In my last post, I spoke of the cost of our vacation trip to Lynndee’s hometown in the Philippines. To clarify what I was speaking of and to respond to a couple of comments, all I was speaking of was how affordable it was to travel there using United States dollars. But if anyone realizes the state of poverty affecting the Filipino people, it is me. I’ve traveled there several times and married a Filipino lady and I’ve seen the abject poverty many of the people live in as well as being educated by my wife on the conditions there.
I’m aware of their minimum wage laws and their economy and how tough it is to survive there on the wages paid. The latest figures showed that approximately 20 % of the Filipino population lived in extreme poverty. Her father, himself, came from such a background, but he, in the way of a Horatio Alger rags-to-riches story, pulled himself up, started his own contracting business and found success, being able to send all four of his children to college without them incurring any loan expenses. She grew up in what would be considered a middle class background here in the US, and even now, after all my trips there, I never fail to tell any normal middle class individual here in America to quit their complaining about how tough life is until they’ve seen true destitution.
Just a few of the dozens of convenience stores lining the highways.
I spoke of the individuals that, just like her dad, started their own business to help their family make money and survive. There was the fish vendor and the vegetable vendor who came by the house on a daily basis carrying fresh goods. Then there was the lady who came by on a weekly basis to wash clothes. And, much to my wife’s delight, was the manicurist that came at the request of a text message to give her a total pedi/mani as well as polish job, something which she enjoyed on a bi-weekly basis when she still lived there, something that surely can’t be done here in the US for the price paid there! And to top it all off, she actually had a masseuse come by and give her a full massage for literally pennies.
A mass of humanity stocking up!
But one of the most amazing and fascinating things I’ve encountered there is the number of what we would call convenience stores lining the highways. During one road trip we took we could go for over a mile at a time with stores lined up side-by-side, then go a little ways and repeat it all over again, stores offering anything you could possibly need. And at that, if caught in a traffic jam, there would be vendors approaching your windows offering any number of goods and snacks.
It makes me hungry just looking at this! I’m ready to fire up my grill.
Then there was the grocery stores. They were constantly packed! But the prices were amazing compared to what we pay here in the US. At one store we bought T-bone steak to feed the entire family at the cost of roughly $5.00 a pound, which here would cost between seven to eight a pound. Not surprisingly, was the cost of imported American goods, such as Folger’s coffee. If I have to pay that price here in America, I’d certainly give up my morning java!
And then there was the gasoline prices. It was a little bit higher there, about $2.50 a gallon, but you have to consider that much of has to be imported in. But surprisingly, for those who use diesel, it was much cheaper there as compared to here in the US, running about $2.20 a gallon.
But enough about the economics. I have much more to share about our month-long vacation, as I’m sure you’ve seen Lynndee’s posts still talking about the trip. So, be prepared for more tropical adventures. See ya next time around!
MORE FROM OUR VACATION:
A Well-Deserved Month-Long Vacation
We’re Back from Vacation…FINALLY!
Traveling to GenSan, Philippines
That is so awesome! I love traveling, and any time I can do it and keep the price low, it’s always a great thing. I’ll have to check out going here. Thank you!
My husband and I have traveled a lot, but haven’t made it there yet. It’s on our list though. I like that you can get a lot for your dollar while at the same time helping the local economies.
It sounds like a wonderful time! We totally want to visit the tropics one day, and going as cheap as possible would be the ideal way.
Very neat, I would love to visit the Philippines. Those convenient stores remind me of the stores in Jamaica.
I love all the deals you found. Diesel is so expensive here. I’m glad I don’t use it but my family does.
I would love to go for a trip to the tropics. It would be different to see so many stores all lined up like that.
I really enjoy stories like yours. I do not get to travel much so I love reading about other’s travels and really love the photos. I live vicariously though you haha!
A month-long vacation! I am so envious. What a wonderful experience.
This is why I yearn to travel. Not to experience luxurious resorts and hotels, but to truly learn about the culture, the community and the people. Thank you for shining a light on true Filipino life!
I love going to markets whenever I travel. In addition to keep food costs down, I love discovering local foods.
What a wonderful experience you had when you visited the tropics. I wish I could also go on a month long vacation.
It’s been years since I visited my home country and your story makes me miss mine even more. I agree with everything you said. I miss the food and the warmth of the family.
I’d love to go there, its somewhere I’ve never been and I’d love to try out all the food!
I have always heard that poverty is really high in the Philippines and that the good jobs are located in the more dense populations. If you are one of the lucky ones to have a good job, I have heard that the commute is horrible too.
I have always wanted to visit this area so that I can learn about different parts of the world. The only places outside of the US that I have been is Jamacia (scary in some areas) which has drug problems and poverty too, Grand Cayman was beautiful but very expensive, and Mexico.
This looks as though it was a fabulous trip! I love the idea of an affordable journey. It might be time to book a vacation.
I’m glad you clarified from your last post about the economy of the Philippines. I would still love to travel there one day!!
It is nice to travel and see the local from the perspective of the locals versus just sticking to the touristy spots. I enjoyed following along with you as you explored the place. I found the grocery store perspective really interesting.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Traveling to other countries learning cool new stuff and their culture is awesome. A month long vacation too, nice.
What a wonderful vacation you had! I bet it is hard to be back home, wishing your vacation was longer. Thanks for sharing these photos with us.
It is always interesting to me to see how the prices here compare to other prices around the world. Not only that, the differences in grocery stores, gas stations, markets and things of that nature. Here in MI though, at least where I am, the gas is easily $2.50 at any given time. It will drop to $2.20ish a time or two and it is rare its under $2 anymore.
Yup – people here have no idea how good it is. There is almost always access to clean water and basic sanitation, two things I learned to not take for granted when I was deployed to Iraq.