It is always funny to me and some of my expat amigos when we hear other foreigners referring to the entire Philippines as Third World! We agree that some areas in the Philippines can very well be referred to as third world but Bacolod City is certainly not Third World! It is my world! It is also a real world where most Filipinos are real people and not plastic people. I am just so proud to be here and living the good life!
I often hear some expats throwing out the term “Third World” when they are voicing their displeasure about things that go on in the Philippines and it is a derogatory term when used in that context. I can give you a tour of the real Third World in certain areas of rural Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and other southern states in the USA! Yes, those areas are very undeveloped and in some instances, also impoverished. Yes, in 2014 in the USA! There are still people there who have outhouses as their bathroom. Believe it..or not..but it is the truth.
These days, many people look to jump on any words people may say and cry out racism or violations of human rights! Just ask the owner of the LA Clippers. The Global South or Developing Nations are more acceptable terms than Third World in 2014.
It's My World
Since 2009, the Bacolod Area has been my world and it is a fabulous world!
On any given day, if we want to dine out, we can enjoy food from among many international restaurants in Bacolod City, all at very affordable prices. All cheaper than combo meals at Subway, Wendy's, Burger King, McDo, Hardee's, etc, in Florida! Spanish, Austrian-German, Italian, Indian, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Asian Fusion, Indonesian-Malaysian, Vietnamese, American and others are among the authentic international restaurants located in Bacolod City.
If I am willing to pay the price for imported food items, I can find just about anything I would ever want in the supermarkets of SM, Robinsons, Metro, Gaisano and Lopues. In fact, I buy Linguica Portuguese Sausage for $6 per package at Robinsons Supermarket in Bacolod, yet during my recent trip to Florida, I could not buy Linguica Sausage in Walmart, Publix or Winn Dixie Supermarkets! Now, where is the Third World?
Alternative Medicine is what I turn to whenever I am not feeling in the pink, which is extremely rare. Acupuncturists, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chiropractors, Holistic practitioners and the entire genre of Alternative Medicine is readily available in Bacolod City, at very reasonable prices!
Love is Everywhere
Sex is easy to find but love is not so easy to find! However, one of the things that impressed me about the Philippines 28 years ago is that love is everywhere. Love of family love of God, love of church, love of neighbours, even love of strangers and, of course, love between partners in life! Love is not so difficult to find in the Philippines and often, love will find you. When you least expect it, love will come your way. You can find truly unadulterated love in the Philippines..if you are patient!
My wife is so much more than my spouse, as she is also my best friend in all the world! I can talk to her about everything under the sun and she listens, she understands, she offers words of encouragement when needed and she is always here for me, through all kinds of weather! She is truly an angel sent from up on high.
Some people call it third world but the Philippines is my world and my world is real! What about your world? Is it real?
I have found the ‘love of my Life’ there. I fly back to see her when I can. All I can think of. The women here just do not ‘match up’. As you say, Enjoy food from Many international restaurants. Quite right as well ! Can find “Third World” impoverished areas right here. Just look in our own ‘backyards’, people. Well written. …
Hi Rob,
That is great that you found the love of your life in the Philippines. I hope you make it back to the Philippines real soon!
Take care,
Gary
Great post Gary! So true.
Thank you, Roger. I am still playing “catch up” in Bacolod but I will get up with you one day in the near future. I look forward to seeing you again!
Take care,
Gary
Living 1 1/2 hours south of Bacolod means having to spend the night at a hotel if I want some of the things you write about, but at least I am finally finding availability. I sometimes refer to 2nd and 1/2 world, not third, as a joke. Most people are the grass is greener on the other side types, never happy. I tell the women here they should not support Revlon, their skin color is beautiful. Pretty blond Americans spend so much money to look like them.
I also had the same experience, Meyeshua, when we lived 43 km south of Bacolod the first 18 months we lived in the Philippines. We could make the trip the same day to load up on provisions but we enjoyed lodging in Bacolod overnight, which is very affordable. Living in the province has its advantages and one for me was, there were not as many places to spend money down there! We were also only a few minutes drive to several nice beaches, which is something Bacolod is lacking. Punta Taytay is not bad but it is certainly not The Peninsula or Paradiso.
See ya soon!
Gary
Agree Gary. I’ve been living just outside Manila for nearly 8 years now and I’d never go back to the US.. And for those who want to use the language correctly, the expression “Third World” comes from the US State Department back in the Truman days, when our WWII allay, the USSR changed to our enemy.. It doesn’t refer to a country’s economics at all:
First World Countries are those aligned firmly with the US, Second World countries denoted the USSR and countries aligned with them, and Third World meant countries that were non-aligned. The Philippines was then and is now a First World country.
