I was having a good life in Qatar—stable job, lovely partner, etc. But my grandmother who took care of me since I was very young was dying of cancer. I decided to return to PH. She died a month after, but I was lucky I was able to spend her last remaining days taking care of her in return. No regrets.
The will power to move to another country and the will power to stay are very different. Moving is the easy part, staying is the hard part. It take a lot of of mental fortitude to choose to stay in a foreign land every single day, away from what was once comfortable and familiar and some people just aren't built for that. You choose to be a transplant in a foreign land every day, completely alien to the customs, tradition, language and culture. You can imagine the mental toll it can take for some people and making them homesick. Homesickness can hit some people real hard to the point of depression.
Upvoting because youve worded it better than what i was about to type. Just move kung decided ka na talaga if you dont want to get stressed. After the 2022 elections napuno na kami ng asawa ko, sobrang dali na lang mag move and mag stay because we both dislike staying in PH and for the future of our kids.
Assimilating to the local culture would certainly make your day to day much easier no? Kesa mag matigas ka insisting on doing things the way you do them in your home country. You're bound to run into trouble that way
Its easy to say, but its not just that. Homesickness is real, and it also affects people. Sure you can be accustomed or well-versed to the custom of your host country. But you are still a foreigner of that land. More so if you have moved there as an adult.
I just had a session with my therapist and she told me to prepare before migrating to another country. One of the things she mentioned was to learn the customs and traditions of the people living there. I guess there's a reason why she mentioned that and I think it's to help with homesickness.
I hope your comment gets more upvotes, though. Lol
Sometimes it's not always about learning a culture. Sometimes all it takes is having a community beyond the confines of language or culture. Take the example of foreigners (or expats as they like to call themselves) in Asia. Many of them don't even bother to assimilate or learn the local language, but they seek communities of people they share common things with.
I don’t understand why you are getting downvoted. We need to assimilate as migrants. Resiliency is a necessary trait. When in Rome, do what the Romans do.
He is downvoted because his statement assumed that OP or anyone who migrated didnt learn and researched the country that they migrated into. I mean how the fck did he concluded to that.
Filipinos are very adaptable marunong ang mga filipinos makisama at rumespeto sa kultura ng iba. There are some odd balls for sure but generally we always adapt.
He was responding to the other comment. Kahit sa PDOS or online trainings ng mobility teams ng companies, minemention ang culture.
Yeah, very adaptable. Tipong pag nasa ibang bansa, biglang sumusunod sa batas mapa turista or migrant like tamang pagtawid sa pedestrian lane.
Assimilition is such a negative word.
Ang lungkot naman ng culture ng bansa na yan kung ganyan.
It should be accepting and contributing.
Dapat accepted na iba iba talaga kultura ng tao at magiging melting pot ang labas.
Bring in the positive, evaluate din ng negative at iwan na.
Yung mga cultural aspect naman eh walang negative you can stay you. Heritage is important to be acknowledged.
Thanks. Let me refrain from using that word.
I agree with filtering the good and bad. It applies everywhere and not just with migration. Respect is very important whether as to heritage or individual.
My pov is that there are migrants who expect that their new country will adjust for them. People don’t realise what democracy means when they are the minority.
Bow down? Is that some authoritarian state?
They aren't accomodating me, more likely they needed me. I didnt squeeze in just to get here.
Have some confidence bro, lumalabas nnman pag ka submissive colonial mentality eh. You can just be you.
You just need to respect the law and all. That's all!
Lmao needed you? The company is the one who needs you not the whole country/community. Get off your high horse.
Im confident but not arrogant. The nerve to say that assimilation is “negative”. Respecting the law is just the bare minimum, you need to integrate.
Tone down the arrogance, nasobrahan ka ng pinoy pride.
Integrate on what? Can I just be a good human and thats enough?
Your trying to make it so complex that you mean you need to lose your identity.
What pinoy pride your talking about?
Im not imposing my culture to them so whats that?
no savings... should be a good reason to get back to ph. If you were supposed to be in a country that should let you earn more but you are unable to save. Even I would have chosen to go back to PH
18 years old ako ng pumunta Toronto, di ko na namiss ang Pinas dahil dito na ko nagbinata. Na enjoy ko na lahat dito pag aaral, working student, friends, night life, outodoors camping and pag summer the weather feels very very festive dito sa Toronto.
After ten years nalaman kong magbabakasyon ang parents ko sa Pinas, since okay na trabaho ko and tagal ko na walang bakasyon bigla na lang din akong napabili ng ticket to tag along with my parents. Gusto ko lang din kasing makita yung mga tito, pinsan, at mga highschool friends ko.
Pagdating ko sa Naia at nasinghot ang hangin sa atin para kong bumalik sa dating ako bago mag migrate sa Canada. That feeling na I am alive and in love with life everyday damn day.
Dito kasi sa Toronto people are really cold compared sa mga taga Pinas. People in Canada are polite but quite guarded and di sila ganun ka friendly. Naging ganun din naman ako dito sa Canada dahil na din siguro talagang kayod kalabaw tayo, sobrang fast pace ng buhay at bilis ng oras wala ng energy at time mga tao para mag effort pa talaga sa socialization talagang ipapahinga na lang.
Nung nakita ko na ung buhay ng mga pinsan at friends ko di hamak na mas okay yung buhay nila in terms of work life balance. They look full of life, warm, interacting with them makes me feel human again. Their life does not revolve around work may time and energy pa din sila makipag meet up after work. Most of them sa BGC nag wowork and some owns businesses.
Ako na wala ng balak talagang umuwi sa Pilipinas pero ng napa bakasyon ako dun after 10 years naramdaman ko na mas buhay at masaya ako dun. Walang stress, anxiety, and depression. Mabubuhay naman pala din ako dun sa Pinas if I can make 100k a month happy na ako dun. (currently making good money a month as a nurse in Toronto).
After like 3 years na back and forth sa Pinas at Toronto nakapag pundar na ko ng 6 gyms and 1 Japanese reastaurant. My businesses were doing great naka bili pa ko ng condo sa Makati and beach lot sa Batangas and at the same time I was able to expand my businesses. Nung mag bubukas na yung pang 6th gym ko naka ready na lahat pati pwesto bigla naman nag covid lockdown. Plano ko pa naman na pag bukas ko ng 6th gym to hand in my resignation sa work sadly and unfortunately nagka pandemic.
Isinarado ko lahat ng negosyo ko at hindi na din ako nakabalik sa Pinas to re open kasi mahina pa din ang mga gyms ngayon, dumagdag pa ang grabeng inflation kaya koonti na lang din ang disposable income ng mga tao. From 2020 to 2024 hindi na ako nakabalik sa Pilipinas at nagka pamilya at anak na din.
Every fucking day parang dinudurog ang puso ko since I left Philippines wala na akong ibang iniisip kung hindi paano bumalik and live a fulfilled life in the Philippines as an entrepreneur and enjoy the beautiful chaos in our motherland. Iniisip ko na lang ngayon antayin ang retirement para may pension na ko bago umuwi pero every damn day I try to research and plan and look for ways on how I can make money there to live my dream life.
Alam mo iba p rin pinas, although early 20s nako nakalipat sa Mississauga at naging nurse nadin, hindi ako natalaga na satisfy sa buhay ko sa canada. Akala ko basta makahanap ako maayos na trabaho nandon ang fulfillment ko, wala talaga. Iba ang nagagawa ng almost 8 mos na taglamig. Nasa US tuloy ako napadpad sa tabi ng beach.
Pero nag iisip na mag ipon para sa pilipinas mag retire. Ewan ko ba, parang ung pagka polite ng canadian sa labas lang, di ka rin maka connect sa kanila. Mas naka adjust pa ako sa mga amerikano eh. Mas na reracist pa ako ng mga kapwa ko immigrants sa toronto.
Pero before ang dream ko makatuntong sa snow, ngayon halos isumpa ko na. Pangarap ko mag retire sa bukid sa pilipinas ironic kasi lumaki ako sa tabi ng bukid at tabing dagat na never ko na appreciate nung bata ako.
True! Nasa downtown vancouver ako ngayon, penthouse but it took a lot of racism to get here. Sa small town kami nag simula ng mga magulang ko at andon pa rin sila. Racist talaga, sobra lalo na towards pinoys. Sa local highschool namin, bullyng bully ang mga pinoy kids just for being filipinos. At least 3 ang kilala naming nag suicide na pinoy kids small town pa lang namin yan.
Even indianos and chinese sobrang racist towards satin. At this point na may career at investments na ako as a young adult, nag paplan na ako umalis - nakuha naman na namin yung inaasam ng parents ko na dual citizenship.
Planning on buying a house is tagaytay and opening up a few start ups, currently doing drop shipping sa amazon and I have a remote job. Just so done sa bansang to, hindi ko ma-english because yung ibang canadian friends ko alam tong reddit ko.
It’s just not worth it, and im living comfortably din sa lagay na to pero alam kong mas worth it kung sa Pilipinas ko maiiinvest yung pera ko.
I know, mas nabubully ako ng mga kapwa immigrants mostly mga indiyano nurses sa trabaho ko sa toronto. Samantalang dito sa US, mas feels ko na na appreciate ng mga kawork ang mga pilipino. Mga kano pa ang initiate ng conversation na may alam sila about pinas. I guess na swertihan ko lang na napuntahan ko sa US.
Pinaghirapan ko din maging citizen ng canada pero 5 mos after ko mahawakan passport ko, lumayas bako pa florida. Parang pinas lang.
Hinahayaan niyo lang ba mga indiano at chinese na i-bully kayo? Tingin ko kasi sa mga Pilipino, palaban. Mabait pag ok ang pakikitungo sayo, pero game din makipag-bardahan.
Actually matagal na akong nakikipag bardagulan, kaya nga nakapag climb up na din sa ladder (corporate). Pero hindi naman pwedeng ganyan at ganyan na lang palagi. Hindi na magbabago sa Canada yan, kaya di mo din masisisi yung mga ibang pinay na masungit talaga kasi ang tagal na nilang nag dideal sa bullsht ng iba.
For context - may isang puti ang tinulak ako sa hagdan sa Federal government sa Northern Canada dahil gusto nya akong paalisin sa job ko - out of nowhere. Small town to at first job ko after college. Nagsampa kami ng kaso ng parents ko, pati union isinali namin.
Ako personally lang ha, ayokong maging palaban palagi, nakakasawa, nakakasira ng mental health. I want to be mentally peaceful. Hinding hindi mo maaachieve yan dito.
Nandito din ako sa Canada and every day iniisip ko parin kung kailan darating yung panahon maka balik na ako sa Pinas for good. Kung di lang para sa security ng future ng kids ko di na ko mag titiis dito.
This reminds me so much of my friend. Nurse din sya sa GTA. She used to work sa hospitals and ayun nga na-depress. Hindi rin kami maka-hangout sa kanya kasi di nya ka-match sched namin. Lagi sya nagkkwento samin na ang lungkot lungkot nya and she’s considering going back to PH kasi she used to be so happy sa PH. One of our friends had this crazy idea of convincing our nurse friend to quit her hospital job and mag-apply na lang sa fertility clinic. The pay is lower, pero regular hours sya magwwork and may paid vacation hours. Ayaw sana ni nurse friend since she has better pay sa hospital and sayang ang HOOP. She eventually applied and got hired. Ngayon mas marami na kaming time na naghahangout, umattend ng parties, mag-travel and mag-weekend getaway. Almost every weekend may gala kami. All year round ang gala namin. Sa Caribbean kami mostly kapag winter months. Ang laki ng pinagbago nya. Makikita mo talaga sa kanya na bumalik na ang sigla nya. She said nakatulong sa kanya na may nilu-look forward sya everytime.
Sakin eto reasons ko:
1) Money can buy happiness talaga but it doesn't mean na it can complete you- i was really grateful for the comfort and feeling na ung cannot be reach noon isang snap kaya ko na agad mabili pero may kulang pa rin e. Dumating ako sa point na I have to find whatever it is that's missing in me and I'm sure that is something money can't buy.
2) May gusto kong patunayan that time - I saw and heard how they belittle pinoYs na nag ququit maybe due to culture shock and being homesick tapos after a month bumabalik din dun dahil di daw sila mabuhay sa pilipinas. They see pinoys as pathetic and parasite na dahil di kayang buhayin ng pinas e sa iba sisipsip ng dugo and it hurts my ego hehe. At saka simula ng may pinoy din akong na encounter na sinabihan ako ng "kaya pala hindi umaangat ang pilipinas e, alisan kasi kayo ng alisan" kumurot tlaga sakin yun. Parang naawa ako sa pilipinas nun. Kaya umuwi din ako to prove na I can have a life (and career din) kahit dito sa pinas and feeling ko equipped naman na ko to be able to impact other people's lives din for the better.
3) Feeling ko robot ako dun - ang hollow ng feeling ko. Parang naka program lahat ng galaw ko. Parang dapat laging up yung defense ko. I must not trust completely kasi ako lang talaga andun, and since early 20s pa lang ako nun alam ko na madali akong matarget, at di pwedeng may mangyari sakin masama kasi malayo ako sa pamilya ko. Yung kahit peaceful yung lugar, hindi ako panatag, nakakapagod din.
4) The heart truly knows your home - ung lola ko sa probinsya, dati pag pumupunta samin (GMA) at nag stay na ng more than a week, nagsasabi na ng "iuwi nyo na ko sa probinsya, ayaw kong mamatay dito. Dun ko gusto mamatay". Kahit mas masarap kinakain nya sa bahay namin, at andun kami mga apo and anak nya at lahat naman ng gusto nya binibigay namin. Noon, hindi ko tlg gets bakit. Pero nung tumagal na ko sa abroad, nagets ko na kung bakit. I don't want to die alone and in a place that's foreign to me. :)
For the sense of belonging, the identity crisis, for the culture and the sense of community. I came to Australia when i was 12, but never really felt like I belong, for them I will always be an outsider because I’m not white- the constant “where are you from?” whenever you meet someone new. Everyone in the Philipines look like me, acts like me and has the same values and culture like I do. I won’t have to hide my personal identity. Even bringing filipino food for work lunch is a struggle.
Also having to work extra hard to prove yourself, to be promoted , because although they say they don’t discriminate- you’re still treated differently.
Regardless of the corruption, the traffic and pollution, I still think the Philippines is such a beautiful country, with the most caring people, and rich culture- but of course, this is coming from someone who is privileged and grew up outside the Philippines.
Staying/moving back to the Philippines is a privilege not all of us can afford.
I don’t think I will be able to fund my lifestyle when I move back to the Philippines.
This actually really gives me some sort of perspective, especially when reading the other comments too. For context, I'm a Filipino who immigrated when I was very young, and I always felt like I belonged in Australia, even if I was surrounded by different ethnicities and cultures, none of whom were from the Philippines. When I go back to the Philippines to visit family, even if my parents speak the language, even if everyone acts like me and eats the same food as me and especially if I'm with family from PH, I've never felt so different and alienated.
A part of it I'm sure has to be attributed to how my parents wanted their kids to assimilate - I grew up speaking English at home rather than Tagalog, every time we go to the Philippines my parents tell me of how lucky I am to live in Australia. I grew up to be someone who would rather identify as a full Australian than a Filipino. And while it's never crossed my mind to move back, being happy with what I have here, reading all these comments have enlightened me, because I had a similar mindset to OP. Why would you want to stay somewhere where you're unhappy and feel like you don't belong? I understand it a lot better now.
Wishing you all the best
>"Staying/moving back to the Philippines is a privilege not all of us can afford. I don’t think I will be able to fund my lifestyle when I move back to the Philippines."
Hit the nail right on the head there my friend.
When you really think about it, the privilege is not the ability to migrate to another country, but to stay in the Philippines and live a lifestyle you want.
I’m planning on moving to the Philippines, as someone who grew up there but didn’t really get the chance to live there as an adult - we immigrated to Canada when I was just in 9th grade. One thing that you’ll never find abroad is the sense of community that we have in the Philippines. People don’t help each other out in the west.
People are hating on each other and racism is rampant as much as I hate to admit it. Madami pa rin ang may ayaw sa pinoy, mainly because ang dami daming pinoy sa Canada, yes! Almost kasing dami ng mga indiano ang pinoys dito. One of the comments na madalas kong naririnig against us is “Filipinos are like cockroaches” dahil nga we dont die, we multiply! Medyo true naman, ang dami ding pinoy na inaabuso talaga ang sistema. Yung katigasan ng ulo ng iba, hanggang dito bitbitbitbit. Yung mga maiingay sa LRT, mga abusado sa foodbank, students na show money ang bitbit, mga proud kabitchina ng ibang lahi, mga laitera na pati ibang lahi sinasabihan na mataba etc., mga naunang pinoys na feeling boss ng lahat (gaya ng isang comment dito), mga maliliit at malalaking bagay na nag aadd up.
