Take Me To The Philippines.

It's easier to explore the world from afar today with the help of social media, but the things we see online definitely can't feel like exploring those parts of the world we admire a lot in reality. I remember what it felt like learning about countries, cultures, and lifestyles from magazines and TV while growing up because we didn't have access to the internet or smartphones.

Those documentaries got me hooked to the TV a lot of times, and you will see me glued to magazines that have to do with culture and lifestyle whenever I lay my hands on one. A lot of those things I saw back then fueled my desire to see the rest of the world because this place we live in, called Earth, is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people and culture.

---

The internet came and gave us the ability to explore beyond magazines and TV documentaries, but that hasn't changed my desire to experience some of these cultures in reality because the more I learn about them, the more I get anxious to see these places in reality.

_Source

The Philippines is not one of the countries a lot of people I know would love to visit, but I picked interest in the country while watching a particular Philippine television drama series titled Mara Clara. I can't remember the year, but I found so many things fascinating about the country from the series and had to check more about them. As life would have it, I made friends from the Philippines on a platform I used to be very active on a few years ago, and today, I have access to numerous Filipino content on the Hive blockchain.

_{"Why I do love the Philippines?"}

• I once came across a quote that says, "Family is the heart of the Filipino culture," and that's true because when it comes to family affairs, they have a strong, deep-rooted bond. Several times here, I have seen their family celebration, and I am always amazed at how much they turn up, prioritizing family obligations over personal interests. Being a family person, the bonding I see in Philippine culture makes me happy, and this is something people from different parts of the world should emulate.

• I learned the words "Lola" and "Tito" from the Philippines, and it's so sweet to see how they respect their elders. They don't care whether there is a blood connection or not, everyone treats the elders with respect, and I love that. The younger generation having that huge respect for the elders will help them learn more about their culture which means continuity is certain.

• Their sustainable lifestyle is another that interests me, and it's a kind of lifestyle that I'm working on as well. Having a farm for the family is a fantastic thing because, aside from always having fresh vegetables for meals, it saves the family lots of money.

• The Philippines has one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, speaking of the numerous islands and beaches in the country. You just can't get tired of visiting those places, and for someone who enjoys hanging around nature, the country is surely a safe haven for me.

_Source

Lastly, I would love to talk about their delicious cuisine because, as a certified foodie that I am, leaving out the Filipino meals from the post would make it incomplete. The country has so many traditional meals, and I am always salivating when learning about their recipes online.

It's a long list of things I love about the Philippines, and I want to experience what life feels like there, but living there permanently might be challenging because of the language barrier. I can't speak Filipino, and I do not understand it; plus, I am terrible at learning languages, so it might take an eternity for me to flow with people.

---

Regardless of that, visiting there would be a dream come true, plus I can get to meet my Filipino friends offline. You guys are amazing people, and I really admire you.