Why Traveling the Philippines Makes Me Feel Like a Foreigner in My Own Country

Have you ever walked down a street in your own country and suddenly felt like you were the one visiting?

Lately, I’ve been traveling around our beautiful islands—Palawan, Siargao and Boracay, to name a few. While the views are still world-class, I felt sad at times. I realized that today, it’s often easier (and cheaper!) for a Filipino to fly to Thailand or Vietnam than to visit our own white-sand beaches.

It’s a sad reality and I want to talk about it, not to complain but because it’s a feeling many of us share.

The moment I felt like a stranger

When I was in Siargao and El Nido, I noticed something immediately: there were more foreigners than Pinoys.

In some restaurants, I was the only local at a table.

It’s a strange feeling when the menus are priced in a way that targets international tourists, making a simple meal feel like a splurge for a local worker. When you add up the expensive food, high tour rates and sky-high airfare, it makes sense why many of us choose to travel abroad instead. We want to see the beauty of the Philippines but sometimes our wallets just can't keep up.

It breaks my heart a little that foreigners are the ones truly nakikinabang (benefiting) from the beauty of the Philippines. They get to stay for months, enjoying our sun and sea, while many Pinoys only see these places through a screen because the costs are just too high.

We have the best islands in the world!

I mean, look at the crystal-clear waters of Coron and the Underground River in Puerto Princesa! They are literal wonders, but it feels like we are being priced out of our own home.

Why we should still show up

Even with the high costs, I don’t want to discourage you from exploring our islands.

I know, I know....it’s hard to love the Philippines sometimes, especially with the corruption and the systems that make us feel like we aren't a priority in our own land. But if we stop going, the people who suffer the most aren't the ones at the top; it's our local boatmen, our tour guides and the small vendors.

Let's try to support the locals anyway. The "vibes" here are still unmatched. There is a specific kind of magic in watching the sunset in Siargao with a coconut in hand or island hopping in El Nido and seeing those towering cliffs for the first time. There’s even something special about diving into the clean, blue lakes of Coron.... though, full disclosure, when I say "diving," I mostly mean me floating in a life vest and praying for my life because I don’t actually know how to swim! 😂 But even if you’re just there for the view (and to stay afloat), the experience is worth it.

These locals rely on us. While it’s sad that local travel has become a luxury, our presence helps keep their small businesses and families alive.

Let’s not be strangers to our own home

If you’ve been feeling guilty for booking a flight to another country instead of a local province, I get it. We all want the best value for our hard-earned money. But if you can, try to save up for at least one local trip a year.

Let’s not let ourselves become strangers to our own islands.

The Philippines is beautiful, and it deserves to be loved and enjoyed by Pinoys first.