This paper uses a rich series of data sets from the Philippines to examine the decisions to migrate and to remit for individuals. Section 1 uses existing published statistics for the aggregates for migrant stocks and flows, and for remittances. Section 2 compares the socioeconomic background of permanent migrants with that of temporary migrants, and that of non-migrants. We also compare the socio-economic background of migrants and return migrants. We then examine the characteristics of migrants who do and who do not send remittances, and the characteristics of households receiving remittances, and find that remittances tend to exacerbate inequality. Section 3 reviews domestic policy on return migration and remittances. Section 4 contains conclusions. The data sets used include the 1991 and 1992 Surveys of Overseas Workers, the 1988 National Demographic Survey, the 1991 Labour Force Survey, and the 1991 Family Income and Expenditure Survey.