Differences in Perception Between Westerners and Filipinos: Providing for One's Family

Eduardo Maresca

Aug 29

Here in the Western world a family is comprised of a husband a wife and one of more children.

Given the rising cost of living (that has never really been cheap), the average family head can barely provide for his immediate family.

Housing alone can easily eat away at 75% of one's income.

So a family head is neither in the position nor is he expected to provide for his parents, let alone more distant relatives like cousins etc. Elderly parents here are usually better off, financially speaking, than their sons and daughters, they have houses, savings and an old-age retirement check.

Obviously in the Philippines the situation is different and elderly parents cannot fend for themselves, so they expect financial help from their sons and daughters who live overseas. And, on top of that, the entire extended family expects some financial support.

Now imagine earning 2,000-3,000€ at most (if both husband and wife work full-time), having to pay at least 1,500€ for the rent, the bills, the condominium expenses etc, having to maintain a car (gas is almost 2€ per liter...). Good luck supporting lolos, lolas, pinsan, pamangkin and many others who have strange beliefs about what life costs here...