Thanks for your reply.
I don't know a lot about the Philippines, but from what I have seen there is a massive divide between the poor and the middle classes / rich. To the extent that neither side can genuinely understand how the other half lives. So while I do not entirely believe her, I do believe that unless you have a degree your are open only for menial jobs on povery wages and with no protection against exploitation under the law. In fact I don't think there are many countries in which it would be worse to be poor.