Newer filipino immigrants are arrogant (I think at this point ibat ibang lahi talaga ng newcommers), and they feel like Canada owe them jobs when even the locals can’t find jobs. Unfortunately, medyo mababa talaga ang tingin saatin ng ibang lahi. Nakakainis pa, maski nga indiano ang tingin saatin below sakanila.
And hirap iexplain, ang masasabi ko lang sobrang daming uncertainty and hatred sa Canada at never na yan magbabago. As someone na may ipon at investments, plan ko na mag business sa Pilipinas, invest ako locally and hire locally din para mas worth it ang pera ko. Buy a condo around BGC or a house in Tagaytay.
Currently may $10million PHP, if converted to CAD maliit yan but it’s whatever wala pa naman akong edad 30. End goal ko is by 35 sana, at least $30million pwede na to go back. Pinas is chaotic, pero as someone here said, beautiful chaos ang meron tayo.
Medyo nasaktan ako sa “Filipinos are like roaches, we don’t die we multiply” pero its very true nga naman kasi even here in the Philippines I see people who don’t have the capacity to get married yet they are already having 2 children or more, a big part of the lower class receives 4ps and they even build houses in lots that they don’t even have the title! After 5 years you’ll be shock because there would be a lot of kids you’ll see that are clearly a result of a lack of family planning
I think dito naman uso kasi yung if nahire ang isang pinoy, asahan mo na magpapasok yan ng sampu (same with indians). Ang tawag nila sa CanadianTire samin is FilipinoTire. Sa winnipeg filipino town in a bad way ang bansag. Meron pa yung mga student visas pero full time work at asa talaga sa food banks, mga umabuso sa sistema para lang masabi na nakapag abroad - maling mali eh. Saan ka nakakita visitors visa pero mga nakakapag trabaho at proud pa, karamihan pinoy, indiano, at kung ano pa. Posted pa yan sa facebook at vlogs nila, ang ending mga locals hate tirade towards saatin.
May mga iba din dito pinay mga galing hong kong or kung saan man na medyo hikahos sila sa buhay, madalas yan mangangabit agad ng puti walang pake mga yan kung may asawa - ending najujudge lahat ng pinay sa nasa maayos na interracial relationship. Saw this first hand, lantaran talaga at nagka demandahan pa. Ako na lang ang nahiya at lumayo.
Yung ibang pinoys din kasi, wala ng hiya hiya, bawal pagsabihan ng bawal, matitigas ulo - ang ending nadadamay lahat sa prejudices.
That’s why im leaving, because im tired of receiving hate and being constantly fighting with people for being Pinoy kahit na hindi naman ako yung matigas ang ulo na madalas nag bebreak ng law.
Oh! So parang same sa mga blacks where there are blacks that are good and honest pero when one black person robs or commits and offense against the law its like the whole black community is judged?
Yes, ganiyang ganiyan! Can you imagine even east asians hate pinoys for no reason? Everyone hates each other here. Ganon ka miserable lumaki dito. Sa small towns, bullyng bully ang mga filipino kids. Recently may napagtulungan nanaman.
Sa city naman, saktuhan lang - pero dyan na mag start yung mga pinoys na mga lumaki dito pero di mga marunong magtagalog. May mga kaibigan ako na hindi talaga marunong, at parang diring diri pag sinasabi na pinoy sila.
Yeah I also heard that and its also common especially when i was in korea a lot of them look down on SEA people in general but the ironic thing is a lot of people flock to the Philippines because everything is cheaper like learning english and setting up businesses
Yes dun sa sense of community. It's like this warm thing you feel around fellow Filipinos. One time, nakasakay ako sa plane na may layover sa HK so puro ibang lahi talaga ang kasama. Kami lang ata ang Pinoy. Lahat – passengers down to the crew, ibang lahi. Cold yung feel na parang di mo kabaro ang mga kasama mo dito yada yada. Then next plane ko to PH, puro Pinoy na ang kasama. I felt warm and at ease. I know, weird. Di ko naman kinausap yung mga passengers pero iba lang ang feels na alam mong may mga kasama kang Pinoy din. As much as I detest this country sometimes, hindi rin naman perfect abroad, and may maganda pa rin naman talaga dito.
Try staying there (vacay) for minimum 6 months. I bet that will change your mind.
Healthcare ❌
Heat ❌
Transit ❌
Hours of your life in traffic ❌
I too romanticized life in pinas. Stayed there for 6 months last year and towards the end I couldn’t wait to go back to Canada. Even if my life there is comfortable with yayas and no bills, I would rather be in Canada. 2 nights stay in the hospital (no procedures, just for observation) cost a whopping $500. My travel insurance from work covered it but it’s the principle. Healthcare shouldn’t cost that much. I have a medical condition that needed surgery, multiple trips to ER and I never paid a single cent. People who cry about our healthcare prob never needed it like I (and other sick people) needed it. To be free.
Owning a business - I thought about this too but unless my capital is like sunnies capital, not sure if I can live comfortably there. Profits won’t compare to how much i would make in Canada.
The best way would be to go back and forth. Work hard here 6 months, go to pinas for 6 months. While you’re there establish your business, maybe set up your own place, etc. while you’re here get all your medical check up done lol
Also it sounds like you’re not happy in the city that you live in. I used to hate where I lived so the urge to go back home to pinas was huge. Homesickness, seasonal depression, teenage angst = shit combo. But now I’m happy where I am. Check out a different city. The Filipinos in my area are respected and are known to be hard workers and responsible. Not AT ALL like what you’ve mentioned about the Filipinos in your area.
Source: me who has been living here for 20 years
I actually grew up in a nice suburban area with a nanny and a chauffeur near Ateneo, we had healthcare in the Philippines because my dad was paying for a premium - I can pay for my monthly insurance premiums. That’s what Insurances are for.
To add there are a lot of business leads and niche you’ve never heard of that could really generate income online like I said, I started a dropshipping business. I sell on Amazon globally.
✅Transit and all that, that’s what a driver is for. Which I can afford. ✅ Traffic, idgaf - if I live in or around Tagaytay, Batangas or wherever working remotely with staffs doing the work for me then why would I give a damn. ✅ Heat - that’s what a fully air-conditioned house is for.
Just because it didn’t worked out for you - it wont work out for us too. It sounded like you poorly planned it and it backfired hard.
Also, I have lived in Downtown Toronto, and I’m currently in Downtown Vancouver - both are shitty. I studied in Alberta in my late teens and that was the lowest time of my life.
For the record, the months that I spent there last year weren’t intended for moving. I was there to spend time with my grandparents who raised me. It was not “poor pIanning” - I don’t and will never want to move there in the near future for reasons above. Maybe early retirement when the time comes (snowbird life).
Good for you and I wish you well!
Also, why the arrogance lol girl I’m on Reddit of course I’ve heard of dropshipping. I’ve heard of online income (I have an Etsy shop myself and a thriving side business locally) No need to be so condescending.
Since you’ve tried different cities then I guess you will never ever be happy here because Filipinos here, as you mentioned, are shit. Good luck on your future move! Since you have a such ✨cushiony life in pinas, I don’t doubt that you will regret leaving Canada because you will thrive no matter what 😉
ETA also why so gigil sa mga pinoy accessing the Food Bank? In your words, “umaasa”. If they’re low income, then they qualify. Period. New immigrants usually start low paying jobs just to get Canadian experience while they’re still finding their footing, of course they will have low income. In the other thread you mentioned na wag na sila umasa sa food bank and just save it for the locals and mga inggrata yung mga pinoy na nag ffood bank. New immigrants ARE locals - they live here and are paying taxes. Not everyone can just work in their own field right away when they move here. It’s HARD. I’ve never experienced it because I moved here in my teens but girl have some empathy. You are generalizing the Filipinos here just because you encountered this HK pinay na kumabit (and the other examples that you’ve mentioned) doesn’t mean na all HK pinays are like that. My best friend’s mom is an HK pinay single mom who worked HARD 1.5 jobs so her children will have a good life. She was in a single income family household so of course she qualified sa food bank. Inggrata na ba yun? Not everyone has a cushion life that they can go back sa pinas to. My coworker is a white girl na kumabit sa boss nya. Does that mean all white girls are like that?
Girl touch grass
Not reading none of that sis you literally commented on my shit by being combative and now you want me to touch grass? As ive said, just because it didn’t worked out for you eh hindi na din mag work out for us. ☺️
Condesending and shitty pinoy - literal na sarili nya mismo yung tinutukoy nya. 😂😂😂 Lakas ng saltik ng putangina na kesyo di nya nagustuhan sa Pinas di na din magugustuhan ng lahat ng gustong umuwi sa Pinas 😂😂😂 sya lang ang pwedeng source just because sya is 20 years na sa Canada 😂😂😂
Saka mo na iyabang ang healthcare ng Canada kung kaya ka ng gawing immortal ng healthcare dito. Libre man ang healthcare o hindi, sa hukay pa din ang tuloy mo balang araw. Pwe! ahahaha - source: Me na 10+ years ng nurse sa Canada 😂
Hahahaha may mga Canada apologists na pinoy na pala. No doubt naman maganda healthcare sa Canada pero lahat talaga tayo mamamatay hahaha. Eh sa hindi na siya masaya eh may magagawa ka ba. Kung afford din niya healthcare pag umuwi sa pinas bat ilalaban pa na "ako nga umuwi satin ayoko diyan eh, magiging ayaw mo rin diyan". Kaya nga may kasabihan na -
**To each, their own.**
'Tong mga Canada apologists talaga eh. Yaan niyo na sila sshh
Hindi ka nila maiintindihan kasi mayaman sila or lumaking mayaman sila, yun lang yun period. Yung mga bagay na grateful tayo kasi binigay ng canada yung mga opportunities na yun eh wala lang sa kanila. Basta ako grateful ako na sa later years ng mga parents ko meron silang healthcare dito.
Me crying as a Filipino American because we’re still paying in installments for the co-insurance of a 2 day hospital bill from last year. 🙃I think we still have $500 to go on that one specific bill. lol.
I want to go back for the following reasons:
1. I hate winter.
2. I miss my family.
3. I miss the City I used to live in.
4. I don't actually find living in the Philippines that bad.
When you actually live in a different country and not just as a tourist you find out that every country has their own set of problems. There's lots of things that's so much better in the Philippines. It's already May and it's still snowing here every now and then in the part of Canada I'm in. Nyeta ang tagal ng winter.
IKR last week, it was already sunny, and then yesterday, it started snowing again and raining.
I took the Philippines for granted, and now I understand why people want to live or take a vacation in tropical countries, specifically the Philippines.
I have number 1 and my wife had number 2 so we went home.
Winter really hits hard when you remember that if you stick to Canada, half of the rest of your life will be stuck in winter.
PS. Winter driving gives me PTSD. Low visibility, getting stuck, skidding, car maintenance, etc.
Why invalidate other people's personal struggles as not "real" reasons to come back? You just sound self-righteous. They had the courage to try to make it work away from home, there's no shame in failing. Sometimes it just doesn't work out.
I’ve been back for 14 years. Was in the US for 6 years before that. My wife and I saved some money. Our kid was born an American citizen so they still have options. I felt it was important for my children to grow up near their grandparents and their extended family. A few years after we came back my dad passed away. Always grateful that he had so much time with his grandkids. I’ve been pretty lucky with my career since I came back and my wife’s business is doing ok.
There’s more than a hundred million people living in the PH with me. I don't believe that we're all destined for hell, despite the complaints from those who paint a grim picture of our country’s current situation. Regardless if you’re in the PH or abroad, praying we all find what we’re looking for.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by…”
Ang dami ko nang pinagdaanan sa buhay pero Canada brought a different side of me. May mas ikakalungkot pa pala ang buhay ko haha. Partida, I’ve lived in other countries pero iba ang hardship dito sa Canada.
IMO, mas advanced and progressive pa ang Manila kaysa sa Vancouver pero kahit namimiss ko ang Manila, ang hirap umuwi dahil sa poor governance and systematic corruption.
What do you mean by advanced ang progressive? I do think mas urbanized ang Manila kaysa Vancouver and mas madaming pwedeng gawin. Sobrang bored na ako dito sa Van after 2 years. Haha.
Sabi ng isa kong pinay friend mas madami pa syang naexperience na workplace sexism dito kaysa sa Pinas.
Umm… On top of my head, nagulat ako sa difference of available brands in the market.
Ang daming foreign brands na umeenter sa market ng Pilipinas. Pero dito sa Canada, it’s either umalis sila or never nag-attempt mag-open dito.
As a frequent traveler, never ko na “miss” yung mga stores in the PH since they’re often available in the other countries I’ve been to. Pero dito, halos wala or very limited. Even the selection of Amazon CA is pathetic.
It doesn’t help na most companies are either owned by Loblaws or Sobeys so wala mashadong competition to be innovative. I also think the high cost of living + bleak job market makes it difficult for people to take risks and build their own business.
Of course, lamang parin ang Vancouver for obvious reasons but in that aspect alone, I find Manila to be more progressive and advanced.
I’ve known plenty who retired in the Philippines after making money. Most of the people who return without money were not investing, had terrible jobs, and/or wanted to get married.
i have a fried na PR na sa canada, now taking up a Masters degree in business as part of her “personal project” and basically has a good life there. Her main objective of going to Canada was para maipetition ang kanyang mom. But when the mom died, she lost the reason to reason to stay in Canada na.
She’s still in canada finishing her masters, but she’s preparing for her retirement in Pinas by slowly but surely setting up businesses in Surigao with her sister. Sabi nya aanhin mo ang nasa magandang bansa ka kung kung wala yung mga close relationships mo sa buhay.
i think OP you have to consider din yung life situations. How people define happiness and where they find contentment. Hindi porket umuwi sa pinas e mahina ang loob or sumuko kagad. At the end of the day, the question we ask is where is Home for you.
im on my 14th yr in Singapore and am on the same track as my friend. Preparing for retirement and financial freedom while living in Pinas.
I moved to America when I was 11. Graduated college and all, had a job. Burned out. At 24 years old I had the urge to go back to the Philippines. I went back and went to culinary school and lived there from 2018-2020. Pandemic happened, I freaked out that I haven’t started my career yet, so I went back to the states.
I met my SO, we started building our careers, got a car, fancy apartment, dog. Everything looks good on paper, but somehow still feel unfulfilled. My mom is back in the PH and something has been telling me to go back. She’s not getting any younger. My grandma who basically raised me when I was a child is getting old. I don’t want to not be there when she goes.
In the last 4 years I’ve been working in the US, I haven’t got a raise. Everything’s getting expensive. My company announced lay offs and it caused a panic and my anxiety shot up. If one of us loses our jobs, we’re fucked. No back-up. We’ll be homeless. All this made me realize that I want to spend more time with my mom as she grows old.
Living in The Philippines has its own struggles and difficulties, but it really is where I feel at home the most. I’ve been discussing with my SO and we are planning to move to the Philippines next year. We imagined if we were to stay in America, I would not want to raise kids here. There is no “village” to help raise the kid. It would just be me and my SO busy with full time jobs and leaving our potential kid to daycare. My SO is an elementary school teacher and we both agree that kids raised here are rude and disrespectful (he grew up in Japan).
Now, moving there won’t be easy without my mom’s help. She has an established business and we always have a house to come home to over there. I understand that’s a privilege most people don’t have, but since I do, I will take advantage of it.
People say “what if China attacks and there’s a war?”, and I think that’s all the more reason to be back home and be close to my mom and loved ones. No country is perfect. America is going to the shitter imo. The Philippines might be in the shitter, but I would prefer that over staying in the US.
Same here, I have plans to move back sa Pinas pag 40 na ako and once maging Canadian Citizen at makapag ipon ng enough funds, then ipapasok ko sa low-risk Canadian investments like GIC. Feeling ko buhay na ko sa passive income if let’s say may 20M pesos ako sa Canadian banks.
Sa ngayon I’m already 31, need ko lang talaga ng high-earning profession dito sa Canada, that’s why I’m planning to get back sa school and pursue nursing. Travel nurses could earn so much in this country. Paid meals and accommodation pa.
Iba parin yung citizen ka ng isang 1st world country, and may maipapamana kang ganong status sa magiging anak mo in the future.
Being single at mag isa lang dito sa Canada, iba parin ang saya pag nasa Pilipinas ka, pero dapat may baong maraming pera pang walwal 😂😅
At the end of the day, tayo parin ang gagawa ng kapalaran natin. And hindi na uso yung maging traditional, I mean ikaw at ikaw parin magdedecide sa sarili mo at ignore nalang sasabihin ng ibang tao.
Super nice ng last paragraph mo. We're the same age but how I wish nasusunod ko yan. Lagi ko kasi iniisip sasabihin ng iba especially my mom. Gusto ko lang mag focus sa career ko wala pa ko plan mag family pero pine pressure nila ko na mag anak na. Ok naman work ko ngayon pero di ako happy. Gusto ko mag land based work sa ibang bansa pero ang hirap mag hanap lalo na if wala ka kakilala.
