Dear Graduates of 2019 from the probinsyas of Philippines…
Congratulations! — and let’s all stay and make impact on our probinsyas!
I can never start it without saying CONGRATULATIONS!
You made it!
We are so proud of you!
Be it your parents, guardians, friends, pets and anyone who supported you is very proud of you!
I miss the feeling, felt it last April of 2017 after graduating on my Bachelor’s degree in Science in Psychology.
Can you imagine, from the first of being a college student your thoughts are: “Can I survive this?”; To sleepless nights, to the stressing points of submitting academic requirements, most especially your final thesis/research paper.
It was such a great ride! Ups, downs, twirls, slowing and rushing.
The mix thoughts of being scared and being optimistic at the same time.
In a country like the Philippines where there are always clashing discussions on the access to education, price increases to afford going to school, and an alarming rate of illiteracy. It’s hard for us to imagine not being able to go to school and acquire the diploma — because, for most of us, it might be the only advantage that we can have to be accepted by the society.
I know some will say that, it’s not about the diploma, not about your course, not about graduating college, where the word ‘dropout’ is like a magic and cool action that someone needs to do and suddenly they will achieve their Million Dollar or Peso Dreams — it doesn’t apply in the Philippines.
Here’s the thing…not everyone gets the same chance, not everyone has access and connections, and everyone has different mental capabilities. Plus do not talk on the position of privilege, after all, there are lots of people who are more deserving.
Yet you should be thankful!
And if you are one of those students who do part-time jobs or hustle on the side just to support your financial needs, I am extra proud of you! Doing all sorts of things to be able to finance your everyday expenses and academic fees was never be easy— I got a fair experience of being one too.
And to everyone who is graduating or who graduate a few years back from the emerging city, provinces, regions outside the metro. I just have one thing to say, or for us to consider:
Please, please… Let’s all stay in our hometown and probinsyas! Make an impact and thrive in there!
Emerging modern edukados and ilustrados.
Like how some ilustrados and edukados of Pilipinas did in the past or some similarities on their actions —
- Get Educated and Study Well,
- See the Benefits of Applying it on their homeland,
- Help and Made impact on their town,
- and Collaborate with other regions
— their actions lead to building communities, brotherhoods, and soon an army per region to liberate the country! Be it in forms of writings, agriculture, architecture, medicine, culture & arts, publications, propagandas, war strategies, ideas, and more.
We can learn from what they did. Maybe not doing the same actions, but getting the sense from the actions that they took.
So what’s next?…
You want to work on the ever-famous city of Makati, or on the glorious Bonifacio Global City, or the trendy city of Pasay, or any place in the Metro that we can name. There was something about those melting spots that attracts us the named: ‘probinsyanos’. —The people coming from rural cities like Laguna, Batangas, Pampanga, Benguet, Baguio, Cavite, Pangasinan, Cagayan, and more — not coming from the Metro cities. City and town who also play a key role on the progress of the Philippines, but not as celebrated and as ever-famous as Manila.
Yes, we all want opportunities! We want to have a placed on well-established companies, which will make us feel safe and secure, give us a good number of salary to support our family, and give back to our parents. Because we might not get it on our probinsyas.
Just in case, you ever really having to decide it. I would be glad to let you know about certain things. So here are some things you should be aware before taking the venture:
1st — Not everything you imagine about the Metro life is right!
I am not sure, but at some point the idea about what Manila is like are being misled, kind of fantasized by local televisions and telenovelas — kind of portrayed as a place full of shiny buildings, beautiful cars, streets best fit for model runway, men and women always smiling after shopping, and every road are good background on your self-imaginative-music-video road trips.
There are only selected ones which are fine, and included in good urban planning. But be prepared, life will give you disappointment at times.
There are shiny buildings, everywhere. In comparison and in ratio to the greenery that you will see, you will see more buildings and properties — like its 1:15 I guess. And gaahd, there are places with this ‘classic Manila smell’, its like a combination of urine, rotten food, esteros, noodles, spicy soups, inihaw, it's a traumatic smell.
I am not expert on it but in some way, I understood that the reflections of the sun, all these walls, cars heat and emissions, too much human heat, and lesser greeneries, are few of the factors why the heat in that place is so worse.
2nd— The Metro is a place for Opportunity and Oportunistas.
Yes, opportunities are offered everywhere, from starting Assistant to Associates, Supports to Representatives. Entry level for fresh graduates.
We are all equipped. We have capabilities and access to information brought by the internet. It is an advantage — but don’t be over demanding and picky [on what job to have]. Know what you deserve, don’t over demand, research well on comparisons and competitions, and be prepared.
The majority of jobs being offered in the Philippine job portals are really located on the Metro Manila. Well, it might be because it is where most Main and Head offices were situated. Not only that, Start-up tech companies run by young enthusiastic and amazing thinkers are now sitting on places like Makati, Taguig, Parañaque, Mandaluyong and more.
Yet, my friend, always be careful and take care of yourself.
BE CAREFUL OF PEOPLE: recruiting you illegally, people asking you to pay to be hired which are scams, people making promises and running away with your money, budol-budol, people tricking you to pay more, people asking you to do certain things, and people who will make you lose hope to humanity.
