In this video, I sit down with my classmate Gino and we talk honestly about what it’s like being an international medical student in the Philippines—especially from the perspective of someone who grew up in the US but was raised in a Filipino household. We get into the real “culture shock” moments (yes, even if you think you’re already familiar with Filipino culture), and the small day-to-day adjustments that come with studying medicine outside the US. We also talk about what Gino genuinely enjoys about med school life here: the environment, the people, and how the overall experience can be different (in a good way) compared to what many students expect. My goal with this conversation is to give both Filipinos abroad and non-Filipinos a clearer picture of what they’re signing up for—so you can make a more informed decision if you’re considering doing your MD in the Philippines. If you’re weighing pathways, worried about fitting in, or just curious about the international student experience, this one should help you think through the move with more realism.