“I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t want to live in the Philippines…”

… I quote my officemate, to whom I showed several pictures of me and my Ozzie’s vacation at Taal, Batangas, Bohol, Pagudpud and other wonderful spots in the Philippines.

Ouch.

“Yeah. To tell you the truth… I mean, this is a great country… but if it weren’t for my parents, I wouldn’t be here [in another country]. I would’ve stayed there”, I replied.

I love the Philippines. If you’re a middle-class citizen, everything is fine. Or at least that’s how I feel. Life is wonderful, the culture is rich and the people are great(there are exceptions, of course). Hey, I just learned that the Philippines is now a second-world country.

It all boils down to law and government, doesn’t it? The corruption and injustice… it’s heart-breaking. I remember the first time an MMDA pulled us over because we passed a red light. It was terrifying. “Ser, 3 days na seminar to. Reckless driving yan, blah blah blah”. The stuff that I used to only see on TV – like on “Isumbong mo kay Tulfo” or something, was happening to us. I never really thought corruption was real. Welcome to the real world, hunny. [Now that it got me thinking, I should've let my tears flow. I know a friend who cried and got out of the ticket [i.e. lagay] (girl, syempre. Baka batukan ng pulis pag guy yung umiyak)]

Well, poverty and crime is another thing. A few years back, my purse almost got snatched. (who doesn’t have his own story?) I would’ve let go if I could, but I was holding a book across my chest [Head First Servlets and JSP!]. I was so terrified, I just froze while he was struggling to snatch my purse. Had he aimed for the laptop bag that I was carrying, I wouldn’t be blogging on Cozy right now.

Despite all that, I the Philippines is still my home. I love it there.

“Look at that. It’s like paradise.“, my officemate pointed out.

“Yes, I know.”