After I moved from England to the Philippines in 2000, there were several things about Filipinos and the Philippines I learnt very quickly. Apart from the warmth and friendliness of the people, it soon became obvious that just about everyone you meet in the Philippines has family in the United States, as well as in numerous other countries around the world. However, it is the US that dominates, which is hardly surprising given the Philippines American colony status for much of the 20th century. Furthermore, I must say that the Philippines comes across as about the most pro-American country in the world. It is certainly more pro-American than my own UK.

According to the 2000 US census, Southern California alone is home to a quarter of all Filipino Americans – that is nearly 480,000. That is a high concentration, and understandable given the warmer climate that makes the transition from tropical Philippines a little bit more bearable.

Within a month or two of living in the Philippines, I came to appreciate the massive difference between Western and Philippine societies, and began to feel for all those millions of Filipinos who were forced to go abroad in search of work and a “better” life. Filipinos are an extremely gregarious people. Partly, that is forced on Filipinos by the fact that large families are brought up in small homes. A child is brought up in an environment where there are always other people close by, and usually in the same room, even at night. Family and neighbours form an often constant stream of visitors to the home, and the result is most Filipinos are brought up not knowing what it is to be alone, even for a very short time.

It is quite rare for a Filipino to live alone in the Philippines. In fact, last year I watched a documentary on Philippine television that featured an ordinary Filipino with no claim to fame, except that he lived in a house alone. He was a novelty, no doubt bringing feelings of great pity from the watching population who could not themselves bare the thought of being alone.

Once I realized how much Filipinos were almost dependent on company, and always having lots of people around, I began to feel so sorry for those who were forced to move abroad, to Calfornia or elsewhere. Filipinos are so used to having someone to talk to, that the change to enforced isolation that comes with modern western society must be an enormous wrench. The feelings of loneliness must be intense for a Filipino landing in a fast paced and comparatively unfriendly society, where most people are too busy to stop for a casual conversation.

In my first couple of years here, living in Cebu, just about everyone I met wanted to move abroad, a very sad reflection of the Philippines economy and society. I was always quick to point out that all was not a bed of roses in every country abroad, and that they would feel extremely lonely, especially if they had no friends or relatives already there. Still, I would guess most of those I cautioned did eventually go abroad; many no doubt to the US and especially California.

Despite the keenness of Filipinos to move abroad, it is amazing how many dream of returning home to retire. Not being Filipino, I can only imagine the way they feel, but with their roots so firmly entrenched in an easy going, relaxed and gregarious upbringing, I can understand the yearning to come home. It is such a big contrast to most of the environments where overseas Filipinos have settled. I feel no such yearning to return to England, even after 7 years in the Philippines.

I wonder how many of those half a million or so Californian Filipinos dream of returning to the Philippines, either to retire or sooner? It is conjecture, but I would think the percentage runs quite close to 50%. Only Californian Filipinos can answer that.

What, though, is the attraction of coming back to the Philippines for those who already made the escape from the Philippines that most Filipinos dream of? Firstly, it is home and in most cases the family is here. Also, if they have been able to set aside even a modest amount of money while working abroad, that money will go a long, long way compared to London or Los Angeles. In fact, they will seem quite rich, and may be able to buy their dream home or set up a business. For example, I live in Palawan, and Palawan real estate is incredibly cheap still. I know from being in touch with some overseas Filipinos that they dream of having a white sand beach in Palawan.

It does seem that millions of Filipinos do have a circular dream: going to live and work abroad, and then coming back again. I do hope for their sakes that the Philippines eventually drags itself up economically enough to lure overseas Filipinos home for another reason; to get a good job and build a successful life here. That scenario does seem a long way off, but it is happening with Chinese returning home in the booming Chinese economy, so it is not impossible.

This article is by Roy Thomsitt, a Puerto Princesa, Palawan resident. You can also find out more about Philippine real estate on his web site.

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