A common question to me nowadays is if I'll ever consider moving to the U.S. I have the papers and the visa to find work there anytime but migrating has never crossed my mind (for now). Notwithstanding the fact that my sister Marissa and my mom's whole clan is there, the U.S. never appealed to me more than a vacation destination. I love San Francisco and how the city spells cosmo and chic. The place has character and great vibe. Choosing between Manila and San Francisco, I'd choose the former for so many reasons. Call me crazy but there a lot of great things about the Philippines. It's a blessing to be here.
1. My family is here. Though we're not complete with Marissa in San Francisco and Koc in Xiamen, home is where my parents are. I live with my parents and it can be crazy at times living with Pa but Ma balances it out. Pa is the human bundy clock. Orie, the youngest sister and I have got to be home before 12 midnight otherwise, we turn into hamsters in tattered clothes. Even at 31, my dad will always see me as a girl in pigtails. That's part of the package of being here. Moving out is not an option because it just can't be with Mr. Tong.
2. Friends, amigas, amigos, kumare, kumpare. When I want to have coffee, lunch or dinner and vent about the traffic or the government, friends are there. They make everything bearable. For me, I have different sets of friends. High school friends. College friends. Beijing friends. Work friends. I kind of fit in any group so I'm very mobile.
3. Life is more comfortable. There are house helps who make my life easier. Someone prepares the meals and washes and irons my clothes. I don't have to worry about doing the groceries or what meals to eat. The extra help allows me to do things for myself but I do have to give credit to Ma for running an efficient household. It's superb.
4. Services are cheap. I can enjoy an hour's home service massage for Php 250. My therapist is really good. Well, for those who want to try her service, call Rose at 0917-2432261. She knows how to relax my tension muscles and she knows when to soften hear kneading and when to toughen it. When I have my schedule with her, everyone in the family will also have a massage. I have my massages weekly. Also, where else can you also find cheap nail work for both hands and feet for Php 140. In the U.S., if my memory serves me right, a manicure costs $20 and a pedicure is even more expensive. For haircut, I only pay my stylist Php 220. Her name's Remy and she's one of the senior stylist at Fix Robinsons Place. She used to work at James Cooper. She's been doing my hair for maybe 4 to 5 years now and she's also doing Ma and Orie's hair.
5. The malls are real. Not that the malls in the U.S. are surreal but it doesn't fare to our malls here. We have Mall of Asia and who can ever beat that. There's also my favorite place on earth - Greenbelt. It has so many good restaurants. The choices are varied and the ambiance is great. Serendra does not appeal to me that much but it's where I can find one of my favorite restaurants Abe. The size of the malls in the U.S. are comparable to Harrison Plaza. Boring.
6. Lots and lots of good restaurants. Name the cuisine and we have it. Of course the best would be Filipino food. Try Cafe Juanita in Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig. It has quaint interiors and you'd see brick a bracks that are for sale. The theme is more like Bohemian to me and I love it. There's also a pianist during the evenings to lighten up the mood. Call 632-0357 and 710-1562 to make reservations. Try their kare kare, bagnet salad and sans rival. Have some tea after. You'll need it to unclog your arteries.
7. Travel destinations are limitless. You have Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, Palawan, Batanes to name a few. Well I've been to the first three and I'm thinking of going to Palawan next. I'm actually off to Iloilo next weekend with my college friends. We're visiting Guimaras and other places around the province. Domestic travel in the Philippines is fun. It has become cheaper and cheaper with low fares from Cebu Pacific but you've got to have patience because the flights are always delayed and it gives you a reason to actually fight. Better to purchase your tickets online than go to their outlets. One of my dream destination as well is Amanpulo. Rates are in US dollars I heard but it's paradise. You also have your own butler.
Every time I pick up the paper over breakfast and I read the horrendous headlines in PDI, I still think that the Philippines is a great place to be in. This is my home amidst the traffic, pollution, corruption and hot pink MMDA lines on the streets (no matter how stupid it is), I'm on auto pilot when I'm here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment