Why I left the Philippines

Many Filipinos now live abroad. We indeed have our own true version of diaspora just like Africans, Chinese, Jews, etc. I see Filipinos everywhere: bartending in cruise ships, singing in a restaurant in Amsterdam, sailors/seamen, US postal workers, card dealers in Nevada, medical doctors in Jersey, programmers in mutual fund companies and big financial firms in Manhattan, hotel cleaners, nurses, and nannies of high government officials in Arabic countries. I think I've seen them in all kinds of jobs that I believe no one can really give a stereotype of what Pinoys do overseas!

But anyways, I think for me, the main reason for me wanting to go abroad was not only for the potential to earn substantially more than staying home but also it's my adventurous spirit and wanderlust. I wanted to see the world! And besides, I think actually living in a certain place is so much different from just being a tourist. I believe one can learn so much from immersing into unfamiliar cultures and that you also pick up a lot of useful skills.

I think this is shared also by many of us. We want to try every opportunity that opens for us. At that time I thought that I don't want to see myself 50 years from now regretting and wondering what would have happened had I taken that job offer from the US. Inspite of the offers from family in the US and Australia, my father passed on the opportunity for us to immigrate. He was anyway, enjoying a stable job as a Vice President of a bank and was able to go abroad for short consulting assignments. He knew well enough that if we moved abroad, things may not go well for him professionally. He had seen some examples of people who ended up taking up jobs in the US that they would not otherwise be seen doing in our own country. And he has seen how hard it was for new immigrants to get established not to add the homesickness and difficulty of the cold weather in the States. At least that is how I try rationalize it now since he is no longer with us now to explain why. But during that time, I was quite puzzled and very disappointed why he did pass it up. Most of my cousins were abroad -- and that was even on both my father and mother's side!So anyways, looking back at it now I have no regrets about going abroad. I have met a lot of interesting individuals, both Filipinos and foreigners alike. It was such a great learning experience. In this blog, I will try to recollect on things I have learned, seen and heard while living abroad and while traveling further across the globe.
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I have moved my blog. Please see my other articles at BackToThePhilippines.com and Spy Pinay.