08/01/2024
For once an expat in the Philippines who is not whining, moaning and abusive of the Philippines, its culture and its people. This was so refreshing to read that I just have to share it:
“Some of us come to the Philippines for relaxation in sleepy remote beaches, others to meet a beautiful lady or two who beckon, others in search of a more peaceful lifestyle. Whatever the reason, here we are. Me, I love to travel and despite having traveled to SE Asia some 20 years ago, I had never been to the Philippines. I came to live here, see the sights and experience the culture and environment. I am glad to be here.
I came to this land because I got tired of the rat race… I worked for fortune 500 companies. I saved money for corporations and was rewarded a fraction of those savings. I knew of folks struggling financially with six figure salaries. Once I got sick and ended up spending a day and a half in hospital. With two insurances, my final bill was 6k usd out of 35k total–mind you nothing beyond IVs was done. It took me about 3 years to clear up all the bills from that incident. Another time, I was rear ended and went to the hospital for a check-up, hour and a half later I owed them 5k usd. They charged me 40 usd for a couple of tylenols they gave me for the pain. My car insurance premiums went up and my car value depreciated by a few thousands–despite not being at fault. The number of mass shootings each year was going up. Last year I heard there more mass shootings than days in the year. Political rhetoric had divided families and neighborhoods. Gee, for all its modernity and advanced development, it sure didn’t feel that way. It felt chaotic, crazy and out of control; it made me yearn for a simpler way of living.
After having lived here for nearly a year and having seen some of its pros and cons, I can tell you that while it is not a garden of eden, it is a great place to spend time. I feel safer here than in my home country. I am able to afford many things comparable to my home country.
Sure there is poverty, but every mall fills up for the Christmas season. Sure it’s dirty and smelly, but guess what, that’s nature. Perfumed and sterile environments are void of life. Traffic, well, it’s bad, no way to dodge that one. But the level of traffic speaks to industrious people who get out there and find a way to eke out a living. Corruption, yes of course, plenty; but this country has no monopoly on this human scourge. The most developed of nations harbors this very human trait for it is in our very fabric.
Being foreigners we attract bad actors who feel they must get to our pockets before their fellow countrymen do. Going to palengkes I discovered the ‘kano’ or foreigner or skin tax is at times applied. Landlords or agents take liberties with rental deposits and reinterpret contracts to suit them. To me, it’s all part of the learning. With each lesson, I get a little bit smarter. Service at banks, restaurants, government offices is pretty bad but luckily I have nothing else to do, so I turn on my phone and watch youtube or read expats posts. No reason to sour a moment when life is so short.
A few Filipinos have surprised me with their acts of kindness. When they can help, they do so without monetary interest. Once in Manila I lost the key to a chain I used to lock my helmet. This man saw me and promptly got out his tools and tore into it and waved me goodbye. Then there was the time I found the front tire flat. When I asked a young man where I could go to have it fixed, the tricycle driver popped the tire out, took me to the nearest vulcanizing shop and drove me back and put the tire back with ease. Sure I paid him for his service, but he knew what to do without me asking. Another time, a lens popped out of the glasses’ frame and when I took it to the store, a young lady put it back into place and only charged me a smile.
To anyone thinking of coming out here, whatever the reason, the Philippines will welcome you. Experience for yourself what so many of us talk about. Don't believe everything vloggers tell you about. Not everyday the sun shines. Some things will fall short of your expectations, while other things will soar above them. Come experience this country and its culture, as sure as night follows day, they are sure to leave lasting memories and that’s really what living is all about.”
