19/10/2026
You're a very sensible person, Doc.
THE REALITY THAT HURTS.
Traveling to first-world countries like South Korea, Japan, and Singapore makes you realize how far behind the Philippines still is—not just economically, but in the standards of everyday living.
In Makati, BGC, Cebu, and Davao, we see progress. We see skyscrapers, luxury establishments, and modern lifestyles. Yet, beneath the progress, many Filipinos still struggle with purchasing power. Carinderias remain essential because affordable meals are not a luxury; they are a necessity.
Then you travel to Seoul, Japan, or Singapore.
You enter an ordinary eatery. The place is clean. The food is well-prepared. The service is organized. The dining experience is dignified.
And you realize: What feels like an upgrade to us is simply their everyday standard—even for ordinary employees.
A meal that costs ₱500 may be an ordinary expense for them, but for many Filipinos, that same amount is already a significant part of the day's budget.
That is the painful reality. It is not simply about how much we earn. It is about how much our money can actually buy, the quality of life we can afford, and the standards we have learned to accept.
Even in aesthetic medicine and dermatology, we continue to educate, innovate, and raise the bar. Many Filipino doctors strive to bring world-class standards to our country. We invest in training, technology, safety, and better patient care.
But the reality is heartbreaking: quality healthcare remains a privilege for many, rather than an accessible standard for all.
And sometimes, in our desire to experience what others can afford, we turn to black-market products, counterfeit devices, and knockoffs. We want the same results, the same experience, the same feeling of being at par with the rest of the world—but without the same purchasing power or access to legitimate, quality services.
I do not blame ordinary Filipinos for wanting better. I understand why they look for cheaper alternatives.
What saddens me is that people are often forced to choose between what they can afford and what is truly safe.
We can increase salaries on paper. We can build more skyscrapers. We can open more luxury clinics and shopping centers. We can call our cities progressive.
But progress is not measured by how luxurious a country looks. It is measured by how dignified an ordinary citizen's life can be.
And this is where the conversation must go beyond salaries, politics, and economic growth. It must be about purchasing power, education, public health, accountability, and a culture that values quality over shortcuts.
I love my country. I believe in our people. And I know that Filipino doctors, professionals, and entrepreneurs are capable of world-class work.
But loving your country does not mean pretending that everything is fine.
Sometimes, traveling abroad makes you proud of what we can achieve—and deeply saddened by what we continue to lack.
My question is this: How long will we keep calling ourselves progressive when quality living, safe healthcare, and basic dignity remain beyond the reach of so many Filipinos?
I would genuinely like to hear your thoughts.
Do you feel the same when you travel abroad and return to the Philippines? Or do you believe we are already catching up?
