Why Foreigners Want to Stay in the Philippines… But Some Filipinos Want to Leave

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Hey guys, welcome back. Today we're going to have  foreigners who love the Filipinos and want to stay in the Philippines and Filipinos who want to live  the Philippines. So, we're going to have a match between a game, call it whatever you want  between these two sides. And I'm curious, why would you want to live the Philippines or and  why would you like to live in the Philippines?

[00:00:24]I know why you want to stay there because  beautiful people, amazing country, but maybe there are some cons as well, which you're going to  find out right now. If it's your first time on the channel, a lot of other videos over here. Consider  subscribing and let's go and check this out.

[00:00:40]I've experienced more violence and crime in  America as an American than I have here in the Philippines as a foreigner. The privilege that  I have here is coming to the Philippines and not experiencing any violence. This guy, right?  You guys send me a lot of comments with him.

[00:00:54][music] [music] What's that?

[00:01:14]Oh, the Philippines is one of the most beautiful  countries in the world. Three, two, one.

[00:01:25]We all agree on that. Thank you. Yay. Is this  Shanghai or to Shanghai? Shanghai. Filipino egg roll with [laughter] pork. Cheers. Cheers.  Healthy version with bean. Wow, it must be tasty.

[00:01:46][music] Okay. What do you think is the most  beautiful part of the Philippines? M I think Philippines one of the most beautiful countries in  the world because of its natural resources. If I compare it to my country which is [music] Korea.  I mean not to hate on Korea. [laughter] I love Korea. I love Korea. Beaches is mostly [music]  man-made. Oh, it's manmade. It's man-made. So, it's not as beautiful as the  beaches here in the Philippines, which is all natural. So, [music] like naturally saw the difference. So, Philippines naturally US a state called Utah. So desert mountains. [music] So I remember my first time  coming here to the Philippines at 19 and seeing the greenery. I was shocked cuz  I didn't think that places like this [music] existed. So coming here, so he  lives from a long time in the Philippines.

[00:02:48]Palawan Boraka. You have all of these different  regions that have their unique beauty [music] that for someone like me as a foreigner makes the  Philippines basically like a paradise. [music] So I don't have to. So it's the humidity here  is really good for me based on my experience the culture too. So 6 years 6 years and a  half. So there I saw like the bahag. Yeah.

[00:03:16]They wear the bahag and when they dance it's like  so amazing. So I I see like the Philippines being one of the most beautiful country based on its  culture and its scenery. So my question for the the locals is from a locals perspective when you  guys see the the beauty that this nation has what does that evoke or what does that make you think?  First area that comes into mind is Baraka it's beautiful but I've heard now since it's becoming  like so touristy in a way saturated. Yeah it's different. It's different. Yeah. But still,  yeah, [music] Philippines is beautiful.

[00:03:54]I could say that. For example, I went to Bhal for  like one week. Oh, the chocolate hills. Yes, I know about those. Bodies of water. [laughter] Like  there's a cave may spring and something may river.

[00:04:06]Then there's beaches. [music] So, Philippines,  they don't fall short in terms of beauty talaga.

[00:04:12]Oh, especially Bol. Oh, Bol is beautiful. The  most nicest people I actually met were in Bol.

[00:04:19]Yeah. So, it's really amazing. I traveled a lot  with my previous careers all over the world, but as a foreigner who lives in the Philippines,  the Philippines hits differently because of the community that you guys have built here, the  society, the food, the language, the celebrations, the history. For me, that's also goes in  tandem [music] with why the Philippines is considered one of the most beautiful places  in the world. Like Paulo said earlier, it's not just [music] the beauty of the terrain and the  geography. It's the people, it's the customs, the holidays, it's the four month Christmas  celebration. [music] And so for measo, [music] give the chance I chance. I would rather  live abroad than in the Philippines.

