Filipino Teacher in the UK

Heatwave in the UK🇬🇧
Yes, half day mi ugma!! HAHA tungod 34 deg ugma diri… dzai init man jud sa pinas noh, pero ang kainit sa UK kay mamaak ug managpa! Haha perti jd alimuota, mas alimuot sa iyang nawong! 🥴🤣

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Honestly, gi-kompleto naman sa Pinas ning problema oi. Papahulaya sa ta aning sakit sa dughan bi!😔

And sadly, this is not the first time we've heard of violence happening in or around schools. Instead of waiting for another tragedy, I think it's time we start having serious conversations about school safety, bullying prevention, and how students and teachers should respond during emergencies like this.

Here in the UK, guns are heavily restricted, but incidents involving knives still happen. That is why schools regularly conduct lockdown drills and teach both students and staff what to do in case of an emergency.

At first, I found these drills scary and unnecessary. But later, I realised that preparedness is not about living in fear. It is about knowing how to protect yourself and others when the unexpected happens.

I also believe that we need to look at the root causes. Bullying, unresolved conflicts, mental health struggles, and violence should never be ignored or brushed aside. Correcting harmful behaviour early and creating safe spaces for students to speak up can make a huge difference.

Maybe it's time for us to consider the same.

No parent should worry about whether their child will come home safely from school.

No teacher should have to fear for their life while doing their job.

And no student should grow up thinking violence in schools is normal.

Praying for everyone affected by this tragic incident. 🙏🇵🇭

🇬🇧 𝐌𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐎-𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 "𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘" 🇬🇧

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: These are based on MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES living and working here in the UK. Baka iba ang experience ng iba, pero eto ang mga narealize ko so far. Naa napuy masuko ani.🤭😘

𝟏. 𝐈𝐓,𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃! 🥶🤣
Four seasons daw ang UK pero honestly, parang cold at less cold lang ang peg niya. 😂 Even during summer, bilang lang sa daliri ang mga araw na mainit talaga. Kaya if you're planning to move here, i-ready n'yo na ang jumper at coat n'yo! 🤭

𝟐. 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓! 🤩
Seeing places like Big Ben, London Eye, Tower of London, and many others in person feels completely different from seeing them in photos or movies.

At bilang isang Harry Potter fan, jusko! Talagang napatalon ako sa saya nung makarating ako dito! 🤭🤣

Wala akong pake kung mukha akong tourist or ignorante kasi hello, first time ko naman! 😂

𝟑. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐊 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐏. 💸
Everything is expensive here..rent, transport, bills, and groceries.

Yes, you earn pounds, but you also spend pounds.

For example, one eggplant here costs around 89p, which is about ₱71 kung gagamit tayo ng £1 = ₱80.

Pero bakit eggplant ang example? Wala lang. Favorite ko kasi siyang gawing ensalada at torta! 🤭🤣

𝟒. 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐔𝐒𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄. 😊
I often hear passengers say "thank you" to the bus driver before getting off.

Kapag may nabangga silang tao, automatic may "sorry."

Kapag naligaw ka at humingi ng directions, most people are willing to help.

So kung balak mong pumunta dito, practice your thank you and sorry already! 🤭

𝟓. 𝐍𝐎 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐑. 🤭🤣
Whether you're wearing shorts, crop tops, or kahit mauna pa ang tummy mo paglabas ng bahay, nobody really cares.

Walang mangja-judge sayo.

Kanya-kanyang trip lang dito.

Honestly, nakakagaan siya ng pakiramdam kasi walang pakialamanan. 🤭

𝟔. 𝐈𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐄𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐘. 🥹
Even if you live close to Central London, many shops close early.

Pagdating ng 8PM, tahimik na ang paligid.

Ikaw nalang mahihiyang lumabas at mag-ingay. 😂

At wala ka ring kapitbahay na pwedeng ka-maritesan dahil karamihan busy sa work o sa family.

Minsan peaceful, minsan medyo lonely din. 🥹

𝟕. 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒. ✈️🥹
Travelling from the Philippines to the UK and vice versa is exhausting.

Dati may direct flights na around 14 hours, pero ngayon karamihan may layover na.

That means 18–24 hours or more ang biyahe.

At mahal pa ang pamasahe!

Off-peak season nasa around £500–£800.

Peak season can go up to £800–£1,600!

Kaya kung balak mong umuwi ng Pinas, magplano ka na nang maaga.

At sa mga susundo sa OFW, wag n'yo naman agad kaladkarin sa gala ha! 🤣

Bigyan muna ng tulog at konting pahinga.

Pero chocolates? Meron yan syempre! 🤭🤣

𝟖. 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐋𝐃... 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆. 🏰
There are lots of old houses, buildings, and even household items here.

Why?

Because they preserve their history.

Even their pubs and clubs have that old-school vibe.

At yung mga pull-string light switches nila? Ang cute kaya! 🤭🤣

𝟗. 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃. ⏰
Filipino time doesn't work here! 🤣

Most things require appointments.

I was once 5 minutes late for my GP appointment and muntik na akong hindi tanggapin!

Lesson learned.

Now, I arrive at least 15 minutes early. 😂

𝟏𝟎. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓. 😅
Before moving here, akala ko okay na okay ang English ko.

