I left my native Philippines in 1987. I was in my early twenties then and very young. Unlike the millions of Filipinos who left before me, I left not because I was in search of a better future nor did I want to provide for my family. I left simply because I wanted to travel and see the world.

I did aim on not returning to the Philippines. I first went to Madrid, Spain with a scholarship from the Spanish Government to pursue graduate studies in Spanish. Just before I completed my fourth year stay in Europe, I was granted my immigrant visa to join my family who had earlier emigrated to the San Francisco Bay Area.

I do not doubt I made the right choice in coming to the US. I cannot say that where I live now is absolutely perfect. Far from it, American society has its share of problems like unemployment, poverty, homelessness, and the scariest of all, violence in the streets. Then again, I ask myself, which country doesn't? I can say though that it is the country where I feel most appreciated and respected. I feel very much at home here and I find Americans some of the kindest citizens next to my fellow Filipinos. I do relish America's meritocracy. Here, my value lies in what I have done and achieved, not on which family I come from nor my last name. San Francisco is home now and there is no place in the world where I feel the same affinity to. In fact, I have lived in it longer than I have lived in Manila.

I have returned to the Philippines to visit a number of times. While visiting, I cannot help but feel like a king with the strength of my hard earned US dollars over the Philippine peso. What may have seemed expensive to my family and me back when we lived there, everything suddenly appears so cheap and affordable. My family, friends and I do agree that living in the Philippines is better when one has a lot of money. To think, over there I can have servants who can cook and clean for me for not much. On the other hand, I have lived nearly thirty years without them now and I am happier for it. I don't have to depend on other people for my daily survival.

There are many aspects of Philippine society I absolutely do not agree with and abhor. Corruption for one. Although the current president has done a good job of getting rid of a number of politicians who have placed their personal intentions over the welfare of the people who have voted them into power, it continues to this day from the highest offices of government to the police who work in the streets.

There are two things I truly miss about living in the Philippines. First is the food and the most important of all, our friends. Last April 2014, I returned for a quick visit and while in the community I grew up in, I could feel so much love and affection from all the people my family knew and were close to. I do admit, that sense of community is what I yearn for where I live now at times. I live in a condo building and I have neighbors who live next door, literally a few feet where I do, whom I do not know and do not see for years.

I guess leaving one's country for another is always a gamble and a risk. For me, coming to the US though was a sure bet. My dad came to school here and both my siblings chose to emigrate here earlier than I did. It was known territory so to speak. I love the Philippines and I owe it a lot. I went to school there and it's where I first learned to speak English and Spanish. The US, however, has been very good to me in a way no other country has. I don't think I could have traveled to as many countries as I have were it not for my US passport. I too went to school here. I am able to live in one of the US' most expensive cities and I am in a profession, although not as high paying and prestigious, has afforded me respect from many people. Pardon the cliché, but I think I am living the American dream.