[00:05:05][laughter] Oh yeah that you know why' you raise  your hand are you supposed to you look here I'm living here alone okay so my families  are not here so time is short you know like I would recommend anyone to come here I  actually recommend to my friends to come here but being away from your loved ones is like yeah  it's hard it hurts sometimes because you're you're kind of lonely and you need like the support so  I want to be near them but if they're here I mean I would I would be fine stay here. Yeah. For me,  I want to live abroad cuz again, born and raised here and [music] I'm not getting any younger.  So, I really want to go and explore what's out there. So, if permitted, I would I would want to  be based out of the Philippines. I mean, you can still go nan and travel but still be rooted here.  Sure. But yeah, my heart says yeah. [laughter] It is interesting though they come back here. The thing is  I don't hate the Philippines here.

[00:06:15]I feel at home here but then I don't know.  I feel like with my own choices, my own like lifestyle especially here in Manila  [music] it's not so sorry conducive to what I want to do. For example, I'm a  cyclist. I bike to commute around when I can.

[00:06:31]Honestly, I haven't been on my bike in a while  because one, it's been raining really hard, but that's not the worst part. I guess it's  more of the flooding situation that happens all around the metro. Unfortunately, the roads are  just not Oh my gosh, they're they're horrific.

[00:06:45]Let me just say it. Kind of a I don't know if  it's a hot topic, but a lot of foreigners end up in DGC. Do you guys live in BGC or Matti? Modern  business district. [laughter] living in the Phil.

[00:06:55]No, but Chris, like what I I see a lot of those  like content online and it's like, oh, how it how it is to live in the Philippines and then they're  showcasing BGC. There's no hate on BGC. It's just you're living in a bubble. You literally have  a wall dividing BGC and Tig actual actual Tig.

[00:07:16]I studied landscape architecture, so we deal  with streetscapes. Like I go to site visits analysis like sidewalk [music] sidewalk about that is Philippines has the  capability to make good streetscape [laughter] Well, if you go in other towns, why  can't we do the same thing? You know, the government can kind of do something, but  they don't. Yeah, I think we think we know.

[00:08:01]I think we all know as a foreigner, I don't know  why. I won't say why, but I think we all know why.

[00:08:06]Yeah. Do you want us to say it? Corruption  maybe. I don't know. Corruption. [laughter] That was legit. Like, we're laughing about it.  I know. I know about this, guys. I know. Because it's uneasy. We're laughing cuz this is how we're  coping. Yeah, corruption exists in every country.

[00:08:24]My background is the same thing I said  in a lot of different forms of corruption throughout the world and throughout history. It's  really a human trait that persists everywhere, even in the United States. But one thing I  have noticed about Filipinos is the resilience to corruption has become very normalized, almost  like a almost like a heroic trait where it's like we see the corruption, we acknowledge that it's  there. So, you know, it's like what can we do?

[00:08:52]But I feel like I do see changes. Yeah. It's  funny because I've recently had this conversation with my friends. Basically, the topic was  I'm so sorry. Wonderful topic. [laughter] It was such a negative thing. But honestly,  with the current climate right now, it's that's why my view of leaving that's where it  came from. But Filipinas, let's not lose hope.

[00:09:17]If Philippines falls, do you  think maybe you'd want to stay?

[00:09:22]If the Philippines was better, then I I'd  stay here. That's why that's easy. Like one of the things that's the most beautiful  parts of the country, not landscape and all.

[00:09:32]Apart from that, it's the people. Maybe to go  to like a European country, [music] you think, but that's just how they are. That's just their  upbringing. But here, everyone's so [music] warm.

[00:09:43]Yeah. I think that's the biggest reason they why  I want to [music] stay because I grew up here.

[00:09:48]80% of my life I grew up here. So even if  I go to Korea, Little Manila, [laughter] Little Manila Chica because they're live and work there a lot.

[00:10:05]So I still look for places that reminds  me of my home in the Philippines. So I think that's the biggest reason  I [music] choose to stay here.

