Is America the Ultimate Heaven on Earth for an Average Filipino?

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still

The opinion you stated (in a question form) is a bit exaggerated. I wonder the how "many" eyes actually light up by just talking about America. It just so happened that America is the country closest to what Filipinos have been accustomed to, such as democracy, education, culture, creed(religion). In America, it's easy to assimulate, or to blend in their culture, so unlike if you go and live in Japan, China or any parts of Europe. People, would prefer to go there, but for you to say that is the ultimate place , or like ascending to heaven is outrageous.

Binibini

People are naive. Once they come here in the US and realize that people here doesn't grow money in their backyard and had to work hard for everything, they might run back to the Philippines.

Joe

Binibini is soooo correct. I'm gonna tell my wife about this question so she can give her opinion too. I'm an American so for me the paradise is over there. (Phils) Its good to have money but what good is it if your dead from trying to get some of it. All I know is when I'm in Philippines I don't have much money but I'm relaxed and happy. In USA I still stay broke but I'm a wreck just trying to make ends meet. It just SEEMS like we are all rich because what we spend on a car payment will support 2 families in PI.

STL Biker

The average Filipino can become rich working hard in America while the average Filipino can not become rich while working hard in the Philippines. This is because the Philippines does not offer the variety of opportunity that America offers. It is no wonder that so many people from all over the world dream to go to America.

Any person can go to America with just the clothes on their back and become wealthy within 10 years.

annabelle p

For some average Filipinos, America might be the answer to their problems unknowing that life in America is not a bed of roses. In fact, it could be more difficult than living in one's own country. In the Philippines, one can still find time to relax, to enjoy even if there is only dried fish and rice on the table. In America, you are a complete stranger finding your way through a culture vastly different from yours and Americans might not be welcoming of your presence, fearing you a potential rival in job placement opportunities or to some extent, discriminating you because of your color and race.

No, America is not and has never been in any of my agenda. I prefer to stay in my own country, work and enjoy a life that may not be comfortable or perfect but, at least, I do not live as if I am always chasing after time. Nor fear that I may be clobbered by some racist I happen to meet on the street.

ALWAYS WELL

Well to me it most certainly is.
The problem for Filipino's and to a lot more other's is that when they see in the movies and tv shows the supposed life styles that we live they actually feel that it's true.

They tend to think that we go to work and collect our weekly $500 pay check and that's it.
They convert the $500 to Peso and end up with P22500 a week. The average Filipino would be lucky to see that amount monthly.
They then forget the tax, rent, food, insurance, utilities, etc. etc. That $500 is quickly whittled away.
In short 'they see the high income but not the higher expenditure'

Strawberry Tofu

I absolutely love America! I guess it is for a filipino such as you. I truly encourage you to come to America and enjoy its beauty.

Chris

Well it used to be. If someone came from the United States, the first thing that comes to mind is wealth. Being there even at least once in your lifetime stands as a status symbol.

This was until they discovered that life in the U.S. especially when you are working is just as tough. Some of my relatives live in the US but we eat better food as compared to theirs. They only realize how much better it is to stay here after years of staying abroad, though life is tougher as before. After all, filipinos only seek greener pasture when going abroad.

Burrito E Â®

Yes. Its a mentality filipinos have. They think going to the US would better their lives. Earning something with a much higher currency value than here. I wanna say more about filipinos who are obvious social climbers in the US, but im not in the mood to rant. Most filipinos who are able to migrate to the US became such social climbers!

chattemm

While it's true that Filipinos IN GENERAL tend to look up to the US and all things American, I still think that there are some Filipinos out there who don't feel that way. Colonial mentality is still alive and well in Filipino consciousness in the way we patronize and like things from America.

However, on the practical side, people who wish to go to the US mainly do so to have a better life in terms of finances. And previously, the US was indeed the main country of choice. But nowadays, Filipinos know that it's not the only country they can go to. Almost any country in the world now has a Filipino community composed mainly of people who are there to work.

There are also those who only wish to go to America (or any other country) just to visit and not to stay. I count myself among them. And I'm sure, if you ask any Filipino (whether at home or abroad), they would still rather be in the Philippines if only they could be sure of better jobs and a better economy.

Ailen

America is heaven to those Filipinos who never been here in America. Yes majority of the Filipinos thought America is ultimate heaven, one of the main reason of that, because the Filipinos who have experience in coming over here in america are so boastful, they don't want anybody to know that they are having a hardship here, even to their relatives, they keep on telling a lie, and because also the money here once you spend it in the Philippines the value is big, so people thought life here is so easy. I cannot count anymore how many people I encounter who have experience in coming over here in America when they go back to the Philippines they act like they are rich, telling a story about being a manager of a big well known supermarket, who cannot even tell what is the name of the supermarket.
Filipino people like imported item because it is a good quality and for sure it is a gift, free of charge and they want everybody knows that they have a relatives in USA, is not because they are patriotic.

Johny

Nah mate you and I both know that its not. It is a place where if a Filipino or even average person is willing to really knuckle down and work his or her behind off, they can make something out of themselves. You can't blame filipinos for thinking this and that about america because for years and year they are fed lots of things through media and even people who have been there. Filipinos have alot of face and will to a certain point exagerate to make themselves sound better and I'm sure those types have contributed to this aswell.

But bottom line you go to the streets there and ask 10 people this question. 7 will say yes I want to go there so bad but the remaining three know better and will give you a very different answer.

nakapagpapagabag

iscikedelic

This is funny, when I was in elementary grade I thought America is physically,geographically somewhere in the clouds like it's floating there above. It was my conclusion because I knew that you have to ride in an airplane to get there in the US.
Anyway 16 years for VISA? I had mine issued at the span of less that a year?
For me, America is not a paradise or something immaculate like heaven, for me it's just another country in the planet earth (at least I am a grown up now and learned the geography!).

Thad Tacoma

Filipinos think that ALL Americans are millionaires!
Our roads are paved with gold!
We all live in Mansions and drive luxury cars!

WE are proud thats why we tend to flaunt USA T-shirts, flags, etc...

sbraley - granite???

hoping for our little miracle

this is a misconception. i grew up in manila but now i'm in the US because my husband is based here. i will never move here, if not for him.
i've been here for a little over a year and i want to go back home! our social network and close-knit family cannot be compared to what they have here.
people here can be really rude too -- and racists!
i myself do not know why so much filipinos wish they were here when it's the Philippines that should be called heaven.

HOT Henry

America is a ultimate heaven for filipino? Your big Wrong! Im a Filipino but I hate AMERICA beacuse for me USA is a BiG IDIOT LAND!!!!!!

quilt 4 life

i'm a born and bred american so i probably take it for granite. most of the time i am so ashamed of my countries leaders that i would rather live anywhere else. except for countries with lots of wars.

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