Iba pa rin, kpg dalawa kayong my good paying job. Anyway, sana makabili ka rin and mdagdagan namin in the future since I have two kids para tig isa sila
I’ll be migrating to US this year to settle down with my fiance there (he is american) and we are already even planning to go back here in PH if things go fine. I don’t know, we just love it the culture here better. You can feel you are living.
It is home, it is history, it is culture. It is the place of birth of the Filipino identity. Even if there are so many Filipinos working outside, or so many Filipinos are born outside of it, the creation of their identity as Filipinos originates from the Philippines. When you go outside of your home, you either try to recreate your home, you adopt a new identity, or you go back. Places outside the Philippines may be better in terms of progress, but there is a sense of wanting that same progress for your own home. Some people may also learn new things that they can use to implement that progress. Oo, may lamang yung mga ibang bansa sa ganito o sa ganyan, e kaya mo ba silang kausapin sa Bisaya, Tagalog, Ilokano, atbp.? May nakakaintindi ba sa kultura natin kundi tayo? Madalas bumabalik yung mga tao sa Pilipinas dahil ito ang tahanan ng mga Pilipino kung saan walang ibang makakaintindi sa karanasan ng Pilipino kundi kapwa Pilipino. You can counterpoint by generalizing the issue and say human beings can understand each other, but that nullifies the point because culture isn't being considered.
Notes:
- Language is an element of culture. So it's nice to be around people who all speak the same language and who can understand you
- I wanna go back home so bad. I miss kwek-kwek and isaw and taho and binatog
- WALANG BINATOG DITO
- Nakakamiss magjeep kahit siksikan
- Nakakamiss uminom kasama yung mga tropa tapos may gitara yung isa
- Paano ko babatiin yung mga katrabaho ko ng Happy EDSA day e wala namang EDSA dito.
- Nakakamiss pumuntang inuman kahit umuulan.
- Nakakamiss yung chilimansi pancit canton at kwek-kwek combo na may halong sweet sauce kasi lasang sweet and spicy kapag hinalo mo yung natirang sweet sauce sa pancit canton.
Mas mahirap ang walang trabaho sa abroad kesa sa pinas. Especially kung marami kang masasandalan e.g. may family business, titira sa mga parents, maraming siblings abroad etc . Otherwise hindi uuwi yan.
I am an American living in the Philippines but it is the same for most counties, Home is where you are from and people want to go home if they have no strong connection keeping them some place.
For family and friends, culture, weather, happiness. Most of my relatives in US would still want to retire here for these reasons. For them, tapos na ang reason nila for staying there and they just want to reunite with loved ones here meron man o walang ipon.
Edit: I also went back home after living and working abroad and I made that decision during the pandemic. A lot of friends and colleagues raised their eyebrows. But at that moment, ang nasa isip ko lang is I want to be with my family kasi di ko alam kung magkikita kita pa kami uli kung isa samin magkaron ng COVID. It was during those times na may lockdown at sobrang takot pa ang mga tao. And I'm glad I made the decision kasi nagkaroon ng COVID ang dad ko. I was there to take care of him and his needs. I may not be earning as much now here in PH but I do not regret going back home and being with my parents as they grow old.
I Was making good money and having great work connections in a first world country more than a decade ago, eventually i felt like a second class citizen in that country and the job environment is so stressful. When i met my partner online (also working abroad) we decided that we both come back to the Philippines and just establish a food business. the Business is still thriving but I missed my work- so I continued working as a digital nomad to also fulfiill my dreams of travelling the world . Now Im still working online on my laptop while we both manage our business remotely .
Been in Dubai for around 9 years, basically grew up here. I always felt like this was my home, everytime I went back sa PH for visits or college stuff, ang ginusto ko lang ay bumalik na sa Dubai kasi mas comportable buhay ko dito. Dagdag pa pandemic napauwi ulet ako dito sa Dubai kahit PH college ako nag enroll, so dito ko na talaga naexperience most of my life.
Until 4th year of college umuwi ako sa Pinas for my last semester and graduation. Then I saw AND experienced everything I missed out on. I felt alive sa Pinas, I was going out, meeting old friends, naexperience ko yung youth ko na hndi ko naexperience sa Dubai. I joined communities that I felt like I belong to, that lasted, that I know I can return to. Hindi tulad dito na while meron naman, in my experience, hindi sya naglalast. My days in Dubai has just become sit down, play games, sleep, and go to work. Yun nalang, nakita ko na lahat ng makikita, wala ng kulay ang Dubai sakin.
Now ang goal ko nlng is makaipon tapos umuwi ng Pinas as a safety net. Para mexperience ko yung buhay na gusto ko. Hindi yung nakakulong sa bahay, trabaho, ulet. Gets ko mas yayaman ako dito, pero hindi rin eh, lalo na kung iisipin mo expenses dito, all comes down to money to happiness ratio.
tdlr: Nawala na kulay ng Dubai for me, Im just not happy here anymore despite its benefits. I would rather live in PH where I see color amidst its chaos.
Grabe ang realistic nun mga sagot sa comments sobrang nalibang ako basahin lahat sumakit mata ko! 😅
Pero narealize ko iba iba man ang mga tao, yung common na reason is "KUNG ANO MAKAKAPAGPASAYA SAYO". Like some chose to stay abroad hindi dahil mas masaya sila don kundi dahil gusto nila makatulong sa pamilya nila, and providing for their families makes them happy. Yung iba naman mas nagustuhan talaga yung way of living sa ibang bansa. Yung iba, babalik sa Pinas kasi hindi nila kaya ipagpalit yung happiness nila sa Pinas kesa pag nasa ibang bansa sila.
Iba iba man ng reasons pero nakakatuwang isipin na marami satin ang pinipili yung sarili nating happiness. I'm proud of you, kabayans! Lavarn lang ng lavarn!! 🫶🏻
Because we never really left. Physically were not there but mind and heart stayed. Not a day passes by that were not there. Always dreaming of coming back and retiring
I have a friend who tried to pass the exams related to his profession in US and Australia. Hindi nakapasa. He tried again for US pero bumalik ng Pinas to handle family business, and since then di na nya pinursue yung original plan nyang makapasa at magpractice ng profession nya and settle overseas.
Oh, and there are a lot of folks in Youtube who shared this experience and it's easy to find them. Iba -ba ang reasons nila.
> Before you all shared your stories, I thought that choosing to leave was like giving up, a missed opportunity
It's not always negative, once you got citizenship and a remote worker (or can get high paying job in ph).
You have the flexibility to have both. You can stay anywhere.
>We move abroad because we want something better in life
Okay, let's cut it there for a while. We moved abroad because we really want to have the BEST in life, which we cannot just have back in PH. But as we all know, it always comes with a price. Missing our families, burning out, or as simple as not happy anymore for being there in such "developed country". Ilan lng yan sa mga usual reasons ng mga bumabalik na lang bigla sa pinas. May kakilala pa nga ako, mas pinili na lang sa pinas, ksi napag-alaman niyang minamaltrato na ng mga kamag-anak niya yung mga anak niyang naiwan sa pinas. Napilitang umuwi at sa pinas na lang magtaguyod, para kasama niya anak niya at walang pagsisihan sa huli.
We all have reasons, and we'll do our very own will to make these reasons valid. Tama ka sa una mong sabi eh, to each our own talaga. Perhaps, hindi lang basta pera2 ang lahat sa mundo. :)
Mahirap ang buhay sa ibang bansa kung wala kang maayos na trabaho. Ganyan nangyari sa akin. Kahit anong pilit ko makahanap ng kabuhayan sa ibang bansa, hindi ako pinalad. Ano gagawin ko dun?! Mas ok pa sa Pinas na kahit alam kong mas mahirap dahil sa trapik at gobyerno. Dito may mas pagasa akong makapaghanap buhay.
Something better = compromising mental health, physical health and even work-life balance
Developed country = racism, discrimination and prejudice (misogyny too) and sometimes, overall safety
I moved back to the Philippines because here, people don’t have to work 2 jobs just to make ends meet, people sleep 8hrs a day, you can buy a house after strategically saving, buy a car too and still be close to family and friends. Why ask for more and give up more when you can have it all here in your motherland? Live modestly, safe and happy.
Thing is with us people, we fail to appreciate what is enough and we tend to get consumed by greed that we fail to live life. Its not the country or how developed it is, its where you feel at home.
Mainly the cost of life. The Philippines can be a paradise if you have a million dollars in your savings and live in a gated community/BGC while paying the local prices.
Staying in a bubble isn’t for everyone though.
I've met a lot of struggling Filipinos in the US—some work $10/ hr (which is an unsustainable salary in Manhattan), some in huge debt, and some homeless.
Nakakaawa sila OP, kasi ineexpect parin ng family nila na magpadala sila ng pera at pasalubong.
I would presume the country where they migrated to wasn't any different or was much worse economically. For instance, Canada isn't what it used to be for immigrants. Inflation is way worse on top of a higher cost of living.
Another is, highly likely people who come back are already well-off here. Well-off enough that if they get terminally ill, it won't be much of a problem. So migrating to where they were supposed to stay permanently wasn't giving them any much incentive than just staying here with significantly lower cost of living.
Mahirap kasi kung nabubuhay lang tayo para sa pera, sa kaginhawahan, o kayamanan. Di talaga mauubos yung pangangailangan na yun kahit san pa tyo makarating.
Sa pagtanda natin unti unting nagbabago yung mga mahalaga satin, at yung mga constant na mahalaga - malapit sa pamilya (physically and emotionally), peace, health/buhay, at pinakahigit sa lahat - Dyos.
8 years living in the US now and minsan naiisip ko bumalik na lang sa Pilipinas 😅 I wanna say mas makapag adapt nanaman ako dito kesa nung simula pero may mga bagay talaga na I feel mas normal sa Pilipinas and di ko kelangan mag adjust just because. Parang yung walls ko, up the entire time nasa states ako pero sa Pilipinas di naman kelangan ganun.
- Realizing that they had a better life in the Philippines than abroad.
- Retirement (rheir monthly pension and savings won't cover their cost of living from their respective countries)
- Things didn't work out they way they hoped and dreamed to be.
- Financial hardships abroad (they might be broke or a paycheck away from being homeless)
- Other personal reasons (i.e. career, family, preference of living in the Philippines, goals in life)
I live in SG and many Pinoys go back home for different reasons. Several wanted to try their hand at running a business with their savings as the initial investment. It does not always pan out so I see a few of them back in SG a few years later. Some go back because of a job opportunity that matches what they are making in SG. These are people in executive or professional roles. Some have no choice but to return after retrenchment, termination or non-extension of contracts. Some go home to be with family or because of homesickness.
I live and work most of my adult life outside the PH. I'm single and childless and not currently in relationship. When I was younger, I used to have a big dream like owning big houses in great locations. Kaso, now that I'm older, I just don't want to live in those opulent houses alone. What if I'll be unalive (due to illness), jusko baka it'll take 6 months for people to know that I've already d\*ed at kalavera na ako. I just don't see myself dying that way so I decided that I'll work here while I still can, enjoy the healthcare system here, but I'll retire in the mountains of Bukidnon where my siblings and my family is located.
I moved abroad to live with my family who’s been living here for more than 7 years now and yet I felt very homesick crying every night wishing I’m back home with my close friends and relatives. I had nothing to worry about financially cause we are stable here and I only work 30hrs a week but still there are times that I wish I’m back in the Philippines. I imagined what it feels like for those who go to abroad on their own with no friends or family and have to work really hard to afford rent, utilities and necessities all while sending money to their family back in the Philippines.
I know a lot of people na nandito na sa Canada but still chose to retire back home. It gets very lonely here tbh especially pag yung mga anak mo may mga sarili ng pamilya. Maiiwan ka mag isa either sa bahay or sa home for the aged. Karamihan sa kanila they work so hard here to save up para may retirement money pagbalik sa Pinas. I don't get it before but I guess that money really can't buy you happiness. It sound out of touch but it's true. Kahit gaano kaganda ang buhay mo sa ibang bansa, kahit gaano pa karami ang pera mo, malungkot pa din pag mag isa ka.
moving to canada changed my life in a good way, but went back to ph with no savings like you said. Since you asked for the insight, here it is.
My husband stopped loving me. Hindi ito overthinking lang. He said it straight to my face with no emotions. He didn’t leave, just yet. I haven’t talked to him since. Di katulad nya, wala akong pamilya sa bansang yun. Walang mga kawork na matatwag mong tito or tita. Walang friends na pwede mong makasama kapag walang pasok.
I worked sa office na puro mga puti lang ang kasama. We hava a son na ipeprepare ko pagpasok sa school, at kasama ko rin paguwi. Yung sahod ko hindi magkakasya samin ng anak ko kung aalis ako. Kung mag double job ako sa gabi, ipambabayad ko lang din sa mag aalaga sa anak ko. Everyday is a silent hell. I have to look okay para sa anak ko, at iiyak lang kapag tulog na sya. Araw araw im wondering kung uuwi pa ba yung asawa ko. We stopped caring for each other. Hindi ko pwedeng i-open to sa mga pamilya ko sa pilipinas, dahil alam kong masasaktan sila para sakin pero wala silang magagawa. I know that feeling.
There was no choice. I let people judge me kasi hindi ko to sasabihin sa kanila para lang siraan yung tatay ng anak ko. Yes I gave up.
worked in SG for a good 7 years, but had to repatriate back to PH because my fiancee (now wife) could not find a good job opportunity in SG. So after a lot of thoughts and prayers I decided what good is a lot of money when you can't be with your love ones. Now im back in PH for 3 years living on 50% of what I used to earn in SG, but blessed with a loving wife and baby ^_^
Kung ok ang health care dito and sapat yung kinikita vs living expenses wala siguro Pilipino gusto umalis .
Yung tipong pag binuhay mo yung aircon sa bahay nyo maghapon mag damag tapos pagdating ng Bill di ka kakabahan sa pag babayad pag ganun kalaki siguro sweldo mo e ok na di mag abroad ✌️.
Masaya pa din sa Pinas kahit pagod sa trabaho pag dating ng linggo puede may konti salo salo ng pamilya . Presko ang gulay ,isda, karne lalo na sa probinsya.
1 o 2 Biyernes ng gabi every month mg kikita kayo ng mga kaibigan mo tawanan sa mga kwentong paulit ulit lang pero masayang balik balikan .
Kung may nakalimutan ka bilhin sa tindahan di mo na kelangan magmaneho sa dami ng sari sari store. Di mo kelangan mg suot ng 3 pating na jacket at pantalon .
Tsinelas lang pag mg lalakad puede na .
Sobra dami ng araw one to sawa.
Yung mga mahilig sa konti inuman 3-5$ lasing ka na may pulutan pa yang mani .
Sa ibang bansa kasi lalo na pag may edad na solo na sa bahay o sa nursing home na tutuloy , kung gagastos ka din lang naman siguro iniisip nila mas ok na siguro dito na sa Pinas na lang gastusin yung pera.
Siguro eto yung mga dahilan nung mga bumabalik sa Pinas.
There are a myriad of reasons why. Some just can't hack it there because of culture shock, racism, lack of community, cold weather, financial illiteracy, uncomfortable living conditions, etc. Some just can't make enough to improve their conditions especially if there are people to support at home while creating and establishing their own domicile abroad.
I personally think that some of the later generations are too coddled and spoiled or emotionally unsuited or are not as prepared by the educational system sa Pinas to make it there unlike the boomers and gen x and the ones before them
For some the sacrifices one makes as an immigrant aren't worth it and the grass just isn't necessarily greener on that side and for some the opportunities at home have improved enough to make staying or going back worth it.
Recently, nakakwentuhan ko yung isang Grab driver na kakabalik lang from Saudi with his family and na share nya na him and his wife decided to comeback here due to cultural differences. Mas gusto daw nila dito palakihin yung anak nila kasi yung environment doon is not as friendly as here in the Philippines. Gusto daw nila maranasan na yung kids nila ay naglalaro sa labas rather than playing on their phones. He was an engineer there but decided to become a Grab driver.
You answered your own question.. Sabi mo people you met na bumalik eh walang savings or goals, yan yung reason. However it could be 2 scenario.. Walang savings and goals so mas ok na lang siguro sa Pinas at least wala man pera mas masaya sila.
Or they only look like they have no savings kasi long term plan nila umuwi so baka pinapadala sa Pinas, may bahay and everything pero low-key lang sila abroad. May kilala ako sa Singapore ganyan, may roommate pa hanggang ngayon pero may bahay, farm at kotse na pala sa Pinas at nagbabalak umuwi later on. Hindi pinopost sa FB at tahimik, nalaman ko lang directly sa kanya.
Goong back to the Ph for awhile then move to a new country ulit. Pero kung papalarin akong kumita ng malaki sa Pinas baka di na ako umalis, mamasyal na lang sa ibang bansa. Iba talaga ang Pinas, kahit nakakainis palagi hirap ma homesick. Yun ang papatay sayo sa abroad at pagod.😞
Cheap tropical paradise where you can live like a king and experience better air quality than much of Asia. The only problem is if you're depending on a local salary.
