Title: Need advice: Manila PGI considering residency in Pampanga for love + career 😭
(sorry, r/Pampanga didn't allow me to post there kasi this post is related daw for job hunting hahaha)
Hello! I’m F27, currently a PGI in Makati, and I have a partner (M30) who is currently a resident in Pampanga.
We’ve been talking about where we should settle once I take my boards and start residency. The options are either stay in Makati for my residency and have him travel weekly, or move to Pampanga and eventually have a house built there and would pursue residency there as well.
The problem is, I’m planning to pursue OB-GYN, and I really want to train in a public hospital. Currently, I’m super happy with the hospital where I’m doing my PGIship. Honestly, wala akong makita masyadong cons. I can really see that the work-life balance is surprisingly good despite it being a public hospital. I’ve also asked some of the residents about their salary, and they said na time and pagod lang talaga ang kapalit, but the workload is still very bearable and they’re well-compensated. Plus, hindi rin binabaha dito, which is a huge plus for me. 😂
But then there’s Pampanga. I really want to consider it because of my partner, gustong gusto niya kasi mgstay don, and plano niya tlaga na dun mgpatayo ng bahay for us.
I’ve been considering JBL, but honestly, parang di ko sure kung kakayanin ko yung residency life there. 😭 I also don’t know anyone in Pampanga, so I’m worried na mahihirapan din ako with connections, adjusting to a new environment, etc.
So I’m really torn between:
Makati:
✅ Already comfortable with the hospital
✅ I like the work environment
✅ Good work-life balance
✅ Public hospital
✅ Good compensation according to the residents
✅ No flooding
❌ Long-distance/weekly travel for my partner (for the meantime)
Pampanga:
✅ We can actually live together
✅ Less hassle for my partner
✅ We can start building our life there
❌ I don’t know anyone there
❌ Not sure if I’ll like the training environment
❌ Worried about workload/toxicity
❌ Worried about starting residency without any connections
Would really appreciate advice/insights from anyone who moved from Manila to Pampanga for residency, especially those who pursued OB-GYN in a public hospital.
How was the adjustment? Was it worth giving up a hospital you already liked just to be closer to your partner? And for those who know JBL, how is the actual residency experience there? I’m really torn and would love to hear from people who’ve been in a similar situation. 🥹
TL;DR: F27 PGI in Makati, planning OB-GYN residency + M30 WFH resident partner in Pampanga. I love my current public hospital and its work-life balance, but I’m considering moving to Pampanga so we can live together. Makati people who pursued residency in Pampanga—was it worth it? 😭