Adoption Of Filipino Child To A Foreigner Family

[Old55]

It can be done, a wealthy Foreigner family with lots of luck and time can overcome the Filipino bureaucracy and adopt a Filipino child.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=852140&publicationSubCategoryId=63

[softail]

Lordblacknail, a member of this forum is in the process of adopting a beautiful little girl right now. Perhaps he can share what he has learned about the process?

Doug

[MikeeW]

I have been thru the adoption process here. From beginning to completion, it was four years. This was adopting our own child (the child of my wife). I lived here and met all the conditions. The lengthy process was not particularly due to it being adoption-specific problems. It is the way the court system is set up as well as the DSWD process and even the NSO had their share of adding to the lengthy process. From beginning to end, the delays were due to incompetence, a slow court system (a built in problem), a bit of corruption (mostly those just trying to help "expedite" the process, for a fee), and then a mystifying problem when the Solicitor General wanted to appeal the approved adoption (after a year of delaying the process the SG eventually said "never mind", our bad). I am posting this as a way to advise others it MAY become lengthy. There are other postings I have read where the process was done in far less time, similar situation (resident foreigner).

In our own case, it was simply a matter of getting it done. We did not especially mind that it took so long, though it did create some hassles. For example, our child was not allowed to use our family name in school until the process was completed.

[Old55]

Thanks guys good info. We know of a couple who's American husband attempted to adopt her (Filipino citizen) child and gave up in frustration.

The news was to do with two Foreigners adopting a Filipino citizen.

Edited September 24, 2012 by Old55

[Call me bubba]

Thank you OLD55 for the article,

the story shows how hard it is to adopt a child here in the RP

.When elsewhere the process is so much more simple .still keeping the child safe from "unsavory" persons.

YET the childs welfare here seems.. not anyones concern

its ashame that so many unwanted childern live a "terrible" existence and the laws and powers to be will not or cant change them to help.

( i will leave my comment at that. As the Forum has certain rules I have refrained in the past making any "negative "comments " on those insitutions that I/we cant change)

[Old55]

I agree with you Bubba it makes you wonder what reason the Filipino government makes it so difficult to adopt a child in need. I guess we must keep in mind its their playground they make the rules good or bad we have to respect and live with it.

[Mike S]

I think the biggest problem is they want to make damn sure the Filipino father is protected at all cost as to giving up his rights to his children even if he is a dead beat dad and provides no financial assistance to the child ..... remember this is a male run society here in the Philippines .... my asawa said she has relatives that adapted their niece and had no problems at all but she didn't know just how long it took but she said much less than a year .... so it all depends on where your from .... remember they will try and extort as much money from you that they can as they feel YOU will be benefiting from the adoption in some way ...... and there is the always present "I want my piece of the pie" syndrome ...... IMHO ..... :cheersty:

[i am bob]

With so many changes to government agencies lately in regards to corruption and paying extra for service, hopefully this will be chanced soon too. Afterall, every peso we end up "spending" above and beyond the actual costs could have been used towards the betterment of life for our families and the one we wish to adopt.

[Steve & Myrlita]

What it seems to boil down to is Filipino pride and the not wanting foreigners adopting their children. Now yes they could have simply made it illegal but then they would miss the opportunity for the chance of extorting money from the foreigner. For every successful adoption there is probably hundreds that failed.

[SubicSteve]

My wife and I will be ariving in the Philippines in 2 months. Her sister is giving birth to a baby boy(#6 for her) and we will be taking the baby as our own and filing to adopt him. I guess I will have to remember this phrase as I am sure I will be repeating it over and over......

...... "It's more fun in the Philippines."