Things the Philippines does better
I know everyone complains about systemic corruption, a low-trust society, poor education, pollution, poverty, and so on.
But this time, why don't we flip it and talk about the things that are genuinely better here than back home?
Family values - I really love that here, families take care of their elderly. They don't get abandoned in some facility, slowly withering away, and if they're lucky, getting a visit twice a year. There's also always someone to look after the kids. No matter how toxic dealing with demanding family can be, there's a support system.
Social life - Western culture feels like going to work, coming home, and watching TV alone. Maybe you make plans to meet a friend on a Thursday two weeks from now. In the Philippines, there's always someone to hang out, drink, and cook with. Sometimes someone you've just met will invite you over to relax, and people are so much more social in everyday life.
Wildlife - Even if it isn't well managed, the wildlife here is amazing. Today I saw a kingfisher hunting fish in a shallow reef pool. I also saw flying lizards gliding from coconut tree to coconut tree. And there's so much more.
Adventure sports - It's not for everyone, but as a surfer, I really love that there are world-class waves here and, since it's still an emerging sport, they aren't crowded. There's also top-level diving, climbing, mountain biking, and more.
There's a dark side to the emphasis on family values here. Children often have to give a big chunk of their income to support their parents, which sometimes gets in the way of starting their own families and building their own futures. Just look at local social media and you'll see a lot of locals complaining about this system. Also, "going home to watch TV" isn't a Western value, it's an American one. In the EU I've seen plenty of apartments with no TV at all.
The only reason you see all these Philippines complaint posts is that there are no active moderators to delete them. This subreddit was supposed to offer advice, tips, tricks, and generally good experiences of living in the Philippines. It's not a complaint department.
I don't get the urge to constantly compare it to places you've lived or to the Philippines or wherever you live now, or the people who complain. This is the 7th country I've lived in. There are lots of great things about living here. The hard parts are mostly what's hard anywhere in a developing country. I'm happy to put up with those inconveniences in exchange for a much higher quality of life. If I were back home, I'd be renting a room in some remote rural area and doing whatever work I could find. Probably something terrible. Here I'm in the top 10% of earners and I live a great life. People are kind and most things are easy to get done. I've felt the same in most of the places I've lived.
I agree. My social life is much more active when I'm in the Philippines than when I'm in the US. In the US I'm basically a recluse. In the Philippines I never really feel lonely, whether I'm meeting new women or foreigners from all over the world. The cost of living can be low. But the Philippines isn't amazing value for money. Still, you can cut your monthly spending more easily than in the US. The Philippines is also a great travel hub, with several countries just an hour away by plane. In the US, destinations are few and far between and flights are longer. Family values are debatable. Most Filipino families seem like vultures draining the resources of the Filipino women who work.
Comments 0
Please log into write a comment.