From Makati Dollars to BGC Dollars and even Alabang Dollars, Filipinos online have found a hilarious way to describe what it feels like working in some of the country’s busiest business districts: parang nag-abroad ka rin, pero walang passport.

The viral “United States of Makati” trend has been taking over social media, with workers joking that they are OFWs, or “Onsite Filipino Workers”, who leave home every day to work in Makati and send their imaginary “Makati Dollars” back to their families.

The joke even comes with its own language, “Makatinese,” work visas, citizenship, and even an “airport”, Glorietta. Some posts also joke about the MRT as their international transportation.

But why does the joke hit so close to home?

For many Filipinos, Makati, BGC, and Alabang can feel like a different world from the neighborhoods they come from. The skyscrapers, polished offices, cafés, restaurants, nightlife, and fast-paced corporate lifestyle give these areas an international vibe.

And then there’s the cost of living. One coffee, lunch, or spontaneous after-work dinner can make your wallet feel like it just went through immigration. So, if you're spending like you're abroad, might as well pretend you're earning in foreign currency.

Even the Department of Tourism joined the fun with a playful Makati travel guide saying, “No visa, no problem!”

So technically, you don’t need to fly abroad for an international experience. Just commute to Makati, BGC, or Alabang.