Always watch your back, your friends and families, or a stranger. If you know it’s wrong, don’t hesitate to do the right thing.
3rd — High Cost of Living doesn’t mean High Improved Lifestyle
Personal spaces can be pretty pricey if you are just starting out — I mean the spaces where you will live, rest, sleep, eat, took a bath on. If you want some space for yourself, prepare around 18,000PHP to 30,000PHP monthly (depending on location and accessibility), for a room sizing 26 to 35 sqm. It can be added with good security, amenities, good views, access to transport hubs, and one-stop shops.
Next, High Cost of Food, not enough nutrients.
If you are comfortable eating on carenderias: combo meals of meat and vegetable + 2 cups of rice can cost around P70–100. BUT! If you are picky about the place, sanitation, how the food was prepared, good platings, and instagrammable food, it will be around P250–500 per dish.
If you know how to cook, know your way around wet markets/palengkes, use that skill. Because it will help you save a lot, satisfy and balance what nutrients you needed, aware of its preparation, and be dependent on yourself.
Next, Materialistic lifestyle everywhere. You are always bombarded by billboards, advertisements, stores, people wearing what is trendy, malls and shopping centers, ‘SALE’ posters, and be mindful not be the full-time consumer who is always buying buying buying extra things that will depreciate and you really don’t need.
and the Enjoyment Hubs, Entertainment spots, Party bars, Gig venues, and Membership clubs, Casinos, and Resorts. It is nice to unwind and let yourself be out of the stress at times, but be pretty sure that this will not suck you up and your money. Good place to unwind, a bad place to get stuck into.
Wait! Wait! Do you remember our probinsyas own version? — we are always excited about ‘Peryaan’ with all its lights, tsubibo (ferriswheel), palaro, at binguhan (bingo), at videoke.
4th — A portion of your city-life will be wasted in the traffic.
With all these increasing numbers of cars, public transportations, people coming in, undisciplined drivers and motorist, limited key roads and expressways to lead you to other metro cities, the traffic will really turn out bad.
Soon, I know you will be part of the not-ever-getting-better-relationship of MANILENIOS et EDSA.
Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue or known as EDSA, will always be the ever famous and trendy in Manila; will always pop into the mind when talking about long hours of traffic jams. I hope Epifanio or ‘Panyong’ who is named next to the avenue is not sad, because of his uncelebrated achievements as a scholar, historian, philosopher, linguist, researcher, and philanthropist.
There are other areas too in the metro which will really challenge your patience, your will, and your time.
Some really get used to it, some accept the fact that it will never be okay, some with the mindset of “Walang choice/no other choices”, some are making small steps to suggest ideas, and some make a profit on it. As for our probinsyas, all we just mind are the rocky, rough, and bumpy roads, with beautiful green scenery on the sides.
I hope you make use of the time whenever you get stuck on an hour or two of traffic. After all, if you will compute: the hours per day waste on traffic X how many times you get stuck = total wasted time of your life.
5th — The level of Trust you have from people within your 6ft range is Low.
I think this is own of the most used advise I hear from elder to the young folks from probinsyas, “be on high alert on pickpocket-ers, snatchers, holdapers, or sexual harassers.”
It’s quite saddening at some level, because you don’t trust your kapwa or fellow Filipinos. I just hope that one day, everyone of us will be able to greet each and everyone we pass by on the streets with a “magandang umaga” or good morning — without any hesitation, without any hint of doubt, without thinking about a threat. Just like what we do whenever we are on our probinsyas.
6th — There’s always something around to get some Extra cash for part time grinds.
This one goes to those people who I believe to be as ‘multi-skilled’, and always looking for something to get busy on.
You can always find some part-time jobs after your 8–5 job. Like band gigs and playing music, host events, write articles and review items, shoot or film on weekends for freelance photographers or videographers, part-time English tutor to Chinese/Koreans, Sell items online or to your workmates, Sell thrift and vintage finds, be a tour guide, promote products on social media, be an accredited salesperson for insurances, be a financial adviser, and more. You just have to explore and look for it.
7th — Don’t ever forget to go home on weekends and free days, and have a valuable time for your family and loved ones.
I can never say more. You need to refresh and get pumped up again. Get motivation, recall the thoughts on ‘why you are doing it on the first place’, see the fruits of your labor, and be with people who love you.
You can always see this big enthusiasm, the bubble of confidence, ready-to-face-the-world character from every young Filipino graduates — always thriving and hungry. The kind of hunger to get as much as you can in such a young age: be somebody who is valued before your 30s. Most especially for us Filipinoes coming from our history, and situations from probinsyas.
But please, always never forget to consider to work, start, give back, or create something in our probinsya. For I know, one day will come, when you get tired of all the chaos and dirt of humanity from the Metro, there’s always a home you can get back — be a Founder of something in province, build opportunities in province, build a product that is needed the most in the rural or province, or teach and educate the less privilege in the province.
I will not be of a hindrance because I know your resumes, portfolios, answers, postures, coat & tie & dress, and confidence are all prepared. You are all awesome! Seize the opportunity! You can do it!
Congratulations! Welcome to the next level sh*t!
