Why the Philippines and Indonesia Are Basically ASEAN Besties

If ASEAN countries were classmates, the Philippines and Indonesia would be chaotic seatmates who copy each other’s homework, roast the teacher together, and complain about the same messy problems. Both are huge, messy island nations trying to deal with old customs, new trends, and politics that never shut up. Indonesia feels lowkey like home, not just because it’s next door, but because our histories and cultures have been vibing together for centuries!

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The Philippines has 7,641 islands. Indonesia has more than 17,000. Both are archipelago queens, flaunting endless beaches like Palawan and Boracay or Bali and the Gili Islands, plus diving spots in Anilao or Raja Ampat and fishing towns like Sorsogon or Lombok. But let’s be real, paradise comes with receipts.

Traffic in Manila or Jakarta, patchy internet on remote islands, and complicated governance are just the start. And now even Siargao and Bali are gentrified and getting snatched up by luxury resorts and bougie cafes while locals get shoved to the sidelines. These islands are looking less “homegrown vibes” and more like a “rich people playground”.

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Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, girl... pick a struggle. Name any natural disaster, we’ve got it. Mayon and Taal in the Philippines, Merapi and Krakatoa in Indonesia, just out here proving that living on the Pacific Ring of Fire is messy and chaotic.

Taal 2020? Merapi 2010? Thousands displaced, towns wrecked, news headlines screaming. Filipinos and Indonesians both know the chaos all too well and live with it, even if no one’s handing out gold stars for surviving.

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Tagalog and Bahasa Indonesia are basically cousins. “Anak,” “mata,” “jalan,” “puti,” all sound the same. Walk around Yogyakarta and you’ll be like, wait… I know this word. Thanks to centuries of trade and migration, our languages lowkey flex that we’re more related than we thought.

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Before Spain even touched the Philippines, we were already linked to Indonesia. Trade, moving around, and people from our islands marrying or having kids with Indonesians, all that. Fun tea: Sri Lumay, the guy who founded Cebu’s Rajahnate, came from Sumatra. Mindoro to Java, Mindanao to Sulawesi, we’ve been vibing for centuries, no colonisers needed.

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Rice is life. Filipinos love it, Indonesians love it, end of story. Nasi goreng, sinangag, satay, barbecue, smoky, saucy, hearty. Walk through Jakarta and hit up bakso or sate Ayam, you’ll lowkey feel your street food culture in isaw or skewers. Sambal? Basically sawsawan’s cooler cousin. Eating in Indonesia doesn’t feel foreign, it’s like visiting a family that just cooks rice differently.

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Philippines: biggest Catholic vibes in Asia. Indonesia: largest Muslim-majority squad. Seems totally different, but dig a bit and you see the same energy. Sinulog in Cebu, Pahiyas in Lucban, Ramadan bazaars in Jakarta, Idul Fitri in Bandung. Faith shapes the streets, the rituals, the community. These two Southeast Asian baddies may have different beliefs, but have the same heart.

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Both countries have their fair share of political drama. In Indonesia, recent demonstrations over controversial laws turned chaotic with Jakarta trashed, politicians’ mansions ransacked and streets filled with aftermath of protest: burned establishments. Looking like real life Hunger Games. Fire is catching!

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, people are busy calling out corruption in their own way, shaming nepo babies of powerful politicians like Claudine Co, Jammy Cruz, Christine Lim, the Enciso sisters, Gela Marasigan and Gela Alonte while also questioning ghost flood control projects that never came to life! Shame on you, corrupt politicians!

The mess, the outrage, the chaos, both neighbours face it and both know how to make their voices heard loud and clear. Same energy, same hatred towards decades of corruption. Indonesia and the Philippines truly are besties filled with rage, hoping to be set free and achieve genuine democracy.

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If there’s one thing Filipinos and Indonesians share, it’s volume. From dangdut concerts in Jakarta’s Ancol Beach to karaoke nights in Manila’s Cubao, from teleseryes like Ang Probinsyano to Indonesia’s Ikatan Cinta, both cultures love entertainment that is big, dramatic, and emotional. When global acts like BTS or Blackpink hit Southeast Asia, Manila’s MOA Arena and Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium are always packed, fans screaming, dancing, and camping outside for days.

Basically, both countries know how to make noise and have a good time, no holding back.

The Philippines and Indonesia are basically neighbours who low-key get each other. Shared words, similar history, natural disasters, messy politics, and even cultural vibes show they have the same interests, struggles, and goals. It is like looking in a slightly different mirror and thinking, “Yup, same energy, same wins, same fights.” Their connection runs deep and honestly, it is kind of iconic!