What ever “world” it is, I like it fine.
Hello Dave,
Thank you for your comments. I think it is great that you enjoy living outside Manila. That is always wonderful hearing.
I agree and also see the Philippines overall as First World! I am here for good!
Have a great day!
Gary
Another excellent post, Gary. I especially appreciate how you unabashedly express your appreciation for your wife and express how much she means to you. You always express positivism and a health balance in your articles and they are time well spent in the reading of them. Arlene and I are still focusing on Bohol… but intend to visit Bacolod City and hope to meet you there in the fall.
Hi Thom,
Thank you! I really appreciate my wife, Grace, very much and we will celebrate our 11th anniversary on December 25. Grace has been such a very important part of my life since we first met in 2002. Even before we married, there was not a single day that passed by that we did not communicate with one another. During my resent necessary trip to the USA, Grace and I communicated throughout the day by phone and the internet.
I wish you and Arlene all the very best in life and I look forward to meeting you once day.
Have a great day!
Gary
I cannot get enough of this web site. Wish to marry my fiancee in Tarlac there. Live in Laguna. But I am a care giver for my father. Here in Canada at the present time. Quite the ‘balancing act’. The $ as well. She’s so Worth it.
Hello Bob,
I am very happy that you enjoy Retiring to the Philippines! Always nice hearing.
I have an American friend in Baguio, Philippines, who brought his father with him when he and his wife moved to the Philippines permanently. He loves it there! There is much cooler weather in Baguio and there is a large American expat community there as well.
Best wishes in all your undertakings.
Gary
You nailed it Gary……Thanks!
I am a Filipina-Canadian who migrated from Abu Dhabi more than 12 years ago. My foreign husband (who I met while working in AD), and I now live and work here in the Calgary oil-patch. We cannot wait for our 2 adult children to finish their University, so we can call it quits and retire in the Philippines. Everytime I mention of our plan to retire there, people here in Calgary especially those who haven’t been to the “Third World” would question my logic!
We were in Manila in 2011 when we celebrated my mom’s 80th birthday – our experiences and adventure while there, have confirmed our desire to go back for good never wavers.
I haven’t been to Bacolod but your article made me want to stop-over the next time we visit the Philippines.
Thanks very much for your website – it surely is interesting and informative….
You are welcome, LGP. I am happy that you enjoy Retiring to the Philippines. It is nice hearing from you and thanks for your comments.
I spent most of my time in Metro Manila, while in the Philippines and still single. And then, I met my Angel, who is originally from the Bacolod Area. Once we married and had everything we needed in place during the next 6 years to make the move, we moved here permanently in 2009.
Welcome to the City of Smiles whenever you can drop in or stop over! I think you and your husband will enjoy Bacolod and the friendly people.
Take care!
Gary
I have wondered at times,why I love the Philippines so much? Gary I think you have answered it for me or very close to it, with your article comments of ….Love of family love of God, love of church, love of neighbors, even love of strangers and, of course, love between partners in life!
You really nailed it in my opinion. Well 2 years and I plan to move to PI for good.
Thanks for putting it into words for me and to help me better understand why I love PI so much.
That is great, rjjj111, that you plan moving to the Philippines for good in 2 years.
Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed my article.
Have a great day!
Gary
hi Gary:
glad to read your article it is so true and to the point. me and my loving wife of 29 years will be retiring for good in sorsogon city next year. are house is in the process of being built right now. while my great sister in law moniters all the build of the house. we get back there to visit a couple times a year.. we always hate it when its time to leave.
but only a thew months to go and it will be there for good.
Roger
Hi Gary!
I would like to settle down with my love from the Philippines near Bacolod city in a quite area somewhere close to a nice beach. Could you please recomend me some.
Thank you very much for your help.
Hi Jimmy,
The area of Bacolod where the beaches are located is known as Barangay Punta Taytay, near Barangay Sum-Ag. However, I could not say that is a nice beach area. About 46 km south of Bacolod is the town of Hinigaran and there are two nice beaches there. Canonoy Beach and Paradiso Beach. Hinigaran is a safe town and not wild. I know it well because one of our rice farms is located in Hinigaran and we have a house in that area.
I wish you all the best!
Gary
Thank you Gary for your help . You are a nice person who likes to help people.
God bless you and your rice fields. Hope we will be able to visit them soon.
I often joke with “My Little One” that it is so amazing, Americans spend millions if not hundreds of millions of US dollars every year for skin the color of her beautiful little body and that filipinas spend millions of pesos every year trying to get as white as American or European women! Ironic isn’t it?