🇵🇭 PHILIPPINES • 20 Reasons Why I Love the Philippines

"Can't decide where to go? Well, I understand you because I know it is really hard to choose from those over 7,000 lovely islands. Just another 7,000 reasons to love the Philippines!"

The video of Jimmy Sieczka, an American expat who lives in Cebu, Philippines for 3.5 years released a video about the 20 things he disliked in the Philippines that sparked online debates and trended in social networking sites. I respect his opinion because if we try to open up our minds, some are true, but some are just below the belt. So I am making this post as my personal response to Jimmy Sieczka.

1. The Philippines is a tropical country.

If you are claustrophobic and you don't want to be confined inside your house, you should like the Philippines. The Philippines is a tropical nation teaming with amazing beaches, mountain districts and perfect with rich history, culture and heritage.

You don't need to worry about winter because in the Philippines, the sun shines all year round. You can actually make the Philippines your summer the whole year! So you can go out of your house anytime you want! Let's all kiss winter goodbye. That's why Jimmy Sieczka, in his country, he can not go to the beach to swim during winter season. I am sure in his heart, he likes the Philippines badly. Yes, Florida can be sunny most of the time, but Florida's hurricanes are deadlier than Philippines typhoons that we are already used to.

2. Halo-Halo, the amazing dessert!

Do you want to chill out this summer? Of course you want something icy, ice cream, cold fruit salad and the like. Worry no more, the Philippines Halo-Halo is a total package. It's all here, fruit salad, ice cream and sweets all in one dessert.

3. River Fishing, the other way around

Fishing from the branch of the tree? Curious how? Well this is just one reason why you should visit the Philippines and learn the method that Filipinos are engaging into. By the way, I advise Jimmy Sieczka to not  bring his dynamite for fishing, let our river fishers do it for you.

4. Longganisa

One reason why I like the Philippines is the Longganisa. It is a Philippine sausage with many versions all over the Philippines. It is just one of the delectable foods one must try in the Philippines.

5. You have over 7,000 islands to choose from.

Can't decide where to go? Well, I understand you because I know it is really hard to choose from those over 7,000 lovely islands. It may take you a lifetime to decide, LOL! So better yet, just start exploring now, then decide later.

6. Mobile Store

In the Philippine countrysides, you don't have to spend your money in commuting to shop your goods because in the Philippines, a mobile store can come right before your door step. Instead of spending for your fare, spend it to buy your goods.

7. There are Festivals everyday in the country from morning 'til night

Aside from the 7,107 islands in the Philippines, there are hundreds of festivals all year round, as in daily from January 1 to December 31. Just a hundred reason why like the Philippines.

8. There are thousands of souvenirs and local products to buy which is unique in each other

The Philippines has over a thousand municipalities and over a hundred cities on which every single town and city has it's own OTOP (One Town One Product).

OTOP is a project of the Department of Trade and Industry and could you just imagine how confusing to buy if all those thousand products unique in their own are displayed in one trade fair?

Uh, another thousand reasons to like the Philippines and the 20 reasons is just a grain in the sand.


9. Parade of the Dead

Yes, you read it right. Parade of the dead. In the Philippines, people are treated with respect from birth until death. The dead is being sent to the grave with a musical parade and that's how they value the last moment of the person on Earth as people of the community, friends and other important people join the walk to the final destination of the dead.

10. Road potholes? Jimmy, you're ridiculous to stereotype!

Jimmy Sieczka also said that he hates the road potholes in the Philippines and this is my response to you! We build roads even at the top of the mountain! Want to take this road? Tsk... Tsk... Hire your driver because you might fall in the cliff as you are being amazed with the view. Or the other way around, you might fall to the cliff because you might suffer in headache of being unable to find potholes.

11. The Philippines offers stunning countryside vista.

Well, a tropical archipelago, a paradise and the like, why make ridiculous conclusions if you are only basing your verdict in one city, Cebu? Look at this photo! You might want to live here for the rest of your life and have shame on yourself for what you have said.

12. The Philippines has the longest Christmas in the World!

Where can you find a country that celebrates Christmas for 6 months? Christmas starts from September (the first -ber month)  and ends at February (Happy 3 Kings)! SO Jimmy, I am sure deep inside you, you love the Philippines and whenever you're in your home country, you will always remember how you celebrated your Christmas in the Philippines that will make you come back (if they won't trap you at the airport, hope it won't be too late.)

13. Overloading is more fun in the Philippines

Jimmy, you can't see this in America, or not yet at least. But whenever you will see one, I am sure those children won't enjoy the way Filipino kids do. American children choose posh cars. Well, this is just my opinion and I commend how wealthy American children are but here in the Philippines, both the wealthy and the not-so-wealthy children can do this for fun -- anytime.

14. Filipinas are the world's most gorgeous women who take a bath 1-3 times a day.

There is no question to this. The Philippines has won many international pageant titles.

15.  Courtesy is synonymous to young Filipinos.

Jimmy, don't ever wonder if this Filipino child calls you "sir" because Filipino children have a deep respect to foreigners like you. Unlike in your country, you call an older person in their first name. But here, younger generation can not do that, unless that child was grown up in America. We have po at opo, and Mano Po as a sign of respect which is not present anywhere else in the world. Try to talk a child in America and you won't experience that gentle respect with sweet smile that a Filipino child can offer you as he shows respect to you. I know showing respect is different in America but for sure, you will miss on how the Filipino children have treated you.

16. The Philippines is the Singing capital of Asia (and probably globally)

What country has won consecutively as champions in the World Championship of Performing Arts singing category -- the Philippines! Not to include some world class performers like Charice, Arnel Pineda, Lea Salonga, etc. They don't need to wear bikinis and just undies just to prove that they are talented. They are successful themselves without showing their boobs and butts like Britney and Lady Gaga are doing to name a few.

We have the Asia's songbird, the Asia's Queen of Songs, to name a few. Western singers are just famous because you have the marketing power to do it! Go try to search YouTube the names Regine Velasquez, Lea Salonga, Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, Lani Misalucha to name a few.

17. Living in the Philippines is cheap.

You can survive for 10 dollars a day.


18. Shop and bargain with the price

In the Philippines, you have the power to bargain for the price of the commodity and it depends on how you convince the seller. It doesn't apply much on high-end shopping centers and malls but try to shop in trade fairs and tiangge and see what I mean.

19. The Philippines has rich natural resources and natural wonders.

For a small country like the Philippines, we have one of the world's most diverse wildlife. We have one of the world's most chaotic volcanic eruption by Mt. Pinatubo, yet we also  have the world's smallest volcano of Taal and a perfect cone volcano of Mayon.

We have the world's smallest fish (Pandaca pygmea) but we also have the largest, butanding or whaleshark. We have one of the most reserves of gold in the world yet we only occupy meager space on map. We have been the cradel of world democracy when the Filipino people united at the People Power Revolution.

20. Lastly, I love the Philippines because... uh, this last slot must contain the thousand more reasons why I love the Philippines so I will just leave it like this. #20 stands for the other 20,000 reasons why every Filipino loves the Philippines.
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Tags: 20 reasons why i love the philippines | 20 reasons why i like the philippines | 20 reasons why i dislike the philippines | jimmy sieczka |