[00:10:16]Let's see the country for me since I've [music] experienced in Middle  East. I will choose Middle East. The culture there it's I know there are a lot of Middle  East they're compared here. I feel safe.

[00:10:43]But I don't have any regret when  living here in Philippines. Why sponsored [laughter] the Jollibee?

[00:10:59]For me, happiness. If I was going to live  elsewhere, I would live in the UK. Even with that weather. Oh, yeah. My name's Rain, so [laughter]  no. I I would pick the UK because well one I' I've been there. I stayed there for a couple months  and not for me there. I was like I feel like I've been here before. Life. Yeah. I was like am  I reincarnated? Was I a Brit before? [laughter] I don't know. I just enjoyed myself [music] there.  Don't want to live in Canada cuz healthcare.

[00:11:30]Oh yeah. Healthcare. Yes. We need I  need it. Yeah. I mean I guess I guess you can see [music] I mean it really  depending on where we want to dream of living. One doctor served 30,000 people  is what we think the Philippines is lacking.

[00:11:48]That's why we have those dreams of  ours if given the opportunity. So let's see the third. [music] The Philippines  is a safe place to live in. Hold on. I guess so. [laughter] Right. Becca. Wait. I don't  know. Can you define what safe is? Yeah, unsafe.

[00:12:09]I think that's up to you. Two. One. [music] I  guess it is. Really showing my privilege here.

[00:12:20][laughter] Well, then have a barbecue. Well, I guess  I'll start. So, like we said earlier, we are a sum of our experiences and I try  watching the news so I can stay informed, but you see the violence and the shootings  and the kidnappings. I've never experienced any of that. [music] And so, from my personal  experience, it's been relatively safe here, but I'm also, you know, 110 kilos and 6t  tall. You are the threat, pala. [laughter] I mean, I've been here for 8 years and Baguio,  I was there for like 6 years and a half. Baguio is like the most safest city I've ever been  in. I can literally walk like 3:00 4:00 a.m.

[00:12:57]late at night. Nothing can happen to me. It's  like more of a community rather than a city.

[00:13:03]So, you know, everyone anywhere you go, they're  all nice. So, I feel like depends on the place, but as a country, I think it's a pretty safe  place. Can I can I amend my answer? I [laughter] I'm in bed by 10:00 p.m. every night. So, night  life, so I'm never I'm never out late. Although as a content creator, almost all of my content  is exclusively in the Barangai. Uh and I feel very safe in the Barangai. Oh yeah. And I  just remembered there's also places in Baguio there's like gang members and I've been also  approached by those gang members. So they're like, "Oh, where are you from? Where are you  from? What are you doing here?" They're like stuff like that. You know, it's a gang.  Yeah. It's a gang and they're kids. Oh. So they're they're still young. So I don't find it offensive  or in a bad way cuz I also when I was a kid I was also in the same situation. They don't have the  proper mentorship. Yeah. To be good people. So that's why I'm like I tell them like we're your  guest so don't do that because what if you go to our country and people do that to you. Mhm. I  like that you mentioned that it was kids. I I wanted to really talk about that why there are so  much like crimes that happen here. And I guess in other countries too it's because they're I guess  they're just trying to survive depending on how they grow up. If they're in the environment all  over the place, especially this is what's right in some areas. They really live around crime. This  is a job. Philippines is much safer than stealing stealing to them. That's a jam. That's  their life on the line. I'm living in what you call the disqual area in Kalokan city.  Last [music] year I have a small business.

[00:14:46]Yeah. I think the core issue out of like  everything we just said is just the lack of education. I mean [music] education from  like either the school orana. So that's just unfortunate that we have so many people in  our country who lack proper education. And if only our government and our people also  really just work together. In my experience, I've experienced more violence and crime in  America as an American than I have here in the Philippines as a foreigner. In America, I've  had my car stolen. I've had my house robbed.