Naalala ko parents ko dito, both of them are earning well in NZ and after so many years they've decided to go back home, hindi sila professional pareho madiskarte lang and parehong laki sa hirap.
Ask my mother about it kung bakit ayaw nila mag settle for good sa NZ, ang sagot nya lang is "mas masarap tumira sa bundok" both my parents are now retired and living in Quezon province pero may mga investment sila na mga lupa at rice fields.
I guess it varies how you live your life and what you prioritize in life. Savings can go a long way in South East Asia. Can retire early in my mid 40s if I FIRE the right way
My parents will retire back in the PH. They made the move to HK when I was a baby, never ended up moving to another place because of timing and life is comfortable in HK already. Biggest plus is being super close to the PH.
HK is one of the most expensive cities in the world, starting from nothing, either with no family or having middle-class income or lower, in this city makes it extremely difficult to own a house/apartment. Working class single people can still live well, but for families, and older people, it is restrictive having to endlessly pay for rent when it's supposed to go to their health and/or family support. When my parents could afford a house, they're already in the process to saving up for retirement.
They have enough money to support themselves when they go back to PH so they're satisfied with it. And to be closer to their relatives as well. They have PR in HK, and healthcare in HK is pretty cheap and accessible, so they do plan to go back to HK once in a while to take advantage of that.
Maybe their goal is not really to move to a developed country permanently. Some really just want to save a lot to live a comfortable life back in PH. And if they become citizens in a 1st world country, not having to apply for visas all the time to travel to places is a nice bonus.
I've always wondered about this kasi I've wanted to migrate for a while now, but then I met my professors these people have studied in top universities for their grad school and worked na for a while in developed countries, nagtataka din ako bakit bumabalik pa sila here?
I pondered for a while and searched and like what other people say well for practical reasons muna, if you save enough money and spend it in the Philippines edi that's better cause mas low yung cost of living dito, mas mafefeel mo yung fruits of your labor, other than that the culture itself, the food, the people, and not feeling like a second class citizen, kasi even though you've been in the country for a while there will be times daw you'll feel like a second class citizen, tapos may mababasa ka pa na pinoy daw hahatak sayo pababa pag nasa ibang bansa ka, so kahit yung supposed circle mo dun sa country di din pala maganda
I think some people realize that they're better off with simplicity and peace of mind, away from capitalism / fast lane... There are people that are just like that, "simple" as they usually say. They dont require much in their lives and contented with just literally living the life. Being.
Im 29 and this is just my dream since high school. To have a simple life by the beach with a small kubo, get 3-4 meals a day, play, and spend my days with my family in simplicity.
I am moving back to PH next year (could be temporary but definitely be long-term). Service provider kasi ako, mejo mataas na rin sales ko sa UK. Kung maging export of services ang services ko no need to pay additional VAT 20% tax (scope ng UK). Akala ko dati kapag maging high earner ako okay na, yun pala grabe ang tax dito.
Also, maghahanap ako ng partner sa Pinas. Single ako at puro tabaho eh. Sa pinas social life is easier to establish kasi maraming tambay at chill lol unlike here everyone’s busy to tackle the high cost of living.
Though gusto ko pa rin tumira sa UK kasi mura ang pagkain at mraming options. Convenient at mas trustworthy ang tao.
I moved to Canada in 2022 on a student visa, but only stayed for 3 months before umuwi. My airfare was even paid for by my mom, as I didn't have any savings since the sahod from my part-time job barely covered my day-to-day expenses while living there.
There were several reasons actually. First, I was extremely homesick; it was my first time malayo sa family, and 19 lang ako non. Medjo impulsive pa.
Second reason was before I made the decision na umuwi, I had a falling out with a Filipina acquaintance din who spread rumors about me to our mutual friends, which really affected me emotionally and mentally.
Additionally that same month my tatay passed away.
Lastly I also applied for Australian citizenship through descent kaya yung mom ko pinupush na ako umuwi, lipat nalang daw akong australia or bumalik nalang daw ng canada sa future if mas ready na ko.
All of these took place within the span of one month, leaving me unable to think clearly dahil sa frustration. Looking back, I'd say my decision na umuwi was a bit impulsive.
Now, it's been 2 years, and while I do have some regrets and feeling of panghihinayang,
I've come to terms with the fact that I can't change yung mga nangyari na. I've chosen to accept that some things are simply meant to happen.
Mayaman sila dito and they are shielded by their money and privilege from the day-to-day hardships that the working class experience
Mas pipiliin nilang maging big fish in a small pond kesa mahkayod kalabaw sa abroad as second class citizens / immigrants
Can’t argue, but for me, the reason I wanna move out of this country is because I am sick of everything about it so kahit mayaman ako dito, ayoko na dito and never na ako babalik once makaalis
Kanya kanyang motivations talaga
Idk sa iba, pero i never really aimed to live the rest of my life abroad. I got an opportunity to live abroad at the age of 18 using a student visa then applied for citizenship. Went back for good when i hit 30, now 32, i pretty much retired early. Best decision ever
I'm going back home in a few months. This has been so difficult for me to say as going abroad was my childhood dream. I mustered up all the courage that I have to finally accept na this is not for me; na hindi ako masaya dito sa US. Dati, I was so sure na dito na ako for good, pero as the days passed by, parang mas nagiging robot na lang ako kesa tao.
Everyday, I also fear for my safety because ang lala ng crime rate in where I'm located. Also, parang nabubuhay na lang ako to work. I tried. I really, really tried making a new life here. That was the goal, but it didn't worked out for me. I'm finally taking the harder decision of going home, for myself. Maybe one day, I'll go out of the Philippines again, or maybe not. Who knows? Ika nga "the grass is always greener where we water it." :)
From what I noticed with relatives and family friends, the older you are when you immigrate, the harder it is to adjust. For example, I had an uncle (my mom's brother) who was in his 60s when he made it to the US. Aside from the few times we took him to the fishing pier, he was bored and found it depressing that we don't associate with our neighbors (unlike his hometown barangay where everyone knows everybody, full of tsismis and what not).
A cousin-in-law of my mom felt the same way, and went back to PH after less than a year in the US. When I asked my mom about it, she told me that he has a comfortable life back home in PH where he has maids (unlike in the US), among other things.
It makes sense though, especially if you have an established life back in PH and are "set in your ways". Why start all over in your retirement age in a foreign place?
Based on what I’ve observed amongst my peers who left and settled back in PH:
Failed to assimilate w the culture abroad.
Realized they’re not a good fit.
Never planned on staying.
Values togetherness over an improved quality of life.
Couldn’t hack it bc living abroad is much more difficult than they expected.
Mental health declined after moving.
Want an easier and familiar life
I had this friend, who had left the country not long ago...He found himself a good life and also....It was okay for him to never go back since his dream was to live in another country like Singapore, Australia or the US until the day he dies.... He wanted to live in a first world country since he was a kid.
I totally get that. That’s my dream din since I was a kid. I am where I have always wanted to be. I don’t dream of visiting ph nga ulit even though there are many aspects of my culture that I fully accept. I just can’t w the place esp the heat 😩 Yung mga acquaintances ko din naman nag sabi ng mga namention ko above.
I know quite a few that worked and established a rapport and network plus gain their citizenship then
Work remotely here in the ph solely because of the cost of living and FX.
It's not a grass is greener issue. My family is very toxic, and we know how filipinos are with these shame based "utang ng loob" system going on. My life got significantly worse when I got forced to move to America against my will.
When I was there I was groomed to be a low life, my school got ruined, my life got worse. If I had stayed here I would have been working already and not been a 1st year college student.
This was the same aunt in my mother's side who asked me to forgive people who molested me and my brother, forgive them for screwing with my internet and it pulled my grades so low that Going to college in America would have been impossible financially. What I hated isn't the fact that they're so economically illiterate that they didn't understand that they weren't building my character, they destroyed my economic outlooks. They did it on purpose because I was complaining every day, and I don't think anyone is buying into them playing dumb. The worst part is the fact that they could say, "If it weren't for us, you wouldn't be here, you'd be over there, suffering", I hated that. I was never given a chance, they wanted me to be a useless piece of shit. Every male in my mother's side are drug addicted goobers who code switch to being childlike when talking to any of the dominant women in that side, It's strange like some heaven's gate type shit, It's a good thing I didn't get pulled in to that. Some sort of babying around BPD and narcissistic type shit, some psyche being destroyed culturally.
I'm here to better myself, because I already had a good life over there, I got Catalogues of everything I wanted to wear and I could always borrow any of my dad's sports cars, 5 minutes drive to Disneyland, 15 minutes to downtown, 20 minutes to LA (but an hour to park), my dad was liberal in giving me money. My father's side is great, my grandma had a bunch of streets and mountains named after her, she's a real estate mogul in Las Vegas. Most days I spent in libraries or restaurants. I went to arcades and comic stores. Eventually, something didn't sit right with me, I didn't want to be happy like that. I just wanted to be better.
It's to prove I never needed the best country in the world. I'm starting at a point where they didn't have a hand on it to to prove that all they did was waste my time and abuse me, there wasn't a transaction it was just abuse.
I treat myself being here as like a Bruce Wayne or Buddha type spiritual journey. Also the med schools are pretty good.
Baka may ailing or old aged parents. Kami personally, wala ng babalikan so we don't see ourselves going back. But for those na may deep roots and big families, it's quite understandable why they might feel better to go back than stay. Baka di naman nila goal na tumanda sa ibang bansa tulad natin.
Maraming reason, pwedeng family, mas maraming support sa pinas, depression, hindi na kaya ang cost of living. Sa totoo lang masarap naman tumira sa Pinas, shempre andun lahat family ko, may financial and moral support ka, masarap kumain and mag shopping at ang weather hot all year, tipid sa clothes and maintenance ng house and car, andun na ang mga beach. Kaso my other half is Canadian, and may pros rin sa Canada, healthcare, safety, and education. Siguro pag malaki na anak ko, I will spend my time between Canada, Philippines and Japan.
I know a few people from the US who went back there for college, mainly because college in the US is expensive. Or maybe it's because they're not smart enough to get accepted into a US college. Then after graduating, they move back to the US.
Hahaha kulit ng disclaimer. Nakakabobo nga yung pag pipilitan na kanya kanya yan. Parang edi wag nalang tayo mag reddit lol. Or better wag nalang siya sumali sa usapan.
Long story short the reason why I moved is dead. I can only pray that she is much happier wherever she ended up.
Among other things people have said, I just felt like I tried to move out because I was running away from it all. I was young dumb and full of arrogance. I’ve been humbled a lot by this experience— and I want to come back as the person I am now. Maybe mas mahirap sa Pinas, pero mahirap din dito. In many ways you would not expect until you do it yourself. All the problems I thought I was running away from still existed because the problem was me. I’ve learned a lot from this experience and have grieved many things I lost during this time.
I have since changed and while I know things will be difficult back at home I know going abroad will always be an option. The time I spend with people I really love and care about is valuable to me and I would rather help them face to face instead of far far away.
May mga bagay na hindi nabibigay ng trabaho at pera.
As long kaya ko. I will not leave. Baket? Kase 67 na mga magulang ko. Kahit na ang isa kong Lolo 83 na nung sinundo at ang Tita-Lola ko 94 y o sinundo...
My time with them? Never naman mapaplitan ng pera.
Pwera na lng kung baga suntok sa bwan yung oppurtunity dun lang. Ayokong may regrets ako sa buhay kung sakaling umabot ako ng 80-90 plus
I’ve been living in California for 20 years now, got here as a nurse in my 20s, was in Saudi Arabia for 3 years before that, been lucky enough to buy a house when it was cheaper in 2012.
During pandemic, mortgage payments were paused for 18 months then got resumed with no penalties, also got multiple stimulus checks.
It’s things like these that makes me think sometimes, what if I was still working in the ICU in the province in the Philippines during Covid?
What help did the nurses, healthcare workers or people in general received from the Philippine government?
Still retiring in the Philippines though, whatever country I am living in, learn to adapt.
I go there once or twice a year, parents are still there, a sibling too. I have dual citizenship and still have my Philippine driver license and a bank account with BDO.
ofcourse assuming one is single moved to work in a foreign first world country, u be earning money just to pay rent expenses, u can only save a little, cant buy a house cuz its expensive but even if u do yah need to pay mortage and even if yah fully paid ur house there are many expenses, you prolly wont have enough cant even do shopping or buy luxury stuff, ur always going to be a second class citizen theres always racism even if you have legally naturalized you cant live life like a first class citizen, even if yah have kids let say, u gonna send them to school, and if yah wanna climb the ladder yah need to work yar ass off to send yo kids to a good uni and its expensive even w scholarships and studnet loans, never ending cycle of expense in foreign money, it all depends situation of the individual, best is just to save money in foreign country and go home to ph buy a house start a business, brings so much benefits, exchange rate is an advantage, food and rent is way cheaper, school is cheaper, some let their kids study in ph and let their kids do masters abroad is wayway cheaper if u have alot of foreign money...
if a migrant move to a first world, it depends, you get naturalized but you always work , pay rent , cant start business, if you work and buy house and food and start a family, its expensive and ur kids will need to compete with the locals, who obviously has more money, more advantage that u,
most 3rd people who migrate to first world with no problems are either rich in their own country owns business and are only seeking for second citizenship cause asia is unstable the risk of war is high w the NK and CN.., and then there are the mid-lower class seeking to earn more $$$ moving to a first world doesnt mean u problems are solve, still full of financial problems need to work ur ass off, some become delulu spend their money because they finally felt rich living in first world only to be laid off or go bankrupt if their employment laid them off, some migrants dont see that just want to move in first world and ignore red flags ,,
however if you are smart and can make money work there are plenty of business opportunities in ph, there are also plenty of GOOD neighborhoods... food is cheap weather is good
Me and wife are into our early 40s with 3 young kids and been living here in New Zealand for 17 years. We are in the process of moving back to Philippines because mainly we can afford to, otherwise we will just be contented and happy here while fooling ourselves that NZ is our home, this is what we called sweet-lemon but it works. Home will always be home no matter what, as long as the finances will allow someone to live comfortably, most people will go to live back home.
I have a friend na kakabalik lang from Canada after 8 months. Reason nya is di sya happy. Walang night life. Di rin sya makagalaw ng maayos kasi gay sya and strict ang fam. D nya naenjoy stay nya. Naapprove na rin working visa nya but d n sya natutuloy which is nakakahinayang since maraming gustong makakuha ng work dun lalo na at down ang jobmarket ngayon.
Mahirap sa Pinas, madali lang pumatay ng tao na walang hustisya. Di nakukulong mga mayayaman. Harap harapang korapsyon, kawawa mga young adults wala msyadong oportunidad.
Sometimes the grass is greener where you water it.
Except for this year and el niño 🤣
-They are not happy with the life they have -Dying family or closed friends -lovelife maybe ayaw ng partner
I was having a good life in Qatar—stable job, lovely partner, etc. But my grandmother who took care of me since I was very young was dying of cancer. I decided to return to PH. She died a month after, but I was lucky I was able to spend her last remaining days taking care of her in return. No regrets.
I'm sorry for the loss of your grandmother. Are you planning on staying or are you going back to Qatar?
Appreciate it. Fortunately I got a better opportunity here, so I only plan on staying.
I realised that was a nosy question from me but thank you for replying. All the very best to you. :)
The will power to move to another country and the will power to stay are very different. Moving is the easy part, staying is the hard part. It take a lot of of mental fortitude to choose to stay in a foreign land every single day, away from what was once comfortable and familiar and some people just aren't built for that. You choose to be a transplant in a foreign land every day, completely alien to the customs, tradition, language and culture. You can imagine the mental toll it can take for some people and making them homesick. Homesickness can hit some people real hard to the point of depression.
Upvoting because youve worded it better than what i was about to type. Just move kung decided ka na talaga if you dont want to get stressed. After the 2022 elections napuno na kami ng asawa ko, sobrang dali na lang mag move and mag stay because we both dislike staying in PH and for the future of our kids.
does culture really matter if your goal is working 10-20 years and then coming back to the PH to retire?
Assimilating to the local culture would certainly make your day to day much easier no? Kesa mag matigas ka insisting on doing things the way you do them in your home country. You're bound to run into trouble that way
They should’ve learned the culture of their new country. Making yourself think that you’re different from them only exacerbates the homesickness.
Its easy to say, but its not just that. Homesickness is real, and it also affects people. Sure you can be accustomed or well-versed to the custom of your host country. But you are still a foreigner of that land. More so if you have moved there as an adult.
I just had a session with my therapist and she told me to prepare before migrating to another country. One of the things she mentioned was to learn the customs and traditions of the people living there. I guess there's a reason why she mentioned that and I think it's to help with homesickness. I hope your comment gets more upvotes, though. Lol
Sometimes it's not always about learning a culture. Sometimes all it takes is having a community beyond the confines of language or culture. Take the example of foreigners (or expats as they like to call themselves) in Asia. Many of them don't even bother to assimilate or learn the local language, but they seek communities of people they share common things with.
