Living my life in Guam. How can I compare it to Philippines?
By nat1_ong
@nat1_ong (150)
Guam
December 11, 2012 8:25am CST
Actually, I was born here in Guam. But when my dad retired, we moved out and went to the Philippines and was educated there and got my degree in nursing. Now, at 23 I moved backed to the beautiful island of Guam again. My first job now was a sales clerk working part time for 4 hours so that I could review for my NCLEX board. I am working out my papers so I could take the exam hopefully next week.SCRATCH that, I really want to compare my hometown in the Philippines and Guam. In the Philippines, there are a lot of people in the road, there were a lot of commuters you see outside, there are a lot of public transportation and the traffic there was crazy. That's why when I moved back here in Guam, I was a bit shocked because this place was so solemn. You barely see people walking on the sidewalk, no sidewALK vendors, no public transportation except bus and taxi for tourist people. Guam was very westernized because of the fact that Guam is a territory of the United States. You see TacoBell, Dennys, Kmart, Ross which I cannot see in the Philippines. Well, there is Jollibee, JCo donuts and Goldilocks in the Philippines which is not located here in Guam. When I went here. Mcdonald in Guam is different. There were bottomless drinks and the ANGUS BEEF Burger is awesome. I like Tony Roma to. There were may buffet restaurants to offering international cuisine that may be compared to "Dads" in the Philippines. But when it comes to mall, I prefer the PHILIPPINES. That's what i surely miss and its not that expensive as compared here. What I love here in Guam that items here are tax free. :) Try DFS Galleria its so expensive. When it comes to tourist, I can see a lot of Asian people vacationing in Guam. Well, I only see Koreans in the Philippines because they are there to learn English and they want to visit Boracay and Palawan. But I am really happy here because I have coworkers who speak in my Filipino language so its much easier to understand them.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@berting600 (3453)
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
You have a better life there than here,because you just mentioned that there were no traffic jam,no vendors,no people walking in the sidewalks.No pollutions,no floods,typhoons,no beggars.The only thing you missed here is low prices of the goods in the groceries and department stores.We have no Angus beef here only the plain beef,which has the same cholesterol when you eat it.The only goodness of your life today is that you earn by the time record,not like here you earn monthly with a salary much more small compared to your earnings there.
@nat1_ong (150)
• Guam
11 Dec 12
Hello berting600. Yeah cost of living here is expensive. Yep no pollution here. No traffic jam. It is really a good life and you can drive easily here. I hope you could visit me here. Peace! :) I really do hope I could help Filipino when I come back. I know how hard applying jobs in the Philippines as a nurse that's why I moved here. And I know the difference of my earnings here compared to my hometown. I wish you all the best berting600. Merry Christmas.
1 person likes this
@berting600 (3453)
• Philippines
12 Dec 12
I have many cousins in the continental USA.I have a cousin in Fort Knox,Michigan, she has two sons.I have a cousin in Texas,in Miami,in California.Two of them are nurses.My niece was a nurse too,she was in California.My other cousin was working in Saudi Arabia,he was also a nurse,and marries a Filipina nurse there.I wish I can also work there,yet my age was already 54 years old.Can I still be illegible to work there?I have been a contract worker in Taiwan before.I have a brother there,and he has a business there catering to Filipino needs with goods from the Philippines.Can you help me have some work there? Please respond to me because I really needed some job.I am a Commerce graduate,and I am a retiree as of now.I studied as a massage therapist and already graduated in TESDA,a government sponsored for people who needs to have a good job,which is credited abroad.
@greenthumb018 (595)
• Philippines
12 Dec 12
You are so lucky you have two citizenship. I want to have that privilege too. Don't get me wrong, I love this country but after seeing Tokyo last August (because I had a vacation) where the streets are so clean, the weather is nice and I can go to the their city without having to cover my nose, I actually prefer living there than here. But if I get old and retire, of course I want to stay in this country but not in Manila. I prefer to live in the province near the beach.
@nat1_ong (150)
• Guam
12 Dec 12
Oh, you are lucky to see Tokyo too. God is really great to create such wonderful places to visit. Right? I hope I could visit Tokyo too, if I had a chance. It's tempting to go there because of the description you said about the city. Me too actually, I wanted to retire in the province. You gave me an idea. Because were from Aklan, why not build a house near Boracay and live there? That is if I have money to do such a thing. But I don't know. Who knows I could do that in the future. That is if blessings from above came down in a perfect time in the future.