[00:15:24]I've had a gun pulled on me when I was living  in New York. And so of course uh the privilege that I have here is coming to the Philippines and  not experiencing any violence at all. Just pure which is part of the Philippine culture  as everyone always says when they visit here Filipinos are so kind and so loving  and giving. So I've been so fortunate as a foreigner to be here and experience such a  safe environment versus my experiences living uh in the states in different areas. And it's like  you said, it always comes down to education and education itself is underneath policy and  infrastructure and economic opportunities.

[00:16:06]thing that the government should do with  its crime level because when it's education, that's where crime really starts  to [music] spread and become normalized like a like some kids and teenagers  like you know picking fights with a 6'2 tall model in the in in Baguio. So I love that none none  of us said the US. So you know if we were like that's where we'd want to be specifically  right now. Absolutely. It is not a safe country.

[00:16:44]I mean, and it's funny cuz the a report just came  out. The US has had a 100% increase [music] in expatriation. Oh gosh. So, 100% more  Americans are choosing to leave the country than before. It's only getting worse. [music]  So, yeah. And it is funny. Nobody said the US where they want to go. Yeah. Well, you're in  New York now. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely not.

[00:17:05]Yeah. I'd rather stay here than anywhere else in  the world. Triangle. Anywhere else. My sister is from the States. I told you. Yeah. So, she  lives in Ohio and she tells me across the street there's people like shooting. Sometimes  there's like fights and she lives in a good area.

[00:17:18]It's [music] not like she lives in a bad area. She  lives like in the suburbs. So, that's why it's not it's not safe in other countries compared to here.  I rather stay here. And if they are carrying guns, they're hardly ever loaded. Does anyone  ever notice that or is that just me?

[00:17:31]No, I think that's just the mall  guard. [laughter] I always see and then the pistols never have the  magazine in them. So, [laughter] am I giving away like a state  secret? [music] Let's see.

[00:17:49]It's harder to succeed in the Philippines than  in most other countries. Ooh, I don't know.

[00:17:59]If you agree, right? if you agree.

[00:18:04]Wow. Really guys? [music] Man, that was a hard  question to think about. Yeah, it took me some time, man. And there there's a lot of food  over there. Very cheap here compared to other countries. Like even if you do the same job, same  process, like I'm a video editor cuz in Korea, so even if I do the same work  here in the Philippines, [music] match rates. Wow. 7050 and it's closer to $2.  Wow, that's a big difference. The same job but in a different country and they're earning  way more than I am. So like enjoy it [laughter] effort as an HR695.

[00:19:10]It's about $12 a worker a day. That's  customer. That's not much at all.

[00:19:28]I guess cuz I'm the only one who technically  disagreed with this. I'm coming from a place of privilege. I guess I'm also remembering one  of my friends. She lived here, born and raised here in Manila, but she left the country um for  university. She comes from a place of privilege also, but when she was there, fresh grad and  all, trying to find a job. She eventually just flew back here because she was trying to find a  job there. She was having such a hard time. One, I guess because she's a woman, but also two, she's  Filipino, she's Asian compared to her counterparts who are probably from more successful countries  or their like own Americans who are actually from there. Eventually, she came back here  immediately got hired. It was so easy for her.

[00:20:09]Again, I guess really depending where you  come from and what industry and also what opportunities you see and also the people  that you know, which that's opportunities.

[00:20:19]Yeah, it's um it's a delicate subject this one.

[00:20:25]Foreigners appreciate Filipino culture  in ways most Filipinos overlook. I guess this is true. I'm going to  agree with that. [laughter] 5050.

[00:20:37]I should have done that.

[00:20:38]I [laughter] believe foreigners appreciated more than the Filipinos.  And 100% true. That question is true cuz during the pan Bengala that's when I like I was amazed  with all the cultures. I would see like all their tribal dances, all their traditional  food, whatever they would eat. It's like so amazing. So I'm I was like the only one that  was like appreciating it and all the Filipinos were just like looking and then just walk by.  I'm like over there with my phone. Oh god.

