My name is Hopo and i am a Nigerian in the Philippines. Not as rare as you think! There are many Nigerians here in Manila where i live and you will be surprised at just how many. Some or many of them are here to school. Looking for better standard of education and perhaps, places round the world with limited corruption or politics in education, these ones travel to seek education. The Philippines does offer a good standard of education and in some schools here, it is offered at an affordable price. There is also the English Language in most colleges, which is a plus.
I got to the Philippines for an entirely different reason and it will surprise you just a bit; Football.
The Philippines is basketball loving, so you wouldn't think football is a thing. Well, i didn't think i will end up playing football in the Philippines. The agents will tell you stories of how, you are going to Europe or to some nation where football is more pronounced and financially rewarding and you carry that bag to leave mother land, only to find yourself in the Philippines. Then the agents will tell you not to worry, that you are just transiting as you will play for some time in a football club in the Philippines, while they prepare your transit to Europe and you are suddenly stuck in the Philippines for years. Well, it gets easier to soak it in, when you are suddenly seeing many Africans in the Philippines under the hood of the same story.
Yes, there are many Africans in the Philippines playing football. Though, it is not high paying, a footballer just likes the world of playing football and we end up playing weekly. Then, we take up coaching too. You see, there are many kids here, whose parents are foreigners, especially in the international schools here and they have kids who love soccer and they want these kids to play.
Overall, football is growing in the Philippines. At least, schools are adding this sport to their sporting curriculum and who knows.
Terry thinks the internet needs it as what's more popular online when it comes to expats in the Philippines are stories mostly from US-expats and stories from a Nigerian, will certainly be fresh.
I will leave you with some personal photos regular covering my life and life in general in the Philippines as well as many talks related to life and football here.
I am also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004379379150