5 Reasons Why I Love Being Filipino
Filipinos have a love-hate relationship with their country. On one hand, half the population wants to leave to the US, Canada, Australia, or anywhere that’s “better” and pays more. Then you have a segment of the population who is resigned to their fate — staying. And lastly, you have proud Filipinos who are quite happy living in the Philippines despite its flaws.
And before you say that happy Filipinos, like me, are that way because they have money, then hear me out. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the greenest place on planet earth, because that saying applies everywhere else. But no, it’s not about money, because life is much more than that.
And let’s be realistic: systemic corruption, extreme wealth inequality, non-existent urban planning, and ungodly traffic all suck. If I could click my heels three times to make them go away, I’d have sore feet. But that’s just life. And guess what? There’s so much more to be grateful about being Filipino.
What used to be colonial mentality, a result of being colonized by Spain and the US for about 400 years, is now for many, a “grass is greener on the other side” mentality. But in my experience, the grass isn’t always greener when you take things into perspective. You can still live a heck of a life living in the Philippines. Here are 8 reasons why:
1. Freedom
Tune out anything negative you may have heard about the Philippines in the media. No matter what anyone says, Filipinos are as free as any other nationality on earth.
We enjoy true religious freedoms. While the Philippines is largely Catholic, you are free to follow any religion, or none at all. You will see a plethora of churches, mosques, and places of worship. You can be Catholic, a non-Catholic Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist, or an atheist and be treated equally.
Now, while a difference in religion might complicate things in the family, that can be sorted out in the long run.
We are a capitalist nation. While we have great wealth inequality, any person can work their way up the ladder through hard work and business savvy. Yes, wages can be frustratingly low, but if you have financial sense and people skills, you can make it. Many rich Filipinos have come from poverty.
We have freedom of speech and the right to protest. As a matter of fact, Filipinos are extremely active on social media, espousing daily their political and social views. We can choose to leave the country to better our financial situation, and we can choose to return as we please. While the government can sometimes be a pest, it cannot deny us these freedoms.
Lastly, we have the freedom to pursue happiness. We can love whomever we choose, and we can pursue any form of leisure we so desire.
2. We have good food.
Some people don’t like Filipino food, and that’s okay. Yes, a lot of our food is a recipe for diabetes and is salty like the ocean. But no matter your budget, there’s a hearty meal in store for you.
We have street food, which is reserved for the strongest stomachs and lightest wallets. But the meals are memorable and filling. We love all things grilled, which is why eating freshly cooked meat and seafood at the beach is something we all look forward to.
We have tons of malls and restos, so there’s no excuse to starve.
And Filipinos love to celebrate. And each time we celebrate, there’s a mountain of food involved.
3. We have fine weather.
Filipinos hugely underrate our own weather. Yes, the heat and humidity can get very uncomfortable sometimes. And being in the pacific, we fall victim to the occasional supertyphoon. But on a grand scale, we have beautiful tropical weather.
It only takes experiencing one crushing winter season to regain a sense of appreciation for the Philippine weather.
What does this fine weather afford us? For starters, we only need to invest in one single-climate wardrobe. We don’t need home-heaters, and we can go to the beach any day of the year. Rarely is anything canceled due to the weather. We are spoiled by good weather. We take it for granted, assuming it will always be sunny out the next day.
4. Happy Personalities
Filipinos find ways to be happy. We make jokes, we go out with friends, and we sing karaoke. When work gets dull, we talk to each other.
Every time you see children on the street, they are happy. They might not even have slippers on their feet and they’ll find a way to have fun and play with each other.
When we are sad, it’s easy for us to call a friend, and that friend will be there. We are nice and pleasant, especially to tourists.
5. A sense of community.
The one thing that most Filipinos abroad miss about the Philippines is the sense of camaraderie, family, and community. Filipinos tend to gravitate to each other, forming groups and communities. Have you ever noticed that every country has its own thriving, vibrant Filipino community?
Families and communities give us a sense of belonging, which is one of our most basic needs as humans. We aren’t cold towards each other, rather we welcome others into our group. The more, the merrier.
Because we are family and community oriented, we have a place to go when we need help. We have people who are ready to lend a helping hand when we are down, whether that be our parents, siblings, cousins, coworkers, or friends.
That’s why the Philippines will always be home no matter where you are.
The grass is green in the Philippines.
I realize that many Filipinos are living great lives abroad. We aren’t blind to the many flaws of Philippine society. How we wish all those things would go away. But at the end of the day, Filipinos find ways to be happy.
Perhaps we draw happiness from our families and friends. We may be happy because we are free to do anything we so desire to do. Rich and poor people alike can enjoy the same natural resources. We are free to pursue happiness, no matter how difficult the road lies. And most importantly, we are happy because that’s how we are as a people. And we should never forget that.
