Why would anybody in their right mind go back to the Philippines to live “for good,” if you are 1) well-established in the U.S. of A.; 2) has a well-paying job; and 3) all your loved ones and friends are in the States? It may be argued that any individual who would do just this requires a reality check or be institutionalized at the very worst. However, on behalf of such an individual, an argument is simply put: why not?
I knew of one such individual, with her daughter in tow, who did do just that: went back to the Philippines with the intention of staying there for good. Though she did not totally burn her bridges back to Chicago, the full intent is to exhaust all means so that they may sustain their existence back in the motherland. As you can imagine, she raised questions and concern to no end with her immediate relatives.
I suppose I would not be an impartial judge on the matter. I would be prone to understanding her motives, since I had done the very same thing thirteen years ago. I chose to go to a university in the Philippines. Why I find myself back in Chicago is another story. For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on the current motivation to go back and live in the Philippines.
First of all, objections, questions and concerns are all valid points since the reason we find ourselves to be immigrants in the first place was because much was left to be desired with the quality of living back in the Philippines. However, is it really inconceivable that a person may want to reconnect to her roots? What better way to do this than to actually and physically be there? Moreover, the United States is not exactly the land of milk and honey. Opportunities abound for those who seek it, but there is also the rat race we have to put up with. For some of us, we will always feel like fishes out of the water. Although, life is pleasant with affordable luxuries, one is always aware that they are living in a surrogate land. There is also the danger of boredom. The US provides so many things within our reach, that there is no challenge left. Life becomes routine. That is when an individual may start to look elsewhere just to feel alive.
So, if you fit into any of these criteria for going back home: 1) you have a strong desire to rediscover your heritage, 2) you are tired of the rat race, and 3) you complain of a boring lifestyle, you may want to consider relocating to the Philippines. Now, if you are truly decided, there are some preliminary steps to take and careful planning to do.
