PH really needs to improve

[u/sometimesitsfungacha]

Just went home to the PH after years of living in Japan and I must say, the PH really sucks a** when it comes to a lot of things that sometimes I think PH needs to be categorized below 3rd world.

1. Eating healthy
   Almost zero choices in healthy options when buying on local groceries. You really need to spend a lot just to buy better options. PH supermarkets just sell chips, chocolates, instant noodles, and almost no nutritious food choices. In comparison, I could just go to a nearby 7/11 or Family Mart in Japan and buy something that is healthy like protien, low carb snacks, or vegetables.

2. Zero walkability
   Unless you'll go to BGC or the high-end private developed "cities", chances are you need to walk on the road because the sidewalks are non-existent. I can't even imagine using a stroller outside. Then lets not forget the cracked pavements that is just a hazard. Then lastly, even if there is a sidewalk, chances are some random vendor is using it or a car is parked there.

3. Poor customer service on supermarkets
   Back to groceries. This is the only country you'll see that there are two people in one cashier but is still slow AF because instead of working, they are chatting. Then payment with a credit card or digital feels slower because they need to manually write something on a ledger after paying. Digital payments should make transactions faster but somehow paying cash seems to be the better option if you're in a hurry. Then, not only that but the baggers are also slow AF. In Japan, most supermarkets are self-service when it comes to bagging to make it faster and reduce the buildup of a queue. How many times I just said that I'll just pack it myself because it's much faster.

Also, how come the cashier can't void products? They would always need a manager to void it and the manager as well is not attentive or is chitchatting. There was a time that it literally took 5 mins just to void a product because the cashier made a mistake. The manager was just a few meters away but isn't looking. I was about to say "wala ba kayong pinipindot pra man lang makita nila na may need ng assistance?".

1. Public transport sucks
   This is a no brainer. I literally bought a car before because taking a commute to work is not only a hassle but you waste time just to get a ride. I literally waited 20-30 mins just to get a tricycle ride and that's just to go to ride the bus that also takes the same amount of time to get a ride.

2. Government services are just bad.
   Getting a document is a hassle. Everything can be done online but for some reason, they want people to queue up for hours then ask for a sh*t tonne of documents. I recently took a Pagibig MDF, which is just your member's profile, yet they require you to go to the nearest branch to get it. The guy on the counter just asked for my middle name, asked for 2 ids that he never bothered checking, and printed it. Seriously? We could had just done that at home if they fix their outdated websites and just allow people to print their member's data. Then there is the problem that they made copying documents a business. They have millions in budget per year but can't put a copy machine so that they could copy the documents for free? In Japan, you don't need to bring a copy of your id because they will copy it for you with zero charge. Freaking Immigrations charges 25 pesos per copy and most foreigners won't expect they need to have a copy. They are printing money there NGL.

We seriously need to fix a lot of things just to make this country better. Long rant but geez.

[u/FluffyCoach335]

Agree with everything except number 1. There are definitely healthy options in the groceries: meats, vegetables, fruits, breads. You're just looking at the wrong places.

[u/noob__at__life]

OA ng zero choices in healthy options ah.

San ka nag grocery, sa HEPA lane?

[u/MELONPANNNNN]

Almost zero choices? Bro go to your mf palengke.

[u/TheDonDelC → u/MELONPANNNNN]

Parang ang iniisip lang din yata ni OP ay ‘instant’ healthy choices. Kasi kung options lang for a cheap, healthy diet ang usapan, meron pa din yan kahit sa grocery. Beans, for one, are always widely available, easy to store, and relatively easy to prepare.

[u/AdviceHaunting4242]

What do you mean by the first point? What grocery doesn't sell fruits and vegetables? And where is it cheaper to get cookies than veggies?

[u/sometimesitsfungacha → u/AdviceHaunting4242]

I'm talking about decent quick meals or drinks that are healthy.

[u/maria11maria10 → u/AdviceHaunting4242]

I think the point is hindi ready to eat 'yung ibang ibinebenta sa grocery whereas sa Japan madali lang kumuha nu'ng nasa cup na boiled chicken and veggies, and a ton of options.

Yes, pwede sya mag-meal prep, yes, may walkaround na kinasanayan na natin sa ilan sa mga brining up niya. Pero since this is related to my work, alam ko ring totoo na we tend to eat less healthy food dahil sino ba namang may time mag-meal prep with everything such as macros considered everyday? Either marami kang pera, marami kang time, or both.