[00:21:08]Yeah. Because it's something new for us  maybe recording. I'm like whoa. So yeah, I agree. Yeah, I agree 100% that we foreigners  would appreciate it more than the Filipinos.

[00:21:19]Can I just add I guess a term I also wanted to  mention is colonial mentality. So the idolization of foreigners, Filipinos would probably  just seeing us it's much better immediately versus one from your own country. They tend to  just look at their own fellow Filipinos as not as good for some reason. Yeah, for some reason,  well, there are [laughter] a lot of Filipinos who love their country of that. I don't know.  Maybe some things got overlooked. That's it. At least how we see it just because it's from abroad.  But also, I will fully acknowledge that our own industry like us Filipinos was we're so freaking  talented. [laughter] We're so freaking talented.

[00:22:04]It's just that some people have to get out of that  perspective and looking at us now. We're not as good. call that insecurity of being a Filipino  for some, but that's why Pinoy pride is so real.

[00:22:16]Yes. When they're thriving abroad, they get that  recognition. But when they're recognized here, but once it's there, there's a much higher status  validation. Yeah. Validation here. It has to come from somewhere. Yeah. Colonial mentality. I  mean, our own. You know what's funny too is I've been to Filipino parties in San Diego and in  New York and in Utah and appreciation and culture cuz as an American I there's no like American  themed parties like to go to that Americans are throwing for ourselves at least that I know. But  when you go overseas to a community of Filipinos in Washington, in Canada, they're so appreciative  of the culture. They're cooking the foods.

[00:23:05]They're playing the games. They're [music] doing  tinikling. Okay. And I don't export my culture when I was living abroad for many years. Like I  didn't have [music] that same connection to my own culture abroad. That's part of the the allure I  think here in the Philippines is what makes it special is that special community ingredient that  you have with capua that we don't have in America.

[00:23:26]And so I think it's true that when you  travel outside of the [music] Philippines, you learn to appreciate your own culture that  much more. You you grow to love it more deeply.

[00:23:38]And I see that in the different Filipino  communities that I've [music] been fortunate enough to to visit outside of the Philippines.  There is something special and unique about Filipino culture, which is why we live here,  which is why I think when you move overseas, you get that deepening of appreciation. So I  don't know if you guys have experienced that.

[00:23:56]during when I was inviting is also being resilient.

[00:24:21]That's the most beautiful  thing that I fell in love with the Philippines, the smile.  It doesn't matter how hard it is.

[00:24:31]That's a thing that I love and adore.

[00:24:40][laughter] Filipino. Yeah. I've never heard a saying like  that for Americans cuz we just don't have that unitedness that that [music] uniqueness of having  that. It's like you said, I guess the Philippines the unique kind of built here is something  that is enviable to most foreigners that we come here. Exactly. So that's one part I can  totally appreciate as a foreigner. [music] Any guesses? Let me do the reveal.  Let me do the review. Leche flinka.

[00:25:29][laughter] Oh, okay. Guess. You  want to guess? What do you think?

[00:25:31]This is a dessert. I think it's bibinka.  Bibinka. Bibinko. I mean binka. [laughter] Where do you think it is? Babinka. Lech.  [laughter] I don't know anything ube probably.

[00:25:49]Let's see. Oh, what is that? Technically, I was  right. Technically, [laughter] [gasps] okay, what does it say? You can love the Philippines  and still [music] want to leave it.

[00:26:03]You can love the Philippines and still want to  leave it. That depends why. Fantastic. It's hard.

