Filipinos, what is it like living in the UK? Any tips or practical advice?

@Brom27 I'm currently in Manila but the plan is to move to London this year. This forum should organise a meet-up at least once a year. It would be so cool to meet all of you! I would be willing to help organise as long as I'm already settled in London.

There is actually an annual barrio fiesta which is for all Pinoys in the UK and members of this forum join as well and meet up there. You can join if you can. Not sure where it'll be this year

Oh yah I've checked that before. But this website is also a community of its own

Well let's hope they'll set up one

How did you answer that? I think I've read it somewhere that they have a way of answering such question.

Good thread and good to see a lot of interaction around topics other than visas, though I appreciate why the visa topic is so popular!

It's true that London is very different to the rest of the UK, much being owed to the diversity of the population here now. This (in my opinion) has certainly contributed to some of the reasons why people are less approachable and often keep themselves to themselves. It wasn't like that when I was growing up, and you'll find some older citizens (and some young, if not wearing headphones) will still happily chat to you on buses, tubes or in the queue at the supermarket.

As for the shower / bath opinion. I've never known anyone to shower / bath less than once a day as a minimum.

For the football, it's tribal, you cannot change your team, ever!

There's a couple of barrio fiestas in London, that I know of. One in Morden, the other (bigger) is just the other side of Hampton Court Palace. Though there are others around the UK too.

If you've any questions about London living, feel free ask. I generally read this site daily, but don't comment too much, as others have more experience with Visa questions (my wife was already in UK studying).

You're not the only one who feels "not being tidy" if you skip shower. Even if I'm drunk/tipsy, I still try to make a way to get that 'half-bath'.

On the first bloke that asked me I just nod and smiled lol he probably thought I was rude. I was too shy to answer and run straight home to shout

I shower twice a day as a minimum lol can't beat that clean feeling.

Forgot to mention drinking.

The drinking culture is ages old. Almost everywhere had "community pubs", where you'd meet up with other people local to your area. This creates quite a good community spirit, lots of the community pubs in London have shut down and the premises sold, mainly due to the land value being so high. Another reason perhaps London feels less friendly?

Outside of London the community pubs are still going strong a believe.

Maybe it's my wife that told her family I like a drink, they often seem happy to get some San mig or red horse when I'm there

Haha yeah but I think it depends on the person, it's a matter of how comfortable you feel with just having one bath or no bath at all. I think it's a matter of preference

Pubs in towns are pretty much alive. Was quite surprised with the number of pubs you can find even in a small town like where I'll be staying.

Yeh very true brom27 but I gym it every day so shower after gym then shower after work my fiancé is crazy for showers too haha but I just think that's a Filipino thing of being in a hot climate and liking to be clean.

There is still a 'next time' this year to answer that golden question.
I honestly read somewhere a different kind (because it sounds alien to me) of response to that question. I can't find it and can't figure it out.

Well being a soldier keeping fit is everything That's a thing for Filipinos because it's hot here we tend to take shower if possible twice a day just to stay fresh all day long

Hahah I had a chance though as an old man asked me that again while I was walking near a river like and then I just told him I'm loving it coz it's actually sunny that time. At least I'm not that rude anymore

Yes very true and I like to stay nice fit and trim for my lady and yes true especially in that climate.

Not to mention how Englishmen drink. I once experienced this and you have a different way of paying like per rounds which is not a 'norm' in the Philippines. And tolerance for beer is quite high. *I'm not a fan of beer though.

Aww I bet. Good man. Stay attractive for your lady, and your lady alone