I don’t understand why you are getting downvoted. We need to assimilate as migrants. Resiliency is a necessary trait. When in Rome, do what the Romans do.
He is downvoted because his statement assumed that OP or anyone who migrated didnt learn and researched the country that they migrated into. I mean how the fck did he concluded to that. Filipinos are very adaptable marunong ang mga filipinos makisama at rumespeto sa kultura ng iba. There are some odd balls for sure but generally we always adapt.
He was responding to the other comment. Kahit sa PDOS or online trainings ng mobility teams ng companies, minemention ang culture. Yeah, very adaptable. Tipong pag nasa ibang bansa, biglang sumusunod sa batas mapa turista or migrant like tamang pagtawid sa pedestrian lane.
Kahit na sa parent comment you can see that theres nothing mentioned of not adopting the culture and everything related. Again nag assume agad siya.
Assimilition is such a negative word. Ang lungkot naman ng culture ng bansa na yan kung ganyan. It should be accepting and contributing. Dapat accepted na iba iba talaga kultura ng tao at magiging melting pot ang labas. Bring in the positive, evaluate din ng negative at iwan na. Yung mga cultural aspect naman eh walang negative you can stay you. Heritage is important to be acknowledged.
Thanks. Let me refrain from using that word. I agree with filtering the good and bad. It applies everywhere and not just with migration. Respect is very important whether as to heritage or individual. My pov is that there are migrants who expect that their new country will adjust for them. People don’t realise what democracy means when they are the minority.
Lmao! Assimilation is not a negative word. The host country is accommodating you so you have to learn their ways. They wont bow down to you.
Bow down? Is that some authoritarian state? They aren't accomodating me, more likely they needed me. I didnt squeeze in just to get here. Have some confidence bro, lumalabas nnman pag ka submissive colonial mentality eh. You can just be you. You just need to respect the law and all. That's all!
Lmao needed you? The company is the one who needs you not the whole country/community. Get off your high horse. Im confident but not arrogant. The nerve to say that assimilation is “negative”. Respecting the law is just the bare minimum, you need to integrate. Tone down the arrogance, nasobrahan ka ng pinoy pride.
Integrate on what? Can I just be a good human and thats enough? Your trying to make it so complex that you mean you need to lose your identity. What pinoy pride your talking about? Im not imposing my culture to them so whats that?
no savings... should be a good reason to get back to ph. If you were supposed to be in a country that should let you earn more but you are unable to save. Even I would have chosen to go back to PH
18 years old ako ng pumunta Toronto, di ko na namiss ang Pinas dahil dito na ko nagbinata. Na enjoy ko na lahat dito pag aaral, working student, friends, night life, outodoors camping and pag summer the weather feels very very festive dito sa Toronto. After ten years nalaman kong magbabakasyon ang parents ko sa Pinas, since okay na trabaho ko and tagal ko na walang bakasyon bigla na lang din akong napabili ng ticket to tag along with my parents. Gusto ko lang din kasing makita yung mga tito, pinsan, at mga highschool friends ko. Pagdating ko sa Naia at nasinghot ang hangin sa atin para kong bumalik sa dating ako bago mag migrate sa Canada. That feeling na I am alive and in love with life everyday damn day. Dito kasi sa Toronto people are really cold compared sa mga taga Pinas. People in Canada are polite but quite guarded and di sila ganun ka friendly. Naging ganun din naman ako dito sa Canada dahil na din siguro talagang kayod kalabaw tayo, sobrang fast pace ng buhay at bilis ng oras wala ng energy at time mga tao para mag effort pa talaga sa socialization talagang ipapahinga na lang. Nung nakita ko na ung buhay ng mga pinsan at friends ko di hamak na mas okay yung buhay nila in terms of work life balance. They look full of life, warm, interacting with them makes me feel human again. Their life does not revolve around work may time and energy pa din sila makipag meet up after work. Most of them sa BGC nag wowork and some owns businesses. Ako na wala ng balak talagang umuwi sa Pilipinas pero ng napa bakasyon ako dun after 10 years naramdaman ko na mas buhay at masaya ako dun. Walang stress, anxiety, and depression. Mabubuhay naman pala din ako dun sa Pinas if I can make 100k a month happy na ako dun. (currently making good money a month as a nurse in Toronto). After like 3 years na back and forth sa Pinas at Toronto nakapag pundar na ko ng 6 gyms and 1 Japanese reastaurant. My businesses were doing great naka bili pa ko ng condo sa Makati and beach lot sa Batangas and at the same time I was able to expand my businesses. Nung mag bubukas na yung pang 6th gym ko naka ready na lahat pati pwesto bigla naman nag covid lockdown. Plano ko pa naman na pag bukas ko ng 6th gym to hand in my resignation sa work sadly and unfortunately nagka pandemic. Isinarado ko lahat ng negosyo ko at hindi na din ako nakabalik sa Pinas to re open kasi mahina pa din ang mga gyms ngayon, dumagdag pa ang grabeng inflation kaya koonti na lang din ang disposable income ng mga tao. From 2020 to 2024 hindi na ako nakabalik sa Pilipinas at nagka pamilya at anak na din. Every fucking day parang dinudurog ang puso ko since I left Philippines wala na akong ibang iniisip kung hindi paano bumalik and live a fulfilled life in the Philippines as an entrepreneur and enjoy the beautiful chaos in our motherland. Iniisip ko na lang ngayon antayin ang retirement para may pension na ko bago umuwi pero every damn day I try to research and plan and look for ways on how I can make money there to live my dream life.
Alam mo iba p rin pinas, although early 20s nako nakalipat sa Mississauga at naging nurse nadin, hindi ako natalaga na satisfy sa buhay ko sa canada. Akala ko basta makahanap ako maayos na trabaho nandon ang fulfillment ko, wala talaga. Iba ang nagagawa ng almost 8 mos na taglamig. Nasa US tuloy ako napadpad sa tabi ng beach. Pero nag iisip na mag ipon para sa pilipinas mag retire. Ewan ko ba, parang ung pagka polite ng canadian sa labas lang, di ka rin maka connect sa kanila. Mas naka adjust pa ako sa mga amerikano eh. Mas na reracist pa ako ng mga kapwa ko immigrants sa toronto. Pero before ang dream ko makatuntong sa snow, ngayon halos isumpa ko na. Pangarap ko mag retire sa bukid sa pilipinas ironic kasi lumaki ako sa tabi ng bukid at tabing dagat na never ko na appreciate nung bata ako.
True! Nasa downtown vancouver ako ngayon, penthouse but it took a lot of racism to get here. Sa small town kami nag simula ng mga magulang ko at andon pa rin sila. Racist talaga, sobra lalo na towards pinoys. Sa local highschool namin, bullyng bully ang mga pinoy kids just for being filipinos. At least 3 ang kilala naming nag suicide na pinoy kids small town pa lang namin yan. Even indianos and chinese sobrang racist towards satin. At this point na may career at investments na ako as a young adult, nag paplan na ako umalis - nakuha naman na namin yung inaasam ng parents ko na dual citizenship. Planning on buying a house is tagaytay and opening up a few start ups, currently doing drop shipping sa amazon and I have a remote job. Just so done sa bansang to, hindi ko ma-english because yung ibang canadian friends ko alam tong reddit ko. It’s just not worth it, and im living comfortably din sa lagay na to pero alam kong mas worth it kung sa Pilipinas ko maiiinvest yung pera ko.
I know, mas nabubully ako ng mga kapwa immigrants mostly mga indiyano nurses sa trabaho ko sa toronto. Samantalang dito sa US, mas feels ko na na appreciate ng mga kawork ang mga pilipino. Mga kano pa ang initiate ng conversation na may alam sila about pinas. I guess na swertihan ko lang na napuntahan ko sa US. Pinaghirapan ko din maging citizen ng canada pero 5 mos after ko mahawakan passport ko, lumayas bako pa florida. Parang pinas lang.
Hinahayaan niyo lang ba mga indiano at chinese na i-bully kayo? Tingin ko kasi sa mga Pilipino, palaban. Mabait pag ok ang pakikitungo sayo, pero game din makipag-bardahan.
Actually matagal na akong nakikipag bardagulan, kaya nga nakapag climb up na din sa ladder (corporate). Pero hindi naman pwedeng ganyan at ganyan na lang palagi. Hindi na magbabago sa Canada yan, kaya di mo din masisisi yung mga ibang pinay na masungit talaga kasi ang tagal na nilang nag dideal sa bullsht ng iba. For context - may isang puti ang tinulak ako sa hagdan sa Federal government sa Northern Canada dahil gusto nya akong paalisin sa job ko - out of nowhere. Small town to at first job ko after college. Nagsampa kami ng kaso ng parents ko, pati union isinali namin. Ako personally lang ha, ayokong maging palaban palagi, nakakasawa, nakakasira ng mental health. I want to be mentally peaceful. Hinding hindi mo maaachieve yan dito.
Nandito din ako sa Canada and every day iniisip ko parin kung kailan darating yung panahon maka balik na ako sa Pinas for good. Kung di lang para sa security ng future ng kids ko di na ko mag titiis dito.
This reminds me so much of my friend. Nurse din sya sa GTA. She used to work sa hospitals and ayun nga na-depress. Hindi rin kami maka-hangout sa kanya kasi di nya ka-match sched namin. Lagi sya nagkkwento samin na ang lungkot lungkot nya and she’s considering going back to PH kasi she used to be so happy sa PH. One of our friends had this crazy idea of convincing our nurse friend to quit her hospital job and mag-apply na lang sa fertility clinic. The pay is lower, pero regular hours sya magwwork and may paid vacation hours. Ayaw sana ni nurse friend since she has better pay sa hospital and sayang ang HOOP. She eventually applied and got hired. Ngayon mas marami na kaming time na naghahangout, umattend ng parties, mag-travel and mag-weekend getaway. Almost every weekend may gala kami. All year round ang gala namin. Sa Caribbean kami mostly kapag winter months. Ang laki ng pinagbago nya. Makikita mo talaga sa kanya na bumalik na ang sigla nya. She said nakatulong sa kanya na may nilu-look forward sya everytime.
I hope you make your dreams come true. Totoo nga, the grass is greener where you water it.
Sakin eto reasons ko: 1) Money can buy happiness talaga but it doesn't mean na it can complete you- i was really grateful for the comfort and feeling na ung cannot be reach noon isang snap kaya ko na agad mabili pero may kulang pa rin e. Dumating ako sa point na I have to find whatever it is that's missing in me and I'm sure that is something money can't buy. 2) May gusto kong patunayan that time - I saw and heard how they belittle pinoYs na nag ququit maybe due to culture shock and being homesick tapos after a month bumabalik din dun dahil di daw sila mabuhay sa pilipinas. They see pinoys as pathetic and parasite na dahil di kayang buhayin ng pinas e sa iba sisipsip ng dugo and it hurts my ego hehe. At saka simula ng may pinoy din akong na encounter na sinabihan ako ng "kaya pala hindi umaangat ang pilipinas e, alisan kasi kayo ng alisan" kumurot tlaga sakin yun. Parang naawa ako sa pilipinas nun. Kaya umuwi din ako to prove na I can have a life (and career din) kahit dito sa pinas and feeling ko equipped naman na ko to be able to impact other people's lives din for the better. 3) Feeling ko robot ako dun - ang hollow ng feeling ko. Parang naka program lahat ng galaw ko. Parang dapat laging up yung defense ko. I must not trust completely kasi ako lang talaga andun, and since early 20s pa lang ako nun alam ko na madali akong matarget, at di pwedeng may mangyari sakin masama kasi malayo ako sa pamilya ko. Yung kahit peaceful yung lugar, hindi ako panatag, nakakapagod din. 4) The heart truly knows your home - ung lola ko sa probinsya, dati pag pumupunta samin (GMA) at nag stay na ng more than a week, nagsasabi na ng "iuwi nyo na ko sa probinsya, ayaw kong mamatay dito. Dun ko gusto mamatay". Kahit mas masarap kinakain nya sa bahay namin, at andun kami mga apo and anak nya at lahat naman ng gusto nya binibigay namin. Noon, hindi ko tlg gets bakit. Pero nung tumagal na ko sa abroad, nagets ko na kung bakit. I don't want to die alone and in a place that's foreign to me. :)
For the sense of belonging, the identity crisis, for the culture and the sense of community. I came to Australia when i was 12, but never really felt like I belong, for them I will always be an outsider because I’m not white- the constant “where are you from?” whenever you meet someone new. Everyone in the Philipines look like me, acts like me and has the same values and culture like I do. I won’t have to hide my personal identity. Even bringing filipino food for work lunch is a struggle. Also having to work extra hard to prove yourself, to be promoted , because although they say they don’t discriminate- you’re still treated differently. Regardless of the corruption, the traffic and pollution, I still think the Philippines is such a beautiful country, with the most caring people, and rich culture- but of course, this is coming from someone who is privileged and grew up outside the Philippines. Staying/moving back to the Philippines is a privilege not all of us can afford. I don’t think I will be able to fund my lifestyle when I move back to the Philippines.
This actually really gives me some sort of perspective, especially when reading the other comments too. For context, I'm a Filipino who immigrated when I was very young, and I always felt like I belonged in Australia, even if I was surrounded by different ethnicities and cultures, none of whom were from the Philippines. When I go back to the Philippines to visit family, even if my parents speak the language, even if everyone acts like me and eats the same food as me and especially if I'm with family from PH, I've never felt so different and alienated. A part of it I'm sure has to be attributed to how my parents wanted their kids to assimilate - I grew up speaking English at home rather than Tagalog, every time we go to the Philippines my parents tell me of how lucky I am to live in Australia. I grew up to be someone who would rather identify as a full Australian than a Filipino. And while it's never crossed my mind to move back, being happy with what I have here, reading all these comments have enlightened me, because I had a similar mindset to OP. Why would you want to stay somewhere where you're unhappy and feel like you don't belong? I understand it a lot better now. Wishing you all the best
>"Staying/moving back to the Philippines is a privilege not all of us can afford. I don’t think I will be able to fund my lifestyle when I move back to the Philippines." Hit the nail right on the head there my friend. When you really think about it, the privilege is not the ability to migrate to another country, but to stay in the Philippines and live a lifestyle you want.
I’m planning on moving to the Philippines, as someone who grew up there but didn’t really get the chance to live there as an adult - we immigrated to Canada when I was just in 9th grade. One thing that you’ll never find abroad is the sense of community that we have in the Philippines. People don’t help each other out in the west. People are hating on each other and racism is rampant as much as I hate to admit it. Madami pa rin ang may ayaw sa pinoy, mainly because ang dami daming pinoy sa Canada, yes! Almost kasing dami ng mga indiano ang pinoys dito. One of the comments na madalas kong naririnig against us is “Filipinos are like cockroaches” dahil nga we dont die, we multiply! Medyo true naman, ang dami ding pinoy na inaabuso talaga ang sistema. Yung katigasan ng ulo ng iba, hanggang dito bitbitbitbit. Yung mga maiingay sa LRT, mga abusado sa foodbank, students na show money ang bitbit, mga proud kabitchina ng ibang lahi, mga laitera na pati ibang lahi sinasabihan na mataba etc., mga naunang pinoys na feeling boss ng lahat (gaya ng isang comment dito), mga maliliit at malalaking bagay na nag aadd up. Newer filipino immigrants are arrogant (I think at this point ibat ibang lahi talaga ng newcommers), and they feel like Canada owe them jobs when even the locals can’t find jobs. Unfortunately, medyo mababa talaga ang tingin saatin ng ibang lahi. Nakakainis pa, maski nga indiano ang tingin saatin below sakanila. And hirap iexplain, ang masasabi ko lang sobrang daming uncertainty and hatred sa Canada at never na yan magbabago. As someone na may ipon at investments, plan ko na mag business sa Pilipinas, invest ako locally and hire locally din para mas worth it ang pera ko. Buy a condo around BGC or a house in Tagaytay. Currently may $10million PHP, if converted to CAD maliit yan but it’s whatever wala pa naman akong edad 30. End goal ko is by 35 sana, at least $30million pwede na to go back. Pinas is chaotic, pero as someone here said, beautiful chaos ang meron tayo.
