Philippines does have gov’t hospitals, but, as you said, the queues are crazy long unless you can bribe somebody, which takes more money than most people can easily come up with. One of my sisters in law is a barangay captain and was fairly sick (she’s the “always sick” person). She rode it out at home, apparently figuring she’d either be mostly recovered or critical by the time she could get in at the hospital.
Interesting. Not surprised.
There are many US vets there. I think the VA has a facility in Manila. The only place outside the US with one. If qualified, clearly the superior option. Not a hospital, tho.