How the time difference actually works
The Philippines runs on Philippine Time (UTC+8) all year, with no daylight saving. That means the gap to the US changes twice a year on your side, not theirs.
| Your time zone | 9 AM to 5 PM your time is, in Manila |
|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 9 PM to 5 AM (summer) / 10 PM to 6 AM (winter) |
| Central (CT) | 10 PM to 6 AM (summer) / 11 PM to 7 AM (winter) |
| Mountain (MT) | 11 PM to 7 AM (summer) / 12 AM to 8 AM (winter) |
| Pacific (PT) | 12 AM to 8 AM (summer) / 1 AM to 9 AM (winter) |
Filipino VAs working with US clients are used to night shifts. It's normal there, not a favour. What you need to decide is whether you want full overlap with your day, or partial overlap plus work that gets done while you sleep. Many clients like the second option: they wake up to finished work and an end-of-day report.
Why US businesses hire from the Philippines
- Cost. In the US, the median pay for secretaries and administrative assistants is $48,310 a year, before benefits and payroll tax (BLS). A Filipino Specialist costs a fraction of that.
- English. English is an official language in the Philippines and widely used in business, so communication is rarely the issue people expect.
- US culture. Many Filipino professionals have years of experience with US clients, US holidays and US ways of working.
Holidays
Philippine public holidays include New Year's Day, Holy Week (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday), Independence Day on June 12, All Saints' Day, and Christmas. They don't line up with yours. Agree upfront which days your Specialist takes off and how coverage works, so there are no surprises in December.
How it works with VAST
Book a call, tell us the work and the hours you need covered. We train your Specialist before day one, and they can start in as little as 72 hours. If the fit isn't right, we reassign for free in your first 90 days.