Quote Originally Posted by Iani View Post

2. Has Manila got a growing base of higher earners? No, not yet anyway. It's a well known problem that a huge percentage of the population get out and work abroad just to try give their families a better future. I'm as upset about that situation as anyone on here, and more than a bit at the places many end up. I don't know if it's ever affected anyone else the way it affected me, but I was pretty down seeing the special queues for overseas workers at the airport. It just shows how bad things are.
I think it all is a work in progress. Barring a few obstacles, my feeling is that the country is growing and will continue to grow wealthier, year on year.

I was looking at new property in Cavite (houses) and I asked who bought the ones already sold and was told that many were Filipino OFW's, amongst others.

My wife's sister is married to an OFW. She sees little of him as a result but it gives them a chance to save some money and for him to keep his wife and child in a reasonable standard of living. Not ideal I agree, but for them it is a way out of poverty.