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
12 Dec 12
The way i see it, in general, you have a better life in Guam . The place is nicer and the people are more disciplined because of the non-existence of vendors along the sidewalk.
And as you said, the the items are tax free. Thus, it makes living there more comfortable and convenient. 
Well, Guam being a territory of the US , makes it a more disciplined place to live.
Well, Guam being a territory of the US , makes it a more disciplined place to live.
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
12 Dec 12
Oh good at least you mentioned that you also like something in my country, otherwise, I will not let you come anymore. he he. You have mentioned about the traffic, yes that is only true in the highly urbanized areas but in our place, there is no traffic and there are many beautiful places that you can visit. It doesn't mean that you have seen and stayed in Manila, you already knew about Philippines. I should say you have not explore the true beauty of our country.
That is why you should come back.
@nat1_ong (150)
• Guam
12 Dec 12
Sorry for not mentioning about no traffic jams in some places like where my province resides (in Aklan). I lived in the highly urbanized areas you mentioned that's why I was talking about traffic in the Philippines most of the time. Yes, I do believe there are a lot (I mean A LOT) of beautiful places in our country. Especially in places where I visited Aklan, Baguio and Ilo-ilo. I really wish to come back and discover some of other places and experience life in my hometown.
@mrsuniega (786)
• Philippines
12 Dec 12
good to know you have a good life there in Guam. well at least you've been here in the Philippines. that's right you have mention those negative side of my country and seems that part of the Philippines is Manila always busy. not here in my province its very relaxing calm and serene. 
@nat1_ong (150)
• Guam
12 Dec 12
Yes mrsuniega. I know how serene places especially in the provinces in the Philippines are. Sorry I mentioned traffic jams, but I must specify it in a highly urbanized places where I used to live. :) I'll surely come back to explore more! Maybe I would see you in the province you live. Kidding aside. Merry Christmas
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
12 Dec 12
i am glad you presented a balanced view and i thank you in advance in your plan to come back and help.
some places are highly dependent on tourism because their size is so small and/or they have limited natural resources, that's why it's common to see many nationalities. that's why sometimes i wish our province was just a few hours outside metro manila so we can enjoy nature and quiet once in a while.
i also prefer places where i don't have to drive. i was never interested in learning how to drive. but even if the streets here are busy and noisy, you can sit out front watching the activities and don't feel alone or lonely.
with fastfood, buffets and sodas so plentiful, i hope it doesn't affect your weight.
@nat1_ong (150)
• Guam
12 Dec 12
hereandthere With the foods and beverages I mentioned, no wonder most Guamanians are kinda overweight. :) Well, for me it does affect my weight but not that much, just a little. I really want to come back to Manila especially to Provinces just like us Aklan and Iloilo. Those provinces seems comparable to paradise. Not to mention different places in the Philippines. You know it of course. If you could compare Metro Manila is still bigger than Guam. So you could go around-the-island for 3-4 hours. "Some places are highly dependent on tourism because their size is so small and/or they have limited natural resources, that's why it's common to see many nationalities." Yeah, I get it. Like Guam and few of our provinces they have great tourist spots but limited resources like water and agriculture so tourism is very indemand. So, its better to promote our own cultural products to sell so that we could help funds for the country.
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
I have friends living in Guam, although sort of transient since their husbands are in the military and are currently assigned there. And they really love the place also because of what you have mentioned especially the traffic. But there are still lots of places here in the Philippines where you won't see any sidewalk vendors and there's less hustle and bustle of people. We actually Kmart once but it closed. You'll still find TacoBell in some of the malls, and there are lots of foreign restaurants and fast food outlets. But yeah, no one has yet franchised Denny's here, and McDonald's isn't yet serving the Angus Burger. I think Angus beef is expensive. I ordered and Angus steak once and it really cost a lot. But I'm still happy here. 
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
12 Dec 12
well its quite tough,but i think as a matter of time with all rules,you will get adapted
@nat1_ong (150)
• Guam
12 Dec 12
Yes. Since I am new in the island, its tough to move out but the thing is I enjoyed living here. Will all the rules, yes it's quite different from the Philippines. Especially the traffic and road rules. But sooner or later, I know I will get used to it and be easily adapt to things coming my way.
