Government corruption and pandemic mismanagement were the main catalysts that led women in high-paying jobs to uproot their families and immigrate to Canada within months of each other. They may not have been as well connected as they were in the Philippines, but they were determined to raise their children in a country unsaddled by problems like air pollution and water scarcity.
They are part of the new diaspora—young Filipinos with successful careers leaving home in part because of their frustrations with the current state of affairs here.
Patricia (not her real name) was vice president for communications and department unit head for a big property developer in the Philippines before she traded it all in to once again be a student—the pathway she and her family took to expedite the move.
“In December 2020, my husband and I saw how the government had been mismanaging the pandemic, and how people were left to fend for themselves with very little social services despite large tax deductions from the working class,” Patricia said via email.
She worried for her young daughter’s future, as she and her husband had been sending her to a progressive school that charged close to P300,000 a year for kindergarten.
“I wondered if there were better options for her or if there was something we could do to give her better opportunities. When I computed how much taxes I’ve contributed to the country in the 20 years I have been working, it amounted to about P13 million. I asked myself, for what?”
DIY
In December, Patricia and her family flew to Canada and are still trying to get their bearings.
“My classes have started, we still have to move into our new apartment, and our daughter starts school this month.”
She and her husband are still in the process of finding jobs—full time for him and part time for her. They also plan to do volunteer services to assimilate into the community faster.
That they used to live in a high-rise condominium without a stay-in helper helped prepare them for a life of real independence, but it’s still very different from Manila, where services are cheap and plentiful.
“Everything here is DIY, there are no kuyas or ates to help out, as each professional service commands hefty fees. Commodities are more expensive so it’s better for you to eat vegetables as that’s what’s relatively cheaper,” Patricia said.
“You will need to have your own car because public transport is limited to the bigger cities, and because winter is at least half a year, it’s best to have your own mode of transport. There are so many differences—and I’ve yet to actually pinpoint similarities—but independent and self-sufficient individuals will thrive here,” she added.
For the children
Isabel (not her real name) was running her own business together with two partners before moving to Vancouver, British Columbia, in October. Like Patricia, she took the student pathway.
“We decided to relocate so that our children would have more options when they grow up and have a better life,” Isabel said.
They fell in love with Vancouver when they visited in 2019 and felt that it was a good place to raise a family because there was no pollution, it had a clean environment and a low crime rate, and the Canadian government provided subsidies, such as free education and health care.
“The people here are really nice, honest, polite, helpful and kind. We also wanted to relocate to escape third-world issues, such as water scarcity, traffic, pollution and corruption,” Isabel said.
The hard lockdown at the start of the pandemic in 2020 served as the impetus for them to fast-track their move. “The lockdown fueled this desire even more because we felt trapped and imprisoned in our home, and worried that the hospital system would be unable to assist us if we became ill with COVID,” she added.
Telling her parents and business partners was not a struggle as they were mostly supportive. They realized it was made for their children and was the best decision for their family.
“We assured them that we would return as often as possible and that it would be our top priority. Our parents realized that the available technology would make it easy for us to keep in touch, and they were already used to not seeing us physically because of the lockdown.”
In the close to six months since the relocation, Isabel and her family are adjusting relatively well. They found a place to live days after mandatory hotel quarantine, the kids are happy in their new school, her husband has a job he enjoys, and she is adjusting well to student life. Even with no family in Vancouver, they have managed to make new friends and found people who have helped them settle in.
Unlike Patricia who lives in the suburbs and said owning a car is very important, Isabel said public transportation in Vancouver is reliable and convenient. They aren’t in any rush to buy one, as car insurance for new residents is expensive.
“Trains and buses arrive on time, and you can accurately estimate your travel time. Life here is more normal, pandemic-wise. People can move around freely and all businesses are open. People feel safe and the hospital system is not overburdened,” Isabel said.
She is proud that in the short time since they arrived, her children have become more self-sufficient. They do household chores, and feel safe enough to walk to school on their own. The family maintains routines, like eating breakfast and dinner together, trying to recreate Filipino dishes and attending Mass on Sundays. They also make it a point to pray the rosary daily with family in Manila via Zoom.
Learning new skills
As regional head for a brand, Jenny (not her real name) encountered a bit of a struggle when she informed her employer about her family’s plans.
“When I first broached the idea of moving, management was not so keen since they felt I had a good position that was hard to replicate somewhere else, but they also understood that I was doing this for my family. I actually explored moving within the company, but it was taking a while to find the right opportunity,” Jenny said.
She and her husband then decided to take it upon themselves to find a path to Canada and were able to move in less than a year.
“My husband and I started considering the move to Canada around five years ago, but it was during the start of the pandemic that we decided to go for it.”
Like Patricia and Isabel, Jenny also wanted to give her children more opportunities. That they become more independent individuals in the process was a bonus. Free health care, a safer and healthier environment, a diverse and inclusive society, and better work-life balance were the other reasons that led to their decision.
