With their mission to give their families and loved ones a better future, many Filipinos are left with no choice to hop on an airplane and find better jobs in another country.
In a survey reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority released in October 2023, there are around 1.96 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) all over the globe. While these Filipinos are ready to face any challenges, what they find hard to overcome is the feeling of homesickness.
To go through the emotional distress, OFWs band together and create communities in these foreign spaces to give themselves a sense of home. One of the strongest Filipino communities can be found in Macau. Exploring that scene is Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post with its latest video centering on what is called Philippine Street in Macau.
As its name suggests, Philippine Street is a hotspot for the Filipino community. It is home to many Filipino-led businesses, like restaurants and salons, bringing a piece of the Philippines to Macau. Philippine Street is not hard to find as it is located close to the iconic the Ruins of Saint Paul’s.
The street spanned from Largo do Senado to Rua da Alfândega. Among the famous establishments in the area are food spots like Chinoy Express Macau, Sarimanok, and Lily’s Kitchen, which are known for their “lutong bahay”-style Filipino dishes. There’s also Anak Philippine Bread, serving a myriad of baked goods including the classic pandesal.
These food spots and other Filipino-led establishments are loved not only by Pinoys but also by people in Macau and other tourists. In 2021, a walking tour led by the Macau Journalists Association was held to further showcase the street. According to The Macau Post Daily newspaper, the tour also spotlighted migrant workers’ stories and experiences.
This is not the first time a Filipino community has gone big abroad. In 2022, a street corner in New York was recognized as Little Manila Avenue. The particular area in Woodside, Queens has been known as “Little Manila” to many with it being home to restaurants, stores, and other Filipino establishments.
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