[00:26:09]Yeah, I guess so. Yes. You can love your  country but still want to leave because you have I know, you know, problems or whatever.  Lovely. Oh no, we're eating the flag. [laughter] Filipino pride. So don't eat the flag. [laughter]  What a great prompt to end with cuz I mean like look, we're literally on the side of Filipinos  who want to leave the Philippines. And we've also throughout this entire chitchat like you said  how much we've loved it here. Yeah. My pride like we love it so much. We're still here. I'm sure  we'll have opportunities like in the near future and far future like to leave the country. But  we'll see. I don't know. I don't know if it's a win now by the time that opportunity  comes. Do we still want to leave? Yeah.

[00:27:00]For me, of course, I love the Philippines anyways.  It's like my second home basically. Since I was a teenager until now, I've been here. Yeah. Yeah.  So, I already love the Philippines. Of course, I need to leave it. Not because I'm a foreigner.  I didn't have my visa. And uh but [laughter] Whoa, whoa, whoa. I have my visa. Okay. No, no one  go to DW or the government. [laughter] I'm good.

[00:27:26]I'm clear. But of course, I'm not going to stay  here my whole life. But I would like to see it as like a retirement home. So, I don't I wouldn't  mind leaving and I would also don't mind [music] coming back because of I love the Philippines  here. Yeah. Funny that you mentioned retirement cuz in my head my plan is to eventually leave just  so you know for greener pastures and whatnot. But when I think about it, [music] this is where  my roots are. I think eventually I will return.

[00:27:57]I will return movie. I will return.  Arthur tion or something. [laughter] But yeah, this is our home. So I think yeah will come to come back home. Your country is your country of so we are a Filipino felt I think a lot  of Filipinos who want to [music] leave they think about learning something  new abroad but then eventually babik there are some people but your dream is  to go abroad study like Joseal [laughter] and he came back to teach his countrymen about  what he learned because you know education and all we have so much things lacking in the country and  hopefully I guess just that more Filipinos really have that idea that [music] even if us we we  want to leave but if we do leave we'll come back I love America but I left America my family's  there my friends are there my career is there And it's part of the reason why I decided to  move here and want [music] to learn the language and become fully embraced to the culture because  I love it here. But I think it is true that you can love something and still want to do something  for experiences, for finances, [music] for love.

[00:29:41]And those reasons don't diminish the love that you  have for where you belong or where you're from.

[00:29:47]And they always say home is where the heart is.  And it's true. I think for many many Filipinos, the heart is always here in the Philippines. So  you can choose to leave to better your life or search for some opportunity. But and it's  that thing that unites you guys together being Filipino that I as a foreigner am so jealous  of because we don't really have that [music] factor where I think you can love something but  still want to leave and it'll always still be either with you in your heart until you come back  or it's going to be with you until the very end as a precious piece of you, a piece of your  heart, a piece of your soul. Beautifully said.

[00:30:37]Beautifully said, guys. The original link is down  below. What I I mean, [music] so hard to think about, especially if you're watching not  from the Philippines, but from other countries and you're missing the Philippines in your heart. I I  understand. Um, but you know, some of you are are are not in the Philippines because of work or  study or a lot of other reasons, but you always will want to come back home, you know. Um, for  me, it's so weird because it is it's weird, guys.

[00:31:10]Uh, I just started this channel, you know, with  some videos and you I was I had some suggestion for karaokeis and I love music and I fell in love  with karaoke from the Philippines with the voices and then I wanted to know more and then there  was the people and I was like wow wait it's did that kind of still exist in the world and you  know it was something that I fell in love with the Philippines and in my heart I feel a little bit  Filipino by heart I can not even imagine what will happen when I will be in the Philippines  for a visit. Okay, I don't I I'm afraid of not wanting to leave anymore. So, I don't know. Uh  I hope you enjoy it, guys. I'm going to cut it short because I don't want to make the video too  long. I hope you enjoyed the video. Let me know your thoughts down below, of course. And like I  said, if it was the first time on the channel, a lot of things about the beautiful and unique  Filipino as a country and Filipino as people.

[00:32:03]That's the most important thing. Until  next time, like I always say, stay safe.