Still Standing in the North: A Filipino Journey Through Uncertain Times

There are seasons in life when everything feels uncertain. Here in Finland, many people - locals and migrants alike - are facing difficult times. Prices of food, rent, and transportation have gone up. Companies are cutting costs, some jobs are disappearing, and families are learning to live with less.

For many Filipinos living here, these changes hit close to home. We came to Finland with big dreams: to work hard, to build a better life, and to help our families back in the Philippines. But when the economy slows down, it becomes harder to send money home, to find stable work, or to feel secure about the future.

Still, if there’s one thing that defines us Filipinos, it’s resilience. We have always known how to make something beautiful out of hardship and how to smile even when our hearts are tired, how to keep going even when the path is unclear. And here in Finland, amid the long winters and quiet streets, that inner light continues to shine.

Life in Finland Today

Finland has long been known as one of the happiest and most stable countries in the world. It offers strong social services, quality education, and a sense of order that makes life feel safe and predictable. But like many nations in Europe, Finland has also been affected by global economic shifts and the lingering effects of the pandemic, rising energy costs, and slower business growth.

Many industries, including service and healthcare sectors where most Filipinos work, have faced budget cuts and staff shortages. Some hospitals and care homes have reduced hours, and even companies that once offered steady jobs are becoming more cautious about hiring.

At the same time, the cost of living in Finland has increased. Groceries, rent, and electricity bills are noticeably higher than they were a few years ago. For migrants sending part of their earnings to support families back home, this means stretching every euro a little further.

It’s not easy. But it’s also not impossible. Because if there’s one thing Finland teaches everyone who lives here, it’s the deep, quiet courage to endure and move forward. And when you mix that with the Filipino lakas ng loob and bayanihan spirit, something truly powerful happens.

The Filipino Heart in the North

There are more than 5,000 Filipinos living in Finland today—nurses, cleaners, caregivers, engineers, students, IT workers, restaurant staff, and even entrepreneurs. We may be far from home, but we carry our culture with us wherever we go: our warmth, our faith, our laughter, and our care for one another.

You’ll find Filipinos bringing joy to nursing homes, serving delicious food in restaurants, or volunteering in churches and community events. We are hardworking, kind, and dependable - qualities that Finnish employers and communities deeply appreciate.

But life in Finland isn’t always easy. The language can be challenging, the culture feels quiet compared to the Philippines, and the long winters can sometimes make the days feel lonely. When jobs become unstable or hours are reduced, the isolation can grow heavier.

Yet time and again, Filipinos have shown how strong we truly are. We form support groups, share job information online, organize small gatherings, and help newcomers find their way. We celebrate birthdays even in tiny apartments, and we send a little something home even when our wallets are thin.

We survive—together.

Hold On to Your Purpose

When everything around you feels uncertain, it helps to remember why you’re here.

For many of us, it’s our families back home—their dreams, their education, their future. For others, it’s about building a new life, one where we can stand on our own and grow.

Hold on to that purpose. It’s your anchor when things get tough. When you wake up tired from another long shift, or when you feel homesick during the dark Finnish winter, remind yourself: You are here for a reason.

Every euro saved, every long night endured, every tear wiped away—it all adds up to something meaningful.

Adapt Like the Seasons

Finland is a country that teaches you how to adapt. The people here live in harmony with change—the long, dark winters followed by bright, endless summer days. It’s a rhythm that reflects life itself: there are cold seasons, and there are seasons of warmth and growth.

For Filipinos, learning to adapt is second nature. We’ve done it before—moving to new countries, learning new languages, adjusting to new systems. And we can do it again.

If work is slow, learn something new. Many free online courses (even in English) are available in Finland, and some municipalities offer Finnish language classes at no cost. The more skills you have, the more doors you can open. Don’t be afraid to explore other opportunities whether it’s starting a small side hustle, studying part-time, or volunteering to gain experience.

Adaptation is not about giving up. It’s about finding new ways to move forward.

Find Strength in Each Other

One of the most beautiful things about being Filipino is our sense of bayanihan—helping each other, even when we’re all struggling.

In Finland, that spirit is alive in every Filipino community. It’s in the friend who shares extra food, in the kabayan who refers you to a job, or the group that gathers on Sundays to sing and pray together.

If you ever feel alone, reach out. There are Filipino associations and church groups in many Finnish cities—Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Oulu, Turku—ready to welcome you. These connections don’t just make you feel at home; they remind you that you belong to something bigger.

Because no matter how far we are from the Philippines, we still carry the warmth of home in our hearts and we share it with one another.

Live Simply, Dream Deeply

In challenging times, living simply becomes a strength.

It’s learning to cook meals instead of eating out, taking the bus instead of a taxi, and saving even a small amount each month. It’s about being content with what you have while still believing in what’s possible.

Simplicity doesn’t mean settling for less. It means finding peace in what truly matters. It’s the laughter of friends in a small apartment, the quiet walk home under the northern lights, or the joy of hearing your child’s voice from across the sea.

Dream deeply, but don’t rush. The path may be long, but each small step brings you closer to the life you’re building.

Keep the Faith

Faith has always been the light that guides Filipinos through dark times. Whether it’s praying quietly before work or attending mass with the Filipino community on Sundays, faith reminds us that we are never alone.

Finland’s winters can be long, and darkness can linger for months—but just as surely as spring follows, light always returns.

That is the story of hope: no matter how long the night, morning will come.

So, keep the faith. Believe in yourself, believe in your purpose, and trust that this season will pass. One day, you’ll look back and realize that even in the hardest times, you were growing stronger, wiser, and more grounded.

A Message to Every Filipino in Finland

To every Filipino nurse working the night shift, every cleaner braving the cold morning air, every student balancing studies and part-time work, every parent building a home in this faraway land—you are seen, and you are appreciated. You carry the best of what it means to be Filipino: courage, compassion, and hope.

Yes, times are difficult right now. Finland is facing challenges, and so are we. But remember, our history is full of moments when we’ve turned hardship into strength. We’ve done it before, and we can do it again.Because the Filipino heart does not just endure—it shines.

Life in Finland may test your patience, your endurance, and even your faith. But it also shapes you. It teaches you the quiet strength of the Finnish sisu, the warmth of Filipino community, and the grace of believing that better days are ahead.

When you look back someday, you’ll see that you didn’t just survive this chapter—you grew through it. You found light in a place where the sun barely rises. You built a home in a foreign land. You carried your culture, your kindness, and your faith across oceans—and they carried you in return.

So, to every Filipino in Finland: keep going. The road may be long, but your spirit is longer. The days may be dark, but your hope is brighter. And one day, when the winds calm and the sun returns, you’ll see that you were never lost—you were becoming who you were meant to be.