Confident ako na maiintindihan ako ng lahat.

Pagdating ko dito...

NGANGA. 🤣🤣🤣

Because people have different accents depending on where they live.

So you learn to adjust.

Ikaw ang dayo sis, ikaw ang mag-aadjust! 🤭

𝟏𝟏. 𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄. ☺️
Based on my personal experience, hindi ko pa na-feel na na-discriminate ako because of my race.

There are laws against racism which help many people feel safe and protected.

Of course, iba-iba pa rin ang experience ng bawat tao, pero so far, okay naman ang experience ko dito.

𝟏𝟐. 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄. 🏥
One thing I appreciate here is healthcare.

Sa experience ko, hindi mo kailangang maglabas agad ng malaking halaga kapag nagkasakit ka.

May mga babayaran pa rin depende sa situation, pero at least hindi ka mababaon agad sa utang dahil lang nagkasakit ka.

𝟏𝟑. 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄. 📚
Education is free from primary to secondary school.

As a teacher, nakita ko talaga kung gaano karaming support ang ibinibigay sa mga students.

There are so many resources available to help them succeed.

At nakakatuwang makita iyon as an educator. ❤️

𝟏𝟒. 𝐈𝐓,𝐒 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄. 🚗
As long as you follow the rules, driving here feels safe.

Makikita mo talaga ang discipline ng drivers, especially sa roundabouts.

Everyone knows when to give way.

Hindi uso ang "bahala na" mentality.

Hindi rin Fast and Furious ang peg dito! 🤣🤭

𝟏𝟓. 𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒. 🫶
Mental health is important here.

At work, they try their best to make sure you're okay and not burnt out.

Kapag off ka, OFF ka.

Walang guilt.

Walang pressure na mag-overtime nang walang bayad.

And honestly?

Nakakapanibago siya sa una.

𝟏𝟔. 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄. 🥹❤️
Simple in the sense na may work-life balance.

Yung hindi mo kailangang dalhin lagi ang trabaho sa bahay.

Yung okay lang magpahinga kapag may sakit ka.

Yung imbes na tanungin ka nang paulit-ulit kung bakit ka absent, sasabihan ka pa ng:

"Bless you."
"Hope you feel better soon."

𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐊 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

Pero minsan, ang totoong "dream country" isn't about perfection.

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. ❤️🇵🇭🇬🇧

Dugangan ra nako ni akong list ha? Nya na kay huna-huna sa ko. 🤣🤭😘

𝐍𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞

Medals fade, but the safety and dignity of our athletes must never be compromised. True victory is building a sports culture where every athlete is protected, respected, and empowered.

Reforms we keep promising: A call to finally build safe sports in the Philippines The deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili should not become another entry in that weary script. We have grieved. We have asked what went wrong. Now, we must finally answer with action.

HAHAHA kaluoy pd oi, BRUH nalang ang natubag. 😅

‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐝. 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞. ❤️

If you plan to go abroad, enjoy every fruit in your hometown while you still can.

Because when you move to another country, you won't be shocked by the weather alone...

You'll be shocked by the price of fruits too.🥴

Balimbing at bayabas na pinipitas lang natin sa kapitbahay sa Pinas...

Pero dito? Ang mahal pala!

See?

𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐝, 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐭.

Baka wala ka pa sa tamang lugar kung saan tunay na nakikita at pinahahalagahan ang worth mo.

Just like these fruits.

𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞.
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

£1 x 80php

𝐏𝐎𝐕: 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞:🇬🇧

“Sorry I’m late miss, a bird pooped on me & my friend and we had to clean it off.”

At this point, I’m not even mad.

I’m just wondering…

Giunsa man ninyo pagtiming nga kamong duha gyud ang naigo? 💩😂

Unsa man, pasayluon ni o dili? 😭🤣

🇬🇧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐊

One thing I really appreciate about schools in the UK is that learning isn’t limited to academic subjects.

During form time (similar to advisory time in the Philippines), students learn practical life skills that they may one day use to save someone’s life.

Today, our students learned CPR.

Yes, CPR.

They learned what to do if someone is not breathing normally, when to call emergency services, and how to perform chest compressions correctly.

Imagine being 12 or 13 years old and already knowing how to respond proactively during emergencies instead of panicking or waiting for adults to take action.

Tragedies like what happened recently in the Philippines remind us that emergencies can happen anytime. While we cannot prevent every tragedy, equipping young people with life-saving skills such as CPR and basic first aid empowers them to respond quickly, confidently, and responsibly when every second counts.

I think this is one of the strengths of the UK education system.

Schools don’t just prepare students to pass exams.

They prepare them for life.

𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫:

What if life skills like CPR, basic first aid, financial literacy, and mental health awareness were given more emphasis during advisory time in Philippine schools?

Because sometimes, the most important lessons are not found in textbooks.

They’re the lessons that help us become responsible, compassionate, and prepared human beings. ❤️

𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. 🐱

Yesterday during our department meeting, one of my colleagues shared that her cat was hospitalized, and honestly, that was everyone's concern before the meeting even started.

Naol.

No chismis.
No siraan.

Just people who care deeply, mind their own business, and protect their peace. 😌