Wow, talk about the speed of the Internet!  I just posted a couple hours ago asking people what questions they wanted answers to and bang! a very interesting one came in.

Actually the fellow who wrote got my name from another source, but is question is one that will interest a lot of my readers, so I will anonymize everything and post it for general information,

Question: What areas of the Philippines would you recommend that someone with young children (5 and 2) should evaluate?  Most Americans seem to evaluate cities based on nightlife or proximity to a Filipina wife’s relatives.  Neither is a consideration for us.

Answer:  An interesting question.  I don’t have any young children but my wife and I live just a few doors from her sister who is raising two boys, 2 and 4, so we spend a lot of time with them.

I have only ever lived/visited extensively in Luzon.  I did visit Cebu once and liked it fine but I really don’t know that there is any area better or worse for the considerations of small children.

Here’s my take.  I wouldn’t hesitate to have children and raise them right here in Marilao or in any place else I have visited.  But let’s make sure we define the "rules of engagement".  The Philippines is either a great place to raise small children or a horrible one … and it is usually both at the same time.

My wife and I did settle where we are for the time being because of her family … and as you know that can also be heaven or hell.  Frankly I think we would have been lost without the family.   She is Filipina and lived in the Philippines most of her life, except for time in several other countries as an OFW and then 6 years with me in the US.  She often has more trouble that I do adjusting to some of the ways things are done … she has family in the US also and is a US citizen and if I weren’t here I think she’d go back to the US in a heartbeat.  You don’t mention anything about your wife’s background, you may want to talk to her more …. because I don’t know any place an American could not be happy, but there are many things that an independent woman might not want to come back to if not for family.

Back to children:

Pluses about the Philippines:

1. Children are loved by all.  Even if you aren’t around family you will quickly find neighbors and friends who are "surrogate" family … and if the children are quite "mestizo" then they will be even more popular.

2. "Family values" environment.  Children are brought up with the idea of respecting elders and obeying them.  You will seldom find the kind of troublesome obnoxiously spoiled children you would see in say a typical US shopping center.  How this will coincide with your personal parenting style is important to consider.

3. Easy lifestyle .. children are expected to be children, not to be little adults … people won’t give you nasty looks and comments when your children ‘act like children", they’ll smile and laugh because growing up here is part of what is expected … not a rigorous trek to "young geniushood"

4. Lots of language opportunities.  Children at that age take to second and third languages like ducks to water … my 4yo nephew will rush up and tell me some important tale in English (believe it or not there are still many families who teach English first) and throw in Tagalog, Ilocano and a little Arabic, and if he sees I’m not following him he’ll name the language each word is from and pick a substitute word.

5. Ability to afford top quality education.  There is no school in the Philippines (except commercial "International schools, which I would avoid like the plague) that an American can not afford.  If I were raising children again I would home school them using US curriculum and hire a live-in "real" teacher to do the day-to-day work … there are plenty of teachers looking for work.

Minuses about the Philippines:

1. There are no government "nanny" organizations.  You can buy a 12 yo a motorcycle, you can send a 6 yo to the store to buy cigarettes, you can buy a 4 yo a toy in the palanke that could never be sold in the US.  There are no yellow school buses that people stop for, crosswalks that drivers yield for, etc.  Some American parents, I believe, would be so terrified they wouldn’t sleep at night.

2. There are no government-paid programs:  No child development after school programs, no neighborhood education activities, no "Head Star" no "enrichment programs", no truant officers, Little League, Pop Warner, no "special needs classes, Ritalin dispensers, etc..  We have a lot in the US that you will never see here.

3. The public schools are a disgrace.  Horrible.  Unworkable and riddled with corruption and marginally qualified teachers.  Your education plans are the most important factor in choosing a place to live, in my view.

4. Physical safety is strictly personal … there are often no sidewalks, narrow streets, no padded playground equipment, railings, fences, all the things we take as a matter of course in the US.  You alone will be responsible for the children’s safety, 24×7.

5.  There is no effective local law enforcement and 911 services.  Again, parents better have a car, know the way to the local hospital, have poison antidotes and know how to use them, etc., because there is no "helping hand" at the end of the phone.  Doctors are reasonably good, accessible and cheap, but your children’s health as well as their physical safety will fall squarely upon you.

Okay, I wrote a book and I didn’t answer your specific question … hopefully my thoughts will give you more information in deciding on a place … with children of that age, though, I think it is more of a question as to if rather than where?

I welcome comments, constructive criticisms, disagreements, questions or just plain talk.  You can leave a comment to this article or email me direct at: davestarr (at) gmail (dot) com or call me on 1-719-423-8872. I’m usually on Yahoo Messenger (davestarr) and will be happy to chat there.  If you liked this article, please subscribe to my RSS feed so you get all my news and views.

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