It’s the season of water interruptions again here in Metro Manila! Yehey!!!! It is in times like these when one can’t help but ask, “Should I leave the Philippines for good?” More importantly, “Is it time to leave the Philippines if I can move to a high-income country?”
Canada, in particular, has been on my mind a lot because I might actually go there either this year or in 2024. I might visit Winnipeg, Manitoba after a long time so I can finally see the bundle of cuteness that is my nephew! Of course, I hope I’ll have the time to tour other places too, like Toronto or Montreal.
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to migrate to Canada as a permanent resident. Yet here I am, enduring another summer of water interruptions in Duterte-Marcos-Kakampink Land. What on earth, you might ask, compelled me to stay when I could be living in North America? More importantly, should YOU move to Canada when given the chance?
A Matter of Conscience
There are plenty of valid reasons for either staying in the Philippines or moving to another country. But the most important consideration that people don’t talk about enough is: what would migration do to your soul?
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is THE most essential question! Despite all the persecutions, power outages, food insecurity, or whatever form of suffering you might be experiencing in the country where you are, the number 1 deciding factor of where you should live is the impact that migration will have on your relationship with God.
Why? Because that’s what Jesus wants. Does He want it because that’s what will lead to your financial prosperity? Maybe, but not necessarily. In fact, obeying Him is the surefire way to bring hardships upon your life.
So why then should you follow Christ? Because HE IS WORTHY.
In my case, I wouldn’t be able to live with my conscience if I left my grandparents all by themselves after they raised me and my brothers, as that would’ve been a dereliction of my Christian duty. The Philippines is not as safe for seniors as Western countries are. It doesn’t have a lot of support workers driving around, making sure that the elderly have everything that they need. And although the Philippines is safe enough for people to have lots of fun, it still has a high crime rate. My grandparents would’ve been robbed and killed for sure if they were left all alone here in the metropolis.
I’m not saying that other people should do what I did. Perhaps your elderly parents live in a secure exclusive subdivision, surrounded by servants. Maybe your Lolo and Lola want to live independently in a safe area in the Philippines, like Baguio or Iloilo. But in my grandparents’ case, their house (where I now live) is in a decent, peaceful neighborhood, but it’s not exactly Forbes Park.
The thought of leaving my grandparents gave me so much anguish that I just knew that I would become callous to many other sins if I ignored my conscience by going to Canada. On top of that, I would be taking on jobs that low-skilled Canadians needed instead of practicing my profession because the eligibility process for the Canadian occupational therapy (OT) exams was going to take a long time. And there was no guarantee that I would land an OT position immediately because the opportunities for foreign-educated occupational therapists were (and still are) quite limited in Canada.
Yes, you read that right! Many people think that being in a high-income country is a guarantee that they will have one lucrative job offer after another. That’s not true at all, especially now that the likes of Justin Trudeau are in charge of Canada. Based on my research, other high-income countries like Australia and the United Kingdom have far more opportunities for foreign OT graduates. I’ve even gotten offers to work there!
Even the Philippines has more job opportunities for therapists than Canada, to be honest. Here in my country, I got to work in schools, hospitals, and outpatient centers as a clinician. I even landed consulting projects. I don’t think I would’ve had such a well-rounded career if I worked in Manitoba. Canada’s Universal Healthcare (UHC) system places a cap on what therapists can do, hence the limited opportunities. The Philippines’ UHC is garbage, but at least it still exists along with private healthcare, which incentivizes health professionals to develop innovative services.
In other words, there were (are) still a lot of ways for me to succeed without abandoning my grandparents. I think I would’ve become a hardened, selfish person if I migrated out of fear that my future was doomed if I didn’t move to Canada right away, which isn’t true.
And I know of immigrants who ruined their lives when they left for high-income countries. They initially migrated there with the noble intention of supporting their families. But once they had accumulated wealth, they cheated on their spouses and abandoned their children because they could now afford it. Some got addicted to drugs. Their kids ended up rebelling. And the most demonic of all are Filipino families who euthanized their elderly relatives because they’re seen as a burden.
Again, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t migrate to Canada. It’s a wonderful country, overall. More importantly, moving there just might be what you need to become a better person. But as for me, I will stay by my grandfather’s side. I know that this is where the Lord wants me to be. He blesses me materially and spiritually by doing so. Someday, He might call me back to Canada because getting trampled on by Trudeau’s horses will help me know Him more — and that will be the best place where I can be.
(Photo by James Wheeler)
Praise The LORD!
" For the Lord will not reject HIS people;
he will never forsake HIS inheritance. " Psalm 94:14
Thank you Annie!
" May the LORD repay you for your kindness, and may your reward be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:12😍