im korean, and i'm proud of what south korea has become from its past. im still waiting for the right time for me to take a break from working and go back for several weeks. is it America? hell no. but does that make it any "less great"? no. i know several good amount of people that would actually go back and live in korea instead of here, just because. is it still considered a 3rd world country? probably... but to me its not, cuz i can do EVERY single thing here in LOS F*CKING ANGELES as i could there.

as far as the phillipines...i personally havent been there, but i have several filipino friends and coworkers. its no f*cking USA there either, but if youre doing well, they all say its a pretty chill place to live.

you say take the "motherland" feelings out and look at things for what they are... i do. but its not my fault your lack of knowledge and outside culture is your hindrance.