Hello everyone, I am Alvaro, a 21-year-old guy, and I am currently a 4th-year student taking up a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. I am currently doing my internship in Manila, but originally, I am from Pangasinan and studying in La Union. In this blog, I am going to share with you my experience living in two different setups—the struggles I encountered, as well as the positive traits.
I have been conducting my internship in the metro for about 4 months now, and life here is very different from what I grew up with.
In Pangasinan, I live in the highlands, where our house is literally sitting next to a mountain. You will enjoy the green, green grass of home and the chill environment. Fans and ACs are not that much of a necessity because you can enjoy the cool breeze of air fresh from the trees outside our backyard. Also, it doesn’t matter what time you wake up because jobs there are not the typical 8-5 corporate type, unlike in the Metro.
After eating lunch, people usually have their siesta and sometimes gather to talk with one another. People can live even without formal jobs because they can just plant crops, sell in sari-sari stores, and sell various things. People here are chiller and arguably happier compared to people in the metro. However, establishments, hospitals, malls, and fast-food chains are not very accessible. So if you get hungry at 2 AM, you can’t just buy Jollibee in your area—HAHAHA.
In Manila, the juxtaposition of life is very noticeable. The difference between upper-middle-class people and the working class is heavily manifested. You can see tall buildings and skyscrapers sitting next to slum areas, where the socio-economic status of people is very divergent. People here need to have work to survive because everything has to be purchased—unlike in the province, where you can plant your own food. Everyone here is fast-paced; everyone is hustling around in order to live.
You need to be alert and assertive when dealing with people around you since you'll encounter many individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and humor—and sometimes, these won’t align with your preferences, but you have to adjust in order to live. Manila is chaotic and busy, but I like it! The accessibility it provides is something that I look forward to here.
In La Union, I have lived in the City of San Fernando for about 3 years as I conduct my studies there. The city is like a combination of both the province and the metro. It is smaller compared to Manila as a metro, and there are no high skyscrapers, but the city also offers accessibility, which I love the most. But arguably, La Union is hotter than Manila for some reason. Nonetheless, the stunning beaches and waterfalls are also offered by the city.
Personally, I see myself living in Manila because of the opportunities it can endow me with for my career in the future. Yes, the city is chaotic and busy, but for some reason, I like it that way—and it feels right for me. I hope that after I graduate, I can find a good-paying job here to sustain and stabilize my life. The city smells like dreams and opportunities, and I hope I can grab one someday!