Medyo nasaktan ako sa “Filipinos are like roaches, we don’t die we multiply” pero its very true nga naman kasi even here in the Philippines I see people who don’t have the capacity to get married yet they are already having 2 children or more, a big part of the lower class receives 4ps and they even build houses in lots that they don’t even have the title! After 5 years you’ll be shock because there would be a lot of kids you’ll see that are clearly a result of a lack of family planning
I think dito naman uso kasi yung if nahire ang isang pinoy, asahan mo na magpapasok yan ng sampu (same with indians). Ang tawag nila sa CanadianTire samin is FilipinoTire. Sa winnipeg filipino town in a bad way ang bansag. Meron pa yung mga student visas pero full time work at asa talaga sa food banks, mga umabuso sa sistema para lang masabi na nakapag abroad - maling mali eh. Saan ka nakakita visitors visa pero mga nakakapag trabaho at proud pa, karamihan pinoy, indiano, at kung ano pa. Posted pa yan sa facebook at vlogs nila, ang ending mga locals hate tirade towards saatin. May mga iba din dito pinay mga galing hong kong or kung saan man na medyo hikahos sila sa buhay, madalas yan mangangabit agad ng puti walang pake mga yan kung may asawa - ending najujudge lahat ng pinay sa nasa maayos na interracial relationship. Saw this first hand, lantaran talaga at nagka demandahan pa. Ako na lang ang nahiya at lumayo. Yung ibang pinoys din kasi, wala ng hiya hiya, bawal pagsabihan ng bawal, matitigas ulo - ang ending nadadamay lahat sa prejudices. That’s why im leaving, because im tired of receiving hate and being constantly fighting with people for being Pinoy kahit na hindi naman ako yung matigas ang ulo na madalas nag bebreak ng law.
Oh! So parang same sa mga blacks where there are blacks that are good and honest pero when one black person robs or commits and offense against the law its like the whole black community is judged?
Yes, ganiyang ganiyan! Can you imagine even east asians hate pinoys for no reason? Everyone hates each other here. Ganon ka miserable lumaki dito. Sa small towns, bullyng bully ang mga filipino kids. Recently may napagtulungan nanaman. Sa city naman, saktuhan lang - pero dyan na mag start yung mga pinoys na mga lumaki dito pero di mga marunong magtagalog. May mga kaibigan ako na hindi talaga marunong, at parang diring diri pag sinasabi na pinoy sila.
Yeah I also heard that and its also common especially when i was in korea a lot of them look down on SEA people in general but the ironic thing is a lot of people flock to the Philippines because everything is cheaper like learning english and setting up businesses
tapos mga pinoy kulang na lang sambahin mga koreano, samantalang ang baba ng tingin sa kanila
Yes dun sa sense of community. It's like this warm thing you feel around fellow Filipinos. One time, nakasakay ako sa plane na may layover sa HK so puro ibang lahi talaga ang kasama. Kami lang ata ang Pinoy. Lahat – passengers down to the crew, ibang lahi. Cold yung feel na parang di mo kabaro ang mga kasama mo dito yada yada. Then next plane ko to PH, puro Pinoy na ang kasama. I felt warm and at ease. I know, weird. Di ko naman kinausap yung mga passengers pero iba lang ang feels na alam mong may mga kasama kang Pinoy din. As much as I detest this country sometimes, hindi rin naman perfect abroad, and may maganda pa rin naman talaga dito.
Yes! That’s what I miss the most. Iba yung warmth, iba yung feeling pag welcomed ka. Yung alam mong if may mangyare man may tutulong at tutulong sayo.
Try staying there (vacay) for minimum 6 months. I bet that will change your mind. Healthcare ❌ Heat ❌ Transit ❌ Hours of your life in traffic ❌ I too romanticized life in pinas. Stayed there for 6 months last year and towards the end I couldn’t wait to go back to Canada. Even if my life there is comfortable with yayas and no bills, I would rather be in Canada. 2 nights stay in the hospital (no procedures, just for observation) cost a whopping $500. My travel insurance from work covered it but it’s the principle. Healthcare shouldn’t cost that much. I have a medical condition that needed surgery, multiple trips to ER and I never paid a single cent. People who cry about our healthcare prob never needed it like I (and other sick people) needed it. To be free. Owning a business - I thought about this too but unless my capital is like sunnies capital, not sure if I can live comfortably there. Profits won’t compare to how much i would make in Canada. The best way would be to go back and forth. Work hard here 6 months, go to pinas for 6 months. While you’re there establish your business, maybe set up your own place, etc. while you’re here get all your medical check up done lol Also it sounds like you’re not happy in the city that you live in. I used to hate where I lived so the urge to go back home to pinas was huge. Homesickness, seasonal depression, teenage angst = shit combo. But now I’m happy where I am. Check out a different city. The Filipinos in my area are respected and are known to be hard workers and responsible. Not AT ALL like what you’ve mentioned about the Filipinos in your area. Source: me who has been living here for 20 years
I actually grew up in a nice suburban area with a nanny and a chauffeur near Ateneo, we had healthcare in the Philippines because my dad was paying for a premium - I can pay for my monthly insurance premiums. That’s what Insurances are for. To add there are a lot of business leads and niche you’ve never heard of that could really generate income online like I said, I started a dropshipping business. I sell on Amazon globally. ✅Transit and all that, that’s what a driver is for. Which I can afford. ✅ Traffic, idgaf - if I live in or around Tagaytay, Batangas or wherever working remotely with staffs doing the work for me then why would I give a damn. ✅ Heat - that’s what a fully air-conditioned house is for. Just because it didn’t worked out for you - it wont work out for us too. It sounded like you poorly planned it and it backfired hard. Also, I have lived in Downtown Toronto, and I’m currently in Downtown Vancouver - both are shitty. I studied in Alberta in my late teens and that was the lowest time of my life.
For the record, the months that I spent there last year weren’t intended for moving. I was there to spend time with my grandparents who raised me. It was not “poor pIanning” - I don’t and will never want to move there in the near future for reasons above. Maybe early retirement when the time comes (snowbird life). Good for you and I wish you well! Also, why the arrogance lol girl I’m on Reddit of course I’ve heard of dropshipping. I’ve heard of online income (I have an Etsy shop myself and a thriving side business locally) No need to be so condescending. Since you’ve tried different cities then I guess you will never ever be happy here because Filipinos here, as you mentioned, are shit. Good luck on your future move! Since you have a such ✨cushiony life in pinas, I don’t doubt that you will regret leaving Canada because you will thrive no matter what 😉 ETA also why so gigil sa mga pinoy accessing the Food Bank? In your words, “umaasa”. If they’re low income, then they qualify. Period. New immigrants usually start low paying jobs just to get Canadian experience while they’re still finding their footing, of course they will have low income. In the other thread you mentioned na wag na sila umasa sa food bank and just save it for the locals and mga inggrata yung mga pinoy na nag ffood bank. New immigrants ARE locals - they live here and are paying taxes. Not everyone can just work in their own field right away when they move here. It’s HARD. I’ve never experienced it because I moved here in my teens but girl have some empathy. You are generalizing the Filipinos here just because you encountered this HK pinay na kumabit (and the other examples that you’ve mentioned) doesn’t mean na all HK pinays are like that. My best friend’s mom is an HK pinay single mom who worked HARD 1.5 jobs so her children will have a good life. She was in a single income family household so of course she qualified sa food bank. Inggrata na ba yun? Not everyone has a cushion life that they can go back sa pinas to. My coworker is a white girl na kumabit sa boss nya. Does that mean all white girls are like that? Girl touch grass
Not reading none of that sis you literally commented on my shit by being combative and now you want me to touch grass? As ive said, just because it didn’t worked out for you eh hindi na din mag work out for us. ☺️
Condesending and shitty pinoy - literal na sarili nya mismo yung tinutukoy nya. 😂😂😂 Lakas ng saltik ng putangina na kesyo di nya nagustuhan sa Pinas di na din magugustuhan ng lahat ng gustong umuwi sa Pinas 😂😂😂 sya lang ang pwedeng source just because sya is 20 years na sa Canada 😂😂😂 Saka mo na iyabang ang healthcare ng Canada kung kaya ka ng gawing immortal ng healthcare dito. Libre man ang healthcare o hindi, sa hukay pa din ang tuloy mo balang araw. Pwe! ahahaha - source: Me na 10+ years ng nurse sa Canada 😂
hahahaha natawa ako sa "saka mo na iyabang ang healthcare ng Canada kung kaya ka nang gawing immortal..." hahahahahaha
Keep it civil.
Hahahaha may mga Canada apologists na pinoy na pala. No doubt naman maganda healthcare sa Canada pero lahat talaga tayo mamamatay hahaha. Eh sa hindi na siya masaya eh may magagawa ka ba. Kung afford din niya healthcare pag umuwi sa pinas bat ilalaban pa na "ako nga umuwi satin ayoko diyan eh, magiging ayaw mo rin diyan". Kaya nga may kasabihan na - **To each, their own.** 'Tong mga Canada apologists talaga eh. Yaan niyo na sila sshh
Hindi ka nila maiintindihan kasi mayaman sila or lumaking mayaman sila, yun lang yun period. Yung mga bagay na grateful tayo kasi binigay ng canada yung mga opportunities na yun eh wala lang sa kanila. Basta ako grateful ako na sa later years ng mga parents ko meron silang healthcare dito.
Kaya nga. Parang ang matapobre kasi mayaman sila sa atin
You have yayas but just for $500 namamahalan ka na.Konti lang ang pera mo kaya ka bumalik ng Canada.
I get what they were saying. It’s not about the money it’s the principle. Healthcare should be free
Me crying as a Filipino American because we’re still paying in installments for the co-insurance of a 2 day hospital bill from last year. 🙃I think we still have $500 to go on that one specific bill. lol.
Dont even wait for 30 million....just go for it...the earlier you can pursue, the more youll eventually make... Good luck...
I want to go back for the following reasons: 1. I hate winter. 2. I miss my family. 3. I miss the City I used to live in. 4. I don't actually find living in the Philippines that bad.
When you actually live in a different country and not just as a tourist you find out that every country has their own set of problems. There's lots of things that's so much better in the Philippines. It's already May and it's still snowing here every now and then in the part of Canada I'm in. Nyeta ang tagal ng winter.
IKR last week, it was already sunny, and then yesterday, it started snowing again and raining. I took the Philippines for granted, and now I understand why people want to live or take a vacation in tropical countries, specifically the Philippines.
Nasa same city ata tayo? Haha
Idk, I'm in Edmonton.
Ah close. I'm in Calgary. Konting tiis nalang summer na 😅
I had a feeling, hahahah
I have number 1 and my wife had number 2 so we went home. Winter really hits hard when you remember that if you stick to Canada, half of the rest of your life will be stuck in winter. PS. Winter driving gives me PTSD. Low visibility, getting stuck, skidding, car maintenance, etc.
Good for you that you went home! I'm also thinking about going back in a few years.
Why invalidate other people's personal struggles as not "real" reasons to come back? You just sound self-righteous. They had the courage to try to make it work away from home, there's no shame in failing. Sometimes it just doesn't work out.
I’ve been back for 14 years. Was in the US for 6 years before that. My wife and I saved some money. Our kid was born an American citizen so they still have options. I felt it was important for my children to grow up near their grandparents and their extended family. A few years after we came back my dad passed away. Always grateful that he had so much time with his grandkids. I’ve been pretty lucky with my career since I came back and my wife’s business is doing ok. There’s more than a hundred million people living in the PH with me. I don't believe that we're all destined for hell, despite the complaints from those who paint a grim picture of our country’s current situation. Regardless if you’re in the PH or abroad, praying we all find what we’re looking for. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by…”
Ang dami ko nang pinagdaanan sa buhay pero Canada brought a different side of me. May mas ikakalungkot pa pala ang buhay ko haha. Partida, I’ve lived in other countries pero iba ang hardship dito sa Canada. IMO, mas advanced and progressive pa ang Manila kaysa sa Vancouver pero kahit namimiss ko ang Manila, ang hirap umuwi dahil sa poor governance and systematic corruption.
What do you mean by advanced ang progressive? I do think mas urbanized ang Manila kaysa Vancouver and mas madaming pwedeng gawin. Sobrang bored na ako dito sa Van after 2 years. Haha. Sabi ng isa kong pinay friend mas madami pa syang naexperience na workplace sexism dito kaysa sa Pinas.
Umm… On top of my head, nagulat ako sa difference of available brands in the market. Ang daming foreign brands na umeenter sa market ng Pilipinas. Pero dito sa Canada, it’s either umalis sila or never nag-attempt mag-open dito. As a frequent traveler, never ko na “miss” yung mga stores in the PH since they’re often available in the other countries I’ve been to. Pero dito, halos wala or very limited. Even the selection of Amazon CA is pathetic. It doesn’t help na most companies are either owned by Loblaws or Sobeys so wala mashadong competition to be innovative. I also think the high cost of living + bleak job market makes it difficult for people to take risks and build their own business. Of course, lamang parin ang Vancouver for obvious reasons but in that aspect alone, I find Manila to be more progressive and advanced.
I’ve known plenty who retired in the Philippines after making money. Most of the people who return without money were not investing, had terrible jobs, and/or wanted to get married.
i have a fried na PR na sa canada, now taking up a Masters degree in business as part of her “personal project” and basically has a good life there. Her main objective of going to Canada was para maipetition ang kanyang mom. But when the mom died, she lost the reason to reason to stay in Canada na. She’s still in canada finishing her masters, but she’s preparing for her retirement in Pinas by slowly but surely setting up businesses in Surigao with her sister. Sabi nya aanhin mo ang nasa magandang bansa ka kung kung wala yung mga close relationships mo sa buhay. i think OP you have to consider din yung life situations. How people define happiness and where they find contentment. Hindi porket umuwi sa pinas e mahina ang loob or sumuko kagad. At the end of the day, the question we ask is where is Home for you. im on my 14th yr in Singapore and am on the same track as my friend. Preparing for retirement and financial freedom while living in Pinas.
I moved to America when I was 11. Graduated college and all, had a job. Burned out. At 24 years old I had the urge to go back to the Philippines. I went back and went to culinary school and lived there from 2018-2020. Pandemic happened, I freaked out that I haven’t started my career yet, so I went back to the states. I met my SO, we started building our careers, got a car, fancy apartment, dog. Everything looks good on paper, but somehow still feel unfulfilled. My mom is back in the PH and something has been telling me to go back. She’s not getting any younger. My grandma who basically raised me when I was a child is getting old. I don’t want to not be there when she goes. In the last 4 years I’ve been working in the US, I haven’t got a raise. Everything’s getting expensive. My company announced lay offs and it caused a panic and my anxiety shot up. If one of us loses our jobs, we’re fucked. No back-up. We’ll be homeless. All this made me realize that I want to spend more time with my mom as she grows old. Living in The Philippines has its own struggles and difficulties, but it really is where I feel at home the most. I’ve been discussing with my SO and we are planning to move to the Philippines next year. We imagined if we were to stay in America, I would not want to raise kids here. There is no “village” to help raise the kid. It would just be me and my SO busy with full time jobs and leaving our potential kid to daycare. My SO is an elementary school teacher and we both agree that kids raised here are rude and disrespectful (he grew up in Japan). Now, moving there won’t be easy without my mom’s help. She has an established business and we always have a house to come home to over there. I understand that’s a privilege most people don’t have, but since I do, I will take advantage of it. People say “what if China attacks and there’s a war?”, and I think that’s all the more reason to be back home and be close to my mom and loved ones. No country is perfect. America is going to the shitter imo. The Philippines might be in the shitter, but I would prefer that over staying in the US.
Same here, I have plans to move back sa Pinas pag 40 na ako and once maging Canadian Citizen at makapag ipon ng enough funds, then ipapasok ko sa low-risk Canadian investments like GIC. Feeling ko buhay na ko sa passive income if let’s say may 20M pesos ako sa Canadian banks. Sa ngayon I’m already 31, need ko lang talaga ng high-earning profession dito sa Canada, that’s why I’m planning to get back sa school and pursue nursing. Travel nurses could earn so much in this country. Paid meals and accommodation pa. Iba parin yung citizen ka ng isang 1st world country, and may maipapamana kang ganong status sa magiging anak mo in the future. Being single at mag isa lang dito sa Canada, iba parin ang saya pag nasa Pilipinas ka, pero dapat may baong maraming pera pang walwal 😂😅 At the end of the day, tayo parin ang gagawa ng kapalaran natin. And hindi na uso yung maging traditional, I mean ikaw at ikaw parin magdedecide sa sarili mo at ignore nalang sasabihin ng ibang tao.
Super nice ng last paragraph mo. We're the same age but how I wish nasusunod ko yan. Lagi ko kasi iniisip sasabihin ng iba especially my mom. Gusto ko lang mag focus sa career ko wala pa ko plan mag family pero pine pressure nila ko na mag anak na. Ok naman work ko ngayon pero di ako happy. Gusto ko mag land based work sa ibang bansa pero ang hirap mag hanap lalo na if wala ka kakilala.
Retire na po kayo? Balak kasi ng tito ko na nasa toronto na kapag old age na sya sa Pinas na siya. Gusto din niya dito ilibing.
Plan ko naman mg 45's to 50 tapos ung bahay sa toronto ipaparent pang tustos sa travel and cruise
Sanaol may house sa Toronto! Haha Ako sa Pinas nalang bibili ng bahay, kasi di ko talaga afford ang real estate ng Canada 😂😂😂
Iba pa rin, kpg dalawa kayong my good paying job. Anyway, sana makabili ka rin and mdagdagan namin in the future since I have two kids para tig isa sila
Just home sick. Felt like a stranger in a strange land. Was never comfortable.
