Opinion Polls
By Marichel Teves-Magalona

What makes you choose to remain in Iloilo or in the Philippines and not migrate to another country?

JOEMARI TREÑAS
Family and friends!

JACKIE WONG-TINSAY
Home is where the heart is. Family and friends are important. We should not lose hope in our country. There is a lot of good in it.

ERIC DELOS SANTOS
Coz I have my family and friends here, and money or greater opportunities can't replace the way they make my life worth living for.

ALEX OPPURA
I am a FILIPINO. “THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME”

BOBBY HARDER
Maybe angkan akech ng mga bayaning Pilipino. And I'm very nationalistic. Chuz Chuz Chuz karos. I'm very Filipina. Hahaha! Sarswela de Mariscos!

DR. FREDDIE LOPEZ
I'm about to retire and just want to finish what I have started. If I were younger, I would have left.

CLEMENTE TAN
No alternative. It's the only choice I have.

BO PARCON
As of now, my heart is still in the Philippines . I can go from Iloilo to Manila and vice versa. But migrating to other countries is not yet on top of my list. I'm still happy here. In what I have and in everything that I do.

DON PROTACIO
I choose to be here because it feels right for now. I'm not yet in a point where I'm compelled to go abroad and migrate. I'm still creatively fulfilled here, so why leave?

EUGENE JAMERLAN
A greatly devalued peso.

CHRISTIA ABLONA
Playing badminton!

ELIZA JUNE VERDE-PAGTANAC
Because we don't have a choice. Hehehe. Actually this is what we call HOME.

MARTIN STUMMER
The many young, crispy and sexy chicks!

JOSIE CARAM
Iloilo is home to me and my family. The relatively slow pace of life here makes it a conducive place to raise our kids in.

CANDY CAMPOS
There's no place like “home”, our country. Matter of personal sacrifice for my kid being a single parent, don't want to leave her in a day care center. Anyway, you still can earn here if you are hardworking. Spending quality time with my kid is more than all the riches in this world.

DESIREE BRETAÑA
This is HOME!

CALOY BORJA
Cause they made it so darned difficult to get a visa!

CARMEL CASTAÑARES
Perhaps I am still in the Philippines because I choose to be one of the mutants among the species of apathetic and hopeless Filipinos. Kidding aside, our kababayan's vibrant faith, sense of humor, warm hearts and joyful spirit makes living in the Philippines for now bearable. In our country, one can still hear hearty laughter of children in playgrounds and schools. It's still normal to receive smiles from strangers in buses and jeepneys and it's effortless to start a conversation with them. Most of all, walang balut, bagoong and “islet-hopping in Guimaras” outside the Philippines , diba?

JANE CAMPOS-JARANTILLA
I still choose to stay here in my country for one, I'm not that young anymore. Here I am a true citizen. Outside, no matter what, you'll be a second class citizen. Outside, life is sad. You work and work and life is not balanced. Here we work but we can still chat and laugh after because we have a breaktime. You go malling alone, you eat alone… ka subo gid! Another thing, we have a beautiful climate. Here life is harder compared before. But if you know how to budget, you'll still enjoy and have time for yourself, family and friends. So all we have to do is work harder these days.

JONAH JERUSALEM
It is the feeling of freedom. In my own country I am not bound by immigration and other laws that I am not familiar with. Plus of course so many reasons that I could not explain. Well, it's just that I am in a habitat that I am very comfortable with.

JAY CERTEZA
Well some people have to stick around and help the country get back on its feet. And try to stop it from going further down the toilet.

ARLENE JUANTONG
I learned to love the country where I was born. Besides, I think it is still the best place to live with all the comfort, friendly people and scenic beauty. It's non comparable although with so many downside in government. It's still a nice place. No immediate need to migrate.

DODO DIMAGUILA
The people, the culture, the identity. It may sound corny but I still believe in the Ninoy Aquino saying… “The Filipino is worth dying for”

JOHN CASTIGADOR
Iloilo , Philippines is where home is. I was born a Filipino and I'll die a Filipino. While other countries may offer more opportunities, working and living here has less pressure! Besides, why go when in staying we can make our city and country rise above their problems, n'est ce pas?

DENNIS GARGANERA
I'm contented with what I earn and at the same time having my family with me here in Iloilo . Going out would mean big bucks but being alone in a strange land.

ELMA TANEÑA
Well, I always believe in the saying that there is no place like home. Although my parents, brothers and sisters are there, I prefer to stay because I have already established my family here and I don't want to start all over again. Here I can play golf whenever I want to or prefer to stay home instead and sleep all day long. Didto imo sugo, imo pati.