When a certain celebrity director migrated from the Philippines to America, he was met with a wave of backlash, questioning his love for the country.

Here’s the thing: leaving the country doesn’t mean you don’t love it. Here are just 8 reasons why:

8. Opportunities know no borders

Especially in today’s economic situation, we have so many Filipinos leaving the country and trying their luck elsewhere. We call these people OFW’s, and often hail them as our “Bagong Bayani.” Does that sound like someone who doesn’t love their motherland?

The sad reality is, if an opportunity presents itself to help yourself and your family and it happens to involve leaving the country, it’s hard not to take it — no matter how much we love the Phillippines.

7. Love knows no borders

In today’s borderless world, finding true love can be as easy as from your phone. Long-distance relationships have never been easier to maintain (though still difficult), and when a Filipino ends up marrying someone from another country and they end up migrating, does that mean they don’t love the Philippines anymore? Absolutely not.

Like their love for each other, a Pinoy’s love for their own country knows no geographical boundaries.

6. People can still help their country from far away

Whether you’re an OFW sending remittances from abroad, or a Filipino expatriate who still pushes all things Filipino wherever you are, there are countless ways to help this country in ways great and small no matter where you physically are.

5. Because sometimes, it’s not even in their control

When your parents leave the Philippines and take you along with them, it’s not really up to you now, is it? In fact, some Fil-Americans are born in America and grow up longing to see the Philippines. Because while things may not be in their power, there’s no question that they’d love to be there if they could.

4. Because absence makes the heart grow fonder

Sometimes, we just need a break from the one we love. It’s not a breakup – just a breather, if you will. In that time apart, we give ourselves a chance to miss each other. This makes the inevitable reunion all the more sweeter.

3. Because sometimes, it’s exhausting

Loving your country when it’s not at its best is difficult. But most of us do it. Other people need to have that perspective of distance to do it, but that doesn’t mean they love the country less. All of us get exhausted sometimes. Others just have a more visceral way of showing it.

2. Because our political leaders are not our country

Not liking who is running the show is not the same as not liking our country. In fact, it’s that because we believe we could do better that the frustration ends up bubbling over so much. It is what it is.

1. Because you can take the Filipino out of the Philippines, but you can’t take the Philippines out of the Filipino

Ultimately, a Filipino remains a Filipino wherever they are. Don’t believe us? Think how many of us relate to all those Fil-Am jokes from Rex Navarrete and Jo Koy. We laugh because their experiences reflect ours. It doesn’t matter how different our circumstances are: the Filipino remains a Filipino and their love for the motherland along with it.

Do you have a take on Filipino migration? Sound off in the comments below.