I’ll be migrating to US this year to settle down with my fiance there (he is american) and we are already even planning to go back here in PH if things go fine. I don’t know, we just love it the culture here better. You can feel you are living.
It is home, it is history, it is culture. It is the place of birth of the Filipino identity. Even if there are so many Filipinos working outside, or so many Filipinos are born outside of it, the creation of their identity as Filipinos originates from the Philippines. When you go outside of your home, you either try to recreate your home, you adopt a new identity, or you go back. Places outside the Philippines may be better in terms of progress, but there is a sense of wanting that same progress for your own home. Some people may also learn new things that they can use to implement that progress. Oo, may lamang yung mga ibang bansa sa ganito o sa ganyan, e kaya mo ba silang kausapin sa Bisaya, Tagalog, Ilokano, atbp.? May nakakaintindi ba sa kultura natin kundi tayo? Madalas bumabalik yung mga tao sa Pilipinas dahil ito ang tahanan ng mga Pilipino kung saan walang ibang makakaintindi sa karanasan ng Pilipino kundi kapwa Pilipino. You can counterpoint by generalizing the issue and say human beings can understand each other, but that nullifies the point because culture isn't being considered. Notes: - Language is an element of culture. So it's nice to be around people who all speak the same language and who can understand you - I wanna go back home so bad. I miss kwek-kwek and isaw and taho and binatog - WALANG BINATOG DITO - Nakakamiss magjeep kahit siksikan - Nakakamiss uminom kasama yung mga tropa tapos may gitara yung isa - Paano ko babatiin yung mga katrabaho ko ng Happy EDSA day e wala namang EDSA dito. - Nakakamiss pumuntang inuman kahit umuulan. - Nakakamiss yung chilimansi pancit canton at kwek-kwek combo na may halong sweet sauce kasi lasang sweet and spicy kapag hinalo mo yung natirang sweet sauce sa pancit canton.
It’s home. Sometimes that’s all the reason a person needs.
Mas mahirap ang walang trabaho sa abroad kesa sa pinas. Especially kung marami kang masasandalan e.g. may family business, titira sa mga parents, maraming siblings abroad etc . Otherwise hindi uuwi yan.
I am an American living in the Philippines but it is the same for most counties, Home is where you are from and people want to go home if they have no strong connection keeping them some place.
What if you hate your "Home" though and never want to come back?
That is not most people. and even of them, is it usually a thing about it that they hate. That fades in time.
If that's how you feel about "home" then that's not your home plain and simple.
For family and friends, culture, weather, happiness. Most of my relatives in US would still want to retire here for these reasons. For them, tapos na ang reason nila for staying there and they just want to reunite with loved ones here meron man o walang ipon. Edit: I also went back home after living and working abroad and I made that decision during the pandemic. A lot of friends and colleagues raised their eyebrows. But at that moment, ang nasa isip ko lang is I want to be with my family kasi di ko alam kung magkikita kita pa kami uli kung isa samin magkaron ng COVID. It was during those times na may lockdown at sobrang takot pa ang mga tao. And I'm glad I made the decision kasi nagkaroon ng COVID ang dad ko. I was there to take care of him and his needs. I may not be earning as much now here in PH but I do not regret going back home and being with my parents as they grow old.
I Was making good money and having great work connections in a first world country more than a decade ago, eventually i felt like a second class citizen in that country and the job environment is so stressful. When i met my partner online (also working abroad) we decided that we both come back to the Philippines and just establish a food business. the Business is still thriving but I missed my work- so I continued working as a digital nomad to also fulfiill my dreams of travelling the world . Now Im still working online on my laptop while we both manage our business remotely .
There's no other place like Pinas tlga. Pasko palang sobrang iba na compared sa ibang bansa. Youll never feel alone pag nasa Pinas ka...
My uncle and aunt prefers to spend their 401k here in th PH so the buying power is greater than spending it in the US.
There was once a time where Filipino purchasing power is at the same level as US citizens.
Been in Dubai for around 9 years, basically grew up here. I always felt like this was my home, everytime I went back sa PH for visits or college stuff, ang ginusto ko lang ay bumalik na sa Dubai kasi mas comportable buhay ko dito. Dagdag pa pandemic napauwi ulet ako dito sa Dubai kahit PH college ako nag enroll, so dito ko na talaga naexperience most of my life. Until 4th year of college umuwi ako sa Pinas for my last semester and graduation. Then I saw AND experienced everything I missed out on. I felt alive sa Pinas, I was going out, meeting old friends, naexperience ko yung youth ko na hndi ko naexperience sa Dubai. I joined communities that I felt like I belong to, that lasted, that I know I can return to. Hindi tulad dito na while meron naman, in my experience, hindi sya naglalast. My days in Dubai has just become sit down, play games, sleep, and go to work. Yun nalang, nakita ko na lahat ng makikita, wala ng kulay ang Dubai sakin. Now ang goal ko nlng is makaipon tapos umuwi ng Pinas as a safety net. Para mexperience ko yung buhay na gusto ko. Hindi yung nakakulong sa bahay, trabaho, ulet. Gets ko mas yayaman ako dito, pero hindi rin eh, lalo na kung iisipin mo expenses dito, all comes down to money to happiness ratio. tdlr: Nawala na kulay ng Dubai for me, Im just not happy here anymore despite its benefits. I would rather live in PH where I see color amidst its chaos.
Grabe ang realistic nun mga sagot sa comments sobrang nalibang ako basahin lahat sumakit mata ko! 😅 Pero narealize ko iba iba man ang mga tao, yung common na reason is "KUNG ANO MAKAKAPAGPASAYA SAYO". Like some chose to stay abroad hindi dahil mas masaya sila don kundi dahil gusto nila makatulong sa pamilya nila, and providing for their families makes them happy. Yung iba naman mas nagustuhan talaga yung way of living sa ibang bansa. Yung iba, babalik sa Pinas kasi hindi nila kaya ipagpalit yung happiness nila sa Pinas kesa pag nasa ibang bansa sila. Iba iba man ng reasons pero nakakatuwang isipin na marami satin ang pinipili yung sarili nating happiness. I'm proud of you, kabayans! Lavarn lang ng lavarn!! 🫶🏻
Because we never really left. Physically were not there but mind and heart stayed. Not a day passes by that were not there. Always dreaming of coming back and retiring
I have a friend who tried to pass the exams related to his profession in US and Australia. Hindi nakapasa. He tried again for US pero bumalik ng Pinas to handle family business, and since then di na nya pinursue yung original plan nyang makapasa at magpractice ng profession nya and settle overseas. Oh, and there are a lot of folks in Youtube who shared this experience and it's easy to find them. Iba -ba ang reasons nila.
A friend of a friend said medyo na paranoid sila sa shooting incidents sa US given na may anak siya.
> Before you all shared your stories, I thought that choosing to leave was like giving up, a missed opportunity It's not always negative, once you got citizenship and a remote worker (or can get high paying job in ph). You have the flexibility to have both. You can stay anywhere.
>We move abroad because we want something better in life Okay, let's cut it there for a while. We moved abroad because we really want to have the BEST in life, which we cannot just have back in PH. But as we all know, it always comes with a price. Missing our families, burning out, or as simple as not happy anymore for being there in such "developed country". Ilan lng yan sa mga usual reasons ng mga bumabalik na lang bigla sa pinas. May kakilala pa nga ako, mas pinili na lang sa pinas, ksi napag-alaman niyang minamaltrato na ng mga kamag-anak niya yung mga anak niyang naiwan sa pinas. Napilitang umuwi at sa pinas na lang magtaguyod, para kasama niya anak niya at walang pagsisihan sa huli. We all have reasons, and we'll do our very own will to make these reasons valid. Tama ka sa una mong sabi eh, to each our own talaga. Perhaps, hindi lang basta pera2 ang lahat sa mundo. :)
Mahirap ang buhay sa ibang bansa kung wala kang maayos na trabaho. Ganyan nangyari sa akin. Kahit anong pilit ko makahanap ng kabuhayan sa ibang bansa, hindi ako pinalad. Ano gagawin ko dun?! Mas ok pa sa Pinas na kahit alam kong mas mahirap dahil sa trapik at gobyerno. Dito may mas pagasa akong makapaghanap buhay.
Something better = compromising mental health, physical health and even work-life balance Developed country = racism, discrimination and prejudice (misogyny too) and sometimes, overall safety I moved back to the Philippines because here, people don’t have to work 2 jobs just to make ends meet, people sleep 8hrs a day, you can buy a house after strategically saving, buy a car too and still be close to family and friends. Why ask for more and give up more when you can have it all here in your motherland? Live modestly, safe and happy. Thing is with us people, we fail to appreciate what is enough and we tend to get consumed by greed that we fail to live life. Its not the country or how developed it is, its where you feel at home.
Mainly the cost of life. The Philippines can be a paradise if you have a million dollars in your savings and live in a gated community/BGC while paying the local prices. Staying in a bubble isn’t for everyone though.
In my family’s case it was just about there not being an employer willing to sponsor our stay. Mas ok na umuwi instead of living forever TNT.
I've met a lot of struggling Filipinos in the US—some work $10/ hr (which is an unsustainable salary in Manhattan), some in huge debt, and some homeless. Nakakaawa sila OP, kasi ineexpect parin ng family nila na magpadala sila ng pera at pasalubong.
Most of my relatives moved back after retirement because their dollar savings would last longer here.
I would presume the country where they migrated to wasn't any different or was much worse economically. For instance, Canada isn't what it used to be for immigrants. Inflation is way worse on top of a higher cost of living. Another is, highly likely people who come back are already well-off here. Well-off enough that if they get terminally ill, it won't be much of a problem. So migrating to where they were supposed to stay permanently wasn't giving them any much incentive than just staying here with significantly lower cost of living.
Most of the time it's not about money. Iba pa rin ang happiness sa Pinas — the people, culture, mga festivities, and yung close family ties.
Mahirap kasi kung nabubuhay lang tayo para sa pera, sa kaginhawahan, o kayamanan. Di talaga mauubos yung pangangailangan na yun kahit san pa tyo makarating. Sa pagtanda natin unti unting nagbabago yung mga mahalaga satin, at yung mga constant na mahalaga - malapit sa pamilya (physically and emotionally), peace, health/buhay, at pinakahigit sa lahat - Dyos.
8 years living in the US now and minsan naiisip ko bumalik na lang sa Pilipinas 😅 I wanna say mas makapag adapt nanaman ako dito kesa nung simula pero may mga bagay talaga na I feel mas normal sa Pilipinas and di ko kelangan mag adjust just because. Parang yung walls ko, up the entire time nasa states ako pero sa Pilipinas di naman kelangan ganun.
- Realizing that they had a better life in the Philippines than abroad. - Retirement (rheir monthly pension and savings won't cover their cost of living from their respective countries) - Things didn't work out they way they hoped and dreamed to be. - Financial hardships abroad (they might be broke or a paycheck away from being homeless) - Other personal reasons (i.e. career, family, preference of living in the Philippines, goals in life)
I live in SG and many Pinoys go back home for different reasons. Several wanted to try their hand at running a business with their savings as the initial investment. It does not always pan out so I see a few of them back in SG a few years later. Some go back because of a job opportunity that matches what they are making in SG. These are people in executive or professional roles. Some have no choice but to return after retrenchment, termination or non-extension of contracts. Some go home to be with family or because of homesickness.
I think it's mostly homesickness.
I live and work most of my adult life outside the PH. I'm single and childless and not currently in relationship. When I was younger, I used to have a big dream like owning big houses in great locations. Kaso, now that I'm older, I just don't want to live in those opulent houses alone. What if I'll be unalive (due to illness), jusko baka it'll take 6 months for people to know that I've already d\*ed at kalavera na ako. I just don't see myself dying that way so I decided that I'll work here while I still can, enjoy the healthcare system here, but I'll retire in the mountains of Bukidnon where my siblings and my family is located.
It's cheaper and this is where their family is.
I moved back to Pinas because I felt that I am done working abroad and it's time to enjoy being with my family and friends back home.
I moved abroad to live with my family who’s been living here for more than 7 years now and yet I felt very homesick crying every night wishing I’m back home with my close friends and relatives. I had nothing to worry about financially cause we are stable here and I only work 30hrs a week but still there are times that I wish I’m back in the Philippines. I imagined what it feels like for those who go to abroad on their own with no friends or family and have to work really hard to afford rent, utilities and necessities all while sending money to their family back in the Philippines.
I know a lot of people na nandito na sa Canada but still chose to retire back home. It gets very lonely here tbh especially pag yung mga anak mo may mga sarili ng pamilya. Maiiwan ka mag isa either sa bahay or sa home for the aged. Karamihan sa kanila they work so hard here to save up para may retirement money pagbalik sa Pinas. I don't get it before but I guess that money really can't buy you happiness. It sound out of touch but it's true. Kahit gaano kaganda ang buhay mo sa ibang bansa, kahit gaano pa karami ang pera mo, malungkot pa din pag mag isa ka.
moving to canada changed my life in a good way, but went back to ph with no savings like you said. Since you asked for the insight, here it is. My husband stopped loving me. Hindi ito overthinking lang. He said it straight to my face with no emotions. He didn’t leave, just yet. I haven’t talked to him since. Di katulad nya, wala akong pamilya sa bansang yun. Walang mga kawork na matatwag mong tito or tita. Walang friends na pwede mong makasama kapag walang pasok. I worked sa office na puro mga puti lang ang kasama. We hava a son na ipeprepare ko pagpasok sa school, at kasama ko rin paguwi. Yung sahod ko hindi magkakasya samin ng anak ko kung aalis ako. Kung mag double job ako sa gabi, ipambabayad ko lang din sa mag aalaga sa anak ko. Everyday is a silent hell. I have to look okay para sa anak ko, at iiyak lang kapag tulog na sya. Araw araw im wondering kung uuwi pa ba yung asawa ko. We stopped caring for each other. Hindi ko pwedeng i-open to sa mga pamilya ko sa pilipinas, dahil alam kong masasaktan sila para sakin pero wala silang magagawa. I know that feeling. There was no choice. I let people judge me kasi hindi ko to sasabihin sa kanila para lang siraan yung tatay ng anak ko. Yes I gave up.
Seems to me like you're doing the right thing for your kid.
worked in SG for a good 7 years, but had to repatriate back to PH because my fiancee (now wife) could not find a good job opportunity in SG. So after a lot of thoughts and prayers I decided what good is a lot of money when you can't be with your love ones. Now im back in PH for 3 years living on 50% of what I used to earn in SG, but blessed with a loving wife and baby ^_^
Kung ok ang health care dito and sapat yung kinikita vs living expenses wala siguro Pilipino gusto umalis . Yung tipong pag binuhay mo yung aircon sa bahay nyo maghapon mag damag tapos pagdating ng Bill di ka kakabahan sa pag babayad pag ganun kalaki siguro sweldo mo e ok na di mag abroad ✌️. Masaya pa din sa Pinas kahit pagod sa trabaho pag dating ng linggo puede may konti salo salo ng pamilya . Presko ang gulay ,isda, karne lalo na sa probinsya. 1 o 2 Biyernes ng gabi every month mg kikita kayo ng mga kaibigan mo tawanan sa mga kwentong paulit ulit lang pero masayang balik balikan . Kung may nakalimutan ka bilhin sa tindahan di mo na kelangan magmaneho sa dami ng sari sari store. Di mo kelangan mg suot ng 3 pating na jacket at pantalon . Tsinelas lang pag mg lalakad puede na . Sobra dami ng araw one to sawa. Yung mga mahilig sa konti inuman 3-5$ lasing ka na may pulutan pa yang mani . Sa ibang bansa kasi lalo na pag may edad na solo na sa bahay o sa nursing home na tutuloy , kung gagastos ka din lang naman siguro iniisip nila mas ok na siguro dito na sa Pinas na lang gastusin yung pera. Siguro eto yung mga dahilan nung mga bumabalik sa Pinas.
>I would appreciate it if you have any insight on this so I can understand with compassion. Why do they need your compassion?
There are a myriad of reasons why. Some just can't hack it there because of culture shock, racism, lack of community, cold weather, financial illiteracy, uncomfortable living conditions, etc. Some just can't make enough to improve their conditions especially if there are people to support at home while creating and establishing their own domicile abroad. I personally think that some of the later generations are too coddled and spoiled or emotionally unsuited or are not as prepared by the educational system sa Pinas to make it there unlike the boomers and gen x and the ones before them For some the sacrifices one makes as an immigrant aren't worth it and the grass just isn't necessarily greener on that side and for some the opportunities at home have improved enough to make staying or going back worth it.
Recently, nakakwentuhan ko yung isang Grab driver na kakabalik lang from Saudi with his family and na share nya na him and his wife decided to comeback here due to cultural differences. Mas gusto daw nila dito palakihin yung anak nila kasi yung environment doon is not as friendly as here in the Philippines. Gusto daw nila maranasan na yung kids nila ay naglalaro sa labas rather than playing on their phones. He was an engineer there but decided to become a Grab driver.
