How Does Life Experience Compare the United States With the Philippines?

I had the privilege to be a US citizen by birth born from Filipino parents. That was no question. Many people, especially Filipinos and in school, regard me a lucky guy since I was a small boy—just like a prince born with a silver spoon that the greatest power on earth has to offer me all the luck and grandeur opportunities in life—a high standard, quality and cost efficient education, a bright future, the potential to become rich, a prestigious job and the unmatched opportunity to own a house and all the riches on earth I can acquire at affordable cost in greenbucks. That time such a status was so valuable that many envy those who are “green card” holders. But in the decades to come onset from the 1980s until after the September 11 attacks, attribute to motivation linked to fulfilling the American dream that flux a considerable population of Filipinos into the United States, lurks a promising risk at an immense degree the peril illegal immigrants may face Filipinos with most associated crimes—marriage fraud, ship jumping to US territory, travelling to the United States on a tourist status but ending to overstays. To me this never affected me because the legal status I possess, but the complexity on the other side of the coin never let me realize during those years notuntil when I resided in the United States. While having the potential to earn endless opportunities offer that complexity in meeting the lifetime challenges with an uncertain employment recovery upon a job loss would whether sustain a decent, basic living and personal obligations to settle on time.I said if I ever decided to retire I would still remain in the States, but this never came out to be true after the Great Financial crisis in the United States proved its economic recovery uncertainty spawned to aggressively ravish the US economy in particular affecting the job markets in an unimaginable scale.  Having no resort to rely on, I decided to come home to see my family this year who have been lost from my sight for 12 years, with a mind hovering on financial worries since bills cannot wait otherwise may end in unwanted consequences but facing hope to a bright future here despite the relative economic setbacks.

Life in the States for 12 years was rewarding in terms being busy with work but lonesome and challenging being alone. Rewarding because I took advantage of the educational opportunities which were offered widespread within the academe, professional organizations and corporations who offer them at affordable or low cost. On the other hand, challenges end to a strain when exposed under circumstances the impact a job loss on a daily basis causes with adverse and prolonged psychological effects, combined with the individualism culture in the country as a common norm pervading society that leave desperate people affected by the financial turmoil to avail no help.  Homeless population was scaling in multifold rates even the previous large salary earners end up homeless,causes widespread fear on uncertainty and financial distress to end up with overall loss to live in decent levels. The fear linked to a job loss I have experienced extends to worries on homelessness. Without benefits from the local government, one cannot even pay bills at the most basic necessities. Remember it is not always the case one gets the benefits if one quit or left the job at fault. Despite the challenges encountered on an individual level, nevertheless the situation collectors and creditors remain and alert themselves on a business tract, with their unceasing calls bombarding cellphone rings.  Paying rent was a primary concern. Without money on hand, it is difficult to discern that one has to forcibly move out at no cause which otherwise will resort to an eviction from the county sheriff’s office a call away. Moving stuff to store in a friend’s place was even a challenge. The friends I rely most to save money if not to hire a moving van for rent required to pay money were not available and hesitant. Everybody had to go their individual paths. While accepting this reality as the social standard, it seemed the world around with no hands to help left me apathetic, withdrawn and cynical.Money was the driving force to live amidst an economic turmoil. My last job ended in turmoil when the department lurked behind my side that found my way to be involuntarily separated from the company at no fault of own. Despite these underlying circumstances America was a paradise that every person champion on individual rights according to the law that enforces it to attain freedom in all life aspects—economic, political and social.  But to follow the laws with a stringent nature the federal, state and local laws dispose require close attention on individual levels that otherwise would result to face severe consequences should one not abide or respond on time. For example, taxes had to be strictly filed and paid on time. Otherwise, one would resort to untimely penalties and a potential resort to a tax lien case with the country or district court. But one who evades this without prompt action upon a conducted audit may cause one to incur not only a tax lien record but a criminal record in his background profile should a payment plan was not met. What’s worse, since all people need to have jobs to live and instill the discipline and uphold core American values of integrity to evade from risk to engage in any unlawful activity, otherwise ends to have one way or the other a blot on his or her own record. Law enforcement is so keen to the American mentality and cognition that it is easy to catch and relentlessly detect the villant. Everybody should guard themselves on risks that involuntary engage people to suspicion that ends them in long term and severe consequences without even their awareness. These are the circumstances that make life so complex to the point one has to think like a lawyer. Sometimes you will never know what can happen to you. Holding to prayer and faith was the sole solution to overcome challenges.

This leaves a lesson that the impression of the majority does not justify they may attain they want as a guarantee. Remember it is even stricter in other countries the cost of living abroad to meet higher scale responsibility reckoning the culture that drives the difficulty as well. Unlike the Philippines life with our hospitable culture makes burdens lighter at the least cost.