“It’s the first time I am taking a break from corporate life so I am relishing my uninterrupted time with family,” said Jenny.
“I am also focusing on learning new personal skills and developing a routine for our household in preparation for the time I decide to go back to work. My family is also enjoying the beautiful scenery and attractions here, many of which are a short drive away from home.”
Permanent residency
Star (not her real name) had an enviable career in communications in Singapore. That’s why it came as a surprise to people who follow her social media when she and her family migrated to Canada last year.
“Singapore made it very challenging for foreigners like me to gain status as a permanent resident, and my existence in the country was always tied to an employment visa. This presented a major hurdle for me to really factor Singapore into my long-term plans,” she said.
She grabbed the opportunity to move when she found out that it was easier to get permanent residency in Canada.
However, her family’s application took three years to get approved, mainly because they only wanted to move to Toronto.
“Growing up, I’ve always wanted to live in North America. I’ve also had friends from Singapore migrate to Canada ahead of me. I’ve heard so many good things about the country’s quality of life,” she said. “I also really wanted my daughter to have the best education in a first-world country.”
The country’s passport was also something that she coveted. Canada is the seventh most powerful passport in the world this year, while the Philippines is at No. 77. Star intends to be a dual citizen to manage the properties she owns locally.
The most challenging part of the move was adjusting to the time zone.
“And, of course, adjusting to the weather, especially during the tough winter season,” she said.
However, Filipino food is very accessible.
Her family stayed in an Airbnb rental for the first few months. She says that they spent around $20,000 for the rent, food and a secondhand car to help them move around. After that, they had enough savings left to buy their first home.
Their savings were also the reason she wasn’t scrambling to find a job when they first came to the country.
“I wanted to land a job that utilized my skills in writing, editing, strategy, project management, but was also open to doing odd jobs if things didn’t work out,” she said.
She was hired as a global communications executive for an international brand. The network that she built throughout her career helped her secure that job.
“I’ve been lucky to reconnect with a former company that happened to have an opportunity that was a fit for my skills and experience. It was the right role at the right time,” she said.
Star said that Singapore taught her how to chase her dreams, but Canada made her appreciate living a balanced life. She said, “I’ve observed that people here are able to draw a clear line between their personal and professional lives and get to enjoy a better quality of life as a result.”
Frustrations
Em (not her real name) also moved to Vancouver from the Philippines last year. She was the principal applicant while her husband was her dependent. They took the study pathway, which requires her to complete a course for two years before they could apply for permanent residency.
It took them a year to complete the paperwork. But once they submitted the papers, they got approval for their application after 56 days. Prepandemic, the turnaround time for an application took only 30 days.
However, it was also easier to complete the requirements. There were no open centers where she could take an Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. In its place, a university in Canada accepted her Duolingo results.
Living in the Philippines became unbearable for Em. This was the main reason for their move. She recounted the difficulties of living in Bicutan and working in Bonifacio Global City.
“I used to consider myself lucky if I was able to get on a jeep, sit on a bus or ride the train during rush hour,” she said. She experienced riding an Angkas motorcycle in her corporate attire during a rainstorm.
She described the public transportation situation in Manila as a disaster. She often wondered if she deserved going through it every day.
Another cause of her frustration was the difficulty of her Egyptian husband becoming a permanent resident in the country.
“The requirements posted in the Bureau of Immigration website are outdated. Then when we finally completed all his papers, they lost his original papers. Naturally we got mad. Instead of an apology, they threatened to not process his application at all,” she said.
They ended up applying for an extended tourist visa for him, which was added expense. This kind of system, Em said, was not something she was willing for her future child to grow up in. “My frustration points to the government of the Philippines. I am not an expert in politics or economics but the struggles I’ve mentioned can be fixed by the government,” she said.
They had savings in the bank when they moved to Canada. They spent roughly $12,000 to get settled, including her tuition. Em said that their monthly average spending is around $5,000, including rent, food, transportation and Philschool expenses. “It’s not as easy as I thought it would be. You won’t get rich just because you moved here,” Em said.
Simpler joys
One thing Jenny has realized since moving to Canada is that they don’t need much to be happy. “Living here has given us a greater appreciation of simpler joys: a beautiful sunny day after a week of rain, the kindness of strangers, simple potlucks with friends. This also applies to our belongings as we had to pare down so much before moving. We are now more intentional about what we purchase and keep.”
For Isabel, she has learned that change can be “both frightening and beautiful.” Patricia sees the situation more pragmatically.
“It’s never too late to take chances if you’re aspiring for a better life for your children or your family. But to do something like this, you must be prepared to shed your pride— whatever high company positions or comforts you had back home—and be open to learning new things, starting from scratch and embracing a new environment,” Patricia said. INQ