I don't know about the UK visa process but currently in Canada you can apply for a tourist visa. Then people look for a job somewhere that can offer them sponsorship and they get a work permit to convert to a PR later on. The difficulty for finding work varies from place to place but Ive known a few people who were here a few months and got a job.
Well to get the tourist visa first the stronger your app the better like show money, any proof that can anchor you to the philippines like a business, taking care of your parents or a job back home (basically something that can convince the visa officer that you are going back).