations mentioned in posts above regarding Real property have to do with FORMER FILIPINO CITIZENS and NON CITIZEN FILIPINO RESIDENTS - neither of which apply to this child. (As a side note, these limitations can be removed for FORMER FILIPINO RESIDENTS via RA9225 - Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition of 2003.)

There are restricitions placed on the Dual Citizen Child regarding certain High Ranking Policy Positions within the Government. For example, certain (but not all - in fact not even the majority) government positions (elected and appointed) in the Philippines would require the Child to renounce his USA Citizenship. There are other examples like this, but they are very few and none would RESTRICT the child, they simply would require additional actions from the Child (like the example, above of renouncing US Citizenship). As a Natural Born US Citizen, the Child may one day seek and be elected to the Presidency of the USA.

So, for the OP, the outcome is the same, the choice is a cost / benefits analysis between having the child in the philippines and going through the required USA documentation procedures in the US Embassey or having the child in the USA and going through the required PHILIPPINE documentation procedures in the Filippino Embassey.

Warm Regards,

Samby

Edited October 9, 2011 by TinTin and Samby

[DouglasFiel 53]

Many good posts here.... The biggest disadvantage is a problem birth. Philippines, you get the "What you can afford to pay service".

In the USA there will be no expense spared... I have a friend with a million dollar preemie twins. In the Philippines,,, Who knows...

Note: I understand a normal hospital birth in the Philippines is in the $400 range for costs. I am sure that costs varies region

to region and is dependent on the type of hospital.

Regards,

[TinTin and Samby 11]

Many good posts here.... The biggest disadvantage is a problem birth. Philippines, you get the "What you can afford to pay service".

In the USA there will be no expense spared... I have a friend with a million dollar preemie twins. In the Philippines,,, Who knows...

Note: I understand a normal hospital birth in the Philippines is in the $400 range for costs. I am sure that costs varies region

to region and is dependent on the type of hospital.

Regards,

Just a note, That would be in the provence for a NATURAL DELIVERY at a midwife facility. The OP stated she was planning on a C-SECTION. Two very different cost propositions.

Warm Regards,

Samby

[Theresa0828 65]

Can anybody enlighten us about some of the advantages/disadvantages of having a baby in the US vs the Philippines?

Are the better hospitals in Philippines (Davao area) up to international standards? What's the approximate cost of having a baby in Philippines?

How much will the country where the child is born affect the future child's citizenship and property rights in Philippines? (Dad is a US citizen, Mom is a Filipina)?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I guess everybody here has already chip in on the pros and cons, what I will share is the hospital... I am born and raised in Davao City and it's really a great city with everything in it... I do not see any problem hospital wise, with women giving birth, C-section or not... At least three to five great hospitals... I specifically recommend Davao Doctors Hospital... Your wife can give birth with great service and significantly cheaper than how much you will spend in the US.

[TeapotGirl 66]

Just a note, That would be in the provence for a NATURAL DELIVERY at a midwife facility. The OP stated she was planning on a C-SECTION. Two very different cost propositions.

The OP didn't say she's going through a c-section. She hasn't responded yet. Nonetheless, your post is very informative. She can now weigh more options so she her kid won't have a problem like Obama.

Edited October 9, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[rlogan 2,036]

The more important concern for us is that we want our child to grow up in a free country. In the USA, the government owns your children.

[TeapotGirl 66]

The more important concern for us is that we want our child to grow up in a free country. In the USA, the government owns your children.

USA is a free country, just differences in opinion.

In the Philippines, spanking is accepted as a form is discipline (not to the point of hand cuffing the kid, make them bleed or just hit them just because you want to). In the US, that's child abuse.

We tend to just shut our mouth when something's wrong about your neighbors kid, thinking you're meddling in someone else s business- in the US, that's enabling.

My aunt adopted couple of foster kids, they're lovely. One of my fiances nephew was put into adoption. That's good. If I were to tell everybody what I I have been through, we should have been put into adoption but I wasn't.

Edited October 9, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[TripleG 3]

1. A child born to a US Citizen Father and a Philippine Citizen Mother is INSTANTLY a Dual (Natual Born) American and (Natural Born) Filipino Citizen AT the instance of birth. This is the case regardless of whether the birth occurs in the Philippines or if the birth occurs in the USA.

All in all nice post TinTin and Samby I agree with almost everything you stated except #1.

I THINK? NOT SURE? There are instances where Philippine law stipulates a difference between a citizen by blood and a citizen by birth. A child born to a Philippine parent would be a citizen by blood not by birth, hence not a natural born citizen if born in the U.S.A.

Does anyone know if Philippine law stipulates a differnce in citizenship by blood or by soil birth? Where is it referenced?

Wyatt

[TinTin and Samby 11]

The OP didn't say she's going through a c-section. She hasn't responded yet. Nonetheless, your post is very informative. She can now weigh more options so she her kid won't have a problem like Obama.

Thanks, TEAPOTGURL1983. You are correct. It was not the OP that mentioned about the C-Section plan. It was a latter poster, TRIPLEG. My mistake. Thanks for pointing that out.

Warm Regards,

Samby