I lived in the Philippines for about half a year until late June 2025. I had always wanted to live in a foreign country at least once in my life and study English there, but I never had the opportunity and the courage. However, I thought that I had to take on challenges while still young, so I planned to go to the Philippines as a student. There was no main reason I chose the Philippines, but it is the closest English-speaking country and also a developing country, which made me interested. I was born and raised in a comfortable environment in Japan, a developed country. Therefore, I wanted to experience what life is like in a developing country. And the Philippines is one of the few Catholic countries in Southeast Asia. That also made me curious.

Life in Cebu, the Philippines

Life in Cebu was good for me. According to the statistics, the crime rate in Cebu is relatively lower than in other cities in the Philippines. Of course, the peace is not good compared to Japan in the statistics, and I refrained from going out unless I had errands, particularly at night. However, I never encountered any danger in Cebu. Moreover, most people there are friendly and kind, so I was able to live with peace of mind. In addition, I was blessed because I lived in a dormitory that served every meal. When it comes to the quality of facilities, I wouldn’t say that it’s satisfactory, but it’s enough to live. For me, having access to the internet, healthy meals, a shower, an air conditioner, and a certain degree of safety is enough. There were times when the shower water heater broke down, the water pressure in the shower was weak, the faucet didn’t work, and the toilet didn’t flush, but these cases were rare. Besides, not everyone in the Philippines has access to all things. Thus, I felt that I had to appreciate my blessed environment, and I hated people who complained about that kind of case or the taste of the meal served from the dormitory. Anyway, I was satisfied with the environment in the Philippines.

Another thing I like about the Philippines is the stray dogs and cats. Stray dogs and cats are everywhere, so dog or cat lovers will enjoy it. However, since they have not been vaccinated against rabies, it is not recommended to touch them(And they can cause a wide range of problems, such as sanitation problems in the town).

About shopping

As for shopping, there are many supermarkets and shopping malls, so it is no problem. In particular, the malls in Cebu are pretty huge, so you can find most of what you want. There are also many cafes, where you can enjoy coffee. However, the price in the Philippines was generally higher than I thought. I suppose the exchange rate also affects it, but I thought it was cheaper, so I needed to use money carefully.

About food

Regarding Filipino cuisine, it’s delicious, and I like it. I think it suits the Japanese palate, as the staple food in the Philippines is rice, and they enjoy a variety of meats and fish. I tried a variety of Filipino dishes, and they were delicious. However, overall, the drinks in the Philippines are too sweet for me. There were not many sugarless teas like Japanese tea, and I was eager to drink Japanese tea, which made me feel like I was Japanese. Coffee was also too sweet, so I had a hard time finding coffee that wasn’t too sweet. Although the delicacies, such as the ballot, were not personally tasty, it was a good experience in terms of enjoying the Filipino culture.

And as you know, the tap water is not drinkable, and even gargling with it can cause a stomach ache and diarrhea. Therefore, I avoided using tap water even when I was brushing my teeth. Still, I had diarrhea several times.

About Filipinos

I like their national character. Of course, the personality of an individual can not be generalized, but most Filipinos I’ve met are cheerful, friendly, and kind. And they like singing. And they know the world is unequal, absurd, and cruel, because these are common in their country. That may make them thoughtful and merciful. Moreover, they are also interested in politics, and the voter turnout is high. Each individual takes responsibility and votes with the betterment of their country in mind. Also, they are hard worker. I know not every Filipino, but at least most of them I’ve met were such a person. That is why I respect them. I appreciate all Filipinos who were kind to me. Also, they taught me about Filipino culture and history, as well as Catholic culture and the problems they face. Consequently, I got to like the Philippines. I’ll definitely go back to the Philippines again. There are many things I want to write about, but I’ll cover them in another blog article.