Edward Musiak’s Post

This is one of the reasons many of us are seeking remote jobs. our days are consumed by commuting. On average, we lose around 12 hours daily, with heavy traffic in the morning and again in the afternoon, only to arrive home exhausted and receive just the bare minimum in return.

Your view of the Filipino also speaks a lot about you, Edward Musiak I am not granted any right to say this but I steal the liberty to say, Mabuhay, Kuya Ed:)

I am proud to hear Filipinos being so called "resilient" but this word has been coined by politicians, outsiders to manipulate us to be stupid. Here's the fact: many of us Filipinos are just afraid to speak up so we simply sucked- it -up all the difficulties in life. Many of us do not have the voice to go against corrupt politicians, greedy businesses and left no choices but to embrace whatever bull*hit* these money vampires thrown at us and allow ourselves to be called resilient! :) :)

The toxic environment is already part of the culture. Ex. there are some superiors that will not allow their subordinates to take leave of absence if someone in their family is sick. The superior will sometimes gives sarcastic reasoning "are you a doctor?" Why are they acting this way??? The answer is simple, they have been treated the same way in the past. In short, in the Phillipines, there is a loop of throwing garbage generation to generation. Way back in the year 2009 wherein there was global recession, our company suffered a lot, imagine from 50 + personnel we're down to less than 10. During our weekly meeting, I often heard our manager says "if you don't like our policy right now, THE DOOR IS WIDE OPEN".

When I worked at the Bureau of Internal Revenue in 1999, I had a 15 minute walk to work, often noting the kids of those living it rough being washed by mothers/fathers in the street. However, after arriving at work, the office workers had their meirinda (little breakfast), in which I joined, after a 2 hour commute; similar in the afternoon before departing for home. With dimmed lights, caught up on sleep at their desks during lunchtime. And yet they still performed and shared their meals with me; no wonder I married a Filipina 25+ years ago.

After almost 30 years of working in Manila, I’m grateful to finally be back in the province, happily working from home.

After 3 years working in the Philippines corporate, I started to think the biggest talent drain in the Philippines isn’t skills - it’s commuting time, which leaves people exausthed even before starting the working shift

The Other Side of Resilience Resilience is a word often used to describe us, Filipinos. We are admired for our ability to smile through hardship, to rebuild after calamity, and to carry on despite challenges. Yet, beneath this pride lies a sobering truth. We have learned resilience not because we had strong support, but because we often had none. In the absence of a government we can fully count on, resilience became our survival tool. For years, politicians have pointed to our resilience as proof of hope—when in reality, it is also a reflection of neglect. It is easier for them to praise our strength than to take responsibility for their weakness. But resilience is not resignation. It is not meant to excuse broken systems or poor leadership. Our capacity to endure should remind us of what we truly deserve: a government that matches the strength of its people.

I feel this deeply. As a Filipino, I know the daily struggle—long commutes, heavy traffic, and the sacrifices we make even before the workday begins. Thank you for sharing this perspective and for recognizing what Filipinos go through.

I feel so inspired and proud to be a Filipino, because there are many good people out there—especially foreigners—who understand and acknowledge our struggles as the “Masang Pilipino.” Back in 2017, I was one of those commuters enduring long hours of traffic just to get to work and return home at night. It was exhausting, but I pushed myself to deal with it every day for more than 10 years. Now, I want to work closer to my rented place because I don’t want to grow old rushing every day just to make a living. At 40, I know I’m not getting any younger, and I need to prioritize my health. Life may be tiring, but I still strive for a better life—to eat three meals a day, to buy myself new clothes and shoes every Christmas, to afford medicine, and to save even a little “barya” for emergencies. As long as there are good-hearted people out there who believe in us, we Filipinos will continue standing, fighting, and hoping for a better future. Thank you, Sir for your inspiring insight about Filipinos 🫶