Living in the City Vs. Province

I have been romanticizing the idea of buying property in the province. I think there is beauty in simplicity in living in the provinces. It's like the most ideal destination to raise children, where there is no pollution, where the mountains and fields are their playground, there are rivers and springs everywhere, the beaches are white and a ride away, and food is fresh, healthy and cheap. Getting an education is also cheap.

I think I am an old lady inside -- I like the countryside very much.

Since I became a mom, I just want my kids to have the same experiences I enjoyed as a child.  I want them to grow up with recollections of how they spent their days just running around, bringing home junk, spiders, being dirty and climbing trees. Here in Manila, they spend their days confined in the house, in front of a boxful of toys, watching Cartoon Network. We can't let them go out of the house, too many cars. The only physical activity they have is whenever we go out to the mall and play in one of those playpens you pay. (Which pretty much sums up the physical activites we, as parents, are limited too, as well) And each trip to the mall costs a substantial amount of money. Our P500 isn't what like it used to be. And when we do go out, I feel like people are crawling all over each other. Plus everywhere takes 1 hour to wait for a taxi and commute (to think I already live in Ortigas.)

This was taken in our old condo -- instead of vast, green spaces, you take a baby on a walk in a small patch of vacant space beside the parking lot. Pitiful.



View from our condo



So what if they turn "promdi." Promdi is good. You identify with a hometown and a community.

At the same time, I wanted to take on as a challenge to my personal beliefs that I am too Manila-centric. I think it also goes to say that Filipinos are also too regionalistic. In the book, "The History of the Filipino People" by Teodoro Agoncillo, it is said that we identify strongly with where we came from. If you were Ilonggo, for example, you will feel easily feel affinity for a fellow Ilonggo even if you've just met. Or you vouch for a certain senatorial candidate since he's Bicolano when you hardly know about his capabilities as a public servant. I have friends from college who were from different provinces, and it's amazing to see how they feel their hometowns are what they really are-- home. I want to see where all this affinity is coming from.

Even foreigners who choose to live in the Philippines choose Cebu, Baguio, Davao and some actually prefer the rural parts. From what I learned from blogwalking several expat sites, the loathe Manila lifestyle, traffic, pollution, terrible crime rate, noise, taxicabs, policemen, etc. find the simple life appealing, and most of them came from first-world, developed countries like Japan, the US, UK, Germany and others.

I'll be a fool to think that the grass is greener on the other side. In the province, even if it's cheap, life is hard too for a lot of people, especially poor families with multiple kids. I bet that if ever we relocate, people will automatically perceive us to be well-off. In my 3-week stay in Sorsogon, 4 people have already come to the house to borrow money from us. I did lend money because they're relatives, and one of them promised to pay a 50-kilo sack of rice in exchange for 800. Imagine my surprise when I heard  that neighbors buzz about how often I go to the city and always come home with armfulls of grocery bags. The truth is, we have a large household and when arrived, supplies are depleted as it is so I shopped for them. Neighbors took that as a sign that we are "loaded" or something and that maybe we can borrow money. I have since limited my trips and made sure I went unnoticeable.

If I am to only consider the welfare of the kids, it would be an outright yes. I am ever so convinced that it's the best place to be. It's all in favor of the children. However, their daddy will remain in the city and be all alone in our apartment. He says he'll manage, and he'll go to us every so often, though I hardly believe that he'll be alright. I want them to be close as can be, especially at this crucial developmental stage.

I am still unsure whether I can let go of the exciting things that happen here. Though most town centers in the provinces now has comforts I'm accustomed to. I bet I will still miss the clubs and the bars and my friends.My family is also here, and they live 45 minutes away.

Maybe my decision can wait a year.