Life Living amongst every day Filipinos

al rounse · 2025-08-02T14:19:32+02:00

Explore the realities of everyday life in Cebu, as an expat shares insights on culture, affordability, social norms, and personal reflections.

al rounse Member

Member since 10 March 2025

al rounseMemberYesterday 12:19:32

I had been coming here over the past 24 years for a month at a time. Thought I had a good idea on how life was here. Now after living here for a year and a half I found out that I really had no idea. Sure beaches are beautiful,聽 fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables. It is very affordable and the People are friendly for the most part. Unfortunately I found that there is a serious character flaw, at least to me. Common courtesy does not exist here. Ignorance runs wild. No wonder they are a poor country, it's business as usual, unwilling to change or put in the effort to do or be better. Corruption plays a big part. I still like it here but keep mostly to myself and family. I just shake my head alot in disbelief. Maybe it's better in a more affluent neighbourhood,聽 don't know. Makes me really appreciate where I grew up and the values I learned. It's sad.

Jackson4 Serial expat

Member since 21 July 2018

Jackson4Serial expatYesterday 20:39:02

711

Welcome to the forum al.

I recall a colleague who moved from Sweden to the US about 30+ years ago. He complained how better and comfortable it is in Sweden and 'wot da h3ll Americans are thinking'. So I asked him why he's still here. I guess people from different countries are just different. It may also be different between social classes. Usually the well-off population in the Philippines is not too visible as the lower classes.

bigpearl ViP

Member since 27 January 2018

bigpearlViPToday 01:20:16

3997

Hi and welcome to the forum al.

While we are all different as well as living in various locations around PH. I have always found the locals where we live and our travels to be very different to what you say to the point off being over polite and thoughtful compared to the 20 odd countries around the world I have visited over the years.

What I did find though when we lived in a high end condo in Manila for a year that it was very different to provincial life,,,,,, more dog eat dog and even in our condo the neighbours would ignore us and not acknowledge a good morning/afternoon (snooty). Same in banks and supermarkets and simply a number.

Very different here but as you say we are all different as are our expectations.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.