I was in the Philippines last week for a 7-day holiday. And I had a blast! I am now back in Vietnam and the new school term is in full swing. But just before my holiday ended, I left my heart in Manila.

What is it about the Philippines that fills my entire being and consciousness with such intense longing to be back in her loving arms?

Let me count seven ways:

1) THE PEOPLE - Family comes first! On my first day back, I watched my sister and her schoolmates compete in the Sketchers Street Dance Competition at SM Fairview. I was really pleased to see how well my sister can dance. Working overseas has helped me in my career and in my finances but I have missed the opportunity to watch my sister grow into a beautiful and talented young adult. I have also missed more than five years of quality time with my parents. They are not getting any younger and so I would like to spend more time with them.

Then, there’s also friends. Friends from grade school, high school, college, EVOLVE, online community and many others. I really enjoy their company and I look forward to seeing them again.

From family, to friends, to your average Juan and Inday, Filipinos are the best kind of folks I know. Ika nga ni Robin, “taas kamay na nga ako sa ‘yo, mahal na nga yata kita. Maging sino ka man.”

2) THE MALLS - No holiday in Manila is complete without a trip to the malls. There are malls that cater to the masses, and others that are for those who can afford to spend a bit more. But the nice thing about the malls in the Philippines is that every one is welcome. Whatever social class you belong to, you are welcome to spend time and relax at any of the mega-malls in the Philippines. And if malling is your cup of tea, be sure to visit the third largest mall in the world, SM Mall of Asia.

3) THE RESTAURANTS - Food, glorious food! If you feel the need to prove that the Philippines is a global country, then you only need to check out the line-up of restaurants that you can find everywhere in Manila, Cebu and in other metropolitan areas in the country. From French cuisine to Mediterranean to Asian, we can be proud of the fact that we are open to other flavors of the world. Could this be a reflection of our openness to other cultures as well? I remember I read a study once about the Filipino’s innate curiousity to learn and experience other cultures. Could this be the reason why our overseas foreign workers find it easy to adapt to the ways in their country of assignment?

And then of course there’s Filipino food and the growing market for it, here and abroad. With the massive migration of Filipinos everywhere in the world, there will be more and more Filipino restaurants in the country and elsewhere. Why do you think there are so many Chinese restaurants in the world? It doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out.

4) THE COST OF LIVING - I know that many of us don’t realize it yet but Manila is one of the cheapest cosmopolitan cities in the world. According to the 2006 global survey done by Mercer Human Resources, the cost of living in Manila is the second cheapest in Asia and the fourth least expensive of the 144 major cities in the world. Another way to measure cost of living is the so-called “Big Mac Index”(BMI) - the cost of a Big Mac in a country is a reflection of the cost of living. In the 2006 BMI survey done by Swiss banking giant UBS, the PHilippines is one of the least expensive cities in the world.

Simply put, you get more bang for your buck in Manila. But this fact begs the question, where do you find your mega-bucks in Manila?

5) THE CINEMAS - Back when the power of Hollywood was still in its infancy in Asia, Filipinos were already addicted to foreign movies. The former first lady, Imelda Marcos, even showcased the Philippines as the “Cannes of the East” in the Manila International Film Festival in 1982. This huge foreign influence has helped us grow our own local film industry. And even now, the growing trend of independent films abroad is affecting our filmmakers who are venturing into the less commercialized but highly-respected “indies”.

Whether it be Hollywood or indie, local or foreign, there’s nothing like going to the cinemas and watching a movie on the big screen.

6) THE TOURIST SPOTS - If you have local knowledge, then you will truly enjoy nature trippin’ in the Philippines. My Mama is from La Union and from infancy to adulthood, we would enjoy spending our annual summer break in my Mama’s hometown. And of course, growing up in Manila, we would always take short beach trips to the lovely province of Batangas.

On my next holiday, I plan to explore the southern parts of the Philippines. My memories of my short trips to Cebu, Boracay, Bohol and the other provinces in the South need to be refreshed. And it’s now easier (and cheaper) to do this, thanks to Cebu Pacific.

7) THE X-FACTOR - After thinking of all the reasons why I feel homesick, I am still unsatisfied with all the answers I came up with. Maybe, just maybe, the best answer I can give as to why I long to be back home, is because there’s something about the Philippines that’s beyond words and explanations. I have no choice but to admit that this sense of wonder I have for my country is the one of the main reasons why I ask to be back in your loving arms, O my Motherland.

 

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