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Philippines scores poorly on work-life balance. Filipinos are not surprised

In New Zealand, Keisha Constantino likes to start her morning at a leisurely pace. She wakes up at 7am and takes time to get ready,…

By Samantha Johnson / March 24, 2026
In New Zealand, Keisha Constantino likes to start her morning at a leisurely pace. She wakes up at 7am and takes time to get ready, reading a book or making matcha before heading to work as a teaching assistant and doctoral researcher at the University of Auckland.

While at work, the 32-year-old Filipino balances her time between researching, writing and grading coursework, after which she heads to the university gym to exercise before heading home.

“My evenings are sacred. I don’t take home any work at all. All the work that I do is in the office,” Constantino said. In between work, she savours two-hour-long lunches followed by visits to a nearby library or local museums to view the free exhibits while juggling other commitments, such as part-time remote consultancy work.

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Constantino, who is on study leave from her role as an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines to pursue a doctoral degree and work in New Zealand, said her balanced life in Auckland contrasted with how she lived and worked back home.

In the Philippines, she had to handle unpaid tasks like thesis advising as a faculty member. Getting to and from the workplace was a chore as she lost precious time daily due to heavy traffic and poor public transport options.

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In Auckland, going to work for her is a breeze. “Work is a 15-minute walk. You don’t have to deal with traffic. There are multiple transport options. It’s a walkable city. You don’t feel rushed,” Constantino, who conducts research on early childhood education policy in New Zealand, said.

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