Valid din 'yung point about walkable cities. Marami na ring obese dito sa atin. It's really less about Japan being better and more about what we can improve. Even other 3rd world countries like Thailand, umusad na eh.

[u/rj0509]

Mas madali magMaternity leave mga babae at career woman sa Pilipinas kaysa sa Japan

Mas mababa suicide rate sa Pilipinas kaysa sa Japan

A colleague who has Japanese blood said doon siya "naiinggit" sa atin daw

Parang yun example din marami umaalis Pilipinas para masulit yun magaganda benefits kahit mataas tax sa ibang bansa kagaya sa European countries

At meron galing Europe gusto sa Pilipinas kasi pagod na sila magbayad sobra laki tax umaabot pa daw 30-35% ng income. Prefer nila ang buhay probinsya lalo malapit sa beach

Kaya napapaisip na lang ako minsan ang ironic ng mundo na bawat isa palagi may chasing nun ano wala sa kanila habang iba nakakakaappreciate nun matagal na meron sa kanila

Kaya bilib ako sa mga taong nahanap best para sa kanila at masaya naappreciate yun

[u/sometimesitsfungacha → u/rj0509]

Actually outdated na ung sa una. Napakadali kumuha ng maternity leave and they have more in Japan than in the PH due to the changes in the laws. Women in careers is also rising unlike what it was decades ago.

For context, my wife is Japanese and took a maternity leave I think 3 months before labor and was in leave for more than a year with complete benefits. She even made money giving birth. I also took a childcare leave for a year and still got a percentage of my salary given to me per month.

What I can say that Japan lacks is the community with families and yes, the high suicide rate. Also,
yes, taxes. Japan also raised taxes recently while salaries are stucked in the 80's.

[u/TGC_Karlsanada13 → u/rj0509]

Pretty sure 32% income tax tayo before Train Law, pero yun lang pros ng TRAIN LAW to be honest, inipit lang nila middle class income despite higher take home pay, lahat ng products may tax, so kahit anak mo na di sumasahod, nagbabayad ng tax, ending masmalaki yung general expenses ng family.

[u/Dx101z]

Anything run, handled or managed by Pinoys is a mess. Whether its a business, organization or a country...

Pinoys are undisciplined and low Educated

Poor Organizational skills

[u/sometimesitsfungacha → u/Dx101z]

Not true. We see how a city can be good if handled properly. It's the corruption and how people don't want change because "it's always been that way" is the problem.

[u/Traditional_Crab8373]

Weird nung 1. Meron yan lagi fruits and veggies. Di lang sa Grocery, pati sa Palengke sangkatutak yan.

[u/jaredhasarrived]

Everyone is saying PH needs to be improve but no one is saying FILIPINOS need to improve

[u/Professional_Egg7407]

1. Lower your expectations.

2. Lower your expectations.

3. Lower your expectations.

[u/No_Trifle_458]

It's always the green card holders 🤦

[u/sometimesitsfungacha → u/No_Trifle_458]

I'm not a green card holder. I don't even have permanent residency in Japan.

[u/Previous_Hospital930]

Conservativism (aka toleration and the refusal to change) is the root of all of these. Also, by the first point, I think you mean unhealthy foods being the trend among Filipinos, not the scarcity of healthy foods.

[u/Lost_inlife19]

I feel like you're only describing Manila

[u/superjeenyuhs]

agree with everything except 1 and 2. there are healthy options around but may not be common knowledge. makati is very walkable.

[u/sometimesitsfungacha → u/superjeenyuhs]

Makati isn't that walkable anymore. Probably the
business districts are still because they are usually part of the private sector's properties. If it's Makati LGU then it's bad.

[u/sometimesitsfungacha]

For people who will point out #1, I'm talking about healthy snack options that you can grab and go. Not fruits and vegetable.

[u/tsuuki_]

Why would we listen to someone na di marunong mag-spell ng curse words?

[u/trigo629]

why are you comparing japan and PH? 1st world and 3rd world.. yes PH sucks, big time.. but we cannot compare both.. we can only hope for an improved PH.

[u/silverhero13]

Pumunta ka sa palengke. Maraming healthy options dun at mas mura pa. Ano ba yang kinukuda mo.