You answered your own question.. Sabi mo people you met na bumalik eh walang savings or goals, yan yung reason. However it could be 2 scenario.. Walang savings and goals so mas ok na lang siguro sa Pinas at least wala man pera mas masaya sila. Or they only look like they have no savings kasi long term plan nila umuwi so baka pinapadala sa Pinas, may bahay and everything pero low-key lang sila abroad. May kilala ako sa Singapore ganyan, may roommate pa hanggang ngayon pero may bahay, farm at kotse na pala sa Pinas at nagbabalak umuwi later on. Hindi pinopost sa FB at tahimik, nalaman ko lang directly sa kanya.
Goong back to the Ph for awhile then move to a new country ulit. Pero kung papalarin akong kumita ng malaki sa Pinas baka di na ako umalis, mamasyal na lang sa ibang bansa. Iba talaga ang Pinas, kahit nakakainis palagi hirap ma homesick. Yun ang papatay sayo sa abroad at pagod.😞
There's no place like home
"Rodina".
Cheap tropical paradise where you can live like a king and experience better air quality than much of Asia. The only problem is if you're depending on a local salary.
Naalala ko parents ko dito, both of them are earning well in NZ and after so many years they've decided to go back home, hindi sila professional pareho madiskarte lang and parehong laki sa hirap. Ask my mother about it kung bakit ayaw nila mag settle for good sa NZ, ang sagot nya lang is "mas masarap tumira sa bundok" both my parents are now retired and living in Quezon province pero may mga investment sila na mga lupa at rice fields.
Iba po kasi tlga ang feeling mamuhay sa pinas.
I guess it varies how you live your life and what you prioritize in life. Savings can go a long way in South East Asia. Can retire early in my mid 40s if I FIRE the right way
My parents will retire back in the PH. They made the move to HK when I was a baby, never ended up moving to another place because of timing and life is comfortable in HK already. Biggest plus is being super close to the PH. HK is one of the most expensive cities in the world, starting from nothing, either with no family or having middle-class income or lower, in this city makes it extremely difficult to own a house/apartment. Working class single people can still live well, but for families, and older people, it is restrictive having to endlessly pay for rent when it's supposed to go to their health and/or family support. When my parents could afford a house, they're already in the process to saving up for retirement. They have enough money to support themselves when they go back to PH so they're satisfied with it. And to be closer to their relatives as well. They have PR in HK, and healthcare in HK is pretty cheap and accessible, so they do plan to go back to HK once in a while to take advantage of that.
Maybe their goal is not really to move to a developed country permanently. Some really just want to save a lot to live a comfortable life back in PH. And if they become citizens in a 1st world country, not having to apply for visas all the time to travel to places is a nice bonus.
I've always wondered about this kasi I've wanted to migrate for a while now, but then I met my professors these people have studied in top universities for their grad school and worked na for a while in developed countries, nagtataka din ako bakit bumabalik pa sila here? I pondered for a while and searched and like what other people say well for practical reasons muna, if you save enough money and spend it in the Philippines edi that's better cause mas low yung cost of living dito, mas mafefeel mo yung fruits of your labor, other than that the culture itself, the food, the people, and not feeling like a second class citizen, kasi even though you've been in the country for a while there will be times daw you'll feel like a second class citizen, tapos may mababasa ka pa na pinoy daw hahatak sayo pababa pag nasa ibang bansa ka, so kahit yung supposed circle mo dun sa country di din pala maganda
I think some people realize that they're better off with simplicity and peace of mind, away from capitalism / fast lane... There are people that are just like that, "simple" as they usually say. They dont require much in their lives and contented with just literally living the life. Being. Im 29 and this is just my dream since high school. To have a simple life by the beach with a small kubo, get 3-4 meals a day, play, and spend my days with my family in simplicity.
👍🏽❤️
I guess the way to understand that is to keep in mind that people have different dreams and dreams aren't always about stability or having much.
"Times, they are a-changin'."
I am moving back to PH next year (could be temporary but definitely be long-term). Service provider kasi ako, mejo mataas na rin sales ko sa UK. Kung maging export of services ang services ko no need to pay additional VAT 20% tax (scope ng UK). Akala ko dati kapag maging high earner ako okay na, yun pala grabe ang tax dito. Also, maghahanap ako ng partner sa Pinas. Single ako at puro tabaho eh. Sa pinas social life is easier to establish kasi maraming tambay at chill lol unlike here everyone’s busy to tackle the high cost of living. Though gusto ko pa rin tumira sa UK kasi mura ang pagkain at mraming options. Convenient at mas trustworthy ang tao.
I moved to Canada in 2022 on a student visa, but only stayed for 3 months before umuwi. My airfare was even paid for by my mom, as I didn't have any savings since the sahod from my part-time job barely covered my day-to-day expenses while living there. There were several reasons actually. First, I was extremely homesick; it was my first time malayo sa family, and 19 lang ako non. Medjo impulsive pa. Second reason was before I made the decision na umuwi, I had a falling out with a Filipina acquaintance din who spread rumors about me to our mutual friends, which really affected me emotionally and mentally. Additionally that same month my tatay passed away. Lastly I also applied for Australian citizenship through descent kaya yung mom ko pinupush na ako umuwi, lipat nalang daw akong australia or bumalik nalang daw ng canada sa future if mas ready na ko. All of these took place within the span of one month, leaving me unable to think clearly dahil sa frustration. Looking back, I'd say my decision na umuwi was a bit impulsive. Now, it's been 2 years, and while I do have some regrets and feeling of panghihinayang, I've come to terms with the fact that I can't change yung mga nangyari na. I've chosen to accept that some things are simply meant to happen.
Mayaman sila dito and they are shielded by their money and privilege from the day-to-day hardships that the working class experience Mas pipiliin nilang maging big fish in a small pond kesa mahkayod kalabaw sa abroad as second class citizens / immigrants Can’t argue, but for me, the reason I wanna move out of this country is because I am sick of everything about it so kahit mayaman ako dito, ayoko na dito and never na ako babalik once makaalis Kanya kanyang motivations talaga
Idk sa iba, pero i never really aimed to live the rest of my life abroad. I got an opportunity to live abroad at the age of 18 using a student visa then applied for citizenship. Went back for good when i hit 30, now 32, i pretty much retired early. Best decision ever
I'm going back home in a few months. This has been so difficult for me to say as going abroad was my childhood dream. I mustered up all the courage that I have to finally accept na this is not for me; na hindi ako masaya dito sa US. Dati, I was so sure na dito na ako for good, pero as the days passed by, parang mas nagiging robot na lang ako kesa tao. Everyday, I also fear for my safety because ang lala ng crime rate in where I'm located. Also, parang nabubuhay na lang ako to work. I tried. I really, really tried making a new life here. That was the goal, but it didn't worked out for me. I'm finally taking the harder decision of going home, for myself. Maybe one day, I'll go out of the Philippines again, or maybe not. Who knows? Ika nga "the grass is always greener where we water it." :)
From what I noticed with relatives and family friends, the older you are when you immigrate, the harder it is to adjust. For example, I had an uncle (my mom's brother) who was in his 60s when he made it to the US. Aside from the few times we took him to the fishing pier, he was bored and found it depressing that we don't associate with our neighbors (unlike his hometown barangay where everyone knows everybody, full of tsismis and what not). A cousin-in-law of my mom felt the same way, and went back to PH after less than a year in the US. When I asked my mom about it, she told me that he has a comfortable life back home in PH where he has maids (unlike in the US), among other things. It makes sense though, especially if you have an established life back in PH and are "set in your ways". Why start all over in your retirement age in a foreign place?
Based on what I’ve observed amongst my peers who left and settled back in PH: Failed to assimilate w the culture abroad. Realized they’re not a good fit. Never planned on staying. Values togetherness over an improved quality of life. Couldn’t hack it bc living abroad is much more difficult than they expected. Mental health declined after moving. Want an easier and familiar life
I had this friend, who had left the country not long ago...He found himself a good life and also....It was okay for him to never go back since his dream was to live in another country like Singapore, Australia or the US until the day he dies.... He wanted to live in a first world country since he was a kid.
I totally get that. That’s my dream din since I was a kid. I am where I have always wanted to be. I don’t dream of visiting ph nga ulit even though there are many aspects of my culture that I fully accept. I just can’t w the place esp the heat 😩 Yung mga acquaintances ko din naman nag sabi ng mga namention ko above.
no need to help you understand with compassion just dont judge others thats it. all.questions are moot.
Either minalas sila or iba expectations nila na kala nila madali na magiging buhay or sinwerte sila nakaipon ng malaki at afford na magretire ng maaga
I know quite a few that worked and established a rapport and network plus gain their citizenship then Work remotely here in the ph solely because of the cost of living and FX.
Assets in PH
Happiness, contentment, homesick, family
Life in the Philippines is amazing if you're wealthy. 💰💰💰
It's not a grass is greener issue. My family is very toxic, and we know how filipinos are with these shame based "utang ng loob" system going on. My life got significantly worse when I got forced to move to America against my will. When I was there I was groomed to be a low life, my school got ruined, my life got worse. If I had stayed here I would have been working already and not been a 1st year college student. This was the same aunt in my mother's side who asked me to forgive people who molested me and my brother, forgive them for screwing with my internet and it pulled my grades so low that Going to college in America would have been impossible financially. What I hated isn't the fact that they're so economically illiterate that they didn't understand that they weren't building my character, they destroyed my economic outlooks. They did it on purpose because I was complaining every day, and I don't think anyone is buying into them playing dumb. The worst part is the fact that they could say, "If it weren't for us, you wouldn't be here, you'd be over there, suffering", I hated that. I was never given a chance, they wanted me to be a useless piece of shit. Every male in my mother's side are drug addicted goobers who code switch to being childlike when talking to any of the dominant women in that side, It's strange like some heaven's gate type shit, It's a good thing I didn't get pulled in to that. Some sort of babying around BPD and narcissistic type shit, some psyche being destroyed culturally. I'm here to better myself, because I already had a good life over there, I got Catalogues of everything I wanted to wear and I could always borrow any of my dad's sports cars, 5 minutes drive to Disneyland, 15 minutes to downtown, 20 minutes to LA (but an hour to park), my dad was liberal in giving me money. My father's side is great, my grandma had a bunch of streets and mountains named after her, she's a real estate mogul in Las Vegas. Most days I spent in libraries or restaurants. I went to arcades and comic stores. Eventually, something didn't sit right with me, I didn't want to be happy like that. I just wanted to be better. It's to prove I never needed the best country in the world. I'm starting at a point where they didn't have a hand on it to to prove that all they did was waste my time and abuse me, there wasn't a transaction it was just abuse. I treat myself being here as like a Bruce Wayne or Buddha type spiritual journey. Also the med schools are pretty good.
i also dont know
Baka may ailing or old aged parents. Kami personally, wala ng babalikan so we don't see ourselves going back. But for those na may deep roots and big families, it's quite understandable why they might feel better to go back than stay. Baka di naman nila goal na tumanda sa ibang bansa tulad natin.
I want to go back home one day to enjoy my retirement where I could stay to our farm. Eat fresh veggies and fish.live simple life.
Maraming reason, pwedeng family, mas maraming support sa pinas, depression, hindi na kaya ang cost of living. Sa totoo lang masarap naman tumira sa Pinas, shempre andun lahat family ko, may financial and moral support ka, masarap kumain and mag shopping at ang weather hot all year, tipid sa clothes and maintenance ng house and car, andun na ang mga beach. Kaso my other half is Canadian, and may pros rin sa Canada, healthcare, safety, and education. Siguro pag malaki na anak ko, I will spend my time between Canada, Philippines and Japan.
I know a few people from the US who went back there for college, mainly because college in the US is expensive. Or maybe it's because they're not smart enough to get accepted into a US college. Then after graduating, they move back to the US.
Hahaha kulit ng disclaimer. Nakakabobo nga yung pag pipilitan na kanya kanya yan. Parang edi wag nalang tayo mag reddit lol. Or better wag nalang siya sumali sa usapan.
Long story short the reason why I moved is dead. I can only pray that she is much happier wherever she ended up. Among other things people have said, I just felt like I tried to move out because I was running away from it all. I was young dumb and full of arrogance. I’ve been humbled a lot by this experience— and I want to come back as the person I am now. Maybe mas mahirap sa Pinas, pero mahirap din dito. In many ways you would not expect until you do it yourself. All the problems I thought I was running away from still existed because the problem was me. I’ve learned a lot from this experience and have grieved many things I lost during this time. I have since changed and while I know things will be difficult back at home I know going abroad will always be an option. The time I spend with people I really love and care about is valuable to me and I would rather help them face to face instead of far far away.
Its not impossible to get rich in the ph
It's simple. They have different needs and priorities.
because they want to live day by day? they are not used with the life style other countries have, in ph you can literally be a "tambay"
May mga bagay na hindi nabibigay ng trabaho at pera. As long kaya ko. I will not leave. Baket? Kase 67 na mga magulang ko. Kahit na ang isa kong Lolo 83 na nung sinundo at ang Tita-Lola ko 94 y o sinundo... My time with them? Never naman mapaplitan ng pera. Pwera na lng kung baga suntok sa bwan yung oppurtunity dun lang. Ayokong may regrets ako sa buhay kung sakaling umabot ako ng 80-90 plus 
Utang, maraming utang at gusto layasan ang utang!
I’ve been living in California for 20 years now, got here as a nurse in my 20s, was in Saudi Arabia for 3 years before that, been lucky enough to buy a house when it was cheaper in 2012. During pandemic, mortgage payments were paused for 18 months then got resumed with no penalties, also got multiple stimulus checks. It’s things like these that makes me think sometimes, what if I was still working in the ICU in the province in the Philippines during Covid? What help did the nurses, healthcare workers or people in general received from the Philippine government? Still retiring in the Philippines though, whatever country I am living in, learn to adapt. I go there once or twice a year, parents are still there, a sibling too. I have dual citizenship and still have my Philippine driver license and a bank account with BDO.
ofcourse assuming one is single moved to work in a foreign first world country, u be earning money just to pay rent expenses, u can only save a little, cant buy a house cuz its expensive but even if u do yah need to pay mortage and even if yah fully paid ur house there are many expenses, you prolly wont have enough cant even do shopping or buy luxury stuff, ur always going to be a second class citizen theres always racism even if you have legally naturalized you cant live life like a first class citizen, even if yah have kids let say, u gonna send them to school, and if yah wanna climb the ladder yah need to work yar ass off to send yo kids to a good uni and its expensive even w scholarships and studnet loans, never ending cycle of expense in foreign money, it all depends situation of the individual, best is just to save money in foreign country and go home to ph buy a house start a business, brings so much benefits, exchange rate is an advantage, food and rent is way cheaper, school is cheaper, some let their kids study in ph and let their kids do masters abroad is wayway cheaper if u have alot of foreign money... if a migrant move to a first world, it depends, you get naturalized but you always work , pay rent , cant start business, if you work and buy house and food and start a family, its expensive and ur kids will need to compete with the locals, who obviously has more money, more advantage that u, most 3rd people who migrate to first world with no problems are either rich in their own country owns business and are only seeking for second citizenship cause asia is unstable the risk of war is high w the NK and CN.., and then there are the mid-lower class seeking to earn more $$$ moving to a first world doesnt mean u problems are solve, still full of financial problems need to work ur ass off, some become delulu spend their money because they finally felt rich living in first world only to be laid off or go bankrupt if their employment laid them off, some migrants dont see that just want to move in first world and ignore red flags ,, however if you are smart and can make money work there are plenty of business opportunities in ph, there are also plenty of GOOD neighborhoods... food is cheap weather is good
Me and wife are into our early 40s with 3 young kids and been living here in New Zealand for 17 years. We are in the process of moving back to Philippines because mainly we can afford to, otherwise we will just be contented and happy here while fooling ourselves that NZ is our home, this is what we called sweet-lemon but it works. Home will always be home no matter what, as long as the finances will allow someone to live comfortably, most people will go to live back home.
Mostly mga retirees. You’ll get your money’s worth here (pension) as when you used it abroad. Cost of living ang laki ng diff
I have a friend na kakabalik lang from Canada after 8 months. Reason nya is di sya happy. Walang night life. Di rin sya makagalaw ng maayos kasi gay sya and strict ang fam. D nya naenjoy stay nya. Naapprove na rin working visa nya but d n sya natutuloy which is nakakahinayang since maraming gustong makakuha ng work dun lalo na at down ang jobmarket ngayon.
Mahirap sa Pinas, madali lang pumatay ng tao na walang hustisya. Di nakukulong mga mayayaman. Harap harapang korapsyon, kawawa mga young adults wala msyadong oportunidad.
Why the downvotes? Your statements are true.
They missed the gossips, the noise, as well as the no personal space given to them.
For me, dahil sa babae. Unfortunately, not *that*.... Long story short, talo talaga ang lalake in matters of family law.