Full Careers - Do you think many Filipinos give up their "dream" careers and pick something else because of money and family?

Do you think many Filipinos give up their "dream" careers and pick something else because of money and family?

Sadly I do believe this. I know my own dad wanted to join the army to become a soilder and he loves Philippines. But he gave that up to become a Physical Thyrapist. He's happy of being a PT, but over all I think he would be more satisfied if he really got what he always wanted to be. Isn't sad that money is more important than even your ownself? its so sad. If I was to choose I would rather be a poor or and middle class person satified for what I think is best for myself rather than pushing myself just for the sake of earning more more M-O-N-E-Y.

Public Comments

Yeah, I think it happens in our culture a lot, and in many other cultures where children live with their family past 18. Its seems like we grow up with a guilt if we move off and do our own thing after 18, and many people feel like they owe it to their parents to do as they say. Its just the culture I guess.
this is true of 90% of all people, no matter what their nationality.
That is true is some cases. But sometimes it's not always what we want or like or feel, it's about how it's going to affect the situation and people around us. And just like the guy above me said, not just Filipino but also people from other country especially the one who comes from 3rd world country. Someday you will understand why people choose different career path so they can help their family, and just because they choose to help their family doesn't mean they're not happy. It's a great satisfaction to know that you can do something for your love ones before you think of your own self. And there is always a reward to people who are not selfish. It's nice to know that you are independent and you know what you want but think about it, you will not be where you are and you won't be enjoying the things that you enjoy right now if your dad didn't do what he was supposed to do.
Of course they do, just like any other peoples. Why do you think 15% of the population of Mexico has moved north into the United States ?? I'll bet, if they could provide for their families in Mexico - and IF Mexico wasn't so crime ridden and corrupt - over 30 million Mexican folks living in the United States would return to their homeland. Most nationals (including Filipinos) learn a trade, migrate to where they can earn a good living - and then someday retire back in their homeland - OR bring their skills back. Your father did what he thought was best for his family - that's a great dad - remember him on Father's Day ok?
Yes I think this, I am filipino when I was there there were whores on the street i asked my mother about it she told me since they didn't have enough money to get an education they sold their body's to people for money. So some could also provide for family...it is very sad, when I get older I want to go to Philippines again i want to go to help families with educations and money.
I think your dad made a choice, not for him but for the mouths he had to feed. Sure it would be very honorable of him to join the Armed forces, but where is the money for your daily needs in soldiering? But who the hell am I to say that, I don't even know your dad. Yes, this is a reality that Filipinos face everyday. My Philippine-educated nurse co-workers all tell me that they went to nursing school with a lot of doctors, some of them have been practicing surgery for decades. And why do they go a level down? The M to the O to the N to the E to the Y. You must really want to be a doctor to become one in the Phlippz and imagine what they are giving up just to earn more money. It's more of a brave sacrifice than an act of cowardice. ADDITIONAL: I think the problem here is that when you say "Filipinos are giving up their dreams for money", you think they become unhappy with this. A lot of Filipinos leave their beloved professions and go clean some caucasian guy's toilet, so he can send his kids to college, so they won't have to clean toilets for a living. And that is where they derive satisfaction from. You mentioned that you'd rather be poor than to give up your dream. But yourself aside, would you have the heart to deprive your children (you'll have some in the future, believe me) of a better life. Just because I can live off of ramen noodles and crackers does not mean I would confine my kid's menu to this. If your dream will guarantee you riches then go for it. But the fact is, Filipinos aren't paid in proportion to what they do. This would include the Armed servicemen, where your dad wanted to be in. My father was in law-school when my mother got pregnant. He had no other way to support her but to give up his studies, head for England and work at an off-shore oil drilling rig (this was in the late 70s). I'm proud of him for doing so and I respect him more because of it. I think you should be proud of your dad, too.
i think it's regardless of race. .
It's really appalling, i know! But when a person has a lot of responsibilities he can't stay away from the opportunities to give his family a better life especially at this time where it is very expensive to live! Disregarding his own sake and giving up his "dream career" is a heroic measure just to make sure his family is ok. On the other hand, his family needs to give importance on what he has done and spending their money wisely and thinking about their future,
There are various reasons why many choose money over career. You can't blame them for choosing those paths. Circumstances forced them to make a decision. Majority of their reason is to help their families. A lot of students today are taking up caregiver & nursing courses because of the promise of high salaries if they work abroad. Their remittances help their families who rely on them to uplift their situation. It's not their fault that they had to give up their dream jobs but some still pursue it. I've met people who worked for prestigious companies but decided to move on & try their luck at entrepreneurship. It's not all a sad story. Many are happy endings.
yes.. im experiencing it ryt now.. im at the point where the courses i take in grade 11 affect my choices in post-secondary.. i really want to become a doctor.. but since it takes such a long time (22 years to be a specialist) i hav decided to go for engineering.. my family back home is in a tight pinch.. and i hav no time to pursue my dream.. and they really need financial aid.. and hey.. family comes first.. it is sad that people give up dreams but yes.. it exists
Yes that is a fact of life here.It happened to me in two ways. I have to give up my dream career because of the lack of money to pursue it.and itook up another because it provides a good income. At first I was unhappy and miserable.I did not like my job and kept thinking of what I forsook just because of money. I kept wondering what might have been if I pursued the career I have always wanted. Now,with a family to console me I have accepted the fact.I am at peace with myself,sometimes you have to give up your dreams in exchange for a higher cause-your loved ones. Cheers and peace!
Sorry to hear... I love your question!
Yes Grace, we have the same feeling. Even though I have my own family now, I still want to be from middle class and below. As said by purple tactics above (family comes first), I made an ultimate sacrifice to move to another country for the sake of my kids. Their future will come first. Me and my wife had very good positions there 2 years ago. We can sustain them in the best schools there, needs and wants. Then the time came that we're both interviewing applicants for our respective vacancies in our companies. One vacancy for accounting clerk, we will receive no less than a thousand applications. Graduates of the best schools were already competing for the position. That's was not the case about 15 years ago. We started to ask ourselves more than 10 times this question, Will our kids reach the position that we reached when they grow up? We asked this question because we believe that you must have a good position in a company to be able to sustain their own needs and future family. Most of the times, we answered no. Just an idea before leaving the country, my family are both covered with medical and insurance from our respective companies. Me and my wife can get brand new cars every 5 years. (70% company expense, 30% our own share) We have both representation expenses but we moved on. It was more harder for me because it took a lot of hardwork, luck and prayers before reaching my position. And I know if I will transfer to another country, we have to start all over again. We gambled to another country knowing that we have no friends and relatives. The only motivational factor to keep us going, our kids. We cried a number of times due to adjustment in all things but we have to move on. Its good Australia and Australians are very nice to migrants. The discrimination is very, very minimal. You can talk to the Aussies anywhere. Start a coversation without being looked down to. As they say it, everybody must have their 'fair go'. We met some Filipinos who helped us but there will always be Aussie's that are willing to help us the best way they can. This experience made things easier for us to adjust here. Back to your question, I still do not want to be rich, I just want to sustain my family, relatives and 'friends' back home. As long that I am consistently helping my parents, some of siblings and friends, can sustain the needs of my family, I am happy not to have any savings at all.
Yes, just look at what course people take.... you know, BS-NURSING!! Most of the students take nursing (that's why in the future there will be a gazillion Filipino nurses) because they believe that it will help them to support their family in the future without thinking that someday there will be too many nurses and no jobs will be available.
I swear.... People here needs to understand that just because a particular question like this is in a certain country category, the Asker is specifically talking about a certain place. Why do you others here need to mention about other nations? It's not like the Asker doesn't know that nor is he/she concerned about them. My goodness! Even if there are other countries with the same status (in this case, like Phils.), it does not change the fact that there may be some things that makes each place slightly different from others. And yes, it can be somewhat true that one must sacrifice their own career if and only if he/she has no other option to help a beloved one(s). Like if they were threatened, for example. That, however, is the sole person's choice. But other than that, even if one was capable to obtain a good-paying job while his/her family to send it to them, it won't exactly do much if the family lives in a corrupt country. How can a handful of well-payed workers affect a country like the Phils. when all they do is send their salaries away to their relatives who in turn will use it up for essential things (ex. bills) - that will eventually be collected via businesses in which there are chances that the collected money can be used for something bad by those in high authority - as we know, the governement there is centralized, isn't it? What should be the top priority for such a country is to directly fix the problem(s). Then again, people are cowards when confronting powerful people. So of course it's a convenient choice to go for something else. And when there are discontent lifestyles within a country/place, the people who are affected are physically and mentally affected. So here goes the belief that one owes so much to their parents since they were raised throughout the harsh life that they must find a way to compensate, no matter what or how it can ruin one's wish. While I do believe that if you loved someone, you can show your gratification in any way possible, but for this topic, it's a matter of what one believes. Most of the responses here were rather subjective (hahaha!). One can't just say that the good latter that shows love and care is always right. There will be times when that choice is all wrong.
Money should not be the be-all and end-all in the life of a person, but, in these trying times, we need money to exist - to survive. So it is very understandable why so many have given up their dreams, their dream careers, for other courses or degrees where they know they can easily find work. In the Philippines, poverty is rampant although the government insists this is not true and refuses to accept the truth. Some families are forced to send their children to take up associate courses, not a bachelor's degree because taking up a bachelor's degree is expensive. Therefore, those who wish to take up nursing are forced to take up a nurse's aide course. Everyone is in a hurry to finish a two-year course so that they can find work immediately. Some others stop schooling to find work not only to provide for their own needs but for their families as well. This is the usual occurence